Graham Abbott

Language to expand cannabis banking and expungement was ultimately excluded from the annual federal spending bill following GOP pushback, and Congress will continue to block the full implementation of Washington D.C.’s voter-approved cannabis reforms.

California state Sen. Scott Wiener is set to propose a bill that would decriminalize the possession of psilocybin mushrooms and DMT statewide.

Cannabis shops in New Jersey reported $116,572,533 in third-quarter cannabis sales and more than $177 million if medical sales are included.

Following nearly a decade of sales growth capped by a significant pandemic-related surge, regulated cannabis sales in Washington have slowed this year for the first time.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is attempting one last-ditch effort this weekend to attach cannabis banking reforms to the annual omnibus funding package.

The Washington state Liquor and Cannabis Board announced it is suspending the license of Port Angeles-based Dank Inc., claiming to have discovered “untagged” plants, evidence of potential cannabis product diversion, and other violations of state law.

Brothers Ross and Zach Lipson, the co-founders of cannabis e-commerce company Dutchie, claim in a lawsuit that they were wrongfully forced out of the company earlier this month.

The international industrial hemp market is expected to reach $18.1 billion by 2027, according to a new market report.

Amid a significant and ongoing decline in consumer cannabis prices, Massachusetts this week witnessed the first closure of an adult-use dispensary since the state’s legal cannabis market launched in 2018.

Canadian prosecutors have moved to withdraw all charges against three former executives for CannTrust, the beleaguered cannabis giant that was sunk by accusations of unlicensed cannabis cultivation.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law a bill encouraging the incorporation of hemp products in construction, packaging, and other mainstream industries.

Cherokee medical cannabis company Qualla Enterprises LLC will receive $63 million to increase staffing and build new facilities following a recent Tribal Council vote.

Kansas state Sen. Rob Olsen said he will introduce a medical cannabis legalization proposal at the start of the next legislative session.

The Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation has selected 100 social equity applicants for an opportunity to apply for retail cannabis licenses.

Transportation officials in Massachusetts are adding cannabis impairment lessons to the state’s driver’s ed curriculum for next year.

Bipartisan lawmakers in New Hampshire’s House of Representatives are set to propose another cannabis legalization bill but the proposal could face opposition in the Senate and from Republican Gov. Chris Sununu.

Arizona sold $1.6 billion worth of cannabis in 2021 to become the second-largest cannabis market in the U.S. behind California.

The legal cannabis industry in Africa is poised for massive growth with a recent report estimating the market could be worth more than $7.1 billion by the end of 2023.

Guam has now appointed 11 “responsible officials” to represent the island’s upcoming cannabis business entities but none have yet to formally submit their business application.

The California cannabis brand Kushy Punch received a $128 million fine this week related to the alleged illegal production of millions of cannabis gummies. It is thought to be the state’s largest cannabis fine ever.

Rhode Island cannabis dispensaries sold about $1.6 million worth of combined medical and adult-use cannabis during the state’s first week of regulated recreational sales.

The office of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said this week that approximately 44,000 state-level cannabis convictions are set to be erased starting January 1, 2023.

WNBA star Brittney Griner, who this year was arrested on drug charges in Russia and sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony, is free and on her way home following a one-for-one prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.