CRB Monitor Database: Charting Growth
Cannabis business licensing enters 2026 in a state of contraction. Active licenses fell 6.4% in the last year, and approved/pending dived 17.7%. However, there's still potential for growth this year with pre-licenses (applications) increasing by 17.2%. CRB Monitor's database of Tier 1 cannabis-related businesses expanded 6.9% over the year.
Tier 1 Cannabis-Related Business Counts
Weekly Summary: 94,394 1A CRBs + 5,074 1B CRBs = 99,468 total
1A CRBs
Tier 1A defined: Businesses in this tier literally touch the cannabis plant at some point along the supply chain from "seed to sale," and are generally licensed by a government agency or regulator. Effectively all of their actual or expected revenue is derived from the cultivation, production, testing or sale of cannabis.
1B CRBs
Tier 1B defined: Businesses that have a financial or controlling interest in a Tier 1A CRB. CRB Monitor generally considers 1B businesses as seemingly unrelated businesses highlighted as red flags by FinCEN in its marijuana banking guidance and are similar in nature to individual beneficial owners.
Cannabis Business Licenses
Note: Inactive licenses, unlicensed, and unknown licenses have been excluded.
Beneficial Owners Count
Beneficial owners defined: For beneficial owners, each economic owner or controlling person is classified into one or more categories based on their relationship to the linked CRB including: (1) Owner/Investor, (2) Board Member, (3) Corporate Officer, (4) Executive, (5) Non-commercial Registered Agent or (6) Senior Manager.
Cannabis News of Note
A selection of relevant cannabis-related news.
Adverse Media
Colorado Warns About Pesticide Contamination in Stash House CO Concentrates
Litigation
FLORA settles free speech lawsuit with Vermont CCB
9th Circ. Says Dormant Commerce Clause Doesn't Cover Pot
Legalization & Regulation
NY Still Struggles with Enforcement
Legalized Cannabis States Increase Tribal Compacts
How Trump Became the Unlikely Champion of Easing Marijuana Restrictions
A Maine marijuana tax increase to 14% for adult use went into effect
DOJ Could Ignore Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Directive, Congressional Researchers Suggest
Licensing
MA cannabis growers using less than 70% of licensed cultivation space could be downgraded
U.S. Virgin Islands regulators are accepting cannabis research and development applications
Markets
Trump Is Warming to Cannabis, but Investors Aren’t Impressed
Behind Oklahoma Cannabis Farms, New Yorkers With Ties to Beijing
What’s in store for cannabis banking in 2026?
Speakeasy Dispensary Announces Grand Opening in Lexington, Kentucky
FLUENT Divests Pennsylvania Cannabis Operations for $12.5M
TerrAscend Acquires 4th Dispensary in New Jersey
Verano Opening 6th Zen Leaf Dispensary in West Virginia
Curaleaf Opens 2nd Erie Dispensary in Millcreek, Pennsylvania
Organigram extends innovation investment with Phylos