420 with CNW Archives - Page 2 of 310

TuesdayFeb 03, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Firms Boost Security Measures Amid Increasing Robberies

Cannabis retailers across Michigan are tightening security as robberies and break-ins continue to spike in waves, prompting concern among business owners and law enforcement officials alike. Law enforcement officials say the pattern has become familiar since the state approved recreational marijuana sales in 2018 and the first licensed stores began operating the following year. Steve Hinkley, Calhoun County Sheriff, noted that dispensary burglaries tend to spike suddenly, often involving several locations within a short period, before tapering off for months. According to Hinkley, these episodes have occurred repeatedly over the past several years. Southeast Michigan has seen the highest concentration of incidents. A report from the Detroit Metro Times documented at…

MondayFeb 02, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Virginia Lawmakers Pass Bill Enabling Recreational Cannabis Sales

Virginia legislators have advanced legislation that would legalize and oversee adult-use marijuana sales in the state. The proposal is one of several drug policy measures being debated during the 2026 legislative session. The bill, sponsored by Delegate Paul Krizek, cleared the House General Laws Committee with a 19–2 vote. The legislation had already advanced through a Senate committee and a House subcommittee last week and will now move to the House Appropriations Committee before potentially reaching the full chamber for consideration. During the committee hearing, Delegate Adele McClure, who chairs the committee, noted that the proposal creates a detailed framework for regulating recreational marijuana in Virginia. She explained…

ThursdayJan 29, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Links Long-Term Marijuana Use to Superior Mental Performance Among Seniors

Older adults who have used marijuana at some point show stronger cognitive abilities than those who report little or no prior exposure, according to new research published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Using data from a large national cohort in the UK of over 500,000 participants, the team examined the relationship between marijuana use, brain structure, and cognitive function in adults between the ages of 40 and 70. Participants provided detailed information about their lifetime marijuana consumption. They also underwent brain imaging using magnetic resonance imaging and completed standardized tests designed to measure different aspects of thinking and memory. The tests…

WednesdayJan 28, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Congressional Bill Seeks to Regulate Instead of Banning Hemp

Bipartisan lawmakers have introduced new legislation aimed at setting federal rules for consumable hemp products, providing an alternative to the broad THC prohibition that became law late last year under a spending package signed by President Donald Trump. The measure, known as the Hemp Enforcement, Modernization, and Protection Act, was introduced by Reps. Morgan Griffith and Marc Veasey. Its release comes as uncertainty continues to surround the future of the hemp-derived products market. The bill would permit the sale of consumable hemp products to adults aged 21 and over. The legislation reflects revisions made since Griffith circulated an earlier discussion draft last year, following feedback from regulators…

TuesdayJan 27, 2026 4:25 pm

420 with CNW — Medical Cannabis Sales Set New Arkansas Record in 2025

Medical cannabis sales in Arkansas reached a new high in 2025. According to data released by the state finance department, patients spent $291.1 million at licensed dispensaries during the year. That total represents a 5.5% increase from 2024 and surpasses the prior record of $283 million achieved in 2023. Medical dispensaries across Arkansas sold 79,223 pounds of medical cannabis in 2025, an increase of 4.8% from the 75,597 pounds sold in 2024. The state has 37 licensed dispensaries operating statewide. Since Arkansas launched its medical cannabis program in 2019, total spending at dispensaries has exceeded $1.6 billion, according to DFA spokesperson Scott Hardin. December proved to be the strongest month of the year, with sales reaching $25.749 million. Several dispensaries…

MondayJan 26, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Legalization Campaigners in Florida Are Being Arrested

Florida’s push to legalize recreational marijuana has entered a more volatile phase as state officials and campaign organizers trade accusations just weeks before a critical signature deadline. State AG James Uthmeier stated that his office has opened dozens of new investigations tied to alleged election-related crimes connected to the ballot effort, a move that supporters of the initiative describe as politically motivated. Smart and Safe Florida, the group leading the legalization push, rejected the claims. The group has until February 1 to deliver more than 880,000 verified signatures from registered voters. If the proposal reaches the ballot, it would still need approval from at least 60% of voters statewide to take effect. …

FridayJan 23, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Recreational Marijuana Legalization Support Dips as Florida Officials Oppose Campaign

Florida officials under Governor Ron DeSantis are stepping up their opposition to a proposed ballot measure that would allow recreational marijuana, drawing county election offices into the fight and prompting accusations that the state is trying to derail the effort before voters weigh in. Critics say the administration’s actions amount to an aggressive campaign against legalization at a time when public backing appears to be weakening. Florida requires at least 60% voter approval to amend its constitution, and recent polling suggests support for adult-use cannabis is well below that mark. The latest push comes from Smart and Safe Florida, a group backed largely by Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a multistate cannabis company based in Tallahassee. The…

ThursdayJan 22, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Study Says No Science Supports Federal Categorization of Marijuana

A new scientific review is challenging the foundations of U.S. drug law, arguing that the legal system governing controlled substances no longer reflects modern scientific understanding of risk. According to the analysis, drugs such as marijuana are regulated far more harshly than evidence would justify, while substances responsible for widespread harm often face looser oversight or fall outside the system altogether. American drug policy has largely been shaped by the Controlled Substances Act, passed in 1970. The law created a series of fixed schedules meant to classify drugs based on their danger and potential for abuse. More than five decades later, researchers say those categories…

WednesdayJan 21, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — UCLA Gets $7.3M in State Grants to Study Marijuana

$7.3 million from the California Cannabis Control Department (DCC). The funding will support studies that examine medical applications of cannabinoids, potential heart-related risks linked to marijuana consumption, and ways to better understand and respond to California’s illegal cannabis market. Faculty members from multiple UCLA divisions will participate, including researchers from the Fielding School of Public Health, the David Geffen School of Medicine, and the College of Letters and Science. UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids director Ziva Cooper noted that the awards highlight the university’s growing role in marijuana research. She added that UCLA scientists are studying everything from molecular compounds created…

TuesdayJan 20, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Survey Finds Americans More Likely to Quit Tobacco, Alcohol Than Cannabis

As the new year begins, many Americans are once again setting personal goals, but a new survey suggests cutting back on cannabis is low on the list compared with other habits. According to recent polling, people are more likely to resolve to drink less alcohol, stop using tobacco, or even spend less time on social media than to scale back cannabis use. The poll questioned 1,003 adults across the United States about the commitments they plan to make for 2026. Participants were presented with 15 possible resolution categories, ranging from health and fitness to lifestyle habits. Reducing cannabis use emerged as the least popular choice among those options. Only 8%…