Regulations

While Texas lawmakers consider banning certain hemp-derived cannabinoids, Hometown Hero — an Austin-based company retailing hemp THC and CBD products — has announced the launch of the Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC), a new nonprofit hemp industry trade group.

After regulations to let Ohio’s medical cannabis dispensaries begin serving adult-use customers passed a key legislative committee this week, the state’s adult-use cannabis market could potentially launch ahead-of-schedule in June.

The executive director of New York’s Office of Cannabis Management will step down in September as the state looks to adjust its cannabis regulatory approach, the governor announced last week.

Vermont officials have issued a recall for all cannabis products from Holland Cannabis Co. due to potential exposure to the fungicide myclobutanil.

The largest cannabis trade association in Illinois is calling for lawmakers to ban the sale of hemp-derived delta-8 THC products as the products — which are currently unregulated — compete directly with the state’s cannabis operators.

Ohio is one step closer to launching its adult-use cannabis marketplace after state regulators last week released their latest draft rules for the industry, which cover retail-focused provisions including online sales and curbside pick-up and industry-wide mandatory waste disposal practices.

A recent court ruling in favor of cannabis technology firm Leafly found New York’s cannabis marketing and advertising regulations to be unconstitutional, striking down the regulations in the latest blow to the state’s adult-use program.

New York cannabis regulators voted last week to approve 114 new cannabis industry licenses and waive the licensing fees for all conditional cannabis cultivators for the next two years.

Nearly 72% of Canadian cannabis consumers said in a recent survey that they purchase their cannabis exclusively from legal sources, primarily citing concerns about the safety of unregulated products and the convenience of the legal market.

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York has ordered an extensive audit of the state’s cannabis regulations and the botched roll-out of the adult-use industry.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes ruled that hemp-derived delta-8 THC cannabis products cannot be sold by companies that do not hold an adult-use cannabis license.

Connecticut lawmakers have advanced a proposal giving the state attorney general and law enforcement officials more power to penalize and shut down shops that illegally sell THC products. The bill will be considered next on the House floor.

Canada is raising regulatory fees for cannabis operators to align with the nation’s 4.4% inflation rate, impacting various license application and annual fees to support the regulation of its legal cannabis market.

Kentucky has partnered with Metrc for its first track-and-trace contract in the medical cannabis program, aiming to ensure regulatory compliance and safeguard patient health as the state prepares for the program’s launch.

Virginia’s legislative chambers are advancing separate proposals to begin regulated adult-use cannabis sales by next year.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Cannabis Board voted on Tuesday to approve long-awaited rules and regulations for the territory’s adult-use cannabis industry, which was approved by lawmakers last January.

A ballot initiative that would change Arkansas medical cannabis policy was rejected by the state’s Attorney General due to formatting and ambiguity issues. The initiative aims to expand medical cannabis access and trigger adult-use legalization if cannabis is federally legalized, and is supported by the state’s medical cannabis industry.