DeSantis’ anti-cannabis campaign in hot water 👀

Gov. DeSantis’ multimillion-dollar anti-cannabis campaign in hot water 👀

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is embroiled in a firestorm over steering $10 million of a legal Medicaid settlement into his wife’s charity. The Miami Herald reports that charity, the Hope Florida Foundation, donated millions to two organizations —  Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society from Drugs— fighting, successfully, the campaign to legalize cannabis in the state last year. DeSantis is already under the microscope over alleged misuse of state funds for the anti Amendment 3 campaign. Read more from The Miami Herald.

Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission approves regulations 🚀

Rhode Island’s three member Cannabis Control Commission approved regulations for the state’s legal cannabis industry on Friday, reports The Rhode Island Current. The rules are set to take effect on May 1, after which it can begin issuing two dozen dispensary licenses. Rhode Island legalized cannabis in 2022, but like many other states, has taken multiple years to get the market going. 

Chilean lawmakers introduce cannabis legalization package 🌿

A group of Chilean lawmakers introduced a package of legislation that would legalize cannabis in the South American country. The bill, introduced by a coalition of parties, would establish legal possession limits, allow adults to cannabis at home, and would create nonprofit cultivation centers. Read more from Benzinga.

Trulieve contributes $19.6 million to renewed push to legalize in Florida 🦩

Trulieve contributed nearly $20 million to the Smart & Safe campaign to legalize cannabis in Florida, reports Fox35 Orlando. Trulieve was by far the largest financial backer of Amendment 3, the ballot measure that failed to legalize cannabis last November. The next hope is the 2026 ballot.

SNDL to the CSE 📈

Canadian cannabis firm SNDL said last week it planned to list on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the ticker SNDL. Its shares also trade on the Nasdaq under the same ticker, and it appears both listings will remain for now. Theoretically, the CSE listing could give the company a platform to invest in the US, as the Nasdaq forbids listed companies from growing or selling cannabis, a Schedule I drug.

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The newly combined industry trade group US Cannabis Roundtable hosted an event for USCR members and bipartisan members of Congress in Washington DC last week. 

Watch our conversation with the newly formed USCR on Cultivated Live in  January, where they discuss their political priorities for the upcoming year.

Minnesota could soon launch its legal marijuana market. Here’s what happens next. ($) | Minnesota Star-Tribune

How American cannabis businesses are responding to Trump’s tariffs | MJBizDaily