Articles by Joey Pena
As New Research Shows Persistent Funding Gaps, The National Network of Black Foundations & Funds Expands Its Public Presence
Established national network of Black-led and Black-serving foundations and funds begins its first public-facing phase on Aug. 28, Black Giving Day, calling for sustained investment, stronger relationships and greater trust in community-rooted institutions. PITTSBURGH, PA, Aug. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New shows that while funding for some Black-led and Black-serving nonprofit organizations surged after George Floyd’s murder in 2020, it did not result in lasting change for many.
As New Research Shows Persistent Funding Gaps, The National Network of Black Foundations & Funds Expands Its Public Presence Original
PITTSBURGH, PA, Aug. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New research shows that while funding for some Black-led and Black-serving nonprofit organizations surged after George Floyd’s murder in 2020, it did not result in lasting change for many. Now, the National Network of Black Foundations & Funds (NNBFF) is stepping into its first public-facing phase, making more visible its work to support sustained investment in Black communities. While NNBFF’s public presence is new, the network is not.
Restaurant CBD sales are booming, but new liability concerns keep cannabis producers from cashing in
Published 11 hours ago | By Joey Peña With U.S. sales of hemp-derived CBD products projected to top $1 billion this year, restaurants and bars are eager to capitalize on growing consumer demand for all things hemp. This was underscored in April when fast-food chain Carl’s Jr. announced that a single Denver location would be selling a hamburger topped with sauce infused with hemp-derived CBD oil – for one day only.
What’s Next for Infused Products
Shaking up your cannabis-infused product line is one way to appeal to new consumers and excite loyal brand enthusiasts. But where do you start? Consistently dosed, cannabis-infused food and beverage products with inventive flavor profiles will continue to win with consumers, manufacturers agree.
Pennsylvania's medical marijuana patient count tops 100,000
Published 1 min ago Nearly 102,000 patients in Pennsylvania have received certifications from approved physicians to purchase medical marijuana, good news for the bottom line of the state’s fledgling MMJ businesses. The climb in the patient count has led to 780,000 transactions at Pennsylvania’s licensed dispensaries, according to Gov. Tom Wolf’s office. More patients are awaiting certifications, too, which is likely to contribute to more growth for the state’s medical marijuana program.
Illinois Senate panel OKs adult-use cannabis bill, but details are pending
Published 1 min ago An Illinois Senate committee voted to advance a placeholder bill that lawmakers can amend later to legalize a recreational marijuana market in the state. The so-called “shell bill” – approved in a 12-4 party line vote by the Senate Executive Committee – is expected to be significantly changed through private negotiations among lawmakers, the governor’s office and members of the cannabis industry, Capitol News Illinois reported. To read more about the bill, click here.
Well-designed cannabis retail stores can draw consumers, boost the bottom line
Published 1 min ago | By Joey Peña (Photo courtesy of Planet 13 in Las Vegas) (This is an abridged version of a story that appears in the April issue of Marijuana Business Magazine.) The inside of a marijuana dispensary can be memorable or, well, it can exude all the stereotypes. Convenient, roomy stores with visually appealing features and displays where product is easily viewed can generate returning customers and, in turn, more revenue.
WV gov vetoes cannabis bill that would tax vertically integrated firms at lower rate
Published March 28, 2019 West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice vetoed a medical marijuana bill because he said it “favors wholly vertically integrated businesses” by taxing them at a lower rate than stand-alone cultivators, processors and retailers. Mike Pushkin, a Democratic delegate and sponsor of the bill, told The Register-Herald of Beckley that the governor’s veto “sets back the entire (medical marijuana) program” in West Virginia, where sales were scheduled to begin in July but are running behind.
Walgreens joins CVS in sales of CBD topical products
Published 10 mins ago The Walgreens pharmacy chain will sell CBD-infused creams, sprays and transdermal patches in 1,500 stores across nine states, but the company declined to identify the brands it plans to carry, CNBC reported. The move comes hot on the heels of an announcement last week that rival pharmacy chain CVS had kicked off sales in eight states of hemp-derived CBD creams, sprays and salves.
WV gov vetoes cannabis bill that would tax vertically integrated firms at lower rate
Published 1 min ago West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice vetoed a medical marijuana bill because he said it “favors wholly vertically integrated businesses” by taxing them at a lower rate than stand-alone cultivators, processors and retailers. Mike Pushkin, a Democratic delegate and sponsor of the bill, told The Register-Herald of Beckley that the governor’s veto “sets back the entire (medical marijuana) program” in West Virginia, where sales were scheduled to begin in July but are running behind.
Curio Wellness marijuana lawsuit
Published 4 mins ago Curio Wellness, a vertically integrated medical marijuana company in Baltimore County, Maryland, filed a lawsuit against state regulators to stop them from awarding four new cultivation licenses that are intended to increase the number of minority business owners in the industry. The suit alleges that the commission must complete a supply-and-demand analysis before soliciting new license applications, and the company insists the current supply is sufficient to meet demand.
Illinois Senate panel passes bill to protect banks serving marijuana businesses
Published 1 min ago An Illinois senate committee voted to advance a bill that would prohibit the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from taking any action that would penalize or dissuade banks and credit unions from serving legal marijuana-related businesses. Even if the bill becomes law, Capitol News Illinois noted, financial institutions that do business with marijuana companies would still face possible prosecution by federal authorities.
Illinois medical marijuana growers could meet four years of recreational cannabis demand
Published 1 min ago Licensed medical marijuana growers in Illinois would be able to supply adult-use cannabis for four years after legalization, according to a report commissioned by licensed MMJ businesses. However, the study noted, a significant increase in the number of retail licenses is needed to meet consumer demand.
Despite risks, CBD manufacturers use e-commerce to build multistate brands
Published 1 min ago | By Joey Peña When President Donald Trump penned hemp legalization into law late last year via the Farm Bill, hemp companies obviously cheered. But marijuana entrepreneurs also took careful note, because that landmark decision could offer fresh business opportunities to diversify into a plant now legal under federal law.
Marijuana manufacturers flock to CBD e-commerce amid ongoing legal confusion
Published 1 min ago | By Joey Peña The dominant sales channel for CBD – e-commerce – is becoming a major draw for marijuana manufacturers, who are using hemp-derived CBD to tap into new revenue and a wider consumer base. They’re doing this despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s repeated warnings that it is illegal to include CBD in food, cosmetics or dietary supplements. The federal agency says it will eventually regulate hemp-derived CBD products, but there’s no timeline for rule-making.
is it the right model for your marijuana business
Published 1 min ago | By Joey Peña (This is an abridged version of a story that appears in the March issue of Marijuana Business Magazine.) Kevin Currier has lost sleep over the prospect of vertically integrating his new marijuana business in Michigan. A Michigan resident, Currier applied for a medical cannabis retail license in Grand Rapids while the state transitions to a recreational market.
Illinois treasurer warns lawmakers about cannabis banking crisis
Published 4 mins ago Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs asked lawmakers to support legislation that he says would prohibit state regulators from any action that would penalize or dissuade banks and credit unions from serving medical marijuana-related businesses in the state. Frerichs warned legislators the state’s MMJ industry could collapse if the state doesn’t take action to combat what he called a banking crisis for cannabis businesses.
Alaska's lieutenant governor approves marijuana onsite consumption rules
Published 1 min ago Alaska’s lieutenant governor signed into law the rules that will allow on-site consumption of marijuana at some licensed retailers in the state. The move to approve an on-site consumption program could generate up to $2.4 million in new revenue in the state, according to an informal industry analysis. The rules will go into effect April 11, the Juneau Empire reported, but local governments can ban on-site consumption through ordinance or a voter initiative.
Michigan adds cerebral palsy to list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis
Published 2 mins ago Michigan regulators expanded the state’s list of qualifying illnesses for medical marijuana use by adding cerebral palsy. The decision is expected to bring more patients into the state’s medical cannabis program and thus broaden the number of customers that MMJ companies can reach. Michigan has more than 294,000 medical marijuana cardholders, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Ohio grants cannabis processor permission to start making concentrates, edibles, topicals
Published 4 mins ago Ohio awarded the state’s first certificate of operation to a medical cannabis processor, which will allow for manufacturing of cannabis edibles, tinctures, topicals and other products. This could prove a boon to sales for Ohio’s medical marijuana firms because only plant material – flower – has been available for purchase since the state’s first dispensaries opened in mid-January. Grow Ohio in Muskingum County received its certificate last week.
California enforcement actions on illicit marijuana firms net more than $1.2M in product
Published 3 mins ago In the latest enforcement actions targeting California’s illicit cannabis businesses, state and local agencies recently seized more than $1.2 million in illegal marijuana and MJ products in a series of raids. California licensed cannabis firms have kept a close eye on authorities’ crackdown efforts since illicit operators severely undercut legal sales.
Cannabis retail offers solid investment prospects
Published 1 min ago | By Joey Peña (This is an abridged version of a story that appears in the March 1 edition of Investor Intelligence.) Retail investments can be tricky for several reasons, but it’s also a promising sector of the industry that is burgeoning across the country with new markets opening at a rapid clip. Retail cannabis sales are expected to top $13 billion throughout the U.S. this year.
Alaska's on-site marijuana consumption rules await lieutenant gov's pen
Published 2 mins ago Alaska has moved closer to allowing on-site consumption of cannabis at specially authorized stores, a move that could generate $2.4 million in new revenue, according to an informal industry analysis. The state’s Department of Law found no legal problems with the rules approved by marijuana regulators in December that will govern where and how on-site consumption takes place. The rules were recently sent to Lt. Gov.
Maine nixes contract with Metrc, opens bids for marijuana seed-to-sale software
Published 2 mins ago Maine is withdrawing its $150,000 contract with Florida-based Franwell – the maker of cannabis seed-to-sale tracking software Metrc – because the state is concerned the contract could draw a challenge that results in a delay of recreational marijuana sales. The state’s new Office of Marijuana Policy said it now will seek competitive bids for tracking services by releasing a request for proposals. The ROP has not yet been developed.
Demand could overwhelm licensed growers if Illinois legalizes adult-use marijuana
Published 1 min ago A new report predicts Illinois’ 16 licensed marijuana cultivators would be able to supply just 35%-54% of demand if recreational marijuana is legalized, underscoring the potential size of the state’s adult-use market. According to the report commissioned by Illinois legislators, annual demand could top 550,000 pounds of cannabis if the state OKs adult-use marijuana, the Chicago Tribune reported. To read more about the report, click here.
Vertical Integration vs. Specialization in Marijuana Businesses
The decision to vertically integrate his new cannabis business is one that has kept Kevin Currier awake at night. Ahead of Michigan’s transition to an adult-use market, Currier, a resident of the Great Lakes state, applied for a medical marijuana retail license in Grand Rapids. But he often wonders whether choosing to vertically integrate—defined here as having a cultivation and retail component to a business—would better position his future endeavor for success.
Alaska's marijuana business owners at odds with new governor's plans for industry
Published 4 mins ago | By Joey Peña Alaska cannabis industry stakeholders are pressing their case against Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s plan to abolish the Marijuana Control Board, arguing it could harm the state’s MJ market. At a legislative reception in Juneau on Feb.
Want to expand your cannabis firm's reach? Try age-specific advertising, marketing
Published 1 min ago | By Joey Peña (This is an abridged version of a story that appears in the February issue of Marijuana Business Magazine.) Millennials might be a marijuana business’ bread and butter. But more and more adults who are middle-aged or older are starting to turn to cannabis for medical or adult use – and that underscores the need for companies in all aspects of the marijuana space to come up with generation-specific tactics for marketing, advertising and outreach.
New Alaska Gov. Dunleavy hopes to scrap state's Marijuana Control Board
Published 2 mins ago Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy aims to repeal the state’s Marijuana Control Board, raising alarm bells among cannabis industry officials and investors who fear the move would put licensing and enforcement decisions in the hands of one person and limit the industry’s input into rulemaking. Dunleavy’s plan was outlined in a letter to commerce department employees by commissioner Julie Anderson and a memo from Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office director Erika McConnell.
Judge gives maximum sentence to burglar who almost put Alaska marijuana grow out of business
Published 5 mins ago A burglar who nearly put a cannabis cultivation facility in Anchorage, Alaska, out of business received a maximum two-year sentence and five years of probation, underscoring the need for strict security at plant-touching companies. Total damage to the business exceeded $150,000. The man was found to have stolen or damaged $144,00 in marijuana.
Luxury retailer Barneys New York to sell marijuana products in California flagship
Published 1 min ago Upscale specialty retailer Barneys New York announced plans to sell cannabis products and accessories in a new “luxury” head shop called The High End, the latest mainstream company to capitalize on the marijuana industry. The shop will open in March inside the Barneys flagship store in the tony Southern California town of Beverly Hills.
Retaining prized budtenders no easy task, but it can be done, marijuana insiders say
Published 1 min ago | By Joey Peña (This is an abridged version of a story that appears in the February issue of Marijuana Business Magazine.) It can be difficult for marijuana businesses to retain their best budtenders, but the payoff for investing in retention is well worth the effort.
California regulators clarify some rules around THC limits in edibles
Published 12 mins ago | By Joey Peña California’s infused product makers and testing labs are breathing a sigh of relief now that state regulators have sought to clarify rules governing THC potency for edibles and beverages, a move that is expected to result in fewer products failing lab tests. The brouhaha arose after California’s permanent cannabis regulations took effect last month.
Nevada's Clark County commissioners punt on marijuana consumption lounges
Published 3 mins ago The Clark County Commission in Nevada postponed deliberations on cannabis consumption lounges, saying it will let the state take the lead on the issue. Despite the county’s decision, Las Vegas, which is located in Clark County, plans to continue its discussions about social consumption spaces when the City Council’s recommending committee meets Feb. 19, the Las Vegas Sun reported. To read more about Clark County’s decision, click here.
Ohio medical cannabis sales top $330,000 in first weeks
Published 1 min ago Medical cannabis patients in Ohio have spent more than $333,000 on 46 pounds of cannabis since sales kicked off at four dispensaries Jan. 16, the Dayton Daily News reported. The sales figures were provided by the state’s Medical Marijuana Control Program, which reported $75,000 in medical marijuana sales the first day alone. Compared to other new medical marijuana markets, Ohio has had a strong start to sales.
CA credit union announces it's provided banking services to cannabis businesses for a year
Published 1 min ago A California credit union said it has been providing banking services to licensed marijuana businesses for roughly a year, the North Bay Business Journal reported. North Bay Credit Union in Santa Rosa is currently handling financial transactions for cannabis companies in areas north of San Francisco, such as Sonoma County, though CEO Chris Call declined to name the institution’s clients, the Business Journal reported.
Maine seeks a new consultant to draft adult-use cannabis program's rules
Published 1 min ago Maine released a request for proposals this week that said it’s again looking for a consultant to help put a regulatory structure in place for the state’s long-delayed, adult-use cannabis marketplace. Last week, Maine upended the state’s timeline for legal marijuana sales when it withdrew from a contract with BOTEC, a Los Angeles consulting firm hired to help develop the program’s rules.
Cannabis products co. Slang acquires Organa Brands, listing on CSE
Published 1 min ago Unlike many of its predecessors, Slang Worldwide (CSE: SLNG) saw a relatively stable first day on the Canadian Securities Exchange, opening at 2 Canadian dollars ($1.51) and closing at CA$1.99. The branded consumer products cannabis company, went public Tuesday on the Canadian Securities Exchange with an implied market value of $541 million (CA$718 million). The public trading debut follows the company’s acquisition of Denver-based Organa Brands.
California lawmakers propose cannabis tax cuts to curb the state's black market
Published 1 min ago In an effort to jump-start California’s sluggish legal marijuana marketplace, a group of Democratic state lawmakers proposed a bill that would for the next three years eliminate the state’s $148-per-pound cultivation tax on farmers and reduce the state’s 15% excise tax on retail sales to 11%.
Maine's recreational cannabis timeline in flux after consulting firm let go
Published 1 min ago Maine’s timeline for launching sales of adult-use marijuana is uncertain now that the state has withdrawn from a contract with BOTEC, a Los Angeles consulting firm hired to help craft the program’s rules. The renewed uncertainty poses yet more logistical and financial hurdles for marijuana entrepreneurs wanting to capitalize on legalization in the state. Maine officials were hopeful the rules would be ready by April 30.
Medical cannabis business sues New Mexico over $1.5M in tax payments
Published 1 min ago Ultra Health, a vertically integrated medical marijuana operator in New Mexico, is suing the state Taxation and Revenue Department to obtain a refund of more than $1.5 million in gross-receipts taxes the company says it shouldn’t be forced to pay because it provides medicine. According to Ultra Health’s suit, medical marijuana should be treated like prescription drugs, which are exempt from gross-receipts taxes, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
Toll on cannabis edibles firms as result of new Washington state rules
Published 1 min ago | By Joey Peña A Washington state marijuana trade association is warning regulators that new packaging, labeling and product design rules for cannabis-infused edibles and beverages might decimate edibles manufacturers’ bottom line.
On first day of OH medical marijuana sales, some dispensaries cap patient purchases
Published 12 mins ago | By Joey Peña Wednesday marked the first day of medical marijuana sales in Ohio, with retailers reporting brisk transactions. Only four dispensaries were reported open in the state, a market that is projected to generate as much as $400 million in annual sales over time, according to Marijuana Business Daily estimates.
California marijuana company plans $200M campus in New York state
Published 8 mins ago Ahead of New York’s anticipated legalization of recreational cannabis, San Diego-based Flora California Prime is considering building a $200 million, 1.25 million-square-foot cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and distribution facility on 47 acres of land in Buffalo, New York. According to Buffalo TV station WKBW, construction on the facility could begin once state lawmakers approve legislation that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to introduce early this year.
MA marijuana regulators want more authority to end excessive payments from MJ firms to towns
Published 4 mins ago The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is asking the state Legislature for more authority to halt excessive financial agreements between marijuana businesses and the municipalities in which they operate. Marijuana firms in the state pay up to 3% of their annual revenue to the cities or towns they call home. Those payments are intended to offset a municipality’s costs for hosting cannabis companies.
WA marijuana regulators OK a new deadline for packaging
Published 1 min ago | By Joey Peña The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis board voted Wednesday to give marijuana retailers, cultivators and concentrates and infused product manufacturers until Jan. 1, 2020, to comply with all packaging, labeling and design rules that regulators approved last year. The new regulations: Require an additional universal symbol on packaging for all marijuana products.
Oklahoma gov OKs rules for cannabis-infused food products
Published 1 min ago Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin approved new labeling, packaging and testing rules for food products that include medical marijuana. The new rules require marijuana-infused food and beverage makers to comply with the state’s current food safety laws as well as the labeling and packaging laws for available cannabis products.
Inventory management, forecasting best practices for marijuana companies
Published 3 mins ago | By Joey Peña (This is an abridged version of a story that appears in the January issue of Marijuana Business Magazine.) As new legal marijuana markets emerge and states adjust their regulations, inventory management and forecasting become increasingly challenging for cannabis retailers and product manufacturers. Regulatory shifts can mean unloading product that soon will no longer be compliant, then stocking product that meets new requirements.
Green Thumb acquires Connecticut medical cannabis firm for $80 million
Published 14 mins ago Green Thumb Industries (GTI), a vertically integrated, multistate cannabis company, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Connecticut’s Advanced Grow Labs in a deal valued at roughly $80 million. Advanced Grow Labs, one of only four licensed medical marijuana cultivation and processing companies in the state, owns a 41,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in West Haven and a 46% stake in a not-yet-opened dispensary in Westport.
MA planning board says no to million-square-foot marijuana grow facility
Published 1 min ago The Charlton, Massachusetts, planning board unanimously rejected a cannabis company’s site plan to build a $100 million, 1 million-square-foot marijuana processing and cultivation facility in the town, The Boston Globe reported. It would have been one of the largest marijuana processing/cultivation facilities in the United States. To read more about the board’s decision, click here.
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