Hemp/THC Policy: North Carolina lawmakers advance a bill to cap hemp-derived THC drinks/edibles at 0.4 mg and raise the purchase age to 21, setting up a tougher state-by-state patchwork even if federal rules shift. Legal/Regulatory: Pennsylvania leaders and Gov. Josh Shapiro reach a $50.8B budget deal that boosts education and pensions, while leaving major policy fights like skill games regulation off the table for now. Enforcement: Gardaí in Ireland seize 11 military-grade firearms plus heroin, cocaine and cannabis worth over €700k in raids across Laois and Kildare, arresting two men as part of an organised crime operation. International Drug Busts: Nigeria’s NDLEA arrests a South African woman at Abuja’s airport after 5.75 kg of heroin is found hidden in checked luggage tied to her passport, with alleged links to a transnational trafficking network. Industry/Business: Forbes reports Lume’s Michigan cannabis operation leans hard on biosecurity—air showers, strict hygiene and controlled grow rooms—to protect yields and scale production. Community/Activism: A Carpinteria protest marks one year since federal raids on Glass House Farms, with organizers citing a sharp rise in local immigration detentions.