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The VA needs to get out of the way.

Daily Recap

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is looking for contractors to analyze and explain scientific evidence on medical marijuana to clinicians and the public as part of VA’s Systematically Testing the Evidence of Marijuana (STEM) project.

The VA says there are three main goals of the STEM project:

• Educate clinicians about the evidence of the benefits and harms of cannabis to facilitate discussions with patients.

• Identify specific research gaps to help researchers design high-yield studies.

• Provide resources for patients and the public about cannabis-related evidence

It’s been reported that most veterans don’t go through legal channels for cannabis for fear they’ll lose their gun licenses, driving many of them to the unsafe illicit market.

Just last week, The U.S. Supreme Court approved a request from the government’s top lawyer for more time to consider a challenge to a February appeals court ruling around the federal prohibition on gun ownership by people who consume cannabis.

It’s mind-blowing to me that in 2025, with so many other nations around the world embracing this amazing plant—and all the wellness and economic benefits that come with it—that U.S. veterans cannot legally access something to help sooth their PTSD.

This is not only something that will help them, but it could also save their lives.

I speak from a place of knowing, as most passionate advocates do, when I say every day counts and the time is now. The U.S. has been in way too many wars but the one that impacted the most lives was self-inflicted and is ongoing: the war on drugs.

Shady Haze

Fresh changes to Florida law on ballot initiatives will create new hurdles for advocates aiming to put legislative proposals before voters—including, potentially, the renewed effort to legalize marijuana in the state.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law a measure that tightens requirements around citizen-initiated measures, mandating that supporters post a $1M bond before commencing signature gathering, prohibits noncitizen petitioners and narrows the window during which signatures must be submitted to election officials.

Meanwhile, the DeSantis dirty dealings are not going away—nor should they.

Prairie Fairies

Illinois canna business owners are pleading for relief from the state’s “steep licensing fees” and “overly burdensome” regulations and asking regulators to reform the state’s adult-use and medical cannabis laws to give social equity licensees a fair playing field in the market.

“I hear from medical patients who are reeling from the pain and ... having to drive 50-plus miles past their local dispensary for medical relief, while wasting their time and money on gas,” Jackson said. “It’s past time we increase access to medical patients and allow them to receive their lawful discount at any licensed Illinois dispensary.”

Beeks!

U.S. hemp production surged in 2024, according to a recent report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The annual value of U.S. industrial hemp production grew to $445 million in 2024, representing a 40% increase from the previous year.

The growth was driven by a substantial increase in acreage planted, particularly for floral hemp, which saw a 159% jump in production compared to 2023. The rebound signals a dynamic shift following recent years of volatility for the nascent industry.

Stocks & Stuff

The broader markets continue to churn under triple-lindy resistance while U.S. canna awaits it’s turn. For earnings, that is, which start tomorrow and will, if nothing else, give us plenty to chew through the next few weeks.

Below, we’ll top-line today’s action, sharpen our pencils ahead of the avalanche, speak to a potential federal sequence, and sniff Canadian market shares across form factors.

All that and more, just scroll down.

SPY 0.00%↑ QQQ 0.00%↑ IWM 0.00%↑ MSOS 0.00%↑ ETF Notional: $10M

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