News

  • Federal Agencies Would Have To Study State Marijuana Laws Under New Directive From Congressional Committee
    by Tom Angell on April 20, 2026 at 3:47 pm

    A key congressional committee is expected to issue a directive this week for federal agencies to study the “adequacy” of state marijuana laws and to assess methods for “preventing diversion of state legal cannabis product into jurisdictions that do not permit the use of cannabis.” The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday is scheduled to take up spending legislation and related reports, one of which contains the marijuana provisions. The draft report set to be attached to the Fiscal Year 2027 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) bill says the panel “recognizes that over 20 . . .

  • Woody Harrelson And Bill Maher Complain That Marijuana Taxes Are Too High While Smoking Joints At The Dispensary They Own Together
    by Tom Angell on April 20, 2026 at 3:10 pm

    California should ease up on taxes for marijuana businesses like the one they own together, Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher say. The actor and comedian jointly complained about the state’s harsh cannabis taxes in a podcast interview released on Monday, known as the unofficial marijuana holiday 4/20. “California sucks as far as-look, all businesses, but certainly this one,” Maher said on the episode of his Club Random podcast. “They still treat it like it’s poison.” Harrelson agreed, saying, “They treat it like you’re lucky that we allow you to do this, and so we’re going to tax you 35 percent, . . .

  • Second Ohio Judge Orders Injunction Against Hemp Policy Changes
    by Graham Abbott on April 20, 2026 at 2:34 pm

    A second Ohio judge last week approved a temporary restraining order to pause enforcement of SB 56, the new state policy banning the sale of intoxicating hemp products, WCMH reports. The ruling by Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Brown sides with the plaintiffs, Happy Harvest and Get Wright Lounge, in their lawsuit challenging the new policy. The suit claims that SB 56 violates federal law by classifying hemp-derived THC products as cannabis, not hemp, and regulating them under the state’s adult-use cannabis program. State Rep. Jennifer Gross (R), who supports overturning . . .

  • Virginia Lawmakers Consider Response to Governor’s Retail Cannabis Requests
    by Graham Abbott on April 20, 2026 at 2:34 pm

    Virginia Democrats are weighing their options after Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) chose not to sign the Legislature’s proposal to legalize adult-use cannabis sales, VPM News reports. Gov. Spanberger instead proposed changes to lawmakers’ retail cannabis framework, including delaying the industry’s launch by six months, from January 1 to July 1, 2026, and limiting the number of retailers permitted to open from 350 to 200, until January 1, 2029. Because the governor sent back a substitute bill rather than line-by-line amendments, lawmakers likely need to consider the legislation as a whole, the . . .

  • This 4/20, Celebrate the Progress. Sustain the Cause.
    by Joseph Bondy, Chair, NORML Board of Directors on April 20, 2026 at 1:25 pm

    Our work depends on your sustained support and resources to remain effective. The progress we celebrate today was not inevitable. Neither is the progress that remains ahead. The post This 4/20, Celebrate the Progress. Sustain the Cause. appeared first on NORML.

  • Delaware Lawmakers Pass Bill To Allow Medical Marijuana Use In Hospitals For Terminally Ill Patients, Sending It To Governor
    by Tom Angell on April 20, 2026 at 1:02 pm

    Delaware lawmakers have passed a bill to let terminally ill patients use medical cannabis in hospitals, sending the measure to the governor. About a month after the cannabis proposal from Sen. Marie Pinkney (D) advanced through the Senate in a unanimous vote, the House of Representatives approved it with a 38-0 tally on Thursday. The measure now heads to Gov. Matt Meyer (D), who can sign, veto or allow it to become law without his signature. Rep. Kamela Smith (D), who carried the legislation in the House, said ahead of the final vote that the bill “is about compassionate, safe and transparent . . .

  • New Marijuana Report Shows Arrests Are Plummeting As Legalization Spreads, But Criminalized States Still Send Thousands To Jail Each Year
    by Tom Angell on April 20, 2026 at 11:15 am

    As more states pass laws legalizing marijuana, arrests for cannabis are dropping considerably, a new report from an advocacy organization shows, not surprisingly. But it also makes the case that there is still work to be done as tens of thousands of people continue to be put in handcuffs every year in the U.S. over something that is now legal in nearly half the states. Using data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the new Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) analysis tracks cannabis enforcement trends in states that have enacted reform and those that have not-showing a “wide gap . . .

  • Massachusetts Governor Signs Bill Doubling Legal Marijuana Possession Limit And Revising Industry Rules
    by Tom Angell on April 19, 2026 at 5:49 pm

    The governor of Massachusetts has signed a bill to double the legal marijuana possession limit for adults and revise the regulatory framework for the state’s adult-use cannabis market. Gov. Maura Healey (D) approved the legislation on Sunday, about a week and a half after lawmakers sent it to her desk in unanimous House and Senate votes. “The cannabis industry is an important part of Massachusetts economy-supporting jobs and local businesses and generating revenue for cities and towns,” Healey said in a press release. “It’s important that we are doing everything we can to make sure this . . .

  • Boho Euphorics Lands in New Jersey as a Brand That Already Feels Established
    by Cannabis Now on April 19, 2026 at 4:52 pm

    Every so often, a cannabis brand enters the market with a level of clarity that is immediately recognizable. Before the product is opened, before the effect is experienced, there is already a sense that the company understands exactly what it wants to communicate. In a category where many launches still feel experimental – as if brands are testing identity in real time – Boho Euphorics arrives in New Jersey with something more difficult to manufacture: confidence. That confidence becomes especially noticeable around 4/20, when the market tends to fill with louder promotions, limited releases, . . .

  • Lawmakers, Officials And Celebs React To Trump’s Psychedelics Executive Order
    by Tom Angell on April 19, 2026 at 2:15 pm

    A wide range of bipartisan lawmakers, federal officials, state leaders and celebrities are weighing in after President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at expanding and expediting research on the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. Here’s a look at what people are saying: Lawmakers Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Totally support President Trump’s executive order that will allow alternative therapies to be approved by the FDA to treat mental health issues experienced by our veterans and others. This is a very good decision by President Trump. Congratulations to everyone who . . .

  • New Jersey Hemp Product Restrictions Take Effect
    by Marijuana Moment on April 19, 2026 at 1:45 pm

    Intoxicating THC products are now only available for legal purchase through licensed marijuana dispensaries. By Phillip Smith, The American Hemp Monitor A bill New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherill (D) signed into law at the end of last month and which went into effect Monday, Senate Bill 3945, temporarily tightens the regulation of hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids before making permanent changes that go into effect on November 13, the same day the pending tightening of federal hemp regulations goes into effect. According to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, as of Monday, the . . .

  • The Meaning of 4/20 for Me
    by Dan Ulloa on April 18, 2026 at 6:00 pm

    The traditional cannabis community holiday of 4/20 for me is about enjoyment and relaxation, community, freedom, and medicine. Since cannabis has become legal, it has grown into a holiday like Thanksgiving or Memorial Day. These are times for a meaningful ritual along with creative marketing and sales. You can get a good deal on a [ . . . ] Source: The Meaning of 4/20 for Me from Heady NJ

  • Colorado Marijuana Officials Announce Crackdown On Sales Of Hemp Products Amid ‘Risks To Public Safety’
    by Marijuana Moment on April 18, 2026 at 5:09 pm

    These issues “present serious risks to public safety, market integrity and the tax revenue framework that supports Colorado’s regulated cannabis industry.” By Christopher Osher, ProPublica and Evan Wyloge, The Denver Gazette This story was originally published by ProPublica. Colorado regulators announced on Monday that they plan to crack down on companies that illegally sell cheaper and potentially hazardous hemp products as marijuana. The state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division said it had detected “regulatory compliance issues” that threaten to unravel the marijuana industry in the nation’s . . .

  • White House Advances Psychedelic Research for Veterans-Why Cannabis Could Benefit Next
    by Cannabis Now on April 18, 2026 at 3:05 pm

    President Donald Trump used a White House press appearance on Saturday, April 18, to announce a new executive order aimed at accelerating federal research into psychedelic treatments for serious mental illness, with a specific focus on veterans living with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. The announcement comes just ahead of 4/20 and signals a notable shift in how the federal government is approaching substances that have long remained restricted under Schedule I drug policy. Standing behind the president during the Oval Office remarks were Joe Rogan and Health and Human Services Secretary . . .

  • Trump Complains DOJ Is ‘Slow-Walking’ Marijuana Rescheduling, Four Months After He Issued An Order To Get It Done
    by Tom Angell on April 18, 2026 at 2:27 pm

    President Donald Trump on Saturday appeared to complain that federal officials are “slow-walking” following through on an executive order he issued to complete the process of federally rescheduling marijuana. “You’re going to get the rescheduling done, right, please? Will you get the rescheduling done, please?” Trump said, seeming to speak to a Department of Justice official during an event in the Oval Office on Saturday. “You know, they’re slow-walking me on rescheduling. You’re going to get it done, right?” The president did not specifically mention cannabis, and it’s not immediately clear . . .

  • Trump Signs Order To Accelerate Legal Access To Psychedelics For Patients With Mental Health Conditions
    by Tom Angell on April 18, 2026 at 1:40 pm

    President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at expanding and expediting research on the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, a move aimed at making substances such as psilocybin, ibogaine, LSD and MDMA more readily available to patients in clinical settings. The move will “dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs,” Trump said. The order, which the president signed in the Oval Office on Saturday alongside federal health officials, advocates and the podcaster Joe Rogan, directs the Food and Drug Administration . . .

  • A Path Forward for Cannabis Freedom in Hungary?
    by Morgan Fox, NORML Political Director on April 18, 2026 at 1:00 pm

    With new leadership in place, do policymakers have an opportunity to reassess Hungary’s outdated marijuana laws? The post A Path Forward for Cannabis Freedom in Hungary? appeared first on NORML.

  • Ohio Judge Temporarily Pauses Hemp Product Ban For Two Businesses
    by Marijuana Moment on April 18, 2026 at 12:28 pm

    “The judge here is concerned about retailers that have made big investments in inventory, and they can’t move it, they can’t transport it, they can’t sell it.” By Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal A Franklin County judge granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) to allow two smoke shops to sell off their products less than a month after Ohio Senate Bill 56 took effect, which bans low-level THC hemp products and changes the state’s marijuana laws. Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey M. Brown issued a TRO Thursday allowing Happy Harvest locations and Get Wright Lounge to sell . . .

  • Integrate mindfulness into your daily cannabis routine
    by Amber Speck on April 17, 2026 at 7:01 pm

    A daily cannabis routine can slide into autopilot and leave stress untouched. Mindfulness techniques can help prevent that slide. The post Integrate mindfulness into your daily cannabis routine appeared first on The Leaf Online.

  • Medical Marijuana Helps People Stop Using Opioids, Sleeping Aids And Other Prescription Drugs, Study Shows
    by Tom Angell on April 17, 2026 at 4:47 pm

    Using medical marijuana appears to help people reduce the use of other medications, including opioids, sleeping aids and antidepressants, according to a new study involving more than 3,500 patients. They also experience far fewer negative side effects after switching to cannabis from prescription drugs. The results of the survey show that across all medication categories, patients were able to reduce use of other prescription drugs by an average of 84.5 percent after beginning medical cannabis consumption. More than half the patients (58.9 percent) stopped use of other prescription . . .

  • Texas Voters Support Legal Medical Marijuana Access But Are Largely Unaware Of The State’s Existing Program, Poll Shows
    by Tom Angell on April 17, 2026 at 3:22 pm

    Texas voters strongly support legalizing medical marijuana yet are largely unaware of their own state’s existing program that provides limited access to cannabis for certain patients, according to a new poll. The survey by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, which served as the chief pollster for President Donald Trump’s campaigns, found that 75 percent of Texas registered voters favor “legalized marijuana in Texas for medical use”-including 85 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of Republicans and 81 percent of independents. “Medical marijuana is very popular with Texas voters-not only do 3-in-4 voters . . .

  • Zig-Zag Invites You to Burn Slow This 4/20
    by Cannabis Now on April 17, 2026 at 3:17 pm

    4/20 marks the unofficial start of festival season-and this year, Zig-Zag is everywhere. From Denver to Atlanta, Austin to Las Vegas, the heritage rolling paper brand is showing up across the country in a way that reflects the evolution of cannabis culture. Instead of adding to the usual chaos-packed stages, tight schedules, nonstop motion-Zig-Zag is creating space to slow it all down. It’s less about rushing from set to set, and more about being present, living the “Life’s Fast. Burn Slow” mindset in real time. “The cannabis category is maturing, and the opportunity isn’t in driving more . . .

  • Report: Pre-Rolls Become Largest Cannabis Industry Product Category
    by Graham Abbott on April 17, 2026 at 2:33 pm

    Pre-rolls were the most-sold product category in the U.S. cannabis industry in 2025, according to a recent Custom Cones USA report, compiled from survey insights and sales data from cannabis analytics firm Headset. The report found that cannabis pre-roll sales generated $3.6 billion in revenue last year, with more than 383 million units sold – a 15.9% market share for the U.S. industry. Pre-rolls also saw more growth last year than any other product category, according to the report, with nearly 10% year-over-year growth and a 18.6% surge in sales, continuing a five-year trend. Until 2025, . . .

  • Massachusetts Cannabis Regulators Pass Cultivation Licensing Freeze
    by Graham Abbott on April 17, 2026 at 2:33 pm

    The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has voted to implement a four-month moratorium on new cannabis cultivation licenses, Axios reports. The licensing freeze, which starts on June 16, aims to address a trend of falling cannabis prices in the state. The average price of cannabis flower recently dropped to about $14 for an eighth of an ounce. The changes will not affect retailers or cannabis microbusiness applications participating for the state’s social equity program. The licensing freeze will also not apply to existing operators who may want to increase or decrease their . . .

  • States Could Opt Out Of Federal Hemp THC Product Ban Under New Bipartisan Senate Bill
    by Tom Angell on April 17, 2026 at 2:28 pm

    A newly filed bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate would effectively let states opt out of the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that is set to be enacted later this year. Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a drug-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, Trump signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp in a way that advocates say stands to destroy the industry, making it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per . . .