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Consumer preferences are shifting toward wellness and alternative remedies, and some of the most recognizable names in American business are eyeing cannabis as a fertile ground for expansion. These legacy companies, built on generations of tradition in food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals, see the industry’s rapid growth as an opportunity to attract new demographics and bolster revenues. One such story unfolds with the Vlasic family, known for their iconic pickles, which is extending its brand into cannabis products. This move exemplifies a broader pivot among established enterprises drawn to . . .

A proposed class action lawsuit alleges Missouri’s largest retailer Good Day Farm is running an anti-competitive “cartel.” Filed by two Missouri wholesalers, the suit alleges that Good Day paid independent retailers to turn over management of their storefronts in order to control the market through a “buy-side monopoly (also called a monopsony,” It says Good Day, controls at least 61 retail outlets under five brands, roughly a quarter of the shops in the state. Log in or become a WeedWeek Member to read this article.

State-licensed medical marijuana businesses can now apply for federal protections in line with the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s “Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Portal” went live on Wednesday morning. The move follows last week’s announcement by the Department of Justice that marijuana is being moved from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), in phases. Under an order signed by Acting Attorney General Blanche, marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license immediately moved . . .

Republican leaders of a powerful congressional committee are advancing legislation aimed at blocking the federal rescheduling of marijuana-even though the Trump administration announced last week that it is moving ahead with the reform. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on Wednesday released the text of 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 . . .

According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, an estimated 47.7 million Americans aged 12 and older had used an illicit drug within the last 30 days, showing a 1.9% increase from the previous count. Every state has its laws on drug use. Federal laws play an interesting role in determining the penalties a [ . . . ] Source: Understanding Drug Crime Laws and Penalties from Heady NJ

Marijuana laws in the United States are both complicated and unpopular. It has only gotten more popular in an era of state cannabis legalization. The United States operates with both federal and state law systems. Various states in the US have recently allowed for cannabis for both personal and medicinal purposes while marijuana remains a [ . . . ] Source: What Are Marijuana Laws? from Heady NJ

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) supports the Trump administration’s move to reschedule marijuana under federal law-but she also worries that enacting incremental cannabis reforms without equity and social justice measures will leave behind many people who have been harmed by criminalization. “This has always been an issue kind of at the heart of decriminalization,” the congresswoman told Marijuana Moment in an interview on the Capitol Steps on Wednesday. “Many of the people who profited from the war on drugs will then profit also-double down on that profit-from legalization,” she said. . . .

The Trump administration’s move to reschedule marijuana is popular, but most people support even broader cannabis reforms, according to a new federally funded study that examines public comments received during the government’s official consideration of the proposal. The analysis of the 42,913 marijuana rescheduling comments submitted to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) shows that 28.9 percent supported moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as proposed and that 63.5 percent wanted further rescheduling or even complete descheduling. . . .

MJ Unpacked is rolling back into Atlantic City on May 5–7, and it feels less like another cannabis conference and more like a family reunion at the shore-with much better weed. This is more than just a date on the industry calendar; it’s the rare event where operators, brands, investors, and policy nerds all actually show up, lean in, and get real about where this market is headed. The pier party you never got as a kid I still haven’t stopped thinking about the last time MJ Unpacked took over the pier for the afterparty. That night is firmly cemented as one of the most memorable events I’ve . . .

For state-licensed medical marijuana operators, a narrow and potentially transformative window has opened–one that could position your business for future interstate and even global trade. While the Acting Attorney General’s rescheduling order is likely to face legal challenges, the immediate reality is this: you have a 60-day opportunity to act. As of yesterday, April 28, state medical marijuana licensees may apply for DEA registration to manufacture (this includes cultivation and limited processing), to distribute, and to dispense medical marijuana. The DEA dispensary application portal is . . .

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Wednesday launched its online portal allowing state-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries to register with the federal government, according to a Reuters report. The portal will allow regulated medical cannabis businesses to register with the DEA and become recognized as legal manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of cannabis. Registered firms would be operating in full compliance with federal law, and would thus no longer be subject to Internal Revenue Code Section 280E, providing immediate tax relief and access to traditional . . .

An administrative law judge in Oklahoma ruled last week that Cedric Gardens Inc, a state-licensed medical cannabis cultivator, can resume business operations after they were suspended by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA), KOKH reports. OMMA regulators issued the emergency shutdown order on February 24, 2026, alleging to have found over 1,923 pounds of cannabis flower and 5,742 pounds of shake that were “untagged” and “unreconcilable” in Metrc, the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system. But according to Cedric Gardens, which operates one of the state’s largest outdoor cannabis . . .

South Carolina patients could get legal access to medical marijuana under a little-known state law that could be triggered by the Trump administration’s federal cannabis rescheduling move. State Sen. Tom Davis (R), who has sponsored bills to legalize medical cannabis over a number of sessions, told The Post and Courier that the federal action kicks off “a chain of legal consequences in South Carolina that the General Assembly can no longer ignore.” Specifically, an existing South Carolina law says that “if a substance is added, deleted, or rescheduled as a controlled substance pursuant to . . .

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a bill that threatens to send people to jail for up to one year if they smoke marijuana within 2,000 feet of a school property-including a college campus. The legislation from Rep. Gabe Firment (R) was passed by the House of Representatives in a 59-34 vote last week. HB 568, which now heads to the Senate for consideration, applies to people who violate drug laws “while smoking, vaping, or otherwise abusing such controlled dangerous substance while on any property used for school purposes by any school, within two thousand feet of any such property, or while . . .

“You’ve got to take what’s evolved over time. [If you] stick your head in the sand, you’re generally going to make the wrong decision.” By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) has signaled a growing willingness to legalize marijuana, noting the Hoosier State is “surrounded” by states that have legalized the drug to some degree. Illinois, Michigan and Ohio allow recreational use, while Kentucky has authorized medicinal. “I’m going to do what makes sense,” Braun told reporters Tuesday. “I’ve said law enforcement will be important. I’ve been talking to . . .

Congressional amendments to either delay the scheduled federal recriminalization of hemp THC products for another year or to speed up its implementation will not be considered on the House floor this week. Rep. James Comer (R-KY) filed the delay proposal as an amendment to the Farm Bill, while Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) introduced the accelerated approach. Neither will advance, however, after Comer withdrew his measure and the House Rules Committee did not make Miller’s in order for a floor vote. Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a drug-weight basis were federally . . .

“This legislation sets an important precedent for protecting licensed professionals from unjust discipline while respecting the will of Maryland voters and lawmakers who have legalized cannabis.” The post Maryland: Governor Signs Bill Into Law Providing Employment Protections for Firefighters’ Off-Duty Use of Medical Cannabis appeared first on NORML.

The best pipe for smoking weed shouldn’t have to hide in a drawer. Today’s cannabis consumers are done with fragile, disposable pieces. They want precision-engineered tools that look as good as they perform. A premium marijuana pipe can be both functional and sculptural, and Portland-based Artifact is proving it. Known for sculptural forms, precision-machined metals, and user-focused functionality, Artifact’s smoking pipes and tools blend durability and performance with refined aesthetics. From its flagship Tempest pipe to its soon-to-launch Vesta Magnetic Ashtray, the company is building a . . .

The Jersey City Cannabis Control Board (CCB) revoked approval for three unopened dispensaries while reviewing the status of approved cannabis companies. Revoking Approvals for Unopened Dispensaries Commerce Department Supervising Clerk Marquiea Starks explained that the White Lotus dispensary applicants couldn’t make the meeting. They’re almost out of funds and want to move their property and [ . . . ] Source: JC Cannabis Board Revokes 3 Unopened Dispensary OKs, Reviews Others from Heady NJ

“My stance on this issue has been clear. I remain committed to combatting the growing public health and safety threat marijuana poses.” By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner After the Trump administration federally downgraded medical marijuana to a less dangerous classification of drug on Thursday, Nebraska federal and state representatives remained largely noncommittal. Advocates, meanwhile, said the move means the “last prohibitionist talking point has collapsed.” “Nebraska officials can still oppose medical cannabis out of stubbornness, but they can no longer hide behind the claim that the . . .

On April 23, 2026, the United States federal government did two things that do not belong in the same sentence. The Department of Justice, acting under a December 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump, issued a final order rescheduling FDA-approved marijuana products and state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. It was the most significant shift in federal drug policy in more than 50 years. Hours later, on the same day, the same president posted to Truth, urging Congress to act quickly to preserve Americans’ access to . . .

There was a moment-not long ago-when industrial hemp stood for something real: a second chance for American farmers, a new industrial base, and a pathway to rebuild rural economies. When Donald Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill-containing the Hemp Farming Act championed by KY Senator Mitch McConnell-the intent was clear: restore a legitimate agricultural commodity and let its component parts compete. That promise is not lost-but it is at risk. Let’s start with what’s working. Across the country, hemp farming is growing-and it’s working for farmers. The latest data shows strong double-digit . . .

Maryland’s governor has signed a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job. Gov. Wes Moore (D) gave final approval to the measure on Tuesday, weeks after it cleared the Senate and House of Delegates. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Carl Jackson (D), amends the state’s medical marijuana law by stipulating that firefighters, emergency medical technicians, cardiac rescue technicians and paramedics employed by the state or local governments will not face employment discrimination or retaliation for testing . . .

“The industry cannot ask for nuanced, evidence-informed regulation while simultaneously declining to produce the evidence that would make that possible.” By Leah Kollross, 23rd State Cannabis beverages are one of the fastest-growing segments in the hemp and cannabis marketplace, and one of the most structurally vulnerable to regulatory backlash. The reason has less to do with the products themselves, and has everything to do with the fact that most operators in this space cannot prove their products do what they claim. That’s not an indictment of any single brand. It’s a category-wide failure . . .

A group of Buddhist monks returning from a spiritual holiday in Thailand were found to be concealing several illicit packages of cultivated enlightenment within their suitcases on Sunday. On Apr. 26, Sri Lankan police arrested 22 of them at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo after customs officials discovered more than 110 kilograms of Kush amongst the group. They were returning from a four-day, all-expenses-paid holiday in Bangkok sponsored by an unnamed businessman, according to local reports. Each was holding roughly five kilograms of the potent cannabis strain concealed inside . . .