Below is The Marijuana Herald’s Daily Cannabis News Brief for August 12, 2026. The Marijuana Herald publishes a new edition every weekday at around 3 p.m. Pacific Time. You can find previous editions by clicking here.

Ascend Wellness Reports $126.1 Million in Q2 Revenue, Up 7.9% From Previous Quarter

Ascend Wellness Holdings reported $126.1 million in second-quarter net revenue, up 7.9% from the previous quarter, while retail revenue increased 11.5% to $92.7 million. The company reported a $9.8 million net loss, an improvement from a $24.4 million loss a year earlier, and generated $19.5 million in free cash flow.

Aurora Cannabis Responds to Curaleaf Takeover Proposal, Plans Special Committee Review

Aurora Cannabis says its board plans to establish a special committee of independent directors to evaluate Curaleaf Holdings’ unsolicited takeover proposal. Curaleaf intends to offer implied consideration of $4 per Aurora share, consisting of 0.3463 Curaleaf shares and $0.75 in cash.

California Marijuana Sales Top $2.28 Billion Through First Seven Months of 2026, Up 6.3% From 2025

California’s legal marijuana market generated approximately $2.28 billion in sales during the first seven months of 2026, about $135 million, or 6.3%, more than during the same period in 2025.

Licensed retailers sold approximately $332.82 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products in July, according to data from cannabis analytics firm Headset.

Canada Invests $24 Million to Launch First National Cannabis and Brain Health Research Consortium

The Canadian government is investing $24 million to establish the country’s first national research consortium dedicated specifically to cannabis and brain health.

The Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium will include 10 multidisciplinary research teams examining subjects including marijuana’s therapeutic potential, sleep, prenatal exposure and its effects among people with conditions such as psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and epilepsy.

Federal Judge Rules New Jersey Marijuana Labor Peace Agreement Mandate Is Preempted by Federal Law

A federal judge ruled that New Jersey’s requirement that most licensed marijuana businesses maintain labor peace agreements with unions is preempted by the National Labor Relations Act, handing Curaleaf a victory in its challenge against the state. Curaleaf filed the lawsuit after regulators imposed a $610,000 civil penalty against the company for failing to maintain an active agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 360.

Michigan Lawmaker Files Bill to Repeal 24% Wholesale Marijuana Tax

State Representative James DeSana (R) has filed House Bill 6224 to repeal Michigan’s 24% wholesale tax on recreational marijuana, which took effect January 1 as part of a broader road funding package.

State figures showed approximately $34 million was collected during the first four months, compared with about $105 million that had been expected. Repealing the wholesale tax would leave Michigan’s existing 10% marijuana excise tax and 6% sales tax intact.

Placebo-Controlled Trial Finds Men and Women Experience Similar Effects From Smoked Marijuana Regardless of THC Potency

Men and women experienced largely similar acute effects after smoking marijuana containing between 6.25% and 22% THC, according to a placebo-controlled study published in Psychopharmacology.

Researchers found little consistent evidence that sex substantially altered feelings of being high, mood, cognition or the relationship between blood THC concentrations and reported effects, although some differences in smoking patterns and oral-fluid THC levels were observed.

Randomized Clinical Trial Finds Inhaled Marijuana Associated With Fewer Irregular Heartbeats

A randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that inhaled marijuana was associated with 9% fewer ectopic beats among regular cannabis users, driven primarily by a 10% reduction in premature atrial contractions.

The trial included 108 adults who regularly smoked or vaped marijuana, with researchers comparing cardiac activity on days participants were assigned to use cannabis with days they were assigned to abstain.

Study: CBD Enema Linked to Significant Symptom Improvements in Patients With Ulcerative Proctitis

A daily enema containing CBD and sodium propionate was associated with significant reductions in disease activity, pain and other symptoms among patients with treatment-resistant ulcerative proctitis.

Among the nine participants who completed the 12-week pilot study, 77% achieved its primary endpoint and 55.6% were classified as being in clinical remission. Average pain scores fell from 3.8 to 1.2.

Study Finds Cannabis Extracts Inhibit MRSA

Extracts from two high-CBD cannabis strains inhibited methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in laboratory testing, according to a study published in the South African Journal of Botany.

The extracts did not show detectable antimicrobial activity against the other four microorganisms tested. Researchers said the MRSA findings could provide a foundation for further research into potential topical treatments for infections caused by the drug-resistant bacteria.

Trulieve Completes Move From British Columbia to Delaware

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. has completed its redomicile from British Columbia to Delaware, formally shifting the marijuana company’s corporate domicile to the United States.

The move became effective August 11 following approval from the British Columbia Supreme Court and an overwhelmingly favorable shareholder vote. Trulieve says the change could expand access to U.S. investors and improve its eligibility for inclusion in broader stock market indexes.