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Bronstein On Pennsylvania And Texas Cannabis Battles

By Shadd Dales On May 16, 2025

For our Friday Trade To Black podcast, hosts Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell sit down with Michael Bronstein, president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH). There’s been a week of new developments in cannabis policy and reform to unpack. For people catching up, Bronstein explains what has happened in Pennsylvania and Texas, the latest on the rescheduling hearings, and the news from Curaleaf and Avicanna.

First up: Despite pointed questions from Senators Cory Booker and Alex Padilla, Terry Cole played “political tightrope,” offering only vague responses on cannabis rescheduling. While his lack of public support is disappointing, Cole also didn’t shut down the possibility of DEA reform. Trump’s potential influence might make it so that real action could happen with little warning.

With earning’s season underway, we have been keeping a finger on the pulse of industry news. Curaleaf has launched another bold step in global expansion in the Australia medical cannabis market. It’s expected to top $1bn by 2026. And Avicanna (AVCN) posted their first profitable quarter, driven by margin improvements and cost efficiencies. Philip Morris International’s ongoing partnership with AVCN also appears to be a key strategic advantage. We’ll give you all the details when you tune in.

In PA, just over a week ago, HB 1200—a proposal for a state-run cannabis retail model—was rejected by the Senate Law and Justice Committee in a 7–3 vote. Michael Bronstein of ATACH predicted Pennsylvania’s outcome, explaining that the bill’s defeat underscores a growing preference for a market-driven approach to adult-use cannabis legalization. Bronstein also addressed the significant opposition to HB 1200 from law enforcement, the alcohol lobby, and business groups. He discussed strategies for engaging these stakeholders to form a broader coalition in support of cannabis reform.

The news is slightly better in Texas, where HB 46’s passage in the House marks a significant expansion of medical cannabis access, particularly for veterans. Ongoing conflict between local decriminalization efforts and state-level enforcement continues to hamper efforts, but the potential impact of federal cannabis policies could do much to mitigate state actions.

Catch the latest when you tune in.

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Shadd Dales

Shadd Dales is the Founder and President of The Dales Report and has an extensive background in the business media industry.

His work translates into over 15 years in mainstream media that included roles with BNN Bloomberg, CTV Properties and the iHeart Radio Network.

Shadd is considered one of the leading on air talents in both the cannabis and psychedelic space and has interviewed some of the most notable CEO names in the industry.

Shadd’s vision is to establish a content platform that is equivalent to a mainstream broadcast produced in a format that is relevant for today’s investor.