The Weekly Roll - February 21st 2025

Happy Friday!

Welcome back to The Weekly Roll, I hope everyone had a wonderful week. Here are some of the big stories this week in cannabis and art:

Switzerland Takes First Step : In a big shift for Switzerland, lawmakers are considering legalizing recreational weed through a state-run system, moving beyond their current medical-only policy. The proposed rules would let adults buy cannabis from licensed shops and grow up to three plants at home, though packaging would be plain and profits would go to addiction prevention. While cannabis advocates are hopeful, conservative politicians aren't thrilled, and the proposal still has to clear several hurdles including a likely public vote. Article

Massachusetts Lab Questions Competition : MCR Labs, a Massachusetts cannabis testing facility, is suing eight competitors who they claim are deliberately inflating THC numbers and manipulating safety results to attract business. The suit alleges that producers are "lab shopping" - taking their samples to labs that will give higher THC results, with one cultivator seeing a suspicious 43.7% THC increase after switching labs. This comes at a critical point in the state’s market where mold, remediation, and faulty testing are top of mind for both producers and consumers.  Article

Interesting Number : $255 million. Ohio's recreational cannabis sales since launching in August 2024, with 123 dispensaries contributing to approximately $40 million in tax revenue. The tax funds are being distributed to support local communities, social equity programs, and addiction services. As dispensaries continue to find their footing, this revenue is expected to grow and continue to positively impact the state. However, lawmakers are now considering adding stricter regulations and raising the excise tax from 10% to 15%, which experts warn could push consumers back toward illegal markets. Article

Carabinieri Busts Forgery Operation : Italian authorities have uncovered a forgery workshop outside Rome containing 71 counterfeit paintings falsely attributed to master artists including Picasso, Rembrandt, and Warhol. Police seized the fake artworks along with forged certificates of authenticity, stamps, and art materials from a local art restorer's property, where completed forgeries were being sold through online platforms like eBay and Catawiki. The discovery follows a larger bust late last year of a $210 million European forgery network that had even organized fake Banksy exhibitions in Italy. Article

Have a great weekend! 

Aidan