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Hawaii lawmakers have approved a bill to allow patients to immediately access medical cannabis once their registrations are submitted, instead of having to wait until their cards are delivered as is the case under current law. At a joint hearing of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Commerce and Consumer Protections Committee on Wednesday, members approved the legislation from Sen. Angus McKelvey (D), with an amendment lowering the one-time purchase limit to one ounce of cannabis instead of the two ounces that would have been covered by the measure as introduced. Sen. Joy San . . .

“It’s clear there were some significant issues with how license applications were evaluated and scored that cast a shadow over the program.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released a scathing report Wednesday on the state’s marijuana program, concluding that missteps in the 2019 licensing process triggered costly litigation and raised persistent questions about whether licenses were awarded fairly. The nearly three-year audit of the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation alleges “perceived and actual deficiencies” in the application scoring . . .

In the center of New Brunswick is Jester’s Joint, a dispensary that blends right into the Rutgers University community and offers students 21 and older legitimate options for legal adult-use cannabis. When you walk in, you immediately notice the calm, clean atmosphere. Colorful displays are around. Plus, the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. The [ . . . ] Source: Jester’s Joint Dispensary by Rutgers University in New Brunswick Offers Students Legit Options from Heady NJ

“It’s a small step. At least it’s not a step backwards.” By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner A legislative committee unanimously advanced small tweaks Tuesday to the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, presenting a unified front that was a first for legislation on the topic. The eight-member General Affairs Committee voted to advance an amended version of its Legislative Bill 1235. The amended bill would be three pages, down from 28, and would give the group’s five commissioners a salary of $12,500, create a state cash account to help fund commission work, allow the commission to charge . . .

Arizona lawmakers are considering at a pair of measures that would make the act of creating “excessive” amounts of marijuana smoke a nuisance crime punishable by jail time, even if the person is using cannabis in compliance with state law in their own homes. Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R) is sponsoring the two proposals-one that would amend state statute legislatively that would put the issue before voters at the ballot. Members of the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee are set to consider the proposals this week. The lawmaker said he decided to push the issue due to the smell of marijuana in . . .

Molly Ann Farms dispensary in Haledon in Passaic County highlighted the need for cannabis homegrow legalization at their 3rd* CannUnity Culture Collective Stash Drop. At their Stash Drops, the first 100 local residents purchased curated cannabis bags for $1 with proceeds supporting The Last Prisoner Project nonprofit. So, a long line formed outside the dispensary [ . . . ] Source: Molly Ann Farms Dispensary Highlights Home Grow Need During CannaUnity Stash Drop from Heady NJ

The shift to digital medical cannabis cards will “enhance convenience for patients and caregivers,” the state health secretary said. By John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota medical marijuana cards will soon be primarily digital. The cannabis card news came Tuesday at the Capitol during a meeting of the House of Representatives’s Health and Human Services Committee. Rep. Josephine Garcia, R-Watertown, had planned to testify on her bill to create digital cards, but instead sat down before the committee and asked its members to table it. Garcia is the chairwoman of the state’s . . .

The Virginia House and Senate have each passed competing versions of a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis sales in the commonwealth, Foaley Hoag reports. House lawmakers passed HB 642 by a 65-32 vote on Tuesday morning, and the Senate narrowly passed SB 542 by a 21-19 vote several hours later. The largely similar proposals would establish licenses for cannabis cultivators, retailers, manufacturers, microbusinesses, testing facilities, and transportation services. The licenses would be awarded by lottery and the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would be designated the industry’s prime . . .

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission voted on Thursday to schedule a public hearing to hear feedback regarding a potential freeze on new cannabis cultivation licenses and a temporary moratorium on adding canopy space for existing growers, the State House News Service reports. At the hearing, testifiers could discuss the potential changes and licensing freeze, as well as the potential freezing of other cannabis industry licenses, as commissioners seek a plan to bolster current cannabis operations in the state. There are 686 licensed cannabis cultivators in Massachusetts, more than . . .

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has missed a congressionally mandated deadline to publish a list of known cannabinoids as federal hemp laws are set to change later this year in a way that stakeholders argue will upend the existing market. As part of appropriations legislation that President Donald Trump signed last year, many hemp products that were legalized during his first term in office under the 2018 Farm Bill will be prohibited once again starting in November. The spending measure included separate provisions, however, to have FDA and other relevant agencies study the cannabinoid . . .

Local officials in Pennsylvania’s second most populous city are calling on state lawmakers and the governor to urgently agree on a plan to legalize marijuana this year. The Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution noting that despite legalization being enacted in surrounding states and the Trump administration’s “historic” move to federally reschedule marijuana, “Pennsylvania continues to treat cannabis possession as a criminal offense in many circumstances, resulting in ongoing arrests, prosecutions, and incarceration that disproportionately impact communities of color and . . .

Organigram Announces Proposed Acquisition of Sanity Group, a Leading German Cannabis Company Accretive Acquisition of Sanity Group Establishes Organigram as a Global Pure Play Cannabis Company with Leadership Positions in the World’s Two Largest Federally Legal Cannabis Markets Organigram to acquire Sanity Group for up-front consideration of €113.4 million plus a maximum earnout of up [ . . . ]

A packaging company sued Stiiizy in California federal court alleging the state’s leading operator owes it $7M. Colorado-based All Packaging Company (APC) says it had been a Stiiizy vendor for several years in 2022 when it agreed to finance Stiiizy’s purchase of automated packaging equipment. The suit claims Stiiizy agreed to make monthly payments and make APC its preferred provider of paperboard packaging. Following a nearly two year negotiation and design process, the suit alleges the equipment passed factory acceptance testing (FAT) in December 2023 and the equipment was installed soon . . .

Hawaii senators have taken up a pair of bills to legalize marijuana-with one proposal contingent on federal reform or changes to the state Constitution and the other omitting provisions allowing for commercial sales. Members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Commerce and Consumer Protections Committee took up the measures-SB 2421 and SB 3275 from Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D)-at a joint hearing on Tuesday. The panels also discussed separate legislation allowing for the sale of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products and permitting one-time medical cannabis sales for . . .

Urb’n dispensary opened the first legal cannabis consumption lounge in North Jersey in Newark with a party by Glass Meadows /Rosin King of Jersey. The chill party vibe included people passing and smoking joints, which was really awesome. It encapsulated the beauty of weed helping to connect with strangers you otherwise wouldn’t get to know. [ . . . ] Source: Urb’n NJ Opens 1st Legal Cannabis Lounge in North Jersey from Heady NJ

Virginia’s legislature took action on a series of marijuana bills on a key deadline Tuesday-advancing proposals to legalize cannabis sales, provide a pathway to resentencing for prior marijuana convictions and allow medical cannabis access in hospitals for seriously ill patients. On Tuesday’s crossover deadline to move bills from one chamber to the other, the House of Delegates and Senate passed differing versions of marijuana sales legislation that will now be sent to the other body for consideration. The House approved its measure from Del. Paul Krizek (D) in a 65-32 vote, and the Senate . . .

“These findings ought to reassure lawmakers that cannabis access can be legally regulated in a manner that is safe, effective, and that does not inadvertently impact young people’s habits.” The post Federal Survey Data: Cannabis Use by Young People Continues Decades-Long Decline appeared first on NORML.

Massachusetts has reached another marijuana milestone, with officials announcing that the state has surpassed $9 billion in adult-use cannabis purchases since the market launched in 2018. According to the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), Massachusetts recreational marijuana sales hit the $9 billion mark as of February 4. The update also notes that the state saw $1.65 billion in cannabis purchases in 2025 alone, and sales this year have already reached $151 million-with a “notable increase of sales preceding the region’s large snowstorm” in late January. “Every billion-dollar cannabis sales . . .

“While wisely resisting calls to recriminalize cannabis, the editorial board nonetheless fails to make appropriate distinctions between regulated and unregulated marijuana markets.” The post NORML’s Response to the NYT: Editors Fail to Distinguish Between Regulated and Unregulated Marijuana Markets appeared first on NORML.

Maryland lawmakers have approved 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. Days after holding an initial hearing on the legislation from Del. Pam Guzzone (D), members of the House Health Committee voted 18-1 to advance it on Friday. A Senate companion version sponsored by Sen. Brian Feldman (D) was separately taken up in the Finance Committee on Thursday. Discussion on the House bill was limited, with no . . .

The Public Cannabis Company Revenue & Income Tracker, managed by New Cannabis Ventures, ranks the top revenue producing cannabis companies. This update is our first since the middle of August, when we previewed the Q3 Reports. Tracker Rules This data-driven, fact-based tracker will continually update based on new financial filings so that readers can stay up to [ . . . ]

The first-ever White House drug czar says that while he loves President Donald Trump and “almost everything he does,” that affection doesn’t extend to the pending proposal to federally reschedule marijuana, which he described as a “gateway drug” that’s harming youth. William Bennett, who served as education secretary under former President Ronald Reagan before becoming the first director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), told Fox News Digital that cannabis “clouds focus and attention, which you obviously should have if you’re going to school.” “So it clouds that, it . . .

Oklahoma Republican leadership in both chambers are voicing skepticism over the governor’s suggestion that the state should put a measure on the ballot to roll back its medical marijuana program. After Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) used part of his State of the State address this month to pitch the idea of shutting down the state’s medical cannabis law, both Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton (R) and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R) have largely dismissed the proposal. Asked about the prospect of advancing a joint resolution in the legislature to put the issue back before voters, Hilbert said . . .

California’s top cannabis regulator touted cost reductions for operators and said he hoped to further reduce their expense burden. In an interview with the Capitol Weekly podcast, Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) director Clint Kellum pointed to last year’s repeal of a pot tax hike, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom . . . Log in or become a WeedWeek Member to read this article. The post Newsbrief: Calif. regulator touts cost reductions appeared first on WeedWeek.

Vermont State University (VTSU) on Monday announced it will serve as the educational partner for the 2026 Vermont Cannabis Convention. In a statement, Dr. Phil Lamy, VTSU Cannabis Studies program director, said the organization’s goal “is to organize a wide variety of panels, presentations, and hands-on workshops featuring cutting-edge cannabis professionals from New England and beyond.” “This unique partnership with the [New England Cannabis Convention] brand and Vermont’s leading cannabis convention producer expands VTSU’s mission to a wider professional audience.” – Lamy in a press . . .