verano massachusetts

Verano’s closure in Massachusetts reflects a much larger issue in the cannabis industry: the inability to strike a balance between accessibility, sustainability, and profitability. As the U.S. cannabis market grapples with inflated pricing and regulatory hurdles, it’s worth looking abroad for lessons—especially to the UK.

According to BBC in the UK, a gram of legal medicinal cannabis costs between £5 and £10, with illegal cannabis averaging £10 per gram. Compare this to the U.S., where prices often far exceed this, alienating patients and pushing them back to the illicit market. Legal patients in the UK also face challenges, like mandatory check-ups costing £180 per year, but the price point itself is far closer to undercutting illegal sales.

So, what’s stopping the U.S. from following a similar path? Corporate greed, lack of price regulation, and a short-term focus on profits over patients. A BBC article highlights how Canada cut the price of cannabis in half over five years to undercut the illicit market-something the U.S. market could desperately learn from.

Verano’s closure could be a wake-up call, but will the industry finally learn? It’s time for cannabis companies to prioritize sustainable pricing strategies that foster consumer trust and eliminate competition with the illicit market. The UK example shows it’s possible—if the will is there. They are also still medicinal only…

What do you think? Can the U.S. cannabis industry adjust before it’s too late?

Thank you pointing this post out to me James, feel like discussing it on an episode of F'nAround in the Morning? FnAround.com