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Germany Holds the Line, DEA Gets Called Out, Hemp Wants FDA Oversight
Plus, craving healthier munchies?
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Hey there, Benzinga Cannabis community. Maureen Meehan here with your favorite daily dose of canna-news — served fresh, a little feisty and fully fact-checked. Today’s been a ride!
Germany is holding firm on legalization, the DEA’s catching flak for some serious ethical slip-ups and SNDL is out here making big retail plays. We’ve also got Cheech & Chong bringing the THC vibes to hip-hop’s biggest stage, Maryland pushing past prohibition-era sham, and stoners are reaching for smoothies instead of chips and cookies.
Let’s get into it.
In today's issue:
🌍 Politics + Global Policy
No U-turn here! Germany’s newly formed CDU/CSU-SPD coalition has decided not to roll back the CanG law, despite some loud resistance from Bavaria’s more conservative camp. That means Germany remains one of Europe’s most progressive cannabis markets — adults can still grow, possess, and puff within the law.
And starting July 1, 2024, cannabis associations became a thing. Think of them as licensed grow clubs with strict rules — and even stricter German paperwork.
An official review of the policy is scheduled for late 2025, but until then, it’s business as usual for German cannabis consumers. Prost! 🍻🌿
In a move aimed at healing some very old wounds, Maryland lawmakers just passed SB 432, which will hide old low-level weed convictions from public record. This follows Governor Wes Moore’s sweeping pardons for over 175,000 residents last year. Under the new bill, if someone was convicted for simple possession and later pardoned, that record must disappear from the state's online search system.
Justice may be slow, but in Maryland at least, it’s finally rolling.
Heads up, Capitol Hill: the hemp industry’s coming back with receipts.
At this week’s congressional hearing, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable will push for stronger FDA oversight, warning that regulatory inaction has tanked prices and opened the door for sketchy products. The group’s legal counsel will testify that the lack of clear rules has “devastated farmers and created safety concerns.”
Will this finally move the needle for a struggling sector? We’ll be watching.
📉 Market Moves + Money Talks
SNDL Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL) is adding 32 new retail stores to its portfolio, scooping them up from 1CM Inc. (OTC: MILFF) for $32.2 million in cash.
The stores—mostly in Ontario, plus a few in Alberta and Saskatchewan—raked in $53 million in revenue last year. Once the deal closes (expected Q3), SNDL will operate 219 cannabis shops across Canada.
Big moves, bigger footprint.
Tilray Brands (NASDAQ: TLRY) just dropped its quarterly report, showing a $793.5 million net loss. But execs are staying upbeat, saying the company is still on track with its expansion into international cannabis and the beverage-alcohol sector. They also conducted a tariff impact analysis, which came back chill: international trade hiccups shouldn’t mess with sales. Translation? The losses are real, but the strategy’s not changing.
🚨 Watchdogs, Lawsuits + Agency Woes
It’s one thing to stall medical marijuana research. It’s another to do it while allegedly flouting your own profession’s ethics rules.
Aarathi Haig, the DEA attorney in a lawsuit involving MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, is listed as ineligible to practice law in New Jersey — missing continuing legal education and fees. Yet she’s still repping the agency in federal proceedings.
Critics are calling foul as this legal drama is far from over.
🎶 Culture + Consumer Trends
Call it the collab we didn’t know we needed.
Cheech & Chong just teamed up with Rolling Loud, the world’s biggest hip-hop festival, to launch Pit Punch — a THC-infused beverage with 10mg of hemp-derived THC per can. The drink debuted in epic style at Rolling Loud Miami 2024, marking the largest THC beverage activation ever at a festival.
It’s now shipping nationwide via DrinkPitPunch.com and hitting select retailers. Think full-flavored, lower calorie, and zero alcohol — just the right kick for your next concert or couch sesh.
According to a new CBD Oracle survey, the days of greasy munchie myths may be numbered. A whopping 63% of adult cannabis users say they "always" or "sometimes" go for healthier snacks when the cravings hit.
Favorites? Fruits, salads, smoothies — not chips and cookies.
“People assume cannabis automatically leads to junk food binges,” said Houman Shahi, Editorial Director at CBD Oracle. “But most users — especially regular ones — are trying to snack smarter.”
The health-conscious stoner is officially a thing. 🥬🍓💪
📉 Illicit Market Watch
A new study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy finds that legal weed is cutting into illegal sales in Canada. The paper tracked consumer spending across medical, illicit, and legal adult-use channels — and the data’s clear: the legal market is gaining ground.
That’s it for today. As always, stay lifted, stay smart, and I’ll catch you in the next edition. ✌️🌱
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