This Week In Cannabis: Carmelo’s NY Launch, Federal Reform, Cancer Study, Avicanna’s Growth, Tilray’s Split, DeSantis Fallout, Slovenia’s Big Move And More
From the halls of Congress to the streets of New York, cannabis news bloomed in every direction this week. Slovenia introduced what may become Europe’s most progressive medical cannabis law. U.S. lawmakers filed new federal reform legislation. Trulieve and Curaleaf took diverging paths in Florida. And Governor Ron DeSantis faces questions over whether public funds were funneled into anti-cannabis campaigns.
Elsewhere, Weedmaps dropped a custom sneaker collab, Swatch’s 4/20-friendly watch returned to the spotlight and a massive new cancer study delivered groundbreaking validation for medical cannabis. Avicanna posted record earnings, Minnesota crossed a regulatory milestone and Blue Violets made delivery history in New Jersey.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Business And Financial Moves
Avicanna Reports Record Year
Avicanna Inc. (TSX:AVCN) (OTCQX:AVCNF) reported audited financial results for 2024, including $25.5 million in revenue—a 52% increase over 2023—and gross profits of $12.9 million, up 94%. Consolidated gross margins improved to 51%, while adjusted EBITDA losses narrowed by 68% to $1.4 million. The company also repaid $1.3 million in debt.
CEO Aras Azadian called 2024 “our most successful year to date,” citing clinical innovation, international expansion, and commercial growth in Canada and abroad.
Key 2024 milestones include:
- A real-world evidence study in Canada evaluating cannabis for conditions like pain, sleep, anxiety and epilepsy
- A completed study at The Hospital for Sick Children assessing CBD topical creams for wound healing
- Drug approval in Colombia for Trunerox, targeting rare epileptic disorders
- First delivery of CBD/CBG topicals to a multinational pharmaceutical company
- Two new U.S. patents for topical and oral cannabinoid delivery technologies
Tilray Plans Reverse Stock Split
Tilray Brands (NASDAQ:TLRY) will hold a special shareholder meeting on June 10 to vote on a proposed reverse stock split ranging from 1-for-10 to 1-for-20. CEO Irwin Simon said the move aims to maintain Nasdaq compliance, reduce costs by more than $1 million per year, and attract institutional investors. The company recently reported over $248 million in cash and trimmed debt by $76 million.
Safe Harbor and FundCanna Join Forces
SHF Holdings, d/b/a Safe Harbor Financial (NASDAQ:SHFS), announced a strategic partnership with FundCanna to provide cannabis operators with streamlined access to capital and compliant banking services. The agreement enables mutual referrals and onboarding of FundCanna-approved clients into Safe Harbor-managed accounts.
“This partnership delivers a practical, scalable solution that puts the financial needs of cannabis operators first,” said Safe Harbor CEO Terry Mendez.
Politics, Policy And Regulation
Congress Reintroduces STATES 2.0 Act
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers reintroduced the STATES 2.0 Act, which would shield legal cannabis activity from federal interference. The bill would also legalize interstate commerce, normalize IRS treatment of cannabis businesses and establish a framework for federal oversight and testing.
“The current federal approach to cannabis policy is not working,” said Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. “The STATES 2.0 Act creates a more logical approach that protects states’ rights while improving public safety.”
The bill maintains FDA oversight for cannabis products, removes barriers to tax deductions under Section 280E, and instructs federal agencies to begin rulemaking within 180 days of passage. Supporters include Reps. Max Miller (R-OH), Dina Titus (D-NV) and a coalition of advocacy organizations including CPEAR, Americans for Prosperity, and the U.S. Cannabis Roundtable.
Read more via Marijuana Moment
Minnesota Finalizes Adult-Use Cannabis Rules
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced …