Chris@CNW, Author at CannabisNewsWire

WednesdayOct 29, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Firms Ask Supreme Court to Hear Case Challenging Federal Cannabis Ban

A group of cannabis businesses has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the federal government’s ongoing prohibition on marijuana. The petition, filed Friday by Boies Schiller Flexner LLP on behalf of several Massachusetts-based companies, including Verano Holdings, Canna Provisions, Wiseacre Farm, and Gyasi Sellers, contends that the federal government oversteps its authority by criminalizing cannabis operations that occur solely within state borders. At the heart of their argument is the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The companies say it prevents Washington from applying criminal laws to marijuana businesses that operate only inside a single state’s…

TuesdayOct 28, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Medical Cannabis Slashes Opioid Use Among Surgical Patients with Cancer

A new study suggests that states allowing medical cannabis sales through licensed dispensaries may see fewer prescriptions for strong opioids among cancer patients recovering from surgery. However, the same policy appears to coincide with a higher rate of hospital visits for reasons unrelated to cancer treatment. The research, published in Cancer, compared opioid use among cancer patients in states with and without medical cannabis laws. Researchers found that legalization accompanied by dispensaries was linked to a 4.6% drop in prescriptions for strong opioids compared with states that had not legalized medical cannabis. At the same time, the data showed a…

MondayOct 27, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Rule in Florida Puts Access to Medical Cannabis at Risk

Over 160 Floridians with state-issued medical cannabis cards have lost or could soon lose access to their prescriptions following a new regulation from the state health department. The rule, enacted this summer, targets patients charged with or convicted of drug-related offenses. Bobbie Smith, who leads the state’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), told lawmakers on October 15 that 20 people already meet the conditions for revocation under Senate Bill 2514. Another 140 remain under court review and could face similar action once convictions are finalized. The new rule stems from a Senate Appropriations Committee measure initially tied to a…

FridayOct 24, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Court Starts Hearing Case Against Florida Marijuana Licensing Process

A months-long legal showdown began on October 20 over who gets to enter Florida’s tightly controlled medical cannabis market, a fight that could reshape one of the state’s fastest-growing industries. The administrative hearing, expected to continue into mid-February, follows nearly a year of disputes since health officials announced they intended to grant 22 new licenses out of more than 70 applications. Thirteen rejected companies are now challenging those decisions before an administrative judge. The state’s health department and most of the selected applicants are also part of the complex proceedings, which include hundreds of documents and days of expert testimony.…

ThursdayOct 23, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Supreme Court to Hear Case on Gun Rights of Marijuana Users

The US Supreme Court has stated that it will hear a case on whether individuals who frequently use cannabis can legally possess firearms. The case will mark the latest in a series of major gun rights disputes since the Court’s 2022 decision that broadened constitutional protections for gun ownership. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is asking the Court to revive a prosecution against a Texas man, Ali Danial Hemani, who faced a felony charge for owning a firearm while admitting to being a regular marijuana user. A federal appeals court had earlier struck down that law, ruling that it was…

WednesdayOct 22, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Hampshire Lawmakers Push to Legalize Marijuana

Efforts to legalize recreational cannabis in New Hampshire are back on the table as legislators press forward with new proposals aimed at changing state law. Representative Jared Sullivan has introduced House Bill 186, which is currently before the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee. Sullivan said he expects the measure to earn backing from both parties when it faces an initial vote on October 28. The full House is expected to take up the bill next year. Still, Sullivan admits that the road ahead will be difficult. He doubts the Senate will approve it and points out that Governor Kelly Ayotte…

TuesdayOct 21, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — More Americans are Consuming Marijuana Beverages, Less Alcohol

More consumers are swapping traditional alcoholic beverages for cannabis-infused alternatives across the United States. These drinks, often packaged like seltzers, teas, or sodas, contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the psychoactive compound in marijuana—and sometimes cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating ingredient said to ease stress and discomfort. The rise in marijuana beverages comes as fewer Americans report drinking alcohol. A Gallup poll released in July found that the share of adults who consume alcohol has dropped to 54 percent, marking the lowest rate since the organization began monitoring drinking habits in the late 1930s. Public attitudes toward alcohol have also shifted, with a growing number…

MondayOct 20, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Missouri Regulators Consider Authorizing Marijuana Curbside Pickup

Missouri cannabis dispensaries could soon have another way to serve customers, as state regulators consider a rule that would permit curbside pickup. The proposal would expand the current options, which already include delivery and drive-thru services with state approval. The state Division of Cannabis Regulation this week released a draft amendment that outlines how dispensaries could implement curbside pickup. The agency is inviting public comments on the proposal through October 28 before deciding whether to move forward. For some dispensary owners and cannabis customers, the change could make a big difference. Mark Hendren, CEO of Flora Farms, one of Missouri’s…

FridayOct 17, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Uncovers Genetic Links Between Marijuana Use and Health Challenges

Researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, working alongside the genetics company 23andMe, have pinpointed specific regions in the human genome that appear to influence marijuana use. Their findings, published in Molecular Psychiatry, suggest connections between these genetic factors and various psychiatric, cognitive, and physical health traits. The research could help shape future prevention and treatment options for cannabis use disorder. According to the study’s senior author, Dr. Sandra Sanchez-Roige, marijuana is widely used, yet its long-term health impacts remain unclear. The team set out to better understand how genetics contribute to behaviors linked with cannabis…

ThursdayOct 16, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Ohio Senators Approve Bill Overhauling Cannabis DUI Laws

The Ohio state Senate voted unanimously to approve a bill that changes how prosecutors prove whether someone was driving under the influence of cannabis. Over the last ten years, Ohio has relaxed many of its cannabis restrictions, joining the growing number of states that permit both medical and recreational use. However, this shift has made it difficult to determine when cannabis use actually affects a person’s driving ability. Unlike alcohol, which has a clear legal limit of 0.08% blood alcohol content, determining marijuana impairment is far more complicated. Scientific studies have found that some drivers with high THC levels show…