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🌿 Edible Arrangements gets into edibles, LeafLink named to Fast Company list, and states take aim at hemp-derived products

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: Edible Arrangements gets into edibles, LeafLink named to Fast Company list, states take aim at hemp-derived products, and more. Let’s get to it.

Author

Alex Lipnik
March 21, 2025

together with

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:

  • Edible Arrangements gets into edibles

  • LeafLink named to Fast Company list

  • States take aim at hemp-derived products

…and more. Let’s get to it.

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🚨 ROLL CALL
Business

A different kind of edible. The parent company of Edible Arrangements, the brand known for its fruit bouquet baskets, launched an eCommerce marketplace for hemp-derived edibles and beverages. The new venture, Edibles.com, will offer same-day delivery of THC-infused products from brands such as Cann, Wana, 1906, Happi, Cantrip, and ayrloom. Orders will be fulfilled through the corporation’s existing franchise network, which CEO Somia Farid Silber says covers 70% of households in the U.S. within an hour.

"Edible Brands' wellness-driven approach aligns with the evolving future of this category. With our robust infrastructure and nationwide footprint, we are uniquely positioned to accelerate industry growth. Joining an organization that prioritizes consumers, advocacy, and innovation allows us to strengthen and shape this emerging market."

Thomas Winstanley, Executive Vice President for Edibles.com

The website debuted yesterday in Texas and plans to expand rapidly into legal markets across the Southeast, including Florida and Georgia. Select products will be available for nationwide shipping where legally permitted in the coming weeks.

The company is also preparing to introduce a brick-and-mortar retail concept with a flagship store in Atlanta set to serve as a prototype for a limited franchising program.

Tech

At your (business) service. Cannabis wholesale platform LeafLink was named to Fast Company’s 2025 list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. In total, Fast Company recognized 609 organizations across 58 categories that are reshaping industries and culture. LeafLink was acknowledged in the sector of business services.

"Being recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies is an incredible honor and a testament to the fact that LeafLink's technology solutions solve some of the cannabis industry's most significant pain points. The cannabis industry continues to grow, evolve, and push boundaries thanks to the tireless work of passionate entrepreneurs. We're grateful to play a role in helping our customers manage and streamline their businesses, and we remain committed to building tools that power their success. We are incredibly excited about our 2025 product roadmap and look forward to continuing to partner with our customers to drive the industry forward."

Artie Minson, CEO of LeafLink

The honor comes on the heels of a very splashy 2024, which included the acquisitions of competitor Leaf Trade and cannabis fintech Dama Financial’s banking division, and unveiling a new payment option to address the delinquent payments problem.

Policy

Source: Shoshana Gordon / Axios

Looking to ban. A number of states are taking aim at hemp-derived products, which became legal as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. The following is a rundown of those initiatives:

This topic is sure to continue to create headlines as hemp-derived products grow in popularity and sweep across the nation.

🇺🇸 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Kansas: Bills to legalize medical and recreational cannabis have been introduced in both chambers of the state legislature.

New York: The Office of Cannabis Management established a $5 million grant program designed to help licensed dispensary owners cover critical startup costs such as commercial rent, security equipment, point-of-sale systems, inventory tracking, and regulatory compliance improvements.

North Carolina: A group of Democratic lawmakers filed a bill that would legalize recreational cannabis.

Pennsylvania: Governor Josh Shapiro says residents are driving across the border to neighboring states to buy cannabis and explains why he’s calling for the legalization of adult-use cannabis.

💼 BUSINESS

3Fifteen Primo Cannabis settles up with shareholders

The Missouri-based cannabis company announced the return of 100% of invested capital to its shareholders amidst five consecutive quarters of seven-figure distributions to investors.

💻 TECH

Kaycha Labs takes on testing in Massachusetts

The provider of cannabis testing technologies has been awarded a contract with the Cannabis Control Commission to serve as an official testing laboratory for cannabis, cannabis products, and related devices across the Commonwealth.

🏆 AWARDS & HONORS

Female Founders 500 (Inc.): Arana Hankin-Biggers, founder of NYC dispensary chain The Travel Agency: A Cannabis Store, was included on the eight annual list of women entrepreneurs making significant waves in business.

🌏 AROUND THE WORLD

The Bahamas: The issuing of medical cannabis licenses is expected to start on July 1.

Germany: A new survey shows only 36% of adults want to ban cannabis again, reversing the current partial legalization.

South Africa: The Department of Health has banned the production and sale of cannabis and hemp-derived edibles.

💨 QUICK HITTERS

  • A Milwaukee-area woman, born in Thailand to Hmong refugees after the Vietnam War and a legal permanent U.S. resident, was deported to Laos last week after she pleaded guilty to taking part in a cannabis trafficking operation.

  • The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against former Acreage CFO Glen Leibowitz for allegedly falsifying accounting records.

  • Cannabis vaping maker The Blinc Group filed for bankruptcy.

  • Centerville, Ohio is banning recreational dispensaries, but will permit medical dispensaries.

  • Charlotte-based NoDa Brewing rolled out a new line of THC-infused seltzers.

  • Cannabis point-of-sale and payments provider POSaBIT claims to process over 85% of all cannabis transactions in Washington State.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

  • How Missouri Became a Cannabis Mecca (Wall Street Journal)

  • Calif. startup is selling injectable cannabis. The FDA isn't happy. (SFGATE)

  • Recreational marijuana prices drop again in Michigan: What it means for the industry (Detroit Free Press)

  • Dear Congress: 280E isn’t a tax break for cannabis companies (MJBizDaily)

  • Cannabis legalization pushback: Anti-legalization groups ramp up efforts to stop the green wave (Reuters)

🎙️ POTCASTS
📽️ VIDEO OF THE WEEK
🔎 JOB BOARD

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