Botanicals
Cannabis Shares Underperform Going Into Year-End Amid U.S. Regulatory Logjam
Although adult-use sales of cannabis remain robust in U.S. states where it is legal, Nasdaq IR Intelligence analyst Saleem Daya sees continued stock underperformance across the cannabis space going into year-end, building on activity in the second and third quarters of 2021.
In an interview with John Lothian News, Daya notes the benchmark Solactive North American Marijuana Index is about 13% lower this quarter and is down close to 20% year-to-date, a move he attributes to disappointment that the U.S. federal reform that many were hoping for in early 2021 has not taken place and impatience with a regulatory process that remains mired in disagreement over its scope and depth.
Hemp Prices Hold Mostly Steady As Year End Approaches; Added Volatility Seen In 2022
— Hempcrete finds a new role in as a carbon reduction agent
As the books close on the fall harvest, most midpoint hemp prices remain steady to marginally higher, according to the November 2021 PanXchange Hemp: Benchmark & Analysis report.
Hemp Harvest Rolls to a Close Amid Less Than Average Yields In Several Regions
-Texas regulators take a startling turn against delta-8
At first glance, the October PanXchange Hemp: Benchmark & Analysis report looks like more of the same when compared with September’s, but a closer look shows several issues have intensified: price pressures in the hemp biomass sector from newly harvested supply, the continued controversy over (and demand for) for delta-8 and the use of hemp in animal feed.
JLN Reinforces Work From Home Strategy With Decision to Close CBOT Building Office
John Lothian News continues to go strong during the pandemic, but we have decided to close our office in the CBOT Building when our lease is up at the end of the year. The JLN team will continue to work from home and venture into Chicago when opportunity or the need arises, but we will have no permanent presence downtown after the first of the year. JLN has had its own CBOT offices since 2010 after incubating the firm in the offices of my former employer, The Price Futures Group.
Hemp Biomass Prices Dip as 2021 Harvest Adds Supply, But Emerging Demand Seen
Mid-range prices of hemp biomass were bobbing in a sea of red in the September PanXchange Hemp: Benchmark & Analysis report, but the exchange said it was standing by its forecast that prices for “quality 2021” biomass will rally after the current harvest.
Hemp Prices Pause as Harvest Continues
The PanXchange Hemp: Benchmark & Analysis report took an unusual turn this month, calling hemp hurd for animal bedding the most interesting industrial hemp story of August. That may not sound like an exciting development to a casual observer, but it is one segment of the market where the report indicated there is little supply to spare.
Hemp Hangs Tough In July
The month of July brought more than its share of disruptions to the growing season — wildfires and severe drought in much of the West, for example — but prices for biomass and industrial hemp ended the month mostly unchanged, according to the latest PanXchange Hemp: Benchmark & Analysis.
The Complete 2021 MarketsWiki Education World of Opportunity Virtual Event & Additional Videos
The 2021 JLN MarketsWiki Education World of Opportunity was held on July 21 as a virtual event and featured an interview with Small Exchange CEO Donnie Roberts and an interview of and presentation from Get Real VR partner Ed Haravon.
Cannabis shares pull back as U.S. regulatory momentum fizzles
Nasdaq IR Intelligence analyst Saleem Daya explains why the sector’s heated year-end performance cooled in Q2; cites rising yields, retail investor fatigue as action on U.S federal legislation remains stalled.
‘Weed Out the Dreamers’ to Make Hemp Sustainable
In a midyear update with JLN, PanXchange CEO Julie Lerner says the hemp industry needs to turn its focus to farm economics; sees continued promise in carbon credits.
Look! Something New To Spoof
Every month PanXchange publishes some of the summary data they have calculated from hemp trading, collected from their trading platform and reported to them by market contacts. In addition to the indications of the ongoing weakness in many hemp prices, the June Benchmark & Analysis carried a report about what can be taken as a sign of the growing sophistication of the hemp marketplace: Hemp traders are spoofing! (Maybe not a good thing.)
Looking for ‘the Right Type of Disruption’ in the Wild West of Hemp
After a long career in exchange-traded derivatives, Jack Bouroudjian, chairman of the Global Smart Commodity Group, is doing an about-face, turning to blockchain technology and tokenized settlement to facilitate trading.
The Small Exchange Scores a First With Cannabis Equity Index Futures Contract
The Small Exchange is known for its bite-size futures products aimed at retail customers, including the Small U.S. Dollar, Small Stocks 75 and Small Precious Metals contracts. Its latest product, which was launched on Monday, fits that bill, but Small Cannabis Equity Index futures also make their mark in another way — as the first cannabis-related futures to trade in the U.S.
It Is No Gamestop, But It Is Something
After what seems like forever, PanXchange’s Benchmarks & Analysis finally reports an uptick in May prices for CBD biomass as well as a wide variety of refined products. Non-CBD hemp prices are also flashing green now.
Hemp Farming Looking For Credit; Carbon Credit, That Is
Well, it is now May, and in most of the United States it is high time to get the field crops planted. Among them is hemp, industrial hemp, which despite being an ancient crop and a generally legal one since 2019, still has an uncertain future.


First Citizens to Buy SVB After Biggest Bank Failure Since 2008
First Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff This morning we have the first of the videos from our FIA Boca coverage and we start out with our interview with CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam. We also have an interview with IMC Marketing Manager Steven Biester,...
We visit more than 100 financial news websites daily (Would YOU do that?)
The Spread
RELATIVE VALUE FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING VOLATILITY; MAT CASHMAN, EXPERIENCED TRADER & PRINCIPAL OF INVESTOR EDUCATION AT OCC, EXPLAINS THIS & MORE IN PART 2 OF THIS OPTIONS DISCOVERY FULL INTERVIEW
In part 2 of this Options Discovery full interview, JLN’s Alex Teng continues the conversation with Mat Cashman, principal of investor education at OCC®, to discuss the relative value framework for analyzing volatility, advice for starting a career in options, and The Options Industry CouncilSM (OIC®) free online tools.
How Options Hedging for Oil Is Turbocharging Volatility
Observations & Insight Gain Small-Cap Exposure with Options on the Russell 2000 Index Learn why small-cap indexes like the Russell 2000 have historically outperformed large-cap counterparts, and how an options strategy can help you manage your risk while...