Section 07
News & Investigations
Deep investigations, policy analysis, and data-driven reporting on the cannabis industry. Independent journalism with full source transparency.
Featured Investigations
The Lobbying Network: How Three Companies Shaped Cannabis Law in Six States
A 14-month investigation into how Curaleaf, Trulieve, and Green Thumb Industries coordinated lobbying efforts to limit social equity licensing provisions in six newly legalized states—effectively locking out small operators.
Lab Shopping: How Some Operators Game the Testing System
An analysis of 4,200 COA records reveals a pattern of operators submitting samples to multiple labs until passing results are obtained—a practice regulators call "lab shopping" that undermines product safety.
All Reports & Analysis
SAFE Banking Act: What Passage Would Actually Mean for Cannabis Operators
A detailed breakdown of the SAFE Banking Act provisions, which operators benefit most, what remains unresolved under federal scheduling, and why some advocates argue it entrenches existing power structures.
280E Tax Burden Analysis: The Real Cost of Federal Prohibition on State-Legal Operators
Using public financial filings from 12 publicly traded cannabis companies, we quantify the effective tax rate differential created by 280E—averaging 70% effective tax rates versus 21% for comparable industries.
Social Equity on Paper: Tracking License Transfers in Illinois and Massachusetts
An investigation into how social equity licenses in two flagship programs have been transferred, sold, or effectively controlled by larger operators within 18 months of issuance—raising questions about program integrity.
Rescheduling to Schedule III: A Realistic Assessment of What Changes
DEA rescheduling to Schedule III would eliminate 280E tax burden but leave interstate commerce, banking access, and federal employment restrictions largely unchanged. A clause-by-clause analysis.
Oklahoma's Collapse: What Happens When a Cannabis Market Has No License Cap
Oklahoma issued over 12,000 cannabis licenses with no cap, creating the highest operator density per capita in the US. We track the resulting market collapse, enforcement failures, and cartel infiltration reports.
The Pesticide Problem: What's Really in Your Cannabis
A review of 18,000 state-published test results across six states reveals that pesticide violations are underreported, inconsistently enforced, and that some approved pesticides carry unexamined long-term risks when combusted.
Interstate Commerce: The Legal Pathway That Could Reshape the Entire Industry
Several states have passed laws authorizing interstate cannabis commerce pending federal permission. We analyze the legal framework, which states are positioned to benefit, and the timeline for implementation.
The Dispensary Desert: Mapping Cannabis Access Inequality Across Legal States
Using license location data and census demographics, we map where dispensaries are concentrated and where they are absent—revealing systematic access gaps in rural, low-income, and minority communities.
Vertical Integration and the Squeeze on Independent Retailers
As MSOs expand vertically—owning cultivation, processing, and retail—independent dispensaries report being cut off from wholesale supply. We document the market dynamics and regulatory responses.
Veterans and Cannabis: The VA Policy Gap Costing Lives
Federal law prohibits VA physicians from recommending cannabis even in states where it is legal. We document the policy gap, veteran outcomes data, and the legislative efforts to change it.