Month: March 2026

The U.S. Army will now allow recruits who have a single cannabis possession or drug paraphernalia possession conviction to enlist without a waiver. Prior to the regulation change, such convictions would have technically barred potential recruits from enlisting, but those with such convictions were often granted waivers to join the service. 

Previously, under the waiver program, recruits with a single conviction for cannabis or drug paraphernalia required a waiting period of up to 24 months, and a mandatory drug test at a Military Entrance Processing Station.  

The regulation changes do not change the rules for recruits with a “pattern” of convictions or multiple drug-related offenses. Such recruits still require the waiver. 

The change, which applies to the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves, takes effect April 20, 2026.  

Cannabis use remains prohibited for all active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard service members, regardless of state laws. The Army also does not recognize medical cannabis cards, and the use of cannabis-related substances is prohibited, even if prescribed by a doctor. 

The Army also bans active servicemembers from the use of hemp or products containing hemp oil, including CBD. Soldiers who test positive for THC, including from CBD or synthetic products, can face mandatory processing for separation. 

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Tulsa Community College (TCC) has launched new cannabis certificate programs in partnership with cannabis education company Green Flower, KTUL reports. Dr. Pete Selden, TCC vice president for workforce development, told KTUL that the programs will help students “Learn about the policies around cannabis, plant science, more about the industry and compliance” and will give students “the ability to get into an entry-level job…starting at $20 an hour and then going up from there.” 

“Employer-informed programs that are online, virtual for students that desire to get into the cannabis industry to be properly informed and trained on particular jobs in the industry.” — Selden to KTUL 

Max Simon, CEO of Green Flower, told KTUL that there are currently more than 425,000 cannabis industry workers nationwide. 

“There’s been real significant growth in many states.” Simon said, “but there’s been some contraction in certain states.” 

According to Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority data, as of June 2024, the number of total commercial licenses dropped significantly from July 2023 to July 2024 from 11,330 to 6,937. In all, as of July 2024, there are 3,645 licensed cultivators, 2,081 licensed dispensaries, and 1,092 licensed processors.  

The industry’s contraction in the state comes as lawmakers have worked in recent years to

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U.S. Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) this week introduced the bipartisan Capital Lending and Investment for Marijuana Businesses (CLIMB) Act, which aims to give state-legal cannabis companies access to the lending and investment opportunities available to other industries.

Most financial institutions are currently unwilling to serve the industry, as cannabis remains a federally prohibited, Schedule I substance.

But the CLIMB Act would establish protections for private lenders to provide loans and for government agencies, like the Small Business Administration (SBA), or the Minority Business Development Association (MBDA), to provide grants to state-licensed cannabis companies.

“This legislation is an opportunity to bring equity and equal opportunity into our nation’s growing cannabis industry,” Rep. Carter said in a press release.

“By working directly with small, minority, and veteran-owned cannabis businesses, it’s clear that access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers to entry and to success in the industry. By bringing symmetry into the business ecosystem with the CLIMB Act, we can help communities that have long been harmed by the criminalization of marijuana become leaders in business – and that’s what the American Dream is all about.” — Carter, in a statement

Saphira Galoob, CEO

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The Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts found in a recent audit of the state’s medical cannabis program that the Alabama Medical Cannabis has failed to follow state law on multiple occasions.

The audit investigated a multi-year period from May 17, 2021, through September 30, 2025.

Officials noted at least five instances of noncompliance by Alabama cannabis regulators, including:

Failure to comply with state record-keeping policies. Failure to comply with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Overpayment on a legal services contract by over $200,000. Failed to fully establish a licensing and fee structure for the industry, as required under the state’s medical cannabis law. The Commission established an administrative rule for lost or stolen medical cannabis ID cards that conflicts with state law.

For the overpayment, the receiving vendor had to file a claim with the Alabama Board of Adjustments to get its payment.

“The total contract amount was $400,000.00 and the vendor received $604,197.55, resulting in an overpayment of $204,197.55. The overpayment occurred due to the Commission’s failure to properly monitor payments on the contract to ensure payments were made within the contract terms.” — Excerpt from the audit

According to the audit, the

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Massachusetts officials announced Monday that the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) is awarding $28.8 million in grants through its Cannabis Social Equity Grant Program, WWLP reports.

Funded by the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, the state’s social equity program supports individuals and communities who were disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition enforcement actions. EOED supports these individuals with grants to help launch or expand state-legal cannabis operations.

Officials said they received 223 social equity grant applications this year. They ultimately awarded 194 grants ranging from $25,000 to up to $300,000.

“The Cannabis Social Equity Grant Program is about turning policy into real economic opportunity. These investments support small businesses at critical stages of growth while helping communities across the Commonwealth benefit from a rapidly evolving industry.” — Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, in a statement

Lawmakers established the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund in 2022, several years after the state’s adult-use cannabis reforms took effect, as a means to encourage participation in the industry among those who were most harmed by prohibition.

State Sen. Adam Gómez (R), who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy, said the equity program “represents our continued commitment to building a cannabis industry

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A report released this month by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) found that in 2023, 73% of cannabis consumers purchased products from licensed dispensaries. The study used data from the International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS), conducted from 2019 to 2023.  

For the first time in the ACPS survey, a majority – 61% – reported sourcing their cannabis from a licensed retailer, with 56% saying they obtained cannabis from a family member or friend, and 24% reporting obtaining cannabis from a “dealer.” 

According to the report, 37% of Massachusetts residents consumed cannabis in the last year, including 43% in 2023. Another 14% reported daily or near-daily cannabis consumption, including 17% in 2023. 

Flower was the most commonly used cannabis product (74% of respondents) during the study period, followed by edibles (72%), and vapes (40%). 

A majority of cannabis consumers – 51% – said they used cannabis to manage or improve physical health concerns, while 43% said they consumed cannabis to manage mental health concerns. 

Just 13% of respondents admitted to consuming cannabis at or before work during the previous 30 days. A similar share – 14% – said they had driven after consuming cannabis.  

Just 9% of respondents reported seeking medical services to treat adverse health effects related to cannabis consumption. 

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The deadline for New York cannabis industry operators to begin using state-mandated seed-to-sale systems is Saturday, March 7, and some products are having to be sent back from retailers to processors to comply with the new rules, the Times-Union reports. The changes are also causing concern among smaller businesses, who now have to buy supplies to affix the labels to their products.

John Vavalo, president of the Association of New York Cannabis Processors, told the Times-Union that he is buying a $100,000 laser printer to help with the process for labels required for his canned cannabis products.

“The technology doesn’t exist, so I have to develop it, because … no industry in the world does this. You get the sense that there are processors and-or retailers that just won’t be able to have products tagged and ready by (Saturday).” — Vavalo to the Times-Union

Damien Cornwell, president of the Cannabis Association of New York, told the Times-Union that he is “getting the calls from guys that are freaking out because they can’t pay their bills” but are required to comply with the system.

“If you’re the guy that barely had the money and you’re buying the digital IDs,

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