Mark Voss

AI is lowering the barrier to sophisticated cyberattacks, raising the stakes for cannabis businesses already vulnerable through POS systems, compliance platforms, and sensitive customer data.

Curaleaf’s proposed hostile takeover places Aurora Cannabis on the receiving end of a playbook it once used successfully. But earlier cannabis takeover battles produced very different endings, and Aurora’s cash-rich balance sheet gives its board room to resist, negotiate, or demand more.

Vireo Growth’s proposed acquisition of Planet 13 would add 36 dispensaries, a high-profile Las Vegas superstore, and greater density in Florida. But the all-stock deal comes as Planet 13 reports declining revenue, widening losses, and a narrower operating footprint. The assets offer clear strategic value, yet Vireo’s projected scale, including roughly 265 dispensaries across fifteen states, depends on multiple transactions closing and integrating successfully.