Top Stories (2026) -
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| Aug 25, 2026 |
Legal weed may have an unexpected workplace benefit Legal medical cannabis may be doing something employers might not expect: keeping more workers on the job and in good health. A new study published in the Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health found that medical cannabis decriminalization was associated with a roughly 6.9 percent reduction in the likelihood of health-related workplace absences. Researchers analyzed more than 20 million responses from the Current Population Survey, spanning January 1990 through March 2025. |
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| Aug 25, 2026 |
More Than 200,000 People Were Arrested For Marijuana Possession In The U.S. Last Year, FBI Data Shows More than 200,000 people were arrested for possessing marijuana in the U.S. last year, according to the FBI’s latest annual crime report, and another 17,000 were booked for allegedly selling or growing cannabis. Those figures likely understate the true number of people busted for marijuana, however, given inconsistencies in the federal data and questions about the agency’s changing methodology from recent years, as well as the fact that about 13 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies did not contribute data for 2025. |
| Aug 25, 2026 |
Reports of Increases in Problematic Cannabis Use Don’t Mean We Should Return to Prohibition
A free society should be capable of learning to live with potentially risky substances without the government banning them. As a physician, I don’t dismiss recent reports of increases in problematic cannabis use. But we should avoid letting them trigger another drug-war moral panic. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
Cannabis Law Reform Is Increasingly Gaining Prominence as Midterms Approach
Cannabis policy is heading into the U.S. midterm elections as a politically complicated issue, with voters in some states considering ballot measures while candidates elsewhere take opposing positions on legalization. The debate comes as the country remains divided between broad public acceptance of cannabis and its continued prohibition under federal law. The issue could gain attention as November approaches, although voters are also focused on immigration, the economy, the conflict with Iran, and the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
Curaleaf Responds to Aurora Cannabis' Latest Attempt to Deflect From Shareholder Value Creation
STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf"), a leading international provider of consumer and medical cannabis products, today responded to Aurora Cannabis Inc.'s (TSX: ACB) (NASDAQ: ACB) ("Aurora") latest public statements regarding Curaleaf's offer for Aurora: "Aurora's hollow protests and completely misleading statistics change nothing about reality: if its multi-year turnaround strategy were delivering the value management claims, the company's valuation would reflect it. Aurora has repeatedly failed to demonstrate both a credible plan and the ability to execute, resulting in significant lost shareholder value. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
Are the cannabis shops we see across the shopping malls in South Africa operating legally?
Jason Scott on News24 this morning is raising an important issue regarding the cannabis shops we see in many malls across South Africa. The legality of their activity is still questionable. People are currently allowed to grow for private consumption, not to deal in these shops. Indeed, the government has expressed a desire to grow the cannabis industry, and there are lots of people who want to be involved in the industry. But the legislative work to permit such trade is missing. Mainly, farmers and growers have permits to cultivate for medicinal and other uses. But the regulations for these shops remain very hazy. This issue needs closer attention. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
Butcher of 39 years fired over medicinal cannabis wins job back - and $25k
New Zealand - A butcher with nearly four decades of service at a meat works has been awarded $25,000 in compensation and ordered to be permanently reinstated after being summarily dismissed for failing a second workplace drug test while using prescribed medicinal cannabis. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
Who’s using more weed? The answer may surprise you More Americans are consuming cannabis than ever before. The rise comes amid relaxed drug policies and wider normalization. The latest federal data suggest the generational gap may be narrowing, with older Americans reporting higher rates of use than ever before. According to the annual Monitoring the Future study, more than one in five older adults said they consumed cannabis in the last year. Around one in seven said they consumed it in the last month. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
More Americans Are Now Smoking Marijuana Than Ever Before As Cigarettes Hit All-Time Low, Gallup Poll Shows A record-high number of U.S. adults now smoke marijuana, while cigarette smoking is at an all-time low, according to a new Gallup poll. The survey, published on Monday, shows that 17 percent of Americans over the age of 18 now smoke cannabis—more than double the 7 percent who said they smoke marijuana when Gallup first asked about the issue in 2013. Separately, 15 percent of American adults consume marijuana edibles, the poll found. In contrast, just 11 percent of U.S. adults said they smoked tobacco cigarettes within the past week. Nine percent said they vaped nicotine within the past seven days, while 4 percent used nicotine pouches. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
https://azmarijuana.com/arizona-medical-marijuana-news/cannabis-and-alcohol-exhibit-contradictory-effects-on-driving-performance/ Drivers increase their speed following the use of alcohol but reduce their speed following the use of cannabis, according to an assessment of real-world driving performance published in the journal Accident, Analysis & Prevention. Consistent with driving simulator data, participants who consumed cannabis engaged in compensatory driving behavior. Researchers reported that “alcohol-involved trips showed increased proportions of speeding on primary and secondary roads, suggesting impaired judgment or compromised longitudinal vehicle control. In contrast, cannabis-positive trips had speeding proportions closely aligned with baseline conditions, likely indicating habituation or compensatory driving behaviors.” |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
Graphic of the day: Global cannabis usage
As global restrictions around cannabis use ease, North American producers are acquiring European operators. World Population Review data highlights wide adoption variance. Canada leads at 26 percent and the US reaches 21.9 percent, contrasting with European markets like Germany (8.8 percent). In Asia, adoption remains low, with India reporting 2.8 percent usage. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
US Cannabis at a Crossroads
Key Points Section 781 would keep the 0.3% total THC limit for hemp plants while imposing separate thresholds on processing intermediates and finished cannabinoid products. Finished products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of combined total THC and designated similar-effect cannabinoids per container would no longer qualify as hemp. The intermediate-product rule could make ordinary U.S. extraction of full-spectrum hemp difficult because extraction naturally concentrates cannabinoids. Competing bills would repeal Section 781, establish consumer-safety rules, overhaul federal cannabis policy, or create category-specific regulation for hemp beverages. The article argues that federal policy should regulate products according to dose, intended use, manufacturing process, claims, and actual risk rather than plant origin alone. In 2018, Congress legalized hemp. Eight years later, Washington is still trying to decide what that means. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
Aurora Cannabis Fires Back at Curaleaf’s Claims, Urges Shareholders to Wait
Aurora Cannabis is firing back at US cannabis company Curaleaf following the American company’s efforts to acquire Aurora. The Edmonton-based Aurora is urging its shareholders to take no action. At the same time, it awaits a formal recommendation from its Board and a newly formed Special Committee, both of which are reviewing Curaleaf’s proposal together and consulting financial and legal advisers to assess the best path forward to maximize value for the company and its shareholders. Curaleaf’s offer remains open for at least 105 days from its formal launch on August 18, 2026. |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
AURORA CANNABIS CORRECTS INACCURATE STATEMENTS MADE IN SUPPORT OF CURALEAF HOLDINGS' HOSTILE BID "Curaleaf's timing and public comments appear to be a transparent attempt to pressure Aurora shareholders into making a short-term decision for the benefit of Curaleaf shareholders," said Miguel Martin, Executive Chairman and CEO of Aurora. "Curaleaf's interest underscores the value that Aurora has created. They are trying to acquire our world-class EU-GMP global infrastructure at the lowest possible price, depriving our shareholders of the long-term value our strategy is built to deliver." |
| Aug 24, 2026 |
Canada still dominates global cannabis exports, but changes are coming fast Long a boon mostly for Canada, still the world’s biggest exporter of cannabis, Germany’s growing appetite for medical cannabis threatens to reshape the global marijuana market and trigger a race among major international players to seize and ensure a share of the pie in rapidly expanding Europe. These include U.S.-based marijuana multistate operator Curaleaf Holdings as well as Canadian licensed producers who have long dominated global cannabis trade. |
| Aug 23, 2026 |
Canadian Cannabis Still Dominates Australian Medical Market while Thai Imports Increase and Domestic Supply Increases Exports from Canada contributed to 61% of all medical cannabis Australia imported in 2025, according to the newest figures from the country’s cannabis regulator. The country’s domestic supply has also increased significantly. Australia produced more cannabis than it imported from Canada in 2025, the first time since 2022. Australia imported 81,119 kilograms of cannabis for medical purposes in 2025, a 5% increase from 2024 and an 82% increase from 2023. About one-quarter of the nation’s total cannabis imports were still held in inventory at the end of 2025. Exports from Thailand accounted for another 25% of Australia’s medical cannabis imports in 2025, up from just 1% the previous year. |
| Aug 23, 2026 |
101-year-old woman arrested for selling cannabis in Ogun
A 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly selling cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State. The centenarian was apprehended on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 90 grammes of skunk, a form of cannabis, which was reportedly packaged in small quantities for sale. According to the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Ogunmabo admitted that she sold the substance to people in the community. |
| Aug 21, 2026 |
Iowa Officials File Rules To Let Out-Of-State Patients Register For Medical Marijuana Access Iowa regulators have filed proposed rules changes to remove the residency requirement for patients in the state’s medical cannabis program while also ensuring that military veterans qualify for reduced registration fees. The residency-focused part of the regulatory change from the state Department of Health and Human Services is meant to comply with provisions of a bill that Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed into law in June. |
| Aug 21, 2026 |
Cannabis Consolidation Wave Accelerates, ETF Allocation Value Stands Out
The cannabis industry is entering a clear phase of consolidation after an early period of capital frenzy and a sharp retreat in share prices. Weaker players are exiting, while stronger companies are expanding through acquisitions. With individual stock volatility rising and deal outcomes uncertain, building exposure through cannabis-themed ETFs is becoming an increasingly attractive way to position for the sector. Investor enthusiasm was extremely high when cannabis stocks first began trading. A gold rush mentality led to a flood of new listings. Although the overall industry has continued to grow, most individual companies have failed to live up to lofty early expectations. Cannabis shares now trade well below their early highs, and a shakeout is underway. Acquisitions have become a central theme. |
| Aug 21, 2026 |
Illinois proposes outdoor cannabis cultivation rules, excluding home growers llinois cannabis regulators propose allowing licensed cannabis companies to cultivate cannabis outdoors for the first time, a shift that reverses the state Department of Agriculture's previous interpretation that the law's requirement for an "enclosed, locked" facility prohibited outdoor growing. The department proposes that licensed growers and craft growers may cultivate outside next to existing facilities, provided the growing area is enclosed by a continuous chain-link fence at least 8 feet high, topped with razor wire or security wire, and screened from public view. Outdoor-grown cannabis would only be permitted for extraction purposes, producing concentrates for edibles, vapes and oils, not flower for smoking. |
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