Best of the Week: April 11 – April 17, 2025

Let’s dive into the top stories shaping the conversation this week. Summaries of each article are listed below.

1. The Call Is Coming from Inside the Industry: A Scientific Wake-Up for Cannabis

In this article, David Vaillencourt delves into the important role science plays in the cannabis industry and how the industry needs to embrace stringent manufacturing standards to move the industry forward.

Vaillencourt writes: “The call is coming from inside the house. No, this isn’t a horror movie—but it should scare you. Because the biggest threat to the cannabis industry’s future isn’t federal prohibition or overregulation. It’s us. The people inside the house. The companies pushing products with no scientific backing. The lobbyists defending outdated myths. The advocates and operators who refuse to work together.

I’m speaking in support of Dr. Jahan Marcu’s latest article in Rolling Stone, one of the most humble and brilliant scientists in the cannabis space. The realism he brings to his writing might seem so sharp it borders on sarcasm, but it’s not sarcasm—it’s the truth. And sometimes, the truth hurts. His latest piece is a desperate call to arms, and we need to listen.”

2. Survey Evaluates Effects of Medical Cannabis and Traditional Sleep Aids for Patients in Germany

Medical cannabis company Bloomwell Group GmbH recently announced results from a survey on sleeping disorders and cannabis compared with conventional sleeping medications. As Julian Wichmann M.D. Specialist and CEO of Bloomwell GmbH explains, the report, “The Cannabis-Barometer – Medical Cannabis as an Effective Therapy for Sleep Disorders” aimed to address misconceptions around medical cannabis use and patients.

Data analyzed included 1086 anonymous responses from patients who had been using medical cannabis since 2023 for their sleep disorders. The survey was conducted from December 2024 to March 2025.

3. University of Mississippi Announces New Cannabis Research and Resource Center

The University of Mississippi (UM) announced it will lead the new Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (R3CR), intended to support cannabis research across the nation. The R3CR will operate in the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) and will contribute to the production of more scientific evidence and information through an interactive website, webinars, conferences, and more.

"People will realize significant changes in the landscape of cannabis research," stated Donald Stanford, assistant director of the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UM. "Changes such as stronger and improved regulation compliance, development of more cannabis technologies, as well as the FDA receiving relevant safety data to make decisions on cannabinoids in foods and dietary supplements, can all eventually contribute to people's health.”

4. Metrc Announces In-Person Information Sessions for Illinois Licensees Ahead of System Transition

Metrc, a cannabis regulatory technology system provider, announced it would be hosting several in-person events for cannabis businesses licensees of all types as part of a multi-phase onboarding process. These “roadshows” are intended to provide information and live Q&A for participants as the state transitions to Metrc’s track-and-trace record system, which will take place by the end of June 2025.

The information sessions will address how to set up the system and explain best practices for operation.