The Scratch-Off Comes to Cannabis Retail: Last Week in Weed June 9-June 15, 2026
Welcome to the latest edition of “Last Week In Weed,” catching you up on the latest breaking news and industry developments in the world of cannabis.
Here’s what you may have missed over the last week:
NYC Dispensary Brings Scratch-Off Culture to Cannabis Retail
New York dispensary The Daily Green is launching a summer-long scratch-off promotion in partnership with RYTHM, offering prizes ranging from discounts and products to a grand-prize getaway to Montauk. Customers who spend $75 or more receive a scratch-off card, with every card guaranteeing a prize. The campaign highlights how dispensaries are increasingly experimenting with customer engagement strategies borrowed from traditional retail, loyalty programs, and convenience-store marketing as competition intensifies in mature markets.
Texas Hemp Businesses Brace for New Regulatory Framework
Texas regulators continue refining rules that could significantly reshape the state’s hemp industry. The latest developments add to ongoing uncertainty for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers as lawmakers and regulators work to define the future of hemp-derived cannabinoid products in one of the country’s largest markets. Industry stakeholders are closely monitoring the process, which could influence how other states approach hemp regulation moving forward.
Rhode Island Confirms New Cannabis Regulator
The Rhode Island Senate confirmed a new leader for the state’s cannabis oversight efforts, marking an important transition as the state’s adult-use market continues to develop. Leadership changes at regulatory agencies often play a significant role in shaping licensing, enforcement, and market expansion decisions, making the appointment one to watch for operators and investors alike.
Psychedelics Design Awards Return for 2026
The Psychedelics Design Awards announced its second annual competition, celebrating innovation across categories including architecture, storytelling, music, branding, education, products, and a new art and photography category. Organizers say this year’s theme, “Creative Biome,” will explore how design influences the future of psychedelic culture, care, and technology. The program also includes a global online conference featuring researchers, designers, entrepreneurs, and leaders from across the psychedelic ecosystem.
This is one of those stories worth covering because it signals the maturation of the psychedelic space. Five years ago, conversations centered largely on legalization and clinical research. Today, practitioners are increasingly discussing design, user experience, ethics, aesthetics, and cultural infrastructure.
Zac Efron Builds a Hemp Home
Actor Zac Efron is helping spotlight hemp-based construction through a new residential building project that incorporates hempcrete and other sustainable materials. As interest grows around low-carbon building alternatives, hemp continues attracting attention beyond consumer products and wellness markets. The project offers another example of how hemp is increasingly being discussed within architecture, sustainability, and climate-focused design conversations.