Nebraska AG signs off, hemp market challenges, and more

“Republicans didn’t make cannabis go away – they just made it unsafe and untaxed,” Tennessee Sen. Heidi Campbell said to the Tennessee Lookout. “People will still find it, whether that means driving to Illinois or buying from someone with no license and no lab test.”

Tennessee Democratic lawmakers have renewed their push to legalize cannabis just as the state's ban on hemp-derived THCA went into effect on July 1.

The New York State Cannabis Control Board meets today at 11 AM. Here’s the link to attend »

Nebraska's AG signed the cannabis regulations he’s fighting ⚖️

Attorney General Mike Hilgers certified Nebraska's medical cannabis regulations as required by statute, then used his sign-off letter to note that a pending Nebraska Supreme Court case challenging the ballot petition signatures could retroactively invalidate the entire statutory framework the regulations rest on. Gov. Jim Pillen now has until July 15 to sign them, which closes the loop on this particular procedural step but does nothing to resolve the underlying legal cloud Hilgers seems to be actively rooting for.

Georgia's medical cannabis program expands 🍑

Medical patients in the Peach State will now be able to legally buy THC flower and vapes as Georgia's medical program expansion took effect on Wednesday. Prior to the change, legal products were limited to THC oil with a 5% cap on potency. 

California State Fair crowns its first home grow winners 🌱

The California Cannabis Awards, in partnership with the CA State Fair, handed out medals in a Home Grow Competition for the first time this year, marking the first time a state entity has formally recognized personal-use cultivators. Check out the medallists here. 

Osseo, Minnesota pumps the brakes on its city-run cannabis store 💰

The Osseo City Council took no action on a $4 million tax abatement bond meant to fund a government-owned dispensary, after residents questioned whether the city should be in the cannabis business at all. The catch: nearby Anoka already runs one and cleared $200,000 in its first few months

Our partners at Lit Alerts are now live in Virginia! The state kicks off commercial cannabis sales next year. Congrats to the team!

Medical marijuana operators move to join DEA rescheduling fight ⚖️

Iowa's Bud & Mary's and Pennsylvania's Tri-Mountain Pure filed a motion to intervene in the consolidated D.C. Circuit case over DEA's cannabis rescheduling, arguing they'd be directly harmed if judges set aside the Schedule III final order. Attorney Shane Pennington is representing the companies.

The Minneapolis Fed underscores a challenging hemp market 💰

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis found that Ninth District hemp acreage fell roughly 85% from its 2019 peak by 2025, driven by high cultivation costs, oversupply, and CBD prices that dropped 15% year-over-year as of April. That drop comes months before the federal ban on hemp-derived THC goes into effect.

Mass. teens say cannabis school discipline doesn't fit the offense

A new International Journal of Drug Policy study interviewed 18 Massachusetts teens disciplined for cannabis at school. Most said the punishment didn't fit the offense, and schools still run zero-tolerance policies despite a decade of legal recreational use for adults.

DEA Inviting Only Marijuana Opponents To Participate In Rescheduling Hearing Is Actually An ‘Encouraging Sign’ For Supporters (Op-Ed) | Marijuana Moment

Catching up with Jim Belushi to talk about cannabis at an Eastern Washington industry event | Inlander

Legal Cannabis Would Bring Positive Change to Winston Salem | Yes! Weekly

Are THC drinks legal in Texas? Why retailers still sell them amid legal uncertainty | Austin American-Statesman