Business
Opinion: Using science to create a winning marijuana industry
Markus Roggen, president and chief scientific officer at Vancouver, British Columbia-based Delic Labs, will be speaking at MJBizCon’s Science Symposium on Nov. 15. His session is titled “R&D as a Business Tool: Maximizing Revenue by Focusing on the Scientific Method.”
There is great excitement within the marijuana industry about President Joe Biden pardoning thousands of people convicted on federal marijuana possession charges.
Even the Canadian stock market got excited about it, although share prices later retreated.
Which makes little sense, but it’s a nice break from the constant news of bankruptcies among Canadian cannabis companies.
Wherever I look, there is doom and gloom.
Large mainstream publications have even covered the cannabis industry woes across North America. This bombardment of bad news is in oversupply, like cannabis itself.
Naturally, the industry is raising the alarm, and the cause is easily found.
The laws legalizing cannabis across the continent were half-baked, contradictory and the government was too greedy with taxation.
That means it’s not our fault, right?
Not exactly. I learned a valuable lesson playing sports as a kid. Most of the time, it is your fault.
It is important not only to identify constraints but also think of ways that we can overcome them.
Here are five areas where the cannabis industry can improve:
1. This is not a legal version of the illegal market.
Cannabis professionals love to complain about long wait times for licensing, restrictive business rules and even overly picky inspectors.
But a legal cannabis market is very different from the illicit drug trade this industry is set up to replace.
For one, it does not have the crime or danger as say that of a Mexican drug cartel.
A legal market opens opportunities for new processes and products that require time, collaboration and investments.
2. Take a global view of specific problems, including taxation and testing.
It seems like complaint No. 1 by every cannabis business executive is high taxes.
Especially in the United States, where paying taxes is difficult and unfair, thanks to Section 280E of the federal tax code.
But taxes are just another cost.
An additional cost that many ignore is the price of production. We don’t have much power to influence the former, but the latter is squarely within our control.
One option is to cut wages or staff, which is a favored business tool. But there are better ways.
In our work, we have observed that every cannabis producer has inefficiencies.
Bad production methods waste hundreds of thousands of dollars every month.
One example might be running extraction equipment at 50% capacity.
The next most frequent complaint is the burden of compliance testing.
Yes, testing can be costly, but it also saves. And if we want to save, we should be testing more, not less.
Failed batches are also a cost of testing, and they are the main driver of overall testing costs.
By doing more quality-control testing before the cannabis product reaches compliance testing, failures will be caught early, and waste reduced. Better testing protocols would also help.
For example, we developed a pooled testing protocol for heavy-metal analysis, which could cut testing costs by more than 50%.
A byproduct of all the compliance testing is that cannabis effectively is an organically grown produce, while every year people die from contaminated lettuce.
Cannabis is safer than salad: That is a slogan we can proudly proclaim but have yet to use.
More testing is one thing, more tests are another.
By expanding the types of tests offered, cannabis products can be marketed in new ways.
We already know that THC is not the end all for product quality.
Terpenes are already getting more appreciation among consumers, and testing allows us to print terpene content on labels.
3. Don’t ask if you could, but if you should.
I see it as misguided to focus on the next/new/revolutionary thing in cannabis marketing, without doing the existing high-volume products right.
There are some outrageous products on the market that make you wonder “what were they thinking?”
CBD mascara and CBD pillows might sound ridiculous, but products with delta 8-THC have real potential to be dangerous.
Those products solve the problems of producers – namely what to do with all the CBD oversupply and tanked commodity prices.
They ignore the needs of the customer.
Economic theory teaches us that successful products solve a problem. So, which problems do consumers have?
Or, at least, which products are they actually buying and would benefit from improvement?
Sales of pre-rolls total $1.2 billion with a year-over-year growth rate of 39%. And infused pre-rolls, which make up 19% of all pre-rolls sold, have been gaining steadily.
The customer clearly wants more pre-rolls, and the industry has responded by offering them along with infused versions.
We should focus our efforts there and develop even better pre-roll products.
4. Ask an expert. It will pay off.
The cannabis industry is home to a range of professionals and characters.
A simplified timeline of people I’ve met at conferences is that in the mid-2010s there were a lot of legacy growers and civil rights activists.
Then, slowly, the legacy growers either turned to licensed production or retreated from the conferences.
Frontiersmen with a taste for exploration and the gold rush moved in.
These were closely followed by men in suits – lawyers and real estate professionals.
By 2020, the archetypical cannabis executive is a white male with a finance or law degree.
If these people and qualifications are the right fit for the industry, why is it doing so poorly right now?
It’s time to turn to a new crop of experts.
We need scientists and engineers to update production, processes and products to fit the 21st century market.
5. Pick the right story and stick with it.
Cannabis is praised as cure-all for illnesses and economic problems.
And the proposed benefits are as numerous and confusing as the stories companies are pitching.
Companies often position themselves as pharmaceutical companies, citing potential medical benefits of cannabis.
They are not pharmaceutical firms, not even close.
Even more perplexing is the fact that some of these same companies also sell recreational products.
This is as contradictory as Walgreens selling cigarettes.
How can we expect to develop informed and loyal customers, if cannabis companies, and even the industry as a whole, are jumping from one strategy to the next, constantly changing their values?
I see great danger in constantly pointing at the proposed health benefits of cannabis while pushing recreational products.
Here’s a tale of caution that I found in an academic paper:
“In the 15th century, when (it’s) use (…) by the indigenous populations in the New World was first observed by Columbus and the plant was brought to Europe, (…) this new one was used to treat a wide range of conditions. Indeed, (it) acquired a reputation as a panacea, to the extent of being called the ‘holy herb’ and ‘God’s remedy’.”
The title of this paper: “Medicinal uses of tobacco in history.”
The cannabis industry has great potential but currently falls short.
Instead of complaining, we should self-reflect and improve.
In short, stop complaining and start evolving.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/opinion-using-science-to-create-a-winning-cannabis-industry/
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.
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/
Four marijuana companies, including a multistate operator, have filed a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in which they allege the federal MJ prohibition under the Controlled Substances Act is no longer constitutional.
According to the complaint, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, retailer Canna Provisions, Treevit delivery service CEO Gyasi Sellers, cultivator Wiseacre Farm and MSO Verano Holdings Corp. are all harmed by “the federal government’s unconstitutional ban on cultivating, manufacturing, distributing, or possessing intrastate marijuana.”
Verano is headquartered in Chicago but has operations in Massachusetts; the other three operators are based in Massachusetts.
The lawsuit seeks a ruling that the “Controlled Substances Act is unconstitutional as applied to the intrastate cultivation, manufacture, possession, and distribution of marijuana pursuant to state law.”
The companies want the case to go before the U.S. Supreme Court.
They hired prominent law firm Boies Schiller Flexner to represent them.
The New York-based firm’s principal is David Boies, whose former clients include Microsoft, former presidential candidate Al Gore and Elizabeth Holmes’ disgraced startup Theranos.
Similar challenges to the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) have failed.
One such challenge led to a landmark Supreme Court decision in 2005.
In Gonzalez vs. Raich, the highest court in the United States ruled in a 6-3 decision that the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution gave Congress the power to outlaw marijuana federally, even though state laws allow the cultivation and sale of cannabis.
In the 18 years since that ruling, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized adult-use marijuana and the federal government has allowed a multibillion-dollar cannabis industry to thrive.
Since both Congress and the U.S. Department of Justice, currently headed by Garland, have declined to intervene in state-licensed marijuana markets, the key facts that led to the Supreme Court’s 2005 ruling “no longer apply,” Boies said in a statement Thursday.
“The Supreme Court has since made clear that the federal government lacks the authority to regulate purely intrastate commerce,” Boies said.
“Moreover, the facts on which those precedents are based are no longer true.”
Verano President Darren Weiss said in a statement the company is “prepared to bring this case all the way to the Supreme Court in order to align federal law with how Congress has acted for years.”
While the Biden administration’s push to reschedule marijuana would help solve marijuana operators’ federal tax woes, neither rescheduling nor modest Congressional reforms such as the SAFER Banking Act “solve the fundamental issue,” Weiss added.
“The application of the CSA to lawful state-run cannabis business is an unconstitutional overreach on state sovereignty that has led to decades of harm, failed businesses, lost jobs, and unsafe working conditions.”
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