Top Stories (2026) -
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| Jul 24, 2026 |
Cannabis Use Among Teens Flat After German Partial Legalisation, But Medical Market Continues Rapid Expansion
Germany’s Cannabis Act (CanG) has not led to an increase in use among young people, according to new peer-reviewed research adding to the growing body of evidence contradicting the harms predicted by the reform’s critics. A new study published on July 01, 2026 in the Journal of Health Monitoring by researchers at the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), found no statistically significant change in cannabis use among young people since CanG came into force in April 2024. |
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| Jul 24, 2026 |
Prohibition Couldn’t Kill Craft Cannabis. Legalization Nearly Did. Legalization did not create one single Michigan market. It created a state framework filtered through local control. Municipalities could decide whether to allow cannabis businesses and under what conditions. On paper, that sounds democratic. In reality, for small operators, it can feel like building a business on top of a trapdoor. Until a municipality decides to allow cannabis businesses, certainty is impossible. Only then do the real costs emerge: fees, conditions, delays, infrastructure demands, zoning friction, and the simple cost of waiting. |
| Jul 24, 2026 |
Teen Cannabis Use Dropped by More than 60% in Minnesota After Legalization Cannabis use among Minnesota high school students fell by more than half between 2013 and 2025 despite the state adopting increasingly permissive cannabis policies during that period, according to a study published in Social Science & Medicine. |
| Jul 24, 2026 |
Adding Hemp To Dog Food Improves Digestive Health, New Study Shows A new study found that adding hemp oil or hempseed byproduct to dog food can improve digestive health without negatively impacting the overall microbial system. The study, published in the journal Veterinary Sciences, suggests that certain types of hemp derivatives could be safely incorporated into canine food as ingredients. However, the effects appear to be partly dependent on whether the cannabis is added as an oil or fiber supplement. |
| Jul 24, 2026 |
Cannabis is now the biggest attraction at the California State Fair
The fair’s California Cannabis experience has grown from being tucked away to the side to now being the “largest individual exhibit” at the fair, according to James Leitz, founder of FairPlay Ventures and producer of the cannabis experience. Guests enter through a castlelike gate and are then guided past living cannabis plants before descending stairs to the main exhibit area, where a massive tent holds multiple dispensary pop-ups and farm stands. Guests can examine different cannabis products, talk to farmers, purchase products like prerolled joints, and then smoke in a grassy area with seating. Nearby is a taco truck for when guests get snacky, and a live music stage provides entertainment. |
| Jul 24, 2026 |
Teen Cannabis Use Drops, Social Disparities Remain
New research from the University of Minnesota Medical School found that rates of cannabis use during adolescence have declined since 2013, though some large disparities persist. Past studies have shown that cannabis use during adolescence is associated with a variety of negative impacts - including emotional distress, adverse academic outcomes and brain development and functioning - that can persist into adulthood. Though there has been an overall decrease in cannabis use among Minnesota adolescents over the past decade, prior studies have been limited in their ability to examine the nuances in this trend - particularly the differences in use between social groups. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Weed worries: Middle and high schoolers will now learn about cannabis use this fall Minnesota’s schools are required to teach about CPR, STDs, mental health, and, beginning this fall…cannabis. Minnesota legalized cannabis in 2023 and sales began in 2025, leading the legislature to enact a requirement that middle and high schoolers learn about the dangers of cannabis use during their health education. The new cannabis education course will inform students, whose parents and friends now have easy access to the drug, about the possible effects on brain development and overall health. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Is it legal to fly with medical cannabis? Guidelines in the US and Canada
When traveling, can you take medical cannabis on board if both your destination and departure location have legalized it? The answer depends on where you’re flying from. Here’s what we know: |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
California Judge Signals Lawmakers May Not Need Voter Approval to Change Marijuana Regulations
A California judge has indicated that state lawmakers may have the authority to revise parts of the voter-approved marijuana legalization measure without asking voters to approve every legislative update. The preliminary opinion was issued last Thursday by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn during an ongoing legal dispute over changes to cannabis tax policy. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Slumber in the grass: What weed before bed actually does to your sleep
For a growing number of people, catching Zzz’s has become a joint effort. Across the country, an estimated 22 million adults use some form of weed as a sleep aid, while another 45 million have tried it in hopes of getting more shut-eye, according to the National Sleep Foundation. The bedtime ritual has plenty of believers: Roughly two-thirds of Americans who use the drug say it helps them get better rest. But behind closed eyes, the story of what happens to the brain on cannabis is far more complicated — and scientists are still figuring out whether weed is improving sleep or simply reshaping it. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Less cannabis use among adolescents, but social disparities persist
Past studies have shown that cannabis use during adolescence is associated with a variety of negative impacts—including emotional distress, adverse academic outcomes, and brain development and functioning—that can persist into adulthood. Though there has been an overall decrease in cannabis use among Minnesota adolescents over the past decade, prior studies have been limited in their ability to examine the nuances in this trend—particularly differences in use among social groups. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Overturn Intoxicating Hemp Ban and Regulate Multi-Billion Dollar Sector
The US intoxicating hemp market, thought to be worth around $28bn in annual sales, could yet be saved from a devastating ban set to be implemented in a matter of months. This week two members of congress introduced new legislation that, if passed, would repeal the looming November ban on almost all hemp-derived cannabinoid products and introduce comprehensive federal regulation. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Cannabis legalisation does not lead to increased adolescent use, German study finds
One year after Germany legalised cannabis, there is no evidence of increased use among adolescents, according to a major study published in the Journal of Health Monitoring. The research, conducted by the German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG), found that cannabis consumption among 12 to 17-year-olds remained stable between 2023 and 2025. In 2025, 4.6% of female adolescents and 7.2% of male adolescents reported using cannabis in the past 12 months – figures that showed no statistically significant change from pre-legalisation levels. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Medical cannabis access under probation and parole: Removing barriers to doctor-recommended treatment Supervision systems designed to support rehabilitation and reentry should not erect barriers to medical care that is legal for all other citizens. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Support for legal Cannabis continues to grow in Nebraska, survey finds A new report from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Rural Drug Addiction Research Center shows support for cannabis legalization is increasing across the state. The Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey found that 47 percent of Nebraska adults now support legal marijuana for both medical and recreational use, up from 44 percent in 2024. Support for medical cannabis alone climbed from 80 percent to 84 percent during the same period. The findings come nearly two years after Nebraska voters approved medical marijuana by a 71 percent margin at the ballot box. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Tilray Brands Launches ZONNA, Introducing New THC Pouches for Cannabis Consumers Fast-acting, smoke-free ZONNA THC pouches deliver precise dosing in a discreet, portable pouch – expanding consumer choice through continued cannabis innovation |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Is Cannabis Legal in Mexico Now? Understanding THC, CBD, and the Gray Areas
Despite what many believe, marijuana in Mexico has been historically taboo. But this is changing, and fast. While the country has not fully legalized recreational cannabis, a complex legal situation has allowed various products to enter the mainstream market. Products containing CBD, or cannabidiol, can be purchased freely at pharmacies and even grocery stores across the nation. These items range from oils and tinctures to topical creams and edibles. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Consumer Vape Purchasing Has Taken a Dramatic Shift
If your cannabis brand is relying on the same vape hardware lineup it used two years ago, your market share might be quietly leaking. Over the past 12 months, consumer vape purchasing behavior across legal U.S. markets hasn’t just evolved; it has experienced a seismic shift. As price compression continues to squeeze margins and consumers become more discerning about both value and flavor profiles, the traditional hierarchy of vape products has been turned upside down. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Cannabis Is Being Rebuilt From The Ground Up
In the headlines: Reps. Andy Barr and Angie Craig introduced the Lawful Hemp Protection Act, which would raise the total-THC threshold to 1% measured on finished products, keep intoxicating hemp legal for age-gated adults 21 and up, ban synthetic conversions like Delta-8 and THCP, establish national testing and labeling rules, set up an alcohol-style three-tier distribution system, and add a federal retail and THC tax. Dales and Varrell doubted the bill’s near-term prospects of attaching to a continuing resolution or stopping the November 12 ban, and reiterated their view that there shouldn’t be two separate industries — that full-spectrum products belong under a single rescheduled, state-regulated framework. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Fetterman leads federal cannabis legalization push
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is one of more than a dozen Democrats reintroducing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to legalize marijuana use and expunge non-violent marijuana-related offenses. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Voice of the Plant: Genetics are the cannabis industry’s greatest asset – act accordingly
Cannabis operators need to adapt strategies to preserve their companies' most irreplaceable asset: their genetics. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Health Canada Revises Cannabis Import, Odour, and Hemp Policies
Health Canada has created a central online repository for ongoing and upcoming guidance documents as part of the cannabis program’s Red Tape Reduction efforts, including some initial “key” and “minor” changes. Those changes include revisions relating to guidance documents for cannabis imports, odour mitigation requirements, and hemp policies. The red tape reduction initiative, launched in 2025 as part of the federal government’s overall red tape reduction efforts, aims to reduce administrative burden and improve service delivery in Canada. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
New Bipartisan Bill In Congress Would Keep Hemp THC Products Legal, With New Taxes And Regulations Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have filed a new bill that would allow continued sales of certain hemp-derived THC products, partially scaling back a broad ban that is scheduled to take effect later this year. The new Lawful Hemp Protection Act, introduced by Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Angie Craig (D-MN) on Wednesday, would again change the definition of what constitutes a federally legal product derived from the crop, add labeling requirements and institute new taxes on sales. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
UN cannabis report raises more questions than answers Several publications have declared that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s annual World Drug Report cites a 40 percent increase in cannabis use worldwide over the past decade. This parroting of percentages overlooks critical observations of the data and its analysis. There are currently 193 participating member states in the United Nations. For the Drug Report, participants are required to self-report via surveys, which are then compiled by experts at UNODC. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Marijuana Helps People Reduce Opioid Consumption And Curbs Withdrawals, Federally Funded Study Finds Marijuana can help people reduce use of unregulated opioids and manage withdrawals from those substances, according to a new federally funded study. The research, published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, surveyed 197 people in Vancouver, Canada who reported using both cannabis and unregulated opioids such as fentanyl or heroin. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Patent trolls targeting cannabis firms as federal legalization nears, experts warn
Patent assertion entities, commonly known as patent trolls, are setting their sights on the cannabis industry as state-level legalization expands and federal rescheduling moves closer to reality, with legal and industry experts warning that commercially successful cannabis companies are increasingly vulnerable to infringement actions. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Botswana Paves the Way for Commercial Hemp Cultivation The Botswana is preparing to launch the commercial hemp production, after cultivation tests confirmed that the crop could be grown in the country’s various climate zones, as part of an economic diversification strategy aimed at reducing its dependence on the diamond industry. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
From Pelvic Pain to Pleasure: The Case for Cannabis as Women’s Medicine. From endometriosis pain to orgasmic difficulty, emerging research is pushing women’s health conditions into the medical cannabis conversation. Growing scientific evidence and patient experience with cannabis are helping bring women’s pain, pleasure, and reproductive health conditions to the forefront of cannabis medicine and policy. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Idaho MMJ Initiative Fails to Qualify for November Ballot Idaho voters will not have the opportunity to decide on a proposed medical cannabis measure during the upcoming November election after state officials ruled that the initiative failed to satisfy legal qualification standards. The decision was announced by the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, which determined that the proposed Idaho Medical Cannabis Act Initiative didn’t collect enough valid support to earn a place on the statewide ballot. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Government reviewing framework for religious use of cannabis
The Government is intensifying consultations on Jamaica’s framework for the religious use of cannabis, commonly referred to in legislation as the sacramental cannabis framework. The consultations are aimed at strengthening governance, safeguarding legitimate religious rights and preserving the integrity of the country’s regulated cannabis industry. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Tax Hikes on State-Legal Cannabis Products Drive Consumers To Unregulated Markets Raising taxes on state-legal cannabis products drives a significant percentage of consumers to the unregulated marketplace, according to data published in the journal Health Economics. Investigators affiliated with the Ohio State University evaluated purchasing behaviors among a cohort 1,525 adult cannabis consumers. They reported that tax increases discourage many consumers from patronizing legal cannabis markets. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Commission rejects challenge to ballot question on cannabis law repeal
The State Ballot Law Commission on Tuesday overruled an objection to nomination signatures supporting an initiative petition seeking to repeal Massachusetts' adult-use recreational cannabis laws and ordered the question to be printed on November's ballot. In a 16-page decision, the commission found that objector Kevin Gilnack, who filed the signatures challenge on behalf of the Stop the Repeal campaign that opposes the ballot question, "did not meet the burden of proof" to disqualify enough signatures to scrap the initiative petition. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Oklahoma cannabis operators say new child-safe edibles rules are confusing, unclear
Oklahoma cannabis regulators are preparing to enforce a new ban on marijuana product packaging or labeling that’s deemed “attractive to children,” a standard that also applies in many other markets across the country. But Oklahoma marijuana operators and medical cannabis patients say the new rules, which go into effect Nov. 1, are ambiguous and broad – and could ban 90% of the products now on store shelves, KOSU reported. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Roots and the Suits: Deconstructing the CPG Model in Canadian Cannabis
The Suits vs. Roots debate over whether cannabis is a consumer packaged good sounds semantic. It might be, but it also exposes a deeper disagreement over what kind of industry Canada is trying to build. The Suits hear “CPG” and think of a repeatable, distributable, and scalable commodity; The Roots hear “CPG” and think of consolidation, inducements, declining quality, and the slow eviction of the people who made the industry possible. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Sports Leagues Should Reduce Anti-Marijuana Stigma And Provide Honest Education For Athletes, New NFL-Funded Study Concludes Interest in using marijuana for medical reasons is growing among athletes as more states enact legalization, but many feel they aren’t getting adequate information about cannabis from their teams’ and leagues’ health officials due to ongoing stigma around the issue, a new study funded by the National Football League (NFL) shows. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Putting Cannabis at the Intersection of Sports, Fashion and Community
Josh Schmidt is VP of business development at Natura and cofounder of Sluggers Hit, a premium cannabis brand known for sports-inspired storytelling, collectible product design and a culture-first approach. At Natura, Josh focuses on business development, strategic partnerships and growth across the company’s vertically integrated platform, while helping guide Sluggers’ expansion across regulated markets. He began his cannabis career operating one of California’s first licensed medical cannabis dispensaries. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
TTC to ponder options after arbitrator orders it to stop random drug testing of workers
The TTC will consider its legal options after a labour arbitrator ordered the transit agency this week to stop random drug and alcohol testing of employees immediately, its CEO says. l |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
What to know about the Mass. ballot question to repeal legal pot
Massachusetts voters are being asked to revisit legal cannabis at the ballot box this fall. The big picture: The Bay State has become a key battleground state for opponents of adult-use cannabis who want to outlaw recreational sales nationwide. State of play: The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, the campaign behind the ballot question, proposes returning to a time when recreational cannabis was decriminalized, not legal. (Medical sales would remain legal.) |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Compound in cannabis determined to be a natural painkiller that could prove superior to anti-inflammatory drugs
The Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan was able to help researchers at the University of Guelph synthesize a naturally occurring painkiller. Dr. Tariq Akhtar says within cannabis, there are trace amounts of a certain compound called cannabistilbene. This compound offers relief from acute and chronic pain, however it exists in such small quantities, so it would be impractical to harvest naturally. “You can only get a few dozen milligrams if you were to grow an acre of cannabis. That’s how scarce it is in the plant.” |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Cone or Straight Joint? Scientists Put Both to the Test. One Packed More THC Per Puff, the Other Took More Puffs to Finish.
Cone or straight joint? You’ve got a side. Everybody’s got a side. Nobody’s ever had proof. So a research team packed a dozen of them with the exact same weed, smoked every one on a machine programmed to puff more like a cannabis consumer than a cigarette smoker, and weighed what came out the other end. Here’s the kicker: you were both right. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
How long does cannabis stay in the body? Expert explains after Mohammad Nawaz's ICC ban The ICC’s decision to ban Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Nawaz after he tested positive for Carboxy-THC has once again brought cannabis into the spotlight. As the drug is increasingly being legalised or decriminalised in several countries, one scientific fact remains unchanged: while the effects of cannabis may wear off within hours, traces of the drug can remain in the body for weeks. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Cannabis Laws Are Changing: 8 Questions Employers Should Ask Now
Employers are feeling the impact of relaxed laws and attitudes toward cannabis use, especially as positive drug test rates continue to climb. After years of state-level legalization efforts, the federal government recently rescheduled certain medical cannabis products and is considering broader cannabis rescheduling, which could lead to more disability-related and other workplace claims. As a result, many employers are rethinking cannabis testing while still grappling with how to manage risks, especially in safety-sensitive positions. Here’s everything employers need to know about the current state of cannabis laws and eight questions to consider as you balance staffing needs with workplace safety and legal compliance. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Is Thailand’s PM More Concerned About Sound Cannabis Policy or Political Optics? Amid a rise in smuggling, Anutin Charnvirakul has recently come out against the policy he once championed: the decriminalization of marijuana. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club Granted Six-Month Eviction Injunction
The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC) has been granted a six-month injunction against eviction from its current location. The injunction temporarily stops the landlord of 1625 Quadra Street from forcing the club out of the building. The BC government filed a civil forfeiture action to seize the building from the landlord, the landlord issued an eviction to protect themselves. The injunction pauses that internal landlord-tenant dispute while the VCBC seeks to challenge federal cannabis laws. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
One cannabis mistake at airport could bring 10 years in prison and $15,000 fine
Before heading overseas, American travelers are warned to double-check their bags for one item that could lead to hefty fines or even prison time. U.S. officials are reminding travelers that bringing cannabis products across international borders remains illegal in many countries — following a new customs policy in Thailand that significantly increases penalties for violators. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
THC And CBD From Marijuana Reduces Agitation In 9 Out Of 10 People With Alzheimer’s Or Other Dementia, Study Shows A combination of the marijuana components THC and CBD leads to a significant and sustained reduction in agitation in the vast majority of people with Alzheimer’s disease of other forms of dementia, according to a new federally funded study. The placebo-controlled, double-blind trial involved a cannabis preparation called T2:C100 that contained 2mg THC and 100mg CBD, and included 120 people with dementia who were eligible to receive hospice care and were experiencing clinically significant agitation. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Marijuana Consumers’ Support For Trump’s Actions Drops As Most Don’t Believe Rescheduling Will Be Completed This Year, Poll Shows Marijuana consumers’ support for the Trump administration’s actions on cannabis has declined in the months since the Department of Justice first announced it was moving forward with rescheduling the drug, a new survey reveals. The latest quarterly presidential approval tracking poll from NuggMD and Marijuana Moment shows that 48 percent percent of marijuana consumers now either “approve” or “strongly approve” of the Trump administration’s cannabis actions. A total of 13 percent disapprove, and 40 percent say they have no opinion or are neutral. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Germany Ends Public Health Insurance Coverage for Medical Cannabis Flowers The German Bundestag has enacted new legislation eliminating reimbursement for medical cannabis flowers as part of the country's mandatory health insurance system (GKV). This measure is part of the broader framework of the GKV Premium Rate Stabilization Act, a law aimed at reducing spending in Germany's public health care system. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Report: Nearly Half of Employers No Longer Screen Pre-Hires for Cannabis Fewer employers are screening new hires for cannabis, according to reporting provided by the Wall Street Journal. In a recent survey of nearly 1,000 employers, “about half” no longer test for cannabis in the pre-hire process, the Journal reported. Respondents frequently indicated that they ceased testing to increase their prospective applicant pool. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
US (MN): White Earth Nation's cannabis expansion milestone Waabigwan Mashkiki, the tribally owned cannabis enterprise of the White Earth Nation, proudly announces the grand opening of its newest dispensary in Chanhassen, Minnesota. This milestone marks the company's fifth retail location overall and fourth off-reservation dispensary, all of which have been opened within the past year. The opening represents an achievement not only for the White Earth Nation but for Tribal economic development across the United States. With five operating dispensaries, Waabigwan Mashkiki has become the largest Tribal cannabis retailer in the nation, demonstrating what is possible when Tribal sovereignty, visionary leadership, and strategic investment come together. |