Cannabis News

More Than A Third Of Rap And Hip Hop Music Videos Feature Marijuana, Government-Funded Study Shows

Published

22 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

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More than a third of popular US hip hop and rap music videos mentioned marijuana in 2024, according to a new government-backed study. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Artists like Dre have helped fuel the trend by promoting a “cool” lifestyle, the researchers said.

According to the analysis, which was funded by the Ministry of Justice and Health of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, 37 percent of US hip hop and rap videos in the top 100 YouTube charts in 2024 contained references to cannabis, while an additional 4 percent discussed marijuana and nicotine.

That adds up to 41 percent of the genre’s top videos featuring marijuana, contributing to the cultural normalization of the plant through art.

While 41 percent of hip hop and rap music videos talked about cannabis, the study by researchers at the German Institute for Therapy and Health Research found that only 2 percent of songs from other genres originating in the US mention marijuana.

“Cannabis has been firmly anchored in the US hip-hop scene since the 1990s, and has particularly influenced artists on America’s west coast,” says the study, published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse. “Rappers like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and The Game are particularly associated with cannabis and convey a ‘chill’ lifestyle.”

“Historically, cannabis has been embedded in American hip-hop culture through Afro-Caribbean and African-American subcultures and is in favor of widespread legalization,” they said. he said.

The study also looked at depictions of cannabis and nicotine in German music videos, and found that US trends were reversed, with nicotine being more prevalent in the videos than marijuana.

Hip-hop and rap have helped inform culture and politics over the years, and it will come as no surprise that Snoop Dogg’s influence in the US will continue to play a role in the movement.

Beyond his hit songs like “Gin and Juice,” which have become staples of cannabis music culture, Snoop has also expanded his cannabis business in recent years. Last June, for example, artist brought another direct-to-consumer hemp lifestyle platform to market under his Death Row Records label.

Snoop acquired music label Death Row Records in 2022, and the cannabis icon has used that legacy platform to create an intersection between culture and the plant.

In 2024, it also expanded the Smoke Weed Every Day (SWED) brand with a separate retail platform for consumers. sells hemp-derived cannabinoid products, smoking supplies and other merchandise.

That platform works as a directory SWED’s physical retail marijuana locations, including the Los Angeles dispensary and a Cafe in Amsterdam.

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel recognized Snoop’s cannabis legacy in 2023 the artist’s birthday, October 20, was called “a new high holiday”. DoggFather’s Day.

While he may be known as a lavish consumer, Snoop has championed reform, meaning Calling for a policy change in the NBA to allow players to freely use cannabis off the court

He said last year that he supported the reform “on the medical side, on the health benefits and if it could really help alleviate opioids and the pills and injections that are given.”

Snoop has long been supporting athletic organizations to adopt soft marijuana policiesoften emphasizing the point that cannabis can serve as a less addictive and risky alternative to prescription opioids.

Meanwhile, underscoring an anecdotal observation common among cannabis users, a group of Canadian researchers released a study in 2024 indicating that marijuana can make music more enjoyable. concluded that “cannabis’ effect on auditory experience may be generally enhanced” compared to simple listening.

A separate study published in 2021 examined the intersection of music and psilocybin-assisted therapy and it undermined the conventional wisdom that classical music is somehow more effective in that environment.

Image courtesy of TechCrunch.

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Cannabis News

Sunderstorm expands in California with pre-roll company acquisition

Published

15 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

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Sunderstorm has acquired California-based pre-roll company Lime. Founded in 2019, Lime has hundreds of licensed dispensaries. Known for its craftsmanship, fast retail speed and affordable prices, Lime has built a strong following in the California cannabis culture and has a strong repeat purchase among everyday consumers.

This transaction marks Sunderstorm’s second purchase after purchasing the vape© Thunderstorm Bounty brand in 2023. With the addition of Lime, Sunderstorm expands into a third product category, strengthening its house of brands and expanding access to the total cannabis market.

Lime will continue to operate as a distinct brand leveraging Sunderstorm’s sophisticated manufacturing, scaled supply chain, rigorous quality systems and data-driven operational discipline, positioning the brand for rapid expansion in the California and state markets.

“With this acquisition, we are strengthening our strategy built to win in 2026,” said Cameron Clarke, Sunderstorm’s founder and CEO. “The next chapter of cannabis will be defined by execution, not hype. We’ve built the infrastructure to scale efficiently, and the growth potential with Lime is significant. We’ll continue to look for additional opportunities.”

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Cannabis News

“Steady coco peat demand expected ahead of key planting seasons”

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

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India’s supply of coir for export remains stable despite processing hiccups due to heavy rains, says Krishna Patil of Maharashtra-based produce export consultancy Krishna International Trade. “Availability is now stable due to improvements in coconut processing infrastructure in southern India. The flow of raw materials is now better managed than before, supporting both domestic consumption and export commitments.”

According to Patil, this year’s production has increased by 5-8% over last year, backed by better processing efficiency, mechanization and planning, with manufacturers also meeting export requirements. He said, “Supply generally appears balanced, but commodity fluctuations, container shortages and strict quality controls on EC, pH and moisture keep India’s coco peat exporters on the lookout. Strong process controls are essential to convert domestic grade material into export-matched quality.”

Patil’s coco peat export markets include Europe, particularly Spain, the Netherlands and Italy, as well as the Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. As he explains, “these markets are in regular cycles of planting and regeneration, so demand remains stable rather than sudden. Importers go beyond spot deals to find long-term partners. Domestically, local buyers often encounter quality differences and do not fully meet export specifications, although more users are now looking for export quality and standards.”

Coir peat is now more expensive to source, which Patil attributes to processing rather than demand. “Prices are 10% higher in recent months, mainly due to raw material shortages, higher logistics costs, slower drying due to two years of erratic rains, and not due to increased demand. Even if demand is stable, limited materials available for shipment and longer processing times are putting upward pressure on prices in the short term.”

Looking ahead, Patil sees demand growing steadily in the coming weeks and months as planting ramps up in key markets in Europe and the Middle East. “Prices may remain firm in the short term due to ongoing processing delays and limited ready stock due to the prolonged rain pattern. A gradual stabilization is expected over the next month or two. Once the weather normalizes, production lead times and material availability should improve, leading to a smooth return to balance.”

For more information: © Krishna International Trade
Krishna Patil
Krishna International Trade
Telephone: +91 90 22 810 343
Email: (email protected)
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Cannabis News

Wisconsin GOP Lawmakers Are Divided On How To Regulate Hemp THC Products

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

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“We would like to work together … to make sure – in my humble opinion – that we protect our constituents, but also I think it’s necessary to protect an industry.”

Isiah Holmes, to the Wisconsin Examiner

Wisconsin lawmakers are pushing for competing visions for the state’s hemp future.

One proposal, (SB 682), was discussed at Thursday’s meeting of the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee.

The bill would create a regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabis products that would keep the state’s hemp industry afloat despite a federal ban that takes effect in November. Without state intervention, or the federal government choosing to reverse course, hemp growers and distributors fear Wisconsin’s $700 million industry and about 3,500 jobs will disappear.

Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), chairman of the Agriculture and Revenue Committee, introduced the bipartisan hemp bill to his committee, which he authored with bipartisan support.

Testin’s legislation would define hemp as any cannabis plant that contains no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC (or the maximum concentration allowed by federal law of up to 1 percent, whichever is greater) and would define “hemp-derived cannabinoids” as compounds extracted from the hemp plant. THC concentrations would be determined using specific high-throughput test methods.

The bill would require Wisconsinites to be at least 21 years old to purchase hemp-derived cannabinoid products, which would require the products to undergo independent laboratory testing to ensure they contain the amount and type of cannabinoids described on the product label. This practice, known as true labeling, is something the hemp industry has called for in recent years.

The products could not be sold based on the invoice including contact information for the manufacturer or brand owner, serving sizes for each container of the product, including allergens, ingredient lists, labeled potency in milligrams, and required warnings. According to the bill, hemp-derived products could not contain more than 10 milligrams of THC in a single serving.

Testin said Thursday that the industrial hemp market was worth about $11 billion in 2025, and would grow to $48 billion by 2032.

In Wisconsin, such products are “generally allowed legally but unregulated,” Testin said.

“There is no state law that restricts sales to minors, regulates the potency or content of (hemp-derived cannabinoid products), or imposes labeling or packaging requirements.” Minnesota, Kentucky, Tennessee and other states have enacted their own regulations, Testin said. “Regulations are needed (to remove the current uncertainty about the cannabinoid status of hemp-derived products), to provide stability and certainty to companies looking to enter this segment of the economy, and to enforce public safety regulations.”

Testin and Republican Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) have worked on hemp laws for Wisconsin since the federal Farm Bill passed in 2018.

“I actually grew hemp,” Kurtz said, recalling that in 2019 “it was kind of an open market.”

Kurtz and others who called him “bad actors” also rode the hemp wave throughout the hearing, seeing it as a “get-rich-quick scheme.” Kurtz said the hemp industry today is full of people who want to do the right thing, but the “bad actors” have persisted.

said Kurtz SB 682 It’s designed so Wisconsinites “know they’re getting the best product and what they’re getting.”

“If we do nothing, hemp will be illegal at the federal level … but it’s still going to be legal here in the state of Wisconsin. So it’s in our best interest to work together, to get a good compromise, to get some common sense legislation to make sure that — in my humble opinion — we protect our constituents, but also I think it’s necessary to protect an industry.”

While hemp would be illegal at the federal level, a state-level industry could operate similarly to the way some states have recreational or legalized cannabis programs, largely because the federal government has not cracked down on these industries.

Testin added, “Regardless of anyone’s thoughts on cannabis and cannabinoids, it’s here. And obviously, we have a lot of different perspectives on how we should move forward.”

He repeatedly blasted the “stupidity” of what he described as “our gentlemen” in Washington DC, but also criticized other hemp-related bills in Wisconsin. While some Republicans want to ban hemp products outright, others have different ideas about how a legal industry should be regulated.

Bill introduced by Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto). SB 681It would require licenses for manufacturers and distributors of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. The products would be sold under a three-tier system and would be regulated like alcohol under the Division of Alcoholic Beverages, a component of the Department of Revenue, which would be renamed the Division of Intoxicating Products.

Although Testin and Wimberger’s bill have garnered bipartisan support, Testin described Wimberger’s bill as a “dead bill” and “more dead than dead.”

Testin argued that SB 681 would over-regulate the hemp industry and lead to a monopolization effect where a small number of entities control who gets hemp permits, creating a competitive market and acting as a “good boys’ club.”

Sen. Sarah Keyeski (D-Lodi) highlighted the division among state Republicans over hemp and cannabis products, noting that Democrats are not the ones who support legalization and regulation.

The committee room was filled with people from across the hemp industry who listened to the conversation. When lawmakers asked how to ensure children don’t get intoxicating cannabis products, distributors and manufacturers pointed to age-verification software even for online sales, which require a photo and image of a driver’s license to accept an order.

Marketing of children’s products using cartoon-like advertising and attractive candy wrappers was discussed.

Some veterans have testified how hemp has helped them relieve pain, kick addictive pain killers, soothe PTSD symptoms, and help them relax their bodies to sleep.

Other testimony focused on the risk of crossing state lines into Michigan or Illinois to obtain cannabis to treat various medical conditions.

Hemp farmers insist they now need to know how a federal ban will affect them as they decide when or if to plant this spring.

Much of the public testimony was in favor of Testin’s bill, although some speakers said it should protect farmers and growers and expand the types of products to include beverages and gummies.

“Yes, we are now in a scenario where there are intoxicating hemp products,” Testin said. “But not just anything like beer, wine or alcohol, we need to put some sensible regulations in place, which is what this bill aims to do.”

“In terms of concerns about smoking or getting fat from these products,” Testin added, “it’s no different than people consuming too much stale fish fry or drinking too much beer on a Friday night. It’s one’s choice and responsibility, but at the same time, making sure we have some regulations in place.”

The hemp industry deserves to “grow and grow,” Testin said, adding that the public deserves protection and knowing that “this stuff isn’t falling into the hands of people it shouldn’t be, like children.”

This story was first published by the Wisconsin Examiner.

Brendan Cleak’s photo.

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