Graham Abbott

Some Florida medical cannabis doctors and advocates are warning that due to the nature of the state’s upcoming cannabis vote — and to a potential “poison pill” in the state’s original medical cannabis law — legalizing adult-use cannabis this November could make it harder for cannabis patients to get their medicine.

New York’s Office of Cannabis Management this week awarded 105 new cannabis licenses, gave final approval to the state’s cannabis home grow rules, and introduced the agency’s new interim director Felicia A. B. Reid.

Voters in Slovenia last weekend approved two non-binding cannabis measures: one to legalize adult-use cannabis, and another to let medical cannabis patients grow their own cannabis plants at home.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed a hemp regulations package that would have banned products containing hemp-derived delta-8 THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids.

Dallas could be the next city in Texas to adopt local cannabis decriminalization reforms if the City Council approves the Dallas Freedom Act for local ballots later this month.

Michigan sold more cannabis products in March this year than any other state, dethroning the California cannabis industry for the first time in total monthly sales.

Ohio medical cannabis dispensaries can now apply for special permits allowing early adult-use cannabis sales ahead of the recreational program’s anticipated launch later this month.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) could finally let veterans participate in state-legal medical cannabis programs under a House-approved amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA) Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill.

South Dakota voters will get another shot at legalizing adult-use cannabis this November after the secretary of state said they validated enough petition signatures to put a legalization question on the 2024 general election ballot.

In a review of the hallucinogen MDMA posted last week, the FDA highlighted concerns about the initial investigations into the drug as a potential new therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Louisiana state representatives last week rejected an outright ban on the state’s burgeoning hemp products industry. Instead, state senators passed a House-approved proposal to increase restrictions on products containing hemp-derived THC.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is reportedly considering vetoing the legislature’s ban on products containing hemp-derived delta-8 THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids in hopes that the hemp industry will help defeat Florida’s upcoming cannabis legalization ballot initiative.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed into law a bill to award some cannabis cultivation licenses earlier than expected so operators can be better prepared for next year’s industry launch.

While federal lawmakers consider banning most hemp-derived cannabinoid products, the hemp industry is facing another potential threat after a DEA official said the federal 0.3% delta-9 THC cap also applies to delta-9 THCA, which is a similar compound.

Chris Alexander, the inaugural executive director of New York’s Office of Cannabis Management, resigned last week following criticisms by Gov. Kathy Hochul against the agency and its roll-out of the adult-use cannabis industry.

Following the recent failure of a state bid to legalize psychedelic treatment centers in California, advocates now say they are considering a 2026 state ballot measure to address psychedelics reform.

An amendment to the House version of the Farm Bill would effectively ban the sale of hemp-derived delta-8 THC products and other hemp-derived intoxicating products. The amendment, however, is far from guaranteed to pass the divided House and Senate to become law.

A key Delaware House committee has advanced a proposal to allow early adult-use cannabis sales by letting medical dispensaries service adult-use customers; some industry advocates say the move would be giving certain businesses an unfair advantage.

Daily cannabis consumers outnumbered daily alcohol consumers in the U.S. in 2022 for the first time on record, according to an analysis of the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The owner of seven unlicensed New York cannabis shops has been fined $15.2 million, including $7 million in disgorgement fines and $8.2 million in penalties for operating without a license, ignoring multiple notices by officials, and selling cannabis to underage customers.

The California State Assembly has approved legislation to let cannabis cafes serve food and non-alcoholic beverages and host live events including music and other performances. The bill moves next to the Senate.

Nearly half of U.S. cannabis operators believe that the cannabis industry is going to perform better in the coming year while just 19% say they expect things to get worse, per survey data from the 2024 MJBiz Factbook.

The proposal to legalize psychedelic treatment centers in California has failed for the year. The proposal was crafted in response to concerns raised by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) last year after he vetoed a different proposal to decriminalize certain naturally occurring psychedelics.

A recent poll found a 75% majority of Thais in support of the government’s plan to relist cannabis as an illegal drug under federal law.