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:
Times Square Gets Its First Dispensary
The Daily Green opened its doors in the heart of Times Square, instantly becoming one of the most high-profile legal cannabis locations in the country. Positioned to serve both locals and tourists, the shop leans into New York’s media culture with a bold, newsroom-inspired design. Its location is as much a marketing move as it is a retail one, bringing legal cannabis to one of the most trafficked intersections in the world.
Massachusetts Sheriff Indicted Over Cannabis Stock Extortion
Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins was indicted on federal extortion charges. Prosecutors allege he pressured a Boston cannabis company into selling him $50,000 in discounted stock by threatening their state license. This case rips open the festering wound of corruption and poor oversight in the cannabis world. With prison time now hanging like a guillotine, it’s a harsh warning of the risks of abuse of power at the intersection of law enforcement and cannabis business.
Dutchie Workers File Landmark Union Election
In a first for the cannabis software sector, Product Support Agents and Analysts at Dutchie filed to unionize with UFCW Local 1445. It’s a fresh tremor in the uneasy ground of cannabis tech, as workers grow tired of erratic paychecks, raises that never seem to come, jobs dangling by a thread, and the creeping takeover of faceless outsourcing firms. With Dutchie powering over 1 million transactions daily for 6,500 dispensaries, the union drive could set a precedent for organizing in cannabis-adjacent tech—a segment that’s often overlooked in labor discussions.
Chicago Budtenders Join Teamsters
Dispensary 33 employees have officially joined Teamsters Local 777, continuing a wave of cannabis retail unionization in Illinois. The Teamsters have been aggressive in organizing the state’s cannabis workforce, framing union protections as critical in an industry facing consolidation and corporate buyouts. The move strengthens Illinois’ standing as one of the nation’s most active fronts in the growing fight for cannabis workers’ rights.
Grön Expands to Pennsylvania
Oregon-based edibles brand Grön has launched in Pennsylvania, debuting its infused medical marijuana troches at Curaleaf dispensaries. The rollout will extend statewide to other medical dispensaries next week. Known for its gourmet approach to edibles, Grön’s push into Pennsylvania marks another twist in the ever-expanding maze of the cannabis market—even in states where recreational use remains off the table.
Cannabis Market Snapshot
The cannabis sector saw sharp swings this week. Hopes of federal rescheduling to Schedule III sent major stocks soaring—Aurora Cannabis jumped 16%, Tilray and Canopy posted double-digit gains, and the MSOS ETF surged 25%. Delaware’s new adult-use market debuted strong, raking in over $900K its first weekend.
Not all news was upbeat. Arizona reported a 10% year-over-year sales drop, and THC-infused beverages continued to underperform due to regulatory hurdles and low consumer demand.
