Top Stories (2026) -
(1678 items)
Subscribe to RSS
(All links open in new tab)
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Support for legal Cannabis continues to grow in Nebraska, survey finds A new report from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Rural Drug Addiction Research Center shows support for cannabis legalization is increasing across the state. The Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey found that 47 percent of Nebraska adults now support legal marijuana for both medical and recreational use, up from 44 percent in 2024. Support for medical cannabis alone climbed from 80 percent to 84 percent during the same period. The findings come nearly two years after Nebraska voters approved medical marijuana by a 71 percent margin at the ballot box. |
|---|---|
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Tilray Brands Launches ZONNA, Introducing New THC Pouches for Cannabis Consumers Fast-acting, smoke-free ZONNA THC pouches deliver precise dosing in a discreet, portable pouch – expanding consumer choice through continued cannabis innovation |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Is Cannabis Legal in Mexico Now? Understanding THC, CBD, and the Gray Areas
Despite what many believe, marijuana in Mexico has been historically taboo. But this is changing, and fast. While the country has not fully legalized recreational cannabis, a complex legal situation has allowed various products to enter the mainstream market. Products containing CBD, or cannabidiol, can be purchased freely at pharmacies and even grocery stores across the nation. These items range from oils and tinctures to topical creams and edibles. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Consumer Vape Purchasing Has Taken a Dramatic Shift
If your cannabis brand is relying on the same vape hardware lineup it used two years ago, your market share might be quietly leaking. Over the past 12 months, consumer vape purchasing behavior across legal U.S. markets hasn’t just evolved; it has experienced a seismic shift. As price compression continues to squeeze margins and consumers become more discerning about both value and flavor profiles, the traditional hierarchy of vape products has been turned upside down. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Cannabis Is Being Rebuilt From The Ground Up
In the headlines: Reps. Andy Barr and Angie Craig introduced the Lawful Hemp Protection Act, which would raise the total-THC threshold to 1% measured on finished products, keep intoxicating hemp legal for age-gated adults 21 and up, ban synthetic conversions like Delta-8 and THCP, establish national testing and labeling rules, set up an alcohol-style three-tier distribution system, and add a federal retail and THC tax. Dales and Varrell doubted the bill’s near-term prospects of attaching to a continuing resolution or stopping the November 12 ban, and reiterated their view that there shouldn’t be two separate industries — that full-spectrum products belong under a single rescheduled, state-regulated framework. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Fetterman leads federal cannabis legalization push
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is one of more than a dozen Democrats reintroducing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to legalize marijuana use and expunge non-violent marijuana-related offenses. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Voice of the Plant: Genetics are the cannabis industry’s greatest asset – act accordingly
Cannabis operators need to adapt strategies to preserve their companies' most irreplaceable asset: their genetics. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Health Canada Revises Cannabis Import, Odour, and Hemp Policies
Health Canada has created a central online repository for ongoing and upcoming guidance documents as part of the cannabis program’s Red Tape Reduction efforts, including some initial “key” and “minor” changes. Those changes include revisions relating to guidance documents for cannabis imports, odour mitigation requirements, and hemp policies. The red tape reduction initiative, launched in 2025 as part of the federal government’s overall red tape reduction efforts, aims to reduce administrative burden and improve service delivery in Canada. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
New Bipartisan Bill In Congress Would Keep Hemp THC Products Legal, With New Taxes And Regulations Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have filed a new bill that would allow continued sales of certain hemp-derived THC products, partially scaling back a broad ban that is scheduled to take effect later this year. The new Lawful Hemp Protection Act, introduced by Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Angie Craig (D-MN) on Wednesday, would again change the definition of what constitutes a federally legal product derived from the crop, add labeling requirements and institute new taxes on sales. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
UN cannabis report raises more questions than answers Several publications have declared that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s annual World Drug Report cites a 40 percent increase in cannabis use worldwide over the past decade. This parroting of percentages overlooks critical observations of the data and its analysis. There are currently 193 participating member states in the United Nations. For the Drug Report, participants are required to self-report via surveys, which are then compiled by experts at UNODC. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Marijuana Helps People Reduce Opioid Consumption And Curbs Withdrawals, Federally Funded Study Finds Marijuana can help people reduce use of unregulated opioids and manage withdrawals from those substances, according to a new federally funded study. The research, published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, surveyed 197 people in Vancouver, Canada who reported using both cannabis and unregulated opioids such as fentanyl or heroin. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Patent trolls targeting cannabis firms as federal legalization nears, experts warn
Patent assertion entities, commonly known as patent trolls, are setting their sights on the cannabis industry as state-level legalization expands and federal rescheduling moves closer to reality, with legal and industry experts warning that commercially successful cannabis companies are increasingly vulnerable to infringement actions. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Botswana Paves the Way for Commercial Hemp Cultivation The Botswana is preparing to launch the commercial hemp production, after cultivation tests confirmed that the crop could be grown in the country’s various climate zones, as part of an economic diversification strategy aimed at reducing its dependence on the diamond industry. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
From Pelvic Pain to Pleasure: The Case for Cannabis as Women’s Medicine. From endometriosis pain to orgasmic difficulty, emerging research is pushing women’s health conditions into the medical cannabis conversation. Growing scientific evidence and patient experience with cannabis are helping bring women’s pain, pleasure, and reproductive health conditions to the forefront of cannabis medicine and policy. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Idaho MMJ Initiative Fails to Qualify for November Ballot Idaho voters will not have the opportunity to decide on a proposed medical cannabis measure during the upcoming November election after state officials ruled that the initiative failed to satisfy legal qualification standards. The decision was announced by the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, which determined that the proposed Idaho Medical Cannabis Act Initiative didn’t collect enough valid support to earn a place on the statewide ballot. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Government reviewing framework for religious use of cannabis
The Government is intensifying consultations on Jamaica’s framework for the religious use of cannabis, commonly referred to in legislation as the sacramental cannabis framework. The consultations are aimed at strengthening governance, safeguarding legitimate religious rights and preserving the integrity of the country’s regulated cannabis industry. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Tax Hikes on State-Legal Cannabis Products Drive Consumers To Unregulated Markets Raising taxes on state-legal cannabis products drives a significant percentage of consumers to the unregulated marketplace, according to data published in the journal Health Economics. Investigators affiliated with the Ohio State University evaluated purchasing behaviors among a cohort 1,525 adult cannabis consumers. They reported that tax increases discourage many consumers from patronizing legal cannabis markets. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Commission rejects challenge to ballot question on cannabis law repeal
The State Ballot Law Commission on Tuesday overruled an objection to nomination signatures supporting an initiative petition seeking to repeal Massachusetts' adult-use recreational cannabis laws and ordered the question to be printed on November's ballot. In a 16-page decision, the commission found that objector Kevin Gilnack, who filed the signatures challenge on behalf of the Stop the Repeal campaign that opposes the ballot question, "did not meet the burden of proof" to disqualify enough signatures to scrap the initiative petition. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Oklahoma cannabis operators say new child-safe edibles rules are confusing, unclear
Oklahoma cannabis regulators are preparing to enforce a new ban on marijuana product packaging or labeling that’s deemed “attractive to children,” a standard that also applies in many other markets across the country. But Oklahoma marijuana operators and medical cannabis patients say the new rules, which go into effect Nov. 1, are ambiguous and broad – and could ban 90% of the products now on store shelves, KOSU reported. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Roots and the Suits: Deconstructing the CPG Model in Canadian Cannabis
The Suits vs. Roots debate over whether cannabis is a consumer packaged good sounds semantic. It might be, but it also exposes a deeper disagreement over what kind of industry Canada is trying to build. The Suits hear “CPG” and think of a repeatable, distributable, and scalable commodity; The Roots hear “CPG” and think of consolidation, inducements, declining quality, and the slow eviction of the people who made the industry possible. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Sports Leagues Should Reduce Anti-Marijuana Stigma And Provide Honest Education For Athletes, New NFL-Funded Study Concludes Interest in using marijuana for medical reasons is growing among athletes as more states enact legalization, but many feel they aren’t getting adequate information about cannabis from their teams’ and leagues’ health officials due to ongoing stigma around the issue, a new study funded by the National Football League (NFL) shows. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Putting Cannabis at the Intersection of Sports, Fashion and Community
Josh Schmidt is VP of business development at Natura and cofounder of Sluggers Hit, a premium cannabis brand known for sports-inspired storytelling, collectible product design and a culture-first approach. At Natura, Josh focuses on business development, strategic partnerships and growth across the company’s vertically integrated platform, while helping guide Sluggers’ expansion across regulated markets. He began his cannabis career operating one of California’s first licensed medical cannabis dispensaries. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
TTC to ponder options after arbitrator orders it to stop random drug testing of workers
The TTC will consider its legal options after a labour arbitrator ordered the transit agency this week to stop random drug and alcohol testing of employees immediately, its CEO says. l |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
What to know about the Mass. ballot question to repeal legal pot
Massachusetts voters are being asked to revisit legal cannabis at the ballot box this fall. The big picture: The Bay State has become a key battleground state for opponents of adult-use cannabis who want to outlaw recreational sales nationwide. State of play: The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, the campaign behind the ballot question, proposes returning to a time when recreational cannabis was decriminalized, not legal. (Medical sales would remain legal.) |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Compound in cannabis determined to be a natural painkiller that could prove superior to anti-inflammatory drugs
The Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan was able to help researchers at the University of Guelph synthesize a naturally occurring painkiller. Dr. Tariq Akhtar says within cannabis, there are trace amounts of a certain compound called cannabistilbene. This compound offers relief from acute and chronic pain, however it exists in such small quantities, so it would be impractical to harvest naturally. “You can only get a few dozen milligrams if you were to grow an acre of cannabis. That’s how scarce it is in the plant.” |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Cone or Straight Joint? Scientists Put Both to the Test. One Packed More THC Per Puff, the Other Took More Puffs to Finish.
Cone or straight joint? You’ve got a side. Everybody’s got a side. Nobody’s ever had proof. So a research team packed a dozen of them with the exact same weed, smoked every one on a machine programmed to puff more like a cannabis consumer than a cigarette smoker, and weighed what came out the other end. Here’s the kicker: you were both right. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
How long does cannabis stay in the body? Expert explains after Mohammad Nawaz's ICC ban The ICC’s decision to ban Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Nawaz after he tested positive for Carboxy-THC has once again brought cannabis into the spotlight. As the drug is increasingly being legalised or decriminalised in several countries, one scientific fact remains unchanged: while the effects of cannabis may wear off within hours, traces of the drug can remain in the body for weeks. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Cannabis Laws Are Changing: 8 Questions Employers Should Ask Now
Employers are feeling the impact of relaxed laws and attitudes toward cannabis use, especially as positive drug test rates continue to climb. After years of state-level legalization efforts, the federal government recently rescheduled certain medical cannabis products and is considering broader cannabis rescheduling, which could lead to more disability-related and other workplace claims. As a result, many employers are rethinking cannabis testing while still grappling with how to manage risks, especially in safety-sensitive positions. Here’s everything employers need to know about the current state of cannabis laws and eight questions to consider as you balance staffing needs with workplace safety and legal compliance. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Is Thailand’s PM More Concerned About Sound Cannabis Policy or Political Optics? Amid a rise in smuggling, Anutin Charnvirakul has recently come out against the policy he once championed: the decriminalization of marijuana. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club Granted Six-Month Eviction Injunction
The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC) has been granted a six-month injunction against eviction from its current location. The injunction temporarily stops the landlord of 1625 Quadra Street from forcing the club out of the building. The BC government filed a civil forfeiture action to seize the building from the landlord, the landlord issued an eviction to protect themselves. The injunction pauses that internal landlord-tenant dispute while the VCBC seeks to challenge federal cannabis laws. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
One cannabis mistake at airport could bring 10 years in prison and $15,000 fine
Before heading overseas, American travelers are warned to double-check their bags for one item that could lead to hefty fines or even prison time. U.S. officials are reminding travelers that bringing cannabis products across international borders remains illegal in many countries — following a new customs policy in Thailand that significantly increases penalties for violators. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
THC And CBD From Marijuana Reduces Agitation In 9 Out Of 10 People With Alzheimer’s Or Other Dementia, Study Shows A combination of the marijuana components THC and CBD leads to a significant and sustained reduction in agitation in the vast majority of people with Alzheimer’s disease of other forms of dementia, according to a new federally funded study. The placebo-controlled, double-blind trial involved a cannabis preparation called T2:C100 that contained 2mg THC and 100mg CBD, and included 120 people with dementia who were eligible to receive hospice care and were experiencing clinically significant agitation. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Marijuana Consumers’ Support For Trump’s Actions Drops As Most Don’t Believe Rescheduling Will Be Completed This Year, Poll Shows Marijuana consumers’ support for the Trump administration’s actions on cannabis has declined in the months since the Department of Justice first announced it was moving forward with rescheduling the drug, a new survey reveals. The latest quarterly presidential approval tracking poll from NuggMD and Marijuana Moment shows that 48 percent percent of marijuana consumers now either “approve” or “strongly approve” of the Trump administration’s cannabis actions. A total of 13 percent disapprove, and 40 percent say they have no opinion or are neutral. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Germany Ends Public Health Insurance Coverage for Medical Cannabis Flowers The German Bundestag has enacted new legislation eliminating reimbursement for medical cannabis flowers as part of the country's mandatory health insurance system (GKV). This measure is part of the broader framework of the GKV Premium Rate Stabilization Act, a law aimed at reducing spending in Germany's public health care system. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Report: Nearly Half of Employers No Longer Screen Pre-Hires for Cannabis Fewer employers are screening new hires for cannabis, according to reporting provided by the Wall Street Journal. In a recent survey of nearly 1,000 employers, “about half” no longer test for cannabis in the pre-hire process, the Journal reported. Respondents frequently indicated that they ceased testing to increase their prospective applicant pool. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
US (MN): White Earth Nation's cannabis expansion milestone Waabigwan Mashkiki, the tribally owned cannabis enterprise of the White Earth Nation, proudly announces the grand opening of its newest dispensary in Chanhassen, Minnesota. This milestone marks the company's fifth retail location overall and fourth off-reservation dispensary, all of which have been opened within the past year. The opening represents an achievement not only for the White Earth Nation but for Tribal economic development across the United States. With five operating dispensaries, Waabigwan Mashkiki has become the largest Tribal cannabis retailer in the nation, demonstrating what is possible when Tribal sovereignty, visionary leadership, and strategic investment come together. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Botswana Cannabis Act six months on: Licensing opacity and legal threats stall industry Six months after Botswana promulgated the Cannabis Act and Regulations 2025 on 12 January 2026, the country's emerging cannabis industry remains stalled by allegations of bureaucratic delays, an opaque licensing system, and accusations of political favouritism, with at least two entities now pursuing or considering legal action against the government. The Act establishes the National Cannabis Control Authority (NCCA), tasked with overseeing licensing and coordinating legislative protocols. Stakeholders say the NCCA is not moving fast enough to establish a viable industry, and that earlier government promises of broad-based, inclusive participation have not materialised in the regulations as published. |
| Jul 19, 2026 |
Florida Hemp Businesses Hope Trump Can Save Them From Planned Federal Ban On THC Products “The category’s too big to fail. The consumer demand is there. The infrastructure is in place. I don’t think that it’s going anywhere. It’s a matter of when and how we get regulated.” By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix On Saturday, St. Petersburg retailer Herban Flow hosted its third High and Dry Festival, which featured dozens of brands showcasing THC-infused drinks, plus adaptogens, nootropics and alcohol-free libations. Herban Flow owner Michael Smith says that about 80 percent of sales from his two stores come from hemp-derived THC products, which is why he’s anxious about an impending federal ban on virtually all intoxicating and non-intoxicating hemp and CBD products, effective November 12. “It’s amazing how many people still don’t know about it,” Smith said. “So many people are now just discovering it and they don’t believe me when I tell them in three months that all of this is going away.” That possibility began to emerge last November, when Congress passed a spending bill which included a change to the federal definition of legal hemp to a “total THC standard” rather than Delta-9 THC only. Final-form hemp-derived products would be capped at 0.4 mg total THC per container. Translated, that would render approximately 95 percent of existing hemp-derived products federally illegal, according to the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. |
| Jul 19, 2026 |
UAMS researchers shed light on medical cannabis use during pregnancy in Arkansas
When it comes to medical cannabis use by pregnant Arkansans, healthcare providers often face a difficult reality: There is still much they do not know. A team of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) researchers is now working to fill that knowledge gap by providing the first population-level look at how pregnant women in Arkansas purchase medical cannabis and how those purchasing patterns change throughout pregnancy. The study, “From Card to Cradle: Examining Medical Cannabis Purchasing Among Pregnant Women in Arkansas,” was recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM and represents a key step toward understanding the potential effects of cannabis exposure on mothers and babies. |
| Jul 18, 2026 |
Cannabis Legalization in Pennsylvania Once Again on Hold The implementation of a regulated market for recreational cannabis at Pennsylvania was once again put on hold after lawmakers approved a new state budget that did not include any legalization measures. Despite the repeated calls from Governor Josh Shapiro Despite growing public support, the issue remains stalled by political divisions, thereby delaying what could become one of the largest legal cannabis markets in the United States. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
Where Is Cannabis Legal? A Guide To All 50 States
In July, Georgia became the 41st state to legalize medical marijuana. For years, Georgia had a low-THC program but the passage of Senate Bill 220 on July 1 expanded the program by allowing medical marijuana, which includes many THC products that are available in other states. For a state with 11 million people, Georgia expanding to medical marijuana is a big deal. “It’s a new day in Georgia for medical cannabis,” Kim Rivers, CEO and cofounder of Florida-based cannabis company Trulieve, wrote on X. Trulieve, which has six dispensaries in the state, celebrated the first sale under the expanded program on July 1. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
Arkansas medical cannabis sales slip as governor hopefuls come out on legalization After a record year, Arkansas’ medical cannabis sales fell in the first half of 2026, even as the state’s patient count climbed. Meanwhile, both major party gubernatorial candidates are opposing adult-use marijuana legalization. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
California cannabis industry blazes path with exhibit at state fair
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — It used to be a hike to get to the California State Fair’s cannabis consumption lounge. Visitors would buy products in one area, then start a long, cardboard cutout-lined path to where they could imbibe. Fences separated them from the noncannabis portion of the fair. In fact, the entire cannabis exhibit, retail area and consumption lounge sat a world apart from the rest of Cal Expo, the home of the state fair each year in Sacramento. That was by design — a careful path to ensure people didn’t have to see, hear or smell the area unless they wanted to. That hike lasted only one year. This summer, visitors will be able to consume cannabis near the purchase point. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
Extracts, Edibles Shape Q3 2025 Canadian Cannabis Trends
The latest sales and inventory figures from Health Canada indicate that total cannabis sales in the medical and recreational markets were up 21% in Q3 2025 (July-September) compared with Q3 2024. Dried cannabis continued to account for the largest share of total medical and non-medical sales at 48% (12,901,920 units), although its overall share continues to shrink from 50% in Q2 2025 and 51% in Q3 2024. The second largest cannabis product category after dried cannabis flower was cannabis extracts at 28%, which includes the fast-growing vape pen category. This was up from 25% in the previous quarter and 24% year over year. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
Judge: California cannabis law can be tweaked without voter approval
California lawmakers can likely adjust the state’s 2016 adult-use marijuana legalization law without having to go back to voters to approve every change, a state judge tentatively ruled Thursday. The decision came from San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn in a lawsuit brought by youth advocacy organizations seeking to undo a cannabis retail tax cut passed by the Legislature and signed into law last fall by Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to Courthouse News. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
International Cannabis Deals: Why Due Diligence Matters More Than Ever
As more Canadian cannabis companies pursue international opportunities, experienced exporters say one of the biggest mistakes businesses can make is assuming that a promising lead is automatically a legitimate one. While new medical cannabis markets continue to emerge around the world, international business relationships also introduce new legal, financial, and operational risks. Verifying who you’re doing business with and whether they can actually deliver on their promises has become an essential part of any export strategy. “The first step any exporter should take is to verify that the organization is who it claims to be. This goes beyond reviewing a professional-looking website or marketing materials, and requires independent validation through multiple sources,” said a spokesperson for Export Development Canada (EDC). |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
Gitanmaax Band to Sign Eighth Section 119 Cannabis Agreement with BC
The BC Government and the Gitanmaax Band are finalizing a government-to-government cannabis agreement that supports shared health and safety priorities. The agreement, under Section 119 of BC’s Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, builds on the Gitanmaax Band’s leadership in the regulated cannabis sector, including the operation of a provincially licensed cannabis retail store in the community. Section 119 of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act authorizes the province to enter into agreements with Indigenous governments. BC’s Cannabis Control and Licensing Act restricts businesses from operating in both the cannabis production and retail sectors, but section 119 of the Act allows this. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
SEC sanctions cannabis company, execs U.S. securities regulators secured over US$40 million in disgorgement and penalties against a group of cannabis companies and executives that were accused of defrauding investors. A federal court in California entered a final judgment against American Patriot Brands, Inc. (APB), its various subsidiaries and a pair of executives — former CEO Robert Lee and chief operating officer Brian Pallas — that raised millions from investors and allegedly diverted much of that money for personal use. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
Combining Marijuana And Music Enhances Medical Benefits, Reduces Prescription Drug Use And Boosts Emotions, Government-Funded Study Shows A new government-funded study is putting quantifiable evidence behind the idea that marijuana use enhances the experience of listening to music. But the new research also suggests that the combination can bolster the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. The study, published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and conducted by researchers at Dalhousie University and other schools in Canada, examined self-reported data from 122 marijuana consumers who completed an exhaustive, 176-question survey. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
Cannabis for Cancer Declaration Announces New Video Series Advocating for Cannabis as a Potential Direct Cancer-Fighting Treatment
BALTIMORE, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Cannabis for Cancer Declaration, an advocacy initiative dedicated to raising awareness of cannabis as a potential cancer treatment, today announced the formal launch of its educational YouTube video series examining the scientific and patient-reported evidence surrounding cannabis and cancer. |