NewsRoom Articles - CannabisNewsWire

WednesdayNov 04, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – DEA Announces Batch of Marijuana Firms That Have Met its Registration Requirements

The DEA has granted federal registration to over 900 medical marijuana dispensaries operating in seven states, marking an early step in the federal government’s overhaul of cannabis policy, Department of Justice officials announced on Friday. The registrations follow the Trump administration’s decision in April to move medical cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 under federal law. The DOJ described the latest action as the first stage of a broader transition for businesses serving state-licensed medical marijuana patients. Todd Blanche, the Attorney General, said the registrations could expand access to cannabis-based treatment for people dealing with chronic pain while adding…

TuesdayNov 03, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – European Ports are Intercepting Increasing Volumes of Smuggled Canadian Marijuana

Canadian marijuana is increasingly turning up in European ports, with authorities warning that criminal networks are exploiting the country’s legal marijuana industry to supply lucrative overseas markets. Belgian officials say they confiscated about 21 tons of cannabis originating from Canada at the Antwerp Port during 2025, a record figure that surpassed seizures linked to other major producing countries. Officials say the scale of the trade has raised concerns across Europe and prompted calls for closer cooperation with Canadian authorities. Belgian Customs chief Kristian Vanderwaeren said the increase became noticeable in 2024 before intensifying the following year. He subsequently sought assistance…

MondayNov 02, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – California Social Equity Marijuana Businesses More Active Than Non-Equity Ones, Data Shows

A new review of California’s marijuana licensing data challenges the notion that retailers operating under social equity programs are more likely to lose their licenses than other cannabis retail businesses. Capitol Compliance Management, a consulting firm based in Sacramento, examined 1,653 cannabis retail licenses listed in the California Department of Cannabis Control’s registry. The dataset included 281 licenses identified as equity retailers, making up roughly 17 percent of all storefront licenses reviewed. According to data collected on Sep. 25, about 81 percent of the equity-designated licenses were listed as active. That compared with an active rate of approximately 76 percent…

FridayOct 30, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – US Supreme Court Rules Against Gun Ban Applied to Marijuana User

For over a decade, Rob Greene was the senior law enforcement official in his Pennsylvania county, prosecuting drug offenses while privately using marijuana himself. Greene is among roughly 440,000 people in Pennsylvania who have received authorization to use medical cannabis. Greene left the district attorney’s office this year. He says using cannabis every now and then has greatly improved his well-being. But the former prosecutor says federal firearms restrictions have forced him to give up his guns. Greene argues that the federal prohibition is unconstitutional as it treats medical cannabis users as prohibited firearm owners even when they are not…

ThursdayOct 29, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – How Sales of Marijuana Accessories Reveal the Industry’s Future

As consumers face rising household expenses in 2026, spending on cannabis accessories is coming under greater scrutiny. With budgets stretched by essentials such as food, housing, and electricity, shoppers are becoming more selective about the additional products they buy. For dispensaries, this shift highlights the importance of balancing affordable everyday items with premium offerings that attract dedicated customers. Year-to-date sales figures from LuvBuds suggest that practical accessories continue to account for a significant share of demand. Grinders, pre-rolled cones, vape batteries, and low-cost glass pipes remain reliable sellers because they serve familiar needs without requiring a substantial financial commitment. However,…

WednesdayOct 28, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Federal Prosecutors Indict Virginia Senator on Illegal Cannabis Enterprise Charges

Federal prosecutors have charged Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas and 6 other people in connection with an investigation into two Portsmouth cannabis businesses that authorities say were used to distribute marijuana illegally. The case follows federal raids conducted in May this year at the two cannabis outlets. The DOJ said that FBI agents executing a search warrant found firearms and cannabis at both properties. On October 22, prosecutors announced an eight-count indictment accusing the seven defendants of operating a criminal enterprise that allegedly sold recreational cannabis while presenting the businesses as lawful CBD and hemp retailers. Federal officials said the…

TuesdayOct 27, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Audit Flags Flaws in Colorado’s Cannabis Testing Mechanisms

A state review has identified weaknesses in Colorado’s system for detecting contamination in cannabis products and alerting the public when potential safety concerns arise. The audit examined testing and oversight by the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED). While investigators found no signs of widespread safety and health issues, they concluded that several parts of the regulatory system leave room for improvement. Colorado approved recreational cannabis in 2012. The MED, part of the Revenue Department, is responsible for licensing marijuana operators and enforcing state requirements governing the industry. According to the review, several issues combine to make it harder for regulators…

MondayOct 26, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Latest Poll Predicts Dismal Failure for Massachusetts Measure Rolling Back Marijuana Legalization

An effort backed by a national group opposed to marijuana legalization is facing an uphill battle in Massachusetts, where voters appear increasingly inclined to preserve the state’s legal adult-use cannabis market. Recent polling from WCVB and the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that a proposed rollback of recreational cannabis sales has attracted the weakest support among the nine questions on the November ballot. The findings come as lawmakers and local officials across the state publicly rally behind an industry that generates an estimated $1.65 billion in annual sales. The campaign surrounding Question 8 has attracted national attention because it could…

FridayOct 23, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Poll Finds Most Veterans Favor Marijuana Legalization

A new survey of U.S. military veterans points to substantial support for marijuana legalization, medical access, and expanded research into cannabis-based treatments. The poll, undertaken by Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), surveyed 470 members of the veterans’ organization. Sixty-one percent said marijuana should be legal for adult recreational use, while 87 percent backed its availability for medical purposes. Awareness of federal policy changes was also relatively high. Almost 75% of those surveyed said they knew about the federal government’s move to shift medical cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 under the CSA. Among those familiar with the…

ThursdayOct 22, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Tax Audit Risks Cannabis Businesses May Be Unaware of Post-Rescheduling

The federal shift in cannabis policy is opening the door to broader tax deductions, but the transition is creating a new set of compliance challenges for businesses operating in the industry. For years, companies dealing with cannabis had limited options under Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code. Because that provision barred most business deductions, operators generally tried to place eligible expenses within inventory costs, allowing them to recover those amounts through cost of goods sold. That approach was restrictive. Inventory costs could reduce taxable income only when products were sold, while ordinary business expenses, including administrative and corporate costs,…