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Friday! Good Morning! Nicolás Rodríguez and Patricio Liddle here, ready to get you into the weekend groove with some killer CEO strategies for your reading list. Plus, what’s RFK Jr.’s role in Trump’s health plan? Will cannabis and psychedelics get a shot in the arm? Let’s break it down! ☕ Grab your coffee, and let’s go.

Wild Cards And Health Czar Hopes

President-elect Trump teased an open-door invitation for RFK Jr. to "go wild on health," hinting at a potential shake-up in drug policy. Kennedy, a vocal supporter of cannabis decriminalization and psychedelics reform, could steer bold changes if granted influence. His vision includes cannabis tax-funded rehab centers and safe banking, aligning with his libertarian streak. But with no official role yet, it's a high-stakes guessing game—health czar or just hype?

Green Growth And Margin Moves

Earnings season kicked off with Green Thumb Industries (OTC: GTBIF) reporting a solid 4% revenue bump to $287 million in Q3, fueled by retail expansion in Florida and New York. The company secured a $150 million credit facility, cutting debt and authorizing a $50 million buyback.

Meanwhile, Jushi (OTC: JUSHF) posted mixed results—revenue dipped 5.8% YoY to $61.6 million, but gross margins improved to 45.4% amid tough price competition. Jushi’s cost-cutting efforts helped shrink net losses and boost adjusted EBITDA by 6.5% YoY. 

Both companies are banking on strategic expansion, with Green Thumb eyeing nationwide growth and Jushi focusing on Ohio’s emerging market. For investors, the contrasting narratives underscore the importance of scaling efficiently while navigating market pressures and competitive landscapes.

Weekend Wind-Down: CEO Survival Playbook

Kick back this weekend with a chill read on two CEOs who’ve mastered the art of thriving when the market’s tanking. Red Mesa’s Jeff Applegate axed the middleman, rolling out a 24/7 hemp refinement that puts quality first while slashing costs.

Meanwhile, Jaunty’s Nicolás Guarino, fresh from navigating Chávez’s Venezuela, turned a 99% CBD price collapse into a comeback tale. He ditched the white-label rat race and leaned into solventless products, crafting an approachable brand that reduced distribution costs to 4.3%. It’s a reminder that when the going gets tough, the smart get scrappy—and this weekend, you get to learn how it’s done.

Weekend Weed Reads:

• Hemp Vs. Marijuana: Industry Tensions Rise Amid Rejection Of Cannabis Legalization In Florida, The Dakotas

• Overdose Crisis In Shadows Of Elections As Black, Indigenous Americans Deaths Rise 

• UK Breaks New Ground With First Government-Backed Psilocybin Therapy For Opioid Crisis

Our Writers Today

Nicolás holds a B.A. in International Relations, an M.A. in International Affairs, and an M.Phil in Public Policy. He is a doctoral student in Public and Urban Policy at The New School in New York City. After working for the United Nations in 2014, Nico pivoted his research to studying the relationship between the cannabis industry and economic development.

Patricio is a development economist with extensive experience in IT, finance, and banking. He writes about the economic and social opportunities obscured by over half a century of failed drug prohibition. Beyond his professional expertise, Pato is a committed advocate for social change, passionately working to promote harm reduction and reform drug policies.

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