Top Stories (2026) -
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| Aug 21, 2026 |
Marijuana while pregnant? A shocking number of Ohioans think it is OK With cannabis now legal in Ohio, ensuring people have accurate information about its impacts is more important than ever. Access is no longer the central issue. Education is. As cannabis becomes more widely used and socially accepted, Ohioans deserve clear, science-based information that helps them make informed decisions and understand the risks that can accompany its use. A May polling suggests that need is becoming more urgent, as cannabis use rises while perceptions of risk continue to decline, especially around youth use and use during pregnancy. Forty-one percent of Ohioans report currently using cannabis, up from 35% in 2024. More than two-thirds say cannabis has become more socially acceptable since legalization. |
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| Aug 21, 2026 |
Curaleaf's Hostile Takeover Bid for Aurora Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg for Cannabis Consolidation. These 2 Stocks Could Be the Biggest Winners. Investors were very enthusiastic when cannabis stocks first started trading. It was, basically, a new industry, and the outlook for legal cannabis sales was strong. But, as is typical on Wall Street, a gold rush mentality took hold, and the market was flooded with marijuana stocks. While the cannabis sector has grown, individual company performance hasn't lived up to investors' lofty expectations. |
| Aug 21, 2026 |
Does off-duty cannabis use pose a safety risk for first responders? BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. — A New Mexico sheriff’s decision to remove county firefighters from a joint helicopter unit over an off-duty cannabis policy drew strong support from Police1 readers, many of whom said emergency aviation demands a higher safety standard. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Rhode Island’s 24 planned adult-use cannabis stores stuck in limbo
Rhode Island legalized recreational marijuana in 2022 with a plan to license 24 new retail stores, but four years later, not one has opened. Kim Ahern, the Cannabis Control Commission’s first chair and now a candidate for state attorney general, oversaw a licensing process that left dozens of prospective operators in limbo, according to The Boston Globe. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Cannabis Drinks Help People Consume Less Alcohol While Improving Sleep And Mood, Study Finds Most people who consume cannabis beverages end up drinking less alcohol— and see improved sleep, less stress and reduced pain, according to the results of a new study. The results come as Congress is considering whether to allow a currently scheduled ban on hemp THC products to take effect as scheduled in November or to extend the deadline to give lawmakers more time to craft regulations as an alternative to prohibition. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Canadian Hemp Sector Pivots Back to Grain as Flower and Fibre Production Decline
The amount of land being cultivated for hemp in Canada remained relatively stable in 2025, while farmers continued to move away from flower and back to growing it for its seed/grain. As first reported by Hemp Today and then confirmed by StratCann, there were a total of 15,380 hectares of hemp reported as planted in Canada in 2025, down only 2.5% from the previous year. The majority of those crops were for grain (84%), while flower accounted for just 3% and fibre for 6%. Cultivation for seed for planting was another 7%. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
‘Marijuana Can No Longer Remain in Schedule I’: Inside the Government’s Final Case for Rescheduling Weed—and the Witnesses It Tore Apart The federal government’s closing argument for moving marijuana to Schedule III is in, and its lawyers did not hedge. “Marijuana can no longer remain in Schedule I,” the DEA’s attorneys wrote in a post-hearing brief filed August 17 with Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek C. Julius, asking the judge to “expeditiously recommend” the transfer. It is the government’s last word before Julius drafts the recommendation that will frame DEA Administrator Terrance “Terry” Cole‘s final decision. And it lands where this proceeding was always going to land: not on whether cannabis has medicinal value, but on which legal test gets to answer that question, and on whose testimony the judge should be allowed to believe. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Illinois may legalize outdoor cannabis cultivation in potential boost for craft growers Illinois cannabis regulators are proposing to allow outdoor cannabis cultivation for the first time. The proposal could boost small craft growers, supporters say. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
The EMS Pulse: Medics weigh in on off-duty cannabis use Hundreds of comments reveal broad support for off-duty cannabis use among EMS professionals, while questions about impairment testing, liability and federal rules remain sticking points |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Cannabis Store in BC Penalized for Sale to Minor
A cannabis store in BC had to pay a $7,000 fine after an employee failed to check the ID of a 17-year-old minor agent. Trees Cannabis in Victoria, BC received the monetary penalty after it was found to have broken provincial rules by selling cannabis to a minor. While the retailer didn’t dispute the claim, it argued its own internal policies and training materials show sufficient training and systems. The judge ultimately disagreed, saying that there was little evidence that the employee had been properly trained, or that the training program and materials were sufficient. The age of access for cannabis products in British Columbia is 19. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
The case for cannabis AI guardrails – and how to create an AI tool that works
Cannabis-specific artificial intelligence tools are here and multiplying fast. Software vendors are pitching licensed operators on products that promise to optimize cultivation rooms, flag compliance errors in ad creative, audit inventory, replace budtenders with AI-powered kiosks and deliver instant business insights through conversational analytics. But according to Nick Afonsky, founder and CEO of Washington, DC-based IT consulting firm Palomar Group, the gap between what the tools promise and what they reliably deliver is wide. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Aurora Accuses Curaleaf of ‘Pressuring Shareholders’ as it Launches Official Takeover Bid
Curaleaf Holdings has pushed ahead with its unexpected and unsolicited acquisition campaign of Aurora Cannabis and has now submitted an official bid for its Canadian rival. The cannabis giant formally launched its takeover bid on August 18, 2026, meaning Aurora’s shareholders must make a decision before the end of the year. Aurora’s board have already responded to the bid, urging shareholders to ‘take no action’ before it has made a formal recommendation, expected within 15 days. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Tennessee Ban on THCA Has Cost State $54M in Tax Revenue The Tennessee ban on THCA products has cost the state $54 million in tax revenues, WPLN News reports. Last year, state lawmakers approved the ban along with a new tax on intoxicating hemp products but has only collected 3% of what the new tax was projected to bring in. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Vermont's independent cannabis cultivators push for direct-to-consumer sales rights Small-scale cannabis cultivators in Vermont say the state's legal market structure is forcing them out of business, with many considering abandoning their licenses as wholesale prices fall and retail shelves fill with dispensary-grown product. Sara Farnsworth, who founded Full Circle Farms in Underhill in 2021 with her own money and runs it alongside multiple other jobs, describes the situation in stark terms. "I'm getting crushed by this industry," Farnsworth says. "It is crushing my soul. It is financially not viable." |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
What Can US States Learn From Each Other About Cannabis Legalization?
More than a decade after Colorado and Washington became the first US states to legalize adult-use cannabis, the country has accumulated something it didn’t have when that experiment began: evidence. With states taking dramatically different approaches to taxation, licensing, testing, social equity and enforcement, policymakers can now look beyond predictions and examine what has actually worked. But identifying the state that is “doing legalization right” isn’t as straightforward as pointing to the largest market or the strongest sales numbers. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Tilray Strengthens Global Medical Cannabis Leadership with Major Production Increase to Meet International Demand NEW YORK and TORONTO, Aug. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tilray Brands, Inc. (“Tilray”) (Nasdaq: TLRY; TSX: TLRY), a leading global cannabis and consumer packaged goods company at the forefront of the cannabis, beverage, hospitality and wellness industries, today announced a major expansion of its global cannabis cultivation capacity to meet accelerating international medical cannabis demand. Across its worldwide operations, Tilray has increased annual cultivation capacity to approximately 275 metric tonnes, up from 210 metric tonnes, driven by expanded output at its Quebec facility in Canada and its EU-GMP-certified facility in Portugal. |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Grass Monkeys Premium Craft Cannabis facility near High River destroyed by fire A fire destroyed the Grass Monkeys Premium Craft Cannabis facility near High River, Alberta, early Wednesday morning, with Foothills County fire services receiving the emergency call at 5:47 a.m. for a blaze at 82 Street E. in Aldersyde, south of Calgary. By the time crews arrived, flames had already consumed the tin roof of the 3,000-square-foot building. Foothills County fire battalion chief Will Scheerhoorn says the fire had been burning for some time before anyone called 911: "It had been burning a while before 911 was called for sure." |
| Aug 20, 2026 |
Canadian cross-border update: The cannabis restructuring Overview Canada and the US share a long history of cooperation when it comes to cross-border restructuring. For decades, the legislation of both countries has provided a framework for recognition and the courts in each jurisdiction have shown great deference and reciprocity in facilitating cross-border filings. The reciprocity shown has been at times nuanced, where the local laws of the secondary jurisdiction are more restrictive than in the primary jurisdiction. |
| Aug 19, 2026 |
Faces of Cannabis History: 3 Legendary Voices of Reason
It’s easy to focus on the many rising stars of the cannabis world today, but it’s vital to get educated on the people who paved the way. |
| Aug 19, 2026 |
Aurora Cannabis Furthers Global Medical Cannabis Growth with Accretive Acquisition of Internode Pharma Limited and HAP Pharma Limited, Expanding Distribution Access to the UK Medical Cannabis Market Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the "Company" or "Aurora") (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB), the Canadian-based leading global medical cannabis company, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Internode Pharma Limited, a licensed importer and wholesaler, and HAP Pharma Limited, a licensed pharmacy (the "Companies"). "The acquisition of Internode Pharma Limited and HAP Pharma Limited mark a further strategic milestone for Aurora as we continue to purposefully invest in expanding our leadership in the rapidly growing international medical cannabis market. We believe that this transaction will allow us to fully leverage our operational, commercial and regulatory expertise to expand our market share, while also supporting a consistent and reliable supply of high-quality medical cannabis products to UK patients," said Miguel Martin, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aurora. |
| Aug 19, 2026 |
Germany’s Medical Cannabis Insurance Reform Descends Into Chaos as Regulators Turn on Each Other Last month, the German government passed a controversial cost-saving law that saw tens of thousands of patients denied access medical cannabis to flower reimbursed through statutory health insurance (GKV). In the weeks since, a chaotic tug-of-war between physicians, health funds, patient groups and the cannabis industry has thrown the framework into further disarray. |
| Aug 19, 2026 |
Medical Marijuana Improves Sleep Satisfaction And Boosts Quality Of Life, Study Shows Full-spectrum cannabis oil is associated with “favorable perceived quality of life and sleep satisfaction,” according to a new study of medical marijuana patients. Higher concentrations and longer treatments also seemed to produce “higher odds of better outcomes.” |
| Aug 19, 2026 |
Why Home Cannabis Cultivation Is Becoming a Public Policy Question The debate over cannabis legalization no longer ends with whether adults should be permitted to possess or purchase it. As legal frameworks evolve, policymakers also have to address what happens closer to home: should people be allowed to cultivate cannabis for personal use? |
| Aug 19, 2026 |
St. Maarten symposium backs phased, evidence-based cannabis regulation framework A cannabis regulation symposium at the University of St. Martin in Philipsburg on August 14 brings together policymakers, health professionals, community representatives and researchers to examine how St. Maarten might structure a legal cannabis framework covering public health, youth protection and economic development. |
| Aug 19, 2026 |
Sunset Lake Cannabis Goes Green by Farming Only Outdoors
A few basic principles apply to virtually all forms of farming: Rotate your crops. Enrich and protect the soil. Manage pests, weeds and water efficiently. And don’t make your work harder than it needs to be. Sam Bellavance, founder and CEO of Sunset Lake Cannabis and its dispensary, Lake Effect Vermont, both in South Hero, abides by the first three rules but deliberately ignores the last: He makes his job more difficult by growing all of his weed outdoors. |
| Aug 19, 2026 |
Barcelona’s Plan Druida Is Turning Up the Pressure on Cannabis Clubs Barcelona’s Plan Druida expands police presence and surveillance in response to drug trafficking and use, while also placing the city’s cannabis clubs under renewed pressure. Although authorities present it as a modern public-safety strategy, its focus on control, pressure on cannabis clubs, and drug use reflects the same prohibitionist approach that could deepen the criminalization of users rather than shift toward health, human rights, and harm reduction. |
| Aug 19, 2026 |
AURORA CANNABIS INC. URGES SHAREHOLDERS TO TAKE NO ACTION AT THIS TIME IN RESPECT TO THE UNSOLICITED TAKE-OVER BID BY CURALEAF HOLDINGS, INC. Curaleaf's decision to launch a hostile takeover bid is designed to pressure Aurora's shareholders into a short-term decision for the benefit of Curaleaf shareholders. Curaleaf's actions and comments reflect its objective: to acquire, at the lowest price possible, Aurora's market-leading EU-GMP facilities and global medical cannabis platform. Curaleaf's description of Aurora's business performance does not reflect our recently reported quarterly results and stated European medical cannabis strategy. Comments by Curaleaf's CEO failed to present the facts; Aurora has engaged with Curaleaf since June 2026, including as recently as August 12, 2026. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
New Study Finds People Drinking THC Beverages Reached for Alcohol Half as Often. Every Product Tested Is About to Be Banned. 4,516 people logged what they drank for three weeks. On the days they had a THC beverage, their odds of also drinking alcohol fell by roughly half. The finding held for 23 of the 36 products tested, and moved the same direction in every one. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
What Travelers Should Know About Cannabis In Canada Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018. For visitors, that can be a surprise, and the details are easy to get wrong. The law is clear, but it is not a free-for-all. Knowing the basics keeps a trip smooth and legal. The system runs through licensed sellers, including sites such as an online dispensary canada residents order from. This is an informational overview of the legal market, not a purchase recommendation, and rules vary by location. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
Madison Heights cannabis dispensary wins Flock camera removal after city agreement MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – A controversial surveillance camera pointed directly at a Madison Heights cannabis dispensary has been taken down as the result of a new agreement between the city and the company. The dispute centered on a Flock camera the city installed at the entrance to Jars Cannabis on 12 Mile Road near I-75. The company responded by posting a “No Flock Zone” sign in front of the camera to block its view, setting off a viral standoff. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
Curaleaf Officially Launches Hostile Takeover Bid for Aurora Cannabis
Curaleaf said it has formally commenced its previously announced proposal to purchase Aurora Cannabis. Under the terms of the offer, Aurora shareholders would receive a consideration of $4 per Aurora common share, comprised of 0.3463 of a Curaleaf subordinate voting share plus $0.75 in cash. Curaleaf said that, based on Aurora's 30-day volume weighted average price, the offer implies a 45% premium to the unaffected share price. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
Ireland’s Dunbar Pharma Launches First Plant-Derived Dronabinol in UK Through IPS Pharma Irish pharmaceutical cannabis manufacturer Dunbar Pharmaceuticals has today launched the first plant-derived dronabinol active ingredient into the UK market. In partnership with leading Specials manufacturer IPS Pharma, Dunbar’s ‘WaterClear THC’ products are now available to clinicians across the UK for the first time. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
DEA And Anti-Marijuana Groups File Final Briefs In Hearing On Trump Administration Rescheduling Proposal Participants in a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearing on the Trump administration’s marijuana rescheduling proposal have filed their final briefs in the proceedings—setting up the judge overseeing the matter to issue his recommendation on the reform. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
Why Terpenes Might Matter More Than Most Cannabis Shoppers Realize Behind the giant THC percentage sits an enormous amount of chemistry that helps determine what cannabis smells like, tastes like and how one product differs from another. Among the most interesting components are terpenes, the aromatic compounds responsible for many of the scents associated not only with cannabis but also citrus peels, pine trees, lavender, hops and countless other plants. Terpenes are not a replacement for THC. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
South Dakota home cultivation licenses up 1,072% since medical cannabis launch The number of South Dakota medical marijuana patients licensed to grow cannabis at home has risen 1,072% over four years, Whitney Brunner, administrator of the state's medical cannabis program, told the legislative Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee on Monday in Pierre. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
‘Stop Destroying Cannabis Farms, Legalise, Regulate’ — Sowore Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for destroying cannabis farms in Edo State, calling instead for the legalisation and regulation of cannabis in Nigeria. Sowore, in a post on X on Tuesday, faulted the agency for destroying what he described as economically valuable crops at a time when the country was grappling with widespread poverty. He urged the government to stop destroying cannabis farms and establish a regulated framework that would enable Nigeria to benefit from the plant’s medicinal and industrial uses. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
Thai dentists face legal action for re-signing cannabis prescriptions
BANGKOK – The government has warned dentists not to sign cannabis prescription forms in advance without examining, diagnosing or providing treatment to individual patients, saying the practice could breach four major laws and professional ethical standards. Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan, deputy government spokesperson, said the government was continuing to strengthen controls and monitoring of cannabis use under the Ministry of Public Health notification on controlled herbs, covering cannabis, issued in 2025. Dentists must exercise particular caution when prescribing cannabis as a controlled herb using Form Phor Thor 33, she said. |
| Aug 18, 2026 |
How federal cannabis scheduling shakeup impacts South Dakota medical marijuana policy The state Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee at its latest meeting in Pierre heard about the impacts of ongoing reclassification of marijuana at the federal level. Medical marijuana and its derivatives were recently reclassified as schedule three substances. Meanwhile, recreational cannabis remains at schedule one, the same rating as heroin and above methamphetamine. |
| Aug 17, 2026 |
Former N.S. correctional officer handed prison time in jail cannabis case
A 42-year-old former correctional officer has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to smuggle a cannabis concentrate known as shatter into a northern Nova Scotia jail for an inmate. |
| Aug 17, 2026 |
Cannabis entertainment facility prepares to open in Muskegon
MUSKEGON, Mich. — After two years of rebuilding a rundown structure, Fields Cannary is preparing to open as what its co-owner believes to be a unique cannabis entertainment facility in Muskegon. The business, housed in the former Sons of Norway Hall, will feature a restaurant, dispensary, and indoor and outdoor consumption lounges when it opens by the end of September. |
| Aug 17, 2026 |
Federal judge clears path for RI cannabis retail license process to begin anew
A federal court order that blocked Rhode Island regulators from awarding cannabis retail licenses is now lifted, clearing the way for a new application process already underway. U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose on Friday dissolved the preliminary injunction she issued against the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission on April 8 now that the state’s 2022 Cannabis Act Act no longer requires all retail license holders to be majority-owned by Rhode Island residents. |
| Aug 17, 2026 |
Virginia Hemp THC Rules Take Effect After Judge Declines Delay Request
New rules in Virginia banning the sale of hemp products containing more than 2 milligrams of THC took effect on Saturday, August 15, after a federal judge last week declined a request to delay the regulations, WUSA9 reports. All hemp products sold in the state now must contain no more than 0.3% THC or 2 milligrams of THC. |
| Aug 17, 2026 |
Canada’s Cannabis Industry Needs Better Market Intelligence
Eight years into legalization, Canada’s cannabis industry has abundant transactional data, yet it still struggles to understand why sales occur. A new report from the Budtenders Association argues that the retail floor holds the missing intelligence, revealing that budtenders’ insights into consumer behaviour are essential for building long-term brand loyalty. |
| Aug 17, 2026 |
Boy who changed law on medicinal cannabis thriving as he turns 21 Turning 21 is a milestone for most. For Charlotte Caldwell, celebrating her son Billy's 21st birthday was something she feared would never happen. Billy Caldwell, from Castlederg in County Tyrone, has a severe form of epilepsy, which at one point had him suffering hundreds of "life-threatening" seizures a day. After a legal battle, Billy was prescribed a cannabis-based medicine which stopped his seizures. Billy is now three years seizure-free and "not just surviving, but thriving", his mother said. |
| Aug 16, 2026 |
Hawaii Officials Defend Hemp Crackdown From Industry Lawsuit It happens all the time now at O'ahu Dispensary and Provisions in Waik?k?.: A prospective customer like Blake Birdwell comes looking for a pre-rolled hemp cigarette or hemp-based edible, only to find the kiosk’s shelves are empty of such goods—by recent order of the Hawaii Department of Health. |
| Aug 15, 2026 |
Immigration and Cannabis Culture in America – Does More Immigration Help Cannabis Business Boom?
America has always changed through cultural collisions. New people arrive, old traditions meet new habits, businesses appear in unexpected places, and after a while something that once seemed unfamiliar becomes part of everyday life. Food is probably the easiest example. Pizza, tacos, sushi, pho, curry, and countless other dishes entered American life through immigration and cultural exchange. Cannabis culture is obviously a different subject, but in 2026 it raises a surprisingly similar question: as America becomes more immigrant and more culturally diverse, does that help cannabis culture—and cannabis business—grow too? |
| Aug 15, 2026 |
Marijuana reform is emerging as a midterm elections issue on both sides of the aisle Marijuana has had a history of highs and lows in the U.S. over the past century — legally, politically and culturally — teetering between vilification and acceptance. Since 1996, 40 states and the District of Columbia have legalized either medical or recreational adult-use marijuana. Yet cannabis, the leafy plant from which marijuana is derived, is still a federally illegal Schedule I drug as defined by the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. |
| Aug 14, 2026 |
Marijuana Legalization Boosts Agriculture Jobs In States That Enact It, New Study Shows States that enact marijuana legalization see jobs in the agriculture sector increase more than they would have without the policy change, according to a new economic analysis from researchers at Texas Tech University. The results, which were presented at the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association’s 2026 meeting last month, found a 9 percent uptick in agriculture sector employment in states that legalized cannabis—though wages did not increase proportionately due to factors that researchers determined are likely unrelated. |
| Aug 14, 2026 |
Cannabis N.B. looks to new strategy as sales fall and illicit-market competition grows
Against a backdrop of strict regulation, declining sales and relentless competition from the illicit market, Cannabis New Brunswick is looking ahead to the next three years. The Crown corporation has begun developing a new strategic plan, expected to be released next February or March, according to CEO Lori Stickles. She said many of the goals from the first plan have yet to be achieved. "It was a lofty plan when we set it out," she said. "There are several things that did not happen as we had planned." |
| Aug 14, 2026 |
Why medical cannabis for seniors is surging
Seniors are increasingly turning to cannabis to find relief from the suffering and medical indignities of aging. I see this every day in my primary care clinic. Whether it is the grinding discomfort of chronic pain, the anxiety associated with losing friends and abilities, or the soul-crushing misery of insomnia, older adults are discovering that medical marijuana can often do what many of our standard prescriptions cannot. They are finding that cannabis often provides genuine relief without a laundry list of debilitating side effects. Many of our elders are finding cannabis to be an exit ramp from the polypharmacy that almost inevitably comes with aging. |