Author Archives: Patrick V. (Midwest Dazed)

CBD has become the darling of the wellness world, touted for its potential to ease everything from anxiety to aches and pains. For Illinois residents, dispensaries offer a seemingly easy avenue to explore these benefits. But are you really getting your money’s worth? The truth might leave you feeling more locked out than locked inContinue reading “Is Your Illinois Dispensary CBD a Dud? Weight-Based Dosing and the Prairie State Problem”

If you were marking your calendar for the grand opening of state-licensed recreational marijuana dispensaries across Minnesota, you might need to grab a new one, perhaps for 2026. According to insights from a state lawmaker and a cannabis industry consultant, the wait for widespread legal cannabis sales (outside of a few established Indigenous tribal dispensaries)Continue reading “Patience Required: Minnesota Recreational Cannabis Dispensaries Likely Delayed Until 2026”

New York regulators are reportedly scrutinizing California-based cannabis powerhouse Stiiizy amid allegations of illicitly bringing marijuana products from outside state lines into licensed dispensaries. According to a report in The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, Stiiizy is among a group of cannabis companies currently under the microscope of the New York Office of CannabisContinue reading “New York Officials Investigate Cannabis Giant Stiiizy Over Alleged Product Smuggling”

Illinois is embarking on a significant change in its cannabis regulation with the mandated adoption of Metrc, a comprehensive track-and-trace system for all cannabis plants and products within the state. This transition, unfolding throughout the spring of 2025, aims to bolster transparency, enhance regulatory oversight, and ultimately provide greater assurance to consumers regarding the legalityContinue reading “Illinois Navigates the Shift to Metrc: Balancing Transparency with Industry Concerns”

What began as an attempt to help a struggling Colorado grow operation turned into something much more alarming. Justin Trouard, CEO of licensed outdoor cultivator Mammoth Farms, was reviewing the company’s records when he stumbled upon a pattern of transactions that didn’t make sense on paper, but made perfect sense if something shady was goingContinue reading “Colorado’s Cannabis Inversion Scandal: A New Threat to the Legal Market”

The Illinois cannabis market, while showing promise, is grappling with a troubling trend: the alleged practice of larger companies placing orders with smaller suppliers with little intention of paying. A lawsuit filed by Flora Arbor LLC against Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine, Inc. and Euphoria, LLC, highlights this issue, with the plaintiff claiming unpaid invoices totalingContinue reading “Illinois Cannabis Company Lawsuit Exposes Predatory Practices, Calls for Stronger Licensing Standards”

The Illinois cannabis industry is no stranger to controversy, but the latest news about 4Front Ventures has stirred up a major conversation. According to a Reddit post on r/ILTrees, 4Front, who opened the state’s largest cultivation facility in Matteson, IL, last November, has already defaulted on its lease. The company, which leases the facility fromContinue reading “4Front Defaults on Lease for Illinois’ Largest Cultivation Facility – What’s Next?”

The cannabis industry has been blindsided by the latest wave of sweeping tariffs enacted by the U.S. government, and it’s about to hit both producers and consumers where it hurts most, the wallet. While some might joke about “smoking their way through the economic gloom,” the reality is far from lighthearted. With U.S. President DonaldContinue reading “Tariffs Threaten Legal Cannabis: Price Hikes and Illicit Market Risks Loom”

For many Illinoisans, a trip to Michigan often means passing through Indiana. Along the way, travelers are met with a familiar sight, billboards advertising fireworks that are illegal in Illinois, followed by a wave of cannabis advertisements as they approach the Michigan border. Dispensary deals, brand promotions, and cannabis-related sales are hard to miss. However,Continue reading “Indiana Lawmakers Push to Ban Cannabis Advertising”

Early Wednesday morning, a cannabis dispensary in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood fell victim to an attempted smash and grab, leaving the storefront heavily damaged. According to police reports, officers responded to an alarm around 2 a.m. at the dispensary located in the 4700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered a vehicle hadContinue reading “North Side Dispensary Targeted in Early Morning Smash and Grab”

In a major win for employee empowerment and social equity, Dispensary 33 has officially become the first fully employee-owned cannabis dispensary in Illinois. The pioneering company, which operates two stores in Uptown and West Loop along with four partnered Spark’d locations, finalized the historic transition through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The sale wasContinue reading “Employee Ownership Takes Root: Dispensary 33 Becomes Illinois’ First Worker-Owned Cannabis Company”

In an industry where transparency is key, Flora Arbor is taking a major step forward in ensuring consumers know exactly what they’re getting. The Illinois-based cannabis distributor has updated its packaging to include a simple yet powerful statement: “We Do Not Remediate.” For those unfamiliar, remediation refers to processes used to “clean” cannabis that hasContinue reading “Flora Arbor Stands Behind Clean Cannabis with Bold New Packaging Update”