💸 The Tape

In a plot twist worthy of a medical drama reboot, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is putting out a call—not for reinforcements, but for researchers. Specifically, contractors with the chops to sift through the science of medical marijuana and help explain it to confused clinicians and curious civilians. Enter: Project STEM (Systematically Testing the Evidence of Marijuana), an initiative that wants to cut through the haze and bring clarity to cannabis.

On Thursday, the VA posted a request for bids, asking qualified firms to serve as the agency’s cannabis content concierge. Their mission? To conduct systematic reviews of research around five hot-button topics: cannabis and PTSD, cannabis during pregnancy, cannabis use disorder, treatment of cannabis use disorder, and cannabis for mood disorders. Yes, that’s a lot of cannabis. No, the VA isn’t handing out free joints.

The selected team will need to comb through mountains of peer-reviewed literature, analyze randomized controlled trials, assess bias (hopefully without developing any), and present their findings in a way that won’t make clinicians’ eyes glaze over. Bonus points if they can explain the difference between CBDA-ME and CBG without triggering a nationwide acronym fatigue.

The project will run for a year, with an optional second year if everyone’s still standing. And while the VA isn’t exactly moonwalking toward legalization, it does acknowledge the obvious: veterans are using cannabis. A 2023 study found that 40% of veterans with chronic pain are turning to marijuana to cope—with many reporting improved sleep, less pain, and fewer opioids. Notably, 98% of them think doctors should at least be allowed to talk about cannabis. Revolutionary stuff, right?

The catch? VA doctors still can’t legally recommend cannabis, even in states where it’s as common as bad driving. That’s why groups like Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) are pushing Congress to pass the Marijuana Safe Harbor Act—legislation that would allow VA providers to do what many already want to: treat patients like adults.

📈 Dog Walkers.

FLGC Invests In Crypto?

What’s Going On Here: TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND, OTCQX: TSNDF) announced it will operate its fourth New Jersey dispensary through an agreement to manage Union Chill Cannabis Company LLC, a top-performing location in Hunterdon County generating over $11 million in annualized revenue. The deal, pending regulatory approval, will be immediately accretive to EBITDA and cashflow, strengthening TerrAscend’s leadership in New Jersey’s cannabis market.

Executive Chairman Jason Wild noted plans to introduce TerrAscend’s premium brands like Kind Tree, Legend, Cookies, Wana, and Valhalla to the new location, with further retail expansion and facility upgrades underway. Upon closing, TerrAscend will operate 39 dispensaries across five U.S. states and Canada.

Bottom line: NJ is a market that TSND has maintained their marketshare through strong brands and performace while others have seen deterioration. This is a nice addition and should be accretive to the overall enterprise.

Canopy Is Focused On Canada

What’s Going On Here: Canopy Growth (TSX: WEED, Nasdaq: CGC) is rolling out a wave of new cannabis products tailored to Canada’s fastest-growing adult-use formats: vapes, high-THC flower, pre-rolls (including infused), and edibles. Backed by flagship brands like Tweed, 7ACRES, Claybourne, and Deep Space, the launch signals a streamlined focus on high-demand, high-margin segments.

Highlights:

• Advanced AIO Vapes (CCELL tech) from Tweed and 7ACRES with built-in display screens.

• New high-THC flower strains Sour Sucker Mints and Blood Orange Kush (28%+ THC, 3.25–4% terpenes).

• Expanded pre-roll lineup, including Claybourne’s Frosted Flyers and 7ACRES’ live resin-infused options.

• Deep Space enters edibles with 10mg THC gummies infused with natural caffeine.

CEO Luc Mongeau says the strategy is simple: go where the demand is and lead with quality and innovation.

Bottom line: This is one of Luc Mongeau’s first initatives pertaining to the domestic market. We will get to see the effect it will have on Canopy’s overall marketshare across these categories in the quarters to come.

🗞️ The News

📺 YouTube

What Federal Cannabis Legalization Will Look Like in America | Trade to Black

What we will cover:

✅ Host Shadd Dales, he discusses one of the biggest “what if” scenarios in the cannabis industry—what happens if cannabis goes fully federal?

This episode takes a deep dive into the future of cannabis legalization, covering everything from business and economics to societal perceptions and regulatory transformation.