Best of the Week: March 21 – March 27, 2025

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

1. First Cannabis Contract Ratified by Teamsters in Maryland

Budtenders and shift leaders at Ascend located in Aberdeen, Maryland, ratified a Teamsters contract which made history in the Old Line State as the first cannabis workers to do so. Teamsters has been involved in obtaining strong contracts for Ascend workers in Michigan and Illinois. These collective bargaining agreements help increase the wages of workers, paid time off, provide job security, as well as safety improvements.

“More and more cannabis workers are rapidly realizing that a Teamsters contract brings the stability they deserve in an ever-changing industry,” Jesse Case, Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division commented. “The Teamsters are rapidly becoming synonymous with long-term, stable careers in cannabis.”

2. Partnership between US Hemp Roundtable and BlueCheck Helps Support Online Hemp Sales

In a recent press release, the US Hemp Roundtable, a national advocacy organization in the hemp industry, announced their partnership with BlueCheck, a market organization in age verification technology. The partnership between the two establishments hope to provide some confidence in online adult hemp purchases.

“We strongly support the requirement of robust, third-party age-verification technology to keep adult products out of the hands of minors while meeting modern consumer demand,” Jonathan Miller, General Counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable said. “Compliance with age-verification laws is a top priority for the hemp industry, and in 2025, we have more tools at our disposal than just a quick glance at an ID. Our collaboration with BlueCheck will help hemp businesses comply with age-restriction laws while ensuring only legal adult consumers can complete purchases online.”

3. Edible Brands Launches Edibles.com for Hemp Products

Edible Brands (parent company of Edible Arrangements, along with freshfruit.com and Rōti Modern Mediterranean) announced the launch of a new hemp product online marketplace: Edibles.com. The new marketplace is described as first-of-its-kind, and is intended to increase accessibility and convenience to consumers through delivery of THC products while addressing common challenges consumers face with these kinds of products.

"The hemp industry is evolving rapidly, but consumers still face challenges with perception, education, and accessibility," stated Somia Farid Silber, CEO of Edible Brands. "We needed a leader with deep expertise in brand-building and regulatory navigation, and Thomas is the ideal choice to bring our vision for Edibles.com to life. His ability to create seamless consumer experiences—integrating product innovation, operations, and retail—sets him apart. We're making it easier than ever for consumers to access premium, vetted products with the convenience they expect today."

4. CReDO Science Webinar Discusses the Origins and Effects of Cannabis Laws

CReDO Science recently presented, “History of Cannabis Prohibition and Scheduling,” an hour-long webinar detailing the history of cannabis policies, from historical texts to modern day prohibitions. Ethan Russo, MD, neurologist and medical researcher, explained significant dates, and the potential for the future, tracing the history of cannabis prohibition from ancient texts to modern regulations, discussing policy shifts, scheduling, and more.

5. Texas Hemp Market Economic Report Shows Increasing Wages and Job Growth

A recent Texas hemp market economic report highlighted rising wages and job growth as well as how proposed regulations could harm the industry. The newly released economic report from Whitney Economics, called “Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids in the Lone Star State: A Revisit of the Economic Impact Analysis of Cannabinoid Retail in Texas”, found that the hemp industry in Texas is a “major contributor” to the Lone Star State’s economy. In Texas, the hemp industry creates $5.5 billion in annual sales with a tax revenue anticipated at reaching $268 million.