NewsRoom Articles - Page 4 of 610

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…

FridayFeb 20, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Florida Supreme Court Considers Appeal to Put Marijuana on State Ballot

Efforts to legalize recreational cannabis in Florida remain active as the state’s highest court weighs whether to take up a key appeal that could determine if voters see the issue on a future ballot. The Florida Supreme Court is reviewing a request from the Smart and Safe Florida campaign after roughly 71,000 petition signatures were thrown out. If the justices agree to hear the case and ultimately side with the campaign, the proposed constitutional amendment could move forward to the ballot in November. The group contends that the disputed petitions were improperly invalidated and should be included in the final tally required for ballot access. State officials previously excluded signatures tied to voters listed…

ThursdayFeb 19, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Massachusetts Considers Freezing Issuance of Marijuana Cultivation Licenses

Cannabis stores across Massachusetts are moving more product than in previous years as the number of licensed businesses reaches a record high in what has become a $1.6 billion annual industry. Even so, regulators are weighing a temporary halt on new cultivation licenses as growers grapple with falling wholesale and retail prices. Massachusetts, like several other states, is facing a glut of product. That imbalance has driven prices down sharply. Data from the state cannabis commission show that the average cost of an eighth of an ounce dropped to $14.20 last November, a steep decline compared with earlier years of the legal market. According to commission figures,…

WednesdayFeb 18, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Virginia Cannabis Sales Bill Moves to Senate Floor for Consideration

Virginia legislators have moved closer to creating a legal retail cannabis market, advancing a revised Senate proposal. The updated bill cleared the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on a 7 to 5 vote, sending it to the full Senate for debate. Meanwhile, House members are preparing to debate their companion bill. Virginia legalized possession of small amounts of cannabis and limited home cultivation in 2021. Lawmakers have since worked to establish a system for commercial sales, but previous efforts were blocked by former Governor Glenn Youngkin, who vetoed legislation that would have created a retail framework. Although the Senate and House bills share the same goal of allowing…

TuesdayFeb 17, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Illinois Still Struggles to Clear Old Marijuana Criminal Records

For decades, a cannabis conviction from 1980 trailed Roosevelt Myles, lingering on his record long after he served his time. Myles, an Illinois resident, spent nearly three decades behind bars for a murder he maintained he did not commit. An appellate court later overturned the conviction, and a judge granted him a certificate of innocence after finding no physical evidence connected him to the crime. When he was released in 2020, Illinois had already legalized recreational cannabis and created a process to clear certain marijuana offenses. With help from attorneys at New Leaf Illinois, an online resource that assists with record clearing, Myles petitioned to seal his cannabis conviction and expunge the wrongful…

FridayFeb 13, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Kentucky Officials Ask Lawmakers to Expand Medical Marijuana Program

Kentucky marijuana officials are urging lawmakers to broaden the list of medical conditions that qualify patients for a medical cannabis card. In a letter sent Thursday to top legislative leaders, the OCM outlined its case for expanding eligibility under the state’s relatively new program. At present, Kentuckians can seek a medical cannabis card if they have been diagnosed with chronic pain, cancer, persistent nausea, PTSD, epilepsy, or multiple sclerosis. The OCM now wants to add 16 additional diagnoses to that list, a move it says would significantly increase access for patients across the commonwealth. The proposed additions include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, irritable bowel disease, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, sickle cell anemia, ulcerative colitis, cachexia,…

ThursdayFeb 12, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Legalization Could Lower Daily Opioid Use

Expanding legal access to marijuana for both recreational and medical use may be linked to lower levels of daily opioid consumption among people who inject substances, according to new research led by a scholar at the Boston University School of Public Health. The study examined drug use patterns across U.S. states with different cannabis laws. Researchers found that states allowing marijuana for both recreational and medical use experienced a drop of roughly 9% to 11% in daily opioid use among individuals who inject drugs. That reduction was notably larger than in states where marijuana was approved only for medical reasons. The results suggest that access to regulated marijuana may offer…