Category: Cannabis

About CropKingSeeds

Established in 2005, Crop King Seeds has been perfecting the genetics of the cannabis plant for medical and commercial grower seeking maximum results in THC levels and harvest size.
From classic strains to new age hybrids, our seeds are ideal for beginners and advanced growers wanting the best from the crop.

About CropKingSeeds

Established in 2005, Crop King Seeds has been perfecting the genetics of the cannabis plant for medical and commercial grower seeking maximum results in THC levels and harvest size.
From classic strains to new age hybrids, our seeds are ideal for beginners and advanced growers wanting the best from the crop.

When California legalized adult-use cannabis, it did something bold and imperfect. It moved faster than science.

That was not recklessness. It was necessity. For decades, federal law treated cannabis as a Schedule I substance, effectively blocking large-scale, real-world research into its health, economic, environmental, and social effects. States that chose legalization were forced to build the plane while flying it.

Now, California is doing something rare in American drug policy. It is paying to understand the consequences of legalization, honestly and at scale.

Quietly, the California Department of Cannabis Control has awarded nearly $80 million since 2020 to fund academic research on cannabis. In late 2025 alone, the agency approved close to $30 million for 22 new projects across the University of California system and California State University campuses. The work spans public health, labor safety, environmental protection, taxation, consumer behavior, and criminal justice.

This is not prohibition by another name. It is legalization growing up.

Why the State Is Funding Cannabis Research at All

The DCC says it plainly on its website. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under federal law. That designation comes with strict limits on who can study it, how it can be studied, and what products can be used. As a result, the United States knows far less about cannabis than it does about alcohol, tobacco, or prescription drugs that cause far more documented harm.

California decided not to wait.

Some of the revenue collected from legal cannabis taxes is now being routed back into research to study the effects of adult-use legalization in the real world. Not lab rats. Not outdated government weed. Actual products, actual consumers, actual communities.

The goal is not to relitigate legalization. It is to make it work better.

What California Is Studying, Broadly

Look past the grant titles and a clear picture emerges.

Researchers are examining how cannabis vape packaging and warning labels affect young adults’ perceptions and purchasing behavior. Others are studying THC-infused beverages to understand onset time, absorption, and impairment under real consumption conditions. Several projects focus on older adults, a fast-growing segment of cannabis consumers often ignored in public debate.

There is also serious attention being paid to labor and environment. Studies are underway on pesticide exposure among cannabis workers, crop yields across cultivation styles, water use, wildlife impacts, and the environmental benefits of licensure versus unregulated grows.

On the policy side, California is funding research into taxation, pricing, illicit markets, tribal cannabis partnerships, equity outcomes, and how local zoning decisions affect housing and displacement.

This is not a moral investigation. It is a systems audit.

Legalization Under the Microscope

One of the more honest aspects of this research push is that it does not assume legalization solved everything.

Multiple projects explicitly ask why unregulated cannabis markets persist years after legalization. Others look at how taxes and prices influence consumer behavior across more than 20 states. Some examine whether equity programs are delivering meaningful participation or simply good intentions.

That level of self-scrutiny is unusual in drug policy. It is also necessary.

Legal cannabis is no longer an experiment. It is a regulated industry employing hundreds of thousands of people and serving millions of consumers. The question is no longer whether cannabis should be legal. It is whether the rules governing it actually reduce harm and expand access, or simply create new barriers.

This Is What Normalization Looks Like

There is a temptation to read any state-funded cannabis research as a prelude to crackdowns or restrictions. But the scope of California’s research suggests something else entirely.

Cannabis is being treated like alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceuticals are treated. Studied continuously. Adjusted based on evidence. Regulated with the assumption that people will use it, not the fantasy that they will not.

That is what normalization looks like.

The irony is hard to miss. For decades, prohibition prevented meaningful cannabis research. Now legalization is funding the science prohibition blocked.

Why This Matters Beyond California

Because California is often the policy laboratory for the rest of the country.

Findings from these studies will shape labeling rules, worker protections, environmental standards, tax structures, and consumer education. Other states will borrow them. Federal agencies will cite them. Courts will reference them. The data will outlive the political moment that produced it.

Cannabis advocates often say they want policy guided by evidence rather than fear. This is what that looks like when it actually happens.

Not headlines. Not hype. Not panic.

Just a state admitting that legalization is not the end of the conversation. It is the beginning of a more honest one.

Cannabis did not wait for permission to exist. Now, California is doing the work to understand what that existence really means.

Photo: Shutterstock

As the cannabis industry professionalizes, consolidates, and globalizes, a basic question still goes unanswered far too often:
Who built this space, and who paid the price before it became profitable?

To mark Black History Month and its 10th anniversary, Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) has released its inaugural Power 100, recognizing 100 Black leaders whose work shaped cannabis culture, patient access, policy reform, and community organizing long before legalization became a business model.

This is not an awards rollout. It is closer to a historical record.

“This list is about impact, not optics,” said M4MM Founder and CEO Roz McCarthy. “It documents who showed up early, stayed when it was difficult, and carried the weight of advocacy when there was no economic upside.”

That framing matters. The Power 100 is not about who is winning now. It is about who made it possible for anyone to win at all.

Why the Power 100 Exists

Long before cannabis became a regulated market or a venture-backed industry, Black communities absorbed the harshest consequences of prohibition. Arrests, incarceration, surveillance, and economic exclusion were not side effects. They were policy outcomes.

While legalization has opened doors for some, many of the people who fought for reform did so at personal and professional risk, with little recognition once the industry shifted toward capital and scale.

The Power 100 exists to close that gap.

Rather than measuring annual performance or revenue, M4MM focused on long-term influence, including:

• Expanding patient access and medical cannabis programs
• Shaping local, state, and federal cannabis policy
• Building advocacy organizations and education platforms
• Creating pathways for equity participation
• Normalizing cannabis through culture, research, and public discourse

In many cases, the work recognized here predates legalization entirely, spanning early medical cannabis efforts, grassroots organizing, and policy fights that laid the groundwork for today’s frameworks.

A Decade of Advocacy as Context

The release of the Power 100 coincides with M4MM’s 10-year anniversary, offering context for why this list matters now.

Over the past decade, M4MM reports:

• Supporting more than 500 equity business operators
• Engaging across 27 state medical cannabis programs
• Reaching over 500,000 annual digital impressions
• Providing 2,000+ individuals free access to cannabis education and advocacy services
• Distributing 100,000+ pieces of educational literature
• Facilitating 1,500+ hours of business-to-business instruction
• Contributing 5,000+ hours of policy planning and preparation

These numbers reflect infrastructure building that rarely makes headlines but shapes outcomes. They also underscore how much of cannabis reform has been carried quietly, outside of mainstream recognition.

Not a Ranking. A Record.

The Power 100 is intentionally unranked.

“There’s no hierarchy to liberation work,” McCarthy said. “Some of the most influential leaders never held titles or attracted capital, but their fingerprints are all over today’s policies and programs.”

The list spans a wide range of roles and disciplines, including:

• Policy advocates and legislative architects
• Medical professionals and patient educators
• Founders and operators in regulated markets
• Researchers, attorneys, and public servants
• Cultural figures who shifted public perception

Together, they represent what M4MM describes as the connective tissue of cannabis reform. The people who bridged health, justice, culture, and opportunity before those intersections became industry language.

Media Partnership and Documentation

The Power 100 is being released in partnership with Cash Color Cannabis, which will support editorial amplification, interviews, and digital storytelling around the honorees throughout the year.

According to M4MM, the list will also live as a permanent archive on its website, with profiles, historical context, and updates over time. The intent is continuity, not a one-cycle announcement.

Why It Matters Now

As federal reform remains uncertain and capital continues to concentrate within the cannabis industry, long-standing questions around equity, access, and accountability are resurfacing.

The Power 100 arrives as:

• States revisit or recalibrate social equity programs
• Medical patients face access challenges in adult-use markets
• Policymakers assess the real outcomes of legalization

By centering people who shaped reform before it was profitable, the list challenges the industry to reconcile growth with responsibility.

The question it raises is not abstract. It is structural.

Who benefits from legalization, and whose work made it possible?

Looking Forward

M4MM has indicated that the Power 100 will expand into ongoing programming, including policy briefings, educational initiatives, and public recognition tied to broader reform efforts.

For now, the inaugural list stands as a reminder that the cannabis industry did not emerge fully formed. Its credibility going forward depends, in part, on whether it remembers its architects.

As legalization continues to evolve, the Power 100 reframes a critical question:

Who gets credit for building the road, and who is still being asked to walk it?

The Power 100

(Presented as documented by Minorities for Medical Marijuana. No ranking.)

1. Fab 5 Freddy
2. Al Harrington
3. Ricky Williams
4. Eugene Monroe
5. Brandon Wyatt ESQ
6. Belecia Royster
7. Cherron Perry Thomas
8. Chef Stacey Dugan
9. Michael “Coach” Harris
10. Hope Wiseman
11. Dr Octavia Wiseman DMD
12. Nadir Pearson
13. Tauhid Chappell
14. Cat Packer
15. Dasheeda Dawson
16. Leo Bridgewater
17. Gillie Da Kid
18. Gibran Washington
19. Gia Moron
20. Chelsea Wise
21. Martin Mitchell
22. Wanda James
23. Dr Roz McCarthy
24. Hazey Taughtme
25. Naomi Granger
26. Edie Moore
27. Jasmine Jackson
28. Whitney Beatty
29. Amber Senter
30. Virgil Grant
31. Antione Mordican
32. Scheril Murray Powell ESQ
33. Dr Terel Newton MD
34. Dr Rashan Hodges MD
35. Ruben Lindo
36. Christina Johnson
37. Jesse Horton
38. Linda Green
39. Alphonso Tucky Blunt
40. Corvain Cooper
41. Method Man
42. Snoop Dogg
43. Ernest Toney
44. Tahir Johnson
45. Suzanne Nichols
46. Kristal Bush
47. Mike Tyson
48. Cassandra Frederique
49. Dr Chanda Macias
50. Arianna Kirkpatrick
51. Mehka King
52. Cimone Casson
53. Thunder Walker
54. Shanita Penny
55. Rodney “Hurricane” Carter
56. Toi Hutchinson
57. TaShonda Vincent Lee
58. Kevin Ford
59. Amber Littlejohn
60. Courtney Davis
61. Khadijah Tribble
62. Caroline Phillips
63. The Dank Duchess
64. Todd Hughes
65. Jason Marshall
66. Nicole Buffong
67. Shanetha Lewis
68. Erik Range
69. Eric Foster
70. Michael Coach Harris
71. Antione Mordican
72. Danielle Drummond
73. Jay Jackson
74. Nichelle Santos
75. Dr Lisa Pickney
76. Dr Bridgett Cole Williams MD
77. Dr Kelly King MD
78. Fredericka Easley
79. Mary Pryor
80. Aiesha Goins
81. Kristi Price
82. Sheena Roberson
83. Chris Jackson
84. Whiz Kalifa
85. Dr Jean Talleyrand
86. Drs. Janice, Rachel & Jessica Knox MD
87. Rico Lamitte
88. Guy Rocourt
89. Lizzy Jeff
90. Chef Zarilla Bacon
91. Redman
92. Kebra Smith Bolden
93. Otha Smith
94. Sephida Artis-Mills
95. JR Fleming
96. Dr Herve Damas MD
97. Derrell Black
98. Devin Alexander
99. Brendan Robinson
100. Jay Mills

Photo: Shutterstock

More people are turning to cannabis for sleep than ever before, and it’s not hard to understand why.

Between demanding work schedules, constant connectivity, and ongoing social, political, and economic stress, quality sleep has become increasingly elusive. Add in factors like chronic pain, menopause, or aging, and sleep deprivation starts to look less like a personal issue and more like a global one. In fact, estimates suggest more than one in three adults don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis.

Cannabis has long been used for sleep. People turn to it to unwind, quiet racing thoughts, and ease the transition from day to night. And, traditionally, the advice was simple: choose an indica.

That guidance wasn’t wrong, but it was incomplete.

As cannabis science and lab testing have evolved, a clearer picture has emerged—one that looks beyond strain names and focuses on the compounds inside the plant that actually support sleep.

At the center of that shift is CBN (cannabinol).

What Is CBN?

CBN is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp. Unlike THC and CBD, it doesn’t appear in large amounts in freshly harvested flower. Instead, CBN forms gradually as THC is exposed to time, light, and oxygen.

Long before cannabinoids were isolated or labeled, people noticed that older, well-cured cannabis often felt heavier and more sleep-oriented. That effect wasn’t imagined; CBN was part of the chemistry behind it.

Today, modern extraction allows CBN to be used intentionally, making it possible to create cannabis and hemp products designed specifically for sleep rather than relying on aged flower or guesswork.

CBN isn’t new. It’s established cannabis chemistry, now better understood in the context of sleep.

Why CBN Works for Sleep

CBN has gained attention for its direct, practical support of sleep.

Many people report that CBN helps them:

• fall asleep faster
• stay asleep longer
• wake up feeling more refreshed

Unlike THC, CBN is considered non-intoxicating on its own. It doesn’t create a head-high. Instead, its effects are more mentally relaxing and physically grounding, helping the brain and body settle into rest without feeling overstimulated or foggy the next day.

That makes CBN especially appealing for people who want effective sleep support without unwanted side effects.

Clinical Evidence: CBN and Sleep Quality

Interest in CBN isn’t just anecdotal. In 2024, researchers published the first double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study on CBN and sleep quality, titled: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety and Effects of CBN With and Without CBD on Sleep Quality.

The study evaluated 20 mg of CBN, both alone and in combination with CBD. The conclusion was clear:

The study demonstrated that 20 mg of CBN was effective in improving several aspects of sleep, including nighttime awakenings and overall sleep disturbance, without impacting daytime fatigue.

In other words, participants experienced meaningful improvements in sleep without next-day grogginess—a key concern for anyone using sleep aids.

Beyond Indica: What Actually Makes Cannabis Sleepy

For decades, indica strains were associated with nighttime use, while sativas were considered more energizing. Genetics and terpenes still play a role, but cannabinoid testing has added important clarity.

Cannabis contains more than 100 cannabinoids, along with dozens of terpenes that influence aroma and experience. Certain terpenes, such as myrcene and linalool, also found in hops and lavender, can support relaxation.

However, when cultivators and researchers began looking closely at cannabinoid profiles, one pattern stood out: many of the most sleep-associated cannabis experiences correlated strongly with higher CBN content.

In other words, what people long recognized as “sleepy indica” effects often had less to do with strain labels and more to do with cannabinoid composition, particularly CBN.

How People Use CBN for Sleep

Today, CBN is most commonly used in CBN gummies and CBN oil, formats that allow for consistency and predictable timing.

Gummies are often chosen for their taste and ease of dosing while oils offer precise dose adjustment and appeal to those who prefer a sugar-free option due to diet restrictions or to use after brushing their teeth. Both are typically taken 30 to 60 minutes before bed as part of a deliberate wind-down routine.

Many people use CBN on its own, especially those who are sensitive to THC or want to avoid intoxication altogether.

Where CBD and THC Fit In

While CBN can be effective alone, it’s often paired thoughtfully with other cannabinoids depending on experience level and preference.

For people deciding between cannabinoids for sleep, understanding the differences between CBN vs CBD —and when one may be more effective than the other—can help clarify which approach makes the most sense.

• CBN + CBD is a popular option for people seeking calm, non-intoxicating sleep support. CBD helps quiet stress responses, while CBN supports sleep continuity. Together, the two cannabinoids may work synergistically through the entourage effect, enhancing overall relaxation without increasing intoxication.
• For those accustomed to THC, adding a low to moderate dose of THC can deepen the experience. THC adds a euphoric effect, while CBN keeps the overall effect grounded and sleep-oriented.

Products formulated as THC + CBN gummies are designed with this balance in mind, offering a more “dreamy” experience.

The key is moderation. High doses of THC can sometimes increase anxiety or disrupt sleep, especially for sensitive users. Lower, intentional doses paired with CBN tend to produce smoother, more reliable results.

Why Cannabinoid Ratios Matter

When it comes to sleep, ratios matter more than hype.

CBN’s effects are dose-dependent, and higher CBN content generally produces stronger sleep support. How CBN interacts with CBD or THC shapes whether the experience feels more calming, deeply restful, or gently euphoric.

Some companies that focus on minor cannabinoids—including Rare Cannabinoid Company —emphasize clearly labeled cannabinoid ratios so consumers know exactly what they’re taking. That transparency is especially important for sleep, where consistency matters more than novelty.

Reading a CBN Lab Report

Any CBN product should come with a third-party lab report. A reliable Certificate of Analysis should clearly list:

• Exact CBN content per serving
• THC, CBD, and any other cannabinoid levels
• Accredited lab testing
• Screens for contaminants
• Recent batch and test dates

When sleep is the goal, precision beats guesswork.

The High Times Takeaway

As more people turn to cannabis for sleep, the conversation is shifting from strain names to cannabinoid literacy.

CBN isn’t about getting higher or chasing intensity. It’s about supporting the body’s natural transition into rest: falling asleep more easily, staying asleep through the night, and waking up refreshed instead of foggy.

In a culture where sleep has become increasingly scarce, CBN offers something simple and increasingly valuable: a quieter night, without unnecessary noise.

Photos courtesy of iStock.

The Price Paradox in Spain’s Cannabis Clubs

In the Spanish underground cannabis scene, a curious economic phenomenon has emerged. A single gram of high-end cannabis concentrate can cost more than a gram of cocaine.

It’s known as BHO, or butane hash oil. Long known in the US, BHO has been spreading in the Iberian Peninsula.

Cannabis is still technically illegal in Spain, but personal consumption and cultivation in private spaces are decriminalized. This legal loophole has given rise to cannabis social clubs, member-only cooperatives that operate in a quasi-legal framework. In cities like Barcelona, hundreds of clubs serve thousands of consumers with locally grown flower, imported hash, and in some cases, artisanal concentrates.

Prices in Spanish clubs are relatively affordable.

The average donation for cannabis flower is about ten euros per gram, with hashish averaging seven euros per gram. Even top-shelf indoor strains rarely exceed twenty-five euros per gram, and outdoor-grown flowers can be as cheap as four to seven euros per gram. This contrasts sharply with places like the Netherlands, where Amsterdam coffeeshops may charge twenty euros per gram for premium weed.

But while flowers and hash remain inexpensive, the price of cannabis extracts tells a different story.

BHO and the Rise of High-End Concentrates

BHO is a potent cannabis concentrate extracted using butane as a solvent. The process yields sticky, high-THC products like shatter, wax, and budder, which can contain mindblowing upwards of 70 to 90% THC.

Also read: Are You Smoking Gas… or Gas Gas? Inside the Hydrocarbons That Built BHO

In the Spanish cannabis club scene, BHO is relatively rare but coveted for its strength. Street and club-level BHO pricing in Spain now ranges from fifty to sixty euros per gram, with some ultra-high-potency samples commanding one hundred euros per gram or more.

That places it above the going price of cocaine in most Spanish cities, which can be bought for €50 to €70 a gram.

Spain has long been one of Europe’s primary cocaine entry points, with the Iberian Peninsula receiving bulk shipments from Latin America. According to Euro Weekly News, the price of cocaine has remained relatively stable since the 1980s, at about sixty euros per gram on the street. Despite inflation, oversupply and efficient trafficking networks have kept the price low.

BHO is one of the few drugs in Spain that can cost more per gram than cocaine. For context, hashish retails at six to nine euros per gram, cannabis flower at four to fifteen euros per gram, and even boutique rosin, a solventless concentrate, rarely exceeds seventy euros per gram.

In legal markets like the United States and Canada, BHO prices are often lower due to regulated production and industrial-scale extraction. In US dispensaries, BHO averages nineteen to twenty-five dollars per gram, while rosin averages thirty-five to forty-five dollars per gram. In Canada, mid-tier shatter or BHO can cost thirty to forty dollars per gram, and top-shelf rosin or full-melt hash ranges from seventy to one hundred twenty dollars per gram.

Spain’s prices for this type of concentrate remain inflated due to the gray-market nature of production and the risk incurred by extractors. This situation has also contributed to the emergence of small, unregulated labs, with associated explosion risks.

Premium Pricing and a Culture of Connoisseurship

The high price of BHO is driven by several factors.

First, BHO concentrates can contain up to ninety percent THC, making them many times more potent than traditional flower or hash. Consumers are paying for strength, as a single dab can deliver the psychoactive punch of several joints.

Producing BHO involves flammable gases, and homemade labs have caused fatal explosions in cities like Murcia and Granada. These risks raise production costs and reduce supply, especially among amateurs.

Unlike flower or hashish, high-THC concentrates like BHO exist in a murky legal space. Spanish law does not clearly differentiate between extraction types, but concentrates with high THC levels may attract harsher penalties. This legal uncertainty adds a risk premium to the product. Few cannabis clubs regularly stock BHO, and most extractions are done in small batches by specialists or imported from abroad. The lack of scale keeps prices high.

Lastly, among seasoned users, BHO carries a reputation for purity and intensity. In the same way that rare whiskies or high-end perfumes fetch a premium, boutique concentrates appeal to connoisseurs willing to pay more.

BHO, Rosin and The Elites

BHO is sometimes confused with rosin, a solventless extract made by pressing cannabis under heat and pressure. In Barcelona’s clubs, rosin can cost twenty to fifty euros per gram, depending on quality. The finest strain-specific, small-batch rosins, often called live rosin, may reach seventy to ninety euros per gram. Unlike rosin, which is made with artisanal equipment and sold in limited drops, BHO can be produced at scale yet remains scarce due to regulatory and safety constraints.

That a cannabis product could cost more than cocaine, broadly used in the country, upends traditional drug hierarchies. Cocaine has long been seen as the expensive stimulant of the elite, while cannabis was viewed as cheap and abundant. Yet in contemporary Spain, a gram of professionally made BHO can outstrip cocaine in cost, price, purity, and value.

Most commentary on the “hemp ban” included in the November funding bill has focused on two, related considerations: (1) which products and activities will become unlawful on November 12, 2026, and (2) whether Congress will materially amend, or delay, the ban before then. While that focus is understandable, it overlooks a critical, and more immediate, operational and legal consideration for hemp businesses: the availability of federal bankruptcy protection as the deadline approaches.

The November 12 deadline affects many hemp businesses

Although no business wants to contemplate bankruptcy, the November 12 deadline creates a unique inflection point for the hemp industry. After that date, many hemp operators are likely to be operating in violation of federal law. As courts have consistently held, businesses engaged in ongoing violations of federal law (specifically those operating under state legal marijuana frameworks) are generally ineligible for relief under the Bankruptcy Code. In practical terms, post-November illegality could foreclose access to bankruptcy protections for activities conducted after November 12, even if those same businesses were lawfully operating beforehand.

This issue already exists, to some extent, within the hemp industry. Most businesses selling consumable hemp products are currently operating in violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Hemp cultivators and seed distributors, however, are in a materially different position today. (See my earlier blog post on the loophole that still exists with tissue cultures and clones). Cultivators licensed under state programs approved by the USDA are–assuming compliance with those programs–operating in accordance with federal law. As a result, they currently retain access to bankruptcy protections.

That distinction may disappear after November 12, 2026. Unless Congress amends or delays the hemp ban, cultivators and seed distributors who cannot meet the new statutory threshold—0.4 mg of total THC—will find themselves cultivating hemp in violation of federal law. At that point, continued operations could jeopardize their ability to seek bankruptcy relief.

The practical consequence is the risk of a bifurcated bankruptcy scenario. If a hemp business continues operating past November 12 and later seeks bankruptcy protection, a court may distinguish between pre- and post-deadline activities. Operations conducted while the business was compliant with federal law may be eligible for protection, while assets, contracts, and liabilities arising from post-deadline operations may not. This creates substantial uncertainty for creditors, investors, and operators alike, and significantly complicates any restructuring or wind-down strategy.

The need for planning and risk mitigation

There are strategies hemp companies may be able to deploy to mitigate the risks created by the November 12, 2026, deadline, but effective planning must begin well in advance. Whether that planning involves restructuring operations, winding down existing entities, or isolating post-deadline activities into a new entity commencing on November 13, 2026, careful legal analysis will be essential to avoid unintended consequences.

The November 12, 2026, deadline is not merely a regulatory compliance milestone; it is a structural legal dividing line with meaningful implications for insolvency planning. Hemp companies–and particularly cultivators and seed distributors currently operating in compliance with USDA-approved state programs–should assess how the hemp ban could affect their future access to federal bankruptcy protections if federal law remains unchanged. While congressional action could alter this landscape, reliance on potential legislative fixes is not a sound strategy. As the deadline approaches, bankruptcy eligibility may become a critical factor distinguishing businesses capable of executing an orderly restructuring or exit from those that cannot.

For tax-related questions, companies should consult their tax professional. For corporate structuring, regulatory compliance analysis, and evaluation of how the November 12 deadline may impact ongoing hemp operations, we encourage you to contact us. We are also happy to provide a referral to a qualified tax professional if needed.

The Justice Department says there are currently no updates on the marijuana rescheduling process that President Donald Trump instructed the attorney general to complete “in the most expeditious manner” more than a month ago.

As advocates and industry stakeholders await the completion of that process, DOJ deputy director of public affairs Wyn Hornbuckle told Marijuana Moment on Wednesday that “we don’t have any comment or updates” at this time.

It’s been over 40 days since Trump signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to quickly finalize a rule moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), raising hopes among supporters that the process initiated under the Biden administration was nearing the finish line.

Bondi, who opposed cannabis reform as Florida’s attorney general, didn’t attend that signing ceremony, and the Justice Department has been notably silent on the issue in the weeks since—even as the White House recently touted the president’s order as an example of a policy achievement during the first year of his second term.

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Trump’s first pick for attorney general this term who ultimately withdrew his nomination, raised eyebrows on Wednesday after posting on X that he’s been told the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is actively drafting a rescheduling rule and intended to issue it “ASAP.”

There’s some confusion around that point, however, as a rule is already pending before the Justice Department—and a new rule would presumably be subject to additional administrative review and public comment.

Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, told Marijuana Moment on Thursday that “this administrative process is neither designed to be expeditious nor transparent.”

“As a matter of procedure, there remain several steps that must be taken prior to the issuance of any final proposed rule and it is unclear how far along the requisite federal agencies are in completing these steps,” he said. “Further, the rule itself will no doubt be subject to both internal and interagency review prior to becoming public.”

Armentano added that “there exists the reality that any final rule will likely be subject to legal challenges, which could potentially delay the implementation process even further.”

To that point, the prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) has made clear its intent to litigate in the event of a rescheduling action, retaining the legal services of former Attorney General Bill Barr, who served during Trump’s first term in office.

Shane Pennington, an attorney representing pro-rescheduling witnesses in administrative hearings who has a history of going to bat with DEA, told Marijuana Moment that “we’ve heard rumors about timelines and process expectations, but the fact is, even after an extensive rulemaking process and the president’s recent executive order, we remain in a holding pattern.”

Earlier this week on Tuesday, meanwhile, the White House declined to comment on the status of the rescheduling process, deferring Marijuana Moment to the Justice Department.

DOJ Has No ‘Comment Or Updates’ on Marijuana Rescheduling—More Than A Month After Trump’s Executive Order

MEAI: What To Know About This Synthetic Psychedelic
Hint: It Can Help You Lose Weight And Fight Addictions

Despite the thousands of pharmaceutical medications, psychedelic drugs, and plant-based therapeutics available in the world today, there is still a serious need for more innovative medications.

 

New breakthrough drugs are still needed to treat a wide range of untreatable conditions, especially those that are psychological in nature, such as addictions and unhealthy relationships with food – which then drive obesity. When left untreated, these lifestyles can cause chronic and even fatal illnesses. Whether it’s for treating old diseases, rare conditions, and even the rise of new disease that continue to afflict it, we need more new medications.

And over the last few years, MEAI is one of the most exciting drugs out there. MEAI, which is a 5-methoxy – 2-aminoindane compound, is a non-hallucinogenic, synthetic psychedelic’ has been shown to possess the potential of becoming an incredible therapeutic drug for hard-to-treat conditions including alcoholism. It was created by the Chief Scientific Officer of Clearmind Medicine, a biotech firm focused on developing psychedelic-based drugs that are aimed at solving common health issues such as alcohol use disorder, addiction, and obesity.  However, their flagship treatment is focused on alcohol use disorder since it’s so common, as well as obesity.

 

They already currently have 15 patients and are working on more.
 

Last March 2024, Clearmind, with offices in Vancouver as well as in Israel, announced that they received the green light from the Israely Ministry of Health to start phase I/IIa clinical trials for their proprietary MEAI-based capsule called CMND-100 for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD).

More recently in July, Clearmind Medicine was given FDA approval to conduct further studies in the United States. “Our dedicated team has been relentlessly focused on creating an innovative solution to the global alcohol abuse crisis. We are keen to continue our efforts to assist those desperately in need,” said Dr. Adi Zuloff-Shani, Clearmind’s CEO. “We believe our non-hallucinogenic, psychedelic treatment could address the global demand for effective addiction therapies,” she said.

 

Based on their discovery and studies of MEAI, Clearmind Medicine is well-positioned to be a major trailblazer in the world of science and medicine.

 

MEAI’s Success In Treating Addiction

 

Alcoholism or alcohol use disorder has proven to be extremely difficult to treat. There are several factors that make it challenging to address, primarily the biological nature of the disease. Since excessive alcohol consumption changes the brain chemistry, especially areas that are related to pleasure and reward, the brain then becomes even more dependent on alcohol to make one feel good over time. There is also a physical dependence that grows.

 

There is also a psychological factor involved: it has become normal for people to turn to alcohol to deal with stress. And when individuals quit, it’ common for people to have strong cravings of alcohol especially when they are triggered by social situations or environments.

 

According to the article, MEAI has shown to be effective in curbing the craving for drinking alcoholic drinks, while providing the consumer with a euphoric experience. It does that by interacting with the serotonergic system, which is known to play an important role in regulating alcohol dependence and intake. In addition, they found that MEAI interacts with other receptors including those for serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which also help to curb drinking behavior.

 

According to Professor Mark Haden, MEAI also has the potential to treat cocaine addictions.

MEAI For Weight Loss

 

Earlier this month, Clearmind also published the findings of their study on weight loss. The results were promising: they found that MEAI, when administered to animal subjects, was found to be effective in decreasing obesity by reducing fat mass. That said, it was successful in maintaining lean mass.

Additionally, MEAI showed an incredible ability to improve metabolism and glycemic control, all while reducing glucose intolerance, hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia. MEAI also mitigated fatty liver, improved energy levels, and boosted energy expenditures. “The newly published paper shows the efficacy of MEAI as a promising therapeutic approach for weight loss and normalization of metabolic disorders,” said Dr. Zuloff-Shani. “The comprehensive experiments demonstrate the ability of MEAI to significantly reduce weight by lowering the fat mass, improve the body’s metabolic function and lower fat accumulation in the liver, all of which position this treatment as potential breakthrough in the treatment of obesity. We are excited by the potential of MEAI, which may position it at the forefront of weight loss treatments, even compared to the marketed treatments in the percentage of weight loss, its unique mechanism of action, the easy administration and in the fact that no food consumption constraints are required” she said.

 

Clearmind Given Patent For MEAI

 

Just on August 22nd, Clearmind announced that they were granted a new patent approval from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the MEAI-based binge behavior program.

“We are proud to continue leading the way in IP protection within this space,” said Dr. Zuloff-Shani. “Expanding and maintaining our patent portfolio, particularly in the US, remains a key objective for us. We believe that we hold one of the largest portfolios in the market, covering our core areas: MEAI, binge behavior, addictions, mental disorders, as well as new psychedelic compounds and combinations identified and researched by our team,” she said.

Conclusion

 

Given the high success rate of their studies, we can anticipate even more exciting results and findings from Clearmind Medicine. Because of MEAI, we may be able to look forward to treating obesity and addiction more effectively in the near future.

 

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA IS NOT EVEN MARIJUANA, READ ON…

WHY SYNTHETIC WEED SHOULD NOT BE CALLED WEED AT ALL!

You may be reading this article and thinking, hang on a minute, what is this author talking about? Now, before you read any further, let me clarify that I am an advocate and practitioner of plant training and have nothing against it.

However, when it comes to efficiency and the number of harvests per year, lower energy bills and reducing expenditure, a fast-turnaround growing style is advantageous. In this article, I will present my reasons why the Sea of Green method is best suited for home growers who want to make the most of their time and lower their electricity bills.

Why Is Plant Training a Waste of Time?

As long as you have the time to spare, then plant training is well worth it. Growers who prefer to train large plants indoors typically keep them in a vegetative state for 6–9 weeks.

Whilst plant training and big plants have many benefits, you can still achieve a comparable amount of buds using much smaller, uniform-sized plants that require zero training with SOG. The most significant benefit to me with Sea of Green is that the vegetation times are so short; you are effectively saving time and money on your electric bill.

What Exactly Is a Sea of Green?

The SOG style of growing involves using a high volume of smaller-sized plants. The seedlings or clones will be allowed to vegetate for 7–14 days, keeping the plants short and ready to spread out without fighting for light. The goal is to produce a medium-sized plant, 75–100cm tall. When using a fast-flowering strain, you can expect to complete the whole grow cycle and be ready to harvest within 8–10 weeks.

• Vegetate seedlings for 2 weeks before flowering
• Vegetate clones for 7–10 days before flowering
• 2 gallon pots in rows of 4 × 4 for a 1m × 1m × 2m grow tent
• 2 gallon pots in rows of 5 × 5 for a 1.5m × 1.5m × 2m grow tent
• 2 gallon pots in rows of 6 × 6 for a 2m × 2m × 2m grow tent

All the Reasons You Should Consider SOG Setups

Below is a list of reasons you may want to consider leaving plant training behind and adopting a Sea of Green growing style in 2026.

A Short Vegetative Time

The vegetative stage is the time when your grow lights are hammering electricity for at least 18 hours a day. The best thing about short vegetative times is that you do not need to worry about a sky-high electricity bill, and the plants have plenty of light around them.

Less Vegetative Nutrients Used

Shorter vegetation times also mean the amount of nutrients you need to give them reduces. In the long run, it will allow your nutrients to last much longer and help you save costs.

More Harvests Each Year

If you were growing Zkittles, many phenotypes can be flowered in around 40–49 days to achieve the ultimate Z profile. With the SOG method, considering the veg times are limited to around 7 days with clones, you could be pulling off a harvest every 8 weeks. This can equate to 6 grows per year under optimal conditions and a much faster turnaround time.

Perpetual Harvests Every 8–10 Weeks

A well-organised grower who has a small tent or space for their clones can pull off perpetual harvests within 8–10 weeks, depending on the strain being grown.

Far Lower Electricity Bills

In today’s economy, energy prices are unpredictable. For those who want to keep their electricity bills lower, SOG is ideal. You can say goodbye to those long vegetative periods.

Easier to Trim Colas

When harvesting plants grown using the Sea of Green method, they may be shorter; however, there is far less foliage than with large plants trained for weeks at a time. This means trimming is much easier and won’t take you as long per plant.

No Plant Training Required

As beneficial as training cannabis plants can be under the right circumstances, the SOG method does not require any training to be implemented. This can be advantageous when working on a large scale involving hundreds of plants and can also save time.

The Benefits of Sea of Green Grows

• No more long vegetation periods
• Fewer nutrients are used during vegetation
• Six harvests in a year
• Significantly lower electricity bills
• Easier to trim colas and less foliage
• No plant training required

The Rules of the SOG Method

• Your plants should grow close to 100 cm tall
• Never exceed the vegetation period of 2 weeks
• Give yourself plenty of room to work and aisles to walk
• Do not apply any plant training whatsoever
• Seed to harvest time should be between 8 and 10 weeks
• Do not use pots larger than 2 gallons

My Conclusion

I think training cannabis plants is an excellent way to produce robust plants with higher yields. I have spent a decade training my own plants. In recent years, I have switched to the Sea of Green style.

Not only is the SOG setup advantageous given the state of the economy and soaring electricity bills, it also allows you to keep the grow cycle much shorter, achieve perpetual harvests every 9 weeks using clones, and trim buds more easily. I am a big fan of plant training, but if you want to enjoy the benefits mentioned and save money on electricity bills, then think seriously about switching to SOG.

The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday requiring certain people to report parents whose children smell like marijuana smoke.

House Bill 72 by Rep. Patrick Sellers, D-Pleasant Grove, would require mandatory reporters to inform the Department of Human Resources when children smell of marijuana. The bill requires DHR to investigate these instances like suspected child abuse or neglect.

Alabama Children Marijuana – HB72-int

It would also make smoking marijuana in a car when a child is present a Class A misdemeanor. Smoking tobacco with children in the car is already a criminal offense.

If a person violates the law, courts would be required to order the person to participate in an in-person education course about the dangers of drug and marijuana use around children developed by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Sellers said the inspiration for the bill came from educators concerned about children who arrive at school reeking of marijuana.

“The effects of secondhand marijuana smoke on children goes deep, deeper than what people think,” Sellers said to the press after the bill passed. “There are effects of it, and we see it within our children, in their behaviors, in their ability to learn and to grow, in the brain development. And so it’s important to make sure we protect every child.”

There was rare disagreement between Democrats on the floor during debate. Several Democrats expressed concerns that the bill could have unintended consequences in its implementation, such as an increase in racial profiling or parents being held accountable for the behavior of their older children.

Under Alabama law, people are considered children until they turn 19, so the bill has the potential to indicate parents whose 18- or 19-year-old child smells like weed.

Rep. Juandalyn Givan, D-Birmingham, fiercely opposed the bill because it further criminalizes marijuana, which she said would affect people of color disproportionately. She said she believes the laws already on the books are sufficient to address problems with marijuana.

“It’s because of the unintended consequences. It is because that person may get stopped for a marijuana roach, or that person may be profiled, or because of the community that he or she comes from,” Givan said. “I think every Democrat that spoke today simply said, ‘We are for the rule of law, but there has to be a less restrictive means that we can accomplish this goal without further adding or enhancing the penalties of those, even someone 18 years of age who may have graduated from high school.”

The bill passed by a vote of 77-2, with 18 abstentions. Only six Democrats voted in favor of the bill.

It now heads to the Senate. Sellers said he doesn’t know who will carry the bill in the upper chamber.

House passes bill to require the reporting of parents whose children smell of marijuana

Ah, the lazy stoner stereotype – that tired old chestnut that just won’t seem to die. You know the one: the couch-locked wastrel, surrounded by empty pizza boxes and half-finished creative projects, watching reruns of Rick and Morty for the umpteenth time.

Look, I get it. Some folks really do fit that stereotype. But here’s the thing – I’ve been a cannabis consumer for over two decades, and I’ve met doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and plenty of other highly successful individuals who regularly partake. These people aren’t succeeding despite cannabis; many are actually leveraging it as a tool for creativity, focus, and personal growth.

Yet somehow, it doesn’t matter how many bills you pay, milestones you hit, or accomplishments you rack up – certain people will always default to “well, imagine how much more you could achieve if you didn’t smoke weed.” Eye roll

As someone who’s managed to build multiple successful ventures while maintaining a healthy relationship with cannabis, I can tell you firsthand – it’s not the plant that makes you lazy, it’s how you choose to use it. Cannabis can be either a crutch or a catalyst; the difference lies entirely in your approach.

So, fellow tokers, as we barrel into 2026 amid global uncertainty, rising living costs, and the ongoing circus of international politics, I want to share some battle-tested strategies for getting ahead while keeping your relationship with cannabis both enjoyable and productive. Whether you’re looking to start a business, improve your health, or just get your life more organized, I’ve got some practical tips that have helped me and countless others achieve real results.

Ready to shatter some stereotypes and level up your life? Let’s dive in and show the world what a motivated stoner can really do.

Let me share something I’ve learned after years of ambitious goal-setting (and more than a few wake-and-bake planning sessions): trying to do everything at once is like trying to smoke an entire ounce in one sitting – you’ll just end up overwhelmed and probably pass out before achieving anything meaningful.

Here’s the truth about getting shit done: focus is your best friend. And just like you need to clean your grinder occasionally to keep it functioning optimally, you need to clean up your mental workspace by auditing your wants.

Look, I get it. You want to start that podcast, write a novel, get those six-pack abs, learn guitar, start a business, and master meditation – all while maintaining a full-time job and social life. But spreading yourself too thin is a recipe for burnout. Trust me, I’ve been there.

Through trial and error, I’ve discovered that four major projects per year is the absolute maximum for someone with iron discipline and minimal obligations. For most of us mere mortals, two significant projects is more realistic. Want to write a book? That’s doable in three months with focused effort. Launch a business? That’s a six-month commitment if you’re serious about it.

Here’s what works: Make a list of everything you want to accomplish, then brutally narrow it down to four items maximum. Rank them from 1-4, with 1 being your burning desire. That’s your starting point. Everything else goes into storage, like that fancy bong you’re saving for special occasions.

Remember: Just as you wouldn’t pack a bowl with every strain you own, don’t pack your year with every goal you can imagine.

“Weed makes you lazy.” Man, if I had a gram for every time I’ve heard that one, I’d never need to re-up again. Here’s what really grinds my gears about this statement – it’s a lazy excuse from people who don’t understand how to properly harness the power of cannabis.

Look, I’ve been dancing with Mary Jane for over two decades now, and like any long-term relationship, you learn each other’s rhythms. I know exactly when she’s going to enhance my productivity and when she’s going to make me want to spend three hours analyzing the deeper meaning of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Let me break it down: For me, wake-and-bake sessions during the workweek are about as productive as using a lighter with no fuel. But give me some creative work – like designing graphics or producing music – and a carefully measured dose of cannabis becomes my secret weapon, unlocking neural pathways and perspectives I might have missed otherwise.

On the flip side, when I’m tackling technical writing or anything requiring precise analytical thinking, I’m as sober as a judge (maybe with a coffee or two). Cannabis is like any other tool – you wouldn’t use a hammer to change a lightbulb, right?

The key is self-awareness. I save my sessions for either post-work relaxation or specific creative tasks. Business meetings, first impressions, important client calls? That’s a hard pass on the pre-meeting puff. It’s about respecting both the plant and your professional obligations.

This isn’t about following someone else’s rules – it’s about understanding your unique relationship with cannabis and optimizing it for your success. Know thy smoking self, and prosperity shall follow.

Let me share something I’ve learned after countless smoke sessions spent “planning” my next big move: there is no perfect time to start except right fucking now. You know what’s worse than failing at something? Never starting because you’re waiting for some mythical “perfect moment” that exists only in your head.

I’ve seen too many people get high and craft these elaborate plans, spending hours fine-tuning their vision boards and bullet journals, but never actually taking the first step. They’re like someone who keeps cleaning their pipe but never packs a bowl – all prep, no action.

Here’s a method that’s worked wonders for me: the 90-day sprint. It’s simple but effective, like a well-rolled joint. Start at day 90 and work backwards. Let’s say you want to write a book. Day 90: completed 40,000-word manuscript. Before that, day 60: rough draft finished. Day 30: outline and first three chapters done. Then break it down by weeks, and finally into daily tasks.

Suddenly, that mountain of a project becomes a series of manageable steps. Instead of “write a book” (scary!), it’s “write 500 words today” (doable!). It’s like microdosing your goals – small, consistent efforts that add up to something significant.

After your first 90-day cycle, reassess and recalibrate. Maybe you hit your target, maybe you didn’t, but I guarantee you’ll be further along than if you’d spent another three months “planning.”

Remember what we discussed about auditing your wants? This is where that focus pays off. You know exactly where to direct your energy because you’ve already done the hard work of choosing your priorities.

Stop planning. Start doing. The time is now.

There’s another thing I’ve learned from both my cannabis journey and my professional life: obsessing over results is like watching your kief catcher every day – it’ll drive you crazy, and it won’t make those crystals accumulate any faster.

Here’s the truth about achieving your goals: it’s a lot like growing your own weed. You can’t force the plant to mature faster by staring at it all day. Instead, you create the right conditions, tend to it daily, and trust in the process. The harvest becomes inevitable – not because you worried about it, but because you showed up every day and did the work.

When you fall in love with the process itself, something magical happens. Every day becomes a win. Whether you’re writing those 500 words, making that sales call, or working on your business plan – each small action is its own success story. You’re not just working toward something; you’re being something new every single day.

But if you get caught up in questions like “Will people buy this?” or “Is it perfect enough?” you’ll end up like those growers who never think their crop is ready to harvest. I call it the perfection trap – that paralyzing state where nothing is ever quite good enough to launch.

Instead, embrace the daily grind. Love the work while you’re doing it. When you hit your milestone, put it out there – perfect or not. If it flies, fantastic. If it flops, fantastic – that’s just data for your next 90-day sprint.

Remember: Success isn’t a destination; it’s a practice. Like rolling the perfect joint, it takes time, patience, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes.

Well, my fellow cannabis enthusiasts, we’ve covered quite a bit of ground today. Truth be told, I could keep going – there’s enough material here for a book (and hey, if enough of you signal interest in the comments, that might just become my next 90-day project).

But let’s be real: these four principles we’ve discussed – auditing your wants, understanding your relationship with cannabis, taking immediate action, and falling in love with the process – are more than enough to transform you from a “lazy stoner” into an unstoppable force of nature.

Here’s what I know after years of navigating the intersection of cannabis and ambition: anything you want badly enough is within your reach. The key isn’t in giving up our beloved plant – it’s in learning to dance with it productively. It’s about knowing when to light up and when to stay sharp, when to dream big and when to put in the work.

I’ve seen too many talented people let society’s stereotypes about cannabis users become self-fulfilling prophecies. Don’t be one of them. You can be both a cannabis enthusiast and a high achiever – pun absolutely intended.

If you’ve found these insights helpful and want to dive deeper into specific aspects of productive cannabis use, drop a comment below. There’s plenty more where this came from, from morning routines to creative rituals to productivity hacks. After all, we’re not just breaking stereotypes – we’re building a new paradigm of what a successful stoner can be.

Keep pushing forward, and remember: your goals are just one well-planned 90-day sprint away.

 

LAZY STONER MYTH BUSTED, READ ON…

TURNS OUT STONER’S AREN’T LAZY AFTER ALL SAYS REPORT!

I was told (correctly) that cannabis in the Dominican Republic is illegal. Minutes later, after a conversation that felt less like a transaction and more like a mutual acknowledgment, I was holding a joint that was not quite a joint like I’ve ever seen before, rolled not in thin white paper but in cigar leaf paper, brown, the kind used to roll habanos, as if the culture itself had decided that if this plant was to be smoked, it would be smoked on local terms.

That Dominican joint was offered to me almost immediately after leaving the airport in Punta Cana. It happened so fast that I declined the first offer, more out of surprise than caution.

I have no idea if this is how Dominicans always do it. So far, I’ve been unable and unwilling to ask anyone who might settle the question.

The paper burned slowly, as expected, and with every draw it reminded me that tobacco had been here long before cannabis learned how to ask for shelter. In the Caribbean, tobacco is an institution. Entire cities were shaped around drying leaves, around thousands, maybe millions, of hands trained to roll before they ever learned to read. Cannabis arrived later, without ceremony, and wisely chose not to challenge any of this. It slipped into the existing choreography of smoke, a quiet guest who knows better than to rearrange the furniture.

In places like this, where cigars are not symbols but facts of life, cannabis borrows the ritual. It folds itself into what already exists. That’s why there are no flashy rolling papers, no engineered cones, no talk of strains or percentages. Just leaves, paper, and the unspoken agreement that whatever you smoke will be good enough—or better.

A Dominican cigar leaf comes from different strains of Nicotiana tabacum. The cigar paper changes the experience in quiet but decisive ways. It slows combustion, flattens flavors, and introduces a welcome note of nicotine into the mix. All ways of smoking, after all, are shaped by history and by technology.

Tobacco was once the great extractive obsession of empires, carried from the Caribbean to Europe and back again as capital and addiction. Cannabis, now globalized and branded elsewhere, returns stripped of slogans, wrapped in the leaf of its predecessor, as if acknowledging a lineage of smoke that predates both prohibition and legalization.

Tobacco was here before European law arrived.

It did not come to La Española as a commodity; it is native to that region.

Long before Europeans named the island shared today by the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the Taíno people cultivated and smoked tobacco in ritual contexts, sometimes inhaled through nasal pipes, sometimes rolled into crude forms for ceremonial use. When Christopher Columbus reached these lands in 1492, he encountered tobacco not as a vice, but as a social, medicinal, and spiritual practice. The plant was already embedded in daily life.

What Europeans did was not introduce tobacco, but reorganize it.

By the early sixteenth century, Spanish colonization had turned La Española into a logistical hub of the Atlantic world. Tobacco became one of the few crops that could thrive outside rigid imperial control. Unlike sugar, it required less capital, less land, and less infrastructure. It could be grown by small producers, dried locally, and moved quietly.

Throughout much of the 1600s, tobacco from the northern coast of La Española circulated through contraband networks linking Spanish settlers, enslaved Africans, remaining Indigenous communities, and foreign merchants—especially Dutch and Portuguese. Tobacco taught the island early that smoke could move faster than law.

And What’s the Deal Now?

The Dominican Republic today is one of the world’s leading producers of premium cigars, exporting over a billion dollars’ worth annually to more than a hundred countries. Tobacco remains a national industry, rivaled only by gold and tourism. Factories, fields, and free-trade zones coexist with family operations and informal knowledge passed hand to hand.

If you pay attention, the way a society smokes often tells you more about its relationship to power than anything written in its laws.

It was only afterward, when the taste of cigar paper still lingered like a sentence that refused to end, that I understood the quiet irony of those Dominican guys—the Polanco Brothers—taking over the Nat Sherman cigar house in New York City, a shrine to old money and North Atlantic tobacco mythology, and why they called it destiny rather than a business move.

Only then did the cigar-paper joint make full sense as a small signal of a much larger continuity that lets cannabis borrow tobacco’s rituals in Santo Domingo or Port-au-Prince, and lets Dominican hands redefine luxury cigar culture in Manhattan.

The distance between periphery and center collapses.

Weed and tobacco blur.

All that vanished in smoke.

Great chat with Pamela holed up in DC in the middle last week’s east coast snowstorm about all things hemp.

Nexus create products from industrial hemp and that lands them in the middle of every sort of storm imaginable.

Snowstorms, perfect storms and yes, shitstorms too.

With years of experience in the sector Pamela provides some clarity about creating and building business around human centered products that not only comply with a myriad of US regulation but also international regulatory environments.

We dive into the detail, learn what they think they know in Washington, growing up with the Cali market and watching it slowly approach a calmer maturity.

Also we chat about what it is  like to run a team in this highly complicated and some confusing business.

Thankyou, Pamela, for spending time with the Koalas

You Tube

BACKGROUND: The 0.3% delta-9 THC standard 

The 0.3% delta-9 THC standard works very differently depending on product form. It was intended within the ‘farmgate’ to test hemp pre-harvest while it is in ground, the flowering tops are light and airy with a relatively consistent weight. However, when applied to downstream food products which are dense and measured in grams the math scales at 1 to 1,000. As the slide shows, this allows hemp edibles to contain THC levels that far exceed regulated cannabis limits. Furthermore, it leaves converted and synthetic cannabinoids like delta-8, HHC, and THC-P largely unrestricted, unlike state cannabis systems that typically cap products at 10 mg per serving and 100 mg per package.

More about Pamela

The Other Side Dispensary to Close After Years of Municipal Delays,
Broken Promises, and Regulatory Failure in Jersey City

Years of Political Infighting and Escalating Fees Leave Veteran-Founded Business Unsustainable

January 29, 2026

Jersey City, NJ —The Other Side Dispensary (TOSD), a disabled veteran-founded and equity-aligned cannabis business that followed every rule and invested millions into compliance, announced today that it will be forced to close its doors as a direct result of prolonged municipal inaction, regulatory inconsistency, and policy decisions by Jersey City officials that made long-term sustainability impossible.

“This business did not fail because of demand, performance, or management,” said Dr. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez, Founder of The Other Side Dispensary. “It failed because Jersey City created a regulatory environment where doing everything right still isn’t enough to survive.”

After more than three years navigating local approvals, delayed ordinances, stalled oversight boards, and escalating fees, TOSD’s closure underscores a broader reckoning facing New Jersey’s legal cannabis market—where unchecked license saturation, political gridlock, and bureaucratic dysfunction have pushed compliant small operators to the brink while undermining the city’s own equity goals.

A Case Study in Municipal Breakdown

TOSD entered New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis market in early 2022 in response to the state’s call for veteran-led and disadvantaged operators. The dispensary received early state and local approvals, including unanimous support from the Jersey City Cannabis Control Board (CCB). However, what followed was a multi-year pattern of delays and reversals at the municipal level:

• Repeated Planning Board postponements, including an expensive and ultimately unnecessary approval process that cost tens of thousands of dollars, a process later removed for future applicants.
• Bifurcation of retail and consumption lounge applications, forcing early applicants to wait years for rules that did not yet exist.
• Corrupt stop-work orders and inspections that halted construction for months.
• A non-functional Cannabis Control Board, leaving applications unreviewed and endorsements unprocessed.
• Unrestricted license issuance, resulting in nearly 60 dispensaries in a city of 300,000 — one of the most saturated cannabis markets in the nation.

Nearly 30 months after incorporation,  TOSD was finally allowed to open in October 2024, and was already struggling due to the months of holding costs.

Equity in Name Only

The city’s failure to timely implement consumption lounge endorsements proved especially damaging. For early operators like TOSD, lounges were positioned as a critical sustainability tool — yet the city delayed approvals while continuing to issue new retail licenses.

As a result, TOSD faced:

• More than $65,000 annually in licensing fees
• Local and state quarterly taxes, including a steep municipal cannabis tax
• Estimated financial damages exceeding $1.7 million
• Eight employees were displaced and more than $300,000 in lost wages and tips

Despite operating profitably, maintaining strong margins, and achieving nearly $1 million in revenue in its first year, the business could not overcome the cumulative burden of policy failures and prolonged uncertainty.

“If we were treated like any other business, we would not be closing. In our first year, we generated nearly $900,000 in net sales with gross margins exceeding 60 percent. By any standard, that is a healthy, high-performing operation. The difference is that cannabis businesses are burdened with regulatory costs and delays that no other industry is expected to absorb,” Brevard-Rodriguez.

National Industry Headwinds Raise Stakes Even Higher

TOSD’s closure is occurring against the backdrop of significant national cannabis policy uncertainty and financial pressure across the industry:

• Federal Rescheduling and Ongoing Legal Uncertainty: There are active federal discussions and executive actions aimed at reclassifying cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, reflecting recognition of medical use that’s intended to reduce onerous tax burdens and enhance research possibilities. However, the practical implementation timeline — and how it will affect the broader industry — remains unclear and unevenly understood, adding to market uncertainty.
• Federal Hemp Ban and Market Disruption: A 2025 federal spending bill changed the definition of hemp, tightening THC limits on hemp-derived products in a way that industry analysts say could make the majority of products currently on the market illegal under federal law when the rule takes effect in late 2026. Industry groups warn this could devastate a multibillion-dollar sector and lead to major job and revenue losses.
• Debt and Financial Strain Across Operators: Across the U.S., cannabis businesses face mounting debt burdens. Many operators entered the market with heavy upfront costs and limited access to traditional financial services. Onerous federal tax codes like Section 280E (still affecting many state-legal operators) and a lack of consistent financing options continue to squeeze margins and threaten business stability.

These national trends create an environment where even well-run operators struggle to access capital and remain solvent, raising broader concerns that without meaningful federal reform and sustainable policy frameworks, the legal cannabis market could see consolidation, closures, and an erosion of legal consumer options — potentially feeding demand back to the illicit market.

A Warning, Not an Outlier

TOSD is not alone. Multiple Jersey City dispensaries have closed since mid-2025, with more expected to follow. Operators warn that without immediate reform — particularly around license caps, fee structures, and functional oversight — communities risk hollowing out the legal cannabis market and driving consumers back to unregulated channels.

“This didn’t have to happen,” Brevard-Rodriguez said. “Jersey City had the chance to build a sustainable, equitable market. Instead, it chose delay, saturation, and politics — and small businesses are paying the price.”

About The Other Side Dispensary

Founded in 2022, The Other Side Dispensary was a disabled veteran-led cannabis retailer committed to equity, community reinvestment, and responsible operations. The company invested heavily in compliance, local hiring, and neighborhood engagement, and operated without executive salaries in an effort to stay viable amid mounting regulatory costs.

In a significant ruling for the cannabis industry and tax practitioners representing clients in the sector, the United States Court of Federal Claims has issued a memorandum and order in Gravenstein 116, LLC v. The United States. The decision provides a strict statutory interpretation of Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) § 280E, rejecting the taxpayer’s novel argument that the refundable portion of the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) constitutes a “non-tax refund” rather than a credit subject to the 280E disallowance.

Factual Background

The plaintiff, Gravenstein 116, LLC, operates cannabis dispensaries in California under the name “Solful”. The plaintiff’s business activities consist of selling marijuana, which remains a controlled substance listed on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. During the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically throughout 2020 and 2021, the plaintiff was subject to state and local health orders that restricted commerce, forcing a transition to “almost exclusively” curbside pickup operations and increasing operational costs.

The plaintiff contended that it met the statutory requirements for the ERC for the first and second quarters of 2021, asserting it paid qualifying wages of $215,408.84 and $244,614.37, respectively. Consequently, the plaintiff filed Forms 941-X claiming a total refundable ERC of $322,016.25. When the IRS failed to adjudicate the refund claims within six months, the plaintiff filed suit in the Court of Federal Claims.

The Taxpayer’s Argument for Relief

The plaintiff acknowledged the general applicability of I.R.C. § 280E, which disallows any “deduction or credit” for businesses trafficking in controlled substances. However, the plaintiff attempted to bifurcate the ERC, arguing that “the refundable portion of the Employee Retention Credit is not a tax credit subject to Section 280E”.

The core of the plaintiff’s argument was structural. They asserted that “while the form of the ERC is that of a tax credit, the substance of the amounts in excess of an employer’s tax liabilities is that of a non-tax refund of wages paid”. By characterizing the refundable portion as a subsidy for employment rather than a traditional tax credit, the taxpayer argued it fell outside the specific prohibition of § 280E.

The Court’s Analysis of the Law

The government moved to dismiss the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6), arguing that § 280E’s prohibition applies to the entirety of the ERC. Judge Eleni M. Roumel granted the motion, relying on a strict textualist interpretation of the Code and established Supreme Court precedent regarding refundable credits.

Statutory Construction

The court began with the plain text of the statutes. I.R.C. § 280E explicitly states that “[n]o deduction or credit shall be allowed” for trafficking businesses. Simultaneously, I.R.C. § 3134, which established the ERC, explicitly labels the incentive as “a credit against applicable employment taxes”.

The court applied the canon of statutory construction that assumes identical words used in different parts of the same act have the same meaning. The court noted that “the Code unequivocally labels the ERC as ‘a credit’” and that the plaintiff failed to provide evidence that the term “credit” in § 280E differs in meaning from the term in § 3134. Consequently, “Section 280E’s bar on eligibility for tax credits must be read to encompass the ERC”.

Refundability and Precedent

The court dismantled the plaintiff’s argument that the refundable nature of the ERC alters its classification as a credit. The court relied heavily on Sorenson v. Secretary of Treasury, 475 U.S. 851 (1986). In Sorenson, the Supreme Court held that refundable credits (specifically the Earned Income Credit) are treated as overpayments of tax, but this structure does not change the definitions of words within the Code.

Judge Roumel wrote that “the Internal Revenue Code does not discriminate between a refundable credit and other credits”. Citing the Second Circuit’s decision in Israel v. United States, the court reaffirmed that even when a refundable credit acts as an antipoverty mechanism or subsidy, terms used elsewhere in the Code retain their meaning. Therefore, the plaintiff’s assertion that the ERC is a “non-tax refund” was rejected as having no authority in the Code.

Rejection of Policy Arguments

The plaintiff also argued that the remedial purpose of the CARES Act—”keeping Americans employed and paid”—should override the § 280E bar. The taxpayer sought to distinguish its legal state operations from “illegal cocaine dealer[s]”.

The court declined to engage in this “purposivist analysis” where the statutory text was clear. The opinion noted that “Section 280E does not distinguish between different types of drug traffickers but rather applies equally to any business that ‘consists of trafficking in controlled substances’”.

In a pointed footnote, the court addressed the plaintiff’s comparison to cocaine dealers, observing that “the distinction does not reflect well upon Plaintiff” because marijuana remains a Schedule I drug, which is statistically more restrictive than Schedule II, where cocaine is listed. The court concluded that “Congress did not grant this Court the authority to weed through different types of trafficking and determine that only some are subject to Section 280E’s bar based on policy rationales”.

Conclusion

The court held that I.R.C. § 280E unambiguously applies to the Employee Retention Credit. The court stated definitively: “Section 280E’s anti-trafficking bar squarely applies to the Employee Retention Credit, including the refundable portion of the credit”. Because the plaintiff acknowledged its business consisted of trafficking in controlled substances, it was ineligible for the credit as a matter of law.

The Motion to Dismiss was granted, and the complaint was dismissed. This decision reinforces the broad scope of § 280E and suggests that arguments attempting to reclassify refundable credits as subsidies to avoid 280E limitations are unlikely to succeed in the Court of Federal Claims.

Prepared with assistance from NotebookLM.

Source: https://www.currentfederaltaxdevelopments.com/blog/2026/1/30/court-of-federal-claims-confirms-section-280e-bars-cannabis-businesses-from-claiming-employee-retention-credit

Alright folks, let’s cut through the bullshit and talk about where we really stand with cannabis legalization in 2026. And spoiler alert: it’s a mess of contradictions that would make Kafka weep.

Here’s the reality—we’ve got states where you can walk into a dispensary, buy an ounce of premium flower, and legally grow a small garden in your backyard. Then, literally a few hundred miles away, you’ve got states where possessing a joint can still land you in handcuffs. This isn’t just policy divergence; it’s a full-blown schizophrenic approach to a plant that humans have been cultivating for thousands of years.

And before you think this is just another “blue state vs red state” rant, hold up. The data tells a different story—one where public support for legalization regularly hits 70-80% even in the most conservative states, yet their legislatures act like it’s still 1937 and Harry Anslinger is whispering prohibition propaganda in their ears.

The Federal Tease: Schedule III and the Pharma Power Play

December 18, 2025. That’s when Biden dropped an executive order to expedite the rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule III. Sounds great, right? Finally, the feds acknowledge that cannabis isn’t heroin!

But here’s the kicker—Schedule III doesn’t legalize jack shit at the federal level. What it does do is lift the 280E tax burden from state-legal businesses, which means dispensaries can finally write off business expenses like normal companies. That’s good for the industry’s bottom line, but it doesn’t change the fundamental reality: cannabis regulation remains in the hands of individual states, and those hands are all over the map.

More importantly, Schedule III is basically Big Pharma’s wet dream. It positions cannabis-derived medications for FDA approval pathways while keeping the plant itself tightly controlled. You know who wins in that scenario? Not the small craft growers. Not the home cultivators. Not the patients who’ve been self-medicating for years. It’s the pharmaceutical corporations who can afford the multi-million-dollar FDA approval process.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Schedule III is prohibition with a friendlier face. Complete descheduling—removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely—is the only real solution. But I digress. Let’s look at what’s actually happening on the ground.

The Northeast: When Mature Markets Meet Reactionary Backlash

Massachusetts: The Repeal That Shouldn’t Exist

Massachusetts legalized recreational cannabis back in 2016, and sales have been humming along since 2018. You’d think after eight years of generating billions in tax revenue, declining youth usage rates, and a functional regulated market, the debate would be over.

Nope.

There’s a ballot initiative heading to voters in November 2026 that would repeal adult-use sales entirely. Let me repeat that: a state with a mature, successful cannabis market is being asked to vote on whether to shut the whole thing down.

This is what happens when prohibitionist groups realize they can’t win in legislatures anymore—they go straight to the ballot box, banking on confusion and fear to override common sense. And they only need to convince 51% of voters once to undo years of progress.

The good news? Massachusetts also passed H. 4206 in 2025, which increased personal possession limits to two ounces and created regulations for hemp-derived beverages and cannabis cafes. So while one hand is building out the infrastructure for social consumption, the other is trying to burn the whole house down.

The Massachusetts Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Adult-use and medical since 2016/2012

• Home Grow: Yes—6 plants per person, 12 per household

• Medical Conditions: Cancer, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn’s, Parkinson’s, MS, and others determined by a physician

• 2026 Threat Level: HIGH—Repeal initiative on November ballot

• Public Support: Strong majority, though exact 2026 polling isn’t available

New York: Social Equity Dreams vs. Bodega Reality

New York’s cannabis rollout has been… let’s call it “chaotic.” The state passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) in March 2021 with big promises about social equity and righting the wrongs of prohibition. First legal sales didn’t happen until December 2022.

Fast forward to 2026, and the state is still trying to clean up the mess. There are more unlicensed “bodega shops” selling untested products than licensed dispensaries. The CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) program, designed to fast-track licenses for people harmed by the War on Drugs, has been plagued by delays and funding issues.

In March 2025, the state launched a $5 million grant program to help equity retailers actually get their businesses off the ground. Five million dollars. For the entire state of New York. That’s not a program; that’s a gesture.

Meanwhile, the legislature successfully defeated a proposal in May 2025 that would have made the smell of cannabis probable cause for police searches again. Small victories.

The New York Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Adult-use and medical since 2021/2014

• Home Grow: Yes—3 mature and 3 immature per person, 6 mature and 6 immature per household

• Medical Conditions: Provider discretion since January 2022—doctors can recommend for any condition

• Current Challenges: Illicit market dominance, slow equity licensing

• Public Support: Majority support, though frustration with implementation is real

Maine: The Libertarian Cannabis Paradise

If you want to understand what cannabis freedom actually looks like, look at Maine. This state has consistently maintained one of the most permissive approaches in the country.

You can grow 3 mature plants, 12 immature plants, and unlimited seedlings. Read that again. Unlimited. Seedlings. That means you can maintain a perpetual harvest cycle—as soon as you harvest your mature plants, you’ve got the next generation ready to move up.

And for medical? Provider discretion. No list of approved conditions. If your doctor thinks cannabis will help you, you get a card. End of story.

Sure, there’s a fringe movement trying to put a “Criminalize Recreational Marijuana” initiative on the 2026 ballot, but in a state where cannabis is deeply integrated into the agricultural economy, that effort is about as likely to succeed as trying to ban lobster.

The Maine Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Adult-use and medical since 2016/1999

• Home Grow: Yes—3 mature, 12 immature, unlimited seedlings

• Medical Conditions: Provider discretion (no specific list since 2018)

• 2026 Threat Level: LOW—Prohibitionist initiative unlikely to gain traction

• Public Support: Consistently high; cannabis is part of state identity

The Mid-Atlantic and South: Where Democracy Goes to Die

Virginia: Legal to Possess, Illegal to Buy

Virginia represents one of the most bizarre cannabis situations in America. Since July 1, 2021, adults have been allowed to possess cannabis and grow up to 4 plants per household.

But here’s the catch: there’s no legal way to buy it.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has vetoed retail market legislation in both 2024 and 2025. So Virginians can legally smoke weed and legally grow it, but if they want to acquire it, they either need to grow it themselves, have a generous friend, or hit up the unregulated illicit market.

A new adult-use sales bill was introduced on January 20, 2026, following the November 2025 elections. Whether it passes depends entirely on whether the legislature can override another Youngkin veto or if the political landscape shifts enough to actually implement the retail framework that voters authorized five years ago.

The Virginia Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Adult-use possession/cultivation (NO SALES) and medical since 2021

• Home Grow: Yes—4 plants per household

• Medical Conditions: Provider discretion

• Current Bill: Adult-use sales bill filed January 20, 2026

• Public Support: Majority support for retail market establishment

North Carolina: 71% Support, Zero Progress

Let me hit you with a number: 71% of North Carolinians support legalizing medical marijuana according to a February 2025 Meredith Poll. Seventy. One. Percent.

The state Senate has repeatedly passed the Compassionate Care Act. It’s cleared the Senate multiple times. But it dies in the House every single session because House leadership refuses to allow a vote.

This is what regulatory capture looks like, folks. When three-quarters of your constituents want something and you won’t even let them vote on it, you’re not representing the people—you’re representing someone else’s interests.

The North Carolina Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Prohibited (decriminalized since 1977)

• Home Grow: Not allowed

• Medical Conditions: Currently limited to low-THC/CBD for epilepsy

• Current Bill: Compassionate Care Act passed Senate, stalled in House

• Public Support: 71% for medical, 63% for general legalization

Florida: The 60% Curse

Florida is a perfect example of how ballot initiative requirements can subvert majority will. In November 2024, 56% of Florida voters supported Amendment 3, which would have legalized adult-use cannabis.

Amendment 3 failed.

Why? Because Florida requires a 60% supermajority for constitutional amendments. So even though a clear majority of voters said yes, prohibition won.

Now there’s a new campaign—Smart and Safe Florida—collecting signatures for a 2026 ballot initiative, hoping to clear that 60% bar this time. Meanwhile, SB 1398, a legislative attempt at legalization, is pending in the 2026 session, though anyone familiar with Florida politics knows the chances of the legislature acting are somewhere between “slim” and “Governor DeSantis will personally roll a joint at a press conference.”

Oh, and speaking of restrictions: in 2025, Florida passed S2514, which mandates that medical patients be removed from the registry if they’re caught cultivating cannabis. That’s right—if you’re a medical patient and you grow a single plant, you lose your card. Zero tolerance, maximum cruelty.

The Florida Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Medical only since 2016

• Home Grow: Not allowed—patients removed from registry if caught growing

• Medical Conditions: Cancer, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn’s, Parkinson’s, MS, terminal conditions

• Current Bills: SB 1398 (legislative legalization), Smart and Safe Florida (2026 ballot initiative in signature phase)

• Public Support: 56% voted yes in 2024; supermajority requirement remains barrier

Texas: 79% Want It, Legislature Says No

Texas. Where everything is bigger, including the gap between what voters want and what they get.

79% of Texans support expanding medical cannabis access according to January 2025 polling. And 62% support full adult-use legalization. These aren’t fringe numbers. This is a near-consensus.

And yet, Texas maintains one of the most restrictive “medical” programs in the country. For years, it was limited to low-THC products for a handful of conditions. The 2025 expansion added chronic pain to the qualifying conditions and removed the THC cap, but you still can’t grow your own, and the list of conditions remains gatekept.

Meanwhile, the unregulated hemp market—Delta-8, Delta-9, THC-O, all the loopholes—has exploded. In September 2025, Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA56 mandating age restrictions for hemp products after the legislature failed to pass a regulatory bill.

Let that sink in. The legislature couldn’t even agree on how to regulate the cannabis market that already exists, so the governor had to step in with an executive order just to keep kids from buying Delta-8 gummies at gas stations.

And here’s the real kicker: the State Attorney General is actively suing cities like Dallas and Austin to overturn local decriminalization ordinances passed by voters. The Dallas Freedom Act? Voter-approved. Austin’s decrim policies? Voter-approved. State AG’s response? Lawsuits to kill them.

The Texas Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Low-THC medical (expanded 2025)

• Home Grow: Not allowed

• Medical Conditions: Epilepsy, seizure disorders, MS, spasticity, ALS, autism, terminal cancer, chronic pain (added 2025)

• Current Bills: HB 3242 (decriminalization) failed to get hearing; GA56 executive order on hemp regulation

• Legal Warfare: State AG suing Dallas and Austin over voter-approved decriminalization

• Public Support: 79% for medical expansion, 62% for adult-use

The Midwest: The Green Belt and the Stubborn Holdouts

Ohio: Legalization, Then Recriminalization

Ohio voters approved Issue 2 in November 2023 with 57% support, legalizing adult-use cannabis. Sales started in August 2024. Everything seemed fine.

Then the legislature decided to “fix” what voters approved.

Enter SB 56, passed in late 2025. This bill:

• Re-introduced criminal penalties for “importation” (e.g., driving back from Michigan with your personal stash)

• Severely restricted public use

• Removed employment protections for cannabis users

Essentially, the legislature took a voter-approved legalization initiative and clawed back as many freedoms as they could without technically repealing it.

The good news? A group called Ohioans for Cannabis Choice is collecting signatures right now to place a referendum on the November 2026 ballot to overturn SB 56 and restore the original intent of Issue 2.

This is the new battlefield, folks. Legalization isn’t a one-time victory—it’s an ongoing fight against legislators who think they know better than voters.

The Ohio Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Adult-use and medical since 2023/2016

• Home Grow: Yes—6 plants per person, 12 per household

• Medical Conditions: AIDS, ALS, Alzheimer’s, Cancer, CTE, Crohn’s, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, IBD, MS, Parkinson’s, HIV, PTSD, Sickle Cell, Spasticity, TBI, Ulcerative Colitis

• Current Battle: SB 56 recriminalization law passed; referendum campaign for November 2026 underway

• Public Support: 57% approved Issue 2

Wisconsin: 67% Support, Zero Action

Wisconsin is surrounded by legal states. Michigan to the east. Illinois to the south. Minnesota to the west. Hell, even if you drive north long enough, you’ll hit Canada where it’s federally legal.

And yet, Wisconsin has no functional cannabis program. Not even a real medical program. Just CBD.

The latest polling from June 2025? 67% of Wisconsin voters believe marijuana should be legal.

But legislative proposals keep stalling because state lawmakers can’t agree on whether the distribution model should be state-run (like liquor stores) or private. So while they debate the finer points of bureaucratic structure, billions in tax dollars flow across state lines to Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota.

The Wisconsin Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Prohibited (CBD only)

• Home Grow: Not allowed

• Current Bills: Proposals stalled over distribution model debate

• Public Support: 67% believe marijuana should be legal

Michigan: The Midwest Weed Capital

Michigan is what happens when you get legalization right—mostly. Medical since 2008, adult-use since 2018, and home grow rights for up to 12 plants per household. No distinction between mature and immature. Just 12 plants total, do what you want.

The state has generated billions in tax revenue and serves as the cannabis supplier for much of the Midwest due to competitive pricing and high quality.

But in late 2025, the legislature passed HB 4951, imposing a 24% wholesale tax on top of existing retail taxes, effective January 1, 2026. The industry is currently challenging this in court, arguing—correctly—that jacking up taxes will just revive the illicit market that legalization was supposed to eliminate.

The Michigan Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Adult-use and medical since 2018/2008

• Home Grow: Yes—12 plants per household

• Medical Conditions: Cancer, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn’s, PTSD, OCD, Arthritis, Spinal Cord Injury, Parkinson’s, Autism, Chronic Pain, Cerebral Palsy

• Current Battle: HB 4951 (24% wholesale tax) being challenged in court

• Public Support: Strong, though price sensitivity is high

Kansas: 70% Want Medical, Zero Delivery

Kansas is one of only three states with no legal cannabis program whatsoever. Not medical. Not decriminalized. Nothing.

And yet, 70% of Kansans support medical legalization according to October 2025 polling.

HB 2405, an adult-use legalization bill, has stalled. Medical proposals have stalled. Everything stalls because the legislature simply refuses to act, despite the overwhelming public mandate.

This is what happens when elected officials decide they know better than 70% of their constituents.

The Kansas Reality Check:

Indiana: 59% Say Yes, Legislature Says Maybe

Indiana is feeling the pressure. Ohio just legalized. Michigan’s been legal for years. Illinois is right there. The state is hemorrhaging tax revenue across every border.

And 59% of Hoosiers support adult-use legalization according to the January 2026 Bowen Center survey.

SB 0286 was introduced in the 2026 session to legalize and regulate both adult-use and medical cannabis. Historically, this would be DOA. But with Ohio’s new market siphoning off Indiana customers, the economic calculus has changed.

Will it pass? Who knows. But at least it’s being discussed, which is more than can be said for Kansas.

The Indiana Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Prohibited (CBD only)

• Home Grow: Not allowed

• Current Bills: SB 0286 (adult-use and medical legalization)

• Public Support: 59% for adult-use legalization

The West: Mature Markets Under Siege

Arizona: The Repeal That Could Kill a Thriving Market

Arizona legalized adult-use cannabis in November 2020 via Prop 207. The market has been a massive success, generating over $250 million in taxes in 2024 alone.

And now, just like Massachusetts, there’s a repeal effort.

The “Sensible Marijuana Policy Act of Arizona” campaign is collecting signatures for the November 2026 ballot. If it succeeds and passes, it would repeal the commercial sale provisions of Prop 207—effectively shutting down all dispensaries while leaving personal possession legal.

So you’d be allowed to have weed, but you couldn’t legally buy it anywhere. Sound familiar? (Looking at you, Virginia.)

They need about 256,000 signatures by July 2026. The economic argument against this repeal is strong—$250 million in annual tax revenue is nothing to sneeze at—but never underestimate the power of a well-funded prohibition campaign to muddy the waters.

The Arizona Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Adult-use and medical since 2020/2010

• Home Grow: Yes—6 plants per person, 12 per household

• Medical Conditions: Cancer, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn’s, PTSD, Cachexia, Chronic Pain, Severe Nausea, Seizures, Muscle Spasms

• 2026 Threat Level: MODERATE—Repeal initiative in signature-gathering phase

• Public Support: Strong enough to generate $250 million in taxes

Colorado: Potency Caps and the Nanny State

Colorado was first. First to open retail stores on January 1, 2014. First to show the world that the sky wouldn’t fall if you let adults buy cannabis.

Now, twelve years later, the state is dealing with “second-order problems”—namely, SB 25-076, a pending bill that would ban high-THC products (above 10%) for adults aged 21-24.

Let that sink in. You’d be old enough to vote, serve in the military, and buy a rifle, but not old enough to purchase a cannabis product stronger than 10% THC.

This is prohibition creep, folks. It starts with “protecting the youth” and ends with arbitrary limits on adult freedom based on junk science and moral panic.

The industry is fighting this hard, and they should. Once you open the door to potency caps, you open the door to endless regulation creep.

The Colorado Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Adult-use and medical since 2012/2000

• Home Grow: Yes—6 plants (max 3 mature) per adult, 12 per household

• Medical Conditions: Standard list (not specified in source document)

• Current Battle: SB 25-076 (potency cap for 21-24 age group)

• Public Support: Strong and stable; over $2.6 billion in lifetime tax revenue

Washington: The State That Criminalized Recreational Home Grow

Washington legalized recreational cannabis the same day as Colorado—November 2012. But while Colorado embraced home cultivation, Washington went the opposite direction.

In Washington, recreational home grow is a Class C Felony. That’s right—if you’re a recreational user and you grow a single plant for personal use, you’re committing a felony.

Medical patients can grow 6-15 plants with proper authorization. But if you’re just an adult who wants to cultivate your own? Criminal.

Washington is the only adult-use state that maintains felony penalties for recreational home cultivation. This makes zero sense from a harm reduction perspective, zero sense from a personal freedom perspective, and zero sense from any rational policy perspective.

Finally, there’s a campaign pushing legislation in the 2026 session to change this—“Time to bring home grow to Washington.” Let’s hope common sense prevails.

The Washington Reality Check:

• Legal Status: Adult-use and medical since 2012/1998

• Home Grow: Medical only (6-15 plants); Recreational grow is a Class C Felony

• Medical Conditions: Standard list (not specified in source document)

• Current Campaign: Home grow legalization effort for 2026 session

• Public Support: High support for the market; home grow ban increasingly viewed as outdated

Idaho: 83% Want Medical, Legislature Wants a Constitutional Ban

Idaho represents the absolute worst-case scenario of democracy being subverted by ideological zealots.

83% of Idaho voters support medical marijuana legalization according to December 2025 polling. Eighty. Three. Percent.

And what’s on the 2026 ballot? HJR 4, a constitutional amendment to permanently prohibit the legalization of psychoactive substances.

Read that again. While 83% of voters want medical access, the legislature is trying to enshrine prohibition into the state constitution forever.

There’s also a competing 2026 initiative to legalize medical marijuana, so Idaho voters will face a choice: permanent constitutional prohibition, or medical access aligned with overwhelming public will.

If HJR 4 passes, Idaho will become a permanent prohibition island in a sea of legal states, and changing it would require another constitutional amendment—a vastly more difficult process than passing regular legislation.

The Idaho Reality Check:

The Home Grow Divide: Who Trusts You, Who Doesn’t

One of the most telling metrics for understanding a state’s approach to cannabis is whether they allow home cultivation—and if so, how many plants.

Some states treat adults like adults:

• Maine: 3 mature, 12 immature, unlimited seedlings

• Michigan: 12 plants per household, no distinction

• Alaska: 6 plants per person (3 mature), 12 per household

Others maintain some restrictions but still recognize the right:

• Colorado, Arizona, Ohio, New York: Various limits, generally 6-12 plants per household

Then you’ve got the states that legalize commercial sales but prohibit home grow entirely:

• Delaware: No home grow for recreational or medical

• New Jersey: No home grow (though this varies by interpretation)

• Washington: Recreational home grow is a felony

And finally, the states that allow medical home grow but ban recreational cultivation:

The logic behind banning home cultivation in a legal market is transparently about maintaining corporate control and tax revenue. If people can grow their own, they might not buy from dispensaries. If they don’t buy from dispensaries, the state doesn’t collect excise taxes, and cannabis corporations don’t make as much profit.

But here’s the thing: people brew their own beer. They grow their own tomatoes. They roast their own coffee beans. And somehow, Anheuser-Busch and Starbucks survive.

The home grow ban is prohibition with a corporate face.

The Medical Shift: Lists Are Dying, Discretion Is Winning

Another major trend in 2026 is the abandonment of restrictive “qualifying condition lists” in favor of provider discretion.

States leading this shift:

• Maine: Provider discretion since 2018

• New York: Provider discretion since January 2022

• Virginia: Provider discretion

• Delaware: Recently removed specific list

What this means in practice: if you have a doctor willing to recommend cannabis for any diagnosed condition, you can access the medical program. No more arbitrary lists where fibromyalgia qualifies but migraines don’t. No more bureaucratic gatekeeping.

This is how it should work. Doctors are licensed professionals trained to evaluate medical need. If they believe cannabis will help a patient, they should be able to recommend it—full stop.

Meanwhile, states maintaining strict condition lists often do so to limit program size and maintain control:

• Florida: Specific list, no home grow, patients removed from registry if caught growing

• Alabama: Restrictive list, no home grow, dispensaries not yet open

• Texas: Ultra-restrictive list despite 79% support for expansion

The pattern is clear: states that trust medical professionals create accessible programs. States that don’t create barriers disguised as “safety measures.”

The Democratic Deficit: When 70% Isn’t Enough

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the massive gap between public support and policy outcomes.

States where support exceeds 70%, yet prohibition remains:

• Idaho: 83% support medical, constitutional ban on ballot

• Texas: 79% support medical expansion, one of the most restrictive programs in the country

• Utah: 77% support current medical law, yet legislature has repeatedly tried to gut it

• North Carolina: 71% support medical, Senate passes bill repeatedly, House kills it every time

• Kansas: 70% support medical, zero legal program

This isn’t democracy. This is regulatory capture, ideological obstinacy, and corporate influence overriding the clear will of the people.

When four out of five citizens want something and their elected representatives refuse to even allow a vote, the system is broken.

The Sticky Bottom Line

So here we are in 2026. Cannabis is legal for medical or adult use in the majority of states. Public support consistently exceeds 60-70% even in conservative regions. We have over a decade of data from states like Colorado and Washington showing that legalization doesn’t cause the sky to fall.

And yet, we’re fighting ballot repeal efforts in Massachusetts and Arizona. We’re watching Ohio’s legislature claw back voter-approved rights. We’re seeing states like Idaho try to enshrine prohibition into their constitutions despite 83% public support for medical access.

The federal rescheduling to Schedule III is a half-measure that benefits pharmaceutical corporations more than patients or small businesses. True reform requires complete descheduling—removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely and treating it like the plant it is.

Until that happens, we’ll continue to have this absurd patchwork where you can be a legal cultivator in Maine and a felon in Idaho for the exact same activity. Where 79% of Texans want expanded access but get lawsuits against local decriminalization instead. Where voters approve legalization and legislatures immediately work to undermine it.

The fight for cannabis freedom isn’t over. In many ways, it’s just beginning. The prohibitionists have lost the public debate, so now they’re retreating to legislative gridlock, ballot tricks, and constitutional amendments.

Stay vigilant. Stay informed. And for fuck’s sake, if your state has a ballot measure in 2026—whether it’s a repeal attempt or a legalization initiative—vote. Because as we’ve seen, your voice matters, even when your legislature pretends it doesn’t.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go water my legally cultivated plants here in my legally permissive state, while contemplating the absurdity of a nation that claims to value freedom while criminalizing a plant.

Stay lifted, stay informed, and keep fighting the good fight.

 

CANNABIS IN 2026, READ ON…

THE CANNABIS BATTLES SHAPING UP IN AMERICA IN 2026!