This week in cannabis

With the holidays coming and the election now behind us (well, at least for some of us), it’s time to look forward to some socially-distanced time with family and friends. In the meantime, the cannabis community keeps on churning along. Let’s take a look at some of the top pieces of news in the cannabis community as of late…

So Your State Legalized Cannabis. What’s Next? (Forbes)

“When my government career pivoted to the legal medical cannabis industry over 10 years ago, I recognized that public acceptance and consumer demand were trending upwards. But I could not have predicted the widespread acceptance we see today. In fact, I vividly remember discussing with my Colorado colleagues in 2010 how we might see the state legalize adult use in our lifetimes. Legalization came to Colorado two short years later in 2012.”

Cannabis Stocks Watchlist: A Major Marijuana Merger (The Street)

“Aphria  (APHA) - Get Report and Tilray  (TLRY) - Get Report joined forces in the past week that will create the world’s biggest marijuana production and distribution company. Could this be the start of mergers for cannabis companies as the hopes for federal legalization becomes more likely?

The Street's Debra Borchardt shared her top stock picks in the cannabis sector for 2021.”

Why medical marijuana in Pennsylvania is some of the most costly in the U.S. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

“Bill Cobb uses medical marijuana to treat PTSD and chronic back pain.

“I’m a 50-year-old Black man who’s been a civil rights worker,” said Cobb, now a criminal-justice activist in Philadelphia. “I smoke to have my brain slow down. But to be honest, I also smoke because I enjoy it.”

Alleviating his physical and mental pain is difficult when he feels another sting: His doctor-recommended medicine is not covered by insurance. He pays out of pocket — as much as $120 a week.

“It’s way too expensive,” Cobb said. “It’s ridiculous.””

Aphria, Tilray Deal Is a Bet on Euro Pot: Cannabis Weekly (Bloomberg)

“At first glance, Tilray’s deal with Aphria might look like a bid to create a Canadian heavyweight, or a move to gain a better foothold in the U.S.

But as the Italians say, “dietrologia” -- the surface explanation is never the real one. Much of the logic, it turns out, is rooted in Europe.

Tilray has a cultivation facility in Portugal, while Aphria has another in Germany -- plus a prescription business that’s connected to 13,000 German pharmacies and others throughout Europe. This allows for tariff-free cannabis for the European Union, which is a market that the companies are betting will liberalize quickly.”