Business advisory and consulting firm Aprio has entered into an agreement to acquire Price Kong, a Phoenix-based accounting and consulting firm. The acquisition marks Aprio’s entry into serving the cannabis industry, providing specialist expertise to companies operating in a complex, fast-growing and highly regulated sector.

“Bringing together our capabilities – accounting, consulting, audit, wealth and legal – in one marketplace is a milestone for Aprio. Our goal is to be the company that Arizona’s greatest entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs turn to when navigating a growth opportunity, managing regulatory risk or building for an exit,” said Richard Kopelman, CEO of Aprio. “We are excited to welcome the Price Kong team to Aprio and deepen our presence in the Phoenix metro area.”

Founded in 1967, Price Kong has been a cornerstone of the Phoenix business community for nearly six decades, advising aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners in construction, dental, healthcare, real estate, technology and other growth-oriented industries. The company was also one of the first to offer accounting services to the cannabis industry, helping operators and ancillary businesses navigate complex regulatory, tax and financial challenges for over ten years. With more than 40 professionals, including managing partner Ross Dietrich and five other partners, Price Kong brings great depth and experience to Aprio.

“We couldn’t be more excited to join forces with Aprio and bring our clients an even stronger platform to help them grow,” said Price Kong Managing Partner Ross Dietrich. “Our team has spent decades building deep experience in a complex and fast-paced industry, and by joining Aprio, we’re able to combine that expertise with broader capabilities and deeper resources. I’m incredibly proud of what this team has built, and I’m excited about what we can achieve together as part of Aprio.”

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C3 Industries has opened a new medical cannabis dispensary in London, Kentucky. This marks the Company’s entry into the state and expands access to safe medical cannabis for registered patients in Laurel County and the surrounding southeastern Kentucky region.

Kentucky launched its medical cannabis program on January 1, 2025, and many residents are still navigating the certification process for the first time. High Profile London supports new and innovative cardholders with an expert team and a welcoming retail experience.

Located at 140 Faith Assembly Church Road, London, KY, High Profile London is a medical-only dispensary serving registered Kentucky patients 18 years of age and older with a qualifying condition. The store offers a curated selection of flowers, edibles, vapes, concentrates and accessories, along with in-store shopping and online ordering for added convenience.

“As our retail network expands into Kentucky, we are focused on opening doors to patients in markets where access is still new, and simplifying the patient process that can feel complicated,” said Ankur Rungta, CEO and co-founder of C3 Industries. “London is exactly the kind of community where High Profile can make a difference. Our team is working to remove the barriers that prevent patients from getting the care they need.”

© C3 Industries

The Kentucky Cannabis Industry Association (KCIA) is hosting weekly Patient Drives at High Profile London every Thursday in May from 12pm to 4pm to help qualified patients navigate the Kentucky cannabis certification process. At this event, patients can meet with independent practitioners to complete their certification and necessary paperwork in one appointment for a $25 fee. A separate state registration fee of $25 is also required. New patients and renewals are welcome. Tours will be adjusted as the schedule allows.

Easily accessible from I-75 and conveniently located in Laurel County, the dispensary provides convenient access for patients in southeastern Kentucky. Store hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., soon to be extended hours. Weekly patient trips, rotating promotions and daily deals are available on a convenient range of brands and products. Terms and conditions apply.

“At High Profile, the customer sits at the center of everything we do. Then we build the experience around them, with the right information, the right selection and the right price for every visit,” said Chris Melillo, Chief Retail Officer, C3 Industries. “Whether a patient is getting their first medical card or has been a cannabis patient for years, our job is to meet them where they are in their journey. That’s what we’re bringing to London, and we can’t wait to introduce ourselves to the community.”

Oklahoma drug officials have issued guidelines requiring medical marijuana companies to register with the federal government to avoid penalties, including revocation of state registrations.

Donnie Anderson, director of the Oklahoma Office of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Enforcement (OBNDD), said in a letter to cannabis industry stakeholders on Friday that they are under pressure. complete a new Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration form with that it was launched The Trump administration’s move to federally regulate cannabis.

Citing state law, he said “any registrant who is a distributor or manufacturer of medicinal marijuana products must comply with federal law and, as a result, must obtain DEA registration.”

“Failure to obtain DEA registration may result in OBNDD administrative penalties, including revocation of a registrant’s OBNDD registration,” the letter states. “This is consistent with the requirements currently in place for Schedule Ill registrants regulated by the OBNDD.”

“To ensure compliance with these federal regulations and to minimize the impact on legally operating entities, OBNDD will not consider OBNDD-registered medical marijuana businesses without a DEA registration required to manufacture or distribute marijuana until January 1, 2027. It is strongly recommended that all OBNDD registrants authorized to manufacture marijuana or medical marijuana licensed by OBNDD apply for or be required to register. April 28, 2026 Once After the publication of the permanent Order, upon timely submission of an application to the DEA, the registrant will not be subject to OBNDD administrative action, without DEA registration, to distribute marijuana, DEA applications submitted within sixty days will be distributed in any DEA case and products without DEA registration within the interim period These activities in violation of the Final Order may be subject to OBNDD administrative sanctions until a registrant’s OBNDD registration is revoked.

Anderson concluded by saying, “nothing contained in this letter is intended to be construed as legal advice regarding a registrant’s obligations under federal law or Oklahoma statutes.”

“This letter is simply being issued to inform medical marijuana companies of their administrative responsibilities,” he said. he wrote. “If there are additional questions regarding compliance with federal, state, or administrative law, the registrant should consult with an attorney.”

The Oklahoma Medical Marihuana Authority (OMMA), which licenses and regulates the state’s medical cannabis businesses, released the guidelines separately earlier this week. a recently litigated case of federal reorganization and reform.

“This is an evolving federal conversation, but our focus remains the same: protecting patient health and safety and responsibly regulating the industry,” said OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry. “These announcements have raised many questions, but very few answers. OMMA will continue to relay information released by the DEA and the federal government, but ultimately, we encourage licensees to seek professional advice as they make the best decisions for their business.”

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), meanwhile, recently suggested that lawmakers should pass one. measure on the ballot to roll back the state’s medical cannabis program. In his State of the State address in February, he said voters should “shut him down”, arguing that “liberal activists” had defrauded the state and “opened Pandora’s box”.

Legislative leaders have pushed back on that idea, however.

Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R), for example, initially expressed an open mind, but ultimately decided against it It would be “very difficult” to legalize and unfair to licensed cannabis operators who “invested their life savings into this program” and are “trying to do this for Oklahomans who need this product, not for recreation, but for real medicine.”

“It’s hard to undo that bell,” he said. “What I’m going to suggest to the governor is that we don’t ask questions about the situation, but we continue to push regulations (and) we continue to regulate the industry.”

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So has House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R). he largely dismissed the possibility of overturning the state’s medical cannabis program. He said Oklahomans have already made a clear distinction: they support medical marijuana and are “very strong” against legalizing adult use, based on past election results.

Stitt is not, however, saying yes in a recent interview “He had great conversations with the House and the Senate.”

“They know it’s a problem. Oklahomans are calling our offices saying it’s a problem,” Stitt said. “So I think we’re going to give something back to the people.”

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R) was asked about a call by voters to overhaul the state’s medical marijuana program, and He said he would “like” to eliminate the state’s medical marijuana program.

However, he warned that doing so would result in the return of hundreds of licensees participating in the market, as the state would “take away” a source of income from them.

In 2022, Stitt used his State of the State address as an opportunity to discuss the voter-approved medical marijuana law, arguing that the residents were deceived by the supporters of the voting initiative.

Meanwhile, in November, Oklahoma activists withdraw initiative to legalize adult marijuana They hoped to put it on the 2026 state ballot.

After a brief but aggressive signature push to secure ballot placement, Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA) ultimately failed to submit petitions by the deadline, according to the secretary of state.