Business
Oklahoma voters reject adult-use marijuana legalization
In a decisive rebuke for marijuana legalization in the conservative American heartland, voters in Oklahoma on Tuesday soundly rejected an adult-use measure in a special election.
With just under 72% of precincts reporting on Tuesday, State Question 820 was losing by nearly 27 points, with 141,978 votes in favor to 242,234 against.
Polls had been closed for just over an hour when The New York Times and Associated Press called the race over.
Tuesday’s defeat in Oklahoma follows losses in November in Arkansas and the Dakotas, though adult-use cannabis sales have begun in Missouri, where a legalization measure passed in November.
Oklahoma voters appeared to turn out against the measure in both rural and urban areas – when they turned out at all.
According to early, unofficial results from the Oklahoma secretary of state, a total of 13,851 voters requested absentee ballots, compared with 71,000 in the November general election.
The measure also lost soundly among the 34,403 voters who cast early ballots starting last week – 21,849 of whom voted no.
Cannabis industry advocates fear that Tuesday’s defeat will spell the beginning of a statewide crackdown on Oklahoma’s heretofore freewheeling medical marijuana experiment.
And in a state where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by nearly 2-1, Tuesday’s legalization loss is also a sign that broader reform, including federal marijuana legalization, might be a more difficult lift than anticipated.
“Today’s decision in Oklahoma is heartbreaking, especially considering how many challenges this bill faced before it got to the ballot and how much work advocates put in,” said Jeffrey M. Zucker, co-founder and president of Denver-based cannabis consultancy Green Lion Partners and vice chair of the board at the Marijuana Policy Project, a national legalization advocacy group.
“We have a long way to go to undo the damage of the war on drugs, especially in a state where more than 4,500 people are arrested annually for cannabis possession,” he added.
In a statement, Michelle Tilley, the Yes on 820 campaign spokesperson, vowed to try again.
“We didn’t get State Question 820 across the finish line tonight, but the fact remains that marijuana legalization is not a question of ‘if;’ it’s a question of ‘when,’” she said.
Pat McFerron, a veteran Republican political strategist who led the No on 820 campaign, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Where marijuana is legal in the United States
The politics of marijuana
Though neither campaign released polling ahead of Tuesday’s vote, McFerron, a veteran Republican political consultant who organized the opposition campaign, told MJBizDaily last week that an informal January poll he took of 500 likely voters showed the campaign running slightly behind, 46% in favor to 49% opposed.
Tuesday’s vote – believed to be the first time voters anywhere in the U.S. went to the polls with only adult-use cannabis legalization on the ballot – was the culmination of a drawn-out and contentious process.
Last summer, the pro-legalization campaign accused the state in a lawsuit of intentionally slow-walking the ballot referendum process in order to miss a key deadline.
After the state Supreme Court declined to intervene, Gov. Kevin Stitt kicked Question 820 to Tuesday’s special election.
Observers on the political spectrum said pushing legalization to a special vote rather than a November general election helped Stitt, who was seen as vulnerable despite easily cruising to reelection, and hurt legalization, which might have gotten more turnout in a general election.
Question 820 would have imposed a 15% excise tax on recreational marijuana sales, plus state and local sales taxes.
The state MMJ excise tax remains 7%.
Moratorium will halt growth
Considered the country’s most business-friendly and laissez-faire state, Oklahoma is home to nearly 12,000 licensed cannabis businesses, according to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, though there have been recent sign of a slowdown after a yearslong rush that followed the June 2018 approval of MMJ at the ballot.
The state has 7,078 licensed growers and 2,877 dispensaries as of Feb. 8, the most recent data available.
There won’t be any more for at least another 18 months after state officials imposed a two-year moratorium on new business licenses last August.
There are also 369,468 registered patients in the state – a slight decrease from the 382,069 who held MMJ recommendations a year ago but still more per capita than any other state.
Though the state MMJ industry claims to be struggling amid a price crash triggered by oversupply and a shrinking patient base, Oklahomans still purchased more than $786 million of cannabis last year, according to state figures.
The state raked in more than $120 million in tax revenue.
With medical marijuana so readily and widely available, some observers questioned whether voters would see legalization of adult-use cannabis as a priority.
And advocates say that rejecting the measure would lead to a wide crackdown on the state’s MMJ industry.
Critics, particularly in rural areas, complained of quality-of-life issues including rising crime and violence, a bell that state law enforcement officials rang repeatedly in the run-up to the election.
State agencies opposed measure
On Feb. 24, less than two weeks before Tuesday’s vote, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (ONB) said an investigation linked “multiple” MMJ farms to organized crime factions involved in sex trafficking and prostitution.
The agency claimed to have shut down more than 800 cannabis farms linked to organized crime, OBN Director Donnie Anderson said in a news release.
The state drug-enforcement agency has long made known its opposition to medical marijuana.
In a November white paper, the ONB claimed legal MMJ poses “extreme challenges” that “unscrupulous actors and criminal enterprises have sought to exploit.”
Law enforcement agencies across the country say that Oklahoma is now a leading source for illicit-market cannabis sold across state lines.
Similar concerns prompted nearly all of the state’s political establishment to oppose the adult-use measure.
Prominent opponents included Stitt and Republican U.S. Senator James Lankford, who deployed familiar arguments as well as market logic.
The state Republican Party, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association all opposed the measure.
Xenophobia appears to have played a role in the election.
In echoes of national Republicans’ messaging tying foreigners to crime and violence, both Oklahoma law enforcement and political lobbies said that MMJ provided cover for unsavory outsiders to jeopardize Oklahoma residents.
“We must protect our rural way of life from out-of-state and foreign interests that do not have the best interests of our state at heart,” OC President Byron Yeoman said in a preelection statement.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/oklahoma-vote-on-adult-use-marijuana/
Agriculture & Life Sciences
Canada’s Cannabis Industry Urges Government to Support Growing Export Market
BuzzBuzz Cannabis Business News — 24 November 2025
Canada’s cannabis sector is calling on federal and provincial governments to recognize its fast-growing export potential and extend the same support other regulated industries receive. Industry leaders warn that Canada is losing its early global advantage due to slow regulatory processes, lack of trade promotion, and limited access to government-backed financing.
Canada’s medical-cannabis exporters now generate more than half a billion dollars annually and ship products to major markets including Germany, the UK, Australia, and Poland. Despite this, cannabis remains largely absent from Canada’s official trade and export strategies.
Industry Calls for Streamlined Export System
Paul McCarthy, President of the Cannabis Council of Canada, says the country has everything required to dominate the global medical cannabis trade—except government alignment.
“Our requests are simple,” McCarthy said. “Expedite Health Canada’s export-permit process, integrate cannabis into federal export programs like Global Affairs Canada trade missions and CanExport, and ensure provinces include cannabis in their export strategies.”
He stressed the need for mutual recognition agreements with importing countries to eliminate redundant testing and documentation. Access to Export Development Canada (EDC) and Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) services also remains off-limits to cannabis exporters, placing them at a steep disadvantage.
“This industry does not just need permission to operate,” McCarthy added. “It needs to be treated like every other legitimate contributor to Canada’s trade objectives.”
Competitors Are Moving Faster
McCarthy warns that while Canada pioneered medical cannabis standards, other countries are rapidly advancing with more flexible and export-friendly systems.
“Faster approvals, lower compliance costs, and active government-backed strategies are helping other nations catch up,” he said. “Canada’s regulatory friction is already costing us global market share.”
Export permits currently must be issued for each shipment—a process that can take weeks—and Canadian testing standards often differ from international requirements, forcing companies to repeat expensive compliance checks.
High Tide CEO: Canada Needs a National Export Strategy
Raj Grover, CEO of High Tide Inc., says Canada risks surrendering its leadership if policymakers remain inactive.
“Canada developed the world’s most advanced cannabis regulatory system and contributed $76.5 billion to GDP since legalization,” Grover said. “But without a National Cannabis Export Strategy, we will lose ground to Australia, Israel, Portugal, and other emerging competitors.”
He noted that Canada’s industry table created by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has not met in more than a year—an opportunity wasted.
Grover urged the federal government to introduce domestic GMP certification and potency standards to streamline international market access. “Canadian producers must currently get GMP approval country by country. It’s duplicative and costly. Canada should be setting global benchmarks, not chasing them.”
Germany: A Key Market for Canadian Firms
High Tide recently expanded into Europe with its majority acquisition of Germany’s Remexian Pharma GmbH, giving the company a direct import and distribution channel in Europe’s largest medical-cannabis market.
“Our German strategy is already structured for success,” Grover said. “Through Remexian, we can supply premium medical cannabis at the lowest possible price, helping meet Germany’s quality and cost demands.”
Grover also warned that U.S. companies are already purchasing Canadian firms to stage their own international expansion—another sign that Canada’s leadership position is slipping.
Government Response Remains Limited
In response to industry concerns, a Global Affairs Canada spokesperson said the Trade Commissioner Service “continues to support exporters of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes that have obtained Health Canada permits.”
However, industry leaders argue that this support is minimal and does not include key tools such as trade missions, export credits, or bilateral agreements that other sectors routinely receive.
A Closing Window of Opportunity
With medical-cannabis exports already exceeding $500 million annually, industry executives say Canada must act quickly to preserve its competitive edge.
As McCarthy warns, without coordinated government support, Canada risks losing high-value pharmaceutical manufacturing, research investments, and thousands of skilled jobs.
And as Grover’s expansion into Germany demonstrates, the industry is moving forward—but whether Canada moves with it may determine if the country remains a global leader or becomes a pioneer that let others capitalize on its breakthroughs.
Business
A Tipping Point for Cannabis: President Trump Champions CBD & Cannabis Science on Truth Social
When the President of the United States shares a video about the life changing potential of hemp derived CBD on his personal social media platform, it is more than news, it is a cultural shift.
For decades our government lied to us about cannabis. It demonized the plant, waged war on its users, and filled prisons while allowing pharmaceutical companies to flood the nation with addictive and deadly drugs. For over a century we have been fighting uphill, not just for legalization, but for truth, for science, and for the right to heal ourselves naturally.
Now in 2025, the most powerful political figure on Earth is using his own voice and platform to talk about the endocannabinoid system and the science backed benefits of CBD. That is monumental. It is validation for everyone who has fought, been arrested, been silenced, and been dismissed for telling this truth. The President’s video post is already being described as a pivotal moment in cannabis history, and President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social is trending across platforms as advocates celebrate the breakthrough.
The Science Behind the Endocannabinoid System
The video begins by introducing something most people, including many doctors, still know little about, the endocannabinoid system. Discovered in the 1990s, the ECS is a network of receptors and signaling molecules that works as the body’s master regulator, coordinating communication between major systems like the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems.
The roots of this discovery go back much further. CBD was first isolated in 1940 by American chemist Roger Adams, but it was Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli organic chemist, who fully elucidated the chemical structure of CBD and identified its stereochemistry in the 1960s. His pioneering work not only opened the door to modern cannabinoid science but also earned him the title “Godfather of Cannabis Research.” It was this foundation that led to the identification of the endocannabinoid system itself decades later, revealing how cannabinoids interact with our physiology on a fundamental level.
The ECS is now widely recognized as a vital part of human biology, with extensive research supported by the National Institutes of Health. When functioning properly, the ECS acts like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every section plays in harmony. As we age, the system weakens. That imbalance is linked to inflammation, chronic pain, cognitive decline, sleep problems, and many other conditions associated with aging.
Mainstream medicine often addresses these issues with pharmaceutical band aids, dangerous and addictive drugs that treat symptoms rather than root causes. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise help, but they only partially support the ECS and do so slowly over time.
Hemp Derived CBD: A Game Changer for Aging
Here is where the science gets exciting. As the video explains, the ECS can be restored much more quickly with hemp derived CBD. Strengthening this system naturally helps the body regain balance, reducing pain, improving sleep, lowering stress, slowing disease progression, and even extending healthy lifespan.
It is not theoretical. One in five seniors is already using CBD to manage pain, arthritis, cancer symptoms, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, and more. Despite decades of research and acknowledgment from institutions like the National Institutes of Health, most physicians receive no training on the ECS. There are still no FDA standards for CBD products on the market. If that were the case for any other class of medicine, it would be considered malpractice.
The World Health Organization has confirmed CBD’s excellent safety profile and non addictive nature in its critical review report. The result is that millions of older Americans are suffering unnecessarily when a safe and natural solution exists.
Hemp derived CBD is a powerful first step in restoring balance to the endocannabinoid system, but it is only part of the picture. Research shows that full spectrum cannabis extracts, which include a broader range of cannabinoids and terpenes, can work even more effectively. Complete concentrated cannabis oil, containing the full spectrum of natural endocannabinoids, may deliver the most profound results for certain patients. Expanding access to these therapies will be essential if we want to unlock the full healing potential of this plant.
The Economic and Social Impact
The video cites a powerful figure. A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis estimates that fully integrating cannabis into the healthcare system could save the United States nearly 64 billion dollars annually. These savings reflect reduced pharmaceutical dependency, fewer hospitalizations, improved chronic disease outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for aging Americans. You can read more about PwC’s research on healthcare innovation here.
It is a financial argument, but it is also a moral one. Why should our elders endure pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline when nature has given us tools to help them live longer, happier, and healthier lives?
A Call to Action: Finish What the Farm Bill Started
The message concludes by crediting the 2018 Farm Bill, championed by President Trump, for legalizing hemp and laying the groundwork for today’s CBD market. The Farm Bill was just the first step.
Now the call is for bold next moves.
- Educate doctors about the endocannabinoid system
- Include CBD under Medicare coverage
- Provide clear federal standards for CBD quality and dosing
These steps would constitute the most significant senior health reform in modern history, one that would transform aging and cement a powerful legacy for any administration that makes it happen.
What This Means for Future Cannabis Medicine
For those of us who have been in the cannabis community for decades, this is not just another news story. It is a signal that our movement is winning. A conversation that was once criminalized and censored is now being amplified by the President of the United States on his own platform.
It means the science is undeniable. It means the truth can no longer be buried. It means the wall of prohibition is cracking, not just legally, but culturally, scientifically, and politically.
It also means that everything we have been fighting for at 420 Magazine since 1993, education, access, healing, and justice, is finally moving full steam ahead. The President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social moment is proof that science and policy are finally converging.
Business
New Mexico cannabis operator fined, loses license for alleged BioTrack fraud
New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.
The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.
The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.
The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.
After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.
In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.
The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.
At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.
Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.
Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.
The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:
- Regulators alleged in August that Albuquerque dispensary Sawmill Sweet Leaf sold out-of-state products and didn’t have a license for extraction.
- Paradise Exotics Distro lost its license in July after regulators alleged the company sold products made in California.
Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/
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