NewsRoom Articles - CannabisNewsWire

FridayMar 06, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Georgia Considers Bill to End Cannabis Odor as Basis for Police Searches

A proposal now before the Georgia legislature could significantly change how law enforcement officers handle traffic stops and searches, focusing on the long-debated practice of using the odor of cannabis as grounds for action. House Bill 496, authored by Representative Jasmine Clark, would prevent officers from relying solely on cannabis scent to justify stopping or searching someone. The measure aims to revise the state’s criminal procedure rules to make clear that the scent of hemp or cannabis, whether smoked or not, does not by itself amount to reasonable suspicion or probable cause. If enacted, the legislation would prohibit officers from detaining pedestrians, conducting traffic stops, or searching vehicles and occupants based only…

ThursdayMar 05, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — More Chaos for Marijuana Operators as Trump Changes Tariff Policy Again

The legal marijuana sector has long operated under a patchwork of rules and shifting policies. Now, a new round of trade measures under President Donald Trump is adding fresh strain to an already complex marketplace. From vaporizer components to grow equipment and packaging materials, businesses say the latest tariffs are making it harder to forecast costs and manage supply chains. Some companies have shifted production away from countries facing steep import duties. Others are holding off on major changes, unsure what the next policy move will bring. The White House has leaned on the 1977 IEEPA to raise import taxes. Although the Supreme Court recently invalidated tariffs announced in April last year, the…

WednesdayMar 04, 2026 9:00 am

420 with CNW — Oklahoma Could Extend Moratorium on Licensing New Marijuana Businesses

Oklahoma lawmakers are weighing another extension of the state’s pause on issuing new medical cannabis business licenses, a move that could also lead to a long-term limit on the number of grow operations once the freeze is lifted. Two measures, House Bill 3143 and House Bill 3144, would adjust the moratorium first approved in 2022. Unless legislators act, the current pause on new licenses will end on August 1. State Representative Rusty Cornwell, sponsor of both proposals, said the goal is to bring order to a market that expanded rapidly after voters legalized medical cannabis. He stressed that the legislation…

TuesdayMar 03, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Gun Ownership Case Before US Supreme Court Triggers Unusual Alliances

Two issues that rarely share political ground are now colliding at the highest court in the country. Firearm rights and marijuana policy have each reshaped U.S. law and politics over the past few decades. Recently, they met in a Supreme Court case that has produced an unexpected mix of allies and opponents. The case centers on a federal statute that prohibits people who regularly use marijuana from possessing firearms. The challenge arrives at a time when the court has broadened protections for gun ownership, particularly after its 2022 ruling that strengthened Second Amendment rights and prompted fresh scrutiny of existing gun regulations. The Trump administration is defending the restriction, joined by gun control advocates who are often aligned with Democrats. Opposing…

MondayMar 02, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — What Employers Should Know About the Proposed Easing of Federal Cannabis Laws

Cannabis remains listed as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), a category reserved for drugs considered to have a high likelihood of misuse and no recognized medical purpose. That designation has shaped federal drug policy for decades and continues to influence workplace rules across the country. In 2023, the Biden administration backed a proposal to shift cannabis to a different category. Last year, President Donald Trump signed an order instructing the Justice Department to move forward with the formal rulemaking process to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III substance. Moving marijuana into that group would signal federal recognition that it has accepted medical use in the United…

FridayFeb 27, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Texas Grapples with Increasing Cases of Marijuana DUI

As Texas lawmakers review how cannabis is regulated and enforced, safety advocates are drawing attention to what they describe as a mounting and often overlooked risk on the state’s roads: drivers impaired by marijuana. Texans for Safe & Drug Free Youth, a statewide prevention group, argues that limiting access to cannabis products remains the most reliable way to curb use and its consequences. For years, public awareness campaigns have largely centered on drunk driving. But safety officials warn that marijuana use behind the wheel poses its own dangers. With cannabis becoming more socially accepted, researchers and traffic safety groups say data is beginning to show troubling patterns that require…

ThursdayFeb 26, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Virginia Tech Leverages Novel Way to Study Marijuana Effects on Driving

As more states legalize cannabis, researchers are racing to understand what that shift means for road safety. While laws have changed significantly, scientific evidence on how cannabis influences behavior behind the wheel has lagged. A new study led by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute seeks to close that gap by tracking drivers in their everyday routines. Over two years, from 2021 through 2023, the research team tracked 105,000 miles driven by adults aged 21 to 70. The trips, 14,700 in total, were recorded using a naturalistic driving approach developed at the institute. About 9,000 miles were logged for marijuana consumption, 1,000 miles reflected alcohol use, while 400 miles included more than one substance use. The remaining trips were substance-free and served as…

WednesdayFeb 25, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Why Pennies Remain Vital in the Marijuana Industry

For most marijuana retailers, the humble penny has rarely been a topic of concern. That is changing. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Mint to halt production of the penny. Since then, financial institutions have begun limiting the number of pennies they distribute. The shift has drawn little public attention, but businesses that rely heavily on cash are beginning to feel the impact. Cannabis dispensaries are among the first to notice. Although digital payment tools have expanded in recent years, marijuana sales still involve a significant amount of physical currency. In many states, store owners estimate that about one-third of transactions are settled in cash, though the figure can…

TuesdayFeb 24, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Links Psychiatric Disorders to Adolescent Cannabis Use

Teenagers who use marijuana may be far more likely to develop serious mental health conditions as they move into adulthood, according to a major study released in JAMA Health Forum. The study tracked 463,396 young people aged 13 to 17 years and followed them until age 26. Investigators found that teens who reported using cannabis within the previous year faced roughly twice the risk of being diagnosed later with psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder. They were also more likely to develop anxiety and depression. The research team reviewed electronic health records collected during routine pediatric appointments from 2016 through 2023. On average, marijuana use was reported…

MondayFeb 23, 2026 4:20 pm

South Dakota to Switch to Digital MMJ Cards

South Dakota is moving toward a digital system for medical cannabis cards, a change that state health officials say will make access easier for patients and caregivers. The update was shared during a meeting of the South Dakota House Health and Human Services Committee at the State Capitol in Pierre. Representative Josephine Garcia had originally planned to introduce House Bill 1211 to require the state Health Department to issue electronic cannabis cards. However, she told committee members she no longer needed to push the proposal forward. Garcia, who leads the state’s Medical Cannabis Oversight Committee, stated that the department has…