AGP Executive Report

Public Health: A University of Minnesota study reports MN teen cannabis use hit a record low (down from 13% in 2013 to 5% in 2025), but gaps persist—American Indian/Alaska Native, LGBTQ+, and youth in poverty still report use at about three times the rate of their peers. Pregnancy Safety: Ohio launched a pregnancy-focused cannabis education push after survey data found over half of pregnant women (and those planning pregnancy) reported using marijuana, despite health officials warning about risks like low birth weight and stillbirth. Policy & Taxes: Kodiak, Alaska lawmakers advanced a 3% borough tax on legal marijuana sales to a public hearing, setting up an October voter decision. Hemp/THC Regulation: A bipartisan “Lawful Hemp Protection Act” is gaining attention as it aims to keep hemp-derived THC products legal with federal standards, including a 1% THC limit and 21+ age rules. Product Innovation: Tilray’s Revolver Beer & Spirits expands the Blood & Honey brand into whiskey, gin, and vodka, while Tilray Canada also launched ZONNA fast-acting THC pouches for discreet, smoke-free use. Workforce Training: Sault College rolled out a free micro-credential on cannabis and your career to help employers and workers navigate workplace rules. Industry Compliance Watch: Ghana’s NACOC says no cannabis cultivation licenses have been issued yet, warning existing farms are operating illegally and could face sanctions.

Cannabis Retail Tech: Alpine IQ expanded its partnership with Digital Awesome, positioning Digital Awesome’s customizable mobile apps as the premium mobile app partner in the AIQ ecosystem, with deeper integrations for loyalty tiers, audience-based promotions, and automated customer journeys. Pregnancy Safety Education: Ohio’s OneOhio Recovery Foundation will launch a statewide public education campaign on cannabis use during pregnancy, pairing evidence-based messaging with toolkits for mothers and healthcare providers. Regulatory/Market Signals: Massachusetts cleared a marijuana legalization repeal measure for the November ballot after rejecting a challenge to petition signatures, which would end recreational sales and home cultivation while leaving medical cannabis intact. Industry & Compliance Watch: A federal plan to kill nearly 500,000 barred owls to protect spotted owls is headed for a legal fight over data and protections under the Migratory Bird Act. Public Health & Crime Tech: A UNODC report says Southeast Asia’s criminal networks are using integrated tech—including AI and encrypted platforms—to expand scams and child exploitation risks. Local Cannabis Culture: A new Hayward storefront, Lake Air Liquor (an extension of Spooner’s CBD/hemp shop Ignite), opened with a focus on vape, Delta-9 products, infused edibles, and hemp items.

Federal Marijuana Push: Sen. John Fetterman and colleagues reintroduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to end the federal marijuana ban, with new language aimed at preventing hemp THC from being re-criminalized in November. Regulatory/Industry Watch: Jamaica’s Cannabis Licensing Authority opened a new Kingston headquarters, signaling a push for faster, more accessible medicinal cannabis regulation. CBD Efficacy Debate: A British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology review says widely sold, low-dose OTC CBD products (≤2.5 mg/kg) show little to no biological effect, renewing calls for optimized formulations and stronger clinical standards. Hemp Policy Pressure: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers urged lawmakers to fix harmful federal hemp rules in the Farm Bill to protect the state’s hemp industry. Agriculture & Compliance: UW–Madison Extension hosted a manure composting field day that also covered weed seed destruction, herbicide carryover, and regulations—key issues for hemp-adjacent growers. Public Safety/Crime Context: Mexico cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was sentenced to life in prison, again spotlighting the ongoing drug-trafficking pressure behind regional enforcement.

Wildfire Mitigation Meets Labor Costs: California’s goat-grazing fire prevention experiment in Paradise is showing results, but a new law raising goatherder wages to $20,000 a month could threaten the model. Public Safety Funding: California Highway Patrol awarded $41M+ in impaired-driving grants to 183 agencies, with cannabis-tax revenue supporting education, enforcement, and forensic toxicology. Hemp-Derived THC Deadline: Convenience retailers and industry groups are bracing for a Nov. 12 federal deadline that could upend hemp-derived THC beverages, with lawmakers weighing extensions or new regulation. Market Pressure in Legal Cannabis: Florida cannabis operator Parallel cut 211 jobs after closing facilities, while Oregon’s psilocybin industry faces steep fee hikes that critics say could force more closures. Policy Push for Legalization: Sen. John Fetterman reintroduced a federal marijuana legalization bill, arguing for regulated, tax-and-control reform. Medicinal Cannabis Banking: St. Kitts and Nevis hired Saboto Caesar to build a medicinal cannabis banking framework and seed-to-sale track-and-trace approach. Local Cannabis Court Win: Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club in Canada won a six-month reprieve from eviction as the province pursues civil forfeiture. Research Watch: A study links prenatal THC exposure in female rats to higher binge-drinking vulnerability in adolescence.

Impaired-Driving Funding: California’s Proposition 64 is sending more than $41M to 183 agencies for impaired-driving education, enforcement, and forensic toxicology—money tied to cannabis taxes. Hemp Product Oversight: A Virginia report spotlights how “accredited” lab COAs don’t guarantee results match what’s on shelves, pointing to gaps in hemp testing guardrails. THC Drinks Under Fire: STAT News finds hemp-derived THC sodas and similar drinks sold beside regular beverages—often without age checks—driving pediatric ER visits. Patent “Gold Rush” Watch: Cannabis patent activity is rising as legalization expands and federal rescheduling talk grows, with new filings clustering around major policy milestones. Market Moves: KANHA and Cypress Hill’s B-Real launch a limited-edition hemp THC gummy; Cronos expands Canada’s SOURZ by Spinach multipacks. Local Retail Update: Loveland, Colorado is set to reopen retail marijuana sales with a new dispensary location. Policy/Enforcement: Virginia is pushing ahead with its marijuana marketplace timeline and first responders’ access discussions, while other states weigh hemp product rules.

Regulated Market Watch: Virginia’s Cannabis Control Authority launched a statewide tip line to crack down on illegal marijuana sales as adult-use retail rolls out, with staff reviewing reports and often handling issues as education gaps. Federal Policy Shock: THC drinks face a looming federal “hemp” definition deadline on Nov. 12, 2026, which could push many mainstream hemp-derived THC cans into the Controlled Substances Act—brands are lobbying to delay or repeal. Enforcement & Compliance: California Highway Patrol announced $41M in Proposition 64-funded grants to expand impaired-driving enforcement and forensic toxicology, with program revenue tied to cannabis taxes. Industry Expansion: FireHawk® Bioherbicide maker Contact BioSolutions raised $8.1M AUD and secured APVMA approval plus organic/regenerative certification, signaling growth in alternative weed control. Medicinal Cannabis Banking: Saint Kitts and Nevis hired Saboto Caesar to help build a medicinal cannabis banking framework and unveil its track-and-trace system to financial institutions. Hemp Product Crackdown: Maryland is investigating hemp vending machines after reports of synthetically enhanced THC levels far above what the state allows.

Local Cannabis Ballot Push (Canada): Manitoba’s TobaGrown says it collected nearly 4,000 signatures—surpassing its 3,200 goal—to force a plebiscite on whether Steinbach allows cannabis retail stores. Alternative Weed Control Funding (US): Contact BioSolutions raised $5.6M to scale FireHawk® bioherbicide, aiming for faster growth and broader commercialization after EPA registrations. Cannabis Retail & Regulation (US/Global): A new report highlights inconsistent marijuana testing across labs, fueling “lab shopping” concerns, while Oklahoma faces a lawsuit alleging cannabis product failures tied to pesticide and potency issues. Industry Events (US): NECANN’s New Jersey Cannabis Convention and NECANN CUP return to Atlantic City Sept. 18–19 with 200+ exhibitors and education tracks. Public Safety & Enforcement (South Africa): Durban’s eThekwini crackdown raided an illegally occupied CBD building and deployed new smart policing tech. Tech/Compliance Watch: EU slaps AliExpress with a record $625M DSA fine over illegal and unsafe product risk controls. Research Funding (PSP/CBD): CurePSP announced a record grant cycle supporting PSP and CBD research, signaling more momentum for tauopathy science.

Regulated Market Milestone: Guam issued its first recreational cannabis cultivation license, signaling a shift from enforcement to a locally regulated adult-use market. Medical Cannabis Finance: St. Kitts and Nevis brought in medicinal cannabis banking expert Saboto Caesar to help build a banking framework for the stalled sector. Extraction Science: New research says colder butane extraction can cut wax-derived hydrocarbons while preserving cannabinoids and terpenes—plus many of those hydrocarbons show up in the inhaled aerosol. Quality & Policy Talk: A Penn State Q&A breaks down what marijuana rescheduling to Schedule III means in practice and how FDA approval still depends on state rules. Public Safety & Enforcement: Nigeria’s NDLEA reported major cannabis and tramadol busts, including 800g of “skunk” and a separate operation seizing 1.63M tramadol pills hidden in fabricated trailer compartments. Travel Warning: UK Border Force warns young travelers about “free holiday” scams used to smuggle cannabis, citing a sharp rise in arrests. Health Messaging: Coverage highlights the need for honest cannabis public health communication, especially around high-potency use and mental health risks.

Cannabis & Health: A Penn State Q&A breaks down what marijuana rescheduling to Schedule III could mean in real life, while UAMS researchers report how Arkansas pregnant patients purchase medical cannabis (1.62% of pregnancies involved purchases). Mental Health & Cannabis Use: A Journal of Affective Disorders study links cannabis use in young adults at risk for bipolar-spectrum conditions to disruptions in daily responsibilities. Policy & Enforcement: The NDLEA says it dismantled a transnational tramadol network, seizing 1.63M pills in fabricated trailer compartments and arresting suspects tied to cross-border trafficking, including alleged cannabis imports. Public Safety Warning: UK Border Force warns travelers about “free holiday” grooming schemes used to smuggle cannabis, citing a sharp rise in arrests. Industry Culture (Non-CBD but cannabis-adjacent): A piece on “Type II” solventless hash argues the market keeps pushing THC-dominant flower instead of balanced concentrates. Research Tools: NIST expands its mass-spectra chemical fingerprint library to identify unknown substances—useful for labs, regulators, and forensics.

Hemp Policy Shock (US): North Carolina lawmakers advanced a bill that would restrict hemp-derived consumables and possession for people under 21, with a new state hemp standard tied to federal definitions—potentially squeezing gas-station and restaurant sales. Medical Cannabis Expansion (EU): Curaleaf says Spain’s medicines regulator approved two standardized THC- and CBD-dominant preparations under the country’s new medical cannabis law, aiming for hospital-pharmacy access. Regulatory Backlash (US Wildlife): The Trump administration rolled back parts of the Endangered Species Act, including rescinding a long-standing “blanket rule,” drawing sharp criticism from conservation groups. Enforcement & Safety (UK): UK Border Force warned young travelers about “free holiday” recruitment scams tied to cannabis smuggling, citing a surge in air interceptions. Industry Education (US): The 2026 Cannabis Quality Conference (Oct. 21–23, Washington DC) spotlights quality management, testing, audits, and tech/data solutions for compliance-focused operators. Research/Plant Science (Global): A new cannabis-focused piece argues for “listening” to plants and explores the idea of plant sentience through a personal experiment.

Medical Cannabis Expansion: Curaleaf says Spain’s medicines regulator has approved two standardized THC- and CBD-dominant cannabis preparations under the country’s new medical cannabis law, with hospital-pharmacy availability “in due course.” Quality & Compliance: The 2026 Cannabis Quality Conference (CQC) returns Oct. 21–23 in Washington, DC, focusing on quality management, testing, audits, and supplier oversight. Regulatory/Policy: A federal appeals court struck down New Jersey’s assault firearms and large-capacity magazine bans, as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs similar issues. Travel & Enforcement: UK Home Office/Border Force warns young travellers not to accept “free holiday” offers from drug gangs; cannabis courier arrests at UK airports rose sharply from 2023 to 2025. Industry & Markets: Oregon’s agriculture agency released whitetop gall mites as a new biocontrol test against invasive whitetop in Baker County. Security/Crackdowns: Nigeria’s Navy seized 757kg of suspected cannabis in Lagos and handed exhibits to NDLEA. Research/Science: A study on plant “sentience” and communication continues to fuel debate in cannabis culture and beyond.

Federal Cannabis Rescheduling: A key DEA hearing on moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III wrapped up, with post-hearing briefs due Aug. 17 and no clear deadline for the final call—potentially stretching into 2027 for Michigan and Ohio operators. State Digital Licensing: Oregon’s OLCC rolled out a merged Cannabis and Alcohol Management Program (CAMP) and earned CIO recognition, signaling smoother compliance for the cannabis market. Hemp Beverages Legal Fight: Ohio’s THC drink rules face ongoing legal uncertainty after a court injunction let some businesses resume sales, even as broader bans remain in flux. Medicinal Cannabis Bottleneck: St. Kitts and Nevis brought in former agriculture minister Saboto Caesar to restart a stalled medicinal cannabis push, citing banking and compliance hurdles. Retail Enforcement Pushback: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority critics say emergency shutdowns over minor label/tag issues are hitting businesses hard, with hundreds of similar cases reported. Public Health & Safety: A national campaign warns families about illegal drugs hidden in vapes, while a study links GLP-1 use to lower repeat overdose risk even after stopping. CBD/Health Research: New work ties exercise-driven mood benefits to endocannabinoids, and separate research highlights a genetic cause of excessive sweating—both pointing to more targeted wellness approaches.

Federal Policy: A U.S. DEA rescheduling hearing tied to Michigan and Ohio cannabis businesses has wrapped, but the decision timeline is open-ended—post-hearing briefs are due Aug. 17 and the final call could stretch into 2027. State Reform: Minnesota’s Cannabis Expungement Board is pushing expungement intake clinics in North Minneapolis to clear felony cannabis records without residents needing attorneys, with advocates highlighting major racial disparities. Local Grants: St. Mary’s County, Maryland held a public hearing to set up its Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, unlocking $1.5M+ in cannabis-related grants for community projects. Medical Research: A new late-stage dementia study reports THC/CBD reduced agitation versus placebo, with benefits sustained through 12 weeks. Compliance & Safety: Thailand’s updated travel rule warns Americans carrying cannabis—even accidentally—could face up to 10 years in prison unless they have proper permissions. Industry Spotlight: Moorhead, Minnesota’s “craft-focused” cannabis operation is positioning itself around boutique, lab-driven cultivation standards. Product/Regulatory Watch: India’s CDSCO approved a synthetic CBD oral solution for anxiety disorders, prescribed by psychiatrists alongside CBT. Enforcement: Singapore’s CNB reported an islandwide anti-drug operation with 100 arrests and $34k+ in seized drugs, including cannabis.

Federal Marijuana Push: Democratic Senators Cory Booker, Ron Wyden, and Chuck Schumer reintroduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to end federal marijuana prohibition and let states regulate. Medical Cannabis Policy: Georgia’s medical cannabis program expands under Senate Bill 220, adding more qualifying conditions, product options, and allowing independent pharmacies to dispense. Industry & Retail Equity: Long Beach licensed its first dispensary under the city’s Cannabis Equity Program, with grant support for eligible entrepreneurs. Public Health Research: A new study finds communication gaps between cancer survivors and providers on medical cannabis, while another links genetic risk for cannabis use disorder to adolescent brain differences. Market & Product Scaling: Industry leaders discuss why cannabis edibles can’t scale like mainstream CPG without standardized manufacturing. State Updates: Arkansas medical marijuana sales dipped in the first half of 2026, while New Hampshire’s “bathroom bill” was vetoed again. Education & Prevention: Maharashtra plans anti-drug lessons in schools and expands de-addiction networks. Enforcement Headlines: Multiple reports highlight ongoing drug trafficking pressure and seizures across regions.

Cannabinoid Science: A new explainer breaks down CBN—why it’s showing up in “sleep” gummies and what the human research actually supports (mixed results, and many products bundle CBN with other actives). Medical Cannabis Product Push: Avicanna unveiled a QUIX™ rapid-onset medical cannabis portfolio, with initial SKUs planned for Canadian channels in Q3 2026. Regulated Market & Compliance: Los Angeles County launched a free Cannabis Social Equity Entrepreneurship Academy to prep residents for future retail/delivery licensing in unincorporated areas. Enforcement & Safety: Singapore charged a man after ICA found concealed vape pods at Woodlands Checkpoint under tougher 2026 vaporiser penalties. Industry Business: Ray’s Lemonade expanded its Vice line with THC-infused cream sodas, leaning on food-science formulation and measured dosing. Research & Risk: A teen-focused study links frequent cannabis use to changes in the dopamine reward system, with higher-potency products showing stronger effects. Global Drug Policy: A UN World Drug Report says drugs are “winning” the global war, with record cocaine production and shifting smuggling tactics.

Hemp Retail Crackdown (Hawaii): Hawaii’s DOH enforcement is rattling hemp shops, with retailers saying many have stopped selling and dozens could face shutdowns over THC-limit compliance and new registration rules. Workplace Drug Testing Fight (Canada): A labor arbitrator ordered Toronto Transit to stop random drug and alcohol testing; the agency says it’s reviewing the 389-page decision and may challenge it. Medical Cannabis Research (U.S.): A University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences study is mapping how pregnant women use medical cannabis, focusing on patterns and characteristics rather than just yes/no effects. Legal Cannabis Enforcement (Canada): B.C.’s Community Safety Unit seized nearly $8M in unlicensed cannabis products across four warehouse raids in Richmond, Vancouver and Vernon. Rescheduling Court Move (U.S.): MMJ International asked the D.C. Circuit to stay the DEA’s marijuana Schedule III order, arguing the government bypassed federal standards. Workplace Drug Trends (New Zealand): TDDA reports cocaine and cannabis detections rising in workplace testing, while opioid positives are down year over year. THC Beverages & Federal Ban Risk (U.S.): Florida retailers warn an impending federal “total THC” hemp ban could wipe out most existing THC drink inventory. CBD/THC Product Safety & Compliance: The week also included ongoing enforcement and compliance pressure as regulators push tighter rules on THC limits and unlicensed sales.