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:
Organigram Expands into Europe with Major German Acquisition
Organigram Global has closed its acquisition of Sanity Group, a Germany-based cannabis company with a growing footprint across Europe’s medical and wellness markets. The deal, which includes upfront capital and performance-based earnouts, gives Organigram immediate access to Germany’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, widely seen as one of the most important gateways for cannabis in Europe.
The move reflects a broader industry shift toward international scale as companies look beyond saturated North American markets. With Europe gradually opening and capital tightening at home, operators like Organigram are betting that long-term growth will come from early positioning in markets where regulation, and consumer demand, are still taking shape.
Trump Pushes Psychedelic Research Forward with Focus on Ibogaine
A new executive order is accelerating federal support for psychedelic treatments, with a particular focus on ibogaine, a compound being studied for conditions like PTSD, addiction, and depression. The policy directs regulators to fast-track research, expand clinical trials, and explore pathways for patient access, signaling a major shift from decades of strict prohibition toward medical integration.
The move is already energizing the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, with increased funding and faster approval timelines potentially bringing treatments to market sooner. Still, experts caution that while early results are promising, safety concerns and the need for rigorous clinical oversight remain key challenges as psychedelics move closer to mainstream medicine.
California Marks 10 Years of Legal Cannabis
California is marking a decade since voters approved adult-use cannabis, celebrating its role as the largest legal market in the world while acknowledging persistent structural challenges. Since Proposition 64, the state has built a complex regulatory system designed to prioritize safety, equity, and tax revenue, but one that many operators say is difficult to survive within.
High taxes, local licensing restrictions, and a still-thriving illicit market continue to undermine legal businesses, even as the state experiments with reforms like hemp-derived product regulations and enforcement strategies. Ten years in, California remains both a global leader and a case study in how legalization alone doesn’t guarantee a healthy market.
Read more: The Sweet Science of Cannatela
Massachusetts Restructures Cannabis Commission After Years of Turmoil
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has signed a major overhaul of the state’s Cannabis Control Commission, reducing its size from five members to three and consolidating appointment power under the governor. The restructuring follows years of internal conflict, leadership turnover, and criticism over the commission’s ability to effectively regulate a growing market.
The new law also expands licensing opportunities, including social consumption, signaling an attempt to stabilize and modernize the state’s cannabis ecosystem. Still, questions remain about whether centralizing authority will improve efficiency, or further concentrate power in a way that could sideline smaller operators and equity-focused businesses.
Omaha Tribe in Nebraska Challenges State Prohibition With Cannabis Venture
The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska is moving forward with a cannabis operation on tribal land, directly challenging prohibition in one of the most restrictive states in the country. By leveraging tribal sovereignty, the tribe is asserting its right to regulate and sell cannabis independent of Nebraska law, setting up a potential legal and political clash.
The effort is part of a broader trend of Indigenous nations entering the cannabis industry as a path to economic development and self-determination. But it also highlights the uneven patchwork of legalization in the U.S., where tribal authority, state resistance, and federal ambiguity continue to collide in real time.
GLP-1 Boom Is Quietly Changing How People Use Cannabis
The rise of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy is beginning to ripple into the cannabis industry, with dispensaries noticing shifts in consumer behavior. As these medications suppress appetite and alter how the body processes food, some users report reduced interest in traditional cannabis experiences tied to eating, like edibles or “munchies.”
In response, retailers are adjusting their offerings, leaning into lower-dose products, tinctures, and inhalables geared toward sleep, stress relief, and functional use. The shift points to a more intentional consumer, one whose cannabis habits are increasingly shaped by broader health trends rather than just recreational patterns.
