Forbes • 20th January 2025

U.S. Court Upholds Virginia’s Ban On Intoxicating Hemp

A U.S. court has upheld Virginia’s strict regulations on intoxicating hemp products, ruling they don’t conflict with the federal law and Dormant Commerce Clause, reinforcing the state’s power to protect public health and safety. Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit decided an appeal filed by hemp company Northern Virginia Hemp and Agriculture and other plaintiffs challenging Virginia’s Senate Bill 903, a law regulating hemp products. The court denied claims that t...

Forbes • 14th January 2025

High Tide Enters Germany’s Medical Cannabis Market By Acquiring 51% Of Purecan

Canada-based cannabis company High Tide has entered the German medical cannabis market by purchasing a 51% stake in Frankfurt-based pharmaceutical company Purecan. The announcement of the acquisition, made on Monday, comes after Germany legalized recreational cannabis for personal use, effective last April that took the ban off the controlled substances list, and eased medical access for patients. High Tide has acquired a majority stake of 51% in Purecan GmbH for €4.8 million to enter the German...

CannIntelligence • 13th January 2025

How Italy’s ban on driving with any THC in the body could affect the hemp industry | CannIntelligence

Cannabis users driving on Italian roads could find themselves in legal trouble when stopped by the authorities, even if they are not under the influence at the time. In an effort to prevent dangerous driving caused by drug use, Italy has introduced stricter measures on drug impairment, with potential implications for the hemp industry. The revised law, which went into effect last month, makes the mere presence of drugs in the body a crime, regardless of the driver’s physical state. Cannabis use...

Forbes • 30th December 2024

Judge Halts Tennessee Rules That Would Ban Hemp Products

A Tennessee judge has temporarily blocked new hemp testing regulations that were set to take effect last week, which could ban products legally sold in the state since 2019. Davidson County Chancellor I’Ashea Myles issued the temporary injunction on December 23, pausing the rules until February 18 to allow further review, as first reported by Tennessee Lookout. Chancellor Myles stressed that expert testimony and further evidence were necessary regarding the propriety, reasonableness, and lawfuln...

Forbes • 27th December 2024

CBD May Reduce Alcohol Cravings In People With AUD, Study Finds

A new study suggests that a single dose of CBD may reduce alcohol cravings and lower activity in the brain’s reward center, providing the first clinical evidence that this cannabis compound could help with alcohol use disorder. In a study published in Molecular Psychiatry journal this month, researchers from the Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine at the University of Heidelberg in Germany analyzed how CBD impacts alcohol cravings and brain activity in people with alcohol use...

Forbes • 23rd December 2024

Nearly 60% Of Germans Support Full Cannabis Legalization Ahead Of Upcoming Elections

Most Germans are in favor of fully legalizing recreational cannabis months after the government approved its use for personal consumption and amid the upcoming federal elections. The German Hemp Association published a poll last week, showing that 59% of Germans support full legalization of recreational cannabis, including its sale. The poll’s results support the government’s original vision for cannabis reform, which was then scaled back to allowing only personal use. This marks the first incre...

Forbes • 19th December 2024

Teen Marijuana Use Hits Lowest Levels In Decades, Study Finds

Teen marijuana use has hit its lowest point in over three decades, a new study reveals, defying concerns that legalization might spur a rise in use among young people. The University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research released its annual report this week, highlighting trends from its survey on drug use. The Monitoring the Future study, conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, released its annual report th...

Forbes • 17th December 2024

How Bat Guano Turned Deadly For Two Men Growing Marijuana

Two men have reportedly died after inhaling bat guano used to grow marijuana, raising concerns about the safety of natural bat guano and commercially available fertilizers. The cases of the two men who died from exposure to bat guano used to grow marijuana came to light earlier this month through an accepted manuscript published in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases. The study highlights two fatal cases of histoplasmosis, a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, linked to bat...

Forbes • 29th November 2024

Denmark’s Medical Cannabis Trial Program Set To Become Permanent

The Danish government has reached an agreement with opposition parties to make Denmark’s medical cannabis trial program as permanent. Minister of the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde announced on Thursday that this decision follows a new evaluation showing a significant increase in the number of prescriptions filled, now at its highest level since the trial began in 2018. The move represents a significant shift in Denmark, where recreational cannabis remains illegal, and the tolerated policy on...

Forbes • 26th November 2024

Texas AG Sues Dallas Over Marijuana Decriminalization Measure

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the City of Dallas and local officials, targeting a ballot measure that decriminalizes marijuana-related offenses and bars police from enforcing state drug laws. The announcement of this legal action, made last week, is related to Proposition R, also known as the "Dallas Freedom Act," which was passed in November with nearly 67% approval. The measure decriminalizes possession of less than four ounces of marijuana and restricts the Dal...

Forbes • 23rd November 2024

Senate Farm Bill Draft Seeks To Close Loopholes For Intoxicating Hemp

The Senate has revealed its much-awaited version of the Farm Bill, reflecting significant changes in federal hemp regulations. Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee revealed a version of the Farm Bill earlier this week, featuring updated hemp regulations. The most significant change in the proposed amendments to federal hemp policy is aimed at closing loopholes used by some hemp businesses to produce and sell intoxicating hemp products. Thes...

Forbes • 18th November 2024

What Can We Expect From Trump On Cannabis Reform?

Donald J. Trump’s victory in November’s Presidential election coincides with a pivotal moment for the U.S. cannabis reform, as efforts to reschedule the substance could significantly reshape the future of the industry, with him potentially having a say. During his campaign, Trump expressed support for rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would acknowledge its medical value and ease the business tax burden. He also supported providing banki...

Forbes • 15th November 2024

Inside Attorney General Nominee Matt Gaetz's Complicated Pro-Cannabis Stance

President-elect Donald J. Trump has nominated Matt Gaetz, one of the most vocal, marijuana-friendly Republican congressmen, for U.S. Attorney General. Trump announced on Wednesday his nomination of Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General, set to join his cabinet after the presidential inauguration on January 20. The U.S. Attorney General is the nation’s top lawyer, overseeing the Department of Justice, enforcing federal laws, and advising the President on legal issues. This role...

Forbes • 12th November 2024

Researcher Sues DEA Over Marijuana Rescheduling Process

A researcher has filed a lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Administration, accusing the agency of multiple legal violations in its process of marijuana rescheduling. David Heldreth, researcher and CEO of psychedelic research and development company Panacea Plant Sciences, filed a complaint last week in the U.S. District Court for Western Washington against the Department of Justice, Attorney General Merrick Garland, the DEA, its Administrator Anne Milgram, and DEA Judge John J. Mulrooney II....

Forbes • 29th October 2024

Teen Marijuana Use Drops, But Girls Now Outpace Boys, New Study Finds

Marijuana use among teens has declined over the past decade, but new research shows that girls are now using it more than boys. A recent study by researchers from Florida Atlantic University, published in Pediatric Reports, shows that despite concerns that state-level marijuana legalization in the U.S. might lead to increased use among teens, usage is actually decreasing. However, the study also notes that girls are now surpassing boys in marijuana consumption. The study analyzes marijuana use t...

Forbes • 25th October 2024

Accountants Group Urges Clarity On Cannabis Tax Amid Rescheduling

An association of accountants is urging the federal tax agency to update its guidance for cannabis businesses in light of the potential for rescheduling. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of the Treasury on Monday, urging them to update their guidance for cannabis businesses. This request comes as cannabis may soon be rescheduled to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow these business...

Forbes • 22nd October 2024

Arkansas Votes On Medical Marijuana Ballot Measure Won’t Be Counted, Court Says

Arkansas Supreme Court has ordered that votes for and against a proposal to expand access to medical marijuana should not count. In a 4-3 decision on Monday, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled in favor of Protect Arkansas Kids, a group that intervened in the legal dispute regarding Issue 3. At the same time, the Court dismissed Secretary of State John Thurston’s complaint that claimed the group did not collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. As a result, although Issue 3 will appear o...

Forbes • 21st October 2024

U.S. Army Expands Drug Policy To Ban Delta-8 THC Hemp Products

The U.S. Army has updated its drug policy to explicitly ban the use of delta-8 THC hemp products, clarifying that soldiers are prohibited from using them. It is also warning servicemembers to avoid foods with poppy seeds, as they can cause false positives in opioid tests. The Army updated its substance abuse policies in early October to reduce drug and alcohol abuse among service members. The new policy has a “prohibited substances” list, as well as updated requirements for training and reportin...

Forbes • 15th October 2024

California Judge Rules Against Attempt To Block Hemp THC Ban

A California judge has denied a request from hemp businesses seeking to temporarily suspend the ban on intoxicating hemp product sales while they challenge the state’s ban in court. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, several hemp companies, and a cannabis company co-owned by the comic duo Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong filed a lawsuit against a California public health agency to prevent the agency from enforcing the regulations, arguing that the new regulations could cost hemp businesses millions and poten...

Forbes • 11th October 2024

Businesses Partially Win Lawsuit Against New Jersey’s Hemp Ban Law

A federal court has partially blocked New Jersey’s new hemp law, finding it unlawfully restricts sales and transportation of federally legal hemp products and discriminates against out-of-state businesses. Federal Judge Zahid Nisar Quraishi granted a partial win to hemp businesses on Thursday, challenging the state’s new law on intoxicating hemp products but refused to strike down the law in its entirety, as first reported by New Jersey Monitor. A group of hemp businesses filed a lawsuit challen...