The White Earth Nation is set to make history as the first tribal government in Minnesota to open recreational marijuana dispensaries off tribal land, following the signing of a compact agreement by Governor Tim Walz on Tuesday.

Under the agreement, the White Earth Band of Chippewa is authorized to open up to eight dispensaries across the state. Waabigwan Mashkiki, the tribe’s cannabis enterprise, plans to launch its first off-reservation store as early as this weekend in Moorhead, with another in St. Cloud expected to open by mid-June.

Eric Taubel, interim director of the state’s Office of Cannabis Management, praised the compact as a national model. “We’ll be the first state where not only are tribes operating cannabis businesses off tribal land, but they’re doing so under tribal regulatory authority,” he said. While the tribe will self-regulate its stores, the state will retain secondary oversight, including annual inspections and product embargos when necessary.
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A new proposal filed today in the New York Assembly would prohibit marijuana advertisements on television and radio, while also imposing fines of up to $5,000 for violations.

Assembly Bill 8510, introduced by Assemblymember Keith Brown (R), was referred to the Committee on Economic Development. The measure would amend Section 86 of the state’s cannabis law by banning cannabis and cannabis product advertisements that appear on TV or radio, or are in the form of billboards. The bill also expands existing advertising restrictions related to targeting children, making misleading claims, and promoting sales through discounts and coupons.

Under the bill, anyone found advertising in violation of Section 86 could face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation. This would apply to individuals or licensed cannabis businesses, and could be enforced even during the license application process.
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A federal judge has struck down Oregon’s voter-approved Measure 119, ruling that it violates the U.S. Constitution and federal labor law.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon issued a permanent injunction against the enforcement of the measure, which would have required marijuana businesses to enter into labor peace agreements (LPAs) with unions as a condition of licensing or license renewal.

The law, approved by voters in 2024, mandated that cannabis companies remain neutral toward unionization efforts and submit documentation of an LPA with a “bona fide” labor organization. The judge concluded that this provision infringes on the free speech rights of business owners and is preempted by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which governs union-related matters at the federal level.
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Cannabis retailers in Portland, Maine can now legally serve freshly prepared drinks like lattes and teas, as long as they don’t contain marijuana.

The Portland City Council and mayor voted unanimously on Monday to update city code and allow marijuana retail locations to operate as restaurants in the context of nonalcoholic beverage preparation. This change clears the way for cannabis cafes and shops to sell non-infused beverages made on-site to those 21 and older.

Mark Barnett, owner of Higher Grounds on Wharf Street, had long pushed for the amendment. His business operated as a traditional coffee shop until switching to cannabis retail in 2020—yet he was barred from selling the very drinks that built his customer base. Barnett called the previous rule a source of “severe economic pain” and said the update could help other struggling shops diversify their income.
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Rwanda’s first medical marijuana production facility is 83% complete and poised to be one of the region’s most tightly regulated export-focused operations.

Overseen by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in partnership with King Kong Organics (KKOG), the project is part of a state-sanctioned effort to produce cannabis oils exclusively for foreign markets.

Located in the Musanze District, the facility has already consumed over Rwf1 billion of the Rwf2.2 billion allocated for the current fiscal year. Final construction work includes installing dual-layered security fencing to meet international standards.
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Today, cannabis industry leaders met with California legislators, policymakers, and regulators to urge them to freeze the cannabis excise tax at its current 15% rate through a budget trailer bill.

Without action, the excise tax will automatically increase to 19% on July 1, 2025, a more than 25% increase that would “further drive consumers to the dangerous illicit market while actually reducing state tax revenue”, according to a press release from the California Cannabis Operators Association (CaCOA).

“Halting this scheduled tax hike would protect consumers, public health, and the viability of the regulated market voters approved in 2016,” said Alex Freedman, President of CaCOA. “Excise tax increases leave consumers and patients holding the bill at a time when many are struggling with cost-of-living challenges. With more than 60% of cannabis sales already occurring in the illicit market, a 25% tax increase would push even more Californians toward untested, potentially dangerous products. And because those products are also untaxed, the unintended consequence would be even less tax revenue available for the vital community programs they’re currently funding.”

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A new report presented to Washington lawmakers shows the state produced far more marijuana in 2023 than it sold, prompting concerns about where the excess product is ending up.

According to the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, marijuana production in 2023 was two to three times greater than what was purchased by consumers. Yet the state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) has no clear data on what happened to the remaining supply.

“Surplus cannabis may be destroyed, or it could be diverted to the illegal market either in state or out of state,” the report notes.
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