News

  • Cannabis Sales Remained Weak in February
    by Alan Brochstein, CFA on March 3, 2026 at 12:39 am

    New Cannabis Ventures offers readers this easy-to-read exclusive summary of BDSA’s monthly cannabis sales data for 15 states. Cannabis sales decreased 3.6% sequentially in February. Adjusted for the fewer number of days, sales rose sequentially by 6.7% on a per-day basis. In this review, we share the results by state, beginning with the western markets [ . . . ]

  • Virginia Lawmakers Advance Marijuana Resentencing Bills As Push To Legalize Commercial Sales Also Nears Finish Line
    by Kyle Jaeger on March 2, 2026 at 9:01 pm

    Virginia House and Senate lawmakers have advanced a pair of companion bills, with amendments, that would provide a pathway to resentencing for people with prior marijuana convictions. Members of the Senate and House Courts of Justice Committees on Monday approved substitute versions of the opposite chambers’ reform legislation, making certain revisions that set the stage for bicameral negotiations as the measures move forward in the legislative process. Overall, the legislation as introduced in both chambers would create a process by which people who are incarcerated or on community . . .

  • Missouri Marijuana Officials File New Rules Targeting Bad Actors In Legal Industry
    by Marijuana Moment on March 2, 2026 at 8:43 pm

    “What we are saying in the rule is if a year from now we look at your ownership and we see you have someone exercising a controlling influence that you know has done these things, then that is a violation.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Missouri cannabis regulators want more power to penalize bad actors in the marijuana industry, according to drafts of proposed rules released last week. The sweeping revisions to Division of Cannabis Regulation rules also aim to streamline the process for ownership changes, allow publicly traded companies to own cannabis licenses and establish recall . . .

  • Police And Anti-Drug Groups Call On Key Congressional Leaders To Let Hemp THC Ban Take Effect Without Delay
    by Kyle Jaeger on March 2, 2026 at 8:19 pm

    A coalition of law enforcement and anti-drug groups is calling on congressional leaders to oppose efforts to delay the implementation of a law that’s set to recriminalize most hemp THC products within months-a policy change that industry stakeholders say would fundamentally upend the market that’s emerged since the crop and its derivatives were federally legalized. As certain lawmakers seek to push back the implementation timeline-with a delay included in proposed amendments for the latest Farm Bill that’s being marked up in a key House committee on Tuesday, for example-the prohibitionists . . .

  • Several Supreme Court Justices Express Skepticism Over Governments’ Categorical Gun Ban for Cannabis Consumers
    by NORML on March 2, 2026 at 6:57 pm

    “Based on the questions presented, I believe a majority of the Court recognizes that the government may not categorically disarm responsible adults solely because they use cannabis, absent any showing of habitual use and dangerousness. The Second Amendment protects individuals, not status-based classifications, and the historical tradition the Court requires does not support such a blanket prohibition.” The post Several Supreme Court Justices Express Skepticism Over Governments’ Categorical Gun Ban for Cannabis Consumers appeared first on NORML.

  • Ohio AG Sues 9 MSOs for Fixing Cannabis Market Prices/Products
    by Dan Ulloa on March 2, 2026 at 6:51 pm

    Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) is suing 9 large Multi-State Operators (MSOs) for creating a Trust to reduce competition to keep cannabis prices high and reduce choice, which harms consumers and small businesses. The lawsuit details how this is likely happening across the state-legal cannabis markets, including New Jersey. When corporations work closely together [ . . . ] Source: Ohio AG Sues 9 MSOs for Fixing Cannabis Market Prices/Products from Heady NJ

  • The Most Important International Event in Cannabis
    by Johnny Green on March 2, 2026 at 6:02 pm

    The emerging legal cannabis industry is more exciting now than at any other point in human history. More jurisdictions permit cannabis production and commerce for medical or recreational purposes than ever before, and the therapy and product options for patients and consumers in legal jurisdictions are abundant. Adding to the excitement of the medical and adult-use sectors is the personal cannabis freedoms that are being afforded to people in many regions of the world. Legal home cultivation and private use are becoming more common in many countries. Furthermore, technology is being harnessed . . .

  • Maryland Senators Approve Bill To Let Firefighters And Rescue Workers Use Medical Marijuana While Off Duty
    by Tom Angell on March 2, 2026 at 4:36 pm

    A Maryland Senate panel has approved a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized for using medical marijuana while off duty. The Senate Finance Committee advanced the measure from Sen. Carl Jackson (D) in a 6-4 vote on Thursday, about a year after the full chamber passed an earlier version that ultimately stalled out in the House. If SB 439 is enacted, state law would be amended to codify that firefighters and other rescue workers who are registered medical cannabis patients could not be penalized over their participation in the state-legal program or for testing . . .

  • Unreliable Lab Results Prompt New York Adult-Use Cannabis Recall
    by Graham Abbott on March 2, 2026 at 3:31 pm

    The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) last week announced a precautionary recall for multiple adult-use cannabis products tested by Keystone State Testing New York, a state-licensed testing lab in Vestal. Regulators said an investigation into the testing lab conducted between December 2025 and January 2026 determined that the lab issued unreliable test results for multiple cannabis products. The agency identified 54 product lots with incorrectly reported results for Aspergillus, a fungus that can cause lung infection, that “did not meet required safety standards for consumption.” . . .

  • Kentucky Senate Proposal Would Expand THC Beverage Sales to Bars & Restaurants
    by Graham Abbott on March 2, 2026 at 3:27 pm

    A bill in the Kentucky Senate seeks to expand the locations and business types that are allowed to sell hemp-derived THC beverages in the state, WKYT reports. The proposal, Senate Bill 223, would create licenses allowing for the sale of THC-infused beverages at bars, restaurants, fairs, and festivals. The licenses would need to be approved by the state Department for Public Health, and sales would be limited to adults aged 21 and older. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, according to the report. Currently, hemp-derived THC beverages are available for sale in Kentucky only in . . .

  • Listen Live: Supreme Court Hears Case On Marijuana Users’ Second Amendment Gun Rights As Trump DOJ Defends Ban
    by Kyle Jaeger on March 2, 2026 at 2:51 pm

    The U.S. Supreme Court is holding a hearing in a case that will determine the constitutionality of a widely contested federal law prohibiting people who use marijuana from owning or possessing firearms. After years of legal challenges to the federal statute, Section 922(g)(3), in courtrooms across the country, justices on Monday are hearing oral arguments in U.S. vs. Hemani and will put questions to the Trump administration’s Justice Department and attorneys for Ali Danial Hemani, who challenged his conviction for unlawful possession of a gun as a person who regularly used cannabis. The . . .

  • Former Congressman And Alcohol Stakeholders Push For Hemp THC Regulations Over Prohibition As Federal Ban Looms
    by Kyle Jaeger on March 2, 2026 at 1:01 pm

    Hemp and alcohol industry stakeholders are on full alert amid a pending ban on hemp THC products-including increasingly popular cannabinoid beverages-and a former Democratic congressman who owns a major alcohol company is looking for solutions. At Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America’s (WSWA) recent Access LIVE 2026 event in Las Vegas, which brought together top players in the cannabis and alcohol markets, former Rep. David Trone (D-MD) and stakeholders discussed the policy landscape around hemp and how to avert an industry-wide upheaval under spending legislation President Donald Trump . . .

  • Ghana officially launches medicinal cannabis cultivation program
    by Rowan Dunne on March 2, 2026 at 11:42 am

    Ghana has launched a tightly regulated program for cultivating low-THC cannabis, opening opportunities in medicinal and industrial applications while strictly prohibiting recreational use. On Feb. 26, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak announced the initiative in Accra, emphasizing that only varieties with 0.3 per cent THC or less on a dry weight basis qualify under the new rules. This framework distinguishes clearly between legal low-THC hemp and high-THC recreational cannabis, which continues to carry criminal sanctions in the country. The focus centres on hemp for pharmaceuticals, textiles, . . .

  • Nebraska Medical Marijuana Advocates Press Ahead After Campaign Notary Convicted For Misconduct
    by Marijuana Moment on March 1, 2026 at 2:43 pm

    “Voters went forward and voted, and it is time to start moving forward and doing something with this issue, rather than trying to stand in the way at every single opportunity.” By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana stood behind its 2024 campaign to legalize and regulate medical cannabis, a day after a Hall County jury convicted one of the campaign’s volunteer notaries on 24 misdemeanor criminal charges. A six-person jury convicted Jacy C. Todd of York, 55, on Wednesday of 23 counts of “official misconduct” as a result of 23 days of improper notarizations . . .

  • Medical Cannabis Is on Every Ballot in 2026
    on February 28, 2026 at 10:33 pm

    Let’s Make Sure Compassion is Too. Candidates running for federal office are publicly committing to advance a national medical cannabis program by signing the Compassionate Pledge – sending a clear signal to voters about how they will approach medical cannabis policy in Washington, D.C.

  • Indiana Won’t Ban Hemp THC Products This Year After Last-Minute Legislative Push Fails
    by Marijuana Moment on February 28, 2026 at 1:43 pm

    The sponsor of the THC product ban complained that lawmakers would end the session “having done nothing” on hemp. By Leslie Bonilla Muniz, Indiana Capital Chronicle Indiana’s prohibition on intoxicating and synthetic hemp-derived drugs was dead for less than a week before it was resurrected and killed again-this time, until at least next year. Indiana will go another year without a 21-plus age limit on intoxicating hemp products, bill author Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, bemoaned Friday. Lawmakers have repeatedly tried to regulate potent delta-8, TCHA and other cannabinoid products, . . .

  • Newsbrief: Calif. Cannabis Awards to recognize homegrow
    by Week_admin on February 27, 2026 at 10:47 pm

    The fifth annual California Cannabis Awards will recognize homegrown product for the first time. Given out in partnership with the state fair, and several companies the new category celebrates plants grown for personal, non-commercial use. As with other flower categories, entries will be judged by a “science-based evaluation process” including lab testing by SC Labs and objective data derived from from the PhytoFacts analytic platform. Unlike the commercial prizes, the competition . . . Log in or become a WeedWeek Member to read this article. The post Newsbrief: Calif. Cannabis Awards to . . .

  • Trump Administration ‘Very Anxious’ To Allow Psychedelic Therapy ‘As Quickly As Possible,’ RFK Tells Joe Rogan
    by Kyle Jaeger on February 27, 2026 at 10:42 pm

    The Trump administration is “very anxious” to create a pathway for access to psychedelics therapy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. says, and top officials across federal agencies want to “get it out to the public as quickly as possible.” In an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that was released on Friday, Kennedy said he’s confident “we’re going to get it done,” with plans to develop and finalize rules that would enable patients with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression to access psychedelic . . .

  • Cannabis Stocks Held Steady
    by Alan Brochstein, CFA on February 27, 2026 at 9:34 pm

    Cannabis stocks, as measured by the Global Cannabis Stock Index, were quite volatile in 2024 and then in 2025 as well. While the index did rally in December, it fell for the year. The index dropped 10.6% in January to 5.89. February saw lower prices, but the market recovered with the index ending the month at [ . . . ]

  • Bills To Let Patients Use Medical Marijuana In Hospitals Are Advancing In States Across The U.S.
    by Kyle Jaeger on February 27, 2026 at 8:53 pm

    Lawmakers in multiple states are considering bills to allow seriously ill patients to access and use medical marijuana in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, with several such proposals advancing this week and one running into a legislative roadblock. While the specific provisions of the legislation differs from state to state, the main goal is same: Legislators are hoping to adopt versions of what’s known as “Ryan’s law,” named after a young medical cannabis patient in California who passed away. The 2026 session has seen iterations of the reform move in a wide variety of state . . .

  • Star signs and cannabis strains: March 2026 horoscopes
    by Mary Carreon on February 27, 2026 at 8:15 pm

    Take a look at your March 2026 horoscopes! This month is about calling out your growth and finding the best strain to match. The post Star signs and cannabis strains: March 2026 horoscopes appeared first on Leafly.

  • Beyond Disposables: The Rise of Modular Vape Hardware
    by Cannabis Now on February 27, 2026 at 8:11 pm

    For years, cannabis vape hardware has been defined by a binary choice: 510-thread cartridges or all-in-one disposables. Each format emerged to solve specific problems, and each became deeply entrenched in the market. But as the industry matures, and extract innovation accelerates-that binary is starting to feel limiting. Today’s brands are managing more SKUs, more extract types, and more educated consumers than ever before. Meanwhile, regulators and customers alike are asking tougher questions about waste, performance and long-term value. Against that backdrop, a new category of vape hardware . . .

  • Spectacular delta-9 and kratom deals for spring
    by Leafly Staff on February 27, 2026 at 8:00 pm

    This spring, the focus is on fresh, innovative formats that fit seamlessly into an active lifestyle. The post Spectacular delta-9 and kratom deals for spring appeared first on Leafly.

  • Maryland Senate Unanimously Passes Bill To Extend Psychedelics Task Force Through 2027
    by Kyle Jaeger on February 27, 2026 at 5:14 pm

    The Maryland Senate has unanimously 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. Just days after moving through committee-which came on the same day that the House of Delegates passed that chamber’s version-the full Senate on Thursday approved the legislation from Sen. Brian Feldman (D) in a 44-0 vote. Both chambers’ proposals are aimed at building upon a current law that created the Maryland Task Force . . .

  • Virginia Senators Advance House-Passed Marijuana Sales Bill As Reform Nears Finish Line In Both Chambers
    by Kyle Jaeger on February 27, 2026 at 4:15 pm

    Virginia senators have approved a House-passed bill to legalize marijuana sales, adopting changes to make it similar to the version that originated in their chamber as the reform proposal moves closer to the finish line. Members of the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee on Friday voted 8-7 to advance the legislation from Del. Paul Krizek (D) to the body’s Courts of Justice Committee, with additional amendments that the panel chair said both sponsors of the House and Senate bills agreed to include. The latest action comes just days after the House General Laws Committee . . .