Below is The Marijuana Herald’s Daily Cannabis News Brief for September 30, 2026, sponsored by Trulieve. The Marijuana Herald publishes a new edition every weekday at around 3 p.m. Pacific Time. Previous editions can be found by clicking here.
New Massachusetts Poll Finds Just 27% Support Repealing Recreational Marijuana Market
A MassINC Polling Group survey found that 61% of likely Massachusetts voters oppose Question 8, compared with 27% who support it and 11% who remain undecided. The November ballot measure would dismantle the state’s recreational marijuana market while preserving medical sales. A separate poll released last week also found support for repeal below 30%.
Marijuana Law and Regulatory Changes Taking Effect October 1
October 1 brings marijuana policy changes across multiple states, including Connecticut’s tax overhaul, removal of its concentrate potency cap and expanded medical access. Maryland will establish protections for qualifying firefighters and veterinarians, while California and North Dakota update regulations. Other changes include Arkansas caregiver background-check costs and new quarterly wholesale tax values in Michigan and Nevada.
Georgia Medical Cannabis Commission Approves Home Delivery, Research Rules and More Regulatory Changes
Georgia regulators have approved sweeping medical cannabis rule changes establishing a framework for home delivery to registered patients and caregivers, along with rules governing product recalls and marijuana research. The package also creates a pathway for Georgia colleges and universities to conduct cannabis studies in cooperation with licensed producers.
Snohomish County Moves Forward With Reduced Marijuana Store Separation Requirements
Snohomish County, Washington, has advanced a proposal to reduce minimum distances between marijuana stores, with consideration scheduled for October 7. The ordinance would cut the requirement from 10,000 feet to 5,000 feet across most rural and resource zones, while applying a 2,500-foot standard in certain other areas. The existing school buffer would remain.
Study of Nearly 36,000 Finds Germany’s Legalization Did Not Increase Annual or Heavy Marijuana Use
A study of 35,957 respondents found no evidence that Germany’s marijuana legalization increased past-year use or heavy consumption during its first two years. Published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, the analysis covered 23 population surveys spanning 2022 through 2026. Results remained stable across age and gender groups, although researchers recommended continued monitoring for longer-term effects.
Tennessee Democratic Nominee Says She Would Work With Republicans to Legalize Marijuana
Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerri Green says she would work with the Republican-controlled legislature to pursue marijuana legalization if elected. The Memphis City Councilmember identified legalization as a potential area of common ground despite disagreements on other issues. Green faces Republican U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn in November as Tennessee remains without a comprehensive medical marijuana program.
CBD Cuts Seizures by at Least Half in Majority of Children With Treatment-Resistant Focal Epilepsy
A retrospective study of 79 children found that 54.4% experienced at least a 50% reduction in seizures after purified CBD was added to their treatments, with four becoming seizure-free. Published in Epilepsy & Behavior, the research found sustained responses through 30 months. Reported side effects were generally mild and temporary, with no serious treatment-related adverse events.
Ohio Marijuana Package-Size Rules Take Effect October 5
An Ohio rule taking effect October 5 establishes packaging and potency standards for recreational and medical marijuana products. Limits include one ounce per flower package and up to three vape devices or cartridges containing no more than two grams each. Regulators say the standards generally preserve existing medical-market quantities while establishing corresponding recreational requirements; purchase limits are separate.
NIH Awards Nearly $2 Million to Study Marijuana’s Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects in People With HIV
The National Institutes of Health awarded nearly $2 million in first-year funding for two projects examining cannabinoids, inflammation and HIV. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans will investigate immune responses, brain health and premature aging. The projects build on preliminary findings that have not established causation.
Safe Harbor Financial Announces 1-for-12 Reverse Stock Split
Marijuana financial services company Safe Harbor Financial announced a 1-for-12 reverse stock split effective September 30. The transaction combines every 12 common shares into one, with trading continuing under Nasdaq ticker SHFS. Fractional holdings will be rounded up to whole shares. The split changes share counts and proportionally adjusts the per-share price without itself creating shareholder value.
California City Says Some Marijuana Operators Reported No Social-Equity Contributions, Has Never Audited Gross Receipts
Officials in Antioch, California, say some marijuana businesses have reported making no social-equity contributions to their designated nonprofit partners, while acknowledging that the city has never conducted a true audit of operators’ gross receipts.
Wisconsin Sets October 5 Pardon Application Deadline, Including for Eligible Marijuana Felonies
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers set October 5 as the final pardon application deadline for consideration before his administration ends. People with qualifying marijuana felony convictions may apply if they meet requirements, including completing all sentences at least five years earlier. Pardons can restore certain rights but do not erase convictions, and submitting an application does not guarantee a decision.
Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee Begins Review of Medical Marijuana Legalization Proposal
Tennessee’s Senate Judiciary Committee began reviewing a medical marijuana legalization proposal that would allow home delivery while prohibiting smokable flower and home cultivation. Senate Bill 459 would establish licensed cultivators, processors, dispensaries and testing laboratories, with patients required to obtain physician prescriptions. The committee will continue its review Thursday, with further revisions expected before the 2027 legislative session.
Laboratory Study Finds CBD Selectively Suppresses Breast Cancer Cells
A laboratory study published in the September issue of Folia Veterinaria found that CBD reduced activity and adhesion in human breast cancer cells while increasing those measures in non-tumor breast cells. Researchers observed different responses across concentrations and exposure periods. The experiment involved two cell lines, with no human or animal treatment trials, and further research is needed to assess clinical relevance.
