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“The GDF Cartel has-through a combination of price-fixing, product- and supplier-allocation agreements, and coordinated exclusionary conduct-unlawfully seized control of the Missouri retail dispensary market.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent When Missouri voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2022, the constitutional amendment they approved carried forward a limit meant to prevent any single company from controlling too much of the market. But one key phrase from the state’s medical marijuana law was gone. The constitution’s medical marijuana provision barred the state from . . .

The first High Times NJ Cannabis Cup was held in Atlantic City on the Steel Pier off the boardwalk on a breezy night amidst a passionate crowd. They held a great party that was filled with many of the leading figures in the New Jersey cannabis industry. The view from the steel pier of the sea [ . . . ] Source: High Times Holds NJ Cannabis Cup in Atlantic City from Heady NJ

“There’s no inherent logical connection or nexus between the smell of marijuana and unlawful activity anymore, and there’s a good reason for that.” By Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is considering a case that questions whether the odor of marijuana alone is enough for law enforcement to obtain a warrant to search a person’s home. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on an appeal of Berkeley County Circuit Court’s decision to throw out evidence Martinsburg police officers found in a home after detecting the “strong odor” of the drug. Excluding . . .

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 . . .

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’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”) . . .

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.

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 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’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’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 . . .

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 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 . . .

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 . . .