From Our Writers

Thailand’s health minister announced plans to make recreational cannabis use illegal again by year-end, while maintaining its legality for medicinal purposes.

Virginia lawmakers have passed bills to establish a regulated adult-use cannabis market by May 2025, aiming to transition from a $3 billion illicit market to a safe, regulated, and taxed environment.

Florida lawmakers’ attempt to impose THC limits on potential future adult-use cannabis sales has failed, leaving potency regulations unchanged as the state approaches a November ballot initiative on legalization.

A recent survey by the California Department of Cannabis Control reveals that 86% of Californians believe it is important to purchase cannabis from legal sources, highlighting a growing preference for the regulated market over unregulated alternatives.

Oregon’s legal cannabis market experienced a downturn for the second consecutive year in 2023, with sales dropping to $955 million from a peak of $1.2 billion in 2021, amid challenges of oversupply and stagnant retail prices.

California officials auctioned off personal property from unlicensed and tax-delinquent cannabis dispensaries, marking a new strategy in the state’s efforts to regulate the cannabis industry and recover unpaid taxes, amid broader enforcement actions against the illicit market.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is urging state legislators to approve a proposal that would allow medical cannabis dispensaries to also cater to adult-use customers, following voter approval of adult-use cannabis but without the implementation of a market.

New York cannabis regulators approved rules allowing adults to grow cannabis at home and issued 109 new cannabis licenses, with a 60-day public comment period set before the rules take effect, aiming to expand legal access and address challenges in the state’s cannabis market rollout.

The New Mexico Senate unanimously approved a non-binding resolution urging the Department of Health to explore the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms, highlighting bipartisan support and referencing research on its potential to treat depression and addiction.

The Florida Senate has unanimously passed a bill to ban delta-8 THC products and impose strict regulations on the hemp industry, including THC caps and restrictions on products appealing to children.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a bill legalizing medical cannabis for conditions like cancer and PTSD, with the program expected to start in six months and targeting those affected by the ongoing conflict with Russia.

A federal lawsuit in Georgia accuses cannabis brands STIIIZY and Cookies, among others, of racketeering by selling marijuana as legal hemp products, seeking $150 million in damages for misleading consumers.

As Thailand contemplates retracting its landmark cannabis decriminalization reforms, industry insiders prepare to launch lawsuits to safeguard their businesses amidst legislative attempts to restrict recreational use and pivot towards medical applications only.