NewsRoom Articles - CannabisNewsWire

WednesdayJul 08, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — DEA Opens Rescheduling Hearing by Expressing Support for Reclassification

Federal officials used the opening day of a closely watched administrative hearing on June 29 to reaffirm their support for a proposal that would move marijuana to Schedule 3 under federal law. Speaking at the DEA’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, James J. Schwartz, an attorney with the agency’s Office of Chief Counsel, said the federal government continues to back the proposed change. He told the administrative law judge overseeing the proceedings that the government would present expert testimony to support the recommendation to reclassify marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. Schwartz said the government’s role in the hearing is to…

TuesdayJul 07, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Delaware Lawmakers Override Gov. Meyer’s Veto on Marijuana Law

Delaware lawmakers have completed the process of turning Senate Bill 75 into law after the state House voted on July 1 to override Governor Matt Meyer’s veto. The measure cleared the chamber by a 25-16 vote, marking the final legislative step needed to enact the proposal following an earlier override by the Senate. The legislation is designed to limit the ability of county governments to impose zoning rules that supporters argue could block or severely restrict licensed marijuana businesses. Backers of the bill say the changes are intended to expand access to the state’s regulated cannabis market while ensuring businesses…

MondayJul 06, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Virginia Retailers, Farmers Worry as State and Federal Marijuana Laws Shift

Virginia’s recreational cannabis market is expected to launch next summer if lawmakers approve the final state budget, but uncertainty surrounding state and federal rules is already affecting businesses tied to the hemp industry. Barbara Biddle, owner of District Hemp Botanicals in Manassas, recently informed her landlord that she will close one of her two retail locations. Her stores offer hemp-derived products such as lotions, bath products, gummies, and beverages containing CBD and THC, compounds naturally found in hemp and cannabis plants. Both CBD and THC are often promoted for potential benefits that include easing pain, reducing stress, and helping with anxiety. THC-infused beverages have also gained…

ThursdayJul 02, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Virginia Governor Leaves Marijuana Provisions in State Budget Untouched

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has proposed a series of amendments to the state budget approved by lawmakers last week, but her recommendations leave intact provisions tied to recreational cannabis sales and a controversial increase in penalties for public marijuana use. The governor’s changes do not alter language that would establish a legal market for recreational cannabis. They also do not address criticism from advocacy organizations that have urged state leaders to remove a section raising the civil fine for consuming marijuana in public from $25 to $250. Opponents argue the increase would place a heavier burden on low-income residents while worsening racial disparities in enforcement. Spanberger submitted her proposed revisions on…

WednesdayJul 01, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Louisiana Withdraws from Taking Part in DEA Cannabis Rescheduling Hearing

Louisiana has stepped back from its formal opposition to the federal government’s plan to reclassify marijuana under U.S. drug laws and will no longer take part in ongoing hearings before the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to newly released court records. The state had been one of four given “interested party” status, allowing it to challenge the federal proposal to move cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Among those four, Louisiana was the only state where patients already have legal access to medical marijuana. Last week, however, officials filed a request to withdraw…

TuesdayJun 30, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Medical Marijuana Sales in Michigan Dwindle to Less Than $500,000

Michigan’s once-thriving medical cannabis market has dwindled to a fraction of its former size, recording only $322,350 in sales in May, according to figures released by the state Cannabis Regulatory Agency. Despite that decline, an ongoing federal dispute over marijuana policy could have major financial implications for cannabis operators across Michigan and neighboring Ohio. The discussion gained momentum this week after the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) urged the DEA to revisit its decision regarding participants in an upcoming federal hearing on marijuana classification. The organization argues that consumers, patients, industry representatives, and reform advocates have been left out of…

MondayJun 29, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Nebraska Allows Grower to Start Medical Cannabis Cultivation

Nebraska cannabis regulators have approved the first licensed cultivation company to begin growing cannabis nearly 19 months after state voters endorsed legalization for medical use. During a meeting on Monday, members of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission unanimously confirmed that MahaMota Cultivation Company had successfully completed its inspection process, clearing the way for the company to grow the state’s first legal medical cannabis crop. The commission has spent much of the past year developing rules and oversight procedures after holding its initial meetings in June of last year. While officials have suggested the first crop could be harvested by autumn, they have not changed their projected timeline that places the first retail sales…

FridayJun 26, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Missouri to Start Receiving Cannabis Microbusiness Applications in July

Missouri’s applications for 77 available cannabis licenses will be accepted from July 13 through July 27, with a random drawing set for September 9. Officials expect successful applicants to receive their licenses in December. According to the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation, the microbusiness initiative was created to expand access to the legal cannabis market for individuals and groups that have historically faced barriers to participation. The program was established after voters approved recreational marijuana legalization through a constitutional amendment in 2022. As preparations begin for the upcoming application period, the division’s chief equity officer, Lesley Turek, has spent recent weeks traveling across Missouri to explain the process…

ThursdayJun 25, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing Features Only Prohibitionists, Triggering Concern

A forthcoming federal hearing on cannabis policy is facing criticism after the DEA approved participation exclusively from individuals and organizations that have voiced skepticism about marijuana legalization, leaving reform advocates and industry representatives out of the discussion. The hearing, set for June 29 in Virginia, will focus on issues tied to the federal classification of marijuana. The proceedings could influence future decisions affecting cannabis businesses, taxation rules, banking access, and broader regulatory policy across the country. Documents released by the DEA show that seven participants were selected to take part. Each of those approved has previously expressed concerns about legalization or the expansion…

WednesdayJun 24, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Supreme Court Rules That Marijuana Users Can Own Guns

The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a broad federal restriction that prevented cannabis users from possessing firearms, marking another significant ruling in the court’s recent series of Second Amendment decisions. In a unanimous judgment, the justices sided with Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas resident who challenged a federal statute that bars people who regularly use illegal drugs from owning guns. Hemani argued that the measure violated constitutional protections for firearm ownership. Writing for the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch said the government cannot automatically treat all cannabis users as dangerous individuals. He noted that Hemani had not been accused of…