🧠 Largest U.S. Study Finds Teen Cannabis Use Linked to Slower Cognitive Development

A large new study reported by EurekAlert! found that adolescents who begin using cannabis show slower gains in memory, attention and thinking speed compared with non‑users, based on data from more than 11,000 participants in the long‑running Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. Researchers observed that while some teens performed similarly to peers early on, cognitive growth began to plateau after cannabis use started, particularly among those with evidence of THC exposure, suggesting the drug may interfere with key stages of brain development during adolescence. (Eurekalert)

⚕️ New Medicare Pilot Program Lets Some Seniors Access Doctor‑Guided Cannabis‑Based Medications

A new Medicare pilot program highlighted by 9NEWS will allow some seniors to access doctor‑recommended hemp‑derived cannabis products and receive reimbursement through participating care organizations, following recent federal moves to loosen cannabis restrictions. The program permits low‑THC hemp products, capped at about 3 milligrams of THC per dose, to be provided under medical supervision, with eligible participants able to receive up to about $500 in covered products annually, depending on their health plan and location. Supporters say the pilot could help seniors manage symptoms such as pain, anxiety or cancer‑related side effects while also generating much‑needed data on safety, drug interactions and whether cannabis‑based treatments can reduce reliance on opioids among older patients. (9News)

💥 Iran War Is Rippling Into the Cannabis Industry, Pushing Up Costs and Prices

The ongoing conflict involving Iran is beginning to drive up costs across the cannabis industry, with companies reporting shortages and price hikes for key supplies such as rolling papers, filters and pre‑roll packaging that rely on materials sourced from the Middle East. Industry leaders told HuffPost that disruptions to manufacturing and transportation have already increased prices for items like rolling machines and plastic pre‑roll tubes, costs that could soon be passed on to consumers through higher weed prices. Beyond supply chains, executives say the war is also diverting political attention in Washington, complicating efforts to address pending cannabis and hemp legislation at a time when businesses are already contending with regulatory uncertainty and rising operating expenses.

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📜 Virginia Governor Signs Marijuana Bills Protecting Parental Rights and Allowing Medical Use in Hospitals

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed new legislation protecting the parental rights of people who legally use marijuana, ensuring that lawful cannabis possession or consumption alone cannot be used to restrict child custody or visitation or be treated as a failed drug test in family court proceedings. The governor also approved bills expanding medical marijuana access by allowing patients to use prescribed cannabis in hospitals, extending existing protections that already applied to hospices, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The hospital measure establishes a Department of Health working group to guide implementation and assess federal and state regulatory considerations, aiming to maintain continuity of care for medical cannabis patients during hospital stays. (Marijuana Moment)

🗓️ Continued Cannabis News & Events

• Cannabis Purity Concerns Grow As Consumers Shift From Alcohol

• Meet the Native tribe taking on the most anti-cannabis state in the US

• Medicinal cannabis exports getting overseas faster, goverment considers more permanent licences

• Cannabis consumption is associated with altered steroid metabolism in young men