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Happy Friday Pre Rollers! Welcome to another edition of The Pre Roll, the cannabis newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the industry happenings you need to know.
Here’s what we’re rolling up this week:
Aurora Cannabis moves to medical-only
Alabama looks toward launch
Additional companies announce 2025 results
…and more. Let’s get to it.
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🚨 ROLL CALL
Business
Source: Conch&Media
Medical move. Aurora Cannabis, one of Canada’s largest cannabis companies, outlined a major strategic shift earlier this month at the TD Cowen Health Care Conference, publicizing its pivot to medical‑only. Chief Financial Officer Simona King emphasized that the move is driven by higher margins and lower price compression in regulated medical markets.
“Aurora's prioritization of medical cannabis as the industry's most compelling growth area is anchored by our investments in key markets, world-class cultivation and GMP manufacturing facilities, operational efficiencies, cutting-edge science and genetics, and regulatory expertise.”
The company is also prioritizing growth in international markets such as Germany, Australia, and Poland, where regulated patient access and local manufacturing provide competitive advantages.
Policy
Source: WVTM 13
Alabama awaits. Alabama’s long‑awaited medical cannabis program is finally poised to begin legal sales in April or early May, marking a significant shift for one of the last states in the Southeast without active patient access.
After nearly five years of regulatory development, licensing delays, and litigation, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has completed the framework necessary for dispensaries to open and serve qualifying patients.
The rollout includes four dispensary companies that will each run three locations, for a total of 12 dispensary sites statewide. The commission also awarded licenses to nine growers and four processors.
Under the state’s medical law, licensed physicians will soon be able to recommend cannabis for approved conditions.
Business
Source: Yahoo! Finance
Extra earnings. A number of additional ancillary and plant cannabis companies reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025, with varied outcomes. Click on each business below for further detailed information.
We’ll cover Q1 earnings when they are released in May.
🇺🇸 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
Massachusetts: Regulators voted to continue limiting cannabis delivery licenses to social equity businesses, prioritizing those disproportionately affected by past cannabis prohibition.
Oregon: A proposal to cap cannabis edibles at 10 milligrams of THC passed the Senate but ultimately died in the House after opposition from industry lobbyists.
South Carolina: Senators are debating a bill that would regulate hemp-derived beverages similarly to alcohol.
South Dakota: Lawmakers blocked an effort to dissolve the state’s medical cannabis oversight committee.
Texas: Officials adopted new rules that will effectively ban the sale of smokable cannabis and hemp products in the state by the end of March, while leaving edibles legal with stricter packaging and testing requirements.
West Virginia: The House approved legislation to release about $38 million from the medical cannabis program fund and redirect it toward research, addiction recovery programs, and homeless services.
💼 BUSINESS
High Tide hits major milestone
The Canadian cannabis retailer opened its 220th Canna Cabana dispensary location in Sarnia, Ontario.
Texas Original opens more stores
The largest medical cannabis operator in the Lone Star State opened five new facilities — two full satellite dispensaries and three pick‑up sites in.
💨 QUICK HITTERS
Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds revealed he was arrested as a teen for cannabis possession and sold small amounts.
The owner of TD Garden arena in Boston is suing a Massachusetts cannabis dispensary called The Boston Garden over trademark infringement.
Teamsters at a Sunnyside dispensary in Pennsylvania voted to authorize a strike after management failed to offer a contract with fair wages.
A Girl Scout troop in New Jersey drew both praise and criticism for setting up a cookie booth outside a dispensary.
Cannabis vape products have overtaken traditional flower as the top selling category in California, driven largely by Gen Z consumers.
📚 WHAT WE’RE READING
They Helped Her Open a Weed Shop. Now They’re Suing for $2.5 Million. (New York Times)
Marijuana And Hemp Leaders Have Found Agreement On Many Significant Policy Issues (Op-Ed) (Marijuana Moment)
Charlotte’s Web is planning for both a CBD bonanza and a hemp ban (MJBizDaily)
From startup seedling to cannabis powerhouse, Verano has navigated the industry’s ups and downs (Chicago Tribune)
A Republican Weed CEO Wants To Be Governor. Can Cannabis Be His Bridge Issue? (High Times)
Eliminating Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry would be ‘death blow,’ costly to state (Oklahoma Voice)
Ohio craft brewers warn THC drink ban could shut down businesses (News 5 Cleveland)
First ‘craft cannabis’ products hit recreational dispensaries in Minnesota (Minnesota Public Radio)
Armentano: Excessive taxes on cannabis fuels the illicit market (Detroit News)
🎙️ POTCASTS
Jane West: From UN and Social Worker to Cannabis Pioneer, Building Women Grow & a Global Lifestyle Brand (Women in CannaBusiness)
The $28 Billion Ban: Hemp's Last Stand (High Rise)
📽️ VIDEO OF THE WEEK
🔎 JOB BOARD
JARS Cannabis
$65,000—$75,000
DreamFields
$50,000—$55,000
Miss Grass
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Stay tuned for more cannabis industry news next week!
💚,
The Pre Roll Team
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