News

  • Texas Judge Allows Smokable Hemp And Other Products To Be Sold, Blocking State Ban From Being Enforced
    by Tom Angell on May 1, 2026 at 5:22 pm

    A Texas judge has issued a temporary injunction that continues to prevent state officials from enforcing new rules restricting access to hemp-derived products such as smokable THCA flower. Meanwhile, the state Supreme Court in a separate case is allowing regulators to ban delta-8 THC. Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle’s ruling on Friday follows one from another judge last month who issued a temporary restraining order on the hemp product ban. Under the latest order, broad hemp product sales can continue until at least July 27. The decisions come amid a lawsuit brought by a coalition of hemp . . .

  • A Really, Really Good Witch
    by Maria Wyllie on May 1, 2026 at 5:03 pm

    Speaking with Shelley Johnson-known to her millions of followers as “A Good Witch”-feels like affirmation cards come to life, only less polished and far more entertaining. “Being a whole person is not about judgment. Being a whole person is about accepting yourself.” “You are divine and you are connected. Nothing on this earth can shake you.” “What you think about me is none of my business.” These are just a few of her mantras. It’s only a few minutes into our Zoom call-how Johnson holds all her virtual tarot card readings-and I already feel better, calmer. At 73, Johnson has mastered . . .

  • Safe Harbor Expands Financial Platform with Enhanced Lending Capabilities to Support Cannabis Industry Growth
    by Industry Articles on May 1, 2026 at 4:43 pm

    Safe Harbor’s expanded platform now includes commercial real estate financing, working capital, business expansion financing, equipment financing, cash flow lending, syndications and more DENVER (April 30, 2026) – SHF Holdings, Inc., d/b/a Safe Harbor (“Safe Harbor”) (NASDAQ: SHFS), a leading fintech platform serving the banking, lending, and financial services needs of the regulated cannabis and hemp industries, today announced the expansion of its lending platform, which is expected to significantly broaden the financing solutions available to cannabis related businesses (“CRBs”) . . .

  • Star signs and cannabis strains: May 2026 horoscopes
    by Mary Carreon on May 1, 2026 at 4:00 pm

    Your May 2026 horoscopes arrive with intense, volatile energy, kicking off a month marked by emotional reactivity and deep introspection. The post Star signs and cannabis strains: May 2026 horoscopes appeared first on Leafly.

  • DEA Clarifies That The Synthetic Cannabis Compound HHC Is Federally Banned, And Doesn’t Count As Legal Hemp
    by Tom Angell on May 1, 2026 at 2:59 pm

    Federal drug officials are clarifying that a cannabinoid produced synthetically from components of the cannabis plant is federally illegal. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said that while hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) has already been considered a Schedule I illegal substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the agency is now giving the compound its own unique drug code for classification. HHC can be found in trace amounts in cannabis plants but is also synthesized by hydrogenating cannabidiol (CBD). It’s sometimes sprayed on cannabis flowers that are low in delta-9 . . .

  • House Passes Federal Farm Bill Without Changes to Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Rules
    by Graham Abbott on May 1, 2026 at 2:44 pm

    The U.S. House of Representatives voted 224-200 on Tuesday to pass the federal Farm Bill, which contains some hemp-related provisions but excludes language to delay or change the expected federal changes to hemp-derived THC this November, The reports. The U.S. first legalized industrial hemp via the 2018 Farm Bill, which was passed during President Trump’s first term. The initial legalization language covered the hemp plant and all of its derivatives, so long as the crop contained less than 0.3% THC. The changes allowed for a national gray market for hemp-derived cannabinoids, which quickly . . .

  • Texas Poll Finds 75% Support for Medical Cannabis Reforms
    by Graham Abbott on May 1, 2026 at 2:44 pm

    A recent Texas poll found that 75% of voters support medical cannabis reforms, KTAL reports. The poll by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates found that while three-quarters of respondents said they support medical cannabis legalization in general, only 11% said they had heard of the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) before, which state lawmakers passed in 2015 to grant limited access to cannabinoid-based products. Of the 1,000 respondents, 44% said they’d be more likely to vote for a lawmaker who supported the TCUP, while only 13% said they’d be less likely to vote for them. Meanwhile, Texas . . .

  • California Officials Make It Easier For Marijuana Businesses To Access Federal Benefits Under Trump’s Rescheduling Move
    by Tom Angell on May 1, 2026 at 1:59 pm

    California regulators are adopting changes to the state’s marijuana licensing process that are intended to make it easier for businesses to qualify for tax deductions and other benefits in line with the Trump administration’s recent move to federally reschedule medical cannabis. Under an action announced by the U.S. Department of Justice last week, marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license immediately moved from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III, as did any marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An . . .

  • Maryland Psychedelics Task Force Is Extended Through 2027 With Governor’s Signature
    by Tom Angell on May 1, 2026 at 1:04 pm

    Maryland’s governor has signed legislation to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027, charging it with developing updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel substances and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. Gov. Wes Moore (D) approved the proposal from Sen. Brian Feldman (D) and Del. Pam Guzzone (D) on Tuesday. The enacted bills are aimed at building upon an earlier law that created the Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances. The psychedelics panel released an initial final report . . .

  • Pennsylvania Governor’s Campaign Calls Out Reelection Opponent For Opposing Marijuana Legalization
    by Tom Angell on May 1, 2026 at 11:58 am

    Pennsylvania’s governor has repeatedly called on lawmakers to send him a marijuana legalization bill. And while his opponent in his reelection campaign this year-currently the state’s treasurer-has been vague in recent public comments about her stance on the issue, a little-noticed questionnaire she filled out shows her opposition to the reform. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) for the last several years has included cannabis legalization in his budget requests to the legislature. The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a bill last year to end prohibition, but the Republican-controlled . . .

  • Calif. officials acknowledge testing gaps – Newsletter 5/1/26
    by Week_admin on May 1, 2026 at 6:12 am

    THE BIG IDEA Hi all, In the newsletter today, we’ve got lots more color on the Trump administration’s move to reschedule MED. And lots more. I hope you find it valuable, Alex Send tips, press releases, concerns, feedback and criticism to hello@weedweek.com. Sensitive material to share? Contact Alex on Signal. FROM WEEDWEEK SCOOP: Calif. officials acknowledge testing gaps in lab suit In a March hearing, California Department of Cannabis Control experts testified to gaps in agency practices which could affect testing results for contaminants. The March hearing stemmed from the 2025 closure of . . .

  • SCOOP: Calif. officials acknowledge testing gaps in lab suit
    by Week_admin on May 1, 2026 at 5:56 am

    In a March hearing, California Department of Cannabis Control experts testified to gaps in agency practices which could affect testing results for contaminants. The March hearing stemmed from the 2025 closure of BelCosta Labs which owed at least in part to positive tests for the mold aspergillus. The lab had operated on a provisional license since 2018 when the California REC market opened. Questioning of the DCC experts was conducted by BelCosta CEO Myron Ronay, a licensed, non-practicing lawyer. According to a summary prepared by Ronay . . . Log in or become a WeedWeek Member to read this . . .

  • Jerzey Grown Suing MSO Bloc Dispensary of Somerset, Others for Non-Payment
    by Dan Ulloa on April 30, 2026 at 7:27 pm

    The legal cannabis cultivator Jerzey Grown is suing the large Multi-State (MSO) Bloc of Somerset, the Dispensary of Union, and Oakland Manager LLC over payment of goods. Jerzey Grown Payment Lawsuit Against Bloc, Others They filed a lawsuit over not getting paid with Bloc of Somerset in Franklin Township in Somerset County, the Dispensary of [ . . . ] Source: Jerzey Grown Suing MSO Bloc Dispensary of Somerset, Others for Non-Payment from Heady NJ

  • Trump’s New Surgeon General Pick Said Using Marijuana Can Give You ‘Man Boobs’
    by Tom Angell on April 30, 2026 at 6:46 pm

    President Donald Trump’s new nominee for surgeon general has expressed concerns about marijuana, saying at one point that using it is linked to the development of enlarged breasts in men, or “man boobs.” She has also, however, acknowledged that medical cannabis does have “potential benefits.” Trump announced on Thursday that he would tap Nicole Saphier, who currently serves as director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering, to serve as surgeon general of the United States. Saphier has repeatedly discussed what she sees as the dangers of marijuana use, while appearing more open to the . . .

  • House Passes Farm Bill Including Hemp Provisions, But Without Delaying THC Product Ban Scheduled For This Year
    by Tom Angell on April 30, 2026 at 4:01 pm

    The U.S. House of Representatives has passed large-scale agriculture legislation that contains provisions aimed at reducing regulatory burdens for producers of industrial hemp. The bill does not, however, include any language to delay or alter the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that’s scheduled to take effect later this year. The House voted 224-200 to pass the Farm Bill, formally known as H.R.7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, on Tuesday. Bipartisan lawmakers had filed amendments to the bill to regulate hemp THC products and delay the ban, but the . . .

  • GOP-Led Congressional Committee Votes To Block Marijuana Rescheduling, Defying Trump
    by Tom Angell on April 30, 2026 at 3:14 pm

    A key congressional panel has voted to block the federal rescheduling of marijuana-even though the Trump administration announced last week that it is moving ahead with enacting the reform. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on Thursday approved a funding bill containing a provision that, if enacted, would prevent federal officials from taking further steps to carry out cannabis rescheduling. “SEC. 591. None of the funds appropriated under this Act or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to reschedule marijuana (as such term . . .

  • DEA opens cannabis registration, but key questions remain
    by Rachelle Gordon on April 30, 2026 at 2:19 pm

    The cannabis industry was jolted when the Trump administration announced it would immediately reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana. The shift from the most restrictive Schedule I status to Schedule III could allow certain cannabis operators to access benefits, including federal tax relief. RELATED: Cannabis rescheduling: what we know-and what we don’t To be eligible for these new benefits, companies must register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which opened its application portal this week. Under federal law, any business manufacturing or dispensing controlled . . .

  • Trump Administration May Stop Pursuing Prosecutions Of Marijuana Users For Possessing Guns, Attorney General Says
    by Tom Angell on April 30, 2026 at 1:53 pm

    The Trump administration, like the Biden administration before it, has been aggressively defending the federal law that criminalizes gun possession by people who consume marijuana-but it may soon reverse course, the top Justice Department official says. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Robert Cekada on Wednesday announced a series of administrative steps to reduce burdens on firearms owners and businesses. While those steps don’t directly alter 922(g)(3), the federal law barring people who use cannabis and other . . .

  • Senate Committee Takes Up Veterans-Focused Psychedelics Bill, With VA Officials Expressing Concerns
    by Tom Angell on April 30, 2026 at 1:03 pm

    A U.S. Senate committee is taking up a bipartisan bill to promote research into the therapeutic potential psychedelics by creating a new office focused on the issue in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-hearing testimony from federal officials and veterans groups about the measure. Representatives from VA testified that despite aligning with the “intent” of the bill, the department does not support the legislation itself and “does not believe a new office is needed to carry out the duties and requirements.” Meanwhile, a Democratic senator said the Trump administration has been “better” . . .

  • Seaweed RBNY: A Dispensary Built by the Beach, for the Beach
    by Cannabis Now on April 30, 2026 at 12:00 pm

    What should a modern cannabis dispensary feel like? For years, the answer leaned clinical or transactional-think bright lights and glass counters. There was a quiet sense that you needed to know what you were doing before you walked in. Seaweed RBNY turned that expectation on its head with a space that feels natural, not intimidating-familiar, not formal. Situated in Rockaway Beach, New York, Seaweed Dispensary moves at the pace of the neighborhood. People drift in after a surf or on their way home from work. Some know exactly what they want, while others are stepping into a legal dispensary . . .

  • Congressional Committee Wants Feds To Go After Cannabis Product Manufacturers Making Unlawful Health Claims
    by Tom Angell on April 30, 2026 at 11:54 am

    A powerful congressional committee has approved a spending bill and an attached report that expresses concerns about health risks from cannabis-derived products, while separately encouraging research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. The report advanced by the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday says there has been a “proliferation” of cannabis products that “pose potential health and safety risks to consumers through misleading, unsubstantiated, and false claims” that they can treat serious illnesses. “Such products may also be contaminated with harmful substances,” the . . .

  • Class Action Lawsuit Claims ‘Cartel’ Manipulates Missouri Cannabis Industry
    by TG Branfalt on April 30, 2026 at 5:37 am

    A class action lawsuit filed in Missouri contends a “cartel” owns, controls, or manages an illegally high share of the state’s dispensary licenses and uses that market power to manipulate the market for its own gain. The lawsuit from licensed cannabis cultivators CPC of Missouri-Smithville, LLC and GF Saint Mary LLC alleges that Good Day Farm and a network of companies and investors conspired to invest in limited liability companies that then acquired additional cannabis industry licenses, all of which are actually owned, managed, or controlled by Good Day Farm. Missouri has a 10% licensing . . .

  • Report: Indiana Residents Spend About $2B on Cannabis Annually Despite Prohibition
    by TG Branfalt on April 30, 2026 at 5:35 am

    Indiana residents spend nearly $2 billion on cannabis annually despite the legalization of neither medical nor adult-use cannabis in the state, according to a RAND study commissioned by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation. The report indicates that the state currently spends between $10 million and $20 million per year to enforce its cannabis laws, while cannabis-derived revenues could reach as much as $180 million annually – or about 1% of the state’s General Fund. Three out of four of Indiana’s neighboring states – Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio – have legalized cannabis for adult use, which . . .

  • Maryland Gov. Signs Bill Allowing Off-Duty Medical Cannabis Use by Fire and Rescue Public Safety Employees
    by TG Branfalt on April 30, 2026 at 5:16 am

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Tuesday signed legislation allowing off-duty medical cannabis use by fire and rescue public safety employees. This bill prohibits employers of fire and rescue public safety employees who hold medical cannabis ID cards from “disciplining, discharging, or otherwise discriminating against the employee” with regard to the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; or limiting, segregating, or classifying its employees in any way that would “deprive or tend to deprive the employee of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely . . .

  • Underground Legacy Weed Vending Machine Operation Busted
    by Dan Ulloa on April 29, 2026 at 9:07 pm

    Monmouth and Ocean County law enforce went after an Ocean County underground cannabis legacy operator for selling weed in vending machines. A 26-month-long multi-agency investigation identified Ben Gross, 40, of Toms River, as the owner of “Barbwire.” They operated weed vending machines selling weed throughout New Jersey. According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, “the [ . . . ] Source: Underground Legacy Weed Vending Machine Operation Busted from Heady NJ