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Dollar General (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DG#NYSE">DG</a>) announced disappointing second-quarter earnings on Thursday, attributing the results to financially constrained <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40623595/dollar-general-q2-earnings-earnings-miss-slashed-outlook-and-shrinking-margins">lower-income consumers</a>.
What Happened: The discount retailer revealed that its core customers, primarily households earning less than $35,000 annually, are feeling more financially pressured than six months ago. CEO Todd Vasos noted that higher prices, softer employment levels, and increased borrowing costs have negatively impacted these consumers.
"The majority of them state that they feel worse off financially than they were six months ago as higher prices, softer employment levels and increased borrowing costs have negatively impacted low-income consumer incentive," he said.
Dollar General reported a 0.5% increase in same-store sales for the quarter ending Aug. 2, falling short of both its own and Wall Street&#8217;s expectations. The growth was driven solely by consumables like food, rather than discretionary items.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40568347/after-binance-and-coinbase-gary-gensler-led-sec-set-to-lock-horns-with-crypto-exchange-kra?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">After Binance And Coinbase, Gary Gensler-Led SEC Set To Lock Horns With Crypto Exchange Kraken</a>
Shares of Dollar General plummeted over 30% following the earnings release. Net sales rose by 4.2% year-over-year to $10.2 billion, while operating profit fell 20.6% to $550 million, partly due to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40623595/dollar-general-q2-earnings-earnings-miss-slashed-outlook-and-shrinking-margins">markdowns and inventory losses</a>.
In contrast, competitors Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Target (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) reported strong sales growth in their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40486532/whats-happening-with-walmart-stock-following-targets-strong-q2-results">latest quarters</a>. Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DLTR#NASDAQ">DLTR</a>), another rival, is set to report earnings next week.
Why It Matters: The earnings miss by Dollar General underscores a broader trend of cautious consumer spending amid persistent inflation. Even household names like J M Smucker Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SJM#NYSE">SJM</a>) have warned of reduced consumer spending, affecting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40634810/inflation-is-eating-into-sales-of-companies-across-the-board-even-this-household-food-name">sales across various sectors</a>.
Additionally, economic data has shown a mixed outlook. UBS Global Wealth Management recently increased the probability of a U.S. recession to 25%, citing softening job growth and unsettling unemployment data. Despite this, the firm still anticipates a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40574036/ubs-raises-us-recession-probability-to-25-amid-cloudy-economic-outlook">soft landing for the economy</a>, driven by consumer spending, albeit with a &#8220;cloudy&#8221; economic outlook.
Moreover, traders have scaled back their bets on a significant rate cut by the Federal Reserve, following an upward revision of U.S. GDP growth in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/08/40639345/traders-scale-back-bets-on-50-basis-point-september-rate-cut-ahead-of-fridays-key-fed-inflation-ga">the second quarter</a>. This adjustment comes as the market eagerly awaits the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge.
Initial jobless claims totaled 231,000 for the week ending Aug. 24, down from the upwardly revised 233,000 the previous week and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/08/40624663/us-economy-expands-by-3-in-q2-surpasses-earlier-estimates-jobless-claims-little-moved-last-week">slightly below the expected 232,000</a>.
Price Action: Dollar General&#8217;s stock closed at $84.03 on Thursday, down 32.15% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock slightly recovered by 0.083%. Year to date, the stock has declined by 40.16%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40591572/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-tank-as-over-heated-longs-get-wiped-out-analyst-says-take-a-stoc?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Tank As Over-Heated Longs Get Wiped Out: Analyst Says Take A Stock Of This Before Turning Optimistic On King Crypto</a></li>
</ul>
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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/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

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Dollar General Says Majority Of People Who Shop There 'Feel Worse Off Financially' Compared With 6 Months Ago Amid Price Hikes, Softer Employment Levels

Leading cryptocurrencies seesawed Thursday as former President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40643394/trump-said-plan-to-make-us-crypto-capital-of-the-planet-would-come-by-afternoon-crypto-com">teased a plan</a> to make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the planet."
<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>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+0.10%</td>
<td>$59,203.54</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>-0.10%</td>
<td>$2,525.93</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>+0.12%</td>
<td>$0.1004</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin rallied above $61,000 in early trading hours, only to reverse sharply to $59,000 later in the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ethereum also soared nearly to $2,600, only to later retrace to the early $2,500s and consolidate.
The rally followed Trump's X post early morning, where he unveiled a "plan" to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40643394/trump-said-plan-to-make-us-crypto-capital-of-the-planet-would-come-by-afternoon-crypto-com">make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the planet</a>."&nbsp;
In the past 24 hours, 43,890 traders were liquidated, with total liquidations at $118.52 million. Long liquidations made up 68% of the total.
Bitcoin's Open Interest rose marginally by 0.35% in the last 24 hours to $30.75 billion.&nbsp;
The market remained in "Fear" as of this writing, according to the Cryptocurrency Fear &amp; Greed Index, implying a strong selling pressure.
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>MultiversX (EGLD)</td>
<td>+4.85%</td>
<td>$29.51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Flare (FLR)</td>
<td>+4.75%</td>
<td>$0.01614</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ronin (RON)</td>
<td>+4.44%</td>
<td>$1.67</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market stood at $2.08 trillion, following a marginal increase of 0.05% in the last 24 hours.
Stocks were a mixed bag on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 243.63 points, or 0.59%, to close at a record high of 41,335.05. The broad-based index S&amp;P 500 ended marginally below the flatline at 5,591.96, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.23% to end at 17,516.43.
&nbsp;AI behemoth NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) plunged 6.38% during Thursday's trading after reporting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40613050/nvidia-q2-earnings-guidance-top-street-view-as-ai-fuels-record-data-center-revenue-gross-margin-fal">better-than-expected second-quarter results</a>.
On the macroeconomic front, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/08/40624663/us-economy-expands-by-3-in-q2-surpasses-earlier-estimates-jobless-claims-little-moved-last-week">U.S. economy grew 3% in the second quarter</a>, a significant expansion from the 1.4% growth seen in the first quarter.&nbsp;
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: &nbsp;Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Rekt Capital noted that Bitcoin was in the process of filling the CME gap &#8211; differences in price between the closing price on a given trading day and the opening price on the following trading day.
"Reclaim $60600 as support and the CME Gap will likely be filled in its entirety," the analyst emphasized.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> Bitcoin is already in the process of filling this new CME Gap Reclaim $60600 as support and the CME Gap will likely be filled in its entirety<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crypto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crypto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/M0tCekIHC0">https://t.co/M0tCekIHC0</a> <a href="https://t.co/aPmYY4cbIA">pic.twitter.com/aPmYY4cbIA</a>
&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1829217607653720345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Another cryptocurrency trader, Hardy noted how the U.S. trading session imparted a "curveball" to Bitcoin's trajectory after bullish European sessions.&nbsp;
&#8220;Now the big question: will the bulls defend the 58K/59K support,&#8221; the trader commented, adding that they would continue to hold and even add more if King Crypto dips further.&nbsp;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> UPDATE US session threw a curveball with that rejection,was eyeing a CME gap fill before any pullback. Now the big question: will the bulls defend the 58K/59K support? Still holding LONG. Ready to add if we dip lower. Watching closely for bull div confirmations. Stay… <a href="https://t.co/lmRii9aizt">https://t.co/lmRii9aizt</a> <a href="https://t.co/aL3QUGkDJW">pic.twitter.com/aL3QUGkDJW</a>
&mdash; Hardy (@Degen_Hardy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Degen_Hardy/status/1829319266086326560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Photo by Igor Faun on Shutterstock
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Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Remain Choppy — Trader Says 'Still Holding Long, Ready To Add ' If King Crypto Dips Lower

Former Obama administration economic adviser Betsey Stevenson criticized Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance on Thursday for spreading misinformation about the effects of tariffs on consumer prices.
What Happened: Stevenson, who served on 44th U.S.&nbsp;President Barack Obama&#8216;s Council of Economic Advisers and as chief economist at the Department of Labor, took to social media to rebuke Vance&#8217;s claims that tariffs on Chinese goods led to lower prices for Americans.
&#8220;The frustrating point about Vance&#8217;s lie is that policymakers need to know the true effects of policy and make decisions based on facts and preferences,&#8221; Stevenson <a href="https://x.com/BetseyStevenson/status/1829178057799967110">wrote</a> on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The University of Michigan economist&#8217;s comments came in response to a video clip of Vance stating, &#8220;Our corrupt leadership said if you put tariffs on China, prices will go up. Instead, Donald Trump did that, manufacturing came back and prices went down for American citizens.&#8221;
Stevenson cited former White House Council of Economic Advisers Chair Jared Bernstein&#8216;s explanation of tariff economics, emphasizing the importance of understanding their actual impact.
&#8220;As @econjared46 honestly acknowledges tariffs raise prices to shift consumption toward domestic producers,&#8221; Stevenson noted.
Bernstein had earlier clarified the purpose of tariffs, stating, &#8220;The point of such tariffs is to raise the price of imports so consumers will buy domestic products. If they don&#8217;t change relative prices, they don&#8217;t &#8216;work.'&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40596411/nasdaq-s-p-500-futures-flatline-as-traders-await-earnings-report-from-ai-barometer-nvidia-fund-mana?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wall Street On Wait-and-Watch Mode Ahead Of Nvidia Earnings</a>
Why It Matters: The criticism from Stevenson comes amid a series of controversial statements and actions by Vance. Recently, Vance appeared on NBC&#8217;s "Meet the Press" to defend former <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40628997/jd-vance-rejects-claim-that-trumps-tariffs-would-be-a-tax-on-americans-disagrees-tariffs-cost-am">President Trump&#8217;s tariff policies</a>, arguing against claims that these tariffs amounted to a heavy tax on American consumers. 
Vance rejected the notion that tariffs cost Americans nearly $80 billion in new taxes, asserting that the real targets were foreign importers who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40628997/jd-vance-rejects-claim-that-trumps-tariffs-would-be-a-tax-on-americans-disagrees-tariffs-cost-am">rely on cheap labor</a> to undercut U.S. workers.
Furthermore, Vance has been vocal about his opposition to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40591746/jd-vance-lashes-out-at-kamala-harris-for-allowing-chinese-battery-plant-in-michigan-she-wants-to-pay">establishment of a Chinese battery plant</a> in Michigan, attributing the decision to Democratic policies and Vice President Kamala Harris. He linked this to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which Harris supported, accusing her of enabling Chinese companies to access clean-energy companies.
Adding to the controversy, Vance recently made headlines with a bold claim that owning a new car costs every American $50,000 a year, blaming Vice President Harris for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40482592/jd-vance-shocks-with-claim-that-owning-a-new-car-costs-every-american-50-000-a-year">increase in costs</a>. This statement quickly became a trending topic, drawing mixed reactions on social media.
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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/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

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JD Vance Slammed By Ex-Obama Advisor For Spewing Frustrating' Lies On Tariffs, Stresses Need For Fact-Based Policy

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) praised Elon Musk&#8217;s acquisition of Twitter, calling it a significant move for free speech, amidst increasing crackdowns by governments.
What Happened: On Thursday, Cruz expressed his views on the recent developments surrounding Musk&#8217;s social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter. &#8220;People are hungry for the truth worldwide. Elon Musk buying Twitter was the biggest development for free speech in recent history. It is both telling and dangerous when governments try to crack down on that,&#8221; Cruz tweeted.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">People are hungry for the truth worldwide. Elon Musk buying Twitter was the biggest development for free speech in recent history. It is both telling and dangerous when governments try to crack down on that. <a href="https://t.co/1s5Bp7nOw2">https://t.co/1s5Bp7nOw2</a>
&mdash; Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1829306855274750076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The senator&#8217;s tweet comes in the wake of escalating legal disputes involving Musk&#8217;s platform in Brazil. The Supreme Court of Brazil has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40643433/elon-musk-lashes-out-at-judge-after-brazils-supreme-court-blocks-starlinks-bank-accounts-criminal-we">imposed a financial freeze</a> on Musk&#8217;s Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, and threatened to suspend X in the country.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40540066/former-tesla-autopilot-head-and-ex-openai-researcher-says-programming-is-changing-so-fast-that-he-ca?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Former Tesla Autopilot Head And Ex-OpenAI Researcher Says &#8216;Programming Is Changing So Fast&#8217; That He Cannot Think Of Going Back To Coding Without AI</a>
Why It Matters: The legal issues surrounding X have been escalating for some time. The Brazilian Supreme Court has instructed Musk to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40643433/elon-musk-lashes-out-at-judge-after-brazils-supreme-court-blocks-starlinks-bank-accounts-criminal-we">appoint a legal representative</a> for X in Brazil or face potential suspension of the platform. The court&#8217;s decision was in response to X&#8217;s lack of legal representatives in the country and unpaid fines due to failure to provide certain documents. 
Earlier this year, Musk was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38135953/elon-musk-hit-with-obstruction-of-justice-inquiry-after-he-calls-for-impeachment-of-brazils-top-judg">under investigation</a> by the Brazilian Supreme Court for obstructing justice in a social media dispute. The tech billionaire was accused of instigating &#8220;criminal conducts practiced by digital militias&#8221; and &#8220;abuse of economic power.&#8221; 
Furthermore, X has faced warnings from the European Union for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39648446/elon-musks-x-faces-eu-penalty-warning-for-failing-to-control-harmful-content">failing to control harmful content</a>. This follows a series of actions by EU regulators against major tech firms. 
Photos courtesy: 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>

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Ted Cruz Says People Hungry For Truth Worldwide — 'Elon Musk Buying Twitter Was The Biggest Development For Free Speech'

The UK&#8217;s medical cannabis market is expanding rapidly, with growth estimated at around 10% per month, <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/2024-08-29/uk-medical-cannabis-market-growing-10-every-month">according to</a> Jon Robson, CEO of Mamedica, a leading medical cannabis clinic.&nbsp;
Despite this impressive growth, access to medical cannabis remains largely confined to illicit channels and a limited private sector, as National Health Service (NHS) prescriptions remain highly restricted.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Barriers To NHS Prescriptions</h3>
Since medical marijuana (MMJ) was legalized in the UK in 2018, around 50,000 patients have gained access to these treatments. However, NHS prescriptions are restricted to specific conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), epilepsy and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. 
According to NICE guidelines, the NHS requires licensed cannabis products to undergo rigorous clinical trials before they can be prescribed, limiting availability of these treatments. Only three licensed cannabis products are available through the NHS, making it difficult for many patients to obtain them.
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.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Growth And Illicit Trade Concerns</h3>
The UK&#8217;s medical cannabis market is on a rapid upward trajectory, with projections indicating that patient numbers could surpass 300,000 by 2028, up from the current estimate of around 50,000. This expansion, driven by increasing acceptance and private sector involvement, could result in substantial market opportunities for investors. However, it also presents significant challenges, particularly concerning the illicit trade.
One of the key players in the European cannabis market, Curaleaf (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CURLF#OTC">CURLF</a>) is leveraging its strategic expansion in the UK to out price the illegal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39442869/2-9b-european-cannabis-market-a-strategic-blueprint-for-cross-border-transportation-logistics">cannabis trade</a>. According to Juan Martinez, head of Curaleaf International, the UK market has massive potential. Over 2 million British adults are believed to be self-medicating with cannabis, yet only 45,000 are registered MMJ patients. This discrepancy is evidence of an untapped market that could grow significantly if regulatory frameworks and public awareness improve.
In<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/uk-cannabis"> the UK</a>, Curaleaf has introduced vapes and gummies, gathering data from over 30,000 patients to tailor their products to medical needs. This approach allows the company to present compelling evidence to regulators, which is crucial in a market where the NHS offers limited access to cannabis-based treatments.
Despite these advancements, the rapid growth of the legal market may inadvertently be fueling the illicit trade. The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported that illegal cannabis seizures at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40604161/whats-behind-increased-cannabis-seizures-at-u-k-airports-supply-demand-and-naive-smugglers">UK airports have tripled </a>in under a year, with organized criminal gangs exploiting demand by smuggling cannabis into the UK and selling it at a premium. 
However, Martinez <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39256203/curaleaf-international-is-beating-illicit-cannabis-prices-in-uk-and-germany-whats-next-for-eu-ex">notes </a>that in the UK, pharmaceutical-grade cannabis through legal channels is priced at £5.50 per gram, compared to £10-15 on the illicit market, making it an attractive option for informed patients.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39256203/curaleaf-international-is-beating-illicit-cannabis-prices-in-uk-and-germany-whats-next-for-eu-ex">Curaleaf International Is Beating Illicit Cannabis Prices In UK And Germany &#8211; What&#8217;s Next For EU Expansion?</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Need For Further Research</h3>
The Department for Health and Social Care emphasizes the need for more research to give NHS doctors confidence in prescribing cannabis-based medicines. While the NHS funds licensed products, the lack of evidence for unlicensed ones remains a major barrier. As the market grows, there is a rising demand for comprehensive trials and regulatory engagement to expand NHS access to these treatments.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40604161/whats-behind-increased-cannabis-seizures-at-u-k-airports-supply-demand-and-naive-smugglers">What&#8217;s Behind Increased Cannabis Seizures At U.K. Airports? Supply, Demand And Naive Smugglers</a>

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2 Million Brits Are Self Medicating With Cannabis, The  Market Soars 10% Monthly - Will National Health Service Prescriptions Catch Up?

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Brazil imposed a financial freeze on&nbsp;Elon Musk&#8216;s Starlink, a subsidiary of&nbsp;SpaceX. This action is part of an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40623911/brazilian-supreme-court-tells-elon-musk-to-appoint-legal-representative-for-x-in-24-hours-or-face-su">escalating legal dispute</a> that could potentially lead to the suspension of Musk&#8217;s social media platform, X, in Brazil.
What Happened: The court&#8217;s decision, signed by Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, is a response to X, formerly Twitter&#8217;s lack of legal representatives in Brazil, reported Reuters.
The freeze also pertains to a separate issue regarding&nbsp;unpaid fines that X was&nbsp;directed&nbsp;to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/04/38219016/elon-musks-x-defies-brazilian-court-order-calls-for-supreme-court-judge-to-resign-after-issuing-most">pay due to its&nbsp;failure</a> to provide certain documents.
Starlink has acknowledged the receipt of the order, which bars the company from carrying out financial transactions in Brazil. 
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40568404/google-chrome-to-trigger-vibrations-on-your-smartphone-when-you-do-this?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Chrome To Trigger Vibrations On Your Smartphone When You Do This</a>
The tech mogul also reacted to the news on X, lambasting Judge de Moraes as a &#8220;criminal wearing judges robes like&nbsp;a Halloween costume.&#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">De Moreaes is a criminal wearing judges robes like a Halloween costume &#x1f47b; <a href="https://t.co/Wp0exL7wwv">https://t.co/Wp0exL7wwv</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1829310109639655795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In another post, Musk stated that SpaceX and X are entirely separate companies with different shareholders. He owns roughly 40% of SpaceX, so this action by de Moraes unfairly punishes other shareholders.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">SpaceX and X are two completely different companies with different shareholders. I own about 40% of SpaceX, so this absolutely illegal action by the dictator <a href="https://twitter.com/alexandre?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alexandre</a> improperly punishes other shareholders and the people of Brazil. <a href="https://t.co/zIzcT0BTJl">https://t.co/zIzcT0BTJl</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1829307275309093121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Why It Matters: The Supreme Court has given X until&nbsp;8:07 p.m. (2307 GMT) on&nbsp;Thursday to appoint a legal representative for Brazil.
The ongoing dispute revolves around whether Moraes can instruct X&nbsp;to block certain accounts accused&nbsp;of disseminating misinformation, a demand Musk has condemned as censorship.
Non-compliance with the court&#8217;s order could lead to X&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38477389/elon-musk-take-fight-for-free-speech-abroad-feuds-with-australia-and-brazil-over-content-restric">suspension in Brazil</a>, one of its largest markets. This development comes&nbsp;at a time when Musk&nbsp;is struggling&nbsp;with advertising revenue for the&nbsp;platform.
 X had previously announced its decision to halt operations and lay off its staff in Brazil, citing &#8220;censorship orders&#8221; from Moraes. Despite this, the company assured that its services would remain accessible to users in the country.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
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Elon Musk Lashes Out At Judge After Brazil's Supreme Court Blocks Starlink's Bank Accounts: 'Criminal Wearing Judges Robes Like A Halloween Costume'

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump teased a plan Thursday that would make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the planet," while also promoting the family-backed cryptocurrency project, World Liberty Financial.
What happened: In an X post this morning, Trump shared a video with his voiceover, "This afternoon, I'm laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet. They want to choke you out of business. We're not going to let that happen."
The former president also tagged the official World Liberty Financial account, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that he and his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40231081/donald-trump-jr-and-eric-trump-tease-defi-project-with-bedefiant-hashtag">have been promoting for weeks</a>.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">.<a href="https://twitter.com/worldlibertyfi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@worldlibertyfi</a> <a href="https://t.co/mwhVIzPJyq">pic.twitter.com/mwhVIzPJyq</a>
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1829141447087648796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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While the video implied that important announcements might come by afternoon, nothing concrete was announced at the time of writing. Trump&#8217;s campaign team didn&#8217;t immediately respond to Benzinga&#8217;s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40603686/donald-trumps-pro-bitcoin-stance-influenced-ethereum-etf-approval-analyst-posits">Donald Trump&#8217;s Pro-Bitcoin Stance Influenced Ethereum ETF Approval, Analyst Posits</a>
Why It Matters: On the same day last week, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40515026/donald-trump-launches-crypto-platform-the-defiant-ones-to-challenge-traditional-banking-sy">Trump promoted the DeFi initiative</a> through Truth Social, a social networking app he set up in 2022.
"For too long, the average American has been squeezed by the big banks and financial elites," Trump declared in his post. "It's time we take a stand — together."
The cryptocurrency project, backed by the family-owned conglomerate, The Trump Organization, was earlier referred to as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40386524/eric-trump-teases-upcoming-crypto-based-initiative-surrounding-digital-real-estate-itll-sh">"digital real estate" by Eric Trump</a> and one that would rival traditional banking.
The platform's official Telegram channel has more than 57,000 subscribers as of this writing, with numbers increasing by the day.
The presidential hopeful has pivoted toward cryptocurrency as part of its election campaign. He recently l<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40623221/donald-trumps-fourth-nft-collection-has-generated-over-2m-in-sales-in-just-1-day">aunched the latest NFT collection</a>, which has raked in more than $2 million in revenue.
Trump's Democratic rival Kamala Harris <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40626095/trump-vs-harris-vice-president-widens-lead-over-rival-among-women-and-hispanic-voters">expanded her lead</a> over the ex-president to 45% to 41% in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, with notable gains among women and Hispanic voters.
Price Action: As of this writing, Trump-themed Maga (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>) was exchanging hands at $3.36, up 0.75% down 2% in the last 24 hours.
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$TRUMP

Trump Said Plan To Make US 'Crypto Capital' Of The Planet Would Come By Afternoon: Crypto Community Awaits

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Poland: Drivers Entering From Germany Should Be Aware Of Cannabis Zero-Tolerance Policy</h2>
Drivers traveling from Germany to Poland must be aware of the differences between the two countries' cannabis laws. More specifically, in Germany a new law setting up a maximum allowed limit of THC for drivers at 3.5 nanograms per milliliter of blood <a 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">recently took effect</a>. That's equivalent to 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.
However, in Poland, cannabis is illegal, and a zero-tolerance policy is in place, <a href="https://polskiobserwator.de/surowe-kary-dla-kierowcow-wjezdzajacych-do-polski-z-niemiec-za-spozywanie-marihuany/">writes</a> Polski Obserwator, according to translation. A person caught with a joint in their car by the Polish police could end up in jail.
Lawyer Bernard Długosz told the Rbb24.de portal that if the THC content is less than 2.5 nanograms per milliliter, &#8220;it will be considered an administrative offense.&#8221; This type of offense carries a fine of at least 600 euros ($667.44) and a driving ban of six months to three years.
&#8220;Above 2.5 nanograms per milliliter, driving under the influence of marijuana is treated as a crime,&#8221; said Długosz. This offense carries a harsher penalty, such as a fine of several thousand euros, up to two years in prison and a driving ban of at least three to fifteen years.
The Polish police check the THC levels carefully and regularly. Ewa Murmyllo, the press spokeswoman of the police in Słubice said, &#8220;If we detect a positive result from a quick drug test, the driver will be taken to a hospital. There, they must undergo a detailed blood test that precisely indicates the amount of substances consumed. We then classify the offense accordingly based on the results.&#8221;
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40564933/berlin-grants-first-cannabis-cultivation-permission-lower-saxony-to-introduce-fines-with-hefty-p">Berlin Grants First Cannabis Cultivation Permission, Lower Saxony To Introduce Fines With &#8216;Hefty Penalties&#8217;</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Philippines: House Rep. Villafuerete Urges Passage Of Medical Marijuana Law</h2>
National Unity Party president and Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte hopes that the Senate will approve the medical marijuana bill that was recently passed by the House of Representatives, <a href="https://politiko.com.ph/2024/08/28/villafuerte-calls-for-senate-approval-of-medical-cannabis-bill/politiko-lokal/">reports </a>Politiko. Under <a href="https://docs.congress.hrep.online/legisdocs/first_19/CR01088.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">House Bill 10439</a>, that passed the House this July in a 177-9-9 vote, medical marijuana would be legal to use as a treatment for various health conditions.
"With the House's third and final approval of HB 10439 in the previous legislative session, what we only need now is for our senators to act on their counterpart measure, in the hope that we can come up with an enrolled bill for submission to, and enactment into law by, President Marcos this third and final session of the 19th Congress," Villafuerte said.
A similar legislation, Senate Bill 2573, sponsored by Senator Robin Padilla, is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/02/37375526/philippine-senator-pushes-medical-cannabis-legalization-canadas-weed-tax-reform-south-africas-new-la" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">under debate in the Senate</a>. Even though the bill <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/22/08/28376511/why-this-country-put-cannabis-legalization-bill-on-hold-what-is-wrong-with-new-zealand-medical-m" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aims to establish a regulated framework</a> for medical marijuana consumption, emphasizing stringent oversight and research purposes, it faces challenges and scrutiny over safety, regulation and public health impacts. Among lawmakers opposing the bill is the president&#8217;s sister, Imee Marcos.
"I am more upbeat that the Congress will be able this time around to finally write a law allowing qualified patients with debilitating diseases to use CBD as an alternative treatment for their afflictions, hoping that the UN CND's recognition of non-addictive CBD will convince most of our senators to pass their measure (Senate Bill 2573) legalizing medical cannabis," Villafuerte added.
Villafuerte added that SB 2573 was signed by 13 senators, and that he personally advocates for the legalization of CBD because it is not addictive and is helpful as a treatment for various conditions such as epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, MS, etc.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sri Lanka: Government&#8217;s Cannabis Investment Plan Attracts 30 Applications</h2>
The government's cannabis investment plan has seen 30 applications so far, said State Minister of Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama, <a href="https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=101508">writes</a> Ada Derana.
"We have received 30 applications so far [for the cannabis investment plan]. They are being processed by a committee in which all Ayurvedic Department and Ministry of Investment Promotion officials are present. No one has come up to the growing stage yet, but land allocations are being done. In future, they will come to the stage of growing."
The cannabis projects will be located in Mirigama and Kandy, with plans for oil extraction as a minimum value addition.
In February, Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/02/36960066/thai-gov-rushes-to-ban-cannabis-after-weed-smelling-coldplay-concert-more-pot-updates">gave a green light</a> to a proposal allowing the cultivation and export of medical marijuana.
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Photo: Courtesy of OMfotovideocontent via Shutterstock

Sri Lanka's Cannabis Investment Plan Attracts 30 Applications, Philippines Rep. Pushes For Medical Marijuana & More Pot Updates

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) has made a public appeal to the billionaire Peter Thiel to offer his support to former President Donald Trump&#8217;s 2024 presidential bid.
What Happened: Vance, who joined Trump&#8217;s campaign as a running mate in July, is attempting to persuade Thiel to reconsider his decision to abstain from the 2024 presidential race. Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal and data analytics firm Palantir, has previously made donations to both Trump and Vance&#8217;s political campaigns, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4854801-vance-thiel-support-trump/">reported</a> The Hill on Thursday.
&#8220;I&#8217;m going to keep on talking to Peter and persuading him that&#8230;he needs to get off the sidelines and support the ticket,&#8221; Vance stated in an interview with the Financial Times.
&#8220;He is fundamentally a conservative guy, and I think that he needs to get off the sidelines and support the ticket,&#8221; said Vance.
Thiel announced in November that he would not be donating to GOP politicians in 2024, but later hinted at a possible change of mind. However, he confirmed in June that he would not be donating to super PACs supporting Trump, but would still vote for the Republican nominee.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40616726/marjorie-taylor-greene-calls-kamala-harris-weak-and-incompetent-for-needing-communist-comrade-walz-t?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls Kamala Harris &#8216;Weak And Incompetent&#8217; For Needing &#8216;Communist Comrade&#8217; Walz To Hold Her Hand During Interviews</a>
Vance&#8217;s plea comes as Vice President Harris&#8217;s campaign announced it has raised $540 million since she entered the presidential race, with $82 million coming during the Democratic convention in Chicago.
Why It Matters: Thiel&#8217;s relationship with Trump has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/40001721/thiel-reportedly-reassessing-trump-in-wake-of-vance-pick-in-spite-of-many-misgivings-he-had-earlier">cooled since 2022</a>, when he invested $35 million to help elect Vance in Ohio and in the failed Senate campaign of Blake Masters in Arizona. Thiel, who donated more than $1 million to the Trump campaign in 2016, did not contribute to Trump's re-election campaign in 2020. However, he has voiced optimism about a Trump return to the White House with Vance as vice president.
Thiel played a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/08/40221033/peter-thiel-launched-j-d-vances-venture-capital-career-but-a-former-colleague-says-he-was-rarely-in">pivotal role</a> in launching Vance&#8217;s venture capital career in 2016, further strengthening their ties. He brought Vance into Mithril Capital Management, a venture capital (VC) firm he founded, shortly after Vance gained national attention for his memoir &#8220;Hillbilly Elegy.&#8221;
Vance&#8217;s appointment as Trump&#8217;s running mate was a surprise to many, but his ties to the Silicon Valley elite, particularly his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/07/39867460/billionaire-peter-thiel-vp-nominee-jd-vance-have-more-than-trump-in-common-theyre-both-real">mentor-protégé relationship</a> with Thiel, reportedly fueled his rise to power within the GOP.
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>

JD Vance: Palantir Co-Founder Peter Thiel 'Needs To Get Off The Sidelines' And Support Trump — 'He's Fundamentally A Conservative'

In his forthcoming coffee table book, &#8220;Save America,&#8221; former President Donald Trump presents a critical portrayal of Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
What Happened: The photo book, due to be released on Tuesday, includes an undated image of Trump with Zuckerberg, accompanied by a disparaging caption. The caption appears to reference a $420 million donation made by Zuckerberg and his wife in 2020 to support election infrastructure, a move that previously drew Trump&#8217;s ire, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/28/trump-zuckerberg-election-book-00176639">reported</a> Politico.
The ex-president wrote underneath the photo: Zuckerberg &#8220;would come to the Oval Office to see me. He would bring his very nice wife to dinners, be as nice as anyone could be, while always plotting to install shameful Lock Boxes in a true PLOT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.&#8221;
Trump was referring to a $420 million donation made by Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan during the 2020 elections for funding election infrastructure.
Zuckerberg, in a recent letter to Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), indicated he would <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/08/40567464/mark-zuckerberg-tells-jim-jordan-he-isnt-donating-for-election-infrastructure-in-2024-my-goal-is-to">not be making similar contributions in the future</a>, due to concerns about appearing partisan. Despite allegations that his donation favored Democrats, Zuckerberg reiterated his commitment to neutrality.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40623619/trump-vs-harris-polling-veteran-nate-silver-says-vice-president-has-97-chance-of-winning-electoral-c?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Vs. Harris: Polling Veteran Nate Silver Says Vice President Has 97% Chance Of Winning Electoral College if She Secures This Pivotal State</a>
Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s criticism of Zuckerberg in his book follows a series of events that have strained their relationship. In August 2024, 
Zuckerberg recently disclosed that his company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40575260/mark-zuckerberg-reveals-biden-administration-pressured-meta-platforms-to-censor-certain-covid-19-">faced pressure</a> from senior Biden administration officials to censor certain content on its platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed regret for not resisting the pressure sooner and vowed to resist such pressure in the future.
Earlier, in July, Trump had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39723781/trump-threatens-to-jail-metas-mark-zuckerberg-and-election-fraudsters-if-re-elected-dont-do-it-be-ca">threatened to imprison </a>Zuckerberg and other &#8220;election fraudsters&#8221; if he were re-elected. He issued the warning on his social media platform, Truth Social, and specifically named Zuckerberg in his post.
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Trump Doesn't Mince Words About Mark Zuckerberg In His New Coffee Table Book: He Would Come To the Oval Office To See Me But He Was 'Always Plotting'

In a recent interview, Vice President Kamala Harris defended her policy shifts on critical issues such as fracking and immigration, maintaining that her core values remain intact. She also dismissed former President Donald Trump&#8217;s claims about her racial identity as the &#8220;same old, tired playbook.&#8221;
What Happened: In an exclusive <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/29/politics/kamala-harris-tim-walz-cnntv/index.html">interview</a> with CNN on Thursday, Harris provided detailed insights into her policy changes, attributing her new perspectives to her tenure as Vice President. She also expressed openness to the idea of appointing a Republican to her Cabinet if elected.
Harris emphasized that despite her policy shifts, her values remain unchanged. She pointed to the Biden administration&#8217;s Inflation Reduction Act, a significant step towards combating climate change, as a testament to her commitment to environmental issues.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40599551/trump-vs-harris-poll-reveals-vice-president-pulling-ahead-as-rival-struggles-with-independent-voters?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Vs. Harris Poll Reveals Vice President Pulling Ahead As Rival Struggles with Independent Voters: Pollster Says It&#8217;s Tough For Ex-President To Maintain Advantage</a>
On the topic of immigration, Harris drew attention to her tenure as California&#8217;s attorney general, where she took a strong stand against cross-border trafficking gangs, demonstrating her consistent values.
Trump&#8217;s insinuations about Harris altering her racial identity over time were promptly dismissed by the Vice President. "Same old, tired playbook," she said. "Next question, please."
Why It Matters: This interview was Harris&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/08/40612792/kamala-harris-to-give-first-tv-interview-since-accepting-democratic-nomination-how-and-when-to-w">first media interaction</a> since accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for president in the 2024 election. 
The interview was an opportunity for Harris to clarify her stance on key voter issues. However, it also drew criticism from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who accused Harris of being <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40616726/marjorie-taylor-greene-calls-kamala-harris-weak-and-incompetent-for-needing-communist-comrade-walz-t">unable to conduct her first interview independently</a> and needing the support of her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
The interview also provided Harris with a platform to respond to Trump&#8217;s unfounded <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/40087460/trump-gets-slammed-for-falsely-questioning-kamala-harris-race-its-insulting">allegations about her racial identity</a>. Trump had previously insinuated that Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to hold the vice presidency, had only identified as Indian in the past.
Image via Shutterstock
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Kamala Harris Addresses Trump Questioning Her Identity In First Interview After Accepting Nomination: 'Same Old, Tired Playbook'

SNOA

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

GLTO

In a poll conducted by the James Madison Institute released on Thursday, 64% of Florida voters expressed support for legalizing recreational marijuana, indicating strong backing for the initiative known as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/04/38034138/florida-supreme-court-approves-cannabis-legalization-proposal-for-november-election-in-blow-to-d">Amendment 3</a> to be decided in the upcoming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election">November 2024 election</a>.
The measure, which would legalize cannabis for adults over 21, enjoys broad demographic support.
Published in <a href="https://thecapitolist.com/florida-voters-show-strong-support-for-marijuana-legalization/">The Capitolist</a>, the poll summary reads that "64 percent of likely voters support legalization, reflecting a significant shift in public opinion toward marijuana reform." &nbsp;
While 64% of likely voters favor the amendment, 27% oppose it and 12% remain undecided. Democratic voters show the highest level of support at 74%, followed by Independents at 61% and Republicans at 54%.
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Support is consistent across gender lines:
<ul>
<li>65% of men in favor</li>
<li>62% of women in favor</li>
</ul>
Age groups show strong support:
<ul>
<li>62% of voters aged 18-34 in favor</li>
<li>68% of voters aged 35-54 in favor</li>
<li>58% of voters aged 65 and older in favor</li>
</ul>
Ethnic support is robust:
<ul>
<li>66% of Black or African American voters in favor</li>
<li>65% of Hispanic voters in favor</li>
<li>63% of White, non-Hispanic voters in favor</li>
</ul>
Regional support varies:
<ul>
<li>Southwest and North Florida: 69% in favor</li>
<li>Southeast Florida: 59% in favor</li>
</ul>
Read Also: <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">Ken Griffin&#8217;s $12M Donation And DeSantis&#8217;s Anti-Cannabis PACs Face Off Against Pro-Legalization Group&#8217;s $72M War Chest</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Popular Support — And Lots Of Money</h1>
Financially, the pro-cannabis campaign led by&nbsp;<a href="https://drupal-cloudfront.benzinga.com/topic/smart-safe-florida" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smart and Safe Florida</a>, is in a strong position, having amassed $71.8 million as of mid-August, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/cgi-bin/TreSel.exe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the latest data</a>&nbsp;from the Florida Division of Elections. The initiative has been primarily funded by Florida's largest medical marijuana retailer Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCNNF#OTC">TCNNF</a>).
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">GOP Support — And Not As Much Money</h1>
Opposition to Amendment 3 is being led by two political action committees (PACs), Keep Florida Clean Inc. and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39565658/desantis-anti-cannabis-florida-freedom-fund-raises-barely-a-fraction-of-legalization-committees-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Freedom Fund</a>, which have raised $14.5 million collectively, a fraction of the funds amassed by the pro-cannabis campaign.
Gov. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>, who opposes Amendment 3, has said the measure has no limitations and was too broadly written, among other numerous other criticisms.
If passed, state economists estimate that the measure could generate between $195.6 million and $431.3 million annually in sales tax revenue, with an additional $43.6 million expected from tourism.
Now Read:
<ul>
<li> <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></li>
</ul>

TCNNF

Florida Cannabis Legalization Gains Momentum: 64% Of Likely Voters Support Amendment

A close head-to-head battle between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris could come down to who wins more of the seven swing states in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election">the 2024 election</a>.
A new 2024 election poll of the swing states shows a close battle, with one candidate leading several key voter demographics.
What Happened: Harris has been enjoying leads in<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/08/40590715/harris-vs-trump-no-democratic-national-convention-bump-for-vice-president-rfk-jr-suspension-fail"> many 2024 election polls </a>and is seeing momentum since officially being named the Democratic Party nominee at the Democratic National Convention.
A new Emerson College <a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/august-2024-swing-state-polls-toss-up-presidential-election-in-swing-states/">poll </a>of voters in seven <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/swing-states">swing states </a>shows the two candidates tied with each candidate leading in three states and one state showing a tie.
Here are the poll results:
<ul>
<li>Arizona: Trump 50%, Harris 47%</li>
<li>Georgia: Harris 49%, Trump 48%</li>
<li>Michigan: Harris 50%, Trump 47%</li>
<li>Nevada: Harris 49%, Trump 48%</li>
<li>North Carolina: Trump 49%, Harris 48%</li>
<li>Pennsylvania: Trump 48%, Harris 48%</li>
<li>Wisconsin: Trump 49%, Harris 48%</li>
</ul>
"The race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump continues to be tight, within each state's margin of error," Emerson College Polling Executive Director Spencer Kimball said.
Back in July, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/07/39973800/trump-vs-harris-vice-president-gains-ground-lost-by-joe-biden-in-swing-states">Harris led Trump</a> in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan with Trump leading Pennsylvania and the two candidates tied for Wisconsin. Only five states were included in that poll.
Did You Know?
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<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent082924">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: While the two presidential candidates are tied among all voters in the seven states, there is a stark contrast when looking at several voter demographics.
For example, here is the breakdown of the seven states among Independent voters:
<ul>
<li>Arizona: Harris 51%, Trump 45%</li>
<li>Georgia: Harris 54%, Trump 38%</li>
<li>Michigan: Harris 46%, Trump 43%</li>
<li>Nevada: Trump 50%, Harris 44%</li>
<li>North Carolina: Harris 48%, Trump 46%</li>
<li>Pennsylvania: Harris 48%, Trump 40%</li>
<li>Wisconsin: Harris 52%, Trump 43%</li>
</ul>
The vice president leads Trump among Independent voters in six of the seven key swing states, with several of the leads coming with wide margins.
Harris also leads Trump in all seven swing states for the key demographic of voters under 30. The vice president has support of at least 54% among the voter demographic in all seven states and 60% support in five of the seven states.
The vice president leads Trump in the women voter demographic in six of the seven swing states as well.
For the male voter demographic, Trump leads in all seven states.
The seven swing states in the Emerson College poll together represent 87 electoral votes in the 2024 election. All seven of the states above were won by Biden in the 2020 election, with several of them flipped from Trump&#8217;s win in 2016.
Other swing state polls have shown similar close battles between the two candidates.
A recent Morning Consult&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">swing state voter poll</a> found the vice president leading 48% to 47% overall in seven key states.&nbsp;The vice president was leading Trump in four of the seven swing states (Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin), tied in one (Georgia) and trailing in two (North Carolina, Pennsylvania).
A new Fox News swing state <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/official-polls/fox-news-poll-harris-closes-gap-trump-sun-belt-states">poll </a>for four of the battleground states showed Harris leading in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada with Trump leading in North Carolina.
Check This Out:
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<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent082924">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Photos: Shutterstock

Harris Vs. Trump: Vice President, Former President Tied In Swing State, But One Candidate Dominates With Independent Voters

Denver's latest licensing bulletin reveals a sharp decline in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/colorado-cannabis">marijuana-related revenue.</a>
According to the report, the city generated $48.1 million from marijuana taxes and licensing fees in 2023, a significant drop from the $72.6 million peak in 2021. This decrease is indicative of a broader downturn facing the legal cannabis industry, exacerbated by oversupply and regulatory pressures.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/39848320/denver-veteran-cannabis-city-speaks-out-on-rescheduling-we-have-a-lot-of-expertise-to-offer">Denver: Veteran Cannabis City Speaks Out On Rescheduling, &#8216;We Have A Lot Of Expertise To Offer&#8217;</a>
The allocation of this revenue reflects Denver&#8217;s strategic use of cannabis funds to address critical social issues. In 2023, $7.95 million was directed towards services for the homeless, $7.53 million was allocated for affordable housing and $3.32 million supported youth education programs.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Impact On Crime Rates And Industry Survival</h3>
<a href="https://kdvr.com/denver-guide/denver-report-finds-marijuana-legalization-did-not-impact-crime/">As per</a> FOX31, Mason Tvert, a prominent industry spokesperson and leader in marijuana legalization efforts, said: "It is a very difficult time for the legal cannabis industry." 
Tvert also pointed to the necessity of finding solutions to excessive supply and urging support for the industry. "They want to pay taxes and they want to be regulated and treated like other businesses, but they cannot survive if we continue to overtax and overregulate."
The report also touches on the shifting landscape of marijuana-related crime in Denver. Marijuana-related crime constituted a mere 0.2% of total crime in 2023, a figure that the Denver Excise and Licenses spokesperson Eric Escudero pointed out as evidence of the city's effective regulation.
"We successfully prevented that prediction that crime would skyrocket," Escudero said, attributing the success to Denver's pioneering regulatory framework, which has been emulated by cities nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Denver Police Department has reallocated its marijuana task force to address the rising fentanyl crisis, signaling a shift in focus as marijuana-related issues decline in priority.
DPD Lt. Ryan Harris noted, in dialogue with FOX31: "You see the reduction in marijuana seizures over the last decade, so I don't think this is a surprising number. This was where these numbers were trending towards."
The report also indicates a significant drop in the number of medical marijuana dispensaries over the past eight years. Additionally, unlawful use and display of marijuana surged by 242% in 2023 compared to the previous year, with 26 citations issued. 
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39538846/colorados-youth-cannabis-use-hits-historic-lows-survey-finds">Colorado&#8217;s Youth Marijuana Consumption Hits Historic Lows, Survey Finds</a></li>
</ul>

Denver's Marijuana Revenue Drops 34%, But Cannabis Crime Rates Remain Low

Kohls Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KSS#NYSE">KSS</a>)  reported earnings Wednesday before the bell, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40599429/kohls-q2-earnings-profit-beat-inventory-decline-margin-growth-and-more">beating estimates for EPS but missing revenue estimates by $120 million</a>. 
Executives at the company said that consumers were exhibiting more &#8220;discretion,&#8221; specifically middle-class customers who have gotten pickier with their spending, according to an analyst note from Matthew Boss at JPMorgan. The company reported an EPS for the quarter of 59 cents, 15 cents higher than the estimates of 34 cents. Revenue came in at $3.53 billion, $120 million less than expectations. 
The JPMorgan note stated that the core apparel and footwear business of Kohl&#8217;s is &#8220;eroding,&#8221; but the Sephora segment saw strong growth. The analysts at JPMorgan downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underweight, with a price target of $19 a share. Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40599429/kohls-q2-earnings-profit-beat-inventory-decline-margin-growth-and-more">Kohl&#8217;s Q2 Earnings: Profit Beat, Inventory Decline, Margin Growth And More </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40599429/kohls-q2-earnings-profit-beat-inventory-decline-margin-growth-and-more"> </a>Kohl's management acknowledged the soft sales in its core apparel business, blaming the weak spending on inflation and interest rates. The management also cited the uncertainty of the upcoming presidential election as a potential factor causing customers to be more careful with spending. 
"We are seeing the clearest evidence of this in the performance of our core apparel and footwear offering, which experienced broad softness in the quarter," management said on the call. JPMorgan's note highlighted different &#8220;traffic initiatives&#8221; such as Babies ‘R Us, the company's baby apparel brand. Babies ‘R Us and Sephora were two of the growth drivers during the quarter while footwear and apparel sales lagged behind. KSS Price Action: Kohl&#8217;s shares traded higher initially following the company's EPS beat, but the stock sold off Wednesday midday and ended closing down around 5%. On Thursday, shares rebounded slightly, up only 0.66% closing at $19.77. Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40638741/dell-q2-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-accelerating-ai-momentum-and-more"> • Dell Q2 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, Accelerating AI Momentum And More</a>
Photo: Sundry Photos via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Kohl's Warns Of Cautious Middle-Class Consumer, But Highlights Strengths In 2 Segments

Hudbay Receives An Aquifer Protection Permit For Copper World Project From The Arizona Department Of Environmental Quality

He will transition out of the CFO role at the end of Domo&#39;s&nbsp;third quarter, and after that time, will continue to support the company and its executive team as a Senior Advisor.
Domo&#39;s SVP of Finance, Tod Crane, will be promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Joining Domo in 2015, Tod has held several finance leadership roles, and in recent months, has worked closely with David across all aspects of Domo&#39;s financial operations and investor relationships.

Management

DOMO

Domo Says David Jolley Will Step Down As CFO Due To Personal Health Challenges; Tod Crane To Be Promoted To CFO

Guidance

CANG

Cango Expects Q3 Total Revenues To Be RMB20M - RMB25M; Expects To Continue To Enforce Stringent Cost Control And Risk Management Strategies