Jun 21 2025

Texas Governor Signs Bill Expanding State’s Medical Marijuana Program

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed legislation expanding the state’s limited medical marijuana program, broadening access for patients and increasing the number of licensed dispensaries.

House Bill 46, approved with strong bipartisan support, adds several new qualifying conditions to the state’s compassionate use program, including chronic pain, terminal illness, and traumatic brain injury. Until now, Texas law has only allowed medical marijuana use for a narrow list of conditions such as epilepsy and certain cancers.

The new law also raises the cap on the number of dispensaries allowed to operate in Texas. Under previous rules, just three were permitted statewide. That number will now increase to 15, a move supporters say is necessary to meet rising patient demand.
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Jun 21 2025

Rhode Island Legislature Approves Resolution Directing Cannabis Commission to Draft Rules for Hemp THC Beverages

The Rhode Island Senate on Friday gave approval to a resolution calling on the state’s Cannabis Control Commission to develop recommendations for regulating and licensing intoxicating hemp-derived beverages.

The move comes just three days after the measure passed the House, and the resolution will soon be transmitted to Governor Dan McKee.

The joint resolution, introduced by Rep. Scott Slater (D) along with several cosponsors, formally asks the commission to consult with public health and regulatory officials to devise a framework for overseeing hemp-derived THC beverages. These products, often sold as cannabis-adjacent drinks containing psychoactive compounds like Delta-9 THC derived from hemp, are currently available in some Rhode Island stores despite a lack of clear statewide rules.
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Jun 21 2025

Study: Lipid-Based CBD Nanoemulsion May Reduce Anxiety and Panic Symptoms

A new study published in the journal Brain Research provides evidence that chronic use of a lipid-based cannabidiol (CBD) nanoemulsion may help reduce anxiety and panic-like behavior by targeting brain areas involved in emotional regulation.

Conducted by researchers from the Universidade Federal do Ceará and Universidade Federal de São Paulo in Brazil, the study evaluated both the behavioral and neurological effects of orally administered CBD nanoemulsions in an animal model (rats). The CBD was given either acutely or chronically over a 21-day period at doses of 2.5 or 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

Researchers used the elevated T-maze test to assess anxiety- and panic-like behavior, along with open field testing. They also measured brain CBD concentrations and examined changes in neural activity and serotonin regulation by analyzing markers such as FosB/deltaFosB and tryptophan hydroxylase.
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Jun 20 2025

Report: New Jersey’s Cannabis Market Leads Nation in Equity Licenses, But Most Businesses Still Not Open

New Jersey’s cannabis market leads the nation in social equity licensing, but the majority of license holders are still waiting to open their doors.

That’s the key takeaway from a new Q1 2025 benchmark report released by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which shows that nearly half of all cannabis licensees in the state are minority-owned.

According to the report, 48% of cannabis licensees identify as minority-owned, while 44% are women or disabled veteran-owned. Both figures far exceed New Jersey’s 15% benchmark for equity participation. Compared to national averages — 19% for minority-owned businesses and 16% for women-owned— New Jersey appears to be outperforming most of the country in ownership diversity.
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Jun 20 2025

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Clears Final Legal Hurdles, Sales Could Begin This Year

After years of delays tied to legal battles and court-ordered pauses, Alabama officials say the state is finally on track to launch its long-awaited medical marijuana program—four years after it was first legalized.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) confirmed this week that investigative hearings for license applicants can now move forward. The hearings are a required step before final licenses can be issued.

“We had a number of restraining orders from the circuit court level,” said AMCC Director John McMillan. “The court of civil appeals vacated those or asked the circuit judge to vacate them, so that freed us up to be able to move forward.”
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Jun 20 2025

Texas Hemp THC Ban and Medical Marijuana Expansion Set to Become Law on Monday

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed more than 300 bills into law Friday but notably did not act on two major cannabis measures—one that would ban most hemp-derived THC products and another that would expand the state’s medical marijuana program.

(Photo credit: Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation).

With the deadline for gubernatorial action falling on Sunday, June 22, both bills are now expected to become law without Abbott’s signature unless he issues a rare weekend veto.

If no veto is delivered by the end of Sunday, the measures will automatically take effect. House Bill 46 would significantly broaden the state’s limited compassionate use program by adding eligibility for patients with chronic pain, terminal illness, and traumatic brain injuries. It would also expand the number of licensed dispensaries from three to fifteen and legalize new product forms, such as patches and inhalers.
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Jun 20 2025

New Jersey Economic Development Authority Launches $5 Million Cannabis Grant Program to Support Small Businesses

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has approved a $5 million initiative aimed at supporting early-stage recreational cannabis businesses across the state.

The Cannabis Business Development (CBD) Grant Program offers relief for small, locally owned cannabis businesses that are navigating the challenges of compliance and daily operations. Eligible businesses can receive a one-time reimbursement of $75,000 to help cover ongoing State and local regulatory costs and operating expenses.

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Jun 20 2025

Canada Sets New Monthly Cannabis Sales Record With CA$466.7 Million in April, Bringing Year-to-Date Total to $1.74 Billion

Canada’s legal marijuana market brought in a record-setting CA$466.7 million in sales in April, according to new data from Statistics Canada, marking the highest monthly total since the launch of regulated sales in 2019.

The April figure easily surpasses March’s CA$428.4 million, February’s CA$404.7 million, and January’s CA$437 million. Combined, legal cannabis sales through the first four months of 2025 now total approximately CA$1.74 billion.

Ontario once again led all provinces, with CA$179 million in sales. Alberta followed with CA$83 million, and British Columbia came in third at CA$67 million. Together, these three provinces accounted for nearly 70 percent of the country’s total cannabis revenue in April.
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Jun 19 2025

DEA Judge Shuts Down Cannabis Manufacturing Case Without Hearing, Company Plans Legal Challenge

A long-delayed effort to grow federally legal cannabis for medical research was abruptly derailed this week when a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge terminated a key hearing without allowing any testimony or cross-examination.

The company behind the application, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, is now preparing to challenge the ruling in federal court and call for the judge’s recusal.

The ruling was issued by DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney II, who dismissed the company’s bid for a marijuana bulk manufacturing license after more than six years of delays. MMJ BioPharma said the decision came without warning and without any opportunity to present evidence or respond to agency claims—calling it a “procedural ambush.”
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Jun 19 2025

New Jersey Bill to Allow Marijuana Dispensaries to Open Satellite Locations Approved by Second Committee, Advances to Full Assembly

A New Jersey bill that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to open satellite locations has advanced to the full Assembly after gaining approval today from the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Assembly Bill 4937, sponsored by Representative Reginald Atkins (D), would remove a restriction in current law that prevents medical marijuana dispensaries from operating additional sites beyond their primary location. The proposal cleared its first committee earlier this month and received another unanimous vote today.

If enacted, the legislation would allow licensed dispensaries to open satellite locations with approval from the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Supporters say the move would expand patient access and eliminate the need for new, full license applications to serve additional areas.
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