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“Patients who take traditional medications do not face punishment in the workplace unless their on-the-job performance is impaired. Patients who consume medical cannabis during their off-hours should be treated equally.” The post Maryland: Lawmakers Advance Legislation Providing Employment Protections for Firefighters’ Off Duty Use of Medical Cannabis appeared first on NORML.

FBI agents received specific guidance prohibiting them investing in marijuana companies-but not necessarily those that make hemp or CBD products-according to a 2022 memo that the agency released last week for reasons that are unclear. The allowance for hemp investments and work contains an exception blocking involvement with companies whose packaging “promotes marijuana”-including any depiction of a cannabis leaf, however. The now-unclassified policy directive also details restrictions for agents who work or volunteer outside their roles at FBI, stipulating that they could not take . . .

THE BIG IDEA Hi all, Happy Friday! In the newsletter: SCOOP: Operator intervenes in Catalyst tax suit Read up, Alex Send tips, press releases, concerns, feedback and criticism to hello@weedweek.com. Sensitive material to share? Contact Alex on Signal. FROM WEEDWEEK SCOOP: Retailer intervenes in Catalyst tax suit A Los Angeles County retailer has filed a motion to intervene in a long-running lawsuit over how California taxes vapes. The motion alleges the state is not applying the law fairly. PLUS: The latest in Catalyst’s diversion suit against the DCC Read the story Also in WeedWeek: . . .

A Los Angeles County retailer has filed a motion to intervene in a long-running lawsuit over how California taxes vapes. The motion alleges the state is not applying the law fairly. Catalyst, one of the California’s largest retail chains, argues the state’s 15% cannabis excise tax does not apply to cannabis “accessories.” In terms of vapes, this means the tax applies to cannabis oil but not the vape hardware, as long as they are listed separately on the receipt. For a $25 all-in-one . . . Log in or become a WeedWeek Member to read this article. The post SCOOP: Operator intervenes in Catalyst . . .

Sponsored Disclosure: Cannabis Tech (cannabistech.com) sometimes publishes sponsored content created in partnership with brands. These articles are clearly labeled as “Sponsored” and may include paid placements. Opinions in sponsored content are those of the author or sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cannabis Tech. CannabisTech does not verify or guarantee the legality, safety, or compliance of any third‑party products, services, or websites referenced herein. Laws governing hemp, THCA, and cannabis products vary by location and change frequently. Readers must review and . . .

When I asked a random sampling of Facebook friends what they most wanted to snack on for 420, the answer was loud and clear: wings. I’m currently enjoying cooking with sativa-dominant Crater Lake by Pruf Cultivar. It’s perfect for staying focused, excited and ready for some safe, legal 420 fun. Teriyaki-Style Chicken Wings Serving size: 4 wings BRUCE WOLF 2013 Ingredients:24 chicken wings1 tablespoon vegetable oil1 teaspoon kosher salt1 teaspoon ground fresh pepper3/4 cup soy sauce1/3 cup orange juice1/4 cup lime juice1/4 cup hoisin sauce1/4 cup ketchup1/4 cup coconut sugar3 tablespoons . . .

The mayor of Washington, D.C. is proposing to allow medical marijuana companies to partner with local breweries and distilleries to produce cannabis-infused, alcohol-free drinks for sale in the nation’s capital. Under the partnership contemplated by the Medical Cannabis Beverage Product Amendment Act of 2026 proposed by Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), alcohol companies could apply for a medical cannabis production endorsement at a cost of $500 a year to manufacture cannabis beverages, and medical marijuana companies could apply for a $1,000 annual endorsement to import cannabinoids for production. . . .

Massachusetts marijuana businesses have filed a lawsuit aiming to block an initiative to roll back the state’s voter-approved legalization law from reaching the November ballot. The proposal to repeal laws allowing legal recreational cannabis sales violates the state Constitution by containing “impermissibly unrelated subjects,” and the state attorney general’s official summary is “misleading and deficient,” according to the complaint filed on Tuesday before the state’s Supreme Judicial Court. The measure also proposes “an unconstitutional regulatory taking” by “destroy[ing] the reasonable, . . .

Maryland lawmakers have approved a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job. The House of Delegates passed the legislation, HB 797 from Del. Adrian Boafo (D), on third reading by a vote of 100-31 on Thursday, days after it advanced through the Economic Matters Committee. A Senate companion version of the cannabis measure sponsored by Sen. Carl Jackson (D) advanced through that chamber last month. This marks the latest in a series of attempts over recent sessions to enact the reform aimed at giving emergency . . .

Virginia officials are ramping up hiring for a variety of cannabis regulatory roles as the state’s pro-legalization governor prepares to take action on a bill to allow recreational sales, in addition to several other reform proposals that lawmakers have sent to her desk. In one of the latest indicators that the commonwealth is positioned to enact a system of regulated marijuana sales, Virginia’s government jobs site was recently updated with a list featuring nearly a dozen openings for cannabis regulatory positions. That includes a cannabis licensing director who would play a central role in . . .

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering firing Attorney General Pam Bondi and replacing her with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin-a move that could have major implications for marijuana reform as proposal to federally reschedule cannabis remains pending at the Department of Justice. On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Trump has grown “frustrated” with Bondi’s leadership at DOJ, in particular her handling of the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. While the president told the paper in a statement that Bondi “is a wonderful person and she is . . .

Texas officials have conditionally approved more new medical marijuana business licenses as part of a law that’s being implemented to significantly expand the state’s cannabis program. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced on Wednesday that it initiated a second phase of the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) expansion selection process by picking three new businesses that can move forward in the process. This comes months after the agency selected an initial wave of nine businesses to advance in Texas’s expanded medical cannabis licensing and approval process. The new . . .

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued guidance making clear that it does not intend to interfere with implementation of a new Trump administration initiative to cover up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products each year for eligible Medicare patients. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary wrote in a two-page memo on Wednesday that the agency “does not intend to enforce” certain sections of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act “with respect to an orally administered, hemp-derived CBD product solely on the basis that it contains CBD,” provided that it meets certain requirements. In . . .

You’re reading this week’s edition of the New Cannabis Ventures weekly newsletter, which we have been publishing since October 2015. The newsletter includes unique insight to help our readers stay ahead of the curve as well as links to the week’s most important news. We no longer send these by email as we did in [ . . . ]

A coalition of health advocacy organizations and anti-cannabis groups on Monday sued the Trump Administration over its plan to allow Medicare coverage for hemp-derived CBD and THC products. The plaintiffs include Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Cannabis Industry Victims Educating Litigators, North Carolinians Against Legalizing Marijuana, Cannabis Impact Prevention Coalition, LLC, Cannabis Industry Victims Seeking Justice, Drug Free America Foundation, Save Our Society From Drugs, Drug Watch International, Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance, Illinois Family Institute, and North Carolina . . .

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) on Monday signed a bill that increases allowed THC limits for hemp beverages sold in the state to 10 milligrams. The legislation also allows licensed hemp producers to possess cannabinoid products with THC levels above 0.3%, so long as they are not intended for direct consumers and meet safety requirements. The legislation also outlaws the sale of intoxicating hemp products online or via vending machines; imposes a 750-millileter container cap on hemp beverages; and requires intoxicating hemp products that contain 10 milligrams of THC or more to feature . . .

A paid petition circulator working for the campaign to legalize adult-use cannabis in Florida is being accused of submitting about 1,600 fraudulent signatures from voters in Palm Beach and Broward counties, CBS12 reports. Ashford Todd Monroe Jr. is accused of forging signatures and unauthorized use of personal information from voters. Investigators allege that Monroe submitted 1,955 petition forms, but 1,595 of the forms are suspected forgery. The forms will be invalid due to the forgeries. According to authorities, several voters have confirmed in interviews that they did not sign the . . .

Nick Ferrara only started his career as RUGSODA six years ago after discovering a YouTube tutorial on how to create custom rugs with a tufting gun. He has since built a portfolio that has drawn the attention of millions of online viewers, as well as names like Converse, Warner Brothers, Complex, Welch’s, Market and The Wall Street Journal.Building on his success with flat rugs, Ferrara’s creativity expanded into the third dimension with bags shaped like dice, spray cans and miniature dumpsters. Recently, he entered a new space by designing and producing his first vinyl figure. This leap into . . .

Consumers and growers are in for the kind of competition that we can all rally behind: a tussle for who has the loudest blueberry terpenes in the Cannabis game. Terphogz – the California-based popularizers of Zkittlez (known as The Original Z, or just “Z”) – debuted five new Blueberry strains dubbed the “Blooberry Line” for spring. Terphogz’s managing director, Jon “Jondo” Orantes, said, “It’s begun, the blueberry wars have.” The declaration encapsulates a simmering trend in contemporary ganja, with peer brand Cookies selling Blueberry Caviar flower. Berner is developing new crosses from it . . .

To many hardcore heads, their bong is more than just a piece of paraphernalia – it’s a reflection of their personal style – even a symbol of their stoner status. Sure, joints are great, but there’s nothing quite like a fat rip from a baller headpiece to go from sober to slobber in 4.20 seconds flat. So fire it up, fill that chamber and get ready to inhale the totally tubular history of the bong. African Origins Evidence suggests that bongs originated in Africa sometime in the 12th century. In the late 1800s, archaeologists documented how various tribes in Eastern and Southern Africa would . . .

Professional athlete. Comedian. Civil rights advocate. Musician. Dustin Brandon has held many titles throughout his life. For the past nine years, he has worked tirelessly to establish himself as an irrefutable pillar of the Cannabis community. “I came into this community as a medical patient,” Brandon explained. “This plant saved my life. My disability is brittle bones, called osteogenesis imperfecta, from birth. I’m 42 years old, and I’ve broken and fractured over 850 bones throughout my life. I’ve had close to 75 surgeries.” Brandon’s story is one of strength and resilience. Despite . . .

Anti-legalization activists associated with Kevin Sabet’s group Smart Approaches to Marijuana sued the federal government to stop a new pilot program covering some hemp-derived CBD and THC products through Medicare. The program, which provides coverage for some patients to receive up to $500 in annual coverage kicked off today. The suit, filed in Washington D.C. federal court, called the program “an unprecedented and unlawful assertion of binding decision-making authority that will profoundly affect the health of elderly Americans,” and alleged it violated the Administrative Procedure Act . . . . .

The Corning Museum of Glass in New York has stood as the repository for the most important contributions to the art of glassblowing since 1951. The museum holds thousands of pieces, dating from ancient civilizations to the work of contemporary artists pushing the field in new directions. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that CMoG acquired its first piece of smokable glassware. Many superhumans of pipe making have visited CMoG to share the finer points of their craft at the now-annual CMoG Flame Collab. Museum manager of hot glass operations Eric Goldschmidt told the Leaf that the Flame Collab . . .

For this year’s annual Glass Issue, the Leaf team decided to deep dive into collaborations. These amazing works of art come to fruition when multiple artists combine their different techniques to create something out of this world. Whether crafted by a couple of shop mates or 12 people at a national event, the outcomes show that the best things come from working together. Join us in celebrating these collaborations. Some of them are the latest, and some of them are legends. Swissperc x Snic “Untitled” Gold-plated medium classic with quartz crystal on the base and fluorite on the swoop.By Nate . . .

The Mile High City felt a little headier in March as the most passionate collectors and celebrated makers in contemporary glassmaking converged for the second annual Marble Conference. What began last year as a promising debut returned to Denver in 2026, with nearly twice as many attending artists and a huge outpouring of support from the broader glass community. Known affectionately as “MIBCON,” the two-day gathering at Void Studios featured a dynamic lineup of events celebrating modern glass culture. At the heart of it all was the Marble Market: a lively, farmers-market-style bazaar where . . .