Business & Strategy

Many cannabis businesses are running on tactics — a social campaign here, a marketing calendar there — and calling it strategy. There’s a meaningful difference, and closing that gap is where growth becomes intentional rather than accidental. The starting point isn’t a bigger budget or a better agency. It’s a clearer picture of your customer: who they are, how they make decisions, and where they’re actually being influenced.

Schedule III could reduce the tax drag that has warped cannabis operating models for years, but it won’t be a universal win. The real advantage will go to operators who treat post-280E relief as a catalyst: moving faster, tightening inventory and receivables, stress-testing pricing and production, and getting books “deal-ready” before M&A velocity spikes. In the gap between improved economics and slower-moving capital markets, preparedness becomes market power.

Only about 39 percent of cannabis workers participate in workplace retirement plans — about 18 points below the U.S. rate — and even auto-enrollment isn’t fixing the gap. A new cannabis-only report analyzing 140 plans across 420+ entities found opt-out rates near one in three among automatically enrolled employees, despite sophisticated plan design and meaningful employer contributions. The problem is less about plan features and more about worker realities.

CHICAGO and VANCOUVER, Canada -- Green Thumb Industries Inc. increased its existing syndicated credit facility led by Valley National Bank by $50 million, bringing the...

AI and search engines now prioritize authority over keyword rank. Learn how cannabis brands can gain lasting visibility through editorial validation, third-party trust, and strategic content placement beyond traditional SEO.

Cannabis brands are shifting from ad spend to authority strategy. Learn how trusted platforms drive long-term visibility in search and AI — and why placement in credible media environments is now essential.

With ad restrictions tightening, cannabis brands must prioritize credibility over campaigns. Learn why trust-based visibility offers a more resilient path than paid ads—and how it shapes long-term discovery in search and AI.

Cannabis operators are clinging to a capital playbook that no longer works — waiting on reform, “sideline” investors, or a return to the equity markets of five years ago. But the drought isn’t cyclical; it’s structural. Between 280E, regulatory unpredictability, and a vanished exit path, traditional equity logic collapses. The result is “toxic hope” that delays restructuring and burns runway. The fix isn’t optimism. It’s architecture: structures designed to work under current law.

A personal brand isn’t a logo or a vibe. It’s your reputation, your value, and the story people repeat about you when you’re not in the room. In cannabis, where competition is fierce and change is constant, being intentional matters more than ever. This guide breaks down what a personal brand really is, why authenticity wins, and how to build visibility without feeling performative through smart social media habits, consistent messaging, and real-world networking that reinforces who you are.

Deposits were the entry point; now, lending is the inflection point." Green Check CEO Kevin Hart breaks down why 40% of cannabis-serving banks have already moved into lending and how your compliance data has become your most powerful credit tool for 2026.