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“Republicans, Democrats and independents alike understand that regulation is better than prohibition, and that good science takes time.” By Mike Simpson, Lovewell Farms via Rhode Island Current At a moment when Americans across the political spectrum say they want evidence-based policy, Congress is on the verge of repeating a familiar mistake: banning first and studying later. Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate would delay the impending federal ban on hemp-derived products. This is not to legalize anything new, but instead to give regulators, . . .

“We have to make sure that we don’t have unintended consequences, and destroy things that do not need to be destroyed.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent A push for Missouri to immediately adopt planned federal limits on intoxicating hemp products ran into a filibuster in the state Senate Wednesday, with critics demanding any changes wait until national regulations go into effect in November. Democratic state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis led the two-hour filibuster of a bill that would immediately ban hemp-derived THC beverages and edibles as soon as the legislation was passed and signed . . .

“I think that sample fraud should be a death sentence for a licensee. Right now, it’s a $15,000 slap on the wrist.” By Christopher Osher, ProPublica and Evan Wyloge, The Denver Gazette This story was originally published by ProPublica. Colorado marijuana manufacturers would no longer be allowed to choose which product samples they send for mandatory lab testing under a new regulatory proposal discussed at a policy forum on Friday. Instead, the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division may require independent labs or outside vendors to collect product samples for the testing that’s required . . .

A key House committee chairman has unveiled the latest version of a large-scale agriculture bill-with provisions his office says will reduce “regulatory burdens for producers of industrial hemp.” The proposed 2026 Farm Bill released on Friday by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) would maintain the industrial hemp program at a time when the cannabinoid industry finds itself threatened by a pending recriminalization of most consumable cannabinoid products under separate legislation President Donald Trump signed into law last year. But for farmers growing hemp for . . .

President Donald Trump has pardoned a former NFL star who was convicted of trafficking 175 pounds of marijuana. As advocates await action on federal marijuana rescheduling-and many people continue to endure the consequences of ongoing cannabis criminalization-Trump granted clemency to five ex-NFL players, including Nate Newton, who helped lead the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories in the 1990s. In 2002, however, Newton was arrested in Texas and convicted on federal drug trafficking charges after police discovered $10,000 in his truck and 175 pounds of marijuana in an accompanying . . .

Virginia senators have advanced an amended bill to legalize recreational marijuana sales in the Commonwealth toward a floor vote while removing new criminal penalties that were recently added to the measure-setting the stage for negotiations between both chambers of the legislature as they work to enact differing versions of the reform. At a hearing before the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on Thursday, members passed the legislation from Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D) in a 7-5 vote, along with several amendments that were adopted by the panel’s Resources Subcommittee earlier in the . . .

Washington, DC / Lincoln, NE – On Monday, February 16, at 10:00 AM CT, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana and Americans for Safe Access (ASA) will convene patients, advocates, and state policymakers for a press briefing on Nebraska’s unprecedented exclusion from federal medical cannabis protections in the FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill.

An administrative law judge in Minnesota ruled on Thursday that hemp product retailers can ship their products directly to consumers, overturning a ban implemented last October by the state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the Star Tribune reports. Judge Kristien Butler wrote in the ruling that state law “remains silent on the modes of shipping or delivery,” and that “Language may not be added to a statute that the Legislature did not supply itself.” “Consequently, the Office must cease enforcement of the unpromulgated and invalid rule,” Butler wrote. Low-dose THC edibles and beverages . . .

A proposal to ban intoxicating hemp products stalled in the Missouri Senate on Wednesday following a lengthy discussion between lawmakers, the Missouri Independent reports. State Sen. Karlya May, a Democrat from St. Louis, led the two-hour filibuster against the proposal by state Sen. David Gregory, a Republican from Chesterfield. The bill seeks to ban hemp products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container and with a total dry weight THC concentration greater than .3%, including delta-8, delta-9 THC, and other intoxicating cannabinoids commonly sourced from hemp. Gregory . . .

Colorado senators have advanced a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in healthcare facilities such as hospitals. The Senate Health & Human Services Committee on Thursday unanimously approved the legislation from Sen. Kyle Mullica (D) in a 9-0 vote, with amendments. It’s one of the latest examples of a state legislature moving to adopt what’s known as “Ryan’s law,” named after a young cannabis patient in California who passed away. As revised by the panel, the proposal allows health facilities to permit patients who are terminally ill and registered in the state’s . . .

As cannabis industry stakeholders await action on a marijuana rescheduling proposal, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a rule to provide federal health insurance coverage for CBD, according to an executive with a hemp company that’s been collaborating with the agency on the initiative. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December that directed the attorney general to quickly complete the process of moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. While that component of the order made national headlines, another . . .

Maryland senators have taken up a bill to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027 to develop updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel drugs and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. The Senate Finance Committee considered the legislation from Sen. Brian Feldman (D) at a hearing on Thursday. A Home companion version sponsored by Del. Pam Guzzone (D) was separately taken up by the Health Committee on Tuesday. The proposals are aimed at building upon a current law that created the Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use . . .

“True stability requires comprehensive federal legislation that creates a national medical cannabis framework to recognize cannabis-based therapies as part of modern healthcare.” By Steph Sherer, Americans for Safe Access Last week, the House Appropriations Committee declared victory, announcing: “More than 95 percent of the federal government is funded through full-year FY2026 appropriations-delivering stability, certainty, and results for the American people.” But for millions of medical cannabis patients, that claim rings hollow. Instead of delivering stability, the Fiscal Year 2026 budget . . .

Planet 13 Holdings Inc (CNSX: PLTH) (OTCMKTS: PLNH) (FRA: Y7Q) has decisively exited the California cannabis market. Following years of financial issues, the company has transferred its Orange County dispensary to Catalyst Cannabis. The Nevada-based operator, known for having the world’s largest marijuana store in Las Vegas, shuttered its sprawling 55,000-square-foot Santa Ana SuperStore location. The facility made its debut in 2021 with high expectations. Executives cited persistent cash burn as the primary driver, with the store and an associated Coalinga cultivation facility draining . . .

THE BIG IDEA Hi all, Between continued inaction on rescheduling, and a host of other setbacks, the vibes were tough this week. Enjoy your well-earned weekend. Alex Send tips, press releases, concerns, feedback and criticism to hello@weedweek.com. Sensitive material to share? Contact Alex on Signal. FROM WEEDWEEK Analysis: N.Y. Times editorial rethinks legalization In 2014, the New York Times editorial (opinion) page published a six-part series calling for the end of federal prohibition. Now it’s having second thoughts. In a Monday editorial, the paper stops short of calling for a return to . . .

Thousands of abandoned unlicensed grows are polluting California’s watersheds and public lands, according to a CalMatters report. Trash, pesticides and fertilizers, many of which remain months after law enforcement raids, are contaminating the state’s natural resources and killing its wildlife. Ecologist Greta Wengert (Ph.D), who has studied the issue for more than a decade as co-founder and executive director of the non-profit Integral Ecology Research Center (IERC . . . Log in or become a WeedWeek Member to read this article. The post Illegal grows poison Calif. forests: Reports appeared . . .

The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) allowed a two-month extension of the license of the large Multi-State Operator (MSO) Curaleaf NJ LLC despite labor violations. Others were reviewed with less controversy. It seems they have disliked their workers for a while since the NJCRC revoked and reinstated their license in 2023 over labor issues. MSO [ . . . ] Source: MSO Curaleaf Allowed License Extensions for 2 Months by NJCRC from Heady NJ

There are so many crises and issues in this world that you can’t control, but taking control of your life helps. So does cannabis. The post How simple systems protect you when life turns unpredictable appeared first on The Leaf Online.

The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) suspended the cannabis growing and manufacturing licenses of Jersey Strong/Mollitiam after their scandal last week and threatened and fined others. Jersey Strong/ Mollitiam Growing, Manufacturing Licenses Suspended Commissioner Amelia Mapp was recused from the debate to “due to a personal relationship.” “Staff is recommending a summary suspension,” Acting Executive [ . . . ] Source: Jersey Strong/Mollitiam Cannabis Licenses Suspended by NJCRC from Heady NJ

SGS is growing its North American presence in food and nutraceutical testing with the acquisition of Denver-based Murray-Brown Laboratories, a long-standing, nationally recognized lab known for its microbial and analytical chemistry work in food, pet food, and nutraceuticals. The deal adds deeper capacity for pesticide and mycotoxin detection, directly benefiting cannabis and hemp product manufacturers that need robust third‑party data for safety, label claims, and regulatory compliance. By bringing Murray-Brown’s PCR and other DNA-based pathogen detection tools into the SGS network, . . .

Love is in the air-and maybe just a few terpy scents. This Valentine’s Day, skip the predictable chocolates and flowers and lean into something a little more elevated, a little more fun. Whether you’re shopping for a longtime partner, a situationship or your own well-deserved self-love moment, these cannabis Valentine’s Day picks are designed to set the mood, spark connection, and make the night memorable in all the right ways. High Spirits Love doesn’t have to be complicated, and neither does your drink. High Spirits brings the good vibes with clean, consistent THC beverages made for . . .

Tax revenue from marijuana sales has gradually decreased in Colorado over the past five years as more states have enacted legalization and as intoxicating hemp products have grown in popularity, state officials say in a new report. Nonetheless, cannabis is still bringing in more tax dollars compared to alcohol or cigarettes. In a memorandum from the Colorado legislature’s nonpartisan Legislative Council, staff sought to answer “common questions about how revenue from the marijuana industry fits into Colorado’s state budget.” That includes the $231.1 million in cannabis revenue the state . . .

The governor of New York has signed legislation into law that revises zoning requirements for licensed marijuana businesses, granting more flexibility to retailers located within certain distances of schools and places of worship. The bills, passed by the House and Senate and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Wednesday, also grandfather in more than 150 existing retailers whose locations were retroactively found to be out of compliance with zoning requirements that created a buffer between cannabis dispensaries and schools and churches. Last year, New York regulators notified the licensed . . .

The head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that while the Trump administration is taking the potential harms of marijuana use among youth “very seriously,” it’s also important to preserve access to cannabis for medical purposes-and that’s part of the thinking behind the push to federally reschedule it. In an interview on Fox Business on Wednesday, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary was asked about a recent New York Times editorial published that called for safeguards around marijuana, citing contested data on the relationship between cannabis use and health issues such as psychosis. . . .

Oregon’s 2026 legislative session began last week on February 2. The biennial “short session” will last but 35 days, and focus on budget shortfalls, transportation and housing-which is to say that cannabis is not a priority. That said, of the 300 or so introduced bills, there four cannabis-related submissions. That’s where I come in. Each bill is linked below, with explanation and editorial. House Bill 4139 This is the annual omnibus cannabis bill. My source tells me it collapsed a few weeks ago when marijuana and hemp folks couldn’t agree on core items around intoxicating hemp products, or . . .