CannabisLink.ca - Top Stories

Top Stories (2026) - (1749 items)

(All links open in new tab)

May 4, 2026	GOP Congressmen Advance Legislation to Block Marijuana Rescheduling Republican lawmakers on a key House committee are pushing forward a spending proposal that could halt federal efforts to reschedule cannabis. The move comes shortly after the Trump administration signaled plans to proceed with reclassifying the drug. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science & Related Agencies released draft legislation that includes language designed to block any funding from being used to alter marijuana’s current status under the CSA.
May 4, 2026	Why Global Expansion Is Becoming a Strategic Imperative for Cannabis Companies For years, and particularly since the 2018 Farm Bill and the growing medical market, U.S. cannabis was viewed as the global industry’s primary growth engine. Here was where companies raised capital, built brands and MSOs and scaled operations despite federal limitations. Today, however, that same market presents structural constraints that are reshaping how operators think about long-term growth.
May 4, 2026	Cannabis leads US microdosing, with 24.1 million adults reporting lifetime use Researchers from University of California San Diego have found that microdosing—taking very small amounts of psychoactive substances—is more common among U.S. adults than previously recognized, with cannabis leading by a wide margin. The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, estimates that millions of Americans have microdosed substances such as cannabis, psilocybin, LSD ("acid") and MDMA ("ecstasy").
May 4, 2026	Medical Marijuana Can Be A ‘Profoundly Helpful Tool’ For Seniors Dealing With Pain And Other Maladies 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 plant can often do what many of our standard prescriptions cannot—provide genuine relief without a laundry list of debilitating side effects.
May 4, 2026	New York Officials Are Now Accepting Applications For Marijuana Farmers’ Markets And Pop-Up Events 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.”
May 4, 2026	Bahamas Cannabis Authority chairman: Licensing platform for firms complete Lynwood Brown, chairman of the Bahamas Cannabis Authority, told Guardian Business yesterday that the licensing platform for firms making application for cannabis licenses is completed, and all that is needed now is the marketing campaign for applicants to be made aware of the process. Brown said: "The platform is finished, it's ready. The cannabis authority's office has already been paid for, we have already gotten possession of it. We're just waiting for the right ministry to come and furnish it. This will happen after the general election and depending on the direction the election lands."
May 4, 2026	Australian Medical Cannabis Sales Decline 28.5% Amid Increased Regulatory Enforcement Australia’s medical cannabis sales experienced a 28.5% decline in the second half of 2025 compared to the first half, marking the first significant reduction since the national program’s establishment in 2016. This downturn in medical cannabis sales is detailed in a new report from the Penington Institute, an independent Australian not-for-profit focused on drug-related harm reduction. The Institute attributes this decline primarily to increased regulatory enforcement targeting high-volume medical clinics and prescribers, as reported by GN: medicinal cannabis.
May 4, 2026	Hops and Cannabis Share Genetic Sex Switch, Scientists Discover Researchers at University College Dublin have identified a genetic “switch” that determines the sex of cannabis plants — and found that the same system may also be present in hops. Published in New Phytologist, the study identifies a specific region of the X chromosome that influences whether cannabis plants develop as male, female, or both.
May 3, 2026	Israel got hooked on medical cannabis. Now it faces a hard road back A decade after Israel opened the door to medical cannabis with the stated goal of easing patients’ suffering and integrating it as a therapeutic tool, the country finds itself in a very different place: one of the world’s most active and expansive cannabis markets, with features that resemble a loosely regulated consumer market more than a health care system.
May 3, 2026	Legal Weed Left the Bong Makers Behind The federal paraphernalia statute that helped send Jerome Baker Designs founder Jason Harris to jail is still on the books. Twenty years later, he is relaunching in New York anyway.
May 3, 2026	Fuel costs and canceled orders: How the US-led war on Iran is hurting cannabis Along with price compression and tax woes, geopolitics continues to trouble the legal cannabis industry. A sharp increase in fuel costs attributed to the U.S.-led war against Iran is rattling the cannabis industry supply chain, forcing retailers to reevaluated their purchasing strategies and adapt to new consumer behavior as manufacturers in need of shipping solutions ponder “a full freight reset, operators told MJBizDaily.
May 2, 2026	Israel mulls ban to smoking medical cannabis within three years The Health Ministry is moving to sharply tighten oversight of medical cannabis, recommending a phased ban on smoking cannabis for medical use within three years, new caution in treating post-traumatic stress disorder and a full transfer of responsibility to the country’s health funds for closer monitoring.
May 2, 2026	Legal Weed, Unequal Justice: Mary Bailey’s Fight to Free Cannabis Prisoners Mary Bailey stays in motion. The event organizer, activist, and managing director of Last Prisoner Project runs a relentless schedule. From picking up newly released cannabis prisoners to producing the Hawaii Cannabis Conference in Honolulu, Bailey is constantly on the go—and that’s exactly where she wants to be.
May 1, 2026	The Study Nobody Wanted: Cannabis, Pregnancy, and the Women Still Paying the Price In 1994, Melanie Dreher published a study showing that cannabis-exposed babies thrived. The medical establishment went silent. Thirty years later, she’s still trying to finish the work — and pregnant women are still being jailed.
May 1, 2026	Canada’s cannabis industry stands uniquely positioned in growing global industry The second country in the world to fully legalize cannabis—and the first G7 nation to do so— Canada has emerged as a powerhouse of cannabis production, supplying not only a large domestic market, but also a rapidly-expanding international market.
May 1, 2026	Pennsylvania Governor’s Campaign Calls Out Reelection Opponent For Opposing Marijuana Legalization 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.
May 1, 2026	New laws cut cannabis arrests, but racial disparities persist While recreational cannabis laws have significantly reduced arrests for cannabis possession and sales, racial disparities in arrests still exist, according to a new study from Weill Cornell Medicine, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and The University of Texas at Austin. The authors suggest that recreational cannabis laws do not fully resolve underlying systemic inequities.
May 1, 2026	Texas Judge Allows Smokable Hemp And Other Products To Be Sold, Blocking State Ban From Being Enforced 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.
May 1, 2026	"The most expensive cannabis facility mistakes happen before a single plant goes in the ground" Most of the decisions that determine whether a cannabis cultivation facility performs well or poorly are made during design and planning, long before operations begin. That was the central argument of a recent webinar by Pipp Horticulture, where three experienced operators walked through the design and operational errors they see most frequently, and what they cost.
May 1, 2026	DEA Opens Portal to Register Medical Marijuana Operators Businesses interested in operating as medical cannabis dispensaries in the U.S. can begin submitting applications starting Wednesday, April 29, following a directive from President Donald Trump to change how marijuana is classified under federal law. The update was announced through a notice published on the website of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
May 1, 2026	Ontario cannabis stores can now open as early as 7 am As of Friday, May 1, 2026, cannabis stores in Ontario can now open as early as 7 am. The AGCO announced the change following public consultation held from April 9 to April 24, 2026. The new retail hours align with the province’s existing rules governing the sale, curbside pickup, and delivery of liquor at licensed grocery and convenience stores.
May 1, 2026	Federal healthcare coverage for CBD is here. Hemp product standards are still needed. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMMS) offer of limited coverage for certain hemp-derived CBD products represents a significant shift in how the U.S. healthcare system views cannabinoids. For patients, particularly those managing chronic pain or complex conditions, it signals a step toward broader access to alternative therapeutic options that an estimated 40 million Americans are already using.
May 1, 2026	The War on Europe’s Legal Hemp Industry In April 2025, the Italian government used emergency constitutional powers to bypass parliament and reclassify non-intoxicating hemp as a narcotic, regardless of THC content, following multiple failed attempts to decimate the industry. When this law was put into effect in June of the same year, following no parliamentary debate and no transition period, a sector worth hundreds of millions of euros a year for the Italian economy, employing around 15,000 people directly, was gutted overnight, despite warnings that over 3,000 businesses would close.
May 1, 2026	Don’t toss cannabis leaves: Scientists found rare compounds with medical potential Cannabis just revealed a hidden chemical treasure—rare compounds scientists never knew were there. Date: May 1, 2026 Source:Stellenbosch University Summary: Scientists have uncovered a surprising new layer of complexity in Cannabis, identifying dozens of previously unknown compounds—including the first-ever evidence of rare molecules called flavoalkaloids in its leaves. These compounds, prized for their potential health benefits, were hidden among a rich mix of plant chemicals that vary dramatically even between just a few strains.
Apr 30, 2026	They Said Weed Would Destroy America. They Were Wrong. They’re Still Cashing In. n investigation into the infrastructure, incentives, and revenue streams behind prohibition advocacy — using professional writer Alex Berenson’s career as a case study in how misinformation survives evidence.
Apr 30, 2026	Marijuana Sales Record Major Spike on 4/20 Cannabis retailers across the U.S. recorded a notable surge in sales on April 20 (4/20) this year, with particularly strong gains in states that have recently approved legal use. Data released by online ordering company Jane Technologies shows that total sales on April 20 climbed by 46.9% compared to the same date last year. The number of transactions also rose sharply, increasing by 46.6%. The figures reflect activity from stores that were operating in both 2025 and 2026, a method the company used to avoid overstating growth due to newly opened locations.
Apr 30, 2026	Canadian Cannabis Edibles Company Completes First Australian Export, Generating $350,000 in Revenue The global medical cannabis market is in a genuine expansion phase, with Australia emerging as an active and fast-growing market outside of North America. Since the country's regulatory framework matured in recent years, patient numbers and product diversity have increased significantly. Edibles, in particular, are attracting attention due to their precise dosing, longer shelf life, and familiar consumer format. The ability to export compliant, GMP-certified products from Canada into this international channel is becoming a meaningful competitive advantage.
Apr 30, 2026	BC cannabis sales level off as direct delivery sales continue to soar in Q4 2025 BC wholesaled $142.9 million worth of cannabis in the first three months of 2026 (Q4 FY 2025) while the overall price of cannabis in the province has continued to decline. Sales in the most recent quarter were relatively level year-over-year, down just under 1% compared to the same quarter in the previous year. This amounted to about 37,966 kilograms of cannabis. The overall price of cannabis per gram in BC in the most recent quarter was $3.76 per gram, while dried flower was $3.14 per gram. The number of retail stores in the province grew 3% YOY, up from 513 in Q4 FY2024 to 528 in Q4 FY2025.
Apr 30, 2026	Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples examines responses on Cannabis Act The standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples examined responses of the 12th report by the federal government on the implementation of the Cannabis Act.
Apr 30, 2026	Cannabis homes: the future of construction? Thousands of homes are being built using plant-based materials that experts say would help reduce carbon emissions in the construction industry. Hemp was once a staple crop until it was made illegal in the 1920s because of its psychoactive cousin - cannabis. The woody core of the hemp's stem can be processed into a solid, fireproof and breathable building material.
Apr 30, 2026	GOP-Led Congressional Committee Votes To Block Marijuana Rescheduling, Defying Trump A key congressional panel has voted to block the federal rescheduling of marijuana—even though the Trump administration announced last week that it is moving ahead with enacting the reform. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on Thursday approved a funding bill containing a provision that, if enacted, would prevent federal officials from taking further steps to carry out cannabis rescheduling. “SEC. 591. None of the funds appropriated under this Act or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to reschedule marijuana (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)) or to remove marijuana from the schedules established under section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812).”
Apr 30, 2026	They Said Weed Would Destroy America. They Were Wrong. They’re Still Cashing In. Key Takeaways Six years after Alex Berenson’s predictions of cannabis-driven crime and psychosis epidemics, the data show neither materialized. Being wrong has not ended his media career — subscriber-driven revenue models reward narrative consistency over factual accuracy. National violent crime data for 2024 show continued declines, including a 14.9% drop in murder.
Apr 30, 2026	Jamaica: Growers association welcomes US cannabis reclassification The Ganja Growers and Producers Association of Jamaica (GGPAJ) has welcomed the recent reclassification of cannabis under United States (US) federal law from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance, describing the development as a significant global shift with both opportunity and urgency for Jamaica's ganja industry.
Apr 30, 2026	How cannabis legalization reshaped illicit markets in the Western Balkans Before 2016, North Macedonia acted primarily as an important transit hub for Albanian cannabis destined for countries such as Türkiye, Greece and Serbia. The introduction of legislation to legalize the drug for medical purposes, however, opened the door to illicit cultivation, and quietly transformed the existing trafficking geography.
Apr 29, 2026	Trucking Industry in Grey Area as Marijuana is Reclassified Federally A directive signed by Acting AG Todd Blanche on April 22 and put into force the next day shifts two categories of cannabis from Schedule I of the CSA to Schedule III. One includes marijuana-based medications approved by the FDA. The other applies to cannabis produced, distributed, or sold under state-issued medical licenses. The second group carries particular relevance for trucking. It covers legally sanctioned dispensaries where drivers with valid medical authorization can purchase cannabis in most states.
Apr 29, 2026	Indiana spends $1.8 billion on illegal cannabis, renewing legalization debate Residents of Indiana, one of the few remaining U.S. states with no legal cannabis access, spend an estimated $1.8 billion annually on the drug, according to a recent state-commissioned study. A quantification of that sizable appetite, coupled with federal marijuana rescheduling, could change Republican Gov. Mike Braun’s stance on cannabis legalization, he told reporters on Tuesday.
Apr 29, 2026	Multipacks are reshaping Canada’s cannabis edibles market In less than a year, edibles sold in multipacks have gone from a niche format to a defining force, changing how consumers buy, how retailers stock, and how brands compete. What started as a regulatory adjustment has quickly become one of the most meaningful shifts the category has seen since legalization, say some familiar with the category. “Multipacks have grown from just 2% of category sales to 28% in under a year,” says Matt Wowk, Sales Director at Olli Brands. “That’s not just growth; that’s a fundamental shift in how consumers are shopping for edibles.”
Apr 29, 2026	There’s ‘Strong Public Demand’ For Bigger Marijuana Reform Than Trump’s Rescheduling Move, Federally Funded Study Shows The Trump administration’s move to reschedule marijuana is popular, but most people support even broader cannabis reforms, according to a new federally funded study that examines public comments received during the government’s official consideration of the proposal.
Apr 29, 2026	Industry Publishes New Guidance for Patients Travelling with Medical Cannabis The Cannabis Industry Council has published a new patient-focused guide, Travelling with Medical Cannabis, offering practical advice for UK patients navigating the complex and often inconsistent rules around travelling with prescribed medical cannabis.
Apr 29, 2026	World’s Oldest Cannabis Plant May Have Been Found in a Berlin Museum — and It’s 56 Million Years Old A fossilized leaf imprint found near Eisleben, Germany, may be 56 million years old, doubling the previously accepted timeline for the Cannabis genus and raising new questions about where the plant actually came from. Researchers say further investigation is underway. The implications are enormous either way.
Apr 28, 2026	Two Laws, One Plant On April 23, 2026, the United States federal government did two things that do not belong in the same sentence. The Department of Justice, acting under a December 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump, issued a final order rescheduling FDA-approved marijuana products and state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. It was the most significant shift in federal drug policy in more than 50 years. Hours later, on the same day, the same president posted to Truth, urging Congress to act quickly to preserve Americans’ access to full-spectrum CBD products.
Apr 28, 2026	Cannabis Europa London 2026: The First Major Gathering Since Rescheduling Changed the Game Yet Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s announcement has done something more profound than adjust a tax position or ease a research barrier. By moving Schedule III, cannabis is officially recognised as having medical benefits for the first time. In essence, this brings the US’ federal policy far closer to its European counterparts. The legal mechanism underpinning the rescheduling order, a provision of the Controlled Substances Act designed to bring US drug law into compliance with the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, is the same international framework that governs medical cannabis regulation across Europe.
Apr 28, 2026	Cannabis retailers uses medical experts to bridge the advice gap Plantlife Cannabis is collaborating with an Edmonton, Alberta-based certified holistic cannabis nurse to address health-related questions customers have that budtenders are not allowed to answer. The program started last fall, Ian Scott, VP Operations at Plantlife Cannabis, told StratCann, as a way to give customers an avenue to have their more health-related questions answered that regulations prevent budtenders from answering
Apr 28, 2026	Chinese Researchers Reveal Ancient Use Of Cannabis As ‘Indispensable’ Crop That Was ‘Deeply Integrated’ Into Daily Life China’s agricultural history with cannabis is deeper than previously believed, with a new study placing the staple crop among “the five grains” (alongside rice and barely, for example) that were foundational to the ancient Eurasian economy and “deeply integrated into the daily lives of the inhabitants.”
Apr 28, 2026	The State of Indigenous Cannabis: Sovereignty, Healing, and the Future We’re Building Now The most exciting future for cannabis in the U.S. isn’t coming out of Congress or corporate boardrooms. It’s happening in Indigenous communities across North America. Tribal Nations are organizing and making moves to destigmatize plant medicine, build sustainable and generational wealth, and plan for a better future for cannabis, as the Ojibwe say, in a good way.
Apr 28, 2026	Authorized for abuse: The math behind Canada’s medical cannabis “loophole” In May 2023, the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) and local police arrived at a greenhouse near St. Catharines, Ontario, for what appeared to be a garden-variety illicit bust. But when the paperwork came out, the narrative shifted. While the facility was registered with Health Canada for fewer than 1,000 plants, the reality inside was over 11,800. The nearly $12 million seizure wasn’t just a case of a rogue grower colouring outside the lines; it was a glaring symptom of systemic exploitation within Canada’s medical framework.
Apr 27, 2026	Will Reclassifying Medical Marijuana Have Any Impact on Criminal Justice Reform? The Trump administration's historic move to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug was cheered by some advocates but for others, it fell far short for the thousands still incarcerated on federal cannabis-related convictions. The executive order, which acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed Thursday, does not address current penalties for possessing and selling marijuana or those jailed with yearslong sentences.
Apr 27, 2026	"We're big believers in the power of cannabis" "We're big believers in the power of cannabis," said CEO Mike DeGiglio of Village Farms last Friday during the opening of the new indoor cultivation facility in Groningen, Netherlands. "All plants created have a purpose, and so does cannabis."
Apr 27, 2026	The Fight for Cannabis Rescheduling Is Far From Over Last week’s rescheduling announcement came as a surprise to many, not least to us here at Business of Cannabis. Despite the flurry of reporting from multiple sources that an announcement was imminent, the last two years of stock swings, ambiguous or outright hollow promises, and bureaucratic red tape meant it was a bet we were reluctant to take. But the surprise wasn’t just because it had finally happened, but, perhaps naively, because it wasn’t what we were expecting.
Apr 27, 2026	Health Canada, Public Safety Canada provide updates on personal/designated medical cannabis licences New data released by Health Canada provides a detailed look into the landscape of personal and designated production registrations for medical cannabis across Canada. The information comes in response to a request for information tabled in the House of Commons asked in March by Todd Doherty (MP for Cariboo—Prince George, BC), who asked a series of questions regarding the monitoring and inspection of personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes under the Cannabis Act and associated regulations. Such licences allow individuals with authorization from a medical professional to grow cannabis for themselves for medical purposes, or to designate someone to grow it for them on their behalf. Such licences have been established through several court cases in Canada going back more than twenty years. Such licences are also often a point of controversy as they often operate in residential areas and have, at times, been found to be abused by criminals operating under such licences while diverting cannabis into the illicit market.

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35