🌿 Democrats launch legalization legislation, Republican representatives reject rescheduling, and Cornbread Hemp scores sports sponsorship

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:

• Democrats launch legalization legislation

• Republican representatives reject rescheduling

• Cornbread Hemp scores sports sponsorship

…and more. Let’s get to it.

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🚨 ROLL CALL

Policy

Legalization legislation. More than three dozen Democratic members of Congress, led by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), reintroduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in an effort to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level.

The sweeping federal cannabis reform bill was first brought about in 2019. It has passed in the House on two prior occasions, but has never advanced to a vote on the Senate floor.

Policy

Republican rejection. A group of Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging her to reject the “corrupt and flawed” recommendation to reschedule cannabis. The letter was written by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), along with eight others in the GOP including Andy Harris (MD-01), Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chip Roy (TX-21), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Blake Moore (UT-01), Gary Palmer (AL-06), David Rouzer (NC-07), and Mary Miller (IL-15).

This comes only a few short weeks after President Trump said his administration is considering reclassifying cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III.

Business

Sports sponsorship. Cornbread Hemp has become the first company to secure a THC beverage sponsorship in Division I college athletics, partnering with the University of Louisville. This is an advertising-only partnership as on-premise sales are not currently authorized under Kentucky state law.

The company became an official partner of professional soccer clubs Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC earlier this year.

🇺🇸 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Delaware: The adult-use cannabis market generated over $7.35 million in retail sales during its first month; Governor Matt Meyer vetoed a bill to ease local zoning regulations for cannabis businesses.

Maine: A rise in cannabis dispensaries by nearly 20% has led to a 17% drop in average store sales despite steady statewide revenue..

Massachusetts: A judge ruled that fired Cannabis Control Commission chair Shannon O’Brien was wrongfully removed from her position and must be immediately reinstated to serve out her term, with back pay and benefits.

Nebraska: The Medical Cannabis Commission advanced strict new rules despite public backlash.

Rhode Island: Regulators launched an online portal for individuals seeking certification as social equity applicants for one of six reserved retail licenses.

Texas: A previously passed law just went into effect banning the sale of hemp-derived THC vape pens, with penalties for sellers but no explicit ban on possession.

💼 BUSINESS

Crescent Canna crushes competition

The cannabis manufacturer’s Crescent 9 THC Seltzer is now the top-selling THC drink in U.S. retail stores, according to data from NielsenIQ.

🤝 DEALS

Barney's Farm bails on business combination

The cannabis seed breeder has canceled its proposed merger with PowerPlant due to a failure to meet contractual obligations and a pattern of unreliable information from its board members.

💻 TECH

IndicaOnline introduces eCommerce payment platform

The cannabis point-of-sale provider launched sweedePay, a bank-to-bank ACH payment platform for cannabis eCommerce.

LeafLink links up with Confia

The cannabis wholesale platform has formed a strategic partnership with the fintech company to transition its cannabis banking customers onto the Dama Financial by LeafLink platform.

🌏 AROUND THE WORLD

Australia: Victorian Liberal Party members plan to push for a regulated adult-use cannabis market, proposing a retail system taxed like alcohol to boost the economy and fund support services.

💨 QUICK HITTERS

• A recent Emerson College poll found the majority of U.S. voters (65%) support national cannabis legalization, with all age groups in favor except those over 70.

• Former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway has emerged as the "biggest champion" of cannabis rescheduling.

• Snoop Dogg's Iconic Tonics debuted Klaus, a collection of ready-to-drink, THC-infused beverages crafted by critically acclaimed mixologist Warren Bobrow.

• Anchorage, Alaska voted to postpone indefinitely a proposal to allow on-site cannabis consumption at licensed retailers.

• Green Dot Labs is launching its premium cannabis products in Arizona, marking its first expansion outside Colorado.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

• ‘Like Snoop Dogg’s living room’ – players complain about cannabis smell at US Open (The Telegraph)

• A bold, beautiful strategy for Trump’s medical marijuana policy (The Hill)

• Why Legal Weed Might Not Be as Safe, or as Strong, as Advertised (New York Times)

• What are they smoking at the Cannabis Control Commission? (Boston Globe)

• Growing debate: Cannabis growers want the option of cultivating outside, but state regulators keep trying to stop it (Chicago Tribune)

🔎 JOB BOARD

• Director of Sales, New Jersey Wholesale

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• Account Executive, New York

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• ACH Fraud Analyst

  • Dutchie

  • $60,000—$75,000

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Stay tuned for more cannabis industry news next week!

💚,

The Pre Roll Team

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