Welcome to the latest edition of “Last week in Weed,” catching you up on the latest breaking news and industry developments in the world of cannabis.
Here’s what you may have missed over the last week:
Supreme Court to Hear Cannabis and Gun Rights Case
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up a case challenging the federal ban that prevents cannabis users from owning firearms. This ruling could crack the whole system wide open. A seismic moment in the long, strange war between state freedom and federal control. What happens here has the power to redefine what it means to be a legal cannabis consumer in America. As it is, citizens can saunter into a state-legal dispensary, cash in hand, and walk out with a bag of green bliss—all the while, the feds loom in the background, coiled and ready to yank away your constitutional rights like some Kafkaesque nightmare. Whatever the Court decides could either clarify or deepen the tension between these overlapping legal systems, with ripple effects for cannabis business owners, investors, and everyday consumers navigating compliance in a federally illegal industry.
GŪD Essence Launches Flagship Florida Dispensary
GŪD Essence is opening its first Florida dispensary this November in Clearwater marking the start of an ambitious statewide expansion. The Clearwater store, located at 28540 U.S. Highway 19 N., is designed to set a new standard for cannabis retail through a science driven, community centered, and wellness focused model.
The company plans to open more than 20 dispensaries across Florida, including flagship locations in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami, positioning itself as both a wellness leader and an economic catalyst.
At the heart of GŪD Essence’s mission is a wellness first culture emphasizing career development, comprehensive employee benefits, and education based consumer engagement. The brand’s retail spaces are designed to feel more like holistic wellness centers than traditional dispensaries. A place where customers can learn, connect, and heal rather than simply transact.
Hybrid Cannabis Facility and Affordable Housing Approved in Hamden
In Hamden, Connecticut, a zoning board approved a unique development project that combines a cannabis cultivation and retail facility with 20 units of affordable housing.
Developed by Soulstar, a limited cultivator license holder, the site will transform nearly six acres of property into a mixed-use community hub expected to create at least 50 jobs. This model reflects how cannabis development is evolving beyond stand-alone dispensaries into broader community infrastructure. By integrating housing and employment opportunities, cities like Hamden are reframing cannabis businesses as local assets rather than outsiders. Still, local concerns over odor control, security, and neighborhood character remain common as cannabis facilities become part of the urban landscape.
Supply Shortages Threaten Independent Dispensaries in Minnesota
Minnesota’s rollout of recreational cannabis has been plagued by severe supply shortages, leaving many independent dispensaries struggling to stay afloat. Some retailers have reportedly turned to hemp derived products just to keep their doors open. The whole mess lays bare the brittle underbelly of early-stage legalization markets, where a tangle of limited cultivation, regulatory nightmares, and punishing operational costs can strangle the little guys before they ever even have a chance. For the big, deep-pocketed players, it’s a chance to snap up market share like vultures circling a dying animal. But for the average consumer, it’s a world of higher prices, fewer choices, and a gnawing frustration at the state’s empty promises. Legalization may make headlines, but it’s the brutal grind of production and distribution that writes the real story.
ILGM and Crockett Family Farms Release Exclusive “Tangie Queen” Genetics
ILGM (I Love Growing Marijuana) has officially dropped an exclusive new strain in collaboration with Crockett Family Farms, unveiling the long-anticipated Tangie Queen. This feminized, sativa-dominant hybrid (60/40) represents a rare fusion of two powerhouse genetics teams, bred specifically for ILGM and available nowhere else in the world.
Tangie Queen delivers a modern twist on a beloved classic, blending the nostalgic citrus zest of old-school Tangie with a potent, gassy finish and a creamy, resin-rich expression tailored for hashmakers and flavor chasers alike. With its balanced profile, it’s engineered for both high-yield growers and concentrate enthusiasts seeking a boutique quality cut that stands out in any garden.
Massachusetts Ballot Push to End Adult-Use Cannabis
In a surprising twist, a ballot initiative in Massachusetts is gaining traction to repeal the state’s adult-use cannabis market entirely. The campaign, branded as “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,” argues that legalization has led to public safety issues and regulatory chaos. If this measure makes it onto the 2026 ballot, we’re staring down a full-blown clash between legalization advocates and the stubborn ghosts of prohibition. It’s a stark reminder that legalization isn’t some permanent victory lap. For investors and operators, it’s a cold splash of reality: no market, no matter how established, is ever truly safe from the shifting tides of politics.
Cannabis Stock Market Recap: October 14–21, 2025
The cannabis stock market showed continued volatility this week, with modest rebounds from some major players offset by broader sector stagnation. Tilray Brands Inc. (TLRY) saw one of the sharper moves, dropping roughly eight percent on October 16 to close at $1.54 amid weak investor sentiment and thin trading volume. By October 21, the stock hovered around $1.52, reflecting ongoing uncertainty about near-term profitability despite steady retail expansion. Canopy Growth Corporation (CGC) also drifted lower through the week, trading near $1.38 after several sessions of heavy volume and little upward momentum. Analysts continue to flag Canopy as one of the most closely watched names due to its restructuring efforts and exposure to U.S. regulatory shifts.
Meanwhile, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB) posted slight gains, climbing more than two percent midweek and continuing a mild uptrend fueled by cost cutting initiatives and renewed optimism around export markets. Other U.S. based operators like Curaleaf and Trulieve traded relatively flat, with investors largely holding positions ahead of the next earnings cycle.
