Primo Payments on navigating the unbanked reality of the cannabis industry
Primo Payments, a longtime leader in cannabis-focused payment solutions, reflects on the unique financial challenges facing cannabis operators. In this Q&A, the team explains why the industry remains widely misunderstood, how federal inaction continues to stall banking reform, and what businesses should look for when choosing a stable, compliant payment processor. They break down the services Primo offers—from card processing to ACH to mobile payments—while highlighting what sets them apart: nearly a decade of industry-specific experience, strong banking relationships, and hands-on support. The conversation also explores the DMV cannabis community, the company’s adaptive approach to shifting regulations, and their predictions for a more stable yet still complex financial landscape in the next five years.
- Catch up on the ABC Board meeting, Nov. 19, 2025: watch, agenda.
- Nov. 5, 2025 disposition.
Maryland hemp farmer warns new THC limits could shut down his business
A Maryland hemp farmer warned that a new federal spending bill provision capping THC in hemp products at 0.4 mg per container could wipe out 95 % of the $28 billion industry. Small operations like his say they’ll be forced to pull products from the market despite making non-intoxicating goods, putting thousands of jobs and state tax revenue at risk.
- OSE is hosting our Fall 2025 Virtual open house on Nov. 20, 2025.
AYR Wellness foreclosure could delay Virginia medical cannabis operations
AYR Wellness’ foreclosure sale transferred its assets and shifted control to senior noteholders, potentially delaying its conditional medical cannabis permit operations in Virginia’s HSA 1 region. Although the permit transfer process is underway, the state’s cannabis regulator has not provided a timeline for when the new entity will fully assume operations.
Virginia poised to launch adult-use cannabis market after years of vetoes
After years of vetoes, Virginia now appears headed toward launching a regulated adult-use cannabis market, with legislative efforts expected in 2026 and retail sales possibly beginning in fall 2026. The shift follows the election of Abigail Spanberger as governor, who committed to signing the legislation that previous administrations blocked.
West Virginia medical cannabis program slows as costs leave patients struggling
Growth in West Virginia’s medical cannabis program plateaued in the past six months, fueled by persistently high prices that drive some patients to cross state lines for cheaper options. Bloomberg-style, the costs are largely tied to limited supply, inefficient growing regulations, and steep taxes that make medicine out of reach for many.
East Coast Roundup
A Haledon, NJ dispensary is selling “stash bags” loaded with donated cannabis products—for $1 each—to benefit charity.
Hikers caught smoking cannabis in Maine’s Acadia National Park will again face federal prosecution after the DOJ reverses its more lenient policy.
New York now has 500 licensed dispensaries, but its top cannabis regulator says the state could support four times that many stores.
Culture & More
The semi‑legal boom of Delta‑8 THC—sold in gummies, vapes and drinks at convenience stores—is coming under increasing scrutiny as regulators push to shut down the “hemp‑loophole” that allowed intoxicating products to proliferate.
A WSJ opinion piece argues that New York’s legal cannabis industry is suffocating under overregulation, high taxes, and bureaucratic burden.
Around the Country
A massive immigration raid in July 2025 on Glass House Brands cannabis facilities in California cost the company over $26 million in lost revenue and more than 100,000 pounds of harvest, raising alarms across the legal cannabis sector.
A federal funding deal to end the U.S. government shutdown includes language that caps THC in hemp products at 0.4 mg per container—a move that could decimate the existing hemp-derived cannabinoid industry and spark major interstate regulatory conflicts.
Hemp farmers and local businesses in Kentucky are pushing back hard against the new federal THC limit – 0.4 mg per container, warning that the $330 million state hemp industry could collapse unless changes are made.
The U.S. Attorney in Wyoming announced a renewed crackdown on cannabis possession on federal lands—including in Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park—even where state laws allow use, underscoring the ongoing federal‑state tension.
From the swamp
The $28 billion hemp industry and around 300,000 jobs are on the line after a new federal spending bill would ban most psychoactive hemp‑derived products, sparking sharp criticism from growers and politicians, including Sen. Rand Paul.
