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. Texas plans total hemp ban

2. Consumer trends reshaping cannabis in 2024

3. Mississippi's cannabis ad ban stands

Texas plans total hemp ban

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced plans to ban all THC products statewide in 2025 — including those perfectly legal hemp-derived goodies.

• The move would pull the rug out from under Texas's booming hemp industry, which has been operating (mostly) legally since 2019.

• While local Texas cities keep pushing for cannabis reform, state leadership is doubling down on prohibition.

Cannabis entrepreneurs: this highlights the importance of engaging in state-level policy discussions — before they become industry-shuttering legislation.

Consumer trends reshaping cannabis in 2024

Fresh data from the American Journal of Public Health reveals the modern cannabis consumer landscape:

• Alternative consumption methods are severely underserved. Only 8.8% use edibles while 72.3% stick to smoking, suggesting massive untapped market potential

• Gen Z is driving adoption. Young workers (18-20) consume at nearly 8x the rate of older generations, with 24% reporting monthly use vs just 3.2% of 65+ workers

• Less educated consumers lead consumption. 14.9% of non-high school grads use cannabis monthly vs. 10.7% of college grads

• Gender gap presents growth opportunity. Male consumers (13%) significantly outpace female consumers (8%)

For cannabis brands, these patterns reveal clear paths for product innovation, market expansion, and demographic targeting in 2025.

Mississippi's cannabis ad ban stands

A federal appeals court has upheld Mississippi's comprehensive ban on medical cannabis advertising, citing federal Schedule I status. The ruling:

• Restricts dispensaries to basic website information and on-premise signage

• Prohibits all other marketing channels including social media and traditional advertising.

This precedent could influence advertising regulations across other state markets, making it essential for cannabis businesses to develop alternative customer acquisition strategies.

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

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