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The White House released a new National Drug Control Strategy on Monday that raises alarm about “high-potency” marijuana and expresses concerns that international cartels and crime groups “exploit” state cannabis legalization laws. It also discusses the forthcoming federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that is scheduled for later this year under a law signed by President Donald Trump. While the publication of the new 195-page document from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) comes just weeks after the Trump administration announced it is moving forward with . . .

For years, the cannabis industry invited a certain kind of storytelling. The dominant narratives favored scale, spectacle, and capital. Expansion itself often passed for strategy. In North America especially, the sector’s early rise was framed through cultivation footprints, licensing races, and the promise of a market that seemed perpetually on the verge of going fully mainstream. Claudia Della Mora has spent enough time inside that world to understand both its appeal and its distortions. Trained in investment banking and shaped by years of work across M&A, regulated industries, and . . .

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 Lawsuit Alleges Cartel Control of State Market A new lawsuit in Missouri is raising serious concerns about market integrity, alleging that an illicit network has effectively seized control of parts of the state’s cannabis supply chain. Plaintiffs claim that legal operators are being undercut by organized groups leveraging intimidation, price manipulation, and regulatory loopholes to . . .

A major alcohol industry trade association says the U.S. House of Representatives’s passage last week of a Farm Bill without including provisions to call off the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products represents a “missed opportunity.” “A ban will not remove these products from the market-it will push consumers toward unregulated, online channels with no age verification, no product standards and no accountability,” Dawson Hobbs, executive vice president of government affairs for Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), said in a press release on Monday. The House last week voted . . .

New York marijuana officials have announced that they have begun accepting applications from licensed dispensaries that want to host temporary cannabis farmers’ markets and pop-up events. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on Monday launched the application process for what the state is calling “Cannabis Showcase Events.” “Cannabis Showcase Events expand opportunity within New York’s regulated market in a thoughtful and deliberate way while keeping the guardrails firmly in place,” John Kagia, OCM’s acting executive director, said in a press release. “These events allow licensed . . .

Bipartisan U.S. senators are reacting to the Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule cannabis in new interviews with Marijuana Moment-with Democrats saying the reform doesn’t go far enough, some Republicans expressing concerns and one GOP lawmaker discussing how she’s finally opening up to cannabis after speaking to friends who use it for medical purposes. Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) told Marijuana Moment that he’s “no fan” of President Donald Trump’s cannabis rescheduling action, saying that “if you want to make it medical it needs to have standard research alongside of it, and it seems . . .

Texas hemp product retailers can continue selling smokable hemp products until July 27, the next trial date in an ongoing lawsuit challenging the state’s new regulations, KUT News reports. Filed by the Texas Hemp Business Council, Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, and multiple hemp industry retailers, manufacturers, and farmers, the lawsuit argues that the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is not authorized to change the definition of hemp products under state law. Rather, the suit argues the change would need to be implemented via the Legislature. Hemp flower and pre-rolls . . .

Connecticut lawmakers are walking back their plan to eliminate the state’s THC cap on cannabis flower and concentrates, CT Insider reports. House lawmakers approved a bill last month containing language to eliminate the THC caps on cannabis flower and oils and increase the THC cap for infused beverages sold in package stores from 3 milligrams to 5 milligrams. And while the Senate approved that proposal 18-17 late Thursday evening, party leaders have put together a follow-up compromise bill that will reestablish the caps on flower and concentrates. “We’re trying to understand and reflect the . . .

Since acting Attorney General Todd Blanch announced that state-legal medical marijuana would move to Schedule III, the commentary has been relentless – hot takes, doomsayers, and self-proclaimed experts flooding LinkedIn with conflicting interpretations. Much of it is speculative, overstated, and uneducated. This piece cuts through the noise and responds to the questions I have fielded the most about state medical programs. The DOJ order shifts state-legal medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III and establishes an optional DEA registration framework through which state-licensed . . .

“The ultimate goal of medicine isn’t just to add years to a person’s life, but to add quality and vitality to those final years. Medical cannabis can be a profoundly helpful tool in this journey.” By Peter Grinspoon, Harvard Medical School As a primary care physician, I see it every day in my clinic: seniors are increasingly turning to cannabis to find relief from the medical indignities of aging. Whether it’s the grinding discomfort of chronic pain, the “gray” fog of late-life anxiety or the persistent, soul-crushing frustration of insomnia, older adults are discovering that the cannabis . . .

The Republican candidate running for Pennsylvania governor doesn’t think lawmakers will ever approve a bill to legalize marijuana in the state-but she says that if they did send her legislation to end cannabis prohibition, she would veto it. “I don’t support legalizing recreational marijuana,” Stacy Garrity, currently the state treasurer, said in an interview with NBC10 Philadelphia. “Recreational marijuana will not end up in the budget,” she said. “They’re never going to pass it . . . not as long as Senate Republicans are in control of the Senate.” When asked by the NBC10 reported if she would . . .

Ontario cannabis retailers can now open their doors as early as 7 a.m. following an amendment that took effect on May 1. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario detailed the change in a news release that day. Authorized cannabis stores have now shifted from the previous 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. operating window with a couple extra hours in the morning. Curbside pickup is permitted to commence at seven while delivery hours remain 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. to align with alcohol retail regulations. Provincial officials built support for the amendment through public consultations held last month. They . . .

“The GDF Cartel has-through a combination of price-fixing, product- and supplier-allocation agreements, and coordinated exclusionary conduct-unlawfully seized control of the Missouri retail dispensary market.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent When Missouri voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2022, the constitutional amendment they approved carried forward a limit meant to prevent any single company from controlling too much of the market. But one key phrase from the state’s medical marijuana law was gone. The constitution’s medical marijuana provision barred the state from . . .

The first High Times NJ Cannabis Cup was held in Atlantic City on the Steel Pier off the boardwalk on a breezy night amidst a passionate crowd. They held a great party that was filled with many of the leading figures in the New Jersey cannabis industry. The view from the steel pier of the sea [ . . . ] Source: High Times Holds NJ Cannabis Cup in Atlantic City from Heady NJ

“There’s no inherent logical connection or nexus between the smell of marijuana and unlawful activity anymore, and there’s a good reason for that.” By Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is considering a case that questions whether the odor of marijuana alone is enough for law enforcement to obtain a warrant to search a person’s home. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on an appeal of Berkeley County Circuit Court’s decision to throw out evidence Martinsburg police officers found in a home after detecting the “strong odor” of the drug. Excluding . . .

A Texas judge has issued a temporary injunction that continues to prevent state officials from enforcing new rules restricting access to hemp-derived products such as smokable THCA flower. Meanwhile, the state Supreme Court in a separate case is allowing regulators to ban delta-8 THC. Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle’s ruling on Friday follows one from another judge last month who issued a temporary restraining order on the hemp product ban. Under the latest order, broad hemp product sales can continue until at least July 27. The decisions come amid a lawsuit brought by a coalition of hemp . . .

Speaking with Shelley Johnson-known to her millions of followers as “A Good Witch”-feels like affirmation cards come to life, only less polished and far more entertaining. “Being a whole person is not about judgment. Being a whole person is about accepting yourself.” “You are divine and you are connected. Nothing on this earth can shake you.” “What you think about me is none of my business.” These are just a few of her mantras. It’s only a few minutes into our Zoom call-how Johnson holds all her virtual tarot card readings-and I already feel better, calmer. At 73, Johnson has mastered . . .

Safe Harbor’s expanded platform now includes commercial real estate financing, working capital, business expansion financing, equipment financing, cash flow lending, syndications and more DENVER (April 30, 2026) – SHF Holdings, Inc., d/b/a Safe Harbor (“Safe Harbor”) (NASDAQ: SHFS), a leading fintech platform serving the banking, lending, and financial services needs of the regulated cannabis and hemp industries, today announced the expansion of its lending platform, which is expected to significantly broaden the financing solutions available to cannabis related businesses (“CRBs”) . . .

Your May 2026 horoscopes arrive with intense, volatile energy, kicking off a month marked by emotional reactivity and deep introspection. The post Star signs and cannabis strains: May 2026 horoscopes appeared first on Leafly.

Federal drug officials are clarifying that a cannabinoid produced synthetically from components of the cannabis plant is federally illegal. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said that while hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) has already been considered a Schedule I illegal substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the agency is now giving the compound its own unique drug code for classification. HHC can be found in trace amounts in cannabis plants but is also synthesized by hydrogenating cannabidiol (CBD). It’s sometimes sprayed on cannabis flowers that are low in delta-9 . . .

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 224-200 on Tuesday to pass the federal Farm Bill, which contains some hemp-related provisions but excludes language to delay or change the expected federal changes to hemp-derived THC this November, The reports. The U.S. first legalized industrial hemp via the 2018 Farm Bill, which was passed during President Trump’s first term. The initial legalization language covered the hemp plant and all of its derivatives, so long as the crop contained less than 0.3% THC. The changes allowed for a national gray market for hemp-derived cannabinoids, which quickly . . .

A recent Texas poll found that 75% of voters support medical cannabis reforms, KTAL reports. The poll by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates found that while three-quarters of respondents said they support medical cannabis legalization in general, only 11% said they had heard of the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) before, which state lawmakers passed in 2015 to grant limited access to cannabinoid-based products. Of the 1,000 respondents, 44% said they’d be more likely to vote for a lawmaker who supported the TCUP, while only 13% said they’d be less likely to vote for them. Meanwhile, Texas . . .

California regulators are adopting changes to the state’s marijuana licensing process that are intended to make it easier for businesses to qualify for tax deductions and other benefits in line with the Trump administration’s recent move to federally reschedule medical cannabis. Under an action announced by the U.S. Department of Justice last week, marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license immediately moved from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III, as did any marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An . . .

Maryland’s governor has signed legislation to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027, charging it with developing updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel substances and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. Gov. Wes Moore (D) approved the proposal from Sen. Brian Feldman (D) and Del. Pam Guzzone (D) on Tuesday. The enacted bills are aimed at building upon an earlier law that created the Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances. The psychedelics panel released an initial final report . . .

Pennsylvania’s governor has repeatedly called on lawmakers to send him a marijuana legalization bill. And while his opponent in his reelection campaign this year-currently the state’s treasurer-has been vague in recent public comments about her stance on the issue, a little-noticed questionnaire she filled out shows her opposition to the reform. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) for the last several years has included cannabis legalization in his budget requests to the legislature. The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a bill last year to end prohibition, but the Republican-controlled . . .