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Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced his intention to remain politically neutral during the 2024 election cycle.
What Happened: In a letter addressed to Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Monday, the Meta CEO stated his goal is to avoid any political involvement. &#8220;My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or another — or to even appear to be playing a role,&#8221; Zuckerberg wrote, according to a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-neutral-politics-election-infrastructure-zuckerbucks-2024-8">report</a> from Business Insider.
Zuckerberg also confirmed he will not be donating to support election infrastructure in 2024, unlike in 2020 when he and his wife contributed $400 million. These donations, labeled &#8220;Zuckerbucks&#8221; by Republicans, were criticized for allegedly benefiting Democrats.
Despite controversy, a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found such private donations did not favor Democrats. Zuckerberg addressed Meta&#8217;s content moderation, noting past pressures from the Biden administration to remove COVID-19-related content.
He acknowledged that Meta&#8217;s decisions were influenced by government pressure, which he regrets. The letter also mentioned Meta&#8217;s suppression of a New York Post story about Hunter Biden&#8217;s laptop in 2020, a decision Zuckerberg now believes was a mistake.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40541886/kevin-oleary-cautions-democrats-about-kamala-harris-they-did-the-same-thing-with-hillary-clinton?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin O&#8217;Leary Cautions Democrats About Kamala Harris: &#8216;They Did The Same Thing With Hillary Clinton&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The announcement comes amid heightened political tensions and scrutiny of tech giants&#8217; roles in elections. Earlier this month, Donald Trump claimed that Zuckerberg had assured him of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40145378/donald-trump-says-mark-zuckerberg-called-him-after-the-assassination-attempt-and-announced-hes-not-g">not supporting</a> Democrats in the 2024 election, following an assassination attempt on Trump. Trump stated, &#8220;So Mark Zuckerberg called me. First of all, he called me a few times. He called me after the event and he said, &#8220;That was really amazing, it was very brave.&#8221;
In February 2023, Trump criticized Zuckerberg for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/31063532/trump-lashes-out-after-report-of-zuckerberg-linked-groups-2m-donation-to-georgia-elections-board-why">$2 million donation</a> linked to the Georgia elections board, suggesting it violated state law. Trump shared, &#8220;No superintendent shall take or accept any funding, grants, or gifts from any source other than from the governing authority of the county or municipality, the State of Georgia, or the federal government.&#8221;
Moreover, the political landscape is further complicated by figures like Elon Musk, who recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40329702/elon-musk-who-once-queued-for-6-hours-to-shake-obamas-hand-explains-why-hes-now-supporting-trump-my">voiced support for Trump </a>despite historically leaning moderate Democrat. Musk&#8217;s political stance was discussed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40329702/elon-musk-who-once-queued-for-6-hours-to-shake-obamas-hand-explains-why-hes-now-supporting-trump-my">during an interview</a> with Trump, which also covered various topics from AI to electric vehicles.
In contrast, Kamala Harris&#8216;s campaign <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40329136/kamala-harriss-campaign-slams-elon-musks-interview-with-ex-president-he-is-using-his-purchased-platf">criticized Musk</a> for using his platform to promote Trump&#8217;s agenda, highlighting the deep political divides and the influential role of tech leaders in shaping public discourse.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Mark Zuckerberg Tells Jim Jordan He Isn't Donating For Election Infrastructure In 2024: 'My Goal Is To Be Neutral And Not Play A Role One Way Or Another'

Leading cryptocurrencies dipped on Monday, mirroring declines in blue-chip equity indices.&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded 9:30 p.m. EDT)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>-1.42%</td>
<td>$63,158.63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>-2.24%</td>
<td>$2,691.57</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>-2.95%</td>
<td>$0.1063</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin trended downward throughout the day, briefly dipping below $63,000 overnight. The King Crypto meandered around the lower boundary of $63,000 as of this writing.
Ethereum slipped below $2,700 midday, to later chop around the high $2,600s.&nbsp;
The total cryptocurrency liquidations hit $107.46 million in the last 24 hours, with long liquidations accounting for 83% of the total.
The total long volume for Bitcoin surged 60% in the last 24 hours, while short volume declined by 69%.
The Cryptocurrency Fear &amp; Greed Index went from "Greed" to "Neutral," reflecting a marked change in sentiment following the pullback.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 9:15 p.m. EDT)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Artificial SuperIntelligence Alliance (FET)</td>
<td>+8.65%</td>
<td>$1.36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bittensor (TAO)</td>
<td>+4.97%</td>
<td>$351.85</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sei (SEI)</td>
<td>+4.89%</td>
<td>$0.3548</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market stood at $2.21 trillion, following a drop of 1.76% in the last 24 hours.
Stocks remained a mixed bag on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 65.44 points, or 0.16%, to close at a record high of 41,240.52. To the contrary, the S&amp;P 500 slipped 0.32% to end at 5,616.84, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.85% to finish at 17,725.76.
The drag followed a 2.9% decline in shares of AI giant NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) before its hotly anticipated second-quarter earnings slated for Wednesday.
The market has entered optimism after Fed Chair Jerome Powell <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/08/40532173/powell-removes-any-uncertainty-around-september-rate-cuts-in-jackson-hole-speech-economists">delivered a clear message about lowering interest rates</a> next month.&nbsp;
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Prominent cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez pointed out key levels to watch out for Bitcoin.&nbsp;
He stated that King Crypto could rise to $64,200 provided the support at $63,500 holds. On the contrary, the leading cryptocurrency risked falling to $62,800 if the support broke.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> seems to be trading within a parallel channel on the lower time frames. If the $63,500 support holds, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> could bounce back to $64,200 or even $64,800. However, if it breaks, a drop to $62,800 might be on the horizon! <a href="https://t.co/4hROkZxQNp">pic.twitter.com/4hROkZxQNp</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1828068236765663301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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On-chain analytics firm Santiment highlighted a disproportionately larger decline in Bitcoin's OI on exchanges when compared to that of Ethereum and Solana.&nbsp;
This indicated investors' shifting focus to altcoins owing to confidence in their upside potential. Additionally, it signaled risk diversification by large traders.&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f4c9; While Bitcoin has seen a mild -2.2% price drop in the past 24 hours, it was enough to cause a much larger -7.5% drop in total open interest on exchanges. For comparison, total open interest toward Ethereum and Solana have barely declined. A few takeaways: &#x1f3af; Shifting Focus to… <a href="https://t.co/vBltUQxcnX">pic.twitter.com/vBltUQxcnX</a>
&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1828238870900781476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Photo by SvetlanaParnikova on Shutterstock
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Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

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Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Slip Amid Drop In Tech Stocks: Analyst Shares Takeaways After BTC Open Interest Registers Steeper Fall Than ETH And SOL

Reports are surfacing that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) stores are facing a shortage of iPad mini stocks, leading to speculation about a possible update to the device.
What Happened: On Monday, Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman took to X, formerly Twitter, and reported that many Apple stores are running low on iPad mini stocks in several configurations. 
According to Gurman, the device is considered &#8220;constrained&#8221; internally within&nbsp;Apple. He suggested that this could be an indication of an upcoming update to the iPad mini, which hasn&#8217;t seen a refresh since 2021.
Gurman, known for his accurate predictions about Apple&#8217;s product plans, added, &#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t&nbsp;be surprised to see it&nbsp;updated for AI.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40540460/chatgpt-maker-openai-taps-former-meta-exec-to-drive-strategy-amid-growing-exodus?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT-Maker OpenAI Taps Former Meta Exec To Drive Strategy Amid Growing Exodus</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Many Apple stores are low on stock of the iPad mini in several configs, while the device is considered "constrained" internally within Apple, I'm told. That &#x2A;could&#x2A; be a sign a new one is coming. It hasn't been updated since 2021. Wouldn't be surprised to see it updated for AI.
&mdash; Mark Gurman (@markgurman) <a href="https://twitter.com/markgurman/status/1828188631015792709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: Last year, it was reported that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35283878/apples-ipad-mini-7-might-feature-these-three-major-upgrades-and-come-in-new-color-options">Apple was preparing to launch</a> the iPad mini 7 with three major upgrades and several new color options.
The report indicated that the seventh-generation iPad mini was expected to feature significant hardware and software upgrades two years after the launch of the iPad mini 6.
Meanwhile, Cupertino is also gearing up to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40540086/apple-to-unveil-iphone-16-watches-and-airpods-at-september-10-event-report">unveil its upcoming smartphone</a> series the iPhone 16, new Apple Watch, and AirPods at an event on Sept. 10. 
This event will be crucial for the company, which has been facing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38039668/apple-at-some-risk-of-first-revenue-drop-in-a-decade-says-analyst-iphone-unit-shipm">sluggish sales in recent quarters</a>. The new iPhone 16 is expected to help boost revenue, with some sales recorded in the current fiscal quarter.
Photo by guteksk7 on Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman highlights a Michigan survey revealing that Vice President Kamala Harris is leading Former President Donald Trump on economic issues.
What Happened: The latest Michigan survey indicates that Harris is favored over Trump on the economy by a margin of 41-38. This survey compares with the three-month average from earlier surveys.
Krugman noted that the survey does not emphasize the emerging pro-Democratic trend over the past three months. He pointed out that within those three months, the trend was already shifting in favor of the Democrats.
&#8220;What it doesn't point out is that within those three months the trend was already pro-Democratic,&#8221; Krugman wrote on X. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The latest Michigan survey shows Harris preferred to Trump on the economy, 41-38, which it compares with the three-month average from earlier surveys. What it doesn't point out is that within those three months the trend was already pro-Democratic <a href="https://t.co/bP6Bde7Ase">pic.twitter.com/bP6Bde7Ase</a>
&mdash; Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) <a href="https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/1828069177090822263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40548430/nasdaq-s-p-500-futures-climb-as-hopes-of-positive-nvidia-earnings-and-rate-cuts-drive-sentiment-hig?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Stocks Set For Positive Start, Small-caps Likely To Sizzle: What&#8217;s Going On</a>
The survey results and Krugman&#8217;s analysis suggest a growing preference for Harris on economic matters, reflecting a broader shift towards Democratic economic policies.
Why It Matters: The Michigan survey&#8217;s findings align with a broader trend observed in recent months. On Aug.15, a poll conducted for the Financial Times and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business revealed that 42% of Americans trust Harris more to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40396778/better-off-with-harris-42-of-americans-say-yes-outpacing-trump-in-economic-trust">handle the economy</a>, compared to 41% for Trump. This marked the first time in nearly a year that the Democratic candidate led on this issue.
Krugman has previously criticized Trump&#8217;s economic policies, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39630382/paul-krugman-says-trump-tariffs-will-hurt-80-of-americans-benefit-only-the-top-1-burden-would-fall-o">particularly his tariffs</a>. In an early July op-ed, Krugman argued that Trump&#8217;s tariffs would hurt 80% of Americans and benefit only the top 1%, with the burden falling on the working class and the poor.
However, Harris&#8217;s economic proposals have not been without controversy. Former Trump administration economist Kevin Hassett recently expressed strong opposition, calling her plans &#8220;chilling&#8221; and likening them to &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40445072/former-trump-administration-economist-says-hes-horrified-by-kamala-harriss-chilling-economic-pro">communism plain and simple</a>.&#8221;
Investors are also closely watching the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/08/40479355/unlike-trump-kamala-harris-economic-plans-might-take-a-big-bite-off-corporate-profits-anything-that">potential market implications of a Harris presidency</a>. Her policies could lead to higher corporate taxes and impact consumer staples, while potentially boosting the solar energy sector. This has intensified the competition against Trump following President Joe Biden&#8216;s withdrawal from the race.
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Image VIa Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Economics

Kamala Harris's Lead Over Trump On Economy Was Positive For The Last Three Months, Notes Paul Krugman: 'The Trend Was Already Pro-Democratic'

In a move that could significantly impact the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/cannabis-reform">cannabis reform landscape</a>, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced a delay on Monday in the rescheduling of marijuana, noting it would hold an administrative hearing for December 2, which pushes any decision on the matter until after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election">2024 election</a>.
What Happened: The DEA received <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/05/39011156/exclusive-we-analyzed-4-000-dea-marijuana-rescheduling-comments-heres-what-americans-really-thin">more than 40,000 requests</a> for a hearing on the proposed rule making, which ultimately seeks to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. 
This classification change is seen as a critical step in reducing federal restrictions on cannabis, potentially opening new avenues for research and reducing penalties associated with its use.
The timing of the DEA hearing is pivotal. With the upcoming presidential election, the outcome could influence the future of cannabis policy in the United States.
Get Benzinga's exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://newsletteremail.benzinga.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. If you're serious about the business, you can't afford to miss out. <a href="https://twitter.com/ACLUFL/status/1828106419503329624" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
The <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-19370.pdf">hearing</a> is expected to gather factual evidence and expert opinions to determine the appropriateness of reclassification.
The DEA&#8217;s decision to hold a hearing reflects its standard practice of involving public input on significant regulatory changes. 
The notice, signed by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, said that after the agency received notices of intent to participate in the hearing, she would would assess them and make a determination. 
"Following that assessment, I will designate a presiding officer to preside over the hearing," Milgram said, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-schedules-hearing-on-marijuana-rescheduling-proposal-delaying-final-rule/">reported</a> Marijuana Moment. That presiding officer "will have all powers necessary to conduct a fair hearing, to take all necessary action to avoid delay, and to maintain order."
Stakeholders wishing to participate or testify at the hearing, scheduled at 700 Army Navy Drive in Arlington, Virginia, need to register in advance.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40565943/ron-desantis-anti-cannabis-warpath-strewn-with-dissenting-gop-colleagues-not-enough-money-polls-">Ron DeSantis&#8217; Anti-Cannabis Warpath Strewn With Dissenting GOP Colleagues, Not Enough Money, Polls Favoring Legalization</a>

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DEA Delays Cannabis Rescheduling Decision Until After November Presidential Election

Former President Donald Trump&#8217;s embrace of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) this election cycle was reportedly the result of a coordinated plan by three Puerto Ricans to get the Republican challenger on the side of the apex cryptocurrency.
What Happened: The influential trio of Amanda Fabiano, a Bitcoin mining expert and founder of Fabiono Consulting, Tracy Hoyos-López, a former California prosecutor, and David Bailey, the CEO of BTC Inc., successfully persuaded Trump about Bitcoin&#8217;s potential, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/26/trump-orange-pilled-by-three-bitcoiners-in-puerto-rico-100-million.html">reported</a> CNBC Monday.
The three worked diligently behind the scenes to transform Trump from a Bitcoin skeptic to a Bitcoin evangelist.
Bailey, in particular, organized a meeting between <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39283958/donald-trump-champions-miners-in-his-latest-crypto-advocacy-initiative-the-guy-is-a-huge-f">Trump and the who&#8217;s who of Bitcoin mining</a> at the former president&#8217;s Mar-a-Lago resort earlier in June. Bailey pledged to deliver $100 million and 5 million votes for Trump&#8217;s reelection effort. 
As for Fabiono, her experience in Bitcoin mining added credence to the advocacy efforts.
Trump&#8217;s campaign team didn&#8217;t immediately respond to Benzinga&#8217;s request for comment on the matter.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40553312/should-marathon-digital-investors-be-worried-bitcoin-miners-stock-heads-toward-a-death-cro">Should Marathon Digital Investors Be Worried? Bitcoin Miner&#8217;s Stock Heads Toward A Death Cross</a>
Why It Matters: These efforts paid off, as Trump championed the cause of Bitcoin miners, promising to advocate for them in the White House if he returned to power.
A month later, the presidential hopeful also attended the much-publicized Bitcoin 2024 conference, which was organized by Bailey. During the event, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/40001426/trump-aims-to-make-us-crypto-capital-of-the-planet-well-get-it-done">pushed for a strategic national Bitcoin stockpile</a> and vowed to make the U.S. the &#8220;crypto capital&#8221; of the planet.
The conference also turned out to be his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/40070328/trump-raises-25m-at-bitcoin-conference-in-nashville-second-highest-fundraiser-across-campa">second-highest fundraiser</a> across his three presidential campaigns, securing $25 million. 
These revelations came amid a surge in the cryptocurrency industry&#8217;s political donations. The sector has committed an unprecedented <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40498543/amid-heated-trump-harris-battle-crypto-industry-pours-unprecedented-119m-into-2024-electio">$119 million to the 2024 presidential election</a>, making up 48% of all corporate money. Major companies like Coinbase and Ripple have channeled most of these funds into super political action committees (PAC) that promote pro-cryptocurrency candidates.
Image via Shutterstock
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Trump's Bitcoin Turnaround Caused By $100M Influence From A Trio Of Puerto Rican Advocates: Report

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACB#NASDAQ">ACB</a>) has partnered with Vectura Fertin Pharma, Inc. to launch a CBD lozenge in the form of a dissolvable tablet that delivers the precise dose of cannabidiol (CBD). The new product is expected to enhance patient care by providing an alternative consumption method without psychoactive effects.
The partnership leverages Aurora&#8217;s extensive medical cannabis patient platform, said Aurora CEO Miguel Martin, who added that the company intends to broaden Canadian healthcare options with innovative products.
&#8220;Our partnership aligns with our commitment to meet Canada&#8217;s evolving healthcare needs,&#8221; Martin <a href="https://www.vecturafertinpharma.com/aurora-cannabis-and-vectura-fertin-pharma-inc-announce-commercial-collaboration/">stated</a> in a press release. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">NASDAQ Cannabis Titan With Global Reach</h3>
Aurora's international sales hit C$39.3 million ($28.9 million) in early 2024. This is a 31% increase year-over-year. Growth was aided by acquiring MedReleaf <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/australia-cannabis">Australia</a>. Aurora now controls over 30% of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/canada-cannabis">Canada's medical marijuana </a>exports.
Get Benzinga&#8217;s exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://newsletteremail.benzinga.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. If you&#8217;re serious about the business, you can&#8217;t afford to miss out.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Profitability And Operational Efficiency in Cannabis </h3>
Aurora<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/acb"> reported </a>increased adjusted cash gross margins rose 69% in June, up from 66% in March. However, operational expenses were 102% of adjusted cash gross profits. Still, Aurora&#8217;s net cash position rose to C$63 million. Positive operating cash flows reached C$8.4 million for the quarter.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Valuation And Market Position</h3>
Aurora Cannabis is valued at C$516 million with an enterprise value of C$543 million. It trades at 1.6 times its current sales, lower than competitors like Tilray (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLRY#NASDAQ">TLRY</a>) and Canopy Growth (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CGC#NASDAQ">CGC</a>). A recent<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40512437/aurora-cannabis-dominates-30-of-canadas-medical-marijuana-exports-will-its-bold-int"> analysis</a> done by Pablo Zuanic highlighted Aurora&#8217;s solid financial and operational performance, maintaining an attractive valuation compared to its peers.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40325566/these-3-cannabis-companies-hold-cultivation-licenses-in-germany-a-1-8b-market-opportunity">These 3 Cannabis Companies Hold Cultivation Licenses In Germany: A ~$1.8B Market Opportunity?</a>

Health Care

Retail Sales

TLRY

NASDAQ Cannabis Titan, Aurora, Could Boost 31% Sales Surge With This New CBD Lozenge Partnership

Tesla and SpaceX CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 and left the startup in 2018, only to start his AI venture xAI, has now publicly endorsed&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/08/40484108/gavin-newsoms-california-wants-to-regulate-ai-but-its-facing-stiff-opposition-from-both-big-tech-as">SB 1047 AI safety&nbsp;bill in California</a>.
What Happened: On Monday, Musk took to X, formerly Twitter, and expressed his support for&nbsp;the SB 1047 AI safety&nbsp;bill in California.&nbsp;
&#8220;This is a tough call&nbsp;and will make some people&nbsp;upset, but, all things considered,&nbsp;I think&nbsp;California should probably pass the&nbsp;SB 1047 AI safety bill,&#8221; Musk wrote.
He went on to add that for 20 years, he has been an advocate for AI regulation, &#8220;just as we&nbsp;regulate any product/technology that is&nbsp;a potential risk to the public.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40540086/apple-to-unveil-iphone-16-watches-and-airpods-at-september-10-event-report?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple To Unveil iPhone 16, Watches, And AirPods At September 10 Event: Report</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is a tough call and will make some people upset, but, all things considered, I think California should probably pass the SB 1047 AI safety bill. For over 20 years, I have been an advocate for AI regulation, just as we regulate any product/technology that is a potential risk…
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1828205685386936567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The endorsement from Musk comes amid a heated debate on the bill. Earlier, two former OpenAI employees had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40542601/former-openai-employees-slam-sam-altman-led-company-after-it-opposes-californias-ai-regulation-bill">expressed their disappointment</a>&nbsp;at ChatGPT-maker&#8217;s opposition to the bill. 
They also warn of potential &#8220;catastrophic harm to society&#8221; if AI models are developed without adequate safety precautions.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/08/40450144/nancy-pelosi-criticizes-california-ai-regulation-as-well-intentioned-but-ill-informed-would-bill-hur">criticized the bill</a> as &#8220;well-intentioned but ill-informed,&#8221; raising questions about the potential impact on her tech investments.
The bill, introduced by Senator Scott Wiener (D-Calif.), requires safety testing for advanced AI models that cost over $100 million to develop or demand substantial computing power.
Sam Altman-led OpenAI has contended that AI regulation should be managed at the federal level, warning that the bill could lead to an uncertain legal landscape.
Image via Shutterstock
Check out more of&nbsp;Benzinga&#8217;s&nbsp;Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

TSLA

Elon Musk Throws Weight Behind California AI Regulation Bill Even As OpenAI Prefers Federal Regulation Over State Laws: 'Will Make Some People Upset….'

As NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) prepares for its upcoming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40560851/nvidia-stock-semiconductor-sector-split-between-ai-winners-and-losers-analyst-says-">earnings report on Wednesday</a>, Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, offers insights into the tech giant&#8217;s future. Despite potential short-term setbacks, Munster foresees sustained growth for Nvidia through 2026.
What Happened: Munster believes that despite Nvidia&#8217;s recent stock surge, the ongoing demand-supply imbalance and potential delays in Blackwell could negatively impact investor sentiment. 
Munster anticipates a possible dip in Nvidia&#8217;s stock following the earnings report, citing the recent 30% surge and proximity to all-time highs.
&#8220;For investors who are just hyperfocused on every minute of what this company is doing, that could be viewed as slightly negative,&#8221; he stated in an interview with CNBC&#8217;s Squawk Box.
The key focus, according to Munster, will be CEO Jensen Huang&#8216;s comments on the demand-supply imbalance. Previously, Huang suggested this imbalance would persist &#8220;well into next year.&#8221; Munster believes that if Nvidia&#8217;s next-generation Blackwell architecture faces delays, equilibrium might not be reached until mid-2025.
Munster&#8217;s growth projections for Nvidia are notably optimistic, he wrote on X, &#8220;I expect Nvidia to grow faster for longer than most investors believe. For CY25, the Street is looking for 39% growth. I believe it will be closer to 50%. For CY26 they&#8217;re expecting 17%, and I expect it be closer to 30%.&#8221;
While Munster advises caution regarding immediate stock performance, he emphasizes the company&#8217;s enduring potential saying, &#8220;There is a lot of noise around this quarter, but I believe the Blackwell piece is probably the most important X factor&#8230; I don&#8217;t think the stock action should be representative of the opportunity Nvidia presents over the next couple of years.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NVDA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NVDA</a> earnings Wednesday after the close. July quarter and October guidance are less important. Most important will come on the call when Jensen talks about how long demand may exceed supply. Last quarter he said that will happen &quot;well into next year&quot;. If Blackwell gets… <a href="https://t.co/7PpOP5arC9">https://t.co/7PpOP5arC9</a>
&mdash; Gene Munster (@munster_gene) <a href="https://twitter.com/munster_gene/status/1828080886262247820?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40541739/royal-society-may-consider-expelling-elon-musk-has-he-gone-too-far?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Society May Consider Expelling Elon Musk: Has He Gone Too Far?</a>
Why It Matters: The upcoming earnings report from Nvidia is highly anticipated by investors and analysts alike. Analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40547129/nvidia-earnings-round-the-corner-top-investors-in-jensen-huangs-company-set-to-benefit-if-q2-app">expect another strong performance</a> from the AI giant. For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the average expectation is earnings of $0.64 per share and revenue of $28.68 billion, a significant increase from the previous year&#8217;s figures.
Market expert, Jim Cramer, predicts a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40546916/as-nvidias-earnings-near-jim-cramer-sees-2b-revenue-boost-potential-jays-stance-is-">potential $2 billion revenue boost</a> in the reported quarter. This optimism is driven by Nvidia&#8217;s pivotal role in the AI sector, despite recent market volatility.
Market analyst Peter Boockvar emphasized that Nvidia&#8217;s earnings are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40524164/nvidia-earnings-more-important-than-jerome-powells-jackson-hole-speech-for-wall-str">more crucial to the market</a> than Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell&#8216;s commentary. This underscores the significant impact Nvidia&#8217;s performance has on market sentiment.
Lastly, Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities described the upcoming earnings call as a &#8220;drop the mic&#8221; moment for Nvidia. Investors are eagerly awaiting CEO Huang&#8217;s insights on future AI chip demand, which could shape the tech industry&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40304983/nvidias-earnings-set-for-drop-the-mic-moment-as-investors-anticipate-massive-ai-demand-forecast-">trajectory through 2025</a>.
Price Action: Nvidia&#8217;s stock closed at $126.46 on Monday, down 2.25%. In after-hours trading, the stock edged up 0.095%. Year to date, NVDA has surged 162.53%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40563860/apple-announces-cfo-transition-iphone-16-debut-what-to-know">Apple Announces CFO Transition, iPhone 16 Debut: What To Know</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Equities

Analyst Ratings

Nvidia's 'Hyperfocused' Investors Might Trigger Negative Stock Trend After Earnings, Says Gene Munster: Here's Why

Pavel Durov, CEO of the social media platform Telegram, has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40549754/telegram-founder-pavel-durov-unlikely-to-be-released-in-august-crypto-bettors-predict">detained by French authorities</a>. The arrest has sparked concerns in Russia, where the military heavily relies on Telegram for communications.
What Happened: Durov, the CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France on allegations of his platform being used for child pornography, drug trafficking, and organized crime. The arrest has caused a stir in Russia, as Telegram is extensively used by the Russian military for battlefield communications.
"They practically detained the head of communication of the Russian army," a Russian military blogger channel stated on Telegram. The Russian military&#8217;s Main Communications Directorate has shown little interest in developing an alternative to Telegram, but Durov&#8217;s arrest might expedite the process, <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/telegram-ceo-arrest-pavel-durov-russian-military-communications-france/">reported</a> Politico.
Russian policymakers are alarmed and calling for Durov&#8217;s release, fearing that he may hand over encryption keys to French authorities, potentially exposing user communications. French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that Durov&#8217;s arrest was not politically motivated.
Telegram, despite its popularity, has been criticized for its lack of moderation, making it a haven for illicit activities. The platform denies any ties to the Russian government and insists that it abides by EU laws.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40541695/trumps-454m-civil-judgment-appeal-heads-to-court-decision-unlikely-before-election-day?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s $454M Civil Judgment Appeal Heads To Court: Decision Unlikely Before Election Day</a>
Why It Matters: Durov <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40558693/telegram-ceo-pavel-durov-faces-12-serious-charges-french-prosecutor-reveals">faces 12 serious charges</a>, including involvement in child pornography distribution, drug-related offenses, organized fraud, and money laundering. This extensive list of charges has intensified the debate about freedom of expression, digital rights, and the balance between security and privacy in the online sphere.
President Emmanuel Macron <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40557028/french-president-macron-denies-political-motivation-in-telegram-founders-arrest">denied any political motivation</a> behind Durov&#8217;s arrest. However, the incident has sparked global concern, with figures like Elon Musk expressing shock and hinting at extreme regulation and censorship in the region, as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40542542/elon-musk-reacts-as-telegram-founder-gets-arrested-in-france-reportedly-faces-20-years-in-prison-on">reported by Benzinga</a>.
The arrest of Durov could potentially disrupt the communication system of the Russian military and lead to a shift in their communication strategy. The situation also raises questions about the security and privacy of user data on Telegram.
Image by Tech Crunch via Flickr
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Politics

General

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's Arrest By France Means 'They Practically Detained The Head Of Communication Of The Russian Army,' Says Military Blogger

The upcoming U.S. presidential debate has become a battleground, with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris&#8216;s teams at odds over the use of open microphones. Trump has threatened to withdraw from the event, accusing the ABC network of bias, according to a Reuters report.
What Happened: Trump, in his third presidential run, hinted at his non-participation in the ABC network-hosted debate via a social media post on Sunday. He questioned the network&#8217;s impartiality, writing, &#8220;Why would I do the Debate against Kamala Harris on that network?&#8221;
On Monday, Harris&#8217; spokesperson, Brian Fallon, expressed the vice president&#8217;s campaign&#8217;s desire for the candidates&#8217; microphones to remain on throughout the event. This contrasts with the previous presidential debate where mics were muted when the other candidate was speaking. Fallon urged Trump to &#8220;stop hiding behind the mute button.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40542456/elon-musk-asks-his-196m-x-followers-if-they-identify-as-democrat-or-republican-billionaire-receives?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Asks His 196M X Followers If They Identify As Democrat Or Republican: Billionaire Receives 1.6M</a>
In response, Trump&#8217;s campaign senior adviser, Jason Miller, stated that they had agreed to the same terms as CNN&#8217;s June debate, which included muted microphones. He rejected any changes to the agreed-upon rules. However, Trump later expressed his preference for his microphone to be kept on, showing his distaste for the mute option used in the last debate.
&#8220;I&#8217;m not spending a lot of time on it. I think my whole life I&#8217;ve been preparing for a debate,&#8221; Trump said, according to the report. 
&#8220;You can&#8217;t cram knowledge into your head, for you know, 30 years of knowledge in one week. So, you know, there&#8217;s a little debate prep, but I&#8217;ve always done it more or less the same way.&#8221;
The ABC network has not yet commented on these developments. The debate, agreed upon by Biden and Trump, is scheduled for September 10.
Why It Matters: The September 10 debate between Vice President Harris and Republican candidate Trump is seen as a critical event. However, Trump&#8217;s recent social media post has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40549337/trump-vs-harris-september-10-presidential-debate-in-jeopardy-ex-president-hints-he-may-skip-the-key">cast doubt</a> on his participation, citing perceived bias from the ABC network, owned by Walt Disney Company.
A recent Rasmussen poll, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/08/40541155/trump-vs-harris-new-2024-election-poll-shows-outlier-for-former-president-with-3-point-lead-rfk-">may be an outlier</a>, showed Trump leading Harris by 3 points, though Harris has led in most polls. The poll was conducted before significant political events, including the Democratic National Convention and Robert Kennedy Jr.&#8217;s campaign suspension.
Meanwhile, Harris held a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/08/40566146/trump-in-trouble-vice-president-harris-leads-betting-odds-for-2024-election-heres-how-swing-stat">slight edge in betting odds</a>, but the race remained close, with Trump slightly ahead in some prediction markets. Harris had also shown leads in key swing state polls.
Image via Shutterstock
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Trump-Harris Debate Could Be Derailed Due To 'Hot Mic' Dispute — Ex-President On Prepping: 'I Think My Whole Life I've Been Preparing'

<a href="https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1827738976708444187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1827738976708444187%7Ctwgr%5Effadbbfc96c919f452c3cde9c17f74bc25451e33%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.benzinga.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>Donald Trump&#8217;s Ally and United Kingdom Member Of Parliament, Nigel Farage, has voiced his apprehensions about the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40549754/telegram-founder-pavel-durov-unlikely-to-be-released-in-august-crypto-bettors-predict">arrest</a> of Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, hinting at potential implications for X owner Elon Musk.
What Happened: Farage, in a post on X, on Thursday, expressed his concern over the arrest of Durov. He described Telegram as a &#8220;secure free speech app&#8221; and questioned if the arrest of Musk could be next. He acknowledged the presence of bad actors on all platforms but emphasized the importance of free speech.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The arrest of Pavel Durov is worrying. Telegram is a secure free speech app. It may have some bad actors, but then all platforms do. What next&#8230; the arrest of Elon Musk?
&mdash; Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1827738976708444187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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His post came in the wake of Durov&#8217;s arrest in France, where he faces multiple serious charges, including complicity in facilitating illegal online transactions and unauthorized provision of cryptology services, as revealed by Paris Public Prosecutor Laure Beccuau.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40542388/kamala-harris-clashes-with-jd-vance-as-trumps-vp-pick-predicts-ex-president-would-veto-federal-abort?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kamala Harris Clashes With JD Vance As Trump&#8217;s VP Pick Predicts Ex-President Would Veto Federal Abortion</a>
Why It Matters: Farage&#8217;s post adds to the growing concern over tech regulation and censorship in Europe. Musk, the chairman of social media platform X, had previously expressed shock at Durov&#8217;s arrest, hinting at extreme regulation in the region. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40542542/elon-musk-reacts-as-telegram-founder-gets-arrested-in-france-reportedly-faces-20-years-in-prison-on">Musk&#8217;s X platform</a> has also been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39746299/elon-musks-x-found-in-breach-of-eu-digital-content-law-faces-potential-fine-of-up-to-6-of-global-tur">under scrutiny</a> for violation of the European Union's online content law.
Telegram CEO Durov <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40558693/telegram-ceo-pavel-durov-faces-12-serious-charges-french-prosecutor-reveals">faces 12 charges in France</a>, including allegations of involvement in child pornography distribution, drug offenses, fraud, and money laundering. These charges were part of an ongoing investigation by cybercrime and anti-fraud agencies. Durov&#8217;s custody was extended due to the serious nature of the accusations.
Previously, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton accused Musk&#8217;s X of deceptive practices and non-compliance with the Digital Services Act. Musk responded by alleging the EU offered X an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39759841/elon-musk-reveals-european-commission-offered-x-illegal-secret-deal-to-censor-free-speech-as-thierrys">illegal secret deal</a> to censor content, which Breton denied. X now faces potential fines and must address the accusations or risk penalties.
Image via Shutterstock
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Trump Ally, UK MP Nigel Farage Expresses Concern Over Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's Arrest: 'What Next...The Arrest of Elon Musk?'

QMCO

Trading Halt: Halted at 7:50:00 p.m. ET - Trading Halt: Halt News Pending

A head-to-head matchup between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris continues to be fairly even with less than three months until the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election">2024 presidential election.</a>
 What Happened: Harris has been posting a lead in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/08/40475733/trump-in-trouble-vice-president-kamala-harris-hits-record-support-young-voter-lead-in-2024-elect">most 2024 election polls</a>, while Trump has seen his odds with prediction markets remain ahead of the vice president for the odds to win the 2024 election.
The betting odds are near even between the two candidates at Bet365, as reported by <a href="https://www.covers.com/politics/us-election-betting-odds">Covers</a>. Harris has the slight edge at odds of -120 with Trump ranking close behind at +100 as of Aug. 26.
On Friday, the two candidates appeared even in the betting odds, which came ahead of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/08/40535286/rfk-jr-suspends-2024-presidential-campaign-endorses-trump-to-block-democrats-from-white-house">suspending his campaign </a>to help Trump.
Trump was listed ahead of Harris at odds of -125 to her +100<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/08/40238227/trump-vs-harris-presidential-odds-and-betting-markets-show-near-toss-up-but-this-candidate"> earlier this month.</a>
Based on the latest betting odds, Harris has an implied chance of 54.6% to win the 2024 election with Trump having a 50% chance of winning.
Ranking behind the two leading candidates are J.D. Vance at +8,000 and Nikki Haley and Michelle Obama both at +10,000. Kennedy Jr., who will remain on the ballot in select states, has odds of +15,000 to win the election.
Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/07/39780356/trumps-2024-election-betting-odds-hit-record-high-after-assassination-attempt-payouts-for-ex-pre">hit odds of </a>-250 back in July after an assassination attempt. At that time, President Joe Biden was still in the race and had odds of +500, followed by Harris at +800.
In June, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/07/39868243/2024-election-betting-odds-joe-biden-has-8-chance-of-winning-according-to-sportsbooks-pred">had odds</a> of -175 after the first presidential debate, followed by Harris at +400 and Biden at +800 as talk of his exit began gaining steam.
The current odds are most similar to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/05/39123057/exclusive-trumps-guilty-verdict-sparks-brief-overreaction-in-2024-election-betting-odds-bu">month of May, </a>which saw Trump as a -110 favorite and Biden closely behind at +130.
Keep in mind that back in January 2021, it was Harris who was the favorite to win the 2024 election with odds of +350 based on the plan that Biden would not run for re-election. Biden and Trump trailed Harris at the time at odds of +400 and +650, respectively.
Prediction market&nbsp;Polymarket, which calls itself the world&#8217;s largest prediction market, offers betting on items in categories such as politics, sports, cryptocurrency, pop culture and more.
On Polymarket, users can deposit funds using USDC (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">USDC</a>) via the Polygon (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/matic/usd">MATIC</a>) network, or directly from a crypto account with Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>). In each betting market, the winning option pays out at $1.
One of the largest prediction markets on the site is the 2024 election winner with over $739 million wagered. Trump is the slight <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/presidential-election-winner-2024?tid=1724705790212">favorite </a>on Polymarket at 50% followed by Harris at 49%. Trump had a larger lead in recent weeks before Harris again <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40493514/donald-trump-now-leads-kamala-harris-by-5-points-after-10-point-election-odds-turnaround-i">closed the gap.</a>
Similar to sportsbooks, the prediction market shows a near toss-up between the two candidates.
Did You Know?
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<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent082624">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Why It's Important: Along with Harris improving the odds of the Democratic Party winning the 2024 election since Biden dropped out based on election polls, the vice president has also improved the chances of winning swing states.
A recent Morning Consult poll showed Harris with a four-point lead over Trump among nationally registered voters. A Morning Consult/Bloomberg poll of voters in seven&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/07/40086590/harris-vs-trump-vice-president-has-passed-former-president-in-swing-states-could-biden-stepping-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">key swing states</a>&nbsp;showed Harris with an overall lead of 48% to 47%. Harris is leading Trump in five of the seven states, tied in one, and trails Trump in one.
These seven swing states represent 93 electoral votes collectively and could decide the 2024 election. Six of the seven swing states were won by Biden in the 2020 election, with five slipping from Trump&#8217;s win in 2016.
Odds from Bet365 show the following odds for the two candidates to win six of the swing states:
Pennsylvania: Harris -125, Trump -110
Michigan: Harris -225, Trump +162
North Carolina: Harris +137, Trump -188
Wisconsin: Harris -175, Trump +125
Georgia: Harris +137, Trump -188
Arizona: Harris -110, Trump -125
Harris is the betting favorite in four of the six swing states tracked, with Trump having better odds to win North Carolina and Georgia. Biden won five of the six states above in the 2020 election with Trump winning North Carolina.
On <a href="https://polymarket.com/markets/all/swing-states">Polymarket</a>, the Democratic Party is favored to win Michigan and Wisconsin with Trump's Republican Party favored to win Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arizona.
Check This Out:
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<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent082624">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Andrew Angelov via Shutterstock

$MATIC

$USDC

USDC

Trump In Trouble: Vice President Harris Leads Betting Odds For 2024 Election, Here's How Swing State Odds Look

HOPE Therapeutics, Inc., a subsidiary of NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nrxp#NASDAQ">NRXP</a>), <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hope-therapeutics-inc-and-nrx-pharmaceuticals-inc-nasdaqnrxp-announce-potential-acquisition-and-financing-agreements-for-30-million-in-currently-operating-interventional-psychiatry-clinics-302230157.html">announced</a> plans to acquire a network of interventional psychiatry clinics, focusing on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ketamine">ketamine </a>treatments. The acquisition and financing agreements, valued at $30 million, are backed by a qualified lender. The company signed a non-binding Term Sheet for five operational clinics in the Western United States, generating over $10 million in annual revenue.
The clinics will focus on treating conditions like suicidal depression, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/22/12/30015049/psychedelics-and-treatment-resistant-depression-compass-pathways-replies-to-comments">treatment-resistant depression</a> (TRD), and PTSD. HOPE Therapeutics aims to create a unified, patient-centered approach, combining pharmaceutical therapies and FDA-approved technologies like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Co-CEOs Jonathan Javitt and Matthew Duffy emphasized the importance of this initiative. &#8220;We are delighted to take the critical first steps towards developing a network of clinics that can provide the highest possible level of care.&#8221;
HOPE Therapeutics projects annualized revenues of $100 million by mid-2025 through continued clinic acquisitions and anticipates potential operations in&nbsp;the United States,&nbsp;France, and the United Kingdom.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/biotech/24/08/40549228/the-potential-of-ketamir-2-a-safer-treatment-for-mental-health-disorders-and-neuropathic-pain-ind">The Potential Of Ketamir-2: A Safer Treatment For Mental Health Disorders And Neuropathic Pain, IND Filing Expected By Year-End </a>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ketamine Clinics And Treatments</h3>
Ketamine, originally an anesthetic, has gained significant attention in recent years for its off-label use in treating mental health conditions such as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/05/38652184/ketamine-assisted-psychotherapy-offers-hope-in-the-treatment-of-chronic-pain-and-depression-here">depression</a>, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/11/35965889/defense-dept-funds-ketamine-study-for-ptsd-treatment-in-600-service-members-veterans">PTSD</a>, and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/05/38652184/ketamine-assisted-psychotherapy-offers-hope-in-the-treatment-of-chronic-pain-and-depression-here">treatment-resistant depression (TRD)</a>. The rise in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39501213/ketamine-assisted-therapy-2-psychedelics-companies-team-up-to-expand-reimbursement-and-training">ketamine assisted therapies</a> is largely due to its rapid-acting properties, which offer relief where traditional antidepressants often fall short. As research progresses, treatments are becoming more refined, with new delivery methods like nasal sprays, topical creams and patient-controlled infusions enhancing accessibility and effectiveness.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/11/35965889/defense-dept-funds-ketamine-study-for-ptsd-treatment-in-600-service-members-veterans">Defense Dept. Funds Ketamine Study For PTSD Treatment In 600 Service Members &amp; Veterans</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/cannabis-conference/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="970" height="250" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/26114616/CCC-Oct-24-Banner-1-85.gif" alt="" class="wp-image-514031" /></a></figure>
Photo: Courtesy of Sonis Photography via Shutterstock<a href="https://benzinga.com/apis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>

Penny Stocks

Psychedelics

Financing

NRXP

HOPE Therapeutics Secures Financing For Ketamine Clinic Expansion

The most recent expression of support for legalizing cannabis in Florida came on Monday when the American Civil Liberty Union of Florida (ACLU-FL) announced it was backing the initiative, also known as <a href="https://drupal-cloudfront.benzinga.com/topic/amendment-3">Amendment 3</a>, which goes to a vote in the upcoming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election">November elections</a>.
&#8220;We proudly endorse Amendment 3, to legalize cannabis for recreational use in Florida. The time is now to end the failed drug war in Florida and to legalize it,&#8221; wrote the ACLU-FL Monday on X. 
Get Benzinga&#8217;s exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://newsletteremail.benzinga.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. If you&#8217;re serious about the business, you can&#8217;t afford to miss out.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Florida voters have the opportunity to legalize and repair over a half-century of failed policies criminalizing cannabis by voting Yes on 3. <a href="https://t.co/uD7dfCUIvT">pic.twitter.com/uD7dfCUIvT</a>
&mdash; ACLU of Florida (@ACLUFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACLUFL/status/1828106419503329624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">DeSantis&#8217; Anti-Cannabis Warpath: Falling Out With Friends, Not Enough Money</h1>
Meanwhile, Gov Ron DeSantis is very much on the warpath against legal weed in his state as the polls move in the direction of approval for the initiative. 
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40496563/ron-desantis-staffer-peeved-flordias-cannabis-legalization-initiative-has-no-home-grow-provision">Ron DeSantis Staffer Peeved Florida&#8217;s Cannabis Legalization Initiative Has No Home-Grow Provision — Shocked? We&#8217;ll Explain</a>
The Floridian recently <a href="https://floridianpress.com/2024/08/desantis-faces-a-high-uphill-climb-on-amendment-3-marijuana-legalization/">noted</a> DeSantis faces an uphill battle in his struggle to defeat Amendment 3, not the least of which likely includes Trump&#8217;s recent innuendo-drenched <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40561136/trump-dislikes-having-people-in-jail-for-cannabis-will-he-legalize-if-elected-or-just-trying-to-">remarks on cannabis</a> including his distaste for people being incarcerated for weed.
&#8220;However, what might be the most interesting fact surrounding the millions of dollars campaigning for and against the amendment is that members of Gov. DeSantis' inner circle, both now and during his presidential campaign, are pushing for the passage of Amendment 3 with millions of dollars behind them,&#8221; wrote The Floridian.
To wit, two firms connected to a super PAC backing DeSantis,&nbsp;Axiom Strategies&nbsp;and&nbsp;Vanguard Field Strategies,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/09/34745991/ron-desantis-anti-pot-stance-clashes-with-top-supporter-pushing-for-legalization-of-recreational">have received millions</a> from an organization advocating for Amendment 3.
DeSantis loyalist and longtime advisor Nick Iarossi of Capital City Consulting also happens to have Trulieve Cannabis Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCNNF#OTC">TCNNF</a>) — one of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40486924/ken-griffins-12m-donation-and-desantiss-anti-cannabis-pacs-face-off-against-pro-legalization-gro">major financial backers</a> of the Amendment 3 campaign — as a client with his firm.
More recently, former Republican Party of Florida Chair <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/40085870/ron-desantis-and-gop-stalwart-feud-over-cannabis-legalization-trump-floridas-top-cops-also-weigh">Joe Gruters came out in favor</a> of cannabis legalization via Amendment 3. 
As the ballot vote gets closer, it appears Florida&#8217;s politicians and businesses are starting to see benefits in its passage.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40561136/trump-dislikes-having-people-in-jail-for-cannabis-will-he-legalize-if-elected-or-just-trying-to-">Trump Dislikes Having People In Jail For Cannabis: Will He Legalize If Elected Or Just Trying To Appeal To VP Harris&#8217; Voters?</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

TCNNF

Ron DeSantis' Anti-Cannabis Warpath Strewn With Dissenting GOP Colleagues, Not Enough Money, Polls Favoring Legalization

In an assessment by Canaccord Genuity (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCORF#OTC">CCORF</a>) published Monday, Cannabist Company Holdings (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBSTF#OTC">CBSTF</a>) has maintained its Buy rating with a targeted price point of C$1.00, as confirmed by analyst Martin Roberge. This valuation stems from the company&#8217;s calculated divestitures and a sharp focus on core growth opportunities, projecting a trajectory that should captivate investor interest.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cannabist Divests Florida Assets</h3>
Roberge's endorsement aligns with Cannabist's recent strategic maneuvers to streamline operations and optimize its asset portfolio, <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/news/blurbs/buy-rating-justified-by-cannabist-company-holdings-strategic-focus-and-growth-potential?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_medium=referral">reports</a> TipRanks. These moves are designed to consolidate efforts and resources into more lucrative markets and operational efficiencies. For instance, the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40534012/16-4m-asset-sale-marks-the-cannabist-companys-florida-exit-in-streamlining-effort">offloaded its Florida-based 40,000-square-foot cultivation facility and 14 dispensaries</a> for $16.4 million, a strategic step back from less profitable markets to fortify its stance in more promising areas.
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</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Verano Acquires Cannabist Subsidiaries In Virginia And Arizona</h3>
Additionally, the acquisition of Cannabist's subsidiaries by Verano Holdings Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRNOF#OTC">VRNOF</a>) for $105 million further exemplifies the strategic realignment. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40508637/cannabis-co-verano-completes-105m-acquisition-of-arizona-virginia-operations-from-leading-us-ope">Verano's takeover includes operations in Virginia and Arizona</a>, enhancing its presence in these key markets, thus reinforcing the industry&#8217;s confidence in Cannabist's operational decisions.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Streamlining Operations Boosts Cannabist&#8217;s Efficiency</h3>
This divestiture strategy is not isolated. It&#8217;s part of a broader plan to enhance Cannabist&#8217;s financial structure and market positioning. By narrowing their focus, Cannabist aims to bolster its operations and financial health, an approach that Canaccord Genuity believes will lead to substantial growth. &#8220;This strategic move aligns with our ongoing efforts to build a better business – rationalizing our footprint and focusing on our growth markets to enhance profitability,&#8221; <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240823754559/en/The-Cannabist-Company-Announces-Definitive-Agreements-for-Florida-Assets">said</a> David Hart, CEO of The Cannabist Company, in a press release.
Roberge's rating and the set target price reflect a broader market sentiment that Cannabist's current valuation is undervalued, offering an attractive entry point for investors.&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40558036/key-cannabis-leaders-gather-for-networking-at-benzingas-fall-2024-conference-the-last-big-event-">Key Cannabis Leaders Gather For Networking At Benzinga&#8217;s Fall 2024 Conference: The Last Big Event Before The Election</a></li>
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THE CANNABIST CO HLDG by THE CANNABIST COMPANY HOLDINGS INC.

CBSTF

CCORF

VRNOF

Leading US Cannabis Operator Gets Buy Rating Amid Strategic Divestment And Growth Initiative

The first club in Berlin has received permission for cannabis cultivation. The Marzahn-Hellersdorf district approved the Green Leaf Society's application, as stated in a district press release, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/marzahn-hellersdorf/cannabis-berlin" rel="noreferrer noopener">writes</a> Die Stimme Berlins according to translation.
&#8220;We are thrilled that Marzahn-Hellersdorf district reviewed our application pragmatically and impartially and granted approval promptly," Jana Halbreiter, chair of the initiative Green Leaf Society, told the German Press Agency, <a target="_blank" href="https://aussiedlerbote.de/en/marijuana-cultivators-collective-intends-to-impose-duties-with-accountability/" rel="noreferrer noopener">writes </a>ASB Zeitung.
The news comes on the heels of the Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales (Lageso) being <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40471930/germany-sets-new-limits-for-driving-under-the-influence-of-marijuana-berlin-confirms-cannabis-cl" rel="noreferrer noopener">chosen as the authority</a> in charge of approving cannabis cultivation associations in Berlin. However, the regulations are still not set, so the districts are temporarily responsible for these types of permits.
&#8220;The application of the Green Leaf Society can certainly be considered exemplary in many respects,&#8221; said Gordon Lemm, the district councilor for youth, family and health. A Social Democratic Party (SPD) politician, Lemm said there are still rigorous requirements for these types of permits under the cannabis law. &#8220;However, the application we received is characterized by a high level of responsibility and serious structural considerations, which have greatly facilitated our decision-making.&#8221;
Green Leaf Society plans to establish the cultivation facility, binding agreements with manufacturers and suppliers and train volunteers. &#8220;Subsequently, we plan to cultivate the initial batch and anticipate being able to legally distribute cannabis for the first time in December,&#8221; added Halbreiter.
Cannabis clubs became legal on July 1, 2024, and the first such marijuana social clubs <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/39690787/first-cannabis-club-in-germany-opens-lawmaker-says-it-will-stem-illicit-marker-cops-say-the-oppo" rel="noreferrer noopener">opened their doors on July 8</a> in Lower Saxony. However, across many other states, applications for cannabis cultivation associations <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40100562/germanys-cannabis-clubs-face-setbacks-amid-reg-hurdles-christian-democrat-leader-wants-to-revers" rel="noreferrer noopener">face multiple setbacks</a>.
Read Also: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40520655/25-german-cities-join-cannabis-pilot-trials-in-2024-under-new-legalization-law" rel="noreferrer noopener">25 German Cities Join Cannabis Pilot Trials In 2024 Under New Legalization Law</a>
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<li>Get Benzinga's exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter <a href="https://newsletteremail.benzinga.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. If you're serious about the business, you can't afford to miss out.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lower Saxony To Introduce Catalog Of Fines</h2>
Meanwhile, Lower Saxony's Health Minister Andreas Philippi confirmed lawmakers will soon introduce a catalog of fines for violations of the cannabis laws. Several other federal states have already created their catalogs, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.abendblatt.de/niedersachsen/article407091719.ece" rel="noreferrer noopener">writes</a> Hamburger Abendblatt, according to the translation.
"We have prepared the fine catalog, and it is now under review,&#8221; the SPD politician told the German Press Agency in Hannover. &#8220;I expect hefty penalties.&#8221;
Carina Hermann, the parliamentary secretary of the Christian Democratic Union, called for high fines of up to several thousand euros. Some other federal states already have predefined fines in a catalog that must be paid if someone smokes cannabis close to schools, playgrounds and kindergartens.
Philippi said that the demand for cannabis-related counseling has increased since cannabis legalization took effect compared to previous years. The Health Minister said it is expected the demand for counseling is yet to increase this year.
His biggest concerns are teenagers between 15-17 who are not allowed to legally consume marijuana, but who often have 18-year-old friends who are. &#8220;How can you control who is sitting around and smoking in the evening?&#8221; Philippi asked. &#8220;I would like to do more prevention, but the question is where we will get the funding for it.&#8221;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Read also:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/39830117/medical-marijuana-regulated-as-ibuprofen-is-one-of-the-biggest-breakthroughs-of-germanys-cannabi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Medical Marijuana Regulated As Ibuprofen Is One Of The Biggest Breakthroughs Of Germany's Cannabis Law</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/39730706/is-germany-poised-to-become-the-next-weed-epicenter-in-europe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Is Germany Poised To Become The Next Weed Epicenter In Europe?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Courtesy of anna-m. w. via Pexels

Eurozone

Berlin Grants First Cannabis Cultivation Permission, Lower Saxony To Introduce Fines With 'Hefty Penalties'

SMFL

Smart For Life Is Negotiating Four Profitable Health & Wellness Acquisitions And Exploring Additional Prospects

Nevada is taking its first serious steps toward exploring a potential merger of its gaming and cannabis industries, as policymakers and industry leaders discuss how these two major sectors can <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/nevada-cannabis">legally co-exist.</a>
A recent panel hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) brought this conversation into the spotlight, as <a href="https://www.kolotv.com/2024/08/24/can-gaming-cannabis-co-exist-nevada-policy-experts-leaders-explore-options/">reported</a> by Kolo.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40532232/nevada-awards-cannabis-lounge-licenses-less-than-half-of-the-social-equity-licenses-in-nevada-ar">Nevada Awards Cannabis Lounge Licenses, Less Than Half Of The Social Equity Licenses In Nevada Are Operational &amp; More Cannabis Updates</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Federal Barriers Still Loom Large</h3>
Despite growing interest, significant federal hurdles remain. Cannabis is still classified as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40231755/marijuana-is-same-as-heroin-according-to-nevada-supreme-court-in-reversal-ruling-that-cannabis-i">Schedule I substance</a>, and federal banking laws prohibit cannabis transactions &#8211; obstacles that currently prevent any legal integration within Nevada's heavily regulated casinos.
"We're pretty far off from that point where we will see a consumption lounge or dispensary in a casino, but that is why I think it's an interesting conversation," said Riana Durrett of the UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute, which organized the panel.
Meanwhile, chair Tick Segerblom, a key figure in Nevada politics, noted that some resort owners are already looking ahead to a time when these restrictions might change. "They can see the synergy, especially with food and entertainment."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Nevada's Policy Shifts And Future Possibilities</h3>
As attitudes towards cannabis continue to evolve, Nevada has already begun to soften its stance on some cannabis-related activities. 
The state's 2024 legalization of cannabis lounges marks a significant shift, offering a new avenue for discussion on how gaming and cannabis could potentially co-exist.
Durrett highlighted that the most immediate opportunities might not involve casinos directly but could include easing regulations on cannabis deliveries to non-gaming establishments along the Las Vegas Strip. 
"I think the ones that are the most subject to further discussion are ones like the prohibition on legal delivery to the Strip corridor," she explained.
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