News

“Rescheduling removes a major structural penalty, but tariffs will reshape who captures the gains. All else equal, dispensary-heavy companies may emerge as the primary beneficiaries.” By Justin Leiby, Cannabis Research Institute With federal cannabis rescheduling partially underway and the potential end of the 280E tax penalty approaching, how much relief the cannabis industry will experience is an open question. No matter what the future holds, 280E is a significant financial drag on cannabis operators. I run an annual survey of cannabis operators for the Illinois Cannabis Regulation . . .

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is being put on notice-again-over prolonged delays in processing a petition to reschedule psilocybin from a doctor who wants to use it to treat terminally ill patients, with an updated reminder that President Donald Trump has now made clear his administration’s intent to streamline psychedelic medicine access. In a letter sent to an appellate staffer with the Justice Department’s civil division on Wednesday, an attorney representing Sunil Aggarwal of the AIMS Institute laid out the years-long timeline since a petition was first filed with DEA in 2022 . . .

The Jersey City Council voted down approval of a consumption lounge for the Other Side dispensary in the Heights in the north of the city, since it closed and owes taxes. The Other Side Dispensary CEO, Dr. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez, was among those scheduled to speak during the public comment period. But she was not present. [ . . . ] Source: Jersey City Council Votes Down Consumption Lounge for Closed Other Side Dispensary from Heady NJ

For more than a decade, Wiz Khalifa has occupied a rare position in American culture. Few artists have managed to turn a personal lifestyle into a lasting commercial ecosystem without losing the authenticity that made audiences care in the first place. Fewer still have done it while remaining unmistakably themselves. There is a direct line from Bob Marley to Cheech & Chong to Cypress Hill to Snoop Dogg to Wiz Khalifa. Every generation of cannabis culture seems to produce one defining figure who pushes the plant further into the mainstream while evolving the public image surrounding it. Bob . . .

Virginia’s governor is seeking to explain why she vetoed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales in the state this week-saying she supports the overall reform but took issue with some of the details in the proposal that lawmakers sent her, including what she called a “rushed timeline” to launch the legal cannabis market and “far more stores across Virginia” than she thinks are appropriate. “I continue to support the creation of a retail marijuana market,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) said in an interview with WRIC-TV on Wednesday, pointing to current state law that allows adults . . .

“Representative Barney Frank was one of the earliest supporters of marijuana legalization in Congress. He consistently argued that prosecuting marijuana users was a waste of law enforcement resources, an infringement on personal liberty, and an issue better handled at the state level.” The post NORML Remembers Congressman Barney Frank appeared first on NORML.

A Republican running to become Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor says that legalizing marijuana would be “catastrophic” for the state, claiming it would increase the size of the illegal market, undermine job creation and harm public health. Jason Richey, who won the primary this week for the GOP lieutenant governor nomination, criticized Democrats for seeking to raise needed revenue for the state through cannabis legalization. “These budgets that are 7 billion over how much we bring in, and then the answer is, ‘we’re going to legalize drugs,’ which is going to be catastrophic,” he said on . . .

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will now allow travelers to fly with medical cannabis. The agency updated its website on April 27 to reflect the updated guidance which comes amid the federal government’s reclassification of medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. “TSA’s screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers. Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for illegal drugs, but if any illegal substance or evidence of criminal activity is discovered . . .

A Vermont House committee removed provisions from a bill to update the state’s cannabis regulations that would have raised THC caps and cut the excise tax on cannabis products, Compass Vermont reports. The House Government Operations Committee removed language from the bill that would have removed the 30% THC cap on flower entirely, raised the THC cap on concentrates from 60% to 70%, and cut the excise tax from 14% to 10%. The committee retained provisions to double the per-package THC limit on edibles from 100 milligrams to 200 milligrams; raise the personal possession and retail . . .

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week rejected the argument by a Missouri cannabis company that cultivation and manufacturing facility employees could not unionize because they are agricultural workers, the Missouri Independent reports. Two years ago, workers at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse facility in St. Louis voted on unionization but the company challenged the attempt and fired the workers involved. Last week, following the NLRB decision, the ballots were finally unveiled, and the workers had voted 11-3 in favor of unionization. Will Braddum, one of the fired workers, told the . . .

The IRS wants MSO TerrAscend to return an $8.3M (plus interest) refund it received related to industry-hated tax rule 280E. In recent years, several large MSOs have become more aggressive in claiming tax deductions related to 280E based on their own interpretations of the tax code. The refund TerrAscend received stemmed from a 2024 amendment of its 2020 tax return based on the company’s new interpretation. At least . . . Log in or become a WeedWeek Member to read this article. The post Newsbrief: IRS hits MSO TerrAscend with 280E clapback appeared first on WeedWeek.

Numerous news organizations over the past week have run exaggerated headlines about a supposed change in the federal government’s policy on bringing marijuana into airports and on airplanes. But it isn’t true, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) tells Marijuana Moment. “TSA’s policy on medical marijuana has not changed,” a TSA spokesperson said in an email on Wednesday. “Per TSA’s website: If any illegal substance or evidence of criminal activity is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer,” they said. While it is true that the . . .

Louisiana lawmakers have passed a bill to let patients with terminal and irreversible conditions use medical marijuana in hospitals, sending it to the governor. The House of Representatives approved the legislation from Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D) in a 54-44 vote on Tuesday after it previously passed the Senate by a margin of 33-2 last month. It now heads to the desk of Gov. Jeff Landry (R). Under the proposal, hospitals would have to create written guidelines allowing covered patients to consume medical cannabis on-site in forms other than smoking or vaping. Under an amendment adopted . . .

The FY27 bill now advances to the Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to retain the provision in the final appropriations package. The post House-Approved Funding Bill Provides Medical Cannabis Access for Veterans appeared first on NORML.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has launched a medical marijuana portal application for state-legal medical cannabis companies to apply to become federally legal as a Schedule III drug. State-legal medical cannabis companies have until June 27th to apply. It’s unclear what will happen to those who do not. The most significant issue this would solve [ . . . ] Source: DEA Operating Federally Legal Medical MJ Portal as Schedule III Process Progresses from Heady NJ

Despite repeat passage by the legislature and strong public support, Virginia’s governor once again handed down a veto of regulated sales. The post VA Governor vetoes legalization bill appeared first on The Leaf Online.

“People in this field definitely need somebody to stick up for them, because it’s a little easy to get steamrolled.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent It’s been about two years since Will Braddum was fired from his position at Sinse marijuana cultivation and manufacturing facility in south St. Louis, Missouri, along with more than a dozen others. For him, the marijuana industry had been a career, but he’d seen how “cutthroat” the corporate side can be, he said, and how vulnerable he and other employees were without representation. “The only way to pad myself from human resources is to . . .

A coalition of hemp businesses that asked Virginia’s governor to veto legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales before she did so this week says the move presents an “opportunity” to craft better cannabis policy. The Cannabis Small Business Association said in a press release on Tuesday that while its members support the idea of creating a “well-regulated adult-use cannabis market,” they were concerned that the now-vetoed bills would have “left Virginia’s existing small hemp operators and family-owned cannabis businesses without a viable path forward.” “The veto is not a . . .

Something significant is happening in the wellness space right now. More people are taking their health seriously, asking harder questions about what they put in their bodies, and looking for plant-based alternatives that feel natural rather than clinical. Hemp products have landed right in the middle of this shift, and in 2026, the demand shows no signs of slowing down. The Wellness Movement Is Changing What People Want A Shift Toward Natural Options Across the board, consumers are moving away from synthetic solutions when natural alternatives exist. This is visible in the growth of herbal . . .

Ordering cannabis online has become a normal part of life for many adults in legal states. It is convenient, fast, and gives you access to a wider selection than many physical stores. But not every online order goes smoothly, especially if you are new to it. Knowing what to look for before you click that order button can save you a lot of frustration. Make Sure It Is Legal Where You Are This one comes first for a reason. Cannabis laws in the United States still vary a great deal from state to state, and even between cities and counties. Before you place any order, confirm that cannabis . . .

The cannabis landscape has changed a lot over the past few years. In 2026, more medical patients than ever are looking beyond traditional options and paying close attention to hemp flower. It is natural, familiar in form, and widely available. For patients who want something closer to the whole plant experience, it has become a very interesting area to explore. What Is Hemp Flower and Why Does It Matter Hemp flower is the raw, dried bud of the hemp plant. It looks and smells very similar to traditional cannabis flower, but it contains only trace amounts of the compounds that cause a strong . . .

CBD has gone from a niche wellness topic to something millions of people talk about openly. And among all the ways to take it, vaping has quietly become one of the most popular choices for daily users. If you have been curious about why so many people are making the switch, this article breaks it down simply and honestly. What Makes CBD Vaping Different It Works Quickly When you swallow a CBD capsule or eat an edible, your body has to digest it first. That takes time. Vaping works differently. When you inhale CBD vapor, it enters your bloodstream through your lungs almost immediately. Most . . .

For many medical cannabis patients, finding a comfortable and effective way to consume their medication matters just as much as the medicine itself. Water pipes have become one of the most popular choices, and it is easy to see why. They offer a cooler, smoother experience compared to other methods, making them especially appealing for patients who want to reduce throat and lung irritation. What Is a Water Pipe and How Does It Work? A water pipe, often called a glass water pipe or filtration pipe, uses water to cool and filter the smoke before it reaches your lungs. When you inhale, the smoke . . .

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) on Tuesday vetoed a bill to create an adult-use cannabis market after lawmakers rejected her substitute proposal last month. Although she said on the campaign trail that she would sign a cannabis sales proposal, Spanberger’s veto continues a three-year precedent established by her predecessor, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who vetoed two cannabis sales measures back-to-back in 2024 and 2025. The move all but guarantees there will be no further progress on the issue until the next legislative session in 2027. The governor’s veto message claims the . . .

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) on Tuesday appointed the three new members of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), the agency tasked with regulating the state’s adult-use and cannabis industries. The appointments come about a month after Healey signed into law sweeping cannabis industry reforms that reduced the number of CCC commissioners from five to three – all appointed by the governor – and enacted other reforms, including doubling the cannabis purchasing limit from one to two ounces. Gov. Healey named Christopher Harding, Xiomara DeLobato, and Anthony Wilson as Commissioners and . . .