Texas Governor Greg Abbott Says He’s Undecided on Legislation to Ban Hemp THC Statewide

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) said today that he has not yet decided whether he will sign or veto a bill that would outlaw all hemp-derived THC products in the state.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (photo credit: Montinique Monroe/Getty Images).

Speaking about Senate Bill 3, which has been approved by the full legislature and would implement the ban starting September 1, Abbott said he plans to take a deliberative approach before making his final decision.

“I’m going to give it the thoughtful consideration from every angle that it deserves,” said the governor. “I’ll put in the time that’s going to be needed to address it appropriately.”
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Study: CBD May Curb Methamphetamine Relapse by Targeting Brain’s Dopamine Receptors

A new study finds that cannabidiol (CBD) may help reduce relapse behaviors in methamphetamine addiction by interacting with dopamine receptors in a key brain region linked to memory and emotion.

Researchers from the Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences and three Iranian universities found that CBD’s impact on methamphetamine-seeking behavior is partly mediated by D2-like dopamine receptors in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. The study was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Using a conditioned place preference model, the team explored how CBD affected extinction—the process by which drug-seeking behaviors fade—and reinstatement, which models relapse.
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New York Issues Recall of Nine Cannabis Products Over Pesticide Contamination

New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has issued a recall for nine marijuana product lots produced by IndoGrow LLC after they failed retesting for unallowable pesticides.

The products, which were sold through licensed adult-use dispensaries across the state, were originally quarantined over concerns about lab testing validity.

Following a re-test authorized by OCM, the affected lots were found to contain pesticide levels that violate state regulations and pose a potential public health risk. Dispensaries and distributors are required to halt sales and distribution of the recalled products immediately.

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Florida House Backs Plan to Remove Medical Marijuana Patients and Caregivers With Drug or Cannabis Convictions

The Florida House has agreed to Senate-backed language that would require the state to remove patients and caregivers from the medical marijuana registry if they’ve been convicted of drug-related crimes, including some tied to the illegal marijuana market.

Florida State Capitol.

As part of the latest health care budget negotiations, the House is now siding with the Senate in supporting a provision that directs the Department of Health to revoke medical marijuana registrations for any patient or caregiver who pleads guilty or no contest—or is found guilty—of violating Florida’s Controlled Substances Act (Chapter 893, F.S.).

The language comes from SB 2517, which mandates the state revoke registration following a conviction or plea related to substances covered under Chapter 893. That includes cases where someone is caught delivering 20 grams or less of marijuana without compensation or purchasing more than 10 grams of a controlled substance. While “low-THC cannabis” and hemp are excluded, the measure applies to synthetic cannabinoids and Delta-6, 8, 9, and 10 THC.
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Majority of U.S. Sports Fans Support THC and CBD Sponsorships, Survey Finds

A new survey reveals that most sports fans in legal marijuana states are open to cannabis sponsorships across major professional leagues, with support even higher for CBD than THC.

The poll, conducted by Performance Research in partnership with Full Circle Research, asked over 1,000 U.S. adults—ages 21 and older who regularly or occasionally watch pro sports—about their views on cannabis brand sponsorships. Participants were surveyed online between April 23 and 26, with the sample focused on residents in the 24 states where recreational marijuana is legal.

The results show that 45% of respondents said they used THC or CBD in the past year—comparable to general usage rates nationwide (42% and 43%, respectively). More notably, a majority of fans said they find it acceptable for cannabis brands to sponsor sports leagues, especially when it comes to CBD.
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Optimizing Indoor Lighting Conditions Can Significantly Boost CBD Yield in Medical Marijuana, Finds Study

A new study published in the journal Industrial Crops and Products has found that indoor lighting strategies have a profound effect on the growth, CBD yield, and energy efficiency of cannabis plants.

Conducted by researchers from the University of South Florida and the Daqing Branch of the Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, the research identifies an ideal combination of photoperiod and LED light spectrum that maximizes CBD production in the cannabis strain ‘Hanma 11.’

In controlled tests, researchers evaluated four photoperiod settings—12L:12D, 14L:10D, 16L:8D, and 18L:6D—paired with four different LED light ratios. The study found that a 16L:8D light cycle paired with LED A (FR:R:B:G = 8:9:3:12) produced the highest CBD yield per plant, the most efficient use of water and electricity, and the greatest total biomass.
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Study: New Eco-Friendly Method Boosts CBD Purity by 32%, Slashes Extraction Costs

A study published by Industrial Crops and Products reveals that fine-tuning indoor lighting can dramatically boost CBD yield, growth, and energy efficiency in cannabis cultivation.

Researchers from East China University of Science and Technology developed a technique that combines deep eutectic solvents (DES)—a mix of ethanol and lactic acid in a 2:1 ratio—with alkaline leaching using sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The process was fine-tuned using response surface methodology to identify optimal pH levels, leaching duration, and extraction temperatures.

The resulting method achieved an 83.48% CBD purity rate—32% higher than traditional ethanol extraction—and a yield of 14.8 mg of CBD per gram of raw material. The team used QE-LC/MS and FTIR to confirm the composition and structural integrity of the extracted CBD, while degradation kinetics were studied to determine optimal storage conditions at -4°C and 20°C.
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Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Approves Referendum to Legalize Recreational Cannabis

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has officially approved a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older on tribal land.

Referendum No. 2025-01 was given given approval this evening with 55% in support. The measure calls for the possession, cultivation, and distribution of marijuana to be legalized within the tribe’s jurisdiction. It also calls for the authorization of sales to all adults of legal age—tribal members and non-members alike—as long as the activity takes place on tribal land.

The move mirrors a similar decision by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, whose territory in North Carolina became the state’s first legal market when sales began for adults 21+ in September.
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NuggMD Now Offers Medical Marijuana Evaluations in Every State Where Telemedicine is Allowed

NuggMD, one of the most widely used medical marijuana telehealth platforms in the U.S., now offers medical cannabis evaluations in every state that legally allows telemedicine for marijuana recommendations.

The move expands access to licensed medical professionals for patients in more than two dozen states, allowing them to receive secure, HIPAA-compliant evaluations seven days a week without leaving home.

NuggMD says the expansion will help eliminate unnecessary barriers to access, particularly for those with chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, and other qualifying conditions.
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Virginia’s Legalization Without Legal Sales is a Dangerous, Illogical Failure

By Jacob Wilson, Richmond Resident

By next year, 23 states will have legal, operating adult-use marijuana markets. Delaware and Minnesota are set to join the ranks of those with licensed retail outlets, leaving Virginia as the lone legal marijuana state without a system for legal sales.

Let that sink in: we legalized possession years ago, but still have no way for adults to legally buy marijuana. No storefronts. No delivery services. No licensed growers or product testing. Just vague promises and political excuses while every other legal state moves forward.

What we have now in Virginia is a bizarre gray market that benefits no one but illegal sellers. Governor Glenn Youngkin recently vetoed a bill passed by lawmakers that would have finally launched a retail marijuana system. That’s not leadership. That’s a complete abandonment of responsibility—and Virginians are paying the price.
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