A long-running dispute over one of Arkansas’ medical marijuana cultivation permits is escalating after a second court found regulators improperly awarded one of the licenses.

At issue is the license awarded to Fort Smith, Arkansas-based River Valley Relief, one of eight cannabis cultivators licensed by the state.

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On Dec. 30, a Pulaski County Circuit judge ruled that state regulators issued River Valley Relief and its principal, Bennett “Storm” Nolan, a permit despite the fact his application was “fatally flawed.”

It’s the second ruling against Nolan and River Valley following a 2022 decision that also found regulators acted improperly when they “unlawfully” awarded Nolan’s business a permit.

The original suit was filed by 2600 Holdings, which does business as Southern Roots Cultivation and unsuccessfully

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(This story first appeared in the November-December issue of MJBizMagazine.)

California cannabis brand Breez has stayed true to its core mission of providing access to medical marijuana patients and recreational consumers since it was established in 2015.

That ethos led Austin and Anna Hice, the brand’s husband-and-wife management team, to develop THC-infused tablets and mints in a widely recognized form factor.

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It also prompted the co-founders to launch direct-to-consumer delivery – particularly targeting the state’s vast cannabis deserts, where cities and counties still prohibit marijuana operations nearly eight years after voters legalized MJ cultivation and retail sales.

“It’s all about accessibility,” Austin Hice told MJBizMagazine during a phone interview.

Demand for delivery

Though about 95% of Breez products are sold through retail, delivery

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(This column first appeared in the November-December issue of MJBizMagazine. To be considered as an MJBizDaily guest columnist, please submit your request here.)

Beau Whitney (Courtesy photo)

The macroeconomic environment has a huge impact on cannabis investment opportunities.

While recent years have been rough for the industry, the future looks somewhat less turbulent as macroeconomic pressures on cannabis businesses alleviate.

A few years out from COVID-19, the industry is exiting a period of abnormally high sales driven by pandemic purchasing.

Demand is more predictable, and consumers are returning to pre-pandemic behaviors.

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Still, some critical business operations will continue to be influenced by macroeconomics – and how companies respond to these factors will ultimately decide the health of their cannabis businesses.

Cost of inputs

Many companies have experienced

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