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Known for their discipline, leadership and problem-solving abilities, military veterans are finding a new battlefield in the regulated cannabis industry.

Veterans' unique skill set, honed through years of military training and experience, is an asset in the rapidly growing industry not always associated with professionalism.

"Adaptability, teamwork and a good sense of humor are important because things do not always go as planned," said Ellen Brown, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and founder of Massachusetts-based cannabis education firm Green Path Training.

"It's something that you learn in the military."

Leadership skills – a cornerstone of military training – are essential for managing teams, making strategic decisions and navigating the complex regulatory landscape.

Teamwork and collaboration also are crucial in both military and business environments, so many veterans excel at building cohesive teams, fostering a positive work culture and effectively communicating with diverse groups of people.

Perseverance and resilience are qualities that are deeply ingrained in military veterans; they can overcome challenges, adapt to change and maintain focus under pressure.

In honor of Veterans Day, MJBizDaily shares the stories of four vets who are leveraging lessons learned during their military experience to make significant contributions to the marijuana industry, shape its future and drive its continued growth. Read story >

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More Headlines

• Infused beverages lead marijuana product sales spike on Election Day. Read story >
• Maine issues third cannabis recall in 3 months. Read story >
• Marijuana MSO Curaleaf secures $40M line of credit, reports Q3 loss of $44M. Read story >
• Voters OK pro-labor change to Oregon cannabis law. Read story >

W E B I N A R

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 12, for "Scaling Success: Building a Profitable Cultivation Business,"  presented by GrowGeneration and moderated by MJBizDaily. This in-depth session will explore how cultivators can: 

• Optimize operations and build cost-efficient, profitable grow facilities.
• Explore the critical role product innovation plays in increasing yields while simultaneously lowering input costs.
• Streamline operations from facility design to ongoing grow management.

Learn from the expert team at GrowGeneration plus guest influencer growers offering tips and case studies on how to achieve higher levels of productivity and profitability. 

Weekly roundup of MJBizDaily's most-viewed stories

E L E C T I O N

Nebraska medical marijuana initiatives pass, but eligibility questions unresolved

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Nebraska voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported two initiatives to legalize and regulate medical cannabis, although state courts still could decide the citizen-led ballot measures should have been left off the ballot altogether.

More than 70% of the state's 693,944 ballots had been counted as of 12:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, and a ballot initiative that would permit health care providers to recommend medical marijuana was winning with 71% of voters in favor and 29% against, according to the Nebraska Secretary of State.

A second ballot measure to implement a regulated medical marijuana market also appeared all but assured to win, with 67% of voters in favor compared with 33% against.

Crista Eggers, statewide campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, said voting for the initiatives her organization worked to get placed on the ballot was "definitely a top-10 moment."

"Nebraskans finally have had their voices heard on this issue," Eggers told MJBizDaily.

"We've known that they support this, but to actually see Nebraska voters have their voices heard is one of the greatest moments that I've ever experienced in my life." Read story >

F U N D I N G

Florida gov lands more hemp money to fight adult use, report says

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Companies that sell products containing intoxicating THC – but under the guise that it's federally legal hemp – are bankrolling Florida's governor's quest to defeat an adult-use marijuana legalization measure.

That's according to a Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times analysis of campaign contributions to a political action committee controlled by Gov. Ron DeSantis that found at least eight examples of Florida Republicans accepting money from businesses selling intoxicating products.

Some of Florida's estimated 9,500 retailers of hemp-based products have donated $500,000 to the governor's adult-use fight, according to the Herald/Times investigation.

That total includes $125,000 from Lifted Liquids, the parent company of Wisconsin-based Urb.

Urb's CEO claimed the company's donation was "unrelated" to Amendment 3, according to the newspaper collaboration. Read story >

E L E C T I O N

Florida voters reject adult-use marijuana amendment

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In a stinging rebuke to the $32 billion regulated U.S. marijuana industry – and to one multistate operator, in particular – Florida voters on Tuesday appeared to reject a constitutional amendment that would have legalized adult-use cannabis in the nation's largest medical-only market.

The Election Day setback also is a nightmare scenario for Tallahassee-headquartered Trulieve Cannabis Corp., which spent at least $144.5 million on a yearslong effort to qualify Amendment 3 for the ballot.

Despite that massive outlay, the measure was on track to fail decisively as of 10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, with 55.9% of voters in support and 44.2% opposed, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

A constitutional amendment in Florida requires 60% support from voters to pass. Read story >

F I N A N C E

Cannabis stocks tank after Election Day results

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Marijuana stocks were reeling Wednesday on the heels of adult-use legalization failures on Election Day in Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota and the grim prospects of national MJ reform under a second Donald Trump presidency.

The American Cannabis Operator Index, which includes nine U.S. publicly traded cultivators, processors, retailers and brands, was down nearly 27%, to $10.72, in afternoon trading.

And, seizing on the ballot rejections, particularly the big loss in Florida, as well as new Republican control in the Senate and the presidency in January, investors sent cannabis stocks tumbling. Read story >

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N E W   S E R I E S

Tune into every Friday to the Reporters' Notebook podcast, featuring MJBizDaily reporters and host Jay Rosenthal of Cultivated Live.

In this week's episode, MJBizMagazine Editor Omar Sacirbey discusses the latest issue of the magazine, which focuses on cannabis companies that have become profitable and their unique paths to get there. Omar also talks about the Nov. 5 election's impact on cannabis policy. Watch episode >

R E S O U R C E S

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