Business

Heavy metals can find their way into cannabis through water, soil, fertilizers, and even aging equipment—yet most growers don’t realize how easily contamination can occur. Researchers are just beginning to understand how the plant interacts with metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead, but cultivators can take practical steps now to minimize risk. From input testing and pH management to smarter irrigation practices, here’s what every grower should know to keep crops compliant and consumers safe.

Pisgah Peaks Ventures helps cannabis operators scale marketing and revenue through embedded, fractional teams — prioritizing brand-building, realistic metrics, and execution that compounds over time.

KCSA Strategic Communications brings decades of experience in regulated industries to cannabis, helping brands build credibility, navigate volatility, and align earned media with long-term business goals.

Maverick Public Relations focuses on long-term credibility in cannabis communications, emphasizing trust, data-driven strategy, and disciplined storytelling in highly regulated markets.

Cannabis Marketing 3.0 is here, and the old playbook doesn’t work anymore. Social myths have collapsed, AI alone can’t save creative, and brands are losing customers because their websites feel like relics from 2017. These are the new realities of marketing in a rapidly changing industry where creativity, speed, data, and customer understanding must work together. The brave win. The passive fade. Here’s what actually drives growth now.

Cannabis cultivators often celebrate yield, but volume alone doesn’t guarantee profitability. Many grows unknowingly scale losses because key expenses — overhead, indirect labor, and material consumption — aren’t accurately tracked. When cost visibility is missing, even high-performing strains can drain margins. In today’s tight market, operators need precise cost intelligence, not guesses. Knowing the real cost per gram helps cultivators eliminate waste, refine their product mix, and build a more resilient, profitable operation.

Wyoming’s U.S. attorney said marijuana possession on federal lands will face strict prosecution under revised Justice Department guidance.

As cannabis markets evolve worldwide, operators are leaning on automation not just to boost efficiency but also to strengthen culture. From Canada’s GMP-driven systems to Germany’s early adopters and Latin America’s export-focused producers, global peers reveal a clear reality: Manual systems can carry a company only so far. Here's how equipment, flexibility, and people-first training help manufacturers scale sustainably without losing their identity.

From gourmet sauces to mochi gummies, today’s hemp-derived edibles go far beyond standard gummies and chocolates. This curated roundup highlights innovative, gift-worthy products that appeal to foodies, wellness shoppers, and holiday hosts looking for something fresh, functional, and fun.

Acquisition addiction is eating into cannabis margins. Brands spend heavily to win first-time buyers, only to start over again next month. By centering customer lifetime value (CLV), marketers can shift from one-and-done transactions to profitable, long-term relationships. Here's how to use CLV segments, first-party data, and compliant programmatic media to increase purchase frequency, lower effective CAC, and turn your best customers into loyal advocates.