NewsRoom Articles - CannabisNewsWire

FridayAug 07, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Finds Cannabis Use Exceeds Cigarette Smoking in the US

New federal survey data shows that regular cannabis use exceeded cigarette smoking in the U.S. in 2025, marking a notable shift in substance use trends across the country. According to the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 43.8 million Americans aged 12 and older reported using cannabis on a regular basis last year. By comparison, 36.1 million people in the same age group said they regularly smoked cigarettes. The findings, released on July 28, highlight changing habits among U.S. consumers as cannabis becomes more widely accepted in many parts of the nation. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 recorded the highest…

ThursdayAug 06, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Genetics Study Explains Why Some Marijuana Users Become Addicted

A new genetic study is offering fresh insight into why some people can use cannabis without becoming dependent while others go on to develop cannabis use disorder. The research suggests that occasional cannabis use and problematic addiction are connected to separate biological pathways in the brain rather than representing different stages of the same process. The study, backed by the Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (YC-SCAN2), combined genome-wide genetic data with advanced brain imaging to explore the biological differences between CUD and cannabis use. Scientists analyzed thousands of MRI-based brain measurements, known as imaging-derived phenotypes, which capture details about brain structure…

WednesdayAug 05, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — How Marijuana Rescheduling Will Involve More Federal Oversight Agencies

For years, many licensed cannabis businesses have viewed federal legalization as the breakthrough that would finally remove the industry’s biggest obstacles. However, some industry insiders argue that legalization may introduce an entirely new set of challenges instead of simplifying operations. Although the U.S. cannabis market has grown into an industry worth roughly $30 billion, companies have spent years operating under restrictions that limit access to traditional banking, affordable financing, and standard employee benefit programs. Many owners have assumed those issues would disappear once federal law changes. Experts caution that this expectation may be overly optimistic. Rather than replacing existing regulations,…

TuesdayAug 04, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Licensed Marijuana Retailer Gets California Regulatory Approval for Self-Checkout

A licensed cannabis dispensary in Sacramento has become the first retail outlet in California’s regulated marijuana market to receive state approval for a self-service checkout system, marking a notable step in the industry’s adoption of retail technology. Perfect Union Northside, one of 10 California dispensaries operated by MWG Holdings Group, announced that state regulators have authorized the continued use of its radio-frequency identification, or RFID, checkout platform. The company said it recently received confirmation from the state Department of Cannabis Control that the system satisfies the state’s regulatory requirements and can remain in operation. According to MWG Holdings, the technology…

MondayAug 03, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Federally Funded Study Finds High Marijuana Taxes Boost Black Market

A newly released federally-funded study suggests that states with higher taxes on legal cannabis may be unintentionally encouraging consumers to purchase cannabis from illegal sellers instead of licensed retailers. The research examined the buying habits of 1,525 Americans aged 21 and over who had used recreational cannabis within the previous month. Researchers analyzed how pricing and taxation influence purchasing decisions in both regulated and unregulated markets. According to the findings, retail prices and higher taxes were associated with reduced purchases of legal cannabis and lower THC consumption through licensed outlets. However, researchers estimated that as much as 89% of the reduction in legal cannabis consumption may be offset by consumers switching to illicit products. The authors noted…

FridayJul 31, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Federal Survey Reveals Continuing Decline of Teenage Marijuana Use

Recent figures released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicate that cannabis use among young adults and teenagers in the United States continues to move downward, extending a trend that has been observed over the past several years. The latest annual findings show declines in both monthly and yearly marijuana consumption among people aged 12 to 17, as well as those between 18 and 25. The report also points to fewer adolescents trying cannabis for the first time, suggesting that initiation rates are continuing to decrease. Among teenagers, the share of respondents who said they had used cannabis within the previous month dropped by…

ThursdayJul 30, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — State Fairs Offer Opportunities for Honest Marijuana Conversations

For the first time in almost two centuries, the Great New York State Fair will feature a booth dedicated to marijuana consumers and the state’s expanding legal cannabis sector. The move marks a notable addition to one of New York’s largest annual events, which welcomed close to one million visitors last year. The Empire State Green Standard Alliance will become the first organization focused on marijuana consumer advocacy to host an exhibit at the fair. Representatives say the initiative is designed to provide reliable information about legal cannabis rather than promote its use. Organizers believe the fair offers an ideal setting to…

WednesdayJul 29, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Georgia’s Expanded MMJ Program Triggers Influx of Patients

Georgia is seeing a sharp rise in medical cannabis registrations after a new state law broadened eligibility and introduced significant changes to the program. The legislation expanded the list of medical conditions that qualify for treatment, authorized vaping as a permitted method of use for certain patients, and revised the state’s limits on THC content, among several other updates. Active registrations increased from roughly 34,000 at the beginning of June to over 41,400, representing an increase of almost 22%. Since July 1, enrollment has climbed from 36,703 patients, marking growth of nearly 13% in three weeks. Medical cannabis businesses say demand rose immediately after the law came into force, with customers arriving well before opening time…

MondayJul 27, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Oklahoma Grapples with Inconsistent Marijuana Testing Standards, Lab Shopping

Oklahoma’s medical cannabis industry is facing renewed scrutiny as concerns over varying laboratory findings fuel debate about product safety and the effectiveness of current oversight. For Oklahoma patient Summer Parker, those concerns became deeply personal. She recalled experiencing severe episodes after smoking pre-rolls from Graves Farm Organics. According to Parker, she struggled to think clearly, had difficulty speaking, collapsed, and eventually required emergency medical assistance. At first, she did not suspect the cannabis product. However, after similar incidents repeatedly followed the use of the same brand, she and her spouse, Charles Hrabina, decided to have several products independently analyzed. Their lawsuit against the business alleges that testing revealed multiple pesticide failures, one microbial contamination issue, and…

MondayJul 27, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Report Shows More Nebraskans Favor Marijuana Legalization

Support for marijuana legalization continues to grow across Nebraska, according to newly released survey findings, nearly two years after voters strongly backed the legalization of medical marijuana. The latest Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey, conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Rural Drug Addiction Research Center, compared public attitudes and cannabis use between 2024 and 2026. In the 2026 survey, 47% of Nebraskans said they favored allowing cannabis for both recreational and medical purposes, up from 44% in 2024. Backing for medical marijuana alone also rose during the same period, with 84% expressing support compared with 80% two years earlier. Nebraska residents approved medical cannabis through a statewide…