Cannabis leads today’s agenda as Aurora escalates its defense against Curaleaf’s hostile takeover bid and a federal watchdog calls for clearer, more consistent drug-scheduling procedures. In entertainment, Disney’s latest streaming price increases sharpen its strategy of making bundles more attractive than standalone subscriptions.
Aurora Takes Curaleaf Takeover Fight to Alberta Securities Regulators
Aurora Cannabis filed an application with the Alberta Securities Commission seeking an order requiring Curaleaf Holdings to address alleged deficiencies in the disclosure supporting its hostile takeover bid. Aurora said the bid circular failed to satisfy several regulatory requirements, including requirements related to pro forma financial information and the minimum period the offer must remain open.
The filing moves the takeover contest beyond competing shareholder communications and into a formal regulatory proceeding. Aurora’s board continues to recommend that shareholders reject the offer by taking no action, while the commission has not yet ruled on the company’s allegations.
Why It Matters: Analysis: Regulatory intervention could force Curaleaf to amend its disclosures, adjust the offer timetable or otherwise change the mechanics of one of the cannabis industry’s most consequential cross-border takeover battles.
Source: Aurora Cannabis via PR Newswire
Federal Watchdog Finds Gaps in DEA and FDA Drug-Scheduling Procedures
The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that the Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug Administration lack comprehensive written policies governing key parts of the federal drug-scheduling process. The report said DEA does not clearly document roles, responsibilities and procedures for evaluating and scheduling substances, while FDA does not sufficiently specify how staff should conduct evaluations or develop recommendations.
GAO reviewed 208 scheduling actions taken from 2020 through 2025. DEA considered Department of Health and Human Services evaluations in all 95 cases where they were required, and its 84 completed final decisions aligned with HHS recommendations. GAO issued three recommendations covering DEA procedures, FDA evaluations and an outdated FDA-NIH agreement; the affected agencies agreed with them.
Why It Matters: Analysis: The report does not itself change marijuana’s federal status, but it adds institutional scrutiny to the system governing cannabis scheduling and could shape how future decisions are documented, defended and implemented.
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office
Disney Raises Disney+ and Hulu Prices to Favor Bundled Subscriptions
Disney increased the monthly price of the ad-free Disney+ and Hulu standalone plans by $2.50 each, bringing both to $21.49. Their ad-supported tiers rose by 50 cents to $12.49, with the new prices applying immediately to new subscribers and appearing on existing customers’ next monthly bills.
The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle remains $12.99, while the ad-free bundle increased by $2 to $21.99—just 50 cents more than either standalone premium service. The pricing structure makes the bundle substantially more economical for customers who want access to both libraries.
Why It Matters: Analysis: Disney is using price architecture to consolidate viewing within its ecosystem, improve revenue per subscriber and reduce the appeal of maintaining only one standalone service as streaming competition and consumer costs continue to rise.
Source: Los Angeles Times
What We’re Watching
Over the next 24 to 72 hours, watch for a response from Curaleaf or the Alberta Securities Commission, follow-up from federal agencies on the GAO recommendations and early industry reaction to Disney’s bundle-focused pricing. Additional cannabis regulatory decisions and takeover filings could quickly alter the business outlook.
