Breaking News Editor
Alex Morgan leads our breaking news coverage, ensuring readers get accurate information as stories develop. With a background in wire service journalism at Reuters and a knack for being first to major stories, Alex has built a reputation for speed and accuracy. They manage our news desk operations and coordinate coverage of major industry events. Alex graduated from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and has won multiple awards for deadline reporting.
Science & ResearchNew research links high-potency cannabis to increased psychosis rates, forcing the legal cannabis industry to reckon with public health concerns as THC concentrations in products far exceed historical levels.
LegislationNebraska lawmakers unanimously advanced funding measures for the state's new Medical Cannabis Commission, including commissioner salaries and application fee authority, as the state moves to implement its voter-approved medical marijuana program.
LegislationMissouri House passes bill banning hemp-derived THC sales, mirroring federal restrictions from December spending package. Legislation now heads to Senate.
CultureCannabis consumers increasingly seek products for intentional slowness rather than productivity enhancement, reflecting broader cultural fatigue with hustle culture and potentially reshaping industry marketing strategies.
LegislationMaryland's Senate Finance Committee heard legislation Thursday that would protect firefighters and rescue workers from workplace penalties for off-duty medical cannabis use, reviving a measure that stalled last year.
LegislationArizona senators passed bills criminalizing 'excessive' marijuana odor even for legal home use, drawing criticism that the measures undermine voter-approved legalization and create unequal treatment.
Woodstock Cannabis differentiates itself in the legal market by emphasizing whole-plant products and counterculture heritage over high THC percentages, betting that cultural authenticity will resonate with maturing consumers.
BusinessMichigan cannabis sales fell 8.3% year-over-year to $226.8 million in January, with medical sales collapsing to just $0.4 million as market oversupply and economic pressures weigh on the industry.
LegislationNew York lawmakers introduced bills allowing liquor stores to obtain permits for selling low-THC cannabis beverages, potentially expanding distribution but raising questions about market equity.
LegislationHawaii lawmakers approved legislation letting medical cannabis patients access dispensaries immediately upon registration submission, eliminating the current wait for physical card delivery.
CultureNew York's Cannabis Cup recognized top operators across flower, vapes, edibles, and beverages, highlighting quality leaders in the state's developing legal market.
LegislationVirginia lawmakers advanced bills Tuesday to legalize marijuana sales, allow resentencing for past convictions, and permit medical cannabis in hospitals, moving the measures past a critical legislative deadline.
CultureThe Old Farmer's Almanac included cannabis cultivation tips this year, though editor Carol Connare notes hemp has appeared in the 234-year-old publication before during legal periods.
CultureA youth identity movement identifying as animals has seen searches surge 5,000%, following the same cultural panic cycle that cannabis culture experienced for decades before normalization.
Industry NewsHigh Times published a point-by-point rebuttal to The New York Times Editorial Board's call for stricter cannabis regulations, challenging the newspaper's positions on taxes, THC caps, and youth use with data from legal markets.
LegislationWest Virginia refuses to spend medical marijuana tax revenue over federal law concerns, even as 20+ states allocate similar funds without issue. A state lawmaker is pushing to finally put the idle money to use.
LegislationVirginia's House and Senate passed competing marijuana sales bills Monday, setting up final votes and negotiations. A separate resentencing measure for past cannabis convictions also advanced.
Science & ResearchCannabis wellness sector examines mental health applications as companies market products for emotional regulation amid growing consumer demand for stress relief.
LegislationMissouri senators filibustered legislation to immediately adopt federal hemp THC limits, with critics warning of unintended harm to legitimate businesses as the state's regulated cannabis market pushes for restrictions.
LegislationHemp industry executive Mike Simpson argues Congress should establish regulations for THC and CBD products rather than rushing to ban them, warning against repeating prohibition-first policy mistakes.
CultureCannabis industry experts challenge the wellness sector's focus on THC content, arguing that cultivation methods and growing practices deserve more attention than cannabinoid percentages.
LegislationRep. Glenn Thompson released a 2026 Farm Bill draft maintaining the hemp program while promising to reduce regulatory requirements for cultivators, setting up negotiations with the Senate.
BusinessCalgary's Decibel Cannabis closed a $61 million credit facility with ATB Financial as Canadian LPs continue restructuring debt amid market consolidation and falling wholesale prices.
LegislationWashington's House voted 89-6 to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and hospice facilities. The bill now heads to the state Senate.
