Below is The Marijuana Herald’s Daily Cannabis News Brief for September 24, 2026. The Marijuana Herald publishes a new edition every weekday at around 3 p.m. Pacific Time. Previous editions can be found by clicking here.
Systematic Review Finds THC-CBD Improves Acute Migraine Outcomes, Full-Spectrum Cannabis Extract Helps Chronic Back Pain
A systematic review of five randomized clinical trials involving 1,072 adults found moderate-certainty evidence that vaporized THC and CBD can improve acute migraine outcomes, while a standardized full-spectrum cannabis extract improved chronic low back pain. Researchers found benefits including migraine pain relief and freedom from pain, while the back-pain treatment improved pain intensity, disability and sleep quality.
Massachusetts Governor Proposes Letting Veterans Get Medical Marijuana Cards With VA Diagnosis, No Separate Doctor Certification Required
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has proposed allowing certain veterans to obtain medical marijuana cards using documentation of a qualifying diagnosis from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, eliminating the need for a separate marijuana certification. The proposal would also explicitly add post-traumatic stress disorder and conditions causing chronic pain to the state’s list of debilitating medical conditions.
Nevada Lawmakers Give Final Approval to Sweeping Marijuana Regulations Covering Delivery, Testing, Advertising and Packaging
Nevada lawmakers gave final approval to an extensive package of marijuana regulations covering delivery, laboratory testing, advertising, packaging, enforcement and other areas. Among the changes, the amount a retailer may carry during a delivery trip will rise from 5 to 12.5 ounces, while the maximum delivered to an individual consumer in a day will increase from 1 to 2.5 ounces.
Study Finds Cannabis Stem Extract Suppresses BPA-Induced Growth in Human Breast Cancer Cells
A laboratory study found that cannabis stem extract suppressed growth triggered by bisphenol A (BPA) in human breast cancer cells while interfering with estrogen-receptor signaling. Researchers identified three compounds in the THC-free stem extract that showed estrogen receptor alpha-antagonistic activity and suppressed BPA-induced cell proliferation, findings they say support further investigation into biologically active compounds contained in cannabis stems.
Montana Finalizes Marijuana Operational-Control and Residency Rule, Citing Major Ninth Circuit Ruling
Montana regulators finalized rules requiring marijuana businesses to identify anyone with day-to-day operational control and document that the person is a state resident. Regulators rejected arguments that the residency requirement violates the U.S. Constitution, citing a January Ninth Circuit ruling holding that dormant Commerce Clause protections do not extend to interstate marijuana commerce while marijuana remains federally prohibited.
Denmark Medical Cannabis Prescriptions Jump 64% in One Year
Medical cannabis use surged in Denmark in 2025, with prescriptions increasing 64% to 22,410 and the number of patients rising 54% to 2,465. The Danish Medicines Agency received just three suspected adverse-reaction reports during the year and found no signals of new or changed safety risks. Denmark made its medical cannabis program permanent on January 1, 2026.
Florida Health Officials Propose New Background-Screening and Fingerprint Rules for Medical Marijuana Businesses
Florida health officials proposed updated background-screening rules for medical marijuana businesses, including monthly employee-status confirmations, new fingerprint-retention payment deadlines and expanded recordkeeping. Medical marijuana treatment centers would have 14 days to confirm whether workers identified in monthly fingerprint notices remain affiliated with the company, while background-screening records would generally have to be retained for at least five years.
Colorado Extends Metrc Marijuana Track-and-Trace Contract Through 2029, Adds Consumer QR Codes and New Data Tools
Colorado extended its marijuana track-and-trace contract with Metrc through 2029, with the agreement adding expanded data-analysis tools and consumer-facing QR codes. Marijuana businesses will gain access to serialized QR codes that consumers can scan to view information including a product’s origin and testing details, while regulators will receive new tools for identifying market trends, anomalies and potential risks.
Canada Marijuana Sales Reach CA$503.2 Million in July, 2026 Year-to-Date Total Hits CA$3.40 Billion
Canadian marijuana retailers generated CA$503.2 million in sales in July, bringing the country’s total for the first seven months of 2026 to CA$3.398 billion. Year-to-date sales were up 5.9% compared with the same period in 2025. Ontario remained the largest provincial market in July with CA$181.5 million in sales, followed by British Columbia and Alberta.
Study Finds THC-Positive Patients With Depression Had No Increased Risk of Psychiatric Readmission or Longer Hospital Stay
A study involving 743 psychiatric hospital admissions found that patients with major depressive disorder who tested positive for THC were no more likely to be readmitted within 30 days or experience longer hospital stays than THC-negative patients. Readmission rates were 3.3% among THC-positive cases and 3.6% among THC-negative cases, with no significant difference after researchers adjusted for other factors.
Oregon Says Marijuana Wholesale License Moratorium Can Now Be Lifted, Rule Committee Meets Tomorrow
Oregon regulators say the state’s moratorium on new marijuana wholesale licenses can now be lifted after the number of active licenses fell below a population-based cap established by state law. A Rules Advisory Committee will meet September 25 to review a proposed regulatory framework, although wholesalers cannot yet submit applications because the rulemaking process must still be completed.
Aurora Cannabis Asks Alberta Securities Commission to Force Curaleaf to Correct Alleged Deficiencies in Hostile Bid
Aurora Cannabis asked the Alberta Securities Commission to order Curaleaf to correct alleged securities-law deficiencies in its hostile takeover bid. Aurora says Curaleaf failed to provide required pro forma financial statements, keep the offer open for the required deposit period and publish a French-language notice. Aurora’s board continues to recommend that shareholders reject the unsolicited offer.
