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. Teen cannabis use hits 30-year low

2. MediPharm's $5.5M facility sale signals focus on global cannabis market

3. Lessons from cannabis industry CEOs

Teen cannabis use hits 30-year low

When state legalization first became a thing, people were concerned that cannabis use would skyrocket among younger generations.

• Funny enough, new federal data reveals a significant decline in teen cannabis use since states have begun legalizing.

• The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future survey shows usage drops of 30-40% across all student age groups over the past decade, reaching a 30-year low.

This survey provides proof that legal markets can operate successfully without increasing youth consumption, offering valuable support for business development and policy discussions, particularly when addressing public health concerns about legalization's impact on adolescents.

MediPharm's $5.5M facility sale signals focus on global cannabis market

MediPharm Labs is making moves in the cannabis space — they just sold their Ontario facility to Kensana Health for $5.5 million.

But here's the interesting part — this isn't just a simple sale:

The companies are forming a strategic partnership where Kensana will supply products for MediPharm's international brands

For MediPharm, this deal does double duty:

1. Streamlining operations

2. Strengthening their cash position for future growth

This sale gives Kensana the keys to expand into global markets, with plans to pursue FDA registration and approvals across Europe, the UK, and beyond.

Lessons from cannabis industry CEOs

Leading cannabis executives — Christina Betancourt Johnson (Founder and CEO of Standard Wellness Maryland, Will Bowden (Founder and CEO of Grasshopper Farms), Jason Vedadi, (CEO of Story Cannabis), Gibran Washington (CEO of Ethos Cannabis) recently shared their top lessons learned with Cannabis Business Times.

Here are three fundamental principles for success, supported by each executive:

1. Establish a strong foundation in a single market before expansion

2. Develop business models that don't rely on federal reform

3. Prioritize employee well-being to drive company performance

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

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