Cannabis News

Global Cannabis Industry Moves Beyond Green Rush to Professionalized Market in 2026

The global cannabis industry has matured from a speculative Green Rush to a professionalized sector contributing $149 billion to the economy and navigating diverse regulatory models worldwide

• •Uruguay became the first country to legalize recreational cannabis in 2013
• •California and other US states' legalization in 2016 significantly influenced the global market
• •Canada was the first G7 nation to legalize adult-use cannabis federally

by Cannabis 2016–2026: The Green Rush Fizzled. What Came Next Is More Interesting

White House Warns of Cannabis Health Risks and Youth Marketing Practices

The White House has raised concerns about cannabis-related health risks and criticized the industry for youth-targeted marketing, prompting renewed debate over federal and state cannabis policy

• •The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy warned about marijuana's potential health risks and youth-focused marketing tactics
• •Bipartisan U.S. senators expressed mixed views on the Trump administration's cannabis rescheduling move

by Tom Angell

North Carolina Senate Bill Proposes Marijuana Legalization Referendum for November Ballot

North Carolina senators introduced a bill that could put medical and recreational marijuana legalization on the November ballot, allowing voters to directly decide the state’s future cannabis policy

• •North Carolina senators filed a bill to put marijuana legalization on the November 2024 ballot
• •The proposed constitutional amendments would cover both personal and medical cannabis use
• •Sen. Caleb Theodros and Sen. Paul Lowe Jr. highlighted voter involvement and health benefits

by Tom Angell

Mexico Sees Massive Pro-Cannabis March as Congress Fails to Act on Legalization

More than 15,000 people marched in Mexico City and across Latin America demanding cannabis legalization after four years of congressional inaction, highlighting growing public pressure and regional coordination

• •Over 15,000 people marched in Mexico City on May 2 to demand cannabis legalization
• •Parallel protests took place in other Mexican cities, Medellín, and Santiago, marking unprecedented regional coordination

by Mexico’s Congress Has Had Four Years to Pass a Cannabis Law. 15,000 People Just Ran Out of Patience.

DEA Classifies HHC as Schedule I Drug, Escalating Federal Crackdown on Hemp Cannabinoids

The DEA’s immediate classification of HHC as a Schedule I drug introduces new enforcement risks for manufacturers and distributors, intensifying the legal uncertainty surrounding hemp-derived

• •The DEA has assigned HHC a specific Schedule I drug code (7220) effective immediately
• •The rule was issued as a technical amendment with no public comment period
• •Legal experts argue the rule may conflict with federal appellate decisions protecting some hemp-derived cannabinoids
• •State laws permitting HHC remain in effect for intrastate commerce, but federal enforcement risks increase for interstate shipments

by The DEA Says HHC Was Always Illegal. Now It Has The Schedule I Code To Prove It.

Mary Bailey Leads Last Prisoner Project to Free Cannabis Inmates and Wins 2025 DOPE Award

Mary Bailey, co-founder of the Last Prisoner Project, has been recognized with the 2025 DOPE Award for her leadership in freeing cannabis prisoners and advancing social

• •Mary Bailey is the managing director and co-founder of the Last Prisoner Project (LPP)
• •Bailey and LPP focus on freeing individuals imprisoned for non-violent cannabis offenses and supporting their reentry
• •The organization has played a role in the release of prisoners like Michael Thompson and Richard DeLisi

by Legal Weed, Unequal Justice: Mary Bailey’s Fight to Free Cannabis Prisoners

Pennsylvania Governor Presses Lawmakers on Cannabis Legalization as Election Opponent’s Opposition Surfaces

Governor Josh Shapiro is ramping up calls for marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania as his Republican challenger’s opposition to reform becomes clearer ahead of the November election

• •Governor Josh Shapiro has made marijuana legalization a central issue in his budget proposals and reelection campaign
• •State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the Republican challenger, previously indicated opposition to legalizing recreational cannabis in a 2020 questionnaire
• •The Democratic-controlled House passed a legalization bill, but the Republican-led Senate has not advanced the measure
• •Fiscal projections estimate Pennsylvania could generate up to $432 million in annual tax revenue from legal cannabis by 2030-2031

by Tom Angell

DOJ Reevaluates Cannabis and Gun Prosecutions as Federal Policy Shifts

The Department of Justice is actively reconsidering prosecutions of marijuana users who possess firearms as federal policymakers grapple with evolving cannabis and gun laws

• •Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the DOJ is reconsidering cannabis and gun prosecutions
• •President Trump’s surgeon general nominee acknowledged both health risks and medical benefits of cannabis

by Tom Angell

DEA Confirms HHC Is Federally Illegal and Assigns Unique Drug Code

The DEA has formally declared that synthetic cannabinoid HHC is a Schedule I controlled substance and does not qualify as legal hemp, assigning it a unique drug code for enforcement

• •The DEA clarified that HHC is federally illegal and classified as a Schedule I substance
• •HHC, though derived from hemp components, is considered synthetic and not covered by the 2018 Farm Bill

by Tom Angell

Indiana Patient Credits Illegal Cannabis for Ending Opioid Dependency Amid State Prohibition

An Indiana patient credits illegal cannabis with helping him break free from opioid dependency while the state continues to prohibit its use, highlighting a growing

• •An Indiana patient experienced opioid dependency after years of legal hospital-administered painkillers
• •He credits cannabis, which remains illegal in Indiana, with ending his cycle of hospitalizations and dependency
• •Neighboring states have moved toward cannabis legalization or medical programs, while Indiana maintains prohibition

by The Drug That Almost Destroyed Me Was Legal. The One That Helped Me Walk Away Was Not.

New Drone Rules in Thailand Require Pilot License and Registration

New drone regulations in Thailand require pilot licensing and drone registration before you can take your drone home

• •Purchasing a drone in Thailand requires NBTC registration and CAAT pilot licensing
• •Online test and documentation submission needed to get a Basic Drone Pilot Certificate
• •Drone registration requires passport, visa, Thai phone number, address, and liability insurance

Louisiana House Approves Bill Criminalizing Marijuana Use Near College Campuses

Louisiana's House has passed a bill imposing jail time and fines for marijuana use near schools and college campuses, sparking criticism from cannabis reform advocates

• •Louisiana House passed a bill criminalizing marijuana use within 2,000 feet of schools, including colleges
• •The bill allows for up to one year in jail and fines up to $1,000 for violations
• •Advocates argue the bill reverses recent decriminalization efforts in the state

by Tom Angell

Sri Lankan Authorities Arrest Buddhist Monks for Smuggling $3.6 Million in Cannabis

Sri Lankan authorities arrested 22 Buddhist monks and associates at Colombo airport after discovering over 220 pounds of cannabis hidden in their luggage and robes, valued at $3.6 million

• •Sri Lankan customs intercepted 22 individuals, including monks, smuggling over 220 pounds of cannabis
• •The shipment, valued at $3.6 million, was hidden in false-bottom suitcases and under monks’ robes

by Buddhist Monks Caught Smuggling $3.6M in Weed Through Sri Lanka

Indigenous Tribes Assert Sovereignty and Lead U.S. Cannabis Policy Innovation

Indigenous communities across the U.S. are leading cannabis policy reform by asserting sovereignty, launching regulated programs, and building sustainable industries

• •Nearly 26% of federally recognized U.S. tribes are engaged in cannabis or hemp activities
• •The Omaha Tribe in Nebraska launched the state's first fully legal adult-use and medical cannabis system in July 2025
• •The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened North Carolina's first legal medical cannabis program, allowing non-Tribal patients access
• •Minnesota's White Earth Nation became the first tribe allowed to operate cannabis dispensaries off reservation land through a state compact

by The State of Indigenous Cannabis: Sovereignty, Healing, and the Future We’re Building Now

Tropical Kaleidoscope Language Clubs Support Kids and Adults in Lamai

Tropical Kaleidoscope in Lamai offers small-group English and Chinese clubs for kids and adults to build confident conversational skills

• •English club for ages 4–14 focuses on conversational fluency in small groups
• •Chinese club serves children 7+ and adults, including parent-child pairs

Sri Lankan Court Detains Senior Monk Over 110 Kg Cannabis Smuggling From Thailand

A senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk faces seven days of detention after being accused of leading a 110-kilogram cannabis smuggling operation from Thailand involving 22 young monks

• •A senior Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka has been detained for seven days over cannabis smuggling allegations
• •Police seized over 110 kilograms of cannabis and hashish from luggage at Bandaranaike International Airport

by Senior Sri Lankan monk accused of smuggling ganja from Thailand

TAT Launches LISA-Fronted Campaign to Boost Travel Across Thailand with Exclusive Prizes

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a nationwide campaign with LISA as ambassador, encouraging travel across the country and offering exclusive prizes to participants from May to July 2026

• •TAT's new campaign 'Feel All the Feelings, Seeking Thailand’s Wonders' runs from 1 May to 31 July 2026
• •Participants can win one of 500 exclusive prizes by collecting Buddy Rewards points or submitting receipts from certified establishments

by TAT Newsroom

Matt Zorn’s Legal Advocacy Spurs Major Shift in U.S. Drug Policy Reform

Matt Zorn’s transition from legal challenger to federal policymaker has helped drive historic changes in U.S. cannabis and psychedelics policy, signaling a new era for drug law reform

• •Matt Zorn, a longtime litigator, has become Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services
• •Zorn played a central role in drafting President Trump's Executive Order on psychedelics and advancing cannabis rescheduling
• •His legal advocacy exposed inconsistencies in federal drug policy and helped force greater transparency
• •High Times likens Zorn’s trajectory to that of Thurgood Marshall, highlighting the power of legal strategy in social reform

by Matt Zorn and the Next Phase of America’s Drug Policy Revolution

Sri Lankan Authorities Arrest 22 Buddhist Monks at Airport for Smuggling 110 Kilograms of Cannabis

Sri Lankan authorities detained 22 Buddhist monks at Colombo airport after finding 110 kilograms of Kush cannabis hidden in their luggage following a trip to Thailand

• •Sri Lankan customs arrested 22 Buddhist monks at Colombo airport for smuggling 110 kilograms of cannabis
• •The monks had returned from a four-day, anonymously sponsored trip to Thailand
• •Each monk carried approximately 5 kilograms of Kush cannabis hidden among personal items

by ศรีลังกาจับพระ 22 รูป คาสนามบิน ฐานซุกกัญชา 110 กก.

TAT and Dida Holdings Launch Digital Initiative to Boost Chinese Tourism to Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Dida Holdings have launched a digital partnership to attract Chinese tourists, aiming to boost demand and promote Thailand as a safe, high-quality destination

• •TAT signed a partnership agreement with Dida Holdings to enhance digital cooperation in the Chinese tourism market
• •The collaboration supports the Trusted Thailand initiative, focusing on safety, authenticity, and restorative travel experiences
• •Dida will invest at least RMB 2.5 million over 90 days for demand generation and content development targeting Chinese travelers

by TAT Newsroom

Indiana Governor Initiates State Agency Meetings with Medical Marijuana Advocates Following Federal Rescheduling

Indiana state agencies met with medical marijuana advocates at Governor Mike Braun's direction, following federal cannabis rescheduling, signaling a potential shift in

• •Governor Mike Braun directed state agencies to meet with medical marijuana advocates after federal rescheduling
• •Meetings included the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Health, Hoosier Veterans for Medical Cannabis, and Indiana NORML
• •Public support for cannabis legalization in Indiana has reached 84 percent for at least medical use, according to a recent survey
• •Top Republican legislative leaders remain opposed to cannabis reform despite changing federal and regional dynamics

by Tom Angell