NY switches track-and-trace provider 🔀

"I would say stay tuned on that. Something might be happening soon,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said when asked by a reporter about the state's ongoing attempts to regulate hemp. 

For the third time this year, the state legislature failed to ban all intoxicating hemp products, when this summer's second special session ended last week on September 4.

The state senate wanted an all-out ban, while Abbott has repeatedly said he prefers regulations that would still allow the sale of intoxicating hemp products, but with more restrictions and safety measures than currently exist for the state's market. Marijuana Moment has more on the governor's remarks. 

NY OCM changes mind on track-and-trace 💻

New York's Office of Cannabis Management announced that it would be switching over to Metrc for its state track-and-trace system, roughly one month after it suspended the deadline for operators to implement BioTrack. OCM suspended the deadline one day after the announcement that Metrc and BioTrack had formed a partnership that essentially lumped in the two companies' state contract under the same parent company. 

MA certifies ballot measure that would re-ban cannabis sales 🗳️

The Massachusetts Attorney General certified a proposed ballot measure that would roll back legalization in the Bay State. If passed, the state's commercial market for adult-use would be banned, and THC limits would be put in place for medical products. Proponents now have until Dec. 3 to collect at least 74,574 signatures from registered voters for the legislature to take up the matter in early 2026. If the legislature declines to pass the bill, proponents will need to collect 12,429 additional signatures by July 1, in order to place it on the ballot next year. 

Thailand may, once again, flip flop on legal weed 🤸

Amid ongoing political turmoil, Anutin Charnvirakul has become Thailand's third new Prime Minister in two years. Charnvirakul was an early proponent of the push to decriminalize cannabis in the country in 2022, which was eventually overturned earlier this year. It is hard to imagine decriminalization is at the top of the new Prime Minister's priority list, but he is also not likely to oppose such a move.

Curaleaf joins S&P/TSX Composite Index 📈

Curaleaf CEO Boris Jordan said on Friday the company is the first US cannabis firm to join the S&P/TSX Composite Index. “It’s a pivotal moment for Curaleaf and for the broader acceptance of cannabis,” he said.

Pot Stocks' Risky Bet: The IRS Will Chill Out | Wall Street Journal