NewsRoom Articles - CannabisNewsWire

MondaySep 28, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Virginia Releases Draft Regulations for Adult-Use Marijuana Market

Virginia regulators have released a proposed framework for the state’s recreational marijuana industry, providing new details about where cannabis could be sold, who can enter the market, and the limits consumers will face when retail sales launch next year. The state’s Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) presented an 82-page set of draft regulations to the board on September 9. The proposal calls for as many as 350 independent recreational cannabis retailers across the state, although the full number is not expected to begin operating immediately. Regulators could also approve as many as 100 microbusinesses during the initial phase. The proposed system…

FridaySep 25, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Thailand Cabinet OKs Draft Law Seeking to Tighten Oversight of Marijuana Industry

Thailand’s Cabinet has approved proposed legislation aimed at imposing stricter controls on the country’s rapidly expanding cannabis sector, marking another step toward reversing the broad decriminalization introduced in 2022. Pattana Promphat, the country’s minister for public health, said that the proposed law would tighten supervision of cannabis processing and cultivation while introducing tougher penalties for breaches of the rules. The Cabinet’s decision came after months of preparation that included a public participation period and an assessment of the legislation’s potential regulatory impact. Public commenting was opened in June before the proposal was reviewed by the Public Health Ministry and submitted…

ThursdaySep 24, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Study Finds Medical Cannabis Slashes Opioid Use, Lowers Back Pain

A decade-long study from Israel has found that patients with severe lower back pain who used medical cannabis experienced marked declines in opioid consumption, disability, and pain severity. The researchers also reported reduced reliance on several other medications during the follow-up period. The research involved 1,000 adults with severe lower back pain who had not previously used cannabis. Researchers followed the participants through a specialist orthopedic pain clinic, recording medication use, pain levels, and functional limitations each year. By the end of the decade, opioid consumption had fallen by 90%. The researchers said the largest change occurred during year one,…

WednesdaySep 23, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Alabama Withdraws its Opposition to Cannabis Rescheduling Federally

Alabama public health regulators have withdrawn their opposition to the federal government’s decision to move medical cannabis into a lower drug schedule, marking a change in the state’s position as its long-delayed cannabis program gets underway. The Alabama Public Health Committee unanimously voted to rescind its opposition. The committee had rejected the federal shift in May, only weeks after the Justice Department issued its final order placing state-authorized medical marijuana in Schedule III. State officials said the health department’s attorneys had addressed the issues that prompted the original objection. Under Alabama law, federal changes involving controlled substances automatically take effect…

TuesdaySep 22, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Recreational Marijuana Sales Rake in $250M for Minnesota in Year One

Minnesota’s retail cannabis industry generated $250 million during the first year of non-tribal recreational cannabis sales, according to recent data released by the state’s Office of Cannabis Management. Recreational marijuana products accounted for $150 million of that total, while medical cannabis sales reached roughly $100 million. Together, the two markets recorded approximately 1.2 million transactions. The state’s medical marijuana program currently has over 90,000 people enrolled. The number is more than twice that recorded before lawmakers removed patient fees and broadened eligibility requirements. The sales figures mark a notable change from the industry’s early difficulties. Minnesota’s rollout was slowed by…

MondaySep 21, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Rock Hill Residents Sue Firm Over Marijuana Smell

Rock Hill residents have filed a lawsuit against a cannabis producer, claiming a persistent odor from its nearby processing facility has affected their homes and may have lowered property values. This complaint, filed at the St. Louis County Circuit Court, names Proper Brands, a Missouri cannabis company, as the defendant. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status for people living within 0.5 miles of the facility who say they have experienced the smell. Tim Heimann and Robert Smejkal, listed as lead plaintiffs, allege that unpleasant odors have repeatedly spread from the operation into nearby residential areas. The filing contends that Proper…

FridaySep 18, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Federal Court Denies Motion to Halt Marijuana Rescheduling Process

A federal court has declined to temporarily suspend the Trump administration’s decision to move state-legal medical cannabis from Schedule 1 to 3, allowing the reclassification to remain in place while a broader legal challenge continues. A three-member bench of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit issued its ruling September 9, rejecting a request brought by MMJ International Holdings and the NDASA. The organizations had sought an emergency stay of an April 22 directive signed by Attorney General Todd Blanche. The challengers argued that allowing the new classification to continue would cause them significant and potentially irreversible damage.…

ThursdaySep 17, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – How Americans’ Views on Marijuana Have Been Shifting

Christina Mancini grew up hearing that drugs were something to fear. Her grandmother cautioned her against using “dope,” while the school-based D.A.R.E. program presented drug use as a clear path to trouble. Marijuana, like other substances, was generally portrayed as harmful. Years later, Mancini, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, began examining how Americans form opinions about crime, offenders, and criminal justice policies. Her research has covered attitudes toward people convicted of crimes against kids and sexual offenses, including cases involving college communities. Recently, she has focused on cannabis and the changing public attitudes that have influenced marijuana laws. Her…

WednesdaySep 16, 2026 10:00 am

420 with CNW – States Have Raked in Marijuana Taxes Totaling $15B Over Five Years

Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that states collected approximately $3.55 billion in taxes tied to legal cannabis sales from July 2025 through June 2026. The federal agency’s updated data show that state governments have generated over $15.8 billion in cannabis-related tax revenue since the bureau began recording the figures in 2021. The states reported approximately $987.5 million in collections during 2026’s second quarter. California led the country during the April-to-June period, bringing in $161 million. Washington followed with $153.1 million, while Michigan collected $110.6 million. New York reported $76.8 million, Illinois recorded $71.8 million, and Colorado took in $55 million. California has also generated the largest cumulative amount since the agency began tracking the figures,…

TuesdaySep 15, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Florida’s Medical Marijuana Industry Faces Severe Threats

Florida’s medical cannabis market is facing mounting pressure as Governor Ron DeSantis approaches the end of his tenure, leaving businesses and investors uncertain about the direction of the state’s multibillion-dollar sector. The industry has been hit by stricter advertising rules, facility closures, layoffs and financial pressure from steep licensing costs. Florida currently has 28 licensed medical cannabis companies running 778 dispensaries statewide. The latest concern stems from proposed regulations from the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU). Among other changes, the rules would prevent cannabis companies from using celebrities to promote their products. They would also impose tighter controls on…