Welcome to Rise & Roll, a bi-weekly newsletter that keeps you smart, savvy, and always in the loop on the latest in cannabis.

Here’s what we have on deck for today…

1. Rebel Rabbit inks deal with Anheuser-Busch

2. Illinois moving to regulate hemp market

3. Massachusetts cannabis market soars

Rebel Rabbit inks deal with Anheuser-Busch

Founded in 2021, THC beverage pioneer Rebel Rabbit just secured a game-changing partnership with 24 Anheuser-Busch wholesalers.

The deal unlocks distribution to 30 new markets across nine states — Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Alabama — bringing their total market presence to 40+ regions.

As traditional alcohol distributors embrace cannabis beverages, brands that position themselves as "social drinking alternatives" are winning big.

Rebel Rabbit's expansion from startup to multi-state player in just three years proves it.

Illinois moving to regulate hemp market

Just five years after opening the doors to hemp production, Illinois is changing course. Gov. Pritzker is now backing stricter oversight of hemp-derived products — particularly targeting unregulated intoxicating compounds, such as delta-8.

The move has strong support from the state's cannabis industry, which views current hemp regulations as too loose.

The proposed legislation would limit THC content and restrict sales to licensed businesses, potentially reshaping the market landscape.

This regulatory shift in Illinois signals a wider trend:

• States are closing loopholes that allowed hemp-derived intoxicants to bypass cannabis regulations.

• Operators should anticipate similar changes in other states and position themselves accordingly.

Massachusetts cannabis market soars

Massachusetts just surpassed $7B in adult-use cannabis sales.

• Green Wednesday brought in a whopping $7.9M in single-day sales — the second-best day ever for the state's cannabis industry

• The latest billion-dollar milestone was reached in just 7 months, the fastest pace yet, (despite flower prices dropping to $4.58/gram)

• The state's Cannabis Commission is rolling out three new social consumption license types, giving entrepreneurs fresh paths into cannabis lounges and consumption spaces — a move that could reshape how customers experience cannabis in the Bay State

Massachusetts proves that mature markets can still find new growth through innovation, even while prices decrease.

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We’ll be back with another edition on Tuesday. See you then!

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