420 with CNW Archives - Page 3 of 310

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%…

WednesdayJan 14, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Some Changes Resulting from Marijuana Rescheduling Could Take Time

President Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to loosen restrictions on marijuana is being welcomed by cannabis businesses and researchers, but experts caution that the practical effects will unfold slowly and unevenly. While the move signals a shift in federal posture, it does not immediately dismantle decades of drug policy. The order instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to move marijuana toward Schedule III under federal law, a lower-risk category than its current classification. However, executive action alone does not rewrite the Controlled Substances Act, which has governed drug scheduling since 1970. According to Gillian Schauer, executive director of the Cannabis Regulators Association, rescheduling typically requires a formal rulemaking process or…

TuesdayJan 13, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — UW Scientists Study Health Hazards of Marijuana in Workplaces

Researchers at the University of Washington are taking a close look at the potential health risks for marijuana production workers. A new study from the university’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences is examining whether people employed in cannabis cultivation and processing face health risks on the job, particularly those affecting the lungs. Since recreational and medical marijuana laws began to change across the U.S., cannabis businesses have hired thousands of workers. However, scientists say there is still limited information about the hazards these employees may encounter. Since cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, formal research into working conditions has lagged behind the industry’s growth. Early warning signs…

FridayJan 09, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Officials in New York Tout Successes Recorded in Legal Marijuana Program

New York regulators have published a series of year-end reports outlining how the state’s legal cannabis industry has developed, highlighting strong sales, growing tax revenue, progress on equity goals, and expanded access for medical patients. According to the reports, total legal marijuana sales in the state have now passed $2.5 billion since recreational use was approved. Of that amount, roughly $1.6 billion came in during the most recent year, through November. The number of licensed retail outlets has also grown from 261 stores in 2024 to 556 by 2025, nearly doubling in just one year. The Office of Cannabis Management noted that New York continues to surpass its social equity…

WednesdayJan 07, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Florida Could Again Vote on Recreational Marijuana in 2026 Polls

Florida’s debate over recreational cannabis is resurfacing after a failed ballot initiative and renewed public support, setting the stage for a possible return to voters in 2026. During the 2024 election cycle, a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize adult-use marijuana earned backing from 56% of voters. While that represented a clear majority, it did not meet the state’s 60% threshold required to amend the constitution. As a result, recreational marijuana remained illegal despite growing public approval. New polling suggests attitudes have continued to shift. A survey conducted by the University of North Florida in 2025 found that support for recreational cannabis had climbed to 66%, well above the level needed to pass…

MondayJan 05, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Ohio Campaigners Start Effort to Undo Recent Changes to State Marijuana Laws

A new campaign is underway to challenge recent changes to Ohio’s cannabis laws, setting the stage for another statewide vote on cannabis policy. Ohioans for Cannabis Choice has launched a referendum effort aimed at overturning parts of Senate Bill 56, legislation that tightens rules around intoxicating hemp products and revises the recreational cannabis framework approved by voters in 2023. If the effort succeeds, the question of whether to repeal portions of the law would appear on the statewide ballot next November. To reach the ballot, organizers must gather close to 250,000 valid signatures, a process that is already moving forward. Supporters say the new law…

WednesdayDec 31, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Trump’s Cannabis Order Injects New Life into Hemp Industry

President Trump has offered a boost to the struggling hemp sector with his executive order that directs federal agencies to accelerate the reclassification of cannabis and explore Medicare coverage for CBD products. The move arrives as the industry prepares for a major policy fight in Congress over rules that could sharply restrict hemp-derived goods. The sector has faced mounting pressure since November, when lawmakers inserted new language into a government funding package aimed at tightening oversight of hemp-derived products. The provision was designed to close a regulatory gap that allowed hemp products to be sold widely with limited federal scrutiny. Industry representatives argue the change goes too far and could…