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:
Sorting Robotics Launches Cannabis Manufacturing’s First True Systems Integration Service
Sorting Robotics, the Los Angeles-based automation company founded by former NASA engineer Nohtal Partansky, announced its new Custom Integrations and Automation Service on October 21. This marks the first true systems integration offered in cannabis manufacturing.
The company aims to solve one of the industry’s biggest inefficiencies: disconnected machines and workflows. By adapting integration principles from food and pharma, Sorting Robotics connects data and hardware across entire production lines, creating what Partansky calls a “hardware API” for cannabis.
The service is already being implemented in facilities producing over 100,000 pre-rolls daily, where automation consistency translates directly into profits.
Following rapid growth and inclusion on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list, Sorting Robotics’ move into full-system integration signals the next phase of industrial evolution in cannabis.
THC Beverages Boom…but Also Face Backlash in Missouri
A new study projects national THC-beverage sales could reach $10–15 billion, but Missouri regulators are already moving to rein in hemp-derived seltzers that have flooded convenience stores and gas stations. Some products are sold with no age limits, no testing, and questionable potency labeling, prompting calls for an emergency crackdown.
Supporters say THC beverages offer a safer, social alternative to alcohol and could anchor the next phase of mainstream cannabis adoption. Opponents counter that lax oversight makes them a public health risk, especially among teens.
The market’s fizz is undeniable, but regulators are already looking for the bottle cap.
39 State Attorneys General Push Congress to Ban Hemp-Derived THC
A coalition of 39 state attorneys general sent a letter to Congressional leaders on October 24 urging lawmakers to restrict or ban intoxicating hemp-derived THC products such as the delta-8 and delta-10 edibles, vapes, and beverages sold outside the regulated cannabis market. Their argument: these products have created a “gray market” that’s endangering public safety and undermining legitimate cannabis businesses.
The request comes ahead of the next Farm Bill, which could rewrite the 0.3% THC rule that created this billion-dollar loophole. Industry advocates warn that a blanket ban could devastate hemp farmers who rely on cannabinoid extraction, while regulators argue public health should come first.
Germany Expands Medical Cannabis Imports as Australia Scales Back
Germany is expanding its medical cannabis import quota from 122 to 192.5 tons, reflecting growing demand and confidence in its medical program. Meanwhile, Australia is moving in the opposite direction, cutting its quota by roughly 13% after slower-than-expected market growth and increased regulatory caution.
The split highlights a global cannabis market still searching for equilibrium. While Germany accelerates toward broader acceptance and potentially adult-use reform, Australia is tapping the brakes amid concerns about oversupply. The global cannabis freight train is still moving, but the tracks aren’t all heading in the same direction.
Legacy Growers Left Behind in South Africa’s Cannabis Boom
As South Africa’s cannabis economy grows, legacy and indigenous farmers who cultivated the plant for generations are being left out of the legal market. A new report from the University of Cape Town finds that most commercial licenses have gone to corporate agribusinesses, while traditional growers remain criminalized or economically excluded.
Advocates are calling for social equity measures to ensure the profits from cannabis legalization reach the communities that built its foundation. The country’s cannabis boom may be real, but for many of the farmers who helped shape it, prosperity is still locked behind the gate.
Cannabis Stocks Hold Steady Amid Rescheduling Speculation
Over the past week, cannabis stocks have shown mixed movement as investors weigh optimism over potential federal rescheduling against ongoing financial strain in the sector. Most major multistate operators (MSOs) traded sideways after early-October gains, while smaller Canadian producers lost modest ground.
Canopy Growth (CGC) hovered near $1.30, slipping slightly despite steady trading volume. Curaleaf (CURLF) and Green Thumb Industries (GTBIF) each saw fractional upticks, bolstered by growing speculation that the DEA could act on rescheduling before year’s end. Meanwhile, Tilray Brands (TLRY) edged down after analysts questioned the company’s recent beverage acquisitions as a path to profitability.
Sector-wide indices remain up roughly 12–16% for the month, but analysts caution that the rally is fueled more by political hope than fundamentals. Until Washington delivers tangible reform or MSOs report meaningful revenue growth, cannabis equities appear locked in a holding pattern, waiting for regulation to catch up with reality.
