The Feds Published a Manual on How to Weigh Your Weed
NIST Cannabis Scales Report: What It Means It’s the wonkiest cannabis story of the week, and it matters precisely because it’s boring: the federal government just published a handbook on cannabis scales. On June 29, the National Institute of Standards and Technology released NIST SP 2200-08, “Suitability of Cannabis Scales” (2026 edition) — technical guidance […]
Marijuana Tax Revenue Is Falling in Mature States — Here’s Why
Marijuana Tax Revenue Is Falling in Older States Here is the number every statehouse quietly fears: marijuana tax revenue is now declining in six of the earliest-legalizing states. A widely syndicated analysis (via Arizona Capitol Times; also Dakota Free Press) found collections falling in Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The quick why: supply […]
The KIDS Act Passed the House — and It Quietly Hits Cannabis Ads
KIDS Act: A Hidden Cannabis Advertising Ban If you run cannabis advertising anywhere online, a “kids’ safety” bill you probably didn’t read just became your problem. On June 29 the U.S. House voted 267–117 to pass the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, and buried in the text is a provision that could seriously […]
Virginia Finally Legalizes Marijuana Sales — Stores Open 2027
Virginia Recreational Marijuana: Sales Start 2027 After five years of legal possession and zero legal stores, Virginia recreational marijuana is finally getting a retail market. Budget legislation enacted this month directs the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to license up to 350 retail cannabis shops, with the state accepting applications on February 1, 2027 and legal […]
Hawaii’s Hemp Crackdown Hits July 1 — and the Lawsuits Are Already Flying
While Congress dithers over the federal hemp ban, the states aren’t waiting. Hawaii begins enforcing strict hemp retailer and distributor rules on July 1 — banning hemp flower, pre-rolls, and vapes, requiring registration for every seller, and threatening $10,000 fines. A lawsuit challenging the rules has already landed. Hawaii’s grace period for hemp retailer and […]
Congress Wants the Air Force and Marines to Take Cannabis Recruits
The military’s recruiting crisis is doing what decades of advocacy couldn’t. A new provision in the defense bill would push the Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps to create permanent military marijuana waivers for recruits who test positive for THC — bringing them in line with the Army and Navy, which already do it. […]
California Is Spending $227 Million to Hunt Illegal Weed
California just put serious money behind a problem every legal market shares. On June 25, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $227 million in Proposition 64 grants to fight illicit cannabis in California — funding local enforcement, youth prevention, public-health programs, and environmental cleanup of illegal grow sites. The grants flow from Prop 64, the 2016 measure […]
States Have Banked Nearly $15 Billion in Marijuana Taxes, New Federal Report Shows
If you want the single most persuasive argument for legalization, it’s a dollar figure from the federal government’s own bean counters. A new marijuana tax revenue report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows states have collected nearly $15 billion in cannabis taxes since late 2021 — including $825.1 million in just the first quarter of […]
The SAFE Banking Act Is Back — Senate and House, Same Week
It’s reunion season for the cannabis industry’s most-introduced bill. The SAFE Banking Act was reintroduced in both chambers of Congress within 24 hours: the Senate version on June 24 and the House companion on June 25. The core fix is the same one operators have begged for since 2019 — stop federal regulators from punishing […]
The White House Just Asked Congress to Save Hemp Before the November Ban
In a move almost nobody saw coming, the White House told Congress to protect hemp products before a broad federal ban kicks in this November. On June 25, OMB Director Russell Vought sent House Speaker Mike Johnson a letter asking Congress to ensure the “fair treatment of hemp products” — by passing a real regulatory […]