In our latest Trade To Black podcast for Easter Monday, host Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell break down some of the latest developments in the cannabis industry that investors will need to keep an eye out for in the market. You’ll hear about High Tide’s (NASDAQ: HITI) dispensary expansions and policy reform efforts across North America and Europe, plus Michael Bronstein of ATACH discusses North Carolina’s HB 1011 and Dave Joyce’s reintroduction of the STATES 2.0 act.
We start with Jushi Holdings (OTCQX: JUSHF), which just opened its fifth Beyond Hello™ dispensary in Ohio—its first in the city of Mansfield—bringing its national footprint to 41 stores. Major operators are now doubling down on stronghold states rather than overextending—a sign of maturity and restraint in the cannabis market. However, questions remain about Ohio’s adult-use rollout, particularly around excise tax levels and advertising restrictions. Meanwhile, High Tide Inc. continues its retail dominance in Canada, launching its 196th Canna Cabana store in Cochrane, Alberta, gaining first-mover advantage in an underserved micro-market.
Canadian cannabis companies are making strategic moves into Germany’s booming medical market, which saw a 272% year-over-year increase in cannabis imports. With over 50% of that product coming from Canada, the opportunity to offset painful excise taxes at home is catching investor attention. The outlook for Canadian LPs like Aurora Cannabis is improving—Aurora, once struggling, is now viewed as an elite global operator.
Michael Bronstein from the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH) joined for the Insider’s Edge segment, fresh from Florida. In Texas, legislators are grappling with the booming hemp market and ongoing push for medical marijuana expansion. And as we examine legislative changes like North Carolina’s HB 1011—a comprehensive medical marijuana bill—Bronstein emphasized the disconnect between public sentiment and lawmakers, particularly around synthetic cannabinoids. He predicted that even conservative steps forward would be meaningful and stressed the need for patient safety and proper regulation of products.
We explore Cureleaf’s move to retrofit a medical dispensary into a hemp shop and whether this model could become common. Bronstein noted that while some cannabis operators are exploring hemp retail, many prefer product-focused innovation over opening new storefronts—due in part to uncertain federal guidelines. He underscored how murky areas like THCA flower and conflicting state laws highlight the urgent need for a clear regulatory framework.
The hosts discussed Congressman Dave Joyce’s reintroduction of the STATESAct, which would exempt cannabis businesses from federal interference in legalized states. Bronstein argued that this kind of legislation—focused on reinforcing state-level autonomy without disrupting existing markets—is the most realistic and pragmatic path forward. Removing cannabis from the Controlled
