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California cannabis regulators are rolling out a new AI tool to help businesses identify marijuana product packaging may appeal to kids in violation of state rules. The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) on Monday announced that licensees can now utilize a Cannabis Product Image Analyzer (CPIA) that was developed to aid in preventing the market launch of potentially problematic packaging that violates state statute by enticing minors. Marijuana business licensees can “simply snap a photo using their smart phone or mobile device, screenshot or any other supported file format and upload to . . .

“Any organization, any licensee, that participates in this unlawful expansion should be prosecuted.” By Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern Kentucky’s House Majority Whip Jason Nemes (R) asked Attorney General Russell Coleman (R) to help ensure agencies “not cooperate” with Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) expansion of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana recommendations. Nemes, a Louisville Republican, made the comments Tuesday morning during the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary. He called Beshear’s June 2 executive order, which added several conditions to the state’s list of approved conditions . . .

Virginia’s governor says she is having “really productive” and “incredible” conversations with lawmakers about crafting a compromise approach to legalizing recreational marijuana sales that could pass as part of budget legislation this month. “I don’t want to get ahead of the process,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) said on Monday when asked about the fact that she has been holding meetings with legislators on the issue in recent days after vetoing an earlier proposal to enact the reform, as Marijuana Moment reported last week. “I will say that I have had incredible conversations, really . . .

CBD products come in several formats including gummies and oils which are two of the most popular choices for people exploring hemp-derived wellness options. While they may contain similar ingredients, the overall experience can feel quite different depending on how each product is absorbed and used. Trying CBD gummies from Dr.Ganja opens up a different [ . . . ] Source: Are CBD Gummies Different From Oils or More Convenient? from Heady NJ

Federal law enforcement officials in 2025 charged fewer than 400 people with marijuana trafficking, the lowest total ever. The post Federal Marijuana Trafficking Prosecutions Plummet Following Adoption of State-Level Legalization Laws appeared first on NORML.

Washington Cannabis Licensing: What Buyers Need to Know We get questions about Washington cannabis licensing all the time. The first question is usually whether new licenses are even available. For most buyers, the answer is no. Washington is a capped market, which means entry usually depends on buying or investing in an existing licensed business. That makes structure everything. A cannabis deal in Washington is not just a purchase price negotiation. It is a regulated transaction that must satisfy the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), along with the landlord, the city or . . .

Lawmakers in at least three states have passed legislation this year to significantly increase the amount of marijuana that adults can legally possess. These expansions of existing state cannabis legalization laws are advancing as part of broader legislation that addresses various aspects of marijuana regulatory programs that will change how licensed businesses operate within their markets. But for everyday consumers, the possession limit increases mean they will be able to buy more marijuana when they go to the store and will be protected from potential criminal penalties for carrying . . .

Intoxicating hemp has been a topic of hot debate. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently ruled that one hemp-derived cannabinoid, hexahydrocannabinol, or HHC, is a Schedule I controlled substance. Now, two companies are suing the federal government over the change. RELATED: THCP vs THC: what’s the difference? IHC Investments Inc. and Bluestar Operations LLC filed separate petitions challenging the DEA’s final rule scheduling HHC. The rule places HHC in the same federal category as substances deemed to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use under federal law. . . .

A congressional committee has attached report language to a key annual defense bill that calls on military officials to pay greater attention to potential “access pathways” to psychedelic therapies for servicemembers. Citing a psychedelics executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April, the House Armed Services Committee is urging Department of Defense (DOD) leaders to “remain informed of lawful research and access pathways relevant to post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious mental health conditions affecting servicemembers during post-deployment and transition periods, . . .

The Idaho Legislative Council last week approved language for a ballot measure that seeks to amend the state constitution so that only lawmakers have the authority to legalize cannabis and other psychoactive or narcotic substances, the Idaho Capital Sun reports. The approved ballot language includes statements both for and against the proposal. The language supporting the proposal reads: “Drugs destroy lives, tear apart families, and threaten the safety of our communities. Decisions about legalizing marijuana, narcotics, and other psychoactive substances are too important to be made . . .

A survey published this month from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) found that 33% of respondents report cannabis helps them sleep or provides them with significantly better sleep. The 2025 Sleep Prioritization Survey, released June 1, found 11% of respondents said cannabis had no impact on their sleep, with 8% reporting significantly or slightly worse sleep, while 47% of respondents said they did not use cannabis to help them sleep. In a statement, AASM past president Dr. Kannan Ramar noted that while medical and adult-use cannabis programs are more common in the U.S., . . .

Federal and provincial governments earned $2.5 billion from adult-use cannabis sales during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, according to data from Statistics Canada. The total represents an 11.5% increase from the previous fiscal year. Simultaneously, governments earned $13.1 billion from alcohol sales, which marked a 4.2% decline and the largest annual decrease since the agency began tracking the figures in 2004-2005. During the fiscal year, adult-use cannabis sales increased 6.1% or $300 million from the previous fiscal year; however, the growth was down compared to the $5.5 . . .

California’s Department of Cannabis Control adopted several emergency regulations to accommodate federal MED rescheduling. With MED now a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act, it potentially changes the exposure to industry-hated tax rule 280E for MED and REC activity. Under the new emergency regulations, California is allowing operators with a combined MED and REC retail license to split it into a REC license and a new MED license. The new MED license may be held by a different entity from the existing license. However it must have the same ownership. The . . . Log in or . . .

A California Senate committee has approved and Assembly-passed bill that would allow marijuana retailers to offer drive-thru windows to serve customers. The measure, which cleared the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee in a 7-3 vote on Monday, says that licensed cannabis retailers and microbusinesses with storefronts could sell marijuana products “to a customer in a motor vehicle in a drive-through located on the premises.” Under AB 2697 from Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D), cannabis businesses would need approval from the local jurisdictions in which they . . .

A New Jersey job applicant has won her case after being denied a job after failing a drug test when cannabis was found in her system. A woman named Darlene Sanders was at the center of the case Sanders v. The Levari Group, LLC dealing with the issue. Sanders applied for a customer service position [ . . . ] Source: NJ Job Applicants Can Sue If Denied Due to a Failed Drug Test from Heady NJ

Welcome to the latest edition of “Last Week In Weed,” catching you up on the latest breaking news and industry developments in the world of cannabis. Here’s what you may have missed over the last week: Alabama Finally Opens Its Medical Market After years of lawsuits, licensing disputes, and regulatory delays, Alabama’s medical cannabis program is officially underway. The state’s first dispensary opened its doors this month, marking a major milestone nearly five years after lawmakers approved the program in 2021. Industry observers will be watching closely as additional dispensaries come . . .

Top marijuana officials in multiple states are taking steps to make sure that visitors who are in town to watch World Cup games understand local cannabis laws. In Massachusetts, the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) is rolling out a public information campaign to educate soccer fans about where they can legally purchase marijuana, along with reminders about how to celebrate with it responsibly. “Our goal is to make sure both visitors and residents alike avoid committing any dangerous plays this summer while enjoying the festivities surrounding the World Cup by understanding how to consume . . .

Idaho lawmakers have approved ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment that would prevent voters from ever being able to decide to legalize marijuana via an initiative. The Legislative Council, a bicameral group of lawmakers, voted on Thursday to sign off on a statement of meaning and purpose for the measure, as well as arguments for and against it. If approved in November, the proposal would make it so only lawmakers could legalize cannabis or other controlled substances. Voters could also decide on the same ballot on a separate voter initiative to legalize medical marijuana . . .

More may be on the way: several other US cannabis companies have announced reverse stock splits with the intention of listing on a major exchange.

A speeding stop in southwest Georgia led to the seizure of more than 100 pounds of suspected marijuana and the arrest of an Atlanta woman, according to the sheriff’s office.

Florida-based multi-state medical cannabis operator Trulieve Cannabis Corp. announced last week that the company expects to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “TRLV” starting June 10, 2026. The announcement follows the rescheduling of state-legal medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law, creating new legal pathways and opportunities for state-licensed medical cannabis companies. “As the first U.S. cannabis company to list on a major U.S. exchange, we are excited for the opportunity to expand our shareholder base, increase liquidity, . . .

Illinois lawmakers last week passed a hemp and cannabis omnibus bill that doubles the possession limits for adult-use cannabis and creates a regulatory framework for hemp product sales, The Center Square reports. The new hemp regime effectively pushes intoxicating hemp products into the adult-use cannabis market, while carving out a special market for companies that offer non-intoxicating hemp products, like CBD oils or topicals. The bill also includes provisions to help businesses currently selling hemp products to transition into the more tightly regulated adult-use cannabis industry. “One . . .

Chambers and Partners, the London-based legal research and rankings organization, has once again recognized Harris Sliwoski among the leading cannabis law firms in the United States. In its 2026 rankings, Chambers ranked Harris Sliwoski in Band 4 nationally and recognized two of the firm’s cannabis attorneys for their industry-leading work: Vince Sliwoski in Band 3 and Christian Sederberg in Band 1. Chambers and Partners evaluates law firms and attorneys based on extensive independent research and client feedback, considering factors such as: • Technical legal ability • Professional conduct • . . .

“With rescheduling, it is possible that medical cannabis operations might have similar success filing a chapter 11 in the near future.” By Michael Brandess and Steve Levine, Husch Blackwell LLP The cannabis business can be challenging. Margins are often pretty thin. Customers are fickle. And taxes are pretty high. While other industries have similar problems, until the recent rescheduling of medical marijuana, the industry had been completely frozen out of U.S. bankruptcy courts because it was federally illegal, and bankruptcy law is federal law. To some extent, however, that recently . . .