From Our Writers

California Attorney General Bob Ronta said police officers last week busted a retail burglary ring that targeted cannabis shops, leading to nearly two dozen arrests.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) signed a bill establishing a cannabis research program at the University of Mississippi to investigate the safety, efficacy, and therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis.

The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association and Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on Cannabis this week announced the launch of the Wisconsin Wellness campaign to push for legalizing medical cannabis in the state.

Cannabis pre-rolls were the fastest-growing product category in the cannabis industry last year for the second year in a row with an 11.89% jump in sales revenue year-over-year, according to a white paper report.

Cannabis product prices in Michigan have fallen nearly 14.5% this year with the average price for an ounce of flower reaching the industry’s all-time low of $79.70 in July.

Nebraska’s secretary of state said the state’s campaigns to legalize and regulate medical cannabis have qualified for the November ballot.

Ohio cannabis regulators last week issued fines totaling $212,500 to five cannabis companies for advertising violations including improper signage and offering free food and beverages from an ice cream truck.

Former President Trump breaks with Governor Ron DeSantis and many Republicans, backing Florida’s adult-use cannabis amendment while urging restrictions on public use to avoid ‘Democrat-run cities’ scenarios.

Legal battles are delaying Alabama’s medical cannabis rollout, leaving thousands of patients in limbo as both regulators and licensees push for court approval to start operations.

A campaign to change medical cannabis laws in Arkansas is pushing forward with additional signatures to expand medical cannabis access, aiming to ease patient certification and allow home cultivation.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that prosecutors cannot file gun possession charges against a Texas woman who admitted to consuming cannabis, citing a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that says modern firearm restrictions must be “consistent with this nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”

Police in Allen, Texas said this week they raided nine hemp product retailers after an investigation found they were selling products containing an illegal amount of THC. An attorney representing the stores called the raid an intimidation tactic and said his clients had been operating lawfully.

A lawsuit filed this week in New York on behalf of three licensed hemp retailers is accusing the state’s cannabis officials of “trampling” on their constitutional rights by conducting “military-style raids” as part of their crackdown on the sale of illegal cannabis products.

Maine individuals can apply to have their criminal histories for some cannabis crimes sealed under a law that took effect this month; the law applies to crimes that are now legal following the state’s adult-use cannabis reforms.

Cannabis regulators in Rhode Island are considering changes to the state’s cannabis packaging rules, including allowing the use of color. Current regulations require only neutral colors to avoid attracting children.

Colorado officials recently released the state’s final regulations for its medicinal psilocybin program. Under the rules, psychedelic therapy centers will be cleared to open for business starting next year.

Home Depot, the sixth-largest employer in the U.S., will remove cannabis from its drug screenings in September and stop most pre-employment drug testing entirely for new workers.

The DEA has scheduled a December 2 hearing to review expert opinions on the proposed rescheduling of cannabis to a Schedule III drug, adding a procedural step that could delay the process until after the November election.

Cannabis sales in New York have exceeded $260 million during the first half of 2024 and third-quarter sales are on track to surpass the previous quarters, according to the Office of Cannabis Management.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has no immediate plans to grant mass pardons for Ohioans with low-level cannabis offenses, which can negatively impact employment, housing, and higher education opportunities.

North Dakota Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus estimates the state could generate $7.281 million every two years in adult-use cannabis taxes based on a 5% sales tax rate.

Missouri’s ban on intoxicating hemp products is in limbo after Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft last week rejected the governor’s executive order detailing the ban, arguing the emergency rules did not meet certain state law criteria.

The Vermont Supreme Court last week overruled an appeal for unemployment benefits by a medical cannabis patient who was fired last year after failing a drug test for cannabis, and who lost their unemployment benefits because of it.

California regulators recently destroyed hemp being grown in 22 greenhouses in Sutter County due to the presence of banned pesticides.