🇺🇸 U.S. Supreme Court Asked to Decide Whether States Can Favor Residents in Cannabis Licensing

The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to resolve a growing legal dispute over whether state cannabis licensing programs can lawfully favor in-state residents over out-of-state applicants. The case stems from challenges brought by Kenneth Gay, a Michigan entrepreneur whose cannabis license applications in Washington State and Sacramento, California were denied due to residency requirements. At the center of the dispute is whether the Constitution’s Dormant Commerce Clause applies to the cannabis industry despite marijuana's continuing federal illegality, a question that federal appeals courts have answered differently. If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, its decision could have major implications for cannabis licensing programs and residency-based ownership requirements across the country. (Marijuana Moment)

⚕️ 10-Year Study Finds Medical Cannabis Linked to Lasting Pain Relief and Major Reductions in Opioid Use

A 10-year study of more than 600 patients with treatment-resistant chronic lower back pain found that medical cannabis use was associated with sustained improvements in pain levels, physical function and overall disability. Researchers reported that participants reduced their daily opioid use by nearly 90%, while also significantly decreasing their reliance on other prescription medications, including antidepressants, benzodiazepines, gabapentin and tramadol. Patients generally did not increase their cannabis consumption over time, suggesting limited development of tolerance to its therapeutic effects, and no participants discontinued treatment due to serious cannabis-related side effects. The researchers concluded that medical cannabis may represent a meaningful long-term, opioid-sparing treatment option for patients whose chronic pain has not responded to conventional therapies. (Norml)

🚑 House Advances Bill Requiring Federal Study of Marijuana and Drug Testing in Emergency Rooms

The U.S. House considered legislation known as Tyler’s Law, sponsored by Ted Lieu, that would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study how often hospital emergency departments test overdose patients for fentanyl, marijuana and other substances. The bill was inspired by the 2018 death of Tyler Shamash, who was not tested for fentanyl after being brought to a hospital with a suspected overdose. Under the proposal, HHS would have one year to examine how frequently emergency rooms test for fentanyl alongside substances such as marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and PCP, as well as evaluate testing costs, benefits, privacy concerns and impacts on patient care. The department would then issue guidance on whether routine fentanyl testing should be recommended for overdose patients and how hospitals can improve clinician awareness of drug-screening practices. The measure passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously and later cleared the House, but differences between the House and Senate versions must still be reconciled before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for consideration. Notably, the House version explicitly references marijuana and other drugs in its study language, while the Senate version focuses more broadly on fentanyl and controlled substances

👉 Read The Full Study Here

🚫 Ohio Cannabis Dispensary Shuts Down as State Investigates Reports of Serious Health Reactions Linked to Vape Products

An Ohio marijuana dispensary, Herbal Wellness Center in Jackson, Ohio, voluntarily closed at the request of the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control after two customers reported serious adverse health effects possibly linked to vape products purchased there. The dispensary's parent company, Vext Science, says no evidence currently proves its products caused the reported illnesses, while regulators have found no harmful contaminants in initial follow-up testing. Certain vape products have been placed on a precautionary hold and additional testing is ongoing, but officials have not disclosed the nature of the health events or whether a reported local death is connected to the investigation. (Marijuana Moment)

🗓️ Continued Cannabis News & Events

• Prenatal cannabis exposure associated with altered brain connectivity: neural correlates of cognitive and mental health variability in offspring

• 'Children as young as 12 smoking cannabis' and More than one million children aged 11 to 17 have tried vaping in 2026

• Two women accused of smuggling $1M of weed from New York to Tokyo

• Nebraska Supreme Court Upholds Voter‑Approved Medical Cannabis