NewsRoom Articles - Page 4 of 609

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…

WednesdayFeb 11, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Deadline Looms for the FDA to Publish Cannabinoids List

Federal hemp regulations are set to shift dramatically in nine months, a change that industry leaders warn could effectively outlaw most consumable cannabinoid products. In the meantime, the FDA faces a looming deadline to provide guidance that could shape the future of hemp policy. Last year, President Donald Trump signed an appropriations bill that included a provision reversing the 2018 Farm Bill’s legalization of certain hemp products. While the bill reinstates restrictions on these products starting Nov. 1, it also instructs the FDA and other agencies to compile detailed lists of cannabis-derived compounds. The law tasked the FDA with producing three lists within 90 days of enactment: all cannabinoids the…

TuesdayFeb 10, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Why the US Should Avoid Making Canada’s Medical Marijuana Mistake

President Donald Trump’s executive order issued on December 18 signaled a shift in US medical cannabis policy, opening new paths for research and fueling a wave of mergers and acquisitions across the sector. However, one essential issue remains unresolved: how will patients receive medical marijuana in a way that resembles standard healthcare? Canada confronted this same problem years ago, and its experience offers a cautionary tale. In 2016, Canadian authorities broadened access to medical marijuana nationwide. While many viewed the decision as progressive, the chosen framework at the time left significant gaps. Healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, were largely excluded from the system. Cannabis could be authorized by physicians, but it was not…

MondayFeb 09, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Ohio AG Approves Measure Seeking to Undo Marijuana Legalization

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has approved the official title and summary language for a proposed referendum that seeks to roll back the state’s recent changes to its recreational marijuana laws. The decision clears a major procedural hurdle for advocates who want voters to weigh in on Senate Bill 56, a measure adopted by lawmakers late last year. Yost’s approval follows an earlier setback for the group behind the effort, Ohioans for Cannabis Choice. In January, the AG rejected the group’s initial petition, saying the language did not meet legal standards. The campaign was required to revise and resubmit its proposal. In a letter issued Tuesday, Yost said the updated title and summary…

FridayFeb 06, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Wisconsin Bill Could Legalize Medical and Recreational Cannabis

Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers recently introduced legislation that would legalize marijuana for both recreational and medical use, renewing a long-running debate as the state continues to lag behind nearby Midwestern neighbors on cannabis policy. Michigan and Illinois already permit recreational cannabis, while Minnesota has moved in the same direction. Wisconsin, by contrast, still treats most marijuana possession as a crime. GOP lawmakers have previously put forward their own marijuana-related proposals, though those plans have focused narrowly on medical use under strict oversight. Meanwhile, Democrats are calling for broader access that includes recreational sales. They argue that their bill reflects shifting national attitudes and recent changes to federal hemp policy, which they…

ThursdayFeb 05, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Study Design Could Provide Workaround to Existing Research Hurdles

A pilot study conducted in Minnesota is pointing to a possible new way for scientists to study medical marijuana without becoming entangled in federal regulatory hurdles that have long limited clinical research in this area. Researchers worked alongside Minnesota’s state-run medical marijuana program to test whether marijuana could help reduce symptoms in people recently diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. The findings suggest the approach is safe, practical, and acceptable to patients, while also offering early signs that cannabis may provide symptom relief. The study focused on individuals with locally metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a disease often accompanied by intense pain, sleep problems, and loss of appetite. Previous research…

WednesdayFeb 04, 2026 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — NRA Joins Cannabis Groups Asking Supreme Court to Lift Gun Ownership Ban

The National Rifle Association has aligned itself with prominent drug policy reform advocates in a high-profile challenge to a federal law that bars cannabis users from owning or purchasing firearms. In a brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, the gun rights group urged justices to strike down the restriction, arguing that it violates the Second Amendment and lacks grounding in American legal history. The case, U.S. vs. Hemani, centers on 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), a statute that makes it illegal for individuals who use controlled substances to possess guns. The NRA’s filing supports a lower court decision that found the provision unconstitutional. Drawing on recent Supreme Court precedent, the group maintains that gun…