🌿 Trump takes aim at state medical cannabis programs, Congress confronts the legal hemp industry, and C3 powers up its retail personnel

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:

• Trump takes aim at state medical cannabis programs

• Congress confronts the legal hemp industry

• C3 powers up its retail personnel

…and more. Let’s get to it.

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🚨 ROLL CALL

Policy

At it again. President Donald Trump, in his first budget request of his second term, is looking to repeal a long-standing provision that protects state-legal medical cannabis programs from the Justice Department.

Trump tried, unsuccessfully, to do the same in each year of his previous term. Congress ultimately controls the fate here and has continuously elected to keep the safeguards in place in the past, despite repeated requests from the president.

Policy

Coming under attack. The Republic-led U.S. House Committee on Appropriations put forth a spending bill that includes language targeting intoxicating hemp. The section in question seeks to redefine hemp under federal law and close the “hemp loophole that has resulted in the proliferation of unregulated” hemp-derived THC products.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, an advocacy organization promoting science-driven, equitable, and inclusive law and regulation for hemp, called the proposal a “direct attack” on the legal hemp industry.

The market for hemp-derived THC products, including cannabis-infused beverages, exploded when they became legal with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.

Business

Brick and mortar. C3 Industries, a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan is strategically enhancing its cannabis retail leadership team by assembling a group of experienced executives and operators.

New appointees include:

• Chris Melillo, Chief Retail Officer: Former senior executive with extensive experience scaling national MSO & retail operations in both Cannabis and traditional retail sectors

• Krista Raymer, Chief Strategy Officer: Accomplished strategic leader and founder with extensive experience consulting for 270+ cannabis retailers across the US

• Rob Jones, Vice President of Buying & Planning: Recognized buying and planning industry leader supporting innovative pricing, analytics and inventory management

• Dinesh Penugonda, Vice President of Retail Operations: Experienced operations leader specializing in data-driven retail solutions for omnichannel customer engagement

• Louis Cohen, Regional Vice President of Retail: Veteran cannabis retail operations leader known to transform retail performance

Together, they will oversee a growing retail network, which has locations across Michigan, Missouri, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut and soon to be Kentucky with multiple High Profile dispensaries scheduled to open throughout 2025.

C3 is also bringing Vetrina, a cannabis retail consulting firm founded by new CSO Krista Raymer, in-house and integrating its expertise into the fold.

🇺🇸 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Alaska: A federal judge upheld the state’s ban on intoxicating hemp products, requiring them to be sold at exclusively at licensed cannabis retailers and ruling that the restrictions do not violate the U.S. Constitution.

California: The legal cannabis market experienced its largest sales decline since legalization, with Q1 sales falling 11% compared to the same quarter last year.

Kentucky: A new law prohibits the sale of hemp-derived THC beverages by the drink in bars and restaurants, but sales in liquor stores remain permitted.

Massachusetts: The Cannabis Control Commission is operating with only three members after recent vacancies, complicating efforts to finalize regulations for social consumption and address other ongoing industry challenges.

Nebraska: A legislative proposal to ban most consumable hemp and THC products will be delayed until at least 2026 after failing to secure sufficient support.

New Jersey: Legislators are considering a bill to criminalize the purchase of unlicensed cannabis, in an effort to address the proliferation of unregulated cannabis sales despite the state's legal market.

North Carolina: Governor Josh Stein voiced support for legalizing recreational cannabis and signed an executive order to establish an advisory council on cannabis.

Ohio: The amount of cannabis flower consumers can purchase has more than doubled as part of broader adjustments to the state's recreational cannabis regulations.

Vermont: Lawmakers rejected a proposal that would have allowed cannabis growers to sell directly to consumers.

💼 BUSINESS

Green Dot Labs rolls out refreshed rebrand

The Colorado-based cannabis brand debuted an updated brand identity to commemorate over a decade of market leadership and unwavering commitment to authenticity, creativity, and innovation.

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🤝 DEALS

Vangst strengthens staffing solutions after securing Se7en acquisition

The cannabis industry hiring platform acquired the Kansas City-based cannabis staffing agency to expand its presence regionally and nationally; this marks its third acquisition in the past 12 months.

💨 QUICK HITTERS

• Trulieve unveiled its "Roll Up for Justice" campaign with Mission [Green] to let customers round up purchases to fund cannabis clemency and expungement efforts.

• Drag legend and winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Sasha Colby launched an exclusive pre-roll line with queer NYC cannabis brand FLAMER.

• Chicago’s acclaimed Revolution Brewing introduced a new commercial venture called Reverb Beverage selling canned THC and CBD drinks.

• The co-owners of a Missouri cannabis company that had its license revoked due to a large product recall were awarded another license by regulators.

• Weedmaps teamed up with Los Angeles artist Robin Eisenberg for a female-forward apparel collection, featuring cosmic-themed clothing and accessories.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

• From fintech to flower: How Dan Roda is shaping Arkansas’s cannabis industry (Arkansas Times)

• Hitoki Co-Founder Joe Tran explains his innovative elevation of the bong space (The Pitch)

• It’s Time For Pennsylvania Senate GOP To Get Serious About Marijuana, Sponsor Of House-Passed Legalization Bill Says (Op-Ed) (Marijuana Moment)

🎙️ POTCASTS

• The Great Reshuffle: Hemp, Alcohol, and the Future of THC Access (High Spirits)

🔎 JOB BOARD

• General Manager (New York)

  • Jeeter

  • $180,000—$200,000

• Market Manager (Massachusetts)

  • Grön

  • $75,000 + commission

• Director of Retail Operations (Michigan)

  • DaCut

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Stay tuned for more cannabis industry news next week!

💚,

The Pre Roll Team

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