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:
PharmaCann Lays Off More Than 130 Employees
Multi-state operator PharmaCann is closing a Denver cultivation facility and laying off more than 130 employees, the latest sign of tightening conditions across the cannabis industry. The move reflects broader pressures including oversupply, high operating costs, and a market correction that is forcing companies to streamline operations and reduce excess capacity.
Beyond the immediate job losses, the closure underscores a deeper shift as the industry moves from rapid expansion to efficiency and consolidation. For operators and patients alike, the ripple effects are real, from disrupted supply chains to fewer product options, highlighting how volatility remains a defining feature of the modern cannabis economy.
Afroman Wins Big in Defamation Case
After a 2022 police raid on his Ohio home turned up no charges, rapper Afroman flipped the experience into viral content, using surveillance footage to create songs and videos like Lemon Pound Cake that mocked the officers involved. The deputies sued for defamation, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress, seeking millions in damages after the videos gained traction online.
Last week, a jury ruled decisively in Afroman’s favor, affirming his work as protected artistic expression and a form of public commentary on law enforcement. The verdict not only closed the case but underscored a broader point: in the evolving intersection of cannabis culture, policing, and media, satire remains a powerful tool and one still firmly protected under the First Amendment
Utah Greenlights MDMA and Psilocybin Trials for Veterans with PTSD
Utah’s governor has signed a new bill opening the door for state-backed clinical trials exploring psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans suffering from treatment-resistant PTSD. The legislation authorizes the Huntsman Mental Health Institute to study substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and DMT in tightly controlled medical settings, pairing the drugs with trauma-informed psychotherapy before and after use.
Importantly, this isn’t legalization, it’s a cautious, research-first approach. The trials must meet strict federal guidelines, including FDA approval and DEA authorization, and will only move forward if sufficient funding is secured through state appropriations and donations. Expected to begin as early as 2027, the study signals a growing willingness, even in conservative states, to seriously investigate psychedelics as a last-resort mental health treatment for veterans failed by conventional therapies
Read More: Because I Got Sued: Afroman Trial Recap – Cannabis & Tech Today
Canada’s Cannabis Market Keeps Climbing
Canada’s legal cannabis market entered 2026 on an upswing, continuing a steady pattern of annual growth. Total sales rose to about C$5.62 billion in 2025, up from C$5.39 billion the year before, showing a market that is still expanding, just at a more measured pace than earlier years.
January sales dipped from December’s record high, falling to roughly C$466 million, but the bigger picture points to stability. Growth is being driven by more retail stores and lower flower prices, which are pulling consumers away from the illicit market. At the same time, performance varies widely by province, with some regions seeing declines month to month while still posting strong gains year over year.
“Pot for Potholes” Returns: Tennessee Lawmakers Revisit Cannabis Plan to Fund Roads
Tennessee lawmakers are once again pushing a proposal to legalize cannabis and funnel the tax revenue into long-overdue road and infrastructure repairs. The so-called “Pot for Potholes” plan would allow adults 21 and older to legally use and purchase marijuana, while creating a regulated system for cultivation and sales. A proposed 15% tax on cannabis would largely go toward the state’s highway fund, aimed at tackling a massive backlog of transportation projects.
Supporters say the idea is as much about economics as policy. Tennessee residents are already spending money on cannabis in neighboring states, and this bill would redirect that flow back into local infrastructure and jobs. The effort failed last year but is being reintroduced with hopes that shifting attitudes and mounting infrastructure needs could give it new momentum as it heads back to committee.
