Forbes • 29th May 2026

Some Cannabinoids May Ease Common Chronic Pain Conditions, Study Finds

A blend of non-intoxicating cannabinoids may offer relief for patients suffering from fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and knee or hip osteoarthritis, according to a new study, presenting a promising alternative to the undesired effects of THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.The study, published earlier this month in the journal Clinical Therapeutics and led by researchers from the University at Buffalo, the University of Michigan Medical School and data and research technology co...

Forbes • 22nd May 2026

Why Virginia Governor Vetoed Retail Cannabis Bills

Virginia has once again failed to pass bills that would have regulated the sale of recreational cannabis.Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) on May 19 vetoed House Bill 642 and Senate Bill 542, which would have established a retail marketplace for cannabis products, citing concerns over the timeline, structure, and “resources needed for successful implementation.”Despite the vetoes, Spanberger said in a statement that she supports a safe, legal, and well-regulated cannabis retail market, and that “Virgi...

Forbes • 17th May 2026

Georgia Governor Signs Bill Expanding Medical Cannabis Program

Georgia governor has signed a bill that expands the state’s medical cannabis program, easing access to cannabis vapes and removing the THC potency cap.Signed this week by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, Senate Bill 220, known as the “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act,” marks a further expansion of the state’s medical cannabis program.With the new legislation, the language that defines cannabis changes, with the replacement of the term “low-THC oil” with “medical cannabis.” The law also expands qu...

Forbes • 14th May 2026

France To Ban CBD Edibles Under Stricter Enforcement Of EU Novel Food Rules

France is set to restrict CBD edibles under stricter enforcement of EU Novel Food rules, a move expected to disrupt parts of the hemp-derived food market.The ban, according to AFP and other local news outlets, is taking effect on May 15 and will prohibit the sale of edible products containing CBD, the primary nonintoxicating compound found in hemp.The ban is not the result of new legislation but follows a strict interpretation of the European Union food agency’s establishment of safe consumption...

Forbes • 30th April 2026

Richard Branson Calls For U.K. Cannabis Reform As Public Support Grows

British billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson has called for cannabis reform in Britain, as the latest polls show growing support for legalization.With a net worth estimated at $2.8 billion, the founder of the Virgin Group said in a blog post on Wednesday that the UK should reform its cannabis and drug laws, arguing that current prohibition policies are failing and causing more harm than good.Branson argued that decriminalization alone is not enough to curb the harms of prohibition, becaus...

Forbes • 27th April 2026

Does Cannabis Legalization Spur More Innovation Than Medical Research?

The announcement of the rescheduling of medical cannabis products this week has been one of the most significant policy shifts in the U.S. cannabis industry and broader drug policy in years, which is set to potentially ease barriers for researchers who study cannabis.The Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration moved cannabis products approved by the Food and Drug Administration and products covered by qualifying state medical cannabis licenses to the Schedule III category u...

Forbes • 22nd April 2026

California Marks 10 Years Of Cannabis Legalization Amid Illegal Market Struggle

Almost a decade has passed since California legalized recreational cannabis, and Governor Gavin Newsom marked April 20, widely known as “4/20,” an informal holiday celebrating cannabis culture, by announcing that the state has curbed illicit activity worth about $1.2 billion over the years and cleared 215,000 past cannabis charges.“California has cleared records, seized illegal product, and built a legal market that works,” Newsom said in a statement. “As our work continues, we’re focused on str...

Forbes • 1st April 2026

Cannabis Vaping May Be Linked To Earlier Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Symptoms, Study Suggests

The findings of a group of researchers at the University of California suggest that the use of vape cartridges containing THC may play a key role in the development of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome symptoms. California researchers, in a study published in Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research this month, took a closer look at this little-known condition that triggers repeated bouts of nausea and vomiting in people who use cannabis to get a clearer picture of how it develops, exploring several canna...

Forbes • 27th February 2026

Nebraska Bill Seeks To Shield Doctors Recommending Medical Cannabis From Arrest

A Nebraska committee has advanced a bill that would give immunity to practitioners for recommending medical cannabis, even though the treatment is already legal.The members of the Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee voted 5-2 on Tuesday to advance a bill introduced by State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha that would protect doctors and other medical practitioners from civil, criminal, or disciplinary trouble if they say, in their professional opinion, that a patient could ben...

Forbes • 14th January 2026

How Much Cannabis Is Too Much? U.K. Researchers Propose Safer Use Limits

A group of researchers has proposed clear, practical guidelines for safer cannabis use, similar to how alcohol consumption is measured in standard units, which aim to reduce the risk of cannabis-related harm as legalization spreads.Researchers at the University of Bath in the U.K. published the study in the journal Addiction, outlining weekly cannabis-use thresholds beyond which the risk of developing cannabis use disorder (CUD) rises sharply.Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug globall...

Forbes • 8th November 2025

Republican Support For Cannabis Legalization Falls During Trump, Survey Finds

Republicans are showing less support for cannabis legalization under the Trump administration, amid the White House’s efforts to fight illegal drugs. A survey published this week by the analytics and advisory company Gallup shows that support for cannabis legalization among Republican voters dropped by 13 points over the past 12 months. In 2024, 53% of Republicans supported legalization, but that figure has fallen to 40% this year, returning to levels similar to 2016, when, under President Donal...

Forbes • 26th October 2025

Ohio House Backs Bill To Restrict Cannabis Use, Regulate Hemp Products

The House of Representatives of the state of Ohio has approved a bill that changes the law that legalized cannabis in 2023 by restricting how cannabis can be consumed and regulating intoxicating hemp products.While maintaining its original provisions and continuing to allow adults 21 or older to grow up to six plants per person or 12 per household, the bill takes a step backward from the law approved by 57% of voters in 2023.Ohio House lawmakers passed a bill this week that would prohibit public...

Forbes • 23rd October 2025

CBD May Reduce Schizophrenia-Related Cognitive Deficits, Study Finds

A new study from Brazil has found that CBD may help reduce brain activity impairment linked to schizophrenia.While the study was conducted on rats, and the results don’t prove CBD can treat schizophrenia in humans, it adds weight to growing evidence that the compound could have antipsychotic properties.The findings were recently published in the Schizophrenia Research journal, showing that a single dose of CBD helped reverse certain memory problems and brain hyperactivity in rats bred to model t...

Forbes • 15th October 2025

Large-Scale Genetic Study Identifies Genes Linked To Cannabis Use

A massive genetic study has found key genes linked to cannabis use, in an effort to explain why some people are more likely to try or frequently use cannabis, and how this behavior overlaps with mental health and addiction risk.Researchers analyzed genetic data from more than 131,000 participants of the personal genetics company 23andMe to examine two traits: whether a person had ever used cannabis in their lifetime and how frequently they used it during their heaviest period. The findings, publ...

Forbes • 7th October 2025

Germany Is Seeking Stricter Rules For Medical Cannabis To Crack Down On Online Prescriptions

Germany is proposing restrictions on medical cannabis prescriptions that could severely impact patients and telemedicine platforms, a move that is drawing widespread criticism.The Federal Ministry of Health introduced in July a draft bill amending the Medical Cannabis Act that would change the rules of the game in the medical cannabis industry in Germany. Under the proposed bill, cannabis flowers will only be prescribed after an in-person doctor visit and must be picked up at a pharmacy, whereas...

Forbes • 5th October 2025

Netflix Takes On The Cannabis Underworld With New Crime Drama Amsterdam Empire

Netflix has dropped the official trailer for Amsterdam Empire, a gripping new crime drama set against the backdrop of Amsterdam’s cannabis culture, promising a raw look at the city’s underground world.Amsterdam Empire premieres exclusively on Netflix on October 30, following a world premiere event on October 21 in Amsterdam, where the cast will be in attendance.Announced last year, the series stars Famke Janssen and Jacob Derwig in leading roles. The project marks Janssen’s first appearance in a...

Forbes • 30th September 2025

Trump Highlights CBD Benefits For Seniors Amid Ongoing Cannabis Rescheduling Process

U.S. President Donald Trump has shared a video on the medical benefits of CBD for seniors in a pivotal moment for hemp legislation and the cannabis rescheduling process.The video, shared on his Truth Social yesterday, promoted the health benefits of CBD for seniors. A voiceover explained that CBD may help restore the endocannabinoid system, which helps control functions such as mood, appetite, sleep, and pain by using natural chemicals similar to those found in cannabis, like cannabidiol, or CBD...

Forbes • 27th September 2025

Cannabis Use Among Germany’s Young Adults Is Rising Regardless Of Legalization, Survey Finds

A new study shows that cannabis use among young adults in Germany has steadily increased over the past 15 years, even without the country’s recent legalization.The findings suggest that Germany’s partial legalization of recreational cannabis came into effect last year, which, by removing cannabis from the narcotics list, allowed personal use, home cultivation, and the establishment of cannabis social clubs, may not be driving the rise in cannabis use among young people. The study’s data, which i...

Forbes • 25th September 2025

California Lowers Cannabis Taxes As Legal Market Struggles

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law that rolls back a 25% tax increase on the state’s legal cannabis industry to help licensed operators compete with the illicit market.Newsom signed the Assembly Bill 564, authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), into law on Monday, following its passage in the State Senate on September 11 with a 39-1 vote, in the Assembly in June.The new law reinstates the retail excise tax on cannabis sales to 15%, reversing a scheduled increase t...

Forbes • 17th September 2025

California To Ban Hemp-Derived THC Sales Outside Licensed Cannabis Market

California lawmakers have passed sweeping legislation to crack down on hemp-derived THC products, such as delta-8 and delta-10 THC products, tightening oversight of a booming gray market that has drawn mounting scrutiny from health officials and licensed cannabis operators.The California Senate on Saturday approved Assembly Bill 8 in a unanimous 73-1 vote, after the Assembly unanimously approved the bill the day before.The text will now be presented to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is expected to sign...