Podcast
Blunt Business
Hosted by Cannabis Radio · EN
Dispensing Cannabis business knowledge beyond a million square feet of cultivation space. Blunt Business navigates the challenges and opportunities of one of the most profitable industries on earth. Join us each episode to hear our weekly round tables and interviews with industry professionals.
32episodes
Episodes
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The Hemp Lifeline: States Open Cannabis Gateways as Federal Lawsuit Targets MSOs
2w ago00:23:23Tap to summarizeAs a massive federal hammer prepares to fall on the hemp industry, progressive states are throwing operators a regulatory lifeline—just as the legal cannabis market faces its own "Big Tobacco" reckoning.A newly filed federal class-action lawsuit targets major Chicago-based operators like Cresco Labs and Green Thumb Industries, accusing them of "Big Tobacco"-style deceptive marketing that downplays the psychotropic risks of high-THC products. Yet, against this turbulent backdrop, Midwestern lawmakers are aggressively reshaping the market. Facing a looming November 2026 federal ban on potent hemp products, Minnesota has enacted a landmark omnibus bill that allows hemp business owners to dual-license and pivot directly into the regulated cannabis market. Similarly, Illinois lawmakers are advancing a massive industry overhaul (HB 5784) designed to ease financial burdens on smaller social equity operators while building parallel transitional pathways for hemp companies. By allowing these industries to consolidate, states are creating a vital legal gateway for hemp businesses to survive under the umbrella of the regulated cannabis market before federal workarounds vanish entirely.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Federal Rescheduling and the BUILD Act: Capitol Hill’s Shift on Cannabis Reform
3w ago00:24:45Tap to summarizeBlunt Business zeroes in on major developments unfolding on the congressional front. It highlights how impending federal rescheduling could significantly alter medical cannabis policies within the Veterans Administration, potentially expanding access for military veterans by allowing VA doctors to discuss and document use, as well as refer patients to state-approved programs. Additionally, we break down the bipartisan BUILD Act (Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-Term Development Act), a piece of transportation legislation moving toward a House floor vote. The bill directives mandate federal agencies to invest $110 million to research poly-substance impairment and establish standardized, evidence-based driving limits, addressing the long-standing scientific flaws and regional inconsistencies currently plaguing roadside testing.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Georgia Expands Medical Access and D.C. Beats Cannabis Lawsuit
4w ago00:18:51Tap to summarizeThis week on Blunt Business, we’re diving into two massive legal shifts reshaping cannabis markets on opposite sides of the country. First, we break down Georgia’s major policy overhaul as Governor Brian Kemp signs the "Putting Georgia's Patients First Act."From expanding the list of qualifying conditions to include lupus, to lifting strict "end-stage" limitations and allowing adult vaping and edibles, the Peach State is dramatically widening medical access.Then, we pivot to Washington, D.C., where a high-stakes federal lawsuit challenging the District's cannabis licensing and enforcement system was suddenly dropped. We’ll analyze why the Alliance for Recreational Cannabis Entities voluntarily dismissed their case, how a recent federal appeals court ruling regarding the Dormant Commerce Clause triggered the move, and what this unresolved constitutional battle means for local market protections across the United States.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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$15 Billion Refund? Navigating Retroactive 280E Relief
May 1300:24:46Tap to summarizeAs the federal government moves toward rescheduling marijuana, the cannabis industry is eyeing a massive financial shift: the potential for $15 billion in retroactive tax relief from Section 280E. While the transition to Schedule 3 offers a path to future profitability, businesses must act immediately to file protective claims before statutes of limitation expire.This economic evolution coincides with a significant demographic pivot, as older adults become the fastest-growing consumer group, frequently choosing edibles for pain and sleep management over pharmaceuticals.However, the move toward higher-potency THC products is a double-edged sword, with new studies linking high-strength medicinal cannabis to increased risks of anxiety and psychiatric side effects, underscoring the need for careful regulation and informed medical guidance.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →Can Las Vegas Cash In on the Cannabis Reclassification?
May 600:31:16Tap to summarizeThe potential move to Schedule III presents a massive financial opportunity for "Sin City," yet current local friction threatens to stall that momentum. As the federal government nears reclassification, the industry is at a crossroads between record-breaking growth and a cooling tourist market.While the city is built on "cashing in," Las Vegas could be losing tourists due to a recent crackdown on public consumption and strict enforcement. For the city to fully capitalize on the "Green Rush," it must reconcile its status as a global playground with the reality of a regulated cannabis market. If tourists feel penalized for legal use, they may take their gambling and entertainment dollars elsewhere.The shift to Schedule III is the "jackpot" many operators have been waiting for, primarily due to the removal of the 280E tax penalty. This change would allow businesses to finally treat cannabis like a standard industry, potentially injecting millions back into the local economy.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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A Psychedelic and Cannabis Research Revolution On the Horizon?
Apr 2200:29:28Tap to summarizeThis episode of Blunt Business explores a significant shift in federal drug policy following a new executive order aimed at accelerating research into psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and ibogaine for treating mental health disorders. The newly signed executive order to direct the FDA to fast-track these compounds through new "National Priority" vouchers. Beyond psychedelics, the host discusses the impact of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (like Ozempic) on the cannabis market, noting that dispensaries are seeing a shift in consumer preference toward lower-dose products to mitigate "the munchies."Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →4/20 Fortune: Critics Say High-Stakes Holiday Losing Its Edge?
Apr 1500:24:45Tap to summarizeAs the legal landscape evolves, the traditional 4/20 retail boom is showing signs of cooling, with some markets seeing higher sales during the surrounding week than on the holiday itself due to aggressive discounting and operational strain. This shift toward a more mature market coincides with significant legal and scientific developments: the District of Columbia is currently citing federal appellate rulings to defend its licensing framework against constitutional challenges, while recent research highlights that THC can impair memory to the point of creating false recollections. Furthermore, economists warn that while legalization has spurred a wave of innovation, much of it is focused on commercial expansion rather than genuine public health benefits. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Massachusetts Cannabis Market Overhaul and a Major MSO Files Bankruptcy
Apr 800:25:10Tap to summarizeThe cannabis landscape in Massachusetts and the broader U.S. market is undergoing a significant correction as regulators and major corporations grapple with the industry's economic realities. In a move toward increased oversight and efficiency, a state legislative committee has passed a plan to downsize and restructure the Cannabis Control Commission, signaling a major pivot in how the state manages its legal market. This push for reform arrives at a precarious time for the industry, underscored by the news that a major marijuana Multi-State Operator (MSO) has filed for U.S. bankruptcy protections. These developments highlight a dual trend of tightening governance and financial instability among the sector's largest players, suggesting that the "green rush" is entering a more sober, disciplined era of consolidation and reform. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Inside New York’s Five-Year Cannabis Chronicle
Apr 100:29:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Blunt Business, the discussion dives deep into the complex landscape of the New York cannabis market as it hits its five-year legalization anniversary. While Governor Kathy Hochul lauds the state’s achievement of $3.3 billion in total sales and the opening of its 600th licensed dispensary, the program highlights a more turbulent reality behind the numbers. Industry experts and operators share insights on the "whack-a-mole" battle against a rampant illicit market, the "red tape" and bureaucracy stifling small businesses, and the ongoing struggle to fulfill social equity promises amidst predatory loans and licensing bottlenecks. From critical BBC reports to exclusive interviews with OCM leadership, this summary explores whether New York's green revolution is truly flying high or simply struggling to find its footing.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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The Cannabis Business CLIMB or Cannabis for Healthy Livers
Mar 2500:17:24Tap to summarizeBlunt Business dives into the shifting landscape of American cannabis, from the halls of Congress to the microscopic world of medical research. We break down the newly proposed CLIMB Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at finally opening major U.S. stock exchanges and private lending to state-sanctioned marijuana businesses. While federal deregulation remains in a "ghost town" phase of waiting for DOJ action, we highlights how these financial hurdles currently stifle minority and veteran-owned entrepreneurs.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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