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. Young adults choose weed over booze daily

2. France sends mixed signals on medical cannabis

3. Vireo Growth builds powerhouse with $75M raise

Young adults choose weed over booze daily

New data shows a dramatic shift in how young people get their buzz. Among adults aged 19-30, daily cannabis use is triple that of alcohol consumption.

• This flip isn't just a blip. Over the past decade, daily cannabis use among young adults has shot up 75% while alcohol use has dropped 35%.

• Even middle-aged folks are joining the trend, with cannabis catching up to alcohol in the 35-50 age group.

For cannabis brands, the message is clear: young adults are power users. They're not just choosing cannabis more often — they're making it part of their daily routine.

France sends mixed signals on medical cannabis

France just extended its medical cannabis experiment for six months, but there's a twist:

Instead of expanding access, officials want the extra time to help patients quit cannabis or find alternatives.

While CBD products are now legal after courts overturned a national ban, the new Health Minister's lukewarm stance on medical cannabis and strong opposition to adult-use shows France remains a challenging market.

For cannabis companies eyeing European expansion, wait and observe France's regulatory climate before diving in.

Vireo Growth builds powerhouse with $75M raise

Vireo Growth just raised $75M equity to acquire four single-state operators across Florida, Missouri, Nevada, and Utah. The deal brings their total footprint to seven states with 48 retail spots.

But here's the real kicker:

• The deal also included Arches — a tech platform that's already dominating Utah's delivery market with 99% coverage of medical patient

• Plus, each state operation will remain independent — allowing local teams to do what they do best while sharing resources

By merging resources while preserving local expertise, the new Vireo team expects to hit $394M in revenue next year. It's a fresh approach to growing bigger without losing what makes each operation special.

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

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