Below is The Marijuana Herald’s Daily Cannabis News Brief for October 12, 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.
Uruguay Considers Allowing Tourists to Legally Purchase Marijuana From Pharmacies
Uruguay is considering changes that would allow foreign tourists to legally purchase marijuana from authorized pharmacies, potentially expanding its regulated market beyond citizens and permanent residents. Martín Rodríguez, executive director of the country’s marijuana regulatory agency, confirmed that officials are examining ways to remove existing residency barriers. The change could potentially be implemented through an executive decree without requiring new legislation.
Clinical Trial Finds CBD Combination Reduces Inflammation Marker Following Knee Surgery in Dogs
A randomized clinical trial involving 27 dogs found that combining CBD with an anti-inflammatory serum treatment significantly reduced levels of C-reactive protein following knee surgery. Dogs receiving the combination had lower inflammatory markers on the third and fifth postoperative days compared to those given a placebo. Researchers did not find consistent improvements in pain, mobility or other recovery measures.
Puerto Rico Budget Office Estimates Up to $53 Million in Annual Revenue Losses From Medical Marijuana Restriction Bill
Puerto Rico could lose approximately $53 million annually under legislation restricting medical marijuana access to patients with terminal illnesses or directly related debilitating conditions, according to the territory’s Legislative Assembly Budget Office. The upper-bound estimate includes $23.8 million in lost sales taxes, $15.5 million in income taxes and $7.1 million in licensing revenue, along with reduced funding for certain health services.
Spanish Pharmacists Call for Community Pharmacies to Help Expand Medical Marijuana Access
Spanish pharmacy representatives are calling for community pharmacies to be allowed to prepare and dispense medical marijuana treatments, potentially helping patients who currently face lengthy trips to hospitals. The proposal, discussed at Farmaforum 2026, would expand access to standardized marijuana extracts while establishing common procedures for dispensing, patient monitoring and professional training. Current regulations generally place preparation and dispensing within hospital pharmacies.
Study Finds No Significant Cognitive Differences Between Epilepsy Patients With and Without Recent Marijuana Use
Adults with epilepsy who recently used marijuana showed no statistically significant differences in cognitive performance compared to nonusers, according to a study published in Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. Researchers evaluated 78 patients undergoing assessments for epilepsy surgery, including 32 who reported marijuana use within the previous month. Testing covered memory, attention, processing speed, executive functioning and language abilities.
Montana Marijuana Sales Reach $250 Million in 2026, Pushing All-Time Total to Above $1.5 Billion
Montana marijuana retailers generated approximately $249.24 million in sales during the first nine months of 2026, bringing cumulative sales since recreational legalization to more than $1.52 billion. September purchases totaled $28.1 million, including $25.6 million in recreational sales. Year-to-date sales are approximately 2% higher than during the same period in 2025, according to the Montana Department of Revenue.
Canada Launches Online Applications for Marijuana Possession Pardons
Canada has launched a new online application system allowing people with eligible marijuana possession convictions to request record suspensions electronically. Introduced October 1 by the Parole Board of Canada, the portal allows applicants to upload documents, save unfinished applications and monitor their progress. The service includes Canada’s streamlined process for simple marijuana possession convictions, eliminating the need to submit paperwork by mail.
Hello Farms Asks Federal Appeals Court to Reconsider Decision Overturning $31.8 Million Verdict Against Curaleaf
Michigan marijuana cultivator Hello Farms has asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to reconsider its decision overturning a $31.8 million jury verdict against Curaleaf subsidiaries. The September ruling determined that federal courts cannot enforce certain marijuana supply contracts involving federally prohibited activity. Hello Farms argues that the decision threatens contractual stability for businesses operating legally under state marijuana laws.
Italy’s Constitutional Court Delays Hearing on Hemp Flower Ban Until February 2027
Italy’s Constitutional Court has postponed its hearing on the constitutionality of the country’s hemp flower restrictions until February 9, 2027. The court is expected to consider three related challenges involving laws prohibiting the commercial sale, transportation and distribution of hemp flowers and certain derived products. The restrictions remain in effect while courts examine questions involving constitutional protections and European Union law.
Researchers Detect 79 Compounds Formed When THC Is Heated to Marijuana Smoking Temperatures in Government-Funded Study
Researchers at Louisiana State University identified 79 chemical compounds produced when THC was heated to temperatures associated with marijuana smoking, successfully identifying 75 of them. The government-funded laboratory study examined purified THC heated between 400 and 800 degrees Celsius. Researchers found that 20 identified compounds had previously been associated with adverse biological effects, although the study did not evaluate health outcomes among marijuana consumers.
Maryland Marijuana Sales Reach $917 Million in 2026, Up 5% From Same Period Last Year
Maryland’s legal marijuana market generated $917.23 million in sales during the first nine months of 2026, an increase of approximately 5% compared to the same period last year. September sales reached $101.5 million, marking the seventh consecutive month above $100 million. According to state data, the median marijuana price for 2026 stands at $7.68 per gram.
Illinois Marijuana Tax Reparations Bill Gains Five New House Cosponsors, Would Provide Direct Cash Payments to Those Harmed by Prohibition
Illinois legislation that would use marijuana tax revenue to provide direct cash payments to people disproportionately harmed by past marijuana enforcement has gained five additional House cosponsors. House Bill 5815, introduced by Representative La Shawn Ford, would establish the Illinois Freedom Program and dedicate certain additional marijuana tax revenues to individual payments rather than community grants. The proposal now has six House sponsors.
90% of Marijuana-Using Cancer Patients Report Improved Insomnia, 86% Better Appetite and 84% Better Mood in Government-Funded Penn State Study
Nearly 90% of cancer patients who used marijuana reported improvements in insomnia, while approximately 86% reported better appetite and 84% reported improved mood, according to a government-funded Penn State University study. Researchers surveyed 186 cancer patients and survivors, finding that marijuana users also frequently reported improvements in anxiety, stress and cancer-related pain. The findings were based on patients’ self-reported experiences.
Clinical Trial Finds THC, CBD and Terpene Formulation Reduces Morphine Use by Nearly 50% in Patients With Acute Nerve Pain
A randomized clinical trial involving 69 patients found that a formulation containing THC, CBD and terpenes reduced morphine consumption by 47.6% over 24 hours among patients experiencing acute nerve-related pain. Those receiving the higher cannabinoid dose required an average of 17.4 milligrams of morphine compared to 33.2 milligrams in the placebo group, without experiencing significantly greater pain intensity.
