Weeding the News – October 30, 2025
Volume 2, Issue 1
The Newsletter’s Aim
Weeding The News – a breakdown of cannabis news, important events, and top-notch accounting tips – aims to entertain and inform you as we watch the cannabis industry transform before us.
The information contained in Weeding The News issues is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax or legal advice.
Celebrating One Year of Weeding The News
As WeedingTheNews.com marks its first anniversary, we take a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come—and to thank you, our readers and subscribers, for being part of this journey. Over the past year, we’ve grown from a small seed of an idea into a thriving publication, dedicated to cutting through the noise and cultivating clear, thoughtful coverage of the stories that matter most.
Your engagement, feedback, and loyalty have been the fertile ground that has allowed us to grow. We’re deeply grateful for your readership and support.
Here’s to another year of clarity, curiosity, and community.
— The Weeding The News Team
© 2025 BTA Corp. All rights reserved. AI-generated.
What’s on the Docket
Los Angeles is looking to collect $400 million in unpaid taxes from cannabis companies; Wisconsin’s cannabis future is starting to look brighter, as Massachusetts and Ohio face new legislative issues. In a story straight out of Pineapple Express, Maryland police want volunteers to light up in front of them. We hear from a vice president of government affairs and compliance and a sales specialist and bring you some pertinent tax strategies.
Cannabis in Los Angeles and Beyond
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Los Angeles cannabis companies owe the city $400 million in outstanding taxes, with the LA Office of Finance suggesting the city forgive tax penalties so the businesses can start paying off their debts, as the city struggles with a budget deficit. Read more on SF Gate.
Next year, the Supreme Court will consider whether Americans who consume cannabis are also fit to own firearms. Read more on Ganjapreneur.
According to new data released by the FBI, in 2024, about one out of every five drug arrests was over cannabis possession. Read more on NORML.
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New Research from the NIH suggests that cannabis consumers may have a lowered risk of contracting sinus diseases. Read more on Leafie.
Ohio’s cannabis market is also looking at troubled waters, as their House of Representatives has passed a bill that removes multiple consumer protections and adds restrictions on hemp products. Read more on Marijuana Moment.
There is some good news in the Midwest, as a recent public hearing in Wisconsin brought a large crowd with near unanimous support for the state establishing a regulated medical cannabis program. Read more on The Marijuana Herald.
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Massachusetts has moved one step closer to losing the majority of its legal cannabis market, as the Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy has already started collecting signatures, according to representatives. For fans of irony: The spokesperson for the initiative, Wendy Wakeman, once tweeted, “The ‘You can’t tell me what to do’ sentiment is my driving motivation.” Read more on MJBizDaily.
Curaleaf, a multistate operator, is suing New Jersey as they look to get around labor-friendly licensing requirements, among their other issues. Read more on MJBizDaily.
In Florida, hemp-derived THC-infused beverages are now available throughout the state at more than 900 Circle K stores. Read more on The Marijuana Herald.
© 2025 BTA Corp. All rights reserved. AI-generated.
Abroad
In Switzerland, Zurich is hoping to extend its cannabis pilot program for another two years, saying the initial run has been a resounding success. Read more on Leafie.
The cannabis lifestyle brand “Cookies” will soon enter the Brazilian market through a partnership with CR Wellness. Read more in the Cannabis Business Times.
Tax Strategies
Just finished your 2024 taxes. You are super sharp right now. Don’t let that go to waste.
There are just over two months to go in the 2025 tax year. You have your 2024 taxes done, and there is a new tax bill that was passed last summer. Let’s take the next two months to put together your tax strategy for 2025, ensuring you will not be overpaying on taxes.
Here are some key areas to consider:
- Special rules for employee tips. Is your payroll system set up to report this correctly? What does this mean to the employer as well?
- New overtime rules. Compliance is big; the benefits to employers and employees is essential. Are the employees aware of how this affects them?
- New capital: Is it coming into the company as debt or equity? When does the company need the money?
- New partners: coming in as silent investors or to help with business operations?
- Buying or selling: do it now or wait until the new year?
- Entity type: How was 2024? How does 2025 and beyond look? Keep the current entity or try something new?
It’s best to do year-end planning over a week or two, allowing time to try out new ideas. This is a tremendous year for planning, with a very big tax bill just passed. Be sure the company takes advantage of having time now to plan how to use it effectively.
© 2025 BTA Corp. All rights reserved. AI-generated.
Upcoming Events
Events Abroad
If your travels take you abroad, we recommend attending these events.
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The Situation Report
Maryland police are asking for volunteers to smoke cannabis in front of them to observe the impact of cannabis impairment. Read more on The Wave.
In North Carolina, following a police search of a vehicle and a residence, cannabis was seized, and four men were charged with various crimes, including possession of a weapon of mass destruction. Read more on Queen City News.
A woman in Pennsylvania has been charged with providing her son cannabis “to help calm down” the 15-year-old. Read more NorthcentralPA.com
Abroad
A U.K. crime lord who moved large quantities of cannabis, cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and amphetamines has been jailed. Apparently, he would pay for his daughter’s private school tuition in cash envelopes. Read more on the BBC.
A man in the U.K. has been sentenced to over two years in prison after police witnessed him conducting a drug deal on the M6, England’s longest motorway. Read more on Yahoo! News.
A Brazilian influencer has been arrested for her alleged involvement in a drug trafficking ring, which included (according to authorities) selling cannabis to her followers. Read more on People.
Industry Insights
Angelica Sanchez
Vice President, Government Affairs and Compliance, Perfect Union
“Everyone in cannabis has a story about how this plant changed a life, whether your own or that of a loved one. Working in this industry, I’ve seen cancer patients finally find relief, sharing that they could eat or sleep again. I’ve met people living with epilepsy who no longer depend on the heavy drugs of Big Pharma, where the side effects became an illness of their own. I’ve witnessed veterans discover healing, relief, and community. These moments remind us that cannabis is plant medicine.
While I believe everyone should have the right to enjoy cannabis, we can’t lose sight of the fact that this industry was built on the backs of the sick, the criminalized, and the persecuted. Leading with love, honoring the patient, and respecting the plant keeps us grounded in why we do this work.”
About Angelica Sanchez:
Angelica is Vice President of Government Affairs and Compliance at MWG Holdings Group, Inc. Starting as a budtender in 2016, she played a pivotal role in drafting the company’s first applications following California’s Prop 64. Over nine years, she helped grow MWG from one retail license to managing 26 licenses across retail, cultivation, and distribution. Since 2022, Angelica has focused on shaping cannabis policies and regulations through advocacy with legislative bodies and local governments.
Rich Wilmot
Sales Specialist
“Unlike legacy industries, cannabis is being taxed and regulated while still in its infancy. That means the data we generate around compliance, pricing, and consumer behavior isn’t just an accounting detail; it’s the blueprint for how future markets will balance innovation with oversight.
Cannabis taxation doesn’t just measure revenue; it defines the rules of survival. Unlike other industries, our tax code doesn’t just shape balance sheets; it shapes culture: who stays, who leaves, and whether consumers trust the legal market at all.”
About Rich Wilmot:
Rich’s work centers on helping cannabis retailers, distributors, and brands navigate a challenging landscape shaped by aggressive pricing, supply chain inefficiencies, and fragmented market intelligence.
© 2025 BTA Corp. All rights reserved. AI-generated.
Jobs
Job Title: Sales Account Manager
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Salary: $55,000 – $95,000
Mammoth Distribution distributes their brand portfolio and partner brands across the country.
Requirements:
- 3-5 years of proven sales success, ideally in cannabis or related industries
- Able to drive up to 8 hours daily to cover a large territory
Ideal candidates will have basic marketing knowledge and a network in the cannabis industry.
Benefits:
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
- Paid Company Holidays
- Paid Time Off
- Employee Assistance Program,
- Complimentary Life Coach
- Pet Insurance
Check out their reviews on Glassdoor.
Job Title: eCommerce Merchandising Manager
Location: Chicago, IL
Salary: $90,000 – $110,000
Green Thumb Industries is a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and retailer.
Requirements:
- 6+ years of experience in site merchandising or e-commerce for a retail or consumer products brand
- Experience with leading ecommerce platforms and tools (e.g., Salesforce Commerce, Websphere Commerce, Magento, Drupal, Frontastic, etc.)
- Advanced knowledge of Google Analytics and/or comparable analytics platforms
- Understanding of and experience with A/B testing fundamentals and implementation
- Must possess a valid driver’s license
Ideal candidates will have knowledge and/or experience with the Cannabis industry, with a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field.
Benefits: NA
Check out their reviews on Glassdoor.
Job Title: Senior Account Executive
Location: New York, NY (Remote)
Salary: $120,000 to $170,500
WeedMaps is a tech company serving the cannabis industry.
Requirements:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in digital sales or account management in a client/customer-facing role
- Proven track record of hitting goals and revenue targets
- BS / BA Degree or equivalent experience
Ideal candidates will have a familiarity with Salesforce and Tableau and experience in the cannabis industry.
Benefits:
- Physical Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Mental Health Benefits
- Basic Life & AD&D (employer paid, 1x salary up to $250,000)
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match
- Generous PTO, Paid Sick Leave, and Company Holidays
- Supplemental voluntary benefits
Check out their reviews on Glassdoor.
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