The Weekly Roll - May 9th 2025

Happy Friday!

Welcome back to The Weekly Roll. I hope everyone had a lovely week! Here is what’s happening this week in cannabis and art:

Duke for Governor : Cannabis entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez, who founded Ultra Health and previously served as New Mexico's Human Services Secretary, is seriously considering a run for governor in 2026 as a Republican. The 67-year-old executive is "more than 90% confident" he'll join the race by summer, potentially facing Democratic candidates Deb Haaland and Sam Bregman to succeed term-limited Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Ultra Health operates 30 dispensaries statewide.  Article

Minnesota Lottery Set : The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management has announced cannabis license application lotteries will be held on June 5 for cultivator, manufacturer, and mezzobusiness licenses. The lottery will include social equity retail applicants, with general retail applicant lotteries following in July. OCM Director Eric Taubel noted they've prioritized "licensing the supply chain from the starting points" to help ensure a smooth rollout of the program. Article

Interesting Number : 19%. The new cannabis tax rate in California starting on July 1st, up from 15%. This 26% tax hike was announced by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and is the highest rate allowed by state law, with industry leaders warning it will further disadvantage legal cannabis businesses already struggling to compete with the thriving illicit market. Governor Gavin Newsom's 2022 law mandated the increase because cannabis excise revenue has fallen, though a bill to block the hike is currently moving through the Legislature. Article

Sistine Chapel Re-Opens : The Sistine Chapel is set to reopen after being closed to the public since April 28 for the papal conclave, which selected Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV—the first American pontiff in history. The chapel, which features Michelangelo's renowned frescoes including The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment, is part of the Vatican Museums that attracted 6.8 million visitors in 2024. Article

Have a great weekend! 

Aidan