Massachusetts Hits $10 Billion Marijuana Sales Milestone, With Top Official Saying Consumption Lounges Will Bolster Industry In 2026
Massachusetts reached a marijuana sales milestone in 2025, with $1.65 billion in adult-use sales for the year—bringing the state’s total legal cannabis purchases to over $10 billion since the recreational market launched, officials announced on Thursday. A top regulator also said that the forthcoming addition of social consumption lounges could give the industry a further […]
Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Would Ease Restrictions On Advertising By The Industry, Congressional Researchers Say
If marijuana is rescheduled—as President Donald Trump directed in a recent executive order—congressional researchers say the move could ease current restrictions on advertising for cannabis products. Moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) wouldn’t federally legalize the plant. But while it’s commonly understood that the reclassification would have […]
Feds Defend Decision To Block Companies That Work With Marijuana Industry From Participating In Loan Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is defending its decision to adopt a rule adding restrictions on companies that provide services to marijuana businesses, making it so participants in a particular government loan guarantee program are prohibited from receiving income from cannabis operations. After posting the finalized rule in October 2024—amending a guaranteed loan program […]
Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Order Could Include Industry Banking And CBD Medicare Coverage Provisions, Sources Say
Cannabis industry observers believe it is increasingly likely that President Donald Trump will soon sign an executive order directing federal agencies to complete the marijuana rescheduling process. But multiple reports indicate that the directive could also contain additional components touching on cannabis business banking access and Medicare coverage for CBD. The exact details of the executive […]
Bipartisan Senators Discuss Marijuana Industry Banking Issues As Trump ‘Strongly’ Considers Rescheduling
As President Donald Trump affirms that his administration is “very strongly” considering a proposal to reschedule marijuana, bipartisan senators raised the issue during a hearing with a former state cannabis regulator who testified about the unique challenges federal prohibition imposes on state regulators. While attention within the cannabis community is largely focused on a potentially […]
New Democratic Congressional Marijuana Resolution Calls For Industry Equity And Pushes Trump To Advocate For International Reform At UN
Congressional Democrats have filed a new marijuana resolution that urges officials to ensure equity in the industry and address the consequences of the war on drugs—while also pushing President Donald Trump to take the lead in advocating for global cannabis reform at the United Nations. Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Lateefah Simon (D-CA) […]
Minnesota Governor Is ‘Exploring’ How To Address Impending Federal Hemp THC Ban That Would Disrupt ‘Thriving Industry’
The governor of Minnesota says the state is “exploring” how to respond to an impending federal ban on hemp THC products, which would be “very disruptive” to a “thriving industry.” And a top GOP congressional lawmaker from the state is also reviewing options to “support consumers and provide industry stability.” At a press conference on […]
Tennessee Officials Reach Agreement With Hemp Industry To Temporarily Allow THCA Sales
“It’ll help the businesses, we’ll have great revenue, and everybody smoking the stuff will be a lot happier.” By Sam Stockard, Tennessee Lookout Tennessee’s hemp industry has reached an agreement with state agencies, dismissing a lawsuit and enabling some businesses to keep selling hemp-derived products such as THCA for a short time after new restrictions […]
Congressional Democratic Lawmakers Weigh Plans To Save Hemp Industry From Looming Federal Ban
Minnesota congressional Democrats are committing to preventing the collapse of the hemp industry after lawmakers passed a now-signed spending bill banning the sale of most consumable THC products, stressing the need to “fix it” before recriminalization takes effect next year and laying out opportunities to achieve that. And according to one lawmaker, it’s not just […]
Michigan Court Hears Marijuana Industry Lawsuit Challenging New Tax Increase
“As the leading cannabis trade association, we’re here in court fighting to protect the will of Michigan voters.” By Katherine Dailey, Michigan Advance The state’s new 24 percent tax on all cannabis products, which was passed as a part of the fiscal year 2026 budget package, came before the Michigan Court of Claims on Tuesday, […]