🌿 Thailand elects pro-cannabis prime minister, Curaleaf joins index on major stock exchange, and LEVIA founders reacquire cannabis beverage brand

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:

• Thailand elects pro-cannabis prime minister

• Curaleaf joins index on major stock exchange

• LEVIA founders reacquire cannabis beverage brand

…and more. Let’s get to it.

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🚨 ROLL CALL

Policy

Thai turnaround. Anutin Charnvirakul, known for leading Thailand’s 2022 cannabis decriminalization as health minister, has been elected the country’s new prime minister. While his pro-cannabis stance helped fuel a rapid expansion of the industry, the rollout faced criticism for lacking regulation and clear guidelines.

Earlier this year under different leadership, Thailand moved to recriminalize recreational sales and require a medical prescription for purchase. 

As prime minister, Anutin’s leadership could shape the future of cannabis policy in Thailand, though it's unclear whether he will tighten rules or maintain a liberal approach.

When Thailand originally decriminalized cannabis nationwide back in 2022, it became the first country in Asia to do so, bringing in a wave of tourists from all over Asia where drug laws are notoriously strict.

Business

Market momentum. Curaleaf announced this week that it will be added to the S&P/TSX Composite Index, effective before the market opens on September 22.

The company will be listed under the Health Care sector on the Toronto Stock Exchange and marks it as the only U.S.-based cannabis operator included in the index. The move also positions Curaleaf among the highest-capitalized and most actively traded stock on the TSX.

Business

Buy back. Kristin and Eric Rogers have signed a definitive agreement to re-acquire LEVIA, a cannabis beverage brand they founded in 2017, from Ayr Wellness. The deal is pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.

LEVIA is known for its zero-calorie, zero-sugar cannabis-infused seltzers, which were first introduced in Massachusetts in 2021. The brand was acquired by Ayr Wellness in 2022.

🇺🇸 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Maryland: More than $18.4 million in adult-use cannabis sales tax was collected in Q2.

Michigan: Regulators are urging the legislature to give them stronger authority to combat black‑market cannabis growing and unregulated hemp‑derived products.

Missouri: A new petition proposes replacing current cannabis laws with a system that regulates cannabis and intoxicating hemp products like alcohol and tobacco, allowing for broader retail sales.

Nebraska: The state’s Medical Cannabis Commission, acting on the request of Governor Jim Pillen, has capped medical cannabis cultivators at 1,250 flowering plants at any one time to prevent oversupply and prevent black-market activity.

New York: The legal cannabis market has surpassed $2 billion in total retail sales, with more than $1 billion this year alone.

Texas: Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order banning the sale of THC products to minors, mandating ID verification for all customers.

💼 BUSINESS

Boveda unveils new brand

The global leader in 2-way humidity control has launched a new brand called Vivi and its flagship product, Vivi Cure, which cuts cannabis curing time to just 10 days from the usual two to four weeks.

🤝 DEALS

Standard Wellness sets sights on expansion

The Ohio-based vertically integrated cannabis company has acquired Greenstock dispensary in Seville, OH for $1.35 million, bringing its number of dispensaries in Ohio to four; it plans to open four more over the next 12–18 months.

💻 TECH

Safe Harbor serves up new banking program

The cannabis fintech introduced the first fully managed cannabis banking program for financial institutions, offering a turnkey solution that handles everything from client onboarding and compliance to marketing and reporting, so banks and credit unions can accept cannabis‑related deposits with minimized risk, overhead, and reputational exposure.

💨 QUICK HITTERS

• Skymint has emerged from Michigan’s first major cannabis receivership under new ownership.

• The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota has signed a cannabis compact, granting the tribe authority to regulate and sell cannabis sales beyond its reservation.

• Suntory CEO Takeshi Niinami resigned after a police investigation into his purchase of a supplement potentially containing illegal cannabis components.

• RISE dispensary workers in Pennsylvania are on strike over low wages and unfair labor practices, demanding better contracts and respect.

• NYC-based dispensary chain Gotham is returning to New York Fashion Week with collaborations featuring live cannabis consumption on the runway and exclusive product launches.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

• Jeff Bridges Was High On Marijuana When Filming Oscar-Nominated Performance As President Of The US, Movie Director Says (Marijuana Moment)

• Retailers relieved that Texas skirted a THC ban — again (Texas Tribune)

• Rand Paul: Congress' THC ban could 'completely eradicate' state's hemp industry (LEX 18)

🎙️ POTCASTS

• Everything you need to know about hemp (Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast)

• Building Momentum with Aaron Miles, CIO of Verano (Higher Exchanges)

📽️ VIDEO OF THE WEEK

🔎 JOB BOARD

• Key Account Manager: California

  • BRĒZ

  • $90,000—$110,000

• Digital Marketing Manager

  • AYR Wellness

• Adjunct Assistant Professor - Cannabis Management

  • Farmingdale State College

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Stay tuned for more cannabis industry news next week!

💚,

The Pre Roll Team

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