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Articles by Andrew Long
Three trends affecting the U.S. cannabis industry in 2026
As the U.S. cannabis industry enters 2026, shifting market dynamics are reshaping how businesses operate and compete. From licensing activity to pricing behavior, patterns that emerged in 2025 offer a clearer picture of where the regulated market is stabilizing – and where pressures are still building. Below are some numbers that help explain the state of the cannabis industry.
Three trends affecting the U.S. cannabis industry in 2026
NewsBudz is your go-to app for daily cannabis news, covering everything from medical marijuana breakthroughs to recreational cannabis trends and legalization updates. Our platform aggregates content from over 30 top-tier cannabis news outlets to deliver a curated stream of the latest headlines, insights, and developments across the marijuana and hemp industries.
Massive drop in cannabis cultivation permits behind licensing contraction
The American cannabis industry continued to contract in the third quarter of 2025 thanks largely to a cultivation exodus, according to licensing data from intelligence firm CRB Monitor. The number of active cannabis business licenses in the U.S. fell to 37,555, a 1% decline from the previous quarter, continuing a multi-year slide that began at the end of 2022. Over the past two years, the total number of active licenses nationwide fell by 13%.
Massive cannabis cultivation exodus is behind licensing contraction
The American cannabis industry continued to contract in the third quarter of 2025 thanks largely to a cultivation exodus, according to licensing data from intelligence firm CRB Monitor. The number of active cannabis business licenses in the U.S. fell to 37,555, a 1% decline from the previous quarter, continuing a multi-year slide that began at the end of 2022. Over the past two years, the total number of active licenses nationwide fell by 13%.
Massive drop in cannabis cultivation permits behind licensing contraction
NewsBudz is your go-to app for daily cannabis news, covering everything from medical marijuana breakthroughs to recreational cannabis trends and legalization updates. Our platform aggregates content from over 30 top-tier cannabis news outlets to deliver a curated stream of the latest headlines, insights, and developments across the marijuana and hemp industries.
Are cannabis consumers more loyal to brands, or products?
NewsBudz is your go-to app for daily cannabis news, covering everything from medical marijuana breakthroughs to recreational cannabis trends and legalization updates. Our platform aggregates content from over 30 top-tier cannabis news outlets to deliver a curated stream of the latest headlines, insights, and developments across the marijuana and hemp industries.
Texas lawmaker introduces longshot marijuana legalization proposal
NewsBudz is your go-to app for daily cannabis news, covering everything from medical marijuana breakthroughs to recreational cannabis trends and legalization updates. Our platform aggregates content from over 30 top-tier cannabis news outlets to deliver a curated stream of the latest headlines, insights, and developments across the marijuana and hemp industries.
Michigan leads nation in cannabis business violations
NewsBudz is your go-to app for daily cannabis news, covering everything from medical marijuana breakthroughs to recreational cannabis trends and legalization updates. Our platform aggregates content from over 30 top-tier cannabis news outlets to deliver a curated stream of the latest headlines, insights, and developments across the marijuana and hemp industries.
Where to find cannabis industry data online
NewsBudz is a marijuana and medical cannabis news app. The site delivers a daily feed of the latest cannabis news. We aggregate over 30 of the web's best sources for news about marijuana, hemp and legalization to keep you informed. Stay on top of the latest news headlines, trends and developments worldwide around recreational and medical marijuana. Sit back and relax, while you read learn and share. On the web or your mobile device, NewsBudz is your cannabis news stream.
Marijuana industry will add $123.6 billion to US economy this year
NewsBudz is a marijuana and medical cannabis news app. The site delivers a daily feed of the latest cannabis news. We aggregate over 30 of the web's best sources for news about marijuana, hemp and legalization to keep you informed. Stay on top of the latest news headlines, trends and developments worldwide around recreational and medical marijuana. Sit back and relax, while you read learn and share. On the web or your mobile device, NewsBudz is your cannabis news stream.
Ohio recreational marijuana market already showing signs of price contraction
NewsBudz is a marijuana and medical cannabis news app. The site delivers a daily feed of the latest cannabis news. We aggregate over 30 of the web's best sources for news about marijuana, hemp and legalization to keep you informed. Stay on top of the latest news headlines, trends and developments worldwide around recreational and medical marijuana. Sit back and relax, while you read learn and share. On the web or your mobile device, NewsBudz is your cannabis news stream.
Marijuana markets on the ballot could generate $3 billion in first year
If approved by voters on Tuesday, new regulated adult-use marijuana markets in Florida and North Dakota – along with a medical cannabis market in Nebraska – could collectively produce $3 billion during the first full year of sales. Together, the markets are likely to reach $4.3 billion in marijuana sales by the fourth year of operation, according to analysis from the MJBiz Factbook.
UK understanding of AI 'lagging behind', finds Savanta study | News
Savanta’s online survey of 7,089 people across five markets, for the report AI: Power and potential, suggested that 12% UK adults believed they fully understand generative AI, the lowest of markets measured. The other markets measured for their understanding of AI was the US ( 18%), followed by Canada ( 15%), the Netherlands ( 14%) and Germany ( 14%).
Wyld dominates edibles category in adult-use marijuana markets
Wyld is well on its way to becoming the top-selling cannabis edibles brand in every state, a goal the Oregon-based company has set as states continue to launch regulated adult-use marijuana markets. Of the 13 adult-use markets analyzed by MJBizDaily, Wyld was the top-selling brand in more than half. “We don’t plan on slowing down any time soon,” Rachael Smith, Wyld’s marketing production manager, told MJBizDaily via email.
MJBizDaily launches survey about diversity in US cannabis industry
Seeking to better understand the role of women and minorities in the U.S. cannabis industry, MJBizDaily is launching its annual diversity survey. Cannabis business owners, founders and executives – including those from retail, cultivation, manufacturing, investing and ancillary business – are encouraged to participate in the survey, which is available here.
Canadian hemp license numbers decline for third straight year
Active Canadian hemp licenses declined for the third year in a row with all provinces or territories showing double-digit permit declines from 2022. The number of hemp licenses has been declining in Canada since 2020, when it peaked at 1,269, according to new data from Health Canada. At the end of 2023, there were 737 active hemp licenses throughout Canadian provinces and territories, a 26% drop from the previous year.
Some parts of California unaffected by cannabis sales slump
While overall cannabis sales have been falling in California since early 2021, some areas of the state are breaking the trend by growing transaction dollars. Sales of recreational marijuana in California reached nearly $351 million in May, according to Seattle-based cannabis analytics firm Headset. That is a 10% decrease from May 2023 and a 16% decline from May 2021, when sales topped almost $420 million.
Michigan leads California in marijuana units sold, per capita spend
Three years ago, cannabis industry stakeholders viewed New York as the state most likely to dethrone California as the nation’s largest regulated marijuana market. Today, Michigan leads the nation in several key metrics. With almost four times the population of Michigan, California’s regulated marijuana market should be comfortably outselling Michigan. But it’s not.
Cannabis industry is heading in the right direction, operators say
U.S. plant-touching cannabis businesses – such as cultivators, manufacturers and retailers – say the industry is heading in a better direction, even without the impending rescheduling of marijuana. According to survey data from the recently released 2024 MJBiz Factbook, more than 48% of revenue-generating cannabis businesses expect the industry will perform “somewhat better” or “much better” over the next 12 months.
Wholesale cannabis prices beating expectations for 2024
Wholesale marijuana prices are still declining in some state-regulated markets, although they have performed better than expected overall during the past year, according to data shared by LeafLink and Cannabis Benchmarks. As of March 2024, wholesale flower prices were up nearly 5% year-over-year across the 13 state markets tracked by New York-based wholesale cannabis platform LeafLink.
U.S. cannabis business licenses down 6% in first quarter of 2024
The number of active U.S. cannabis business licenses continued to shrink in early 2024, according to CRB Monitor, a marijuana intelligence firm that tracks and monitors licenses in the regulated industry. Total active licenses – including those in regulated medical and recreational marijuana markets – fell 6% from the fourth quarter of 2023 and by 10% from the first quarter of last year.
Marijuana industry will add $112.4 billion to US economy in 2024
The total U.S. economic impact generated by regulated marijuana sales could top $112.4 billion in 2024, about 12% more than last year, according to analysis from the newly released MJBiz Factbook. While the industry has experienced sales declines – especially in mature western markets – the expansion of new recreational and medical marijuana facilities in states such as Maryland, Missouri and New York continue to foster growth.
More than half of US hemp flower grown in California
California led the nation in hemp flower acreage and production in 2022, according to an MJBizDaily analysis of the recent Census of Agriculture report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Alameda County, California, harvested more hemp flower that year than any other U.S. county, with 5.5 million pounds.
US marijuana business licensing declined for the first time in 2023
After years of double-digit growth, active marijuana business licenses in the United States declined for the first time in 2023. That’s according to a new report by CRB Monitor, a cannabis intelligence firm in Nashville, Tennessee, that tracks and monitors licenses. Active U.S. cannabis business licenses – including those in medical and recreational marijuana markets – declined 4% from 2022 to 2023.
Cannabis owners asked to share insights in MJBiz Factbook survey
The MJBizDaily editorial team invites business owners, executives and entrepreneurs in the marijuana and hemp sectors to participate in the 12th annual MJBiz Factbook survey. MJBizDaily is committed to delivering high-quality content that is both informative and relevant to the cannabis industry. To achieve this, we rely on the expertise and experiences of cannabis professionals to provide insights that shape our editorial direction.
Adult-use marijuana sales growth in 2023 varied by market age
With most regulated adult-use marijuana markets reporting sales numbers through November, year-over-year growth rates in 2023 varied by market age. New markets in Arizona, Illinois and Maine continued to grow – although at slower rates than in 2022 – while established markets such as Colorado and Nevada did not decline as much as they did in 2022.
Year review of cannabis sales
With most adult-use cannabis markets reporting sales numbers through November, growth in 2023 varied mostly by the age of the market. New markets in Arizona, Illinois and Maine continued to grow although at slower rates than in 2022, while established markets such as Colorado and Nevada, did not decline as much as they did in 2022, a promising sign for the upcoming year. Fusce non dui et arcu porta convallis in quis sem. Donec eleifend eget nibh id maximus.
Ranks of women, minority cannabis execs rebound to pre-pandemic levels
(Photo by Rawpixel.com/stock.adobe.com) The percentage of women and members of minority groups holding executive positions in the cannabis industry has returned to pre-pandemic levels after a significant drop during the past three years, according to a new report from MJBizDaily. In 2019, MJBizDaily estimated that more than 36% of marijuana executives were women and 28% were from minority communities.
Access to cannabis stores varies widely across US and Canada
(Photo by TensorSpark/stock.adobe.com) Access to recreational cannabis stores across the United States and Canada differs greatly by state and province after taking population into account. Different state-by-state regulations have created some markets that offer far fewer retail choices for consumers. Consider two states with approximately the same populations: Rhode Island and Montana. Both states have about 1.1 million people.
MJBizDaily conducting survey on diversity in US cannabis industry
Marijuana Business Daily @mjbizdaily · Aug 8, 2023 To better understand the state of diversity and inclusion in the U.S. cannabis industry, MJBizDaily is launching its yearly survey to measure the role of women and minorities in leadership positions.
MJBizDaily conducting survey on diversity in US cannabis industry
Tickets for MJBizCon 2023 in Las Vegas are on sale now! Dare to grow and discover the business solutions to elevate your cultivation operation. Buy your ticket. To better understand the state of diversity and inclusion in the U.S. cannabis industry, MJBizDaily is launching its yearly survey to measure the role of women and minorities in leadership positions.
Congress Should Reinstate the FCC's Spectrum Auction Authority
On Monday, four members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), issued a statement indicating that they are "extremely disappointed" that Congress has not yet passed the Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 3565).
Broadband: Billions at Risk of Wasteful Duplication
On June 26, the Department of Commerce announced it would begin disbursing early next year the $42.5 billion Congress appropriated to fund broadband deployment so that high-speed internet access will be available more ubiquitously across the country. This is a worthy goal. But the sad truth is that government efforts to connect every American to the internet lack a coherent overarching strategy because there are too many cooks in the proverbial kitchen.
BEAD Program State-by-State Funding Allocations Announced
On June 26, 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the amount of funding each state and territory would receive from the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The focus now shifts to state broadband offices, which have 180 days to submit their Initial Proposals.
How big is California’s legal marijuana market? Think a small nation
Marijuana Business Daily @mjbizdaily · Jun 27, 2023 Even with the recent financial and tax woes roiling California’s marijuana industry, there’s little doubt that it remains the world’s largest cannabis market. The state will ring up nearly $5.9 billion in legal recreational and medical marijuana sales in 2023, the recently published MJBiz Factbook estimates. To put that in perspective, marijuana sales in California could support the economy of a small island nation.
How big is California's legal marijuana market? Think a small nation
Even with the recent financial and tax woes roiling California’s marijuana industry, there’s little doubt that it remains the world’s largest cannabis market. The state will ring up nearly $5.9 billion in legal recreational and medical marijuana sales in 2023, the recently published MJBiz Factbook estimates. To put that in perspective, marijuana sales in California could support the economy of a small island nation.
GOP Senators to Biden: Use COVID-19 Dollars to Extend ACP
According to Light Reading and other news outlets, on Tuesday a group of 8 Republican Senators identified for President Biden a stopgap funding source for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP): untapped COVID-19 relief money. The ACP, which provides eligible households with a $30 monthly subsidy ($75 on Tribal lands) to apply toward their choice of broadband service and up to $100 for a connected device, was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA).
A protest on wheels: ‘Stay Woke Florida!’ tour makes stop in Tampa Original
TAMPA — A statewide bus tour aimed at voter registration and community advocacy rolled into Tampa on Tuesday evening as organizers worked to combat education initiatives they say are adversely affecting people of color and the LGBTQ+ population. The “Stay Woke Florida!” bus tour stopped at Cyrus Greene Park in east Tampa as part of a one-week, 15-city schedule. It’s an effort among several progressive groups, including the NAACP, Transformative Justice Coalition and Rainbow Push Coalition.
Marijuana MSO footprints mapped out in new feature
With so much fast-paced expansion and, more recently, downsizing, it can be tough to know where each marijuana multistate operator is operating. That’s why MJBizDaily has mapped out the MSOs, creating a series of visuals illustrating the states where each company is running at least one retail, cultivation and/or manufacturing facility, the number of MSOs operating in the different markets as well as a tally of the states where each multistate operator does business.
How Newsom’s proposed gun amendment stacks up to Florida’s laws
California Gov. Gavin Newsom made political waves last week with his announcement that his state would be the first to publicly support a 28th Amendment to the U.S.Constitution aimed at decreasing gun-related violence. Newsom’s push comes amid an alarming rise in mass shootings across the country. According to aMay analysis by the Associated Press and USA Today, the U.S. is on pace to average one mass shooting per week in 2023, with 97 people already killed in19separate incidents this year.
How Newsom’s proposed gun amendment stacks up to Florida’s laws
California Gov. Gavin Newsom made political waves last week with his announcement that his state would be the first to publicly support a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution aimed at decreasing gun-related violence. Newsom’s push comes amid an alarming rise in mass shootings across the country. According to a May analysis by the Associated Press and USA Today, the U.S. is on pace to average one mass shooting per week in 2023, with 97 people already killed in 19 separate incidents this year.
Here are Florida lawmaker turkeys lopped by Gov. Ron DeSantis Original
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto pen splashed a lot of ink across Pasco County. DeSantis, in signing the $117 billion state budget Thursday, also vetoed 331 individual appropriations totaling nearly $511 million. In the Tampa Bay area, the vetoed budget appropriations, known commonly as turkeys, totaled more than $40 million in Pasco County.
GAO Reiterates Broadband Funding Coordination Concerns
On May 10, 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released "Broadband: A National Strategy Needed to Coordinate Fragmented, Overlapping Federal Programs," a Statement addressing the status of federal broadband subsidy efforts.
US cannabis industry’s $100 billion economic impact varies by state
Marijuana Business Daily @mjbizdaily · May 11, 2023 And while highly populated states with bigger markets have a larger dollar amount of economic impact, some smaller, less-populated states are generating more impact per person. The total U.S. economic impact from marijuana sales in 2023 is expected to reach $100 billion – up more than 12% from last year, according to analysis from the recently published MJBiz Factbook.
US cannabis industry's $100 billion economic impact varies by state
Medical and recreational cannabis markets continue to have a growing impact on the broader U.S. economy, but the state-level impact differs based on each market’s size, maturity and type. And while highly populated states with bigger markets have a larger dollar amount of economic impact, some smaller, less-populated states are generating more impact per person.
US hemp plantings plummet in 2022 as production shifts to northern states
Marijuana Business Daily @mjbizdaily · May 9, 2023 Put another way, at 44.4 square miles, outdoor and indoor hemp cultivation in the U.S. would fit almost entirely on Hilton Head Island, the beach and golf resort area off the coast of South Carolina. Or, for Mickey Mouse fans, most of the nation’s hemp could be grown on the 43 square miles of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
US hemp plantings plummet in 2022 as production shifts to northern states
Hemp plantings in the United States were nearly cut in half in 2022, with 28,400 acres dedicated to growing the plant – slightly more than the acreage set aside for Christmas trees. Put another way, at 44.4 square miles, outdoor and indoor hemp cultivation in the U.S. would fit almost entirely on Hilton Head Island, the beach and golf resort area off the coast of South Carolina.
New Mexico’s adult-use cannabis sales bolstered by tourism, Texas residents
Marijuana Business Daily @mjbizdaily Β· May 2, 2023 The state brought in a record $32 million in recreational sales during March alone and is well on its way to reaching $400 million for 2023, as projected by the 2023 MJBiz Factbook. Large population centers β including Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe β are driving much of those sales, according to data from the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department.
New Mexico's adult-use cannabis sales bolstered by tourism, Texas residents
It’s been a little more than a year since New Mexico launched adult-use cannabis, with sales topping $300 million during the initial 12 months. The state brought in a record $32 million in recreational sales during March alone and is well on its way to reaching $400 million for 2023, as projected by the 2023 MJBiz Factbook.
Cannabis industry will add $100 billion to US economy in 2023, MJBiz Factbook projects
Marijuana Business Daily @mjbizdaily · Apr 12, 2023 Looking ahead, upward of $160 billion in additional spending will be added to the U.S economy in 2027, thanks to the opening and/or expansion of new recreational and medical markets in states such as New York, Maryland, Missouri and Kentucky.
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