News

  • Glass House and Vireo Growth join forces in California retail joint venture
    by Rowan Dunne on April 14, 2026 at 10:59 am

    Glass House Brands Inc (OTCMKTS: GLASF) (FRA: 4KF0) and Vireo Growth Inc (OTCMKTS: VREOF) (CNSX: VREO) (FRA: 0ZF) have combined their California dispensary operations into a joint venture to navigate the state’s turbulent industry waters together. Announced on Apr. 13, the 50-50 partnership creates a single retail platform that links 23 stores – 11 from Glass House and 12 from Vireo. It will also integrate Vireo’s home-delivery service it obtained through the acquisition of Eaze earlier this month. Each company is transferring its licenses and locations for equal ownership. Cory Azzalino, . . .

  • Virginia Gov. Sends Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Bill Back to Lawmakers With Requests
    by Graham Abbott on April 14, 2026 at 6:07 am

    Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) sent the state’s recently passed bill to legalize adult-use cannabis sales back to lawmakers with proposed amendments on Monday. The governor is asking lawmakers to delay the market’s launch by six months, until July 1, 2027. Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director for the cannabis advocacy group Marijuana Justice, told the Virginia Scope that lawmakers’ proposed January 1 start date would disadvantage smaller operators. “On Jan. 1, the only people that will be ready are the operators that are able to convert and they are all out-of-state operators and . . .

  • Judge Halts Rhode Island Cannabis Licensing Process
    by TG Branfalt on April 14, 2026 at 5:44 am

    A U.S. District Court judge last week issued a preliminary injunction against the issuance of Rhode Island cannabis licenses due to the state’s residency requirements for retailers. The Rhode Island Current reports. The order from Judge Melissa DuBose blocks the state Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) from holding a lottery to award 20 new cannabis licenses or even reviewing applications. Charon Rose, a spokesperson for the CCC, told the Current that currently, “the commission is not in a position to provide a definitive timeline” in the wake of the order, but that “additional guidance would . . .

  • The Holding Company Sues Hemp Brand Over Lil Baby IP Dispute
    by TG Branfalt on April 14, 2026 at 5:37 am

    The marketing and licensing company for rapper Lil Baby’s intellectual property is suing a hemp brand, alleging his reputation is being tarnished due to contaminated products that are being marketed using his IP by the hemp company, Complex reports. The Holding Company last week sued Bay Smokes – which is co-founded by adult entertainer Katiana Kay and William James Goodall – claiming that the items bearing Lil Baby’s IP were illegal cannabis products, not hemp products, and that the products “failed microbial safety testing,” according to the complaint outlined by Complex. Testing found the . . .

  • Virginia Governor Wants Amendments To Marijuana Sales Legalization Bill, Including Delayed Market Launch
    by Tom Angell on April 14, 2026 at 5:15 am

    Virginia’s governor is requesting that legislators make amendments to a bill to legalize recreational marijuana sales that they sent to her desk last month. On Monday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) returned the legislation with suggested changes-including pushing back the launch date for sales to begin by six months, from January 1, 2027 to July 1, 2027. The move will “allow for additional time to implement a legal market safely and curb the illicit market,” a press release from the governor’s office says. “Five years ago, the Commonwealth took the first steps to legalize marijuana-and for five . . .

  • Calif. regulator proposes new pesticide rules
    by Week_admin on April 14, 2026 at 3:47 am

    California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has proposed new, expanded rules governing pesticides in licensed cannabis products. The agency is accepting public comments on the proposal through April 28. California currently requires testing for 66 pesticides, of which 21 are banned (Category I) and the rest cannot be present above a certain threshold. While the list is far longer than most legal states, it has attracted criticism for omitting some pesticides which are commonly found in licensed products. These include pymetrozine, a likely carcinogen which some growers use . . . Log in . . .

  • Virginia Governor Signs Bills To Protect Marijuana Users’ Parental Rights And Allow Medical Use In Hospitals
    by Tom Angell on April 14, 2026 at 12:43 am

    Virginia’s governor has signed bills to allow patients to use medical marijuana in hospitals and protect the parental rights of cannabis consumers. Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) on Monday also also recommended that lawmakers adopt amendments to legislation that is aimed at providing resentencing relief to people with prior marijuana convictions. Meanwhile, advocates are awaiting her action on separate bills to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana sales in the state ahead of a midnight deadline. Here’s a look at the cannabis legislation that Spanberger has already acted on: Protect . . .

  • NJ Infused/Intoxicating Hemp Flower Ban Begins
    by Dan Ulloa on April 13, 2026 at 8:22 pm

    New Jersey’s infused/intoxicating hemp flower ban in CBD stores, smoke shops, convenience stores, and gas stations begins today, April 13, 2026. All hemp products, excluding beverages, are limited to 0.4 mg of THC, and no hemp plant materials can have more than 0.3 mg of THC. Notably, liquor stores will be able to sell THC [ . . . ] Source: NJ Infused/Intoxicating Hemp Flower Ban Begins from Heady NJ

  • International Cannabis Supply Chain Leaders for 2026
    by Cannabis Now on April 13, 2026 at 6:40 pm

    The global cannabis supply chain is entering one of its most defining periods yet. In 2026, success is no longer determined by who can grow the most cannabis. Rather, it is defined by who can move, standardize and scale it across borders in an increasingly fragmented regulatory environment. At the center of this complexity lies a paradox: While legalization continues to expand, regulation remains inconsistent, slow-moving, and in many cases, fundamentally misaligned with how modern supply chains operate. Nowhere is this more evident than in the evolving divide between cannabis and hemp. Hemp, . . .

  • Alabama Opens First Cannabis Dispensary: Last Week in Weed April 7–13, 2026
    by Hannah Eko on April 13, 2026 at 6:20 pm

    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: $10 Million in Public Funds Diverted to Anti-Legalization Efforts in Florida An investigation reveals that $10 million intended for Florida taxpayers was redirected into efforts opposing cannabis legalization, raising serious questions about transparency and the use of public funds. The spending reportedly supported messaging campaigns designed to influence voter perception ahead of . . .

  • Marijuana Reform Group Polls Consumers About Freedoms Where They Live Ahead Of 4/20
    by Tom Angell on April 13, 2026 at 6:07 pm

    Ahead of the upcoming unofficial cannabis holiday on 4/20, a top marijuana reform group is asking consumers to take a poll about the freedoms (or lack thereof) that they experience where they live. The new 2026 Cannabis Freedom Survey from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) includes questions like “Where you live, how free are adults to legally possess and access cannabis?” and “Where you live, how concerned are you about legal consequences for cannabis consumers?” The survey is “designed to capture real-time sentiment from cannabis consumers across the United . . .

  • Far and Dotter Dispensary Holds Grand Opening in Pemberton
    by Dan Ulloa on April 13, 2026 at 5:26 pm

    Far & Dotter just expanded into New Jersey, opening its new Pemberton location as a franchise deal in Burlington County in South Jersey. The highlight of the event was the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Far & Dotter franchisee owner Haider Rizi (pictured above, far right), along with Pemberton Mayor Matthew Bianchini (pictured center left) and [ . . . ] Source: Far and Dotter Dispensary Holds Grand Opening in Pemberton from Heady NJ

  • Nebraska Senator Pushes Back Against Restrictive Hemp Rules Proposed By State Regulators
    by Marijuana Moment on April 13, 2026 at 4:26 pm

    “The governor, the attorney general, and now, apparently, the Department of Agriculture are going around the law to try to ban this product that is legal in Nebraska.” By Phillip Smith, The American Hemp Monitor Nebraska hemp businesses generate an estimated $10 million in sales tax revenue each year and employ around 2,000 Nebraskans, but the state is adopting a novel approach to cracking down on hemp-derived cannabinoid products, in a move is drawing a backlash from the hemp industry and local politicians. Following up on a January executive order from Gov. Jim Pillen (R), “Protecting . . .

  • The Hemp Industry Is Being Killed By Market Consolidation Disguised As Consumer Protection (Op-Ed)
    by Marijuana Moment on April 13, 2026 at 3:33 pm

    “Something real-something built with care-is being dismantled by people who never had to love it to profit from it.” By John Grady, Slaphappy Hemp Company A recent Marijuana Moment op-ed authored by Max Jackson of Cannabis Wise Guys argues that the hemp industry killed itself and that no one-except the bad actors in the sector itself-is to blame for the result. The bad actors the piece describes are real, and some of the failures it documents are accurate. But the conclusion-that state legislatures are fairly responding to industry abuse-lacks strength. What’s actually moving through those . . .

  • Why All Eyes Are on Pennsylvania at This Year’s Cannabis Convention in Philly
    by Jon Purow on April 13, 2026 at 3:30 pm

    If you are paying attention to the cannabis industry in the Mid-Atlantic, Philadelphia is the place to be next week. On April 18, the Pennsylvania Convention Center will host the 2026 Pennsylvania Cannabis Convention (PACC). This year’s gathering feels distinctly different, fueled by real, promising progress on the adult-use legalization front that is shifting conversations from speculative to strategic. Pennsylvania already boasts one of the country’s most robust medical programs, generating over $1.7 billion in annual sales and ranking as the sixth-largest cannabis retail market in the . . .

  • Pennsylvania Voters Support Marijuana Legalization Across Party Lines, New Poll Shows
    by Tom Angell on April 13, 2026 at 2:40 pm

    Seven out of ten Pennsylvania likely voters support legalizing marijuana, according to a new poll. That includes majority backing for the reform across party lines. When asked whether they “support or oppose the regulation and taxation of legal cannabis for use by adults 21 and older in Pennsylvania,” 69 percent of respondents said yes. Support was strongest from Democrats, at 72 percent, but also includes 67 percent of Republicans and 64 percent of independents. The survey, which was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition (PCC) and conducted by Susquehanna Polling & Research, . . .

  • Texas Judge Temporarily Lifts Ban On Smokable Hemp Products
    by Graham Abbott on April 13, 2026 at 2:28 pm

    A Texas judge last week ordered that smokable hemp products can be sold again in the state, at least until the next hearing in a lawsuit challenging the ban, the Texas Tribune reports. The ruling by Travis County District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble grants the temporary restraining order requested by the plaintiffs, the Texas Hemp Business Council, Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, and hemp industry stakeholders, including retailers, manufacturers, and farmers. The judge’s order lifts the ban until at least April 23, meaning that smokable hemp, like pre-rolls and flower products, can be . . .

  • First Alabama Medical Cannabis Dispensary to Open Next Month
    by Graham Abbott on April 13, 2026 at 2:28 pm

    The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) announced the state’s first medical cannabis dispensary, Callie’s Apothecary, anticipates serving its first patient on May 4, according to a WSFA report. Some of the commission members toured the retailer ahead of last week’s announcement. AMCC Director John McMillan highlighted the site’s extensive security and compliance measures. “A patient will not be able to even enter the door unless a picture is taken of their medical cannabis card and relayed through the system. It’s just amazing. Cameras everywhere, lights everywhere, locks everywhere.” . . .

  • Target Expands Involvement In Hemp THC Drinks Market With 72 New Licenses In Minnesota
    by Tom Angell on April 13, 2026 at 1:38 pm

    Major retailer Target is expanding its participation in the hemp-derived THC beverage market, even as a federal law is set to ban the products later this year. Last year, the company began a pilot program involving sales of cannabis drinks at 10 select stores in Minnesota. That apparently went well, and now the company has obtained licenses from Minnesota regulators to sell lower-potency hemp edible products-including THC drinks-at all 72 of its stores in the state. According to a review of Office of Cannabis Management data, Target, which is headquartered in Minnesota, now holds more . . .

  • Glass House Brands and Vireo Growth Are Easing Into California Cannabis Combo
    by NCV Newswire on April 13, 2026 at 11:45 am

    Vireo Growth Announces California Retail Joint Venture with Glass House Brands MINNEAPOLIS and LONG BEACH, Calif., April 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Vireo Growth Inc. (“Vireo”) (CSE: VREO; OTCQX: VREOF) and Glass House Brands Inc. (“Glass House”) (CBOE CA: GLAS.A.U) (CBOE CA: GLAS.WT.U) (OTCQX: GLASF) (OTCQX: GHBWF) today announced a joint venture to build one [ . . . ]

  • RFK And Dr. Oz Want Anti-Marijuana Groups’ Lawsuit Challenging Medicare Hemp Coverage Program Dismissed
    by Tom Angell on April 13, 2026 at 11:42 am

    Federal health officials are asking a court to dismiss marijuana legalization opponents’ lawsuit challenging a new Trump administration initiative to cover up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products each year for eligible Medicare patients. The program being implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) focuses largely on CBD but also allows a certain amount of THC in products. Lawyers for Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Director Mehmet Oz filed a brief on Thursday saying that the anti-cannabis organizations that filed the suit against the . . .

  • Michigan Cannabis Sales Fell Again
    by Alan Brochstein, CFA on April 12, 2026 at 9:03 pm

    Michigan cannabis sales for March fell from a year ago as they increased sequentially by 8.9%. At $255.5 million, sales were down 7.8% from a year earlier: The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency breaks out sales by medical and adult-use, with medical sales falling 36.8% from a year ago to $0.4 million, down 3.8% sequentially, and adult-use sales [ . . . ]

  • Illinois Court Hears Final Lawsuit Challenging Marijuana Social Equity Business Licensing Lottery
    by Marijuana Moment on April 12, 2026 at 2:15 pm

    “We just want a fair shot. We’re not asking for anything special, no special privileges, but what they promised from the very beginning.” By Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois Nearly seven years after Illinois lawmakers approved recreational cannabis legalization, applicants who lost out on coveted business licenses are still battling the state in court, alleging the law’s rollout undermined its purported equity goals. At the time of its passage in 2019, supporters of Illinois’s landmark law touted it as the most equity-centric legalized cannabis program in the nation. But one of the . . .

  • Rhode Island Marijuana Business License Lottery Blocked By Federal Judge Amid Challenge To Residency Rules
    by Marijuana Moment on April 11, 2026 at 4:23 pm

    “Knowing the Act was facing legal challenges . . . CCC continued forward with its plan to implement the Act and its licensing scheme. The resulting fall-out will be, to be blunt, self-inflicted.” By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant Nearly 100 applicants vying for 20 new cannabis retail licenses that were supposed to be awarded via lottery as soon as May remain in limbo after a federal judge’s order this week put the plan on pause. U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose on Wednesday issued a preliminary injunction against the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission. The commission is the . . .

  • Cleveland City Council Proposal Would Use Marijuana Tax Money To Support Neighborhood Projects
    by Marijuana Moment on April 11, 2026 at 2:12 pm

    “Legalization created opportunity. This ordinance ensures that this opportunity is shared, shared fairly, shared transparently and shared with the residents who made it possible.” By Nick Castele, Signal Cleveland This story was originally published by Signal Cleveland. Sign up for their free newsletters at SignalCleveland.org/subscribe. Cleveland City Council members should be able to spend part of the city’s marijuana tax money directly on neighborhood projects, Ward 5’s Richard Starr said on Monday. Starr introduced legislation this week to send half of Cleveland’s marijuana revenue to . . .