💸 The Tape

Missouri voters may soon be asked to settle a cannabis family feud. A campaign called Missourians for a Single Market is preparing to file a 2026 ballot initiative that would unify hemp and marijuana under one regulatory system, creating something closer to an alcohol-style marketplace than the tightly guarded dispensary model the state currently has.

“The reality is, it’s the same plant,” said campaign coordinator Eapen Thampy, who argues that hemp and marijuana deserve parity. The proposal, he says, is partly about cleaning up what critics see as a “broken and corrupt” licensing process, and partly about leveling the playing field for hemp operators who feel boxed out since Missouri voters approved adult-use marijuana in 2022.

If successful, the initiative would strip constitutional protections that lock in today’s rules and instead hand legislators a mandate to craft statutory regulations. The vision: unlimited licenses, simplified applications, and a regulatory approach that mirrors tobacco and alcohol—age-gated, taxed, and widely available in bars, gas stations, and grocery stores.

There are some headline-grabbing extras, too. Adults could not only grow cannabis at home but also sell their harvest directly to consumers or retailers—so long as it’s tested. The measure would also allow self-certification for medical marijuana patients, create pathways for expungements of past cannabis convictions, and mandate retroactive tax relief for businesses hurt by the federal 280E code.

Not surprisingly, the proposal has split the cannabis community. Industry associations warn it could effectively repeal voter-approved legalization, destabilizing the existing dispensary system. Campaign consultants counter that the current setup is less free market and more oligopoly, designed to “capture all market share” for a handful of licensees.

“This really takes on the feel of a Hail Mary,” said consultant Ryan Johnson, describing hemp operators’ push to secure survival. Advocates argue the present system leaves consumers with limited product choice, high prices, and long drives to reach dispensaries—conditions ripe for reform.

The campaign expects to need 300,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot, with about 180,000 valid ones required. With only $6,000 in reported contributions so far, it faces a steep climb. Still, backers believe a streamlined system with no artificial license caps could resonate with Missouri voters tired of insider politics.

In short: Missouri’s next cannabis fight may not be about whether to legalize—it’s about who gets to sell it, how, and whether the plant is finally treated like just another regulated crop.

📈 Dog Walkers

$TCNNF ( ▲ 4.09% ) Adds New CFO and Board Member

Whats Going On Here: Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) is beefing up its boardroom and C-suite with two heavyweight financial veterans. Matthew Foulston, a triple-threat CFO alum from Covetrus, TreeHouse Foods, and Compass Minerals, joins the Board of Directors, where he’ll bring his audit-chair polish and knack for financial oversight. “I’m excited to help steer the ship,” Foulston said, clearly ready to swap salty snacks and minerals for cannabis margins.

Meanwhile, the CFO baton officially passes on September 8, 2025, to Jan Reese, who boasts more than 20 years of finance leadership across private equity–backed firms, global distributors, and even Walmart International. Reese has built IPO-ready companies, managed international expansion, and led finance through multiple exits. At Trulieve, he’ll be tasked with the not-so-small job of steering financial strategy in an industry where every decimal matters.

CEO Kim Rivers welcomed the duo, highlighting their combined depth of expertise as “invaluable” for navigating cannabis’s ever-changing regulatory and competitive landscape. Interim CFO Ryan Blust returns to his VP, Finance seat after holding the line. In short: Trulieve is tightening its financial playbook just in time for what could be its next big growth drive.

$GRWG ( ▲ 1.68% ) Goes Nationwide

What’s Going On Here: GrowGeneration (NASDAQ: GRWG) is turning up the distribution dial, inking a strategic pact with Arett Sales to push its house brands—Char Coir, Drip Hydro, Power Si, The Harvest Company, Viagrow (and friends)—into thousands of new retail doors. Arett brings daily delivery and store-level service across 32 states plus D.C., backed by 650,000 sq. ft. of warehousing in CT, OH, and CA. Translation: hydro and garden gear that once lived mainly in specialty channels is headed for independent garden centers, hardware stores, nurseries, regional chains, and national accounts. Arett will juice the rollout with merchandising, marketing, its Open House trade show, and early-order programs so retailers can stock up before peak season. For GrowGen, this checks several strategic boxes—broader retail access, beefier wholesale/B2B reach, and more margin-friendly proprietary product sales. For Arett’s customers, it’s an easy on-ramp to “innovative, eco-conscious” cultivation staples without retooling their supply chains. Green thumbs, meet wider shelves. 🌱

🗞️ The News

📺 YouTube

Petition Pushes Trump Toward Cannabis Legalization | TDR Cannabis in 5

What we will cover:

✅ A new petition is urging President Donald Trump not just to reschedule marijuana—but to fully legalize it at the federal level. This bold push comes from the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), which argues that moving cannabis to Schedule III still leaves criminalization intact and fails to address justice issues. Instead, DPA says only full descheduling—removing marijuana entirely from the Controlled Substances Act—will truly end prohibition.

This petition arrives at a pivotal time. The Trump administration has already suggested that a rescheduling decision could be announced within weeks. Advocates are seizing the moment, warning that incremental change won’t solve the real problems, from ongoing arrests to the IRS 280E tax burden that punishes businesses.

On this episode of TDR Cannabis in Five, presented by Dutchie, host Shadd Dales breaks down what this petition means, why it matters, and how it could reshape both politics and the cannabis industry. Viewers will learn how legalization could impact equity, criminal justice, and the investment landscape.

If the petition gains traction, it could shift the national debate, influence White House policy staff, and reignite legalization as a mainstream issue. But the risks remain—rescheduling is still the likely path. With public support for legalization at 88%, the political stakes are high and the outcome could reshape cannabis policy in America.