Since acting Attorney General Todd Blanch announced that state-legal medical marijuana would move to Schedule III, the commentary has been relentless — hot takes, doomsayers, and self-proclaimed experts flooding LinkedIn with conflicting interpretations. Much of it is speculative, overstated, and uneducated. This piece cuts through the noise and responds to the questions I have fielded
New “Industrial Hemp” Definition – More Loopholes Instead of Real Reform?
As long as exemptions create carveouts while other variations of the cannabis plant remain controlled, we will continue to see creative legal arguments and scientific avenues to create access for those who need it most.
Schedule III for Medical Marijuana! Here’s the Big Shift, Broken Down
Today, the US Acting Attorney General and the DOJ announced the issuance of a final order that “immediately places” some cannabis into Schedule III of the Federal Controlled Substances Act. Here is our quick breakdown of rescheduling news: what the final order does, how DOJ says it can do it, a high-level overview of changes,
New Senate Hemp Bill Would Let States Choose Their Own Path
Congress created the modern hemp market a decade ago. It reversed course and moved to dismantle most of that same market in late 2025 through a sweeping federal crackdown. A new bipartisan Senate bill proposes a different path.
What the 2026 Federal Hemp Ban Means for Unsold Hemp Inventory
Most commentary on the “hemp ban” included in the November funding bill has focused on two related questions: (1) which products and activities may become unlawful on November 12, 2026; and (2) whether Congress will materially amend or delay the ban before then.
I recently discussed another consequence operators should be considering as the deadline
The Week in Weed: January 16, 2026
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we see yet another attempt to legalize adult-use cannabis in New Hampshire. A new federal funding bill would continue to deny a retail market for adult-use cannabis in DC. Another federal bill would delay
Are You Using AI for Hemp Compliance? Why That’s Risky, and What to Do Instead
An “AI ban” on THCa flower in NC wasn’t real. Here’s why AI gets hemp law wrong, where it helps, and how to stay compliant.
California Ramps Up Enforcement Against Online Hemp Sales
This latest round of anti-hemp legislation will invariably force even more hemp businesses out of California. It will also hasten the state’s demise as the cannabis capital of the country, as more and more legacy cannabis companies discover the opportunities that hemp provides and move to friendlier states.
Florida Appeals Court Rules Smell of Cannabis Insufficient to Establish Probable Cause
In a welcome opinion that proves courts can be reasonable when addressing legal and policy shifts regarding cannabis, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal ruled that the mere smell of cannabis does not establish probable cause for a warrantless search.
Texas Hemp Industry Faces New Threat from Governor Abbott’s Executive Order
Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order that could effectively wipe out sales of THCa hemp flower in Texas. This comes on top of the state legislature’s earlier ban on cannabinoid vapes—already a major revenue hit for hemp businesses.