💸 The Tape

More than a decade into America’s grand green experiment, the verdict is in: legal cannabis is reshaping the public policy landscape—and it’s doing it with receipts. From booming tax revenues to a surprise drop in teen use, the data shows legalization has delivered benefits many once considered pipe dreams.

According to fresh reports from the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), adult-use cannabis sales have generated over $24.7 billion in state tax revenue since 2014. That’s not Monopoly money—it’s funding real-world priorities like education, public health, infrastructure, and equity programs. Even more surprising to skeptics: teen marijuana use has declined in most states that legalized cannabis.

In 2024 alone, cannabis tax revenues across the U.S. topped $4.4 billion—a record year. California leads the pack with $6.72 billion in total collections, followed by Washington, Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan. Several other states—like Nevada and Massachusetts—have also crossed the billion-dollar threshold.

And these numbers only reflect state-level adult-use taxes, meaning the real financial impact is likely even higher once local, medical, and licensing revenues are considered.

But where is all that green going? Turns out, it's not being blown on joint-shaped monuments. States are putting cannabis cash to good use:

• Colorado has funneled $934 million into public schools since legalization.

• Illinois earmarks 25% of cannabis taxes for its R3 program to rebuild communities harmed by the drug war.

• Nevada directs 100% of its 10% retail excise tax to K–12 education.

• New York splits the pie between education, reinvestment, and drug treatment.

From reentry services in Alaska to transportation in Michigan, the message is clear: cannabis dollars are working hard.

Contrary to fears that dispensaries would lead to stoned sophomores, teen cannabis use has actually declined. MPP’s data—compiled from federal and state sources—shows 28% to 46% drops in past-month use among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders since 2011.

Why? Unlike your high school weed guy, legal dispensaries check IDs. Plus, some cannabis tax revenues go directly to prevention programs and after-school activities, creating a virtuous cycle.

Take Colorado again: high school marijuana use dropped from 22% in 2011 to 12.8% in 2023. Washington’s 10th graders saw a similar slide from 20% to 8.4%.

The big takeaway? Legalization isn’t just about individual freedom or economic opportunity—it’s about smart governance. What started as a state-by-state experiment is now a master class in regulatory effectiveness.

States that once feared the unknown are now funding schools, fixing roads, and reducing youth drug use—all while replacing illegal markets with compliant, tax-paying businesses.

For lawmakers still on the fence, the message is simple: cannabis is no longer theory—it’s fiscal policy in action. And judging by the results, the buds have blossomed into benefits.

📈 Dog Walkers.

$VRNOF ( ▲ 0.31% ) Brings Back The Bodega Vibes

What’s Going On Here: Verano Holdings Corp. (Cboe CA: VRNO | OTCQX: VRNOF) has introduced a new bodega-style dispensary concept at its Zen Leaf Cave Creek location in Phoenix, Arizona, marking a bold shift in cannabis retail. This format allows customers to browse and self-select products from categorized shelves (e.g., Flower, Vapes, Edibles), merging modern convenience with cannabis accessibility—something rarely seen in the industry.

The grand re-opening weekend, June 27–28, will include music, local vendors, food trucks, product deals, and appearances by rap legends Dizzy Wright and Devin the Dude. In addition to the bodega layout, customers can order through in-store kiosks, online, curbside pickup, or classic counter service.

Verano’s Arizona operations span eight dispensaries and 90,000 sq. ft. of cultivation space, producing leading brands like Verano™, Savvy™, On the Rocks™, and MÜV™. The Cave Creek relaunch highlights Verano’s mission to innovate and enhance consumer choice in the evolving cannabis retail landscape.

$ACB ( ▲ 8.67% ) Expands In Poland

What’s Going On Here: Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ: ACB | TSX: ACB) has expanded its international footprint with the launch of two proprietary high-THC cultivars in Poland, marking the strongest medical cannabis products available in the country to date. The new strains—Farm Gas (27% THC) and Sourdough (29% THC)—are grown in Aurora’s EU-GMP and GACP-certified Canadian facilities, showcasing the company’s commitment to premium quality and pharmaceutical-grade standards.

Farm Gas, available by prescription starting June 30, is a Sour Diesel x GMO cross, delivering pungent diesel notes with sweet sherbet undertones. Sourdough, expected in early August, is a Cake x Diesel hybrid with sour, cake, and gas aromas. Both cultivars are hang-dried and hand-finished for optimal terpene retention.

Aurora, already a leader in the Canadian medical cannabis space, is leveraging its deep expertise in genetics and European regulatory navigation to strengthen its position in Poland’s growing medical cannabis market—offering prescribers and patients unmatched potency, consistency, and quality.

🗞️ The News

📺 YouTube

How German Cannabis Could Redefine the European Market | Trade to Black

What we will cover:

✅ Host Shadd Dales hits the ground at Mary Jane Berlin — the largest cannabis event in Europe — where the energy is undeniable and industry momentum continues to build across the Atlantic.

Presented by Advanced Nutrients, this episode looks at what’s unfolding in real time — from Germany’s medical cannabis rollout and its push toward domestic cultivation, to the growing presence of North American brands eyeing opportunities in Europe. Back in the U.S., the conversation turns to the recent DEA-led raids in California, the ongoing tension between legal and traditional markets, and why tax reform remains central to addressing the illicit trade.

We also cover key developments in international trade, including the role of Canadian LPs exporting to Germany, and how local supply is preparing to scale. While optimism is high, we also address challenges like potential price compression, telemedicine oversight, and slow-moving policy in places like France and Italy. The episode rounds out with timely commentary on the growing role of psychedelics in veteran mental health treatment and how federal attention is starting to shift.