Florida Cannabis Legalization Lawsuit Tests Democracy
The fight over Florida cannabis legalization just collided with a deeper question: who really runs democracy when signatures don’t count? Smart & Safe Florida, a campaign funded largely by multistate cannabis operator Trulieve Cannabis Corp., filed a lawsuit accusing state officials of sabotaging its effort to qualify a constitutional amendment for adult-use cannabis. The complaint […]
Texas Gov. Abbott Vetoes Hemp Ban Bill SB 3
On June 22, Gov. Greg Abbott did something few expected: he struck down Senate Bill 3, a sweeping hemp ban that would have gutted Texas’s $8 billion hemp industry overnight. The move preserved thousands of jobs and kept shelves stocked with Delta-8 gummies, CBD tinctures, and hemp-derived THC vapes that have become a lifeline for […]
Connecticut Cannabis Shake-Up: Director Resigns After Backlash Over Surprise Grow Inspection
Connecticut cannabis oversight rattled as Drug Control director resigns following a controversial inspection seen as politically charged. When regulators flex their authority, cannabis operators often expect a certain amount of scrutiny. What they don’t expect is an unannounced inspection the day after a CEO testifies at the statehouse, followed by the resignation of the regulator […]
Michigan’s High-Stakes Bet on Cannabis: Will a 32% Wholesale Tax Break the Market or Fix the Roads?
Michigan lawmakers debate 32% wholesale cannabis tax, pitched to fund roads, amid warnings it may drive consumers to the illicit market. When Michigan voters approved legal recreational marijuana in 2018, they did so with the promise of economic opportunity, social reform, and a steady new revenue stream for the state. Seven years later, that stream […]
A Pause on the Line: New York Cannabis Shops Win Buffer Zone Reprieve
New York dispensaries secured a 2026 buffer zone delay after a legal fight over school distance rules threatened over 150 equity shops. In a state where cannabis legalization was sold as a step toward justice, a technical reinterpretation of a rule nearly shuttered more than 150 New York dispensaries. The issue wasn’t sales to minors, […]
Thailand’s Cannabis Comeback? Anutin’s Second Act Could Redefine the Region
Thailand’s cannabis policy could stabilize under PM Anutin, offering hope for businesses amid past regulatory chaos. When Thailand decriminalized cannabis in 2022, it wasn’t just a bold policy shift — it was a shot across the bow of Asia’s drug enforcement orthodoxy. But after a dizzying few years of political tug-of-war, regulatory whiplash, and legal […]
Legislative Protectionism in Cannabis Regulation
An in-depth report on how cannabis regulations favor large firms and exclude social equity applicants through licensing, zoning, and tax policy. More than a decade into the era of legal cannabis, the rules governing the industry continue to privilege the powerful while obstructing the very communities most harmed by prohibition. Despite growing public support for […]
The New Psychedelic Sacraments: How Science, Policy, and Faith Are Rewriting American Spirituality
As states like Arizona fund ibogaine studies and clergy embrace ayahuasca, psychedelics are becoming modern spiritual sacraments. No longer confined to the margins of counterculture or the sterilized corridors of clinical research, psychedelics are now making their way into Sunday sermons and sanctioned ceremonies across the United States. Defined broadly, psychedelics are mind-altering substances that […]
Carl Sagan: From Cannabis to Cosmos
Carl Sagan’s “Mr. X” essay reveals his private cannabis use, offering insights into creativity, empathy, and the cosmic worldview that defined his public life. Carl Sagan’s name evokes a celestial authority in science communication. The astrophysicist, author, and host of the iconic 1980 television series Cosmos inspired generations to look upward and inward with equal […]
Florida Judge Blocks Petition Law Targeting Marijuana Campaign
A federal judge ruled Florida’s petition law barring non-resident circulators unconstitutional, marking a key win for marijuana legalization advocates. In a state where voter-led constitutional amendments have long served as a check on legislative overreach, Smart & Safe Florida is testing the limits of that tradition. The advocacy group has launched an effort to place […]
SCOTUS Gives Cannabis Firms 60‑Day Extension on Cert Deadline
Supreme Court pushes cannabis companies’ cert petition deadline to October 24, 2025, due to constitutional complexity and amicus preparation. On August 22, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court quietly granted a 60-day extension to a group of cannabis businesses and advocates aiming to challenge federal marijuana prohibition. The new deadline to file their petition for certiorari […]
MMJ vs Hemp‑THC Clash in South Dakota
From South Dakota bans to Arizona dispensaries, hemp-THC products are reshaping the fight for regulated MMJ markets. The National Collision Between Hemp and Marijuana Across the country, hemp-derived THC products are testing the limits of cannabis regulation. Gummies, drinks, and vapes containing delta-8, delta-10, HHC, and THC-O are sold openly in vape shops and convenience […]