A study from travel tips website Upgraded Points uncovered which cities in the United States are best for cannabis-friendly travel.

The study used data that included where marijuana is legal, the number of premium dispensaries, and unique experiences to create a list of destinations with the highest cannabis vacation appeal.

Denver, Colorado, leads the way with a 32% increase in weed-friendly accommodations since 2022, and boasts 48 dispensaries and ample guided cannabis tours. Portland, Oregon, finished in second with affordable lodging at just $161 per night, a 20% boost in dispensary access, and some of the nation’s lowest weed prices.

Rounding out the top five weed-friendly destinations in the U.S. are Boulder, Colorado; Missoula, Montana; and Burlington, Vermont, all of which reported ample cannabis options for travelers.

“Cannabis travelers are looking for an atmosphere where relaxation, adventure, and good vibes go hand in hand,” Upgraded Points editor-in-chief Keri Stooksbury said.

“With more states legalizing recreational marijuana, Upgraded Points updated its 2022 report to take a fresh look at the best destinations for a cannabis vacation,” Stooksbury continued. “From dispensary density to the cost of cannabis in general, we’re hoping to help you plan the ultimate ‘canna-cation.’”

Marijuana has been recently legalized in several prime vacation destinations, so Upgraded Points also ranked new smoke spots as well. Missoula, Montana, earns the top spot, while Cleveland, Ohio, broke into the top 10 after legalizing weed in 2023.

Arizona has more cities in the top 10 than any other state, since Scottsdale (No. 2), Tucson (No. 4), and Phoenix (No. 10) all made the list.

©2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Since Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, has a similar chemical structure to Delta-9 THC, it has grown in popularity as cannabis laws across the country have become less restrictive, allowing many smoke shops and dispensaries to legally sell additional products made from hemp.

Published this month by the International Society of Addiction Journal Editors, the clinical trial focused on 19 healthy adults with no past-month exposure to cannabinoids. Participants each ingested a brownie containing various doses of Delta-8 or Delta-9, or a placebo, with researchers recording cannabinoid concentration in blood, subjective drug effects, cognitive and psychomotor performance, and vital signs.

Delta-8 resulted in significantly lower ratings of drug effect than Delta-9 at a dose of 20 milligrams, the study found. Delta-8 was found to also have significantly lower cognitive impairment, negative subjective effects and impact on heart rate.

However, doubling the dose of Delta-8 to 40 milligrams resulted in the same rates of drug effects as 20 milligrams of Delta-9.

“This is noteworthy considering people who consume cannabis products generally perceive Delta 8-THC as less harmful or intoxicating than Delta 9-THC,” the study reads.

Both 20 milligrams and 40 milligrams of Delta 8 produced comparably positive subjective effects — referred to as “drug liking,” which is the pleasurable feeling a user gets when consuming a drug — to 20 milligrams of Delta-9, suggesting similar “misuse potential,” according to the research.

The clinical trial found also that cannabinoid blood concentration peaked between two and four hours post-dose and that psychoactive metabolites — chemical substances produced by the body to break down and process psychoactive drugs — were significantly lower in Delta-8 users than those of Delta-9 users at the same dose.

Psychoactive metabolites can have their own psychoactive effects that are different from the effects of the ingested THC, meaning they can lead to a different experience for someone with more of them present.

“These findings inform regulatory decisions and public education, though further research on emergent cannabinoids is needed,” the study reads.

The sale of Delta-8 products in Maryland was legalized in 2023 after a state judge ordered a temporary injunction, lifting a law that formerly banned retailing it.

Compared to 20 mg of Delta 9-THC, 20 mg of Delta 8-THC resulted in significantly lower ratings of drug effect, the study found. The 20 mg dose of Delta 8-THC was found to also have significantly lower drug effect, cognitive impairment and lower negative subjective effects and a lower impact on heart rate.

However, the study found that 40 mg of Delta 8-THC and 20 mg of Delta 9-THC did not have any differences in drug effects – meaning that less Delta 9-THC was equally as potent as double the amount of Delta 8-THC, making it a more potent drug.

There are more than 100 other cannabinoids found within the hemp plant. Through chemical treatments, processors can extract and synthesize some cannabinoids from hemp while removing others, allowing for a variety of different cannabinoids, such as Delta-8, Delta-10, and Cannabidiol. Cannabis has more than O.3% THC by dry weight, and hemp has less than 0.3% THC.

The Hopkins research was funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a Maryland-based agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Hopkins is among the many research and educations institutions across the country facing funding cuts from the Trump administration‘s Department of Government Efficiency, potentially jeopardizing scientific research. The Baltimore institution, which receives more money from the National Institute of Health than any other institution — more than $1 billion last year alone — has joined litigation challenging the federal cuts.

From the salaries it pays to the local businesses that construct its buildings or stock its supply closets, Hopkins says it accounts for more than $15 billion in economic output in the state.

Any cuts in federal funding will have an outsized effect on Hopkins, which comes in first of all universities in federally funded research – and by extension, Baltimore and Maryland, where it is the city and state’s largest private employer.

Already, Hopkins researchers have been hit by the dismantling of the USAID agency, which has also led to layoffs and cutbacks at the multiple global humanitarian groups that are headquartered in Baltimore.

Funding cuts to Hopkins could jeopardize future research. The institution, which receives more money from the National Institute of Health than any other institution, has joined litigation challenging the federal cuts.

“‘Safe’ is a funny word,” both because what is harmful to one person may not be for another, and because people vary in their risk tolerance, said Jeff Raber, CEO of marijuana consulting company The Werc Shop and an instructor in the University of Denver’s cannabis program.

The same amount of a chemical in a batch of cannabis could be benign or harmful, depending on the size of the person using it, how often they smoke and how much they take at one time, among other factors, he said.

Colorado requires growers to test their harvest for yeast, mold, aspergillus (a type of fungus), E. coli and some other bacteria, pesticides and heavy metals, such as lead. Manufacturers also have to test for residual solvents and chemicals used to create their products.

Regulators had to work with limited existing information on the possible risks of pesticides and contaminants in marijuana, because few, if any, studies have examined what levels might be safe in a smokeable or vapeable product, Raber said. Rules for tobacco aren’t a particularly helpful starting place, since growers use different pesticides, he said.

“With edibles, we at least can fall back on food safety standards,” he said.

A 2013 study that Raber co-authored found that significant amounts of pesticides could pass through water pipes or glass pipes to the user. Filtration reduced the amount the user could have inhaled, though some residues still made it through. The study predates states’ current pesticide limits, though, so the risk to people using regulated cannabis now could be lower, Raber said.

Colorado based its updated 2023 pesticide regulations on rules in place in Canada, after a group of researchers and stakeholders considered various sets of standards used in other places with legal marijuana.

Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division referred questions about the standards used for different contaminants to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which said it couldn’t comment.

Ideally, more studies would settle what chemicals are risky in smokeable marijuana and whether any cannabinoids offset some of that risk, but most research is still trying to sort out how the plant itself affects people who use it, Raber said. And, of course, federal law limits researchers’ ability to grow and study cannabis, though Colorado scientists have ongoing projects looking at pesticide residues and heavy metal contamination.

The lack of direct data matters because not everything present on the bud makes it into the user’s body, said Mark Lefsrud, an associate professor who studies medical cannabis at McGill University in Canada.

For example, contamination with heavy metals would cause a problem in a concentrated or edible product, but lead and cadmium don’t turn into particles that users can easily inhale when smoking, he said.

“As a recreational consumer, I’d say it’s very low odds” that heavy metals in a smoked product would be dangerous, Lefsrud said.

The same goes for E. coli, which doesn’t fair well when set on fire, Lefsrud said. E. coli outbreaks periodically sicken and occasionally kill consumers — most recently, when contaminated onions showed up in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers — but the state of Colorado hasn’t had any marijuana recalls attributed to bacteria since at least 2020. (Two of 61 recalls in those years mentioned unspecified microbial contamination, which could refer to bacteria or fungi.)

The biggest risk for an average marijuana consumer is from fungi, Lefsrud said. People with lung diseases or compromised immune systems can become seriously ill or die from inhaling mold spores, but even generally healthy people are at risk from toxins that aspergillus and other types of mold generate, he said.

Colorado allows growers to kill excess fungus on their product, but that process doesn’t destroy any toxins that the mold has already produced. Just because a bud looks and smells normal doesn’t mean it couldn’t contain toxins, Lefsrud said.

“In most cases, it’s the things you don’t see” that are dangerous, he said.

The state does require testing if a batch fails mold testing and the grower wants to remediate it for use in products such as concentrates, according to the Marijuana Enforcement Division. The division hasn’t issued any recalls or taken any actions against marijuana businesses over products that failed toxin testing.

States differ in what kind of contaminants they regulate and the limits they set, but overall, they erred on the side of caution, Raber said. Ultimately, they had to make judgment calls based on imperfect evidence, like American and European food regulators who came to different conclusions about whether certain dyes are OK to eat, he said.

“It’s an evolving picture, but it’s evolving to get better,” he said.

States are relatively well-positioned to catch if a batch makes consumers sick in the short term, Raber said. Effects from long-term use will be tough or impossible to sort out, though, because most people use multiple products, and other differences between groups of people make it hard to pin down how much to attribute to cannabis, let alone to pesticides used on it, he said.

Raber works in the cannabis industry and isn’t interested in telling adults not to smoke, but said people should understand the uncertainties around safety.

Consumers can somewhat reduce their risk by switching up the products they use — so they don’t consistently expose themselves to a contaminant that happens to be high on one type of marijuana — and by not overdoing their use, he said.

“I think that’s the best you can do today,” he said.

The cannabis industry continues to evolve quickly, especially in the United States. In 2025, the U.S. market is expected to generate over $45 billion in revenue. This growth is fueled by expanding legalization and rising demand for both medical and recreational products. Recently, there has been momentum toward federal reform. The possibility of reclassifying cannabis to a lower drug schedule has gained support. States like New York and Maryland are also opening more dispensaries. As more legal markets emerge, Canadian cannabis companies are positioning themselves for long-term U.S. expansion. This week, several Canadian stocks are gaining attention from investors.

While the upside is exciting, cannabis stocks remain volatile. Therefore, it’s important to use technical analysis when identifying entry points. Traders often rely on volume trends and support levels to guide decisions. Additionally, proper risk management is essential. Investors should consider stop-loss orders and portfolio diversification. As the market changes, informed decisions and disciplined strategies will be key to long-term success

As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, investors are watching key players in both Canada and the United States. In April 2025, three Canadian cannabis stocks stand out. Tilray Brands Inc. (TLRY), Canopy Growth Corporation (CGC), and Village Farms International Inc. (VFF) are all worth watching. Each company has unique strengths and a growing presence in the U.S. market. Below is a breakdown of each company, along with their latest financial performance.

[Read More] This Is How Marijuana Stocks May Be Impacted By Donald Trump’s Tariffs

Best Canadian Marijuana Stocks for Your April 2025 Watchlist

1. Tilray Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY)
2. Canopy Growth Corporation (NASDAQ: CGC)
3. Village Farms International Inc. (NASDAQ: VFF)

Tilray Brands Inc. (TLRY)

Tilray Brands Inc. is a global leader in cannabis research, cultivation, and distribution. The company is headquartered in New York. It also has operations across Canada and Europe. In the United States, Tilray has expanded through strategic acquisitions. The company owns multiple craft beer brands, making it the fifth-largest craft beer brewer in the U.S. These brands include Shock Top, SweetWater, and Montauk. This strategy allows Tilray to leverage U.S. distribution networks. It also positions the company for federal cannabis legalization. In addition, Tilray operates in medical cannabis markets and sells wellness products. The company remains focused on building long-term shareholder value.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, Tilray reported net revenue of $211 million. This marked a 9% increase from the same period last year. The beverage-alcohol segment saw strong growth, with a 36% rise in revenue. International cannabis sales grew by 25%, showing further global traction. Gross profit reached $61 million, rising 29% year-over-year. Gross margins improved to 29% from 24%, showing better operational efficiency. However, the company revised its EBITDA guidance to between $60 and $63 million. This was a reduction from previous projections. Tilray also delayed its timeline for positive adjusted free cash flow. The delay was caused by postponed collections from asset sales.

[Read More] April 2025 Watchlist: Best Ancillary Cannabis Stocks for Growth Potential

Canopy Growth Corporation (CGC)

Canopy Growth Corporation is based in Smiths Falls, Ontario. It is one of the most recognized names in the cannabis industry. The company focuses on improving lives through cannabis innovation and wellness. Canopy has made big moves to enter the U.S. market. It operates in the U.S. through its subsidiary, Canopy USA. This subsidiary owns well-known brands such as Wana, Jetty, and Acreage. These brands give Canopy access to key product segments, including edibles and vapes. Canopy’s multi-state footprint prepares it for full U.S. legalization. The company is committed to building a scalable and profitable North American platform. Its long-term strategy is to dominate both domestic and global cannabis markets.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, Canopy Growth reported net revenue of C$74.76 million. This reflected a 5% decline from the previous year. Canadian adult-use cannabis sales dropped by 10%, which impacted overall revenue. However, the company reported growth in Canadian medical cannabis sales. This segment rose by 16% over the year. Canopy also saw improvement in international cannabis markets. Despite growth in some areas, gross margin declined by 4%. This was due to increased product launch costs and indirect expenses. The company continues to reduce its liabilities. It recently paid down C$112 million in debt ahead of schedule. This move improved its financial flexibility and cash position.

Village Farms International Inc. (VFF)

Village Farms International Inc. is headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. It has a diversified portfolio that includes cannabis, hemp, and fresh produce. In the U.S., the company operates through Balanced Health Botanicals. This subsidiary sells CBD and hemp-derived wellness products online and in stores. Village Farms has a large e-commerce presence, which supports its U.S. growth strategy. In Canada, the company owns Pure Sunfarms. This is one of the country’s most efficient and profitable cannabis producers. Pure Sunfarms leads in dried flower sales and ranks second in pre-rolls. The company has built a reputation for high-quality products and operational efficiency. Its vertically integrated model helps maintain strong profit margins. This structure allows Village Farms to scale up quickly when demand rises.

For the full year 2024, Village Farms reported revenue of $336.2 million. This was an 18% increase compared to the previous year. The Canadian cannabis segment grew by 31% year-over-year. Pure Sunfarms maintained its leadership position in several product categories. In the fourth quarter, sales rose by 17%, reaching $43.3 million. Net income for the quarter was $1.9 million. This was a positive swing from a $7.0 million loss the year before. Adjusted EBITDA improved significantly, hitting $4.1 million from a negative $0.6 million. These results reflect improved cost controls and stronger product demand. Village Farms continues to pursue profitable growth initiatives in both the U.S. and Canadian markets.

[Read More] Top U.S. Marijuana Stocks to Watch in Q2 2025

Canadian Cannabis Stocks with Growth Potential This April

In summary, Tilray, Canopy Growth, and Village Farms are three Canadian cannabis stocks that offer strong potential in April 2025. All three companies are increasing their presence in the U.S. market. Each has responded differently to market pressures and opportunities. Tilray continues to diversify its revenue through beverage sales. Canopy is positioning itself for long-term growth in the U.S. cannabis space. Village Farms is benefiting from its operational efficiency and market leadership in Canada. Together, these companies represent a cross-section of strategies in a rapidly evolving industry. Investors seeking exposure to North American cannabis should consider watching these stocks closely. Their performances could shape the next wave of industry growth.

The post April 2025 Watchlist: Leading Cannabis Stocks from Canada appeared first on Marijuana Stocks | Cannabis Investments and News. Roots of a Budding Industry..

Green Thumb Industries Inc. (Green Thumb) (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF), a leading national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of RISE Dispensaries, today announced it will release first quarter 2025 financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

A conference call and audio webcast will also be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time/4:00 p.m. Central Time to discuss the results and answer any questions.

Live conference call: 844-883-3895 (Toll-Free) and 412-317-5797 (International)

Live and archived webcast: https://investors.gtigrows.com

Participants may pre-register for the live conference call any time prior to the start of the call by navigating to https://dpregister.com/sreg/10198223/feced433d0 and entering their contact information. You will then receive a personalized phone number and PIN to dial into the live conference call.

About Green Thumb Industries:
Green Thumb Industries Inc. (“Green Thumb”), a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and retailer, promotes well-being through the power of cannabis while giving back to the communities in which it serves. Green Thumb manufactures and distributes a portfolio of branded cannabis products including &Shine, Beboe, Dogwalkers, Doctor Solomon’s, Good Green, incredibles and RYTHM. The company also owns and operates rapidly growing national retail cannabis stores called RISE Dispensaries. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Green Thumb has 20 manufacturing facilities, 103 open retail locations and operations across 14 U.S. markets. Established in 2014, Green Thumb employs approximately 4,800 people and serves millions of patients and customers each year. More information is available at www.gtigrows.com.

Investor Contact:
Andy Grossman
EVP, Capital Markets & Investor Relations
InvestorRelations@gtigrows.com
310-622-8257

Media Contact:
GTI Communications
media@gtigrows.com

The post Green Thumb Industries Inc. (GTBIF) to Hold First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call on May 7, 2025 appeared first on Marijuana Stocks | Cannabis Investments and News. Roots of a Budding Industry..

State Assemblyman Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, plans next week to introduce AB 564, or the Cannabis Tax Relief bill, to stop a tax hike — from 15% to 19% — set to go into effect on July 1.

Haney also authored AB 1775, which this year allowed dispensaries to open Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes with food and non-alcoholic drinks. While that bill and the one Haney is introducing next week could help boost local dispensaries’ revenues, some shops are nevertheless worried a tax hike will drive more cannabis consumers to the black market.

“The illicit or unregulated market is the biggest competition,” said Zoe Schreiber, director of compliance and public affairs for The Highlands Dispensary, which opened in unincorporated Livermore in 2022. “As a full retail community, our biggest competitors are not each other, but rather a market that’s unregulated.”

Schreiber said customers often complain of the high taxes on cannabis products at her dispensary, which can make up about 30% to 40% of the overall price out the door, she said. She said that in addition to the expected 4% excise tax increase, licensing and regulatory fees continue to drive the prices of legal cannabis products up, while pushing consumers away from the regulated market.

“‘I know a guy,’ or ‘my guy can get it to me for less.’ Those comments are ones that we do hear,” Schreiber said. “By continuing to do things to make regulated cannabis more expensive, or even where it’s at now, we lose over half the market. We lose the ability to create that safe space, which is what consumers voted for in 2016 with Prop. 64.”

Haney said he is putting the Cannabis Tax Relief forward to protect legal cannabis businesses from closing as the illegal market continues to grow at a faster rate.

“California’s cannabis industry is struggling. And a huge tax increase right now could be the nail in the coffin,” Haney said in an interview Wednesday. “This is absolutely the wrong time for a 25% tax increase on a fledgling legal cannabis industry that is trying to follow all of the rules and pay their taxes and is losing out everyday to those who are not.”

He also compared the legal weed industry’s tax bracket to that of wine or beer, saying a glass of alcohol includes about one or two cents in taxes, whereas taxes on a joint can cost over a dollar.

Haney added that California’s legal cannabis industry appears to be falling behind the cannabis-industry growth of other states such as Michigan, Colorado and Washington, which have lower taxes and friendlier regulations.

“I think that when cannabis was legalized in California, they did not expect that the illegal market would continue to thrive and grow and compete at the scale that it has,” Haney said. “They are operating outside of our laws entirely.

“Until California takes action to put a stop to that, we have to make sure that our businesses that are following the law are not so overly taxed and burdened that they cannot operate at all. This is common sense.”