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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 . . .

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 . . .

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

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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” . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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. 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 . . .

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

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 . . .

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 . . .