Trulieve debuts on NYSE – Newsletter 6/12/26
Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers, Courtesy Trulieve
THE BIG IDEA
Hi all,
Excited to say that renowned drug historian Emily Dufton, will cover the DEA’s historic REC rescheduling hearings which begin at the end of the month. Dufton’s books include the essential 2017 history Grass Roots: The rise and fall and rise of marijuana in America and she’ll bring her deep expertise to the proceedings.
Thursday she’ll join me on WeedWeek Wonks to kick off her coverage.
Here’s the news,
Alex
FROM WEEDWEEK
Trulieve debuts on NYSE
In a long awaited milestone for the licensed industry, Florida-based MSO Trulieve went public on the New York Stock Exchange. The move follows the Trump administration’s rescheduling of MED to a schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act, and comes weeks before DEA hearings are set to begin on rescheduling REC.
Also in WeedWeek:
- Newsbrief: Calif. AI tool assesses packaging for kids’ appeal
- Newsbrief: Calif. adopts emergency rules for rescheduling
QUICK HITS
Federal:
- Attorney Michelle Bodian has a rescheduling litigation update. A new wrench has been thrown into the mix.
- Attorney Whitt Steineker discusses What a Todd Blanche U.S. Attorney General nomination means for cannabis and psychedelics.
- A Nevada Independent editorial argues the industry shouldn’t be blocked from charitable giving, a federal issue.
- A bill in the House would block cannabis from workers comp for federal employees.
Marijuana Moment
Business:
- Vince Ning, CEO of multi-state distro Nabis said rescheduling remains largely unsettled.
MJBiz - MSO Vireo posted 2025 numbers from California-based MSO Eaze, which recently acquired.
StockTitan - Forbes has the inside story on the world’s first cannabis pharmaceutical painkiller. Vertanical’s Exilby is approved in Germany and now seeks FDA approvel. It’s backed by pharma billionaire Clemens Fischer.
- THC drinks firm Reframe formed a board of alcohol industry veterans.
The Drinks Business - The hemp wars are on in Ohio, Kentucky ,
Cleveland.com, MG - AI is growing your weed now.
High Times - Big Mike, the colorful CEO of Advanced Nutrients, gave a long interview to Hii Magazine’s podcast.
- For Pride, @missgrass posts on the LGBT movement’s contribution to legalization.
- Fable Libations CEO Benjamin Kennedy congratulated Anthropic on the release of its new Fable model.
- Bon Appetit shared its favorite THC drinks.
State and local:
- Michigan’s new tax is failing exactly as everyone predicted. Crain’s Detroit has more, including a grower in the state pitching his farm to data centers.
The ‘Gander - Women are shaping Minnesota’s industry.
Minnesota Star-Tribune - A bill in Virginia aims to address the current REC market impasse.
12News - A group of bipartisan Idaho lawmakers are moving forward with a bill to squash the likely MED ballot initiative
KMVT - New York regulator John Kagia said the World Cup is a tourist opportunity for the industry.
- A new bill would put decriminalization on the North Carolina ballot.
ABC - In a potential setback for unions, New York’s state legislature passed a bill that would end the state’s requirement that companies adopt labor peace agreements.
Cultivated - Rhode Island appears likely to scrap its residency requirements and restart licensing. Rhode Island Current
Fun and interesting:
- “Toad Venom in the Flesh” at this week’s huge Mary Jane Berlin conference.
@ronin_conduct - Cheech Marin appeared on an L.A.Times podcast discussing comedy, Chicano art and reinventing LA.
CALIFORNIA HITS
State:
- A top Republican senator suggested reversing REC legalization with a new ballot initiative.
State Affairs California - Attorney Ryan Kocot posted his state licensing guide.
Upcoming:
- Cookies impresario @Berner415 is taking his first film, Splash City, on tour.