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Cannabis stocks, as measured by the Global Cannabis Stock Index, were quite volatile in 2024 and then in 2025 as well. While the index did rally in December, it fell for the year. The index dropped 10.6% in January to 5.89. February saw lower prices, but the market recovered with the index ending the month at [ . . . ]

Missouri regulators are seeking an alternative to compliance software provider Metrc, citing problems with the system, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Documents seeking a new provider say the system has “gaps that create noticeable undesirable impacts.” These include the lack of support for communication between regulators and licensees during “investigation, compliance and enforcement cases, resulting in scattered communications, lost information and significant delays in response time.” Regulators say the Metrc contract results in reporting delays and “arduous manual processes,” for . . .

Late last year, Congress stealthily passed language that would significantly restrict intoxicating hemp-derived THC products, setting the stage for a federal crackdown that could bolster the state-legal cannabis industry by moving some portion of intoxicating hemp sales back into the state-regulated marketplace. The provision, included in a must-pass spending package, was framed as a way to close loopholes created by the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed psychoactive products to proliferate with little oversight. If it holds, the shift could benefit the regulated cannabis industry in several . . .

“We cannot balance state budgets on the backs of one industry. Excessive taxation drives consumers back to the illicit market and shrinks the legal one.” By Katherine Dailey, Michigan Advance Genesee County Sheriff and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Swanson came out strongly in opposition to the 24 percent cannabis tax passed as a part of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to pay for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) plan to fund road repairs statewide. In a video posted to Facebook on Friday evening, Swanson promised that, if elected, he would work to repeal the tax saying that it is “not fair . . .

Hawaii senators are sending a message to the governor, state attorney general and health department to recognize their “clear legislative stance” in support of requesting an exemption from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stipulating that Hawaii is permitted to run its medical cannabis program without federal interference. Members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Monday approved a pair of resolutions that address the state-federal cannabis policy disconnect, with a push to have state officials exercise their authority to request a DEA exemption under the . . .

“While we welcome any easing of federal policies that target and discriminate against cannabis consumers, this particular policy shift appears to be largely opportunistic and not in any way reflective of a broader shift in the federal government’s stance toward those who consume marijuana responsibly.” The post Military Eases Enlistment Rules for Those with Prior Marijuana Convictions appeared first on NORML.

A coalition of anti-marijuana organization is suing the Trump administration over a novel initiative set to launch this week to widen the availability of CBD and THC for certain patients by covering hemp-derived products under select federal health insurance programs. Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and nine other drug prevention groups on Monday filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the legality of the cannabis program-which is being facilitated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-and seeking a temporary restraining order . . .

The Idaho Senate has approved a resolution urging voters in the state to “reject” an ongoing effort to place an initiative to legalize medical marijuana on the November ballot. The measure, sponsored by the Senate State Affairs Committee, claims that cannabis legalization in other states has led to a host of harms, including “increased cartel activity, development of black market marijuana production, human trafficking, and increased crime rates” as well as “increased rates of serious health issues,” environmental harms and “safety concerns on job sites.” SCR 127, which was adopted on the . . .

“Despite carrying the consequences of criminalization, and being key sustainers of the legal industry as workers and consumers, Latinos are underrepresented as business owners in the industry.” By Jason Ortiz and Maritza Perez Medina, Latino Cannabis Alliance One of the first reported deaths resulting from the Trump administration’s renewed immigration raids in 2025 was that of Jaime Alanís Garcia-a beloved husband, father and provider. Jaime was a longtime farmworker, laboring at a state-legal cannabis farm in California on the fateful day he tragically fell from a building as federal . . .

Cannabis occupies a precarious position in the U.S. military. Service members are prohibited from using cannabis, and violations can result in a dishonorable discharge. Veterans only recently gained access to medical marijuana in legal states, though barriers remain. Now, the Army is updating its cannabis policy in an effort to boost recruitment. RELATED: Gen Z’s weed habits are flipping the cannabis industry The new guidance removes barriers for applicants with a single conviction for marijuana possession or drug paraphernalia. Previously, Army recruits with this type of record needed a . . .

The New Hampshire House of Representatives has approved an amended bill to establish a psilocybin advisory board to study pathways to allow patients to access the novel therapy-though lawmakers separately rejected an effort to revive separate legislation aimed at protecting gun rights for medical marijuana patients. Members took up the psilocybin and cannabis measures on Thursday, significantly scaling back the bipartisan psychedelics bill from Rep. Buzz Scherr (D) that would have in its initial form given certain patients legal access to psilocybin-assisted therapy. The amended version to . . .

Charlotte’s Web Announces Transaction with BAT: Debenture Conversion and US$10M Equity Investment to Strengthen Balance Sheet Transaction Addresses Capital Structure and Supports Near-Term Operating Priorities, Including Anticipated CMMI Medicare Pilot Program Participation LOUISVILLE, Colo., March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – (TSX: CWEB) (OTCQB: CWBHF) Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc., a botanical wellness innovation company and the market [ . . . ]

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) last week vetoed two pieces of legislation that provided updates to the state’s medical cannabis law. Together the bills would have allowed ‘right-to-try’ provisions for patients and loosened rules for doctor visits. The reforms would have also eliminated THC caps on some medical cannabis products. In his veto of the bill to loosen rules and end some of the THC caps, Reeves said the legislation “seeks to erode three important safeguards” in the state’s law “meant to minimize the potential diversion” of medical cannabis “for recreational purposes.” “The . . .

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) last week approved his first bills of the year’s legislative session, including a measure to allow Minnesota hemp businesses to continue using out-of-state testing laboratories through May 31, 2027. Walz did not comment on the slate of bills individually but said in a statement that some of the bills signed would allow “small businesses a little more stability.” According to the governor’s bill summary, the extension is required as the state has “limited in-state testing capacity” for hemp products and allowing testing by out-of-state labs “prevents backlogs, . . .

Dispensary workers at a dispensary in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, have secured a new contract after a 20-day strike. The new contract for the workers at Sunnyside Dispensary – which is a subsidiary of multistate operator Cresco Labs – includes wage increases, improved health care benefits, guaranteed gratuities, protection from unjust discipline or termination, enhanced job security for part-time employees, and additional paid time off. In a statement, Cobi Motley, a wellness advisor at Sunnyside and Local 429 member, said the workers “made a real change” to their workplace with the contract . . .

420 is coming and your friends are going to start asking where you’ll be on the big holiday. For the 3rd year in a row, David Downs and crew are answering that question with Space Walk, a citywide Cannabis celebration that will take over San Francisco for an entire week. Downs says he wants Space Walk, as well as his other events Hash Week and Terpnami, to be the kind of moments that bring people into SF to experience the vibrant feel of the Bay. “Every week is weed week for cannabis lovers, but we turn San Francisco up a notch for April 20,” Downs said proudly. When the event first began in . . .

Women are one of the fastest-growing and most influential forces shaping the cannabis industry. In 2023, women ages 19 to 30 reported higher cannabis use than men for the first time, according to the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future study. Today, roughly one in three women in the United States consumes cannabis, and women account for more than half of users on major platforms. Women are driving demand for products rooted in wellness, microdosing, beauty and functional health. They are pushing for transparency in testing, more thoughtful retail environments and marketing that . . .

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: Missouri Cracks Down on Unlicensed Retailers In Missouri, regulators are taking a harder stance on the illicit market. The state’s attorney general announced enforcement actions against 33 unlicensed cannabis retailers operating outside of the legal framework. The move reflects an ongoing challenge across legal states. Licensed operators face high compliance costs, while unlicensed shops often . . .

The White House now scheduled a total of four meetings with cannabis industry and research stakeholders this week to discuss a proposed enforcement policy for CBD products. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) under the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced earlier this month that it plans to review yet-unpublished guidance titled “Cannabidiol (CBD) Products Compliance and Enforcement Policy” that was submitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Interested parties are able to request meetings to discuss the issue-and now four meetings have been . . .

According to statewide polling compiled by the campaign, over 80 percent of Idahoans support legalizing medical cannabis access. The post Idaho: Campaign to Place Medical Cannabis Question on November’s Ballot Surpasses Signature Threshold, Lawmakers Call on Voters to Reject Effort appeared first on NORML.

The governor of New York is marking the five-year anniversary of adult-use marijuana legalization in the state, touting $3.3 billion in retail sales, the opening of more than 600 licensed cannabis shops and achievements in promoting social equity in the industry while taking steps to mitigate the illicit market. In a press release on Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said “New York committed to building a cannabis market rooted in equity, safety, and opportunity” when the state enacted the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act five years ago. “We are creating new pathways for small businesses . . .

“Higher taxes do not eliminate consumer demand. They simply change where consumers buy their cannabis.” By Rodney Holcombe, LeafLink In recent piece, The New York Times editorial board called for a federal tax on cannabis and urged states to raise their own taxes to “dollars per joint, not cents.” That argument assumes cannabis is lightly taxed today-but across the country, the opposite is true. Taxes on legal cannabis are higher than almost every industry in the United States and have generated nearly $25 billion since adult-use sales commenced in 2014. Despite these rates, efforts to . . .

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said last week that after five years of adult-use sales, licensed cannabis retailers in the state have generated over $3.3 billion in sales. The governor’s office also noted there are currently 2,161 cannabis licensees in the state, including 610 active dispensaries. Additionally, 56% of the state’s adult-use cannabis licenses have been awarded to Social and Economic Equity (SEE) applicants, including 57% of licenses to women-owned businesses and 51% to minority-owned businesses. “Five years ago, New York committed to building a cannabis market rooted in equity, . . .

State and federal law enforcement agencies last month seized over 7,636 illegal cannabinoid and nicotine products from Arkansas retailers, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. Conducted as a joint operation between the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the raids uncovered 314 hemp THC products, including vaporizers, 57 THC-infused edibles, and about three pounds of suspected cannabis or hemp flower. Agents also seized over 5,600 illegal vaporizers, over 1,200 “e-liquid” products, and 411 untaxed tobacco products. . . .

Texas Senate and House leaders are directing lawmakers to study issues related to cannabis products and psychedelic therapy during the legislature’s interim in preparation for a new session scheduled to begin in early 2027. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), who oversees the Senate, pushed to pass legislation last session to ban hemp THC products. The legislation was approved by lawmakers but was later vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R). But Patrick isn’t giving up. In his list of 2026 interim legislative charges released on Friday, he’s directing the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Under a . . .