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What Happened in Weed Last Week: August 26-30, 2024 by Andrew Ward

Legislatively speaking, Monday was a pretty swift, solid kick in the groin for weed reform. While there were a few bright spots along the way, the final days of August 2024 made for a mostly caca ending to the month.

That said, a few bright spots helped alleviate some of the sting handed down by D.C. and others this week. So, take a moment to catch up on the mostly bad but sometimes good news that happened in weed last week. 

Monday, August 26

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) scheduled an extra procedural hearing on cannabis rescheduling, delaying any possible reform until after the November election.

In more unwelcomed rescheduling news, a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report determined that rescheduling would provide a minimal impact on banking access.        

Arkansas medical sales are down 4% from last year. 

Ivo Skoric, a Vermont medical cannabis patient who lost his job and unemployment benefits over a random drug test, lost his appeal with the state Supreme Court.

Here’s something that’ll maybe shock a handful: a new study found that states that continue to prohibit legal cannabis access are experiencing higher rates of poison center reports over delta-8 THC exposure.

Oklahoma, a state with a moratorium on new medical licenses, was accused of delaying license sales, with some blaming a renewal backlog as the cause. 

Tuesday, August 27

Weed stocks fell sharply the day after the DEA decided to delay any possible rescheduling efforts. 

Ohio fined five operators a total of $213,000 for promoting adult use sales before the official launch of the rec market 

The California Senate has approved bills that would grant small growers DtoC access and legalize cannabis cafes. 

The Associated Press profiled the efforts of Brazilian moms pushing for legal CBD access for their kids. 

A new study found that people who “use and abuse” cannabis are more likely to miss work than non-consumers. 

Meanwhile, Home Depot announced in an internal memo that it plans to stop testing employees for pot.   

Wednesday, August 28

Ohio pulled in another $10.5 million during the third week of rec sales.

Ascend Wellness Holdings announced a number of C-suite shakeups, including the termination of CFO Mark Cassebaum.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams burnt four tons of seized illegal cannabis products, releasing one of the city’s few pleasant smells this summer.   

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that a Texas gun owner could not be barred from ownership over their cannabis use.  

Vermont State University’s cannabis program received praise for bringing young people and others into the state’s weed workforce. 

Thursday, August 29

A study found that cannabis and hallucinogen use is at “historically high levels.”   

Employees at Escanaba, Michigan’s Lume dispensary, are unionizing, marking the first such unionization in the Upper Peninsula. 

A joint effort by Oakland and Santa Cruz Counties resulted in the arrest of 22 suspects linked to alleged dispensary robberies totaling more than $1 million in stolen products.

The Cherokee Nation-owned Great Smoky Cannabis Company, the first retailer in North Carolina, despite the state’s disapproval, will launch adult use sales on September 7.

Friday, August 30

Kentucky’s Office of Medical Cannabis received over 1,000 business applications before the window closed this past Saturday. 

Missouri hemp industry members appear set to sue Governor Mike Parsons, claiming his intoxicating hemp crackdown goes too far.     

Trulieve announced a partnership with Major League Pickleball and the PPA Tour to support both professional and amateur pickleball leagues. 

That’s a bit of what happened in weed last week. Did we miss anything in this week’s weed news recap? Send us a message, and we’ll do our best to round up all the essentials next week.

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