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An Ohio-based cannabis company opened The Garden retail facilities in Sycamore Township and Mansfield. < Back King City Gardens Opens 2 New Dispensaries in Ohio Dec 16, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The Ohio-based cannabis company opened The Garden retail facilities in Sycamore Township and Mansfield. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

GŪD Essence, a Black-woman-owned cannabis and wellness brand in Clearwater, is hosting a holiday toy drive through December 23rd to collect new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0–17. The company is matching all donations, which will be gifted to Suncoast Voices for Children to support children in foster care in Pinellas and Pasco counties. < Back GŪD Essence Launches Holiday Toy Drive Benefiting Suncoast Voices for Children Dec 11, 2025 Mg Magazine Newswire MG Magazine Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link *CLEARWATER, Fla.* — ‘Tis the season to give back. This holiday season, GŪD Essence, a Black- woman-owned cannabis and wellness brand, is hosting a holiday toy drive to support local children in need in the Clearwater area. The community-wide initiative runs through Dec. 23. As part of GŪD Essence’s ongoing commitment to community care, the dispensary invites patients, employees, and neighbors to donate new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0–17. Holiday donations may be dropped during store hours, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. In addition, GŪD Essence has introduced a company-matching program, doubling the number of toys donated. All items collected will be gifted to Suncoast Voices for Children, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing for the unmet needs of children in foster care in Pinellas and Pasco counties. Toys will be delivered by Dec. 23 to ensure they reach children in time for the holidays. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

- A Florida Republican lawmaker filed a bill expanding medical marijuana to include patients prescribed opioids, allowing telehealth, extending registration to two years, and increasing supply limits. - A Democratic senator introduced legislation to legalize home cultivation of up to six flowering plants for registered medical patients. - The Smart & Safe Florida campaign is pursuing a revised adult-use legalization measure for the 2026 ballot, despite Governor Ron DeSantis predicting the Florida Supreme Court will block the initiative. - The state is actively revoking medical marijuana registrations for patients and caregivers with drug-related criminal records under a recently signed law. < Back Florida GOP Lawmaker Files Medical Marijuana Expansion Bill Allowing Patients To Qualify If They’ve Been Prescribed Opioids Dec 10, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A Florida Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill to expand the state’s medical marijuana program in a number of ways, including by allowing doctors to recommend cannabis to any patient who has a condition for which they have been prescribed opioids. The legislation from Rep. Bill Partington (R), filed for the 2026 session on Wednesday, would also make it so medical marijuana registrations could last up to two years instead of the current 30 weeks, and it’d waive patient registration fees for honorably discharged military veterans. Under the proposal, doctors would additionally be able to recommend medical cannabis via telehealth without a physical examination—expanding a current policy that allows renewals, but not initial certifications, to be conducted remotely. There are also reciprocity provisions built into the measure, requiring regulators to create a process to issue medical cannabis registration cards to “nonresidents who are actively enrolled in the medical cannabis program of another jurisdiction recognized by the department within 1 business day.” It specifies that “a visiting qualified patient may engage in all conduct authorized for a qualified patient.” Another section of the bill stipulates that doctors could certify patients to receive up to 10 70-day supply limits of smokable medical marijuana, rather than three. They could also issue up to 20 35-day supply limits instead of the current six. The measure is being filed just days after a Florida Democratic senator introduced legislation for the 2026 session that would legalize home cultivation of marijuana for registered medical cannabis patients in the state. The proposal would permit qualified patients who are at least 21 years old to cultivate up to six flowering plants for personal, therapeutic use. Those patients could also buy seeds and clones from licensed dispensaries. If enacted into law, the bill would become law on July 1, 2026. A similar proposal was introduced at the beginning of this year by Sen. Joe Gruters (R), who is now chairman of the Republican National Committee, but it did not advance. Gruters and Kim Rivers—the CEO of Trulieve, a medical marijuana company that provided the bulk of funding for an unsuccessful cannabis legalization ballot initiative last year—also met with Preident Donald Trump ahead of his endorsement of the constitutional amendment, as well as federal rescheduling and industry banking access. Notably, Amendment 3 would not have legalized home cultivation of marijuana—a detail seized on by some critics of the industry-backed proposal. The campaign behind that initiative, Smart & Safe Florida, recently said it’s collected more than one million signatures to put a new version of the legalization measure on the 2026 ballot—and so it voluntarily declined to appeal a legal case in which a judge allowed state officials to invalidate about 200,000 petitions over a largely procedural issue. Smart & Safe filed a separate lawsuit with the state Supreme Court over another issue last month, alleging that officials are violating election laws by stalling a required review process for the measure without justification. The state has since agreed to move forward with the processing. A federal judge in August separately delivered a win to the campaign—granting “complete relief” from provisions of a law the governor signed to impose other serious restrictions on signature gathering. In March, meanwhile, two Democratic members of Congress representing Florida asked the federal government to investigate what they described as “potentially unlawful diversion” of millions in state Medicaid funds via a group with ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). The money was used to fight against a citizen ballot initiative, vehemently opposed by the governor, that would have legalized marijuana for adults. The lawmakers’ letter followed allegations that a $10 million donation from a state legal settlement was improperly made to the Hope Florida Foundation, which later sent the money to two political nonprofits, which in turn sent $8.5 million to a campaign opposing Amendment 3. The governor said in February that the newest marijuana legalization measure is in “big time trouble” with the state Supreme Court, predicting it will be blocked from going before voters next year. “There’s a lot of different perspectives on on marijuana,” DeSantis said. “It should not be in our Constitution. If you feel strongly about it, you have elections for the legislature. Go back candidates that you believe will be able to deliver what your vision is on that.” “But when you put these things in the Constitution—and I think, I mean, the way they wrote, there’s all kinds of things going on in here. I think it’s going to have big time trouble getting through the Florida Supreme Court,” he said. The latest initiative was filed with the secretary of state’s office just months after the initial version failed during the November 2024 election—despite an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Smart & Safe Florida is hoping the revised version will succeed in 2026. The campaign—which in the last election cycle received tens of millions of dollars from cannabis industry stakeholders, principally the multi-state operator Trulieve—incorporated certain changes into the new version that seem responsive to criticism opponents raised during the 2024 push. For example, it now specifically states that the “smoking and vaping of marijuana in any public place is prohibited.”Another section asserts that the legislature would need to approve rules dealing with the “regulation of the time, place, and manner of the public consumption of marijuana.” Last year, the governor accurately predicted that the 2024 cannabis measure from the campaign would survive a legal challenge from the state attorney general. It’s not entirely clear why he feels this version would face a different outcome. While there’s uncertainty around how the state’s highest court will navigate the measure, a poll released in February showed overwhelming bipartisan voter support for the reform—with 67 percent of Florida voters backing legalization, including 82 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of independents and 55 percent of Republicans. *— Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.* *Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. —* In the background, a recent poll from a Trump-affiliated research firm found that nearly 9 in 10 Florida voters say they should have the right to decide to legalize marijuana in the state. Meanwhile, a pro-legalization GOP state lawmaker recently filed a bill to amend state law to codify that the public use of marijuana is prohibited. Rep. Alex Andrade (R), the sponsor, said earlier this year that embracing cannabis reform is a way for the Republican party to secure more votes from young people. Separately, Florida medical marijuana officials are actively revoking the registrations of patients and caregivers with drug-related criminal records. The policy is part of broad budget legislation signed into law earlier this year by DeSantis. The provisions in question direct the state Department of Health (DOH) to cancel registrations of medical marijuana patients and caregivers if they’re convicted of—or plead guilty or no contest to—criminal drug charges. The post Florida GOP Lawmaker Files Medical Marijuana Expansion Bill Allowing Patients To Qualify If They’ve Been Prescribed Opioids appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) recalled Simply Sol LLC hemp flower pre-rolls sold across several dispensaries because the products contained much higher THC levels than labeled, potentially causing accidental intoxication. The OLCC recommended that retailers cease selling the pre-rolls and consumers destroy any purchased products. < Back Hemp Flower Pre-Rolls Recalled In Oregon for Excessive THC Dec 8, 2025 Graham Abbott Ganjapreneur Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Officials with the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) issued a product recall for a batch of hemp flower pre-rolls for containing far more THC than the label suggested, KOIN reports. The pre-rolls were sold by Simply Sol LLC, with a manufacturing date of September 5, 2025, on the label. The products included the company’s pre-roll offerings for its Blood Orange, Cornucopia, Lemongrass, Piña, and Pink Panther strains. The recall targets both six-pack tins and single-pack tubes of the pre-rolls, and the products were sold at the following state-licensed cannabis dispensaries: - Cannabis Nation – Gresham - Cannabis Nation – Oregon City - Happy Haze – Eugene - Herbal Remedies 2 – Salem - Hippy Trip – Depoe Bay - House of Hash – La Pine - Justice Cannabis Company – Aurora - Lincoln City Collective – Lincoln City - Lincoln City Collective North – Lincoln City - Papa Buds – Portland - Pipe Dreams Dispensary – Lincoln City - Sweet Tree Farms – Eugene - The Lucky Leaf – Silverton - Uplift Botanicals – Portland - Urban Farmacy – Portland Adult-use cannabis is legal in Oregon, so the products are not under recall strictly for containing THC — rather, the products are likely mislabeled and were recalled to prevent accidental intoxication. OLCC officials recommended that retailers stop selling the products, and said that consumers who have already purchased the products should destroy them. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

Michael "BigMike" Straumietis founded Advanced Nutrients, the world's largest cannabis nutrients company, driven by a dedication to science and developing cannabis-specific formulas. The company is now focusing on global expansion and leveraging advanced genetic techniques like polyploidy to increase crop consistency and yield, positioning itself for the predicted massive growth following U.S. federal reform. < Back BigMike and Advanced Nutrients: Leading the Next Era of Cannabis Cultivation Dec 10, 2025 Pam Chmiel MG Magazine Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link [image: BigMike hero] Cover Story BigMike HE BUILT A GLOBAL CANNABIS NUTRIENTS EMPIRE ON INSTINCT, PRECISION, AND AN UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE PLANT. TODAY, HIS VISION FOR SCIENCE, GENETICS, AND GLOBAL EXPANSION IS SHAPING THE NEXT FRONTIER. *BY PAM CHMIEL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSH SEP * [image: Advanced Nutrients icon] He’s called BigMike for a reason. At 6’7″ tall, Michael Straumietis towers over most people, with a big voice, a big personality, and a big rags-to-riches story to match. He founded—and twenty-six years later, still owns and operates Advanced Nutrients, which sells cannabis-specific products in 122 countries and generates $170 million in annual revenue, making it the largest cannabis nutrients company in the world. He’s also got a big heart. After a near-death experience in 2011, Straumietis founded the Humanity Heroes Foundation, which to date has provided more than $3 million worth of nonperishable essentials to more than 60,000 individuals and families experiencing homelessness across the United States. A legendary outlaw grower turned legitimate businessman, mentor, and philanthropist, Straumietis is a larger-than-life icon in the industry. People literally and figuratively look up to him. And he’s still blazing new trails. In December, Advanced Nutrients will unveil its latest proprietary blend designed especially for cannabis, a product Straumietis said enhances brix, resin, and terpenes. He’s so convinced of its positive impact on cultivation that he backs the formula with a 100-percent money-back guarantee. But the launch represents more than just another formulation debut. It’s part of a larger strategy Straumietis has been building for decades to position Advanced Nutrients for what he believes will be the industry’s most transformative period yet. [image: Advanced Nutrients icon] From the ground up. Straumietis began cultivating in 1983, during a pre-legalization period he calls “the Dark Ages.” Years of experimenting with commercially available fertilizers formulated for vegetables, flowers, and other crops left him increasingly frustrated with lackluster growth and disappointing yields that simply didn’t measure up to the potential he saw in his plants. “It didn’t make sense to me,” he recalled. “Cannabis is a completely different plant. Why would it need the same nutrients as a cucumber?” When he approached the major fertilizer companies to pitch the idea of cannabis-specific nutrients, he met blank stares and slammed doors. Even after California bucked the federal government and legalized medicinal use in 1996, stigma remained strong. No commercial brands wanted to be publicly linked to marijuana. “A lot of people were afraid to talk about cannabis during the early days,” Straumietis said. Instead of walking away, he dug in. He and a small team devoured plant physiology research and undertook hundreds of experiments with fellow growers. Molecule by molecule, they proved the effectiveness of entirely new nutrient formulas designed to bring out the best in a plant that had been grown in the figurative dark for centuries. “Research has always been the backbone of Advanced Nutrients,” Straumietis said. “We knew we needed to dig into the science, so we did.” The formulas debuted to an enthusiastic audience, and by the early 2000s, the company employed more than twenty PhD scientists dedicated to understanding the plant at the molecular level. Today, in labs spanning Europe, Colorado, and Canada, the scientific team investigates everything from basic nutrient uptake to cutting-edge genetic modification. Each new product spends roughly three years in research and development before it’s released to the public, because “consistency is everything in cultivation,” Straumietis said. [image: Advanced Nutrients icon] The genetics gamble. Five years ago, Advanced Nutrients extended its quest for perfect consistency to genetics with the acquisition of biotechnology firm Tesoro Genetics. Since 2018, Tesoro has researched and developed ways to optimize crop yields, nutrient uptake, and metabolite production. Among the company’s primary focuses are gene editing and polyploidy. Polyploidy—multiple complete sets of genetic material in a single cell—is rare and usually fatal in animals. But the genetic anomaly is a successful and not uncommon adaptation in plants, where multiplied genes can produce benefits like increased yield and larger flowers or fruit. Induced triploid genetics, wherein plants are artificially encouraged to develop three complete sets of chromosomes, have been used in commercial agriculture for decades to produce crops like seedless watermelons, grapes, and strawberries. Researchers have studied and manipulated polyploids in food crops since the early 1900s, but scientists were not aware of its natural occurrence in cannabis until a wild tetraploid strain—a plant with four complete sets of chromosomes—was discovered in India in 2015. Triploidy in wild cannabis, where plants possess three complete chromosome sets, was documented in 2022. Straumietis called polyploidy “a game changer hiding in plain sight.” So far, the Tesoro division’s research has yielded what Straumietis described as extraordinary results. Triploid cannabis plants produce much heavier yields, display richer terpene and cannabinoid profiles, and resist pollen contamination, he revealed. Growers testing the company’s triploid genetics reported yields of two pounds or more per light, indicating potential to boost bottom lines dramatically. “It’s going to change the face of how cannabis is grown,” Straumietis said. The team also is experimenting with tetraploids, octoploids (eight chromosome sets) and double haploids (a homozygous single set) to further push the plant’s genetic potential. Each iteration brings new insights about how cannabis can be optimized for flavor, potency, environmental resilience, and stability. The program resembles the kind of long-term scientific research and development traditional agriculture has performed for more than 100 years, and Straumietis is determined to see cannabis catch up. He is confident the future of cannabis has never been more exciting as cultivation moves toward plants biologically engineered for performance, consistency, and quality. The transformation is not unlike the one that took place in traditional agriculture during the late twentieth century, he said. “Ninety percent of the vegetables we eat today have been gene-edited,” he added. “You’re going to see the same thing in cannabis.” [image: Advanced Nutrients icon] Global growth, rooted in heritage. Ask Straumietis what sets Advanced Nutrients apart, and he’ll tell you it all comes down to mastering micronutrients and applying the right chelates at the right moment in a plant’s life cycle. Most fertilizer brands, he said, stop at the basics. “Micronutrients are critical,” he explained. “A lot of companies overlook that, but micronutrients are where the magic is.” Iron, for example, plays an unexpectedly major role in cannabis growth. It’s typically categorized as a micronutrient, but in practice, it behaves almost like a secondary macronutrient. One of Advanced Nutrients’ lead scientists, a world-renowned expert whose doctoral thesis explored iron uptake in plants, coordinates a team working to determine not just how much iron cannabis requires but also which chemical form of the element produces the most vigorous growth and potent flowers. “We’ve spent years fine-tuning the way the plant feeds,” Straumietis said. “Once you understand what the plant needs and when when to give it what it needs, cultivation completely changes.” Much of Straumietis’s professional life has been devoted to defining, refining, and spreading the gospel of optimal cannabis nutrition. But as legalization rapidly spreads worldwide, he spends an increasing amount of his attention on international expansion. The company now sells products in 122 countries, from established European markets to emerging opportunities in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. Recently, he attended an agricultural trade show in Dubai, where Advanced Nutrients showcased its products but kept the cannabis connection under wraps. “People knew we were cannabis people, but we didn’t advertise it,” he said. “A lot of attendees approached us about partnering to open manufacturing facilities in the Middle East. It’s going to be a very exciting opportunity to see what happens there.” Growing in extreme desert conditions will rely primarily on greenhouses. “They can grow outdoors, but it’s tougher,” he said. “I’ve seen facilities in the desert, and they need shade cloth, swamp coolers, and similar systems. Most likely, we’ll see indoor greenhouse setups, because it’s a medical market and you want tighter control over the plants.” Pakistan has been experimenting with hemp cultivation and is considering a medical marijuana program, and India also is showing interest in legalizing the plant. “Some of the best hash in the world still comes from that part of the world,” Straumietis said. He recalled a trip to Morocco’s Rif Mountains, where for centuries local families have cultivated the endangered Beldia landrace strain. “It’s sacred. It’s part of their lineage,” he said. “Unfortunately, the lines are beginning to blur since some farmers are growing Romeo next to Beldia, making the original strain washed out.” In Straumietis’s opinion, the difference between cultivation in the United States and the rest of the world is “day and night.” In Germany, for example, producers are still in an early development phase. “They’re not even making pre-rolls or gummies yet,” he said. “There’s a whole learning curve that Europe still has to go through.” European cultivators are turning to U.S. experts to help them establish standard operating procedures and refine growing techniques. To support the emerging German market, Advanced Nutrients partnered with the European company GrowMotion to develop starter kits designed for social clubs and home growers. The collaboration brings American cultivation expertise to Europe, helping to bridge the knowledge gap. Straumietis advises U.S. companies looking to enter Germany to understand and connect with the culture. The business landscape is very different, he said: “It’s a very communal mindset in Europe.” Although Europe certainly contains well-run commercial facilities, many remain far from optimal. Straumietis estimated the U.S. is five to seven years ahead of the European Union in cultivation and manufacturing capabilities. “Spain, Italy, France, and Germany are the biggest markets, and that’s where commercialization is going to happen,” he said. Despite lagging behind North America in cultivation know-how, international markets are the guardians of the industry’s, and the plant’s, history: original landrace strains, the genetic foundation of modern cannabis. “There’s always going to be a demand for landraces,” Straumietis said. “They’re the grandfathered genetics, where everything came from.” These heritage varieties, cultivated for generations in regions like Afghanistan, Thailand, and Colombia, possess unique cannabinoid and terpene profiles that modern hybrids struggle to replicate. Straumietis hopes landrace strains won’t vanish as commercial breeding accelerates. He’s optimistic about global preservation efforts, pointing to pioneers like Ben Dronkers of Sensi Seeds, who built one of the most diverse genetics libraries in existence. “There are still people out there preserving those original genetics,” he said. “And that’s a good thing, because they’re the foundation of everything we’re building today.” As legalization spreads, overlooked corners of the world are quietly discovering the benefits of cannabis for both health and economic growth. “Kyrgyzstan is looking at medical cannabis,” Straumietis said. “Kazakhstan—we’ve been selling there for years. Armenia is preparing to launch its medical sector. A lot is happening. Georgia is another Eastern European region where Advanced Nutrients is sold, specifically in the Caucasus, the region formerly part of the Russian Empire.” He predicts a new wave of cannabis production will emerge in regions with lower land and labor costs, much like the tea industry expanded in South Africa. “You’re going to see cannabis genetically modified and grown in places like South America and South Africa,” he said. “When I was in Dubai, a representative from Botswana’s government told me they’re interested in moving medical cannabis forward.” He added advances in gene editing and agricultural efficiency could reshape global supply chains, despite regulatory and political hurdles. [image: Advanced Nutrients icon] The rescheduling catalyst. Straumietis sees a global marketplace ready to take off. In this new landscape, brands born in California, the epicenter of cannabis culture in his opinion, finally can reach consumers across state lines and around the world. He also believes federal reform is inevitable, predicting the plant’s recategorization from Schedule I to Schedule III in the U.S. could happen as early as 2026. That change—a major modification of federal narcotics law—would open doors to banking, investment capital, and expanded medical research. “When [the plant] goes from Schedule I to Schedule III, you’re going to hear the whole world talking about it,” he said. “It will change the market overnight. The landscape of our industry will change as major players enter, creating numerous opportunities for those who wish to exit.” He even expects a short-term “mini bubble” as capital floods the market, followed by a correction that will separate serious operators from the rest. “After that, things will get normalized,” he said. “They’ll get consolidated or they’ll sell or they’ll go out of business, and only the strong will survive.” For Straumietis, decades of investment in research, genetics, and global infrastructure have been building toward this moment. While others may be caught flatfooted when federal prohibition ends, Advanced Nutrients will be positioned with defensible intellectual property, established international distribution, and the scientific credibility that comes from twenty-six years of cannabis-specific research. “We’re just at the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “The best and biggest chapter in cannabis history is still ahead.” [image: Advanced Nutrients icon] < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

Maine officials have approved a proposed 2026 ballot initiative that seeks to largely repeal the state’s voter-approved recreational marijuana legalization law by eliminating retail sales and home cultivation for adult use, while simultaneously adding product testing requirements to the medical cannabis program. Opponents of the initiative, which still allows possession of up to 2.5 ounces, argue that repealing legalization would severely damage the state's economy. < Back Maine Officials Approve 2026 Ballot Initiative To Largely Repeal Marijuana Legalization Law For Signature Collection Dec 9, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Maine officials have cleared prohibitionist activists to begin collecting signatures for a proposed ballot initiative that would roll back the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law. The measure, if approved, would also revise the regulatory structure of the medical cannabis program by imposing product testing requirements. The proposal—titled “An Act to Amend the Cannabis Legalization Act and the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act”—is a revised version of a marijuana initiative filed in September that was backed by a Republican state senator and a former top staffer to then-Gov. Paul LePage (R), a staunch prohibitionist. The latest proposal, petitions for which were approved by the secretary of state’s office on Monday, would remove and amend multiple sections of current state statute—aimed at effectively repealing the legalization of recreational marijuana sales that voters approved in 2016. Possession of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis by adults 21 and older would remain legal under the proposal, but a section of the law permitting home cultivation would be repealed. Medical marijuana sales and home cultivation would remain legal. Madison Carey, who was listed as the chief petitioner of the original version of the repeal initiative and remains involved in the current campaign, told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday that “there needs to be regulations on marijuana,” arguing that her experience recovering from an opioid misuse disorder speaks to the insufficiency of current law. “My hope is to just bring awareness to the reality of the potential dangers of not having regulations,” she said. “I think people are fed up with the constant use—the constant [retail businesses] coming up where people can now legally purchase marijuana.” Of course, repealing the voter-approved law that enacted a system of licensed adult-use sales would eliminate the current regulatory infrastructure that’s in place, which reform advocates argue helps mitigate the public health and safety risks associated with the illicit market. Rep. David Boyer (R), who led the fight to pass the cannabis legalization initiative on Maine’s ballot in 2016 when he was a staffer for the Marijuana Policy Project, said voters should refuse to sign petitions for the new initiative. “Don’t sign away Maine’s progress—decline to sign this misguided repeal initiative,” he told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday. “Repealing cannabis legalization would shutter an industry bigger than lobsters, potatoes and blueberries put together, costing jobs, revenue and economic growth for our state.” Under the new measure, the director of the Office of Cannabis Policy would face a mandate to “promote the health and well-being of the people of the state and advance policies that protect public health and safety, emphasizing the health and well-being of minors, as priority considerations in performing all duties.” They would also have to “ensure that qualifying patients maintain access to high-quality, effective and affordable cannabis for medical use under this Act.” Under the proposal, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services would be required to create a testing program for cannabis products, requiring dispensaries and caregivers to submit such products to a licensed facility for a safety assessment before they’re distributed to qualified patients. The testing facility would need to “ensure that the cannabis or cannabis product does not exceed the maximum level of allowable contamination for any contaminant that is injurious to health and for which testing is required and to ensure correct labeling.” “The department shall adopt rules establishing a testing program pursuant to this section, rules identifying the types of contaminants that are injurious to health for which cannabis and cannabis products must be tested under this chapter and rules regarding the maximum level of allowable contamination for each contaminant,” the ballot initiative text states. Further, regulators would need to administer a system for tracking cannabis plants from seedings to the point of retail sale or disposal. That system would have to “allow for cannabis plants at the stage of cultivation and upon transfer from the stage of cultivation to another registrant to be tracked by group.” Activists must submit at least 67,682 valid voter signatures by February 2, 2026 in order to qualify for next year’s ballot. If approved by voters, the initiative would take effect beginning on January 1, 2028. *— Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.* *Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. —* Maine legislators in June rejected a bill to legalize possession of up to one ounce of psilocybin by adults 21 and older. That followed a separate effort in the state last year to legalize psilocybin and allow adults to access the psychedelic at state-licensed facilities. But lawmakers watered down that bill—amending it to create a commission to further explore the reform instead—and it ultimately did not pass. Meanwhile, Maine lawmakers in February voted to investigate possible conflicts of interest by a top marijuana official. And last year, a law took effect allowing people to apply to have records of now-legal marijuana crimes sealed. The post Maine Officials Approve 2026 Ballot Initiative To Largely Repeal Marijuana Legalization Law For Signature Collection appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

A progressive web app is designed for cannabis users, growers, educators, and entrepreneurs to freely connect and share information. < Back Cannect Launches: The First Social App Built to Protect, Empower the Cannabis Community Dec 11, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The progressive web app is designed specifically for cannabis users, growers, educators and entrepreneurs to connect and share freely. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

The company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering for capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. < Back Trulieve Announces US$100 Million Private Placement of 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Dec 9, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Order Could Include Industry Banking And CBD Medicare Coverage Provisions, Sources Say < Back Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Order Could Include Industry Banking... Dec 17, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Cannabis industry observers believe it is increasingly likely that President Donald Trump will soon sign an executive order directing federal agencies to complete the marijuana rescheduling process. But multiple reports indicate that the directive could also contain additional components touching on cannabis business banking access and Medicare coverage for CBD. The exact details of the executive order aren’t clear, but White House sources seem to be coalescing around the idea that it will be signed on Thursday and will instruct the Justice Department to proceed with plans to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). A source familiar with fluid discussions around the administrative action also told Marijuana Moment that Trump may couple the presidential directive with clemency for some people who have been convicted over federal marijuana offenses. Neither that plan, nor the reported details about cannabis banking or CBD and health care, have yet been confirmed, however. According to NBC News, the potentially imminent executive order may contain an explicit push from the president urging Congress to pass a bipartisan bill titled the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act, which would prevent federal regulators for penalizing financial institutions simply for working with state-licensed marijuana businesses. The lack of banking access for the cannabis industry was also raised in a Senate subcommittee hearing on Tuesday. It’s also being speculated that the plan is to take a novel—albeit logistically complicated—approach to cannabinol, a non-intoxicating component of the cannabis plant that’s widely used as a health supplement. Sources have said that drafts of the executive order have called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to amend its rules to let people on Medicare receive reimbursements for the cannabinoid product. That potential reform was also floated in a video from The Commonwealth Project touting the health benefits of CBD that Trump shared on Truth Social in late September. CMS implemented a rule in April specifically stipulating that marijuana, as well as CBD that can be derived from federally legal hemp, are ineligible for coverage under its Medicare Advantage program and other services. But the agency has since revised the proposed rule, just weeks before the expected administrative order by Trump. Marijuana Moment reached out to the White House for clarification on the rumored executive order, but a spokesperson did not respond by the time of publication. On Monday, Trump said he is “very strongly” considering rescheduling cannabis in part to ease restrictions on research into its effects. Opponents of the policy change have stepped up their efforts to dissuade the administration from moving forward, arguing that a reclassification to Schedule III will further normalize marijuana use even though it would not federally legalize the plant. Rescheduling would, however, let marijuana businesses take federal tax deductions while reducing certain research barriers associated with Schedule I drugs. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), one of the more vocal prohibitionists in Congress, said this week that Trump doesn’t have the authority to unilaterally reschedule marijuana via executive order. But while lawmakers could overrule any administrative move to enact the reform, it would be a “heavy lift” in the Republican-controlled Congress, he acknowledged. Meanwhile, multiple top congressional Democrats are making the case that the modest reform would not go far enough—including Sen. Ron Wyden (R-OR) who said the move is only an attempt by the president to “gaslight” voters into thinking he legalized cannabis to boost his “pathetic” approval ratings. A major drug testing industry organization separately said it’s “sounding the alarm” amid the reports Trump may soon finalize the rescheduling proposal, arguing that the policy change would “have catastrophic consequences for the safety of the United States workforce and transportation sectors.” *— Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.* *Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. —* For what it’s worth, a White House spokesperson told Marijuana Moment last week that no actions have been finalized so far. Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have been weighing in on the potential rescheduling decision over the past week—with Democrats like Rep. Alex Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) calling the reform a “no-brainer” and others like Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) pushing back against the proposal. The Washington Post reported last week that Trump was planning to issue an executive order directing federal agencies to move ahead with cannabis rescheduling. The outlet also said the president met earlier this week in the Oval Office with marijuana industry executives, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz. During that meeting, Trump phoned Johnson, the House speaker, who expressed his opposition to rescheduling cannabis, If the administration does ultimately enact rescheduling, it would mark one of the most significant developments in federal marijuana policy since its prohibition a half a century ago, with a Schedule III reclassification recognizing that marijuana has medical value and a lower abuse potential compared to other Schedule I drugs like heroin. *Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.* The post Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Order Could Include Industry Banking And CBD Medicare Coverage Provisions, Sources Say appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

Trump Dismisses GOP Lawmakers’ Opposition To His Marijuana Rescheduling Action, Pointing To Polling And Medical Benefits < Back Trump Dismisses GOP Lawmakers’ Opposition To His Marijuana Rescheduling... Dec 18, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed the concerns of GOP lawmakers who oppose his freshly signed executive order to reschedule marijuana, pointing out that an overwhelming majority of Americans support the reform and that cannabis can help people—including his personal friends—who are suffering from serious health issues. At a signing ceremony, the president issued an order directing the attorney general to “complete” the process of moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III in the “most expeditious manner,” while also announcing plans to make full-spectrum CBD products available to patients through their health providers that could be covered by Medicare. After signing the order, Trump was asked about GOP opposition to the reclassification decision, which included a last-ditch push from groups of House and Senate Republicans to dissuade him from moving forward. The president said he’d prefer to have the medical professionals in attendance at the event take that question, but emphasized that polling has found that four in five Americans are in favor of rescheduling cannabis. The reform wouldn’t legalize marijuana, but it would ease research restrictions and let marijuana businesses take federal tax deductions available to other traditional industries. “I can only tell you that when you see polls [showing] 82 percent of the people want this” and have friends who are “really, really sick” and found relief with cannabis, the policy makes sense, Trump said. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), also responded to the reporter’s question about GOP lawmaker opposition, stressing that strictly prohibiting marijuana as a Schedule I drug for decades “hasn’t protected neither the adolescents nor the adults.” “This is not legalizing it. It’s making it easier to do research,” Volkow, who has long criticized keeping cannabis in Schedule I due to research limitations, said. Meanwhile, amid the heightened rumors that the Trump administration would be moving forward on marijuana rescheduling, multiple top congressional Democrats made the case that the reform would not go far enough—including one senator who said the move is only an attempt by the president to “gaslight” voters into thinking he legalized cannabis to boost his “pathetic” approval ratings. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), one of the more vocal prohibitionists in Congress, said this week that Trump doesn’t have the authority to unilaterally reschedule marijuana via executive order. But while lawmakers could overrule any administrative move to enact the reform, it would be a “heavy lift” in the Republican-controlled Congress, he acknowledged. The post Trump Dismisses GOP Lawmakers’ Opposition To His Marijuana Rescheduling Action, Pointing To Polling And Medical Benefits appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

A study on elite Canadian athletes found that 38% use CBD for recovery, pain relief, and improved sleep, but many worry about inadvertent anti-doping violations because trace amounts of prohibited cannabinoids like THC are often present in commercial CBD products, creating a "fine line" for competitors. < Back CBD Provides Pain Relief, Improves Sleep And Aids Relaxation, Study Involving Olympic Athletes Shows Dec 16, 2025 Aaron Houston Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Elite athletes find cannabidiol, or CBD, useful for soreness and recovery, a new study shows. Researchers found that top competitors use CBD to manage pain, improve sleep and ease the stress of training at the highest level. But the results suggest that even as many athletes believe the cannabis compound helps them recover, they also worry that using it could jeopardize their careers under international anti-doping rules. The study, conducted between late 2021 and mid-2023 and published this month in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, surveyed 80 elite Canadian athletes across 27 national sport organizations. To be included, athletes needed to have experience as part of the country’s Olympic or Paralympic team program. About 38 percent reported using CBD at some point, and nearly a third of those said they were still using it at the time of the survey. The participants’ motivations reflect a broader societal trend of relying on CBD for therapeutic benefit. The study found that 96 percent of CBD users said they believed the substance was safe, 93 percent said it improved their sleep, 90 percent said it helped them relax and 77 percent credited it with reducing pain from training. “Thirty eight percent of athletes self-reported using CBD, and cumulatively agreed or strongly agreed that CBD improved sleep and relaxation, reduced pain from training, and enhanced physical and mental recovery following training or competition.” Despite the reported benefits, CBD use among athletes remains a controversial topic. Although the World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from its list of banned substances in 2018, all other cannabinoids—including THC—remain prohibited. This creates conditions the authors describe as “a fine line between unintentional doping and intentional use of cannabis products.” Because many commercially available CBD products contain trace levels of these banned compounds, athletes who rely on them may be risking inadvertent doping violations. That concern, researchers found, was the single most common reason athletes chose not to try CBD or stopped using it altogether. The authors, affiliated with McGill University and the Canadian Sport Institute, also noted that “some CBD-fortified foods and beverages have been reported to convert CBD into THC under low pH conditions…potentially yielding sufficient THC (3 mg) to trigger a positive urine test for prohibited cannabinoids.” They further observed that physical exertion prior to testing may increase detectable THC levels. Altogether, the situation puts athletes in a kind of limbo. Those who feel genuine relief from CBD are left to navigate a market where product labels can’t always be trusted and scientific guidance remains sparse. Many said they first heard about CBD through friends or online, not from sports physicians or trainers. “Many athletes expressed concerns about the potential for inadvertent anti-doping rule violations due to CBD product contamination with THC or other banned cannabinoids.” “Given that athletes frequently reported obtaining information on CBD from friends and online sources,” the authors wrote, “there is also a need to test interventions that enhance evidence-based knowledge among both athletes and clinicians.” The study comes following sports leagues in the U.S. taking steps to update their marijuana policies as legalization becomes more widespread, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Football League (NFL). An NFL-funded study from 2024 found that marijuana use is becoming more widely accepted among athletes. The authors of that paper noted that “education and awareness on benefits and potential harm is needed for athletes, medical staff, and policymakers.” Meanwhile, the Major League Baseball (MLB) removed marijuana from its list of banned substances in 2019. The National Basketball Association followed suit in 2023. The post CBD Provides Pain Relief, Improves Sleep And Aids Relaxation, Study Involving Olympic Athletes Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

A California judge ruled that the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is failing to prevent the diversion of state-licensed cannabis into the unregulated market, stemming from a 2021 lawsuit filed by Catalyst Cannabis Co. The ruling stated that the DCC's digital tracking database fails to comply with state law, and a follow-up hearing has been scheduled for February 6 to discuss achieving database compliance. < Back California Judge Says Cannabis Regulators Failed to Prevent Product Diversion Dec 12, 2025 Graham Abbott Ganjapreneur Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A California judge has ruled that the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is failing to prevent the diversion of state-licensed cannabis into the unregulated market, according to an SF Gate report. The ruling comes from a 2021 lawsuit filed by Catalyst Cannabis Co., a licensed California cannabis retail chain, alleging that regulatory flaws have allowed bad actors in the state to divert “untold millions of pounds” of cannabis to the illicit market — and that officials with the DCC are aware of the issue but have refused to take steps to address it. California cannabis companies face some of the highest tax rates in the country, while the unlicensed market continues to thrive, placing pressure directly on state-licensed operators. Judge Lee Gabriel of the Orange County Superior Court wrote in his Tuesday decision that the DCC’s digital database for tracking cannabis products “fails to comply” with state law, which charges regulators with preventing product diversion. The ruling is also a rebuke of the Newsom Administration’s efforts to curb the illegal cannabis market. The court scheduled a follow-up hearing on February 6 to discuss bringing the DCC database into compliance. A DCC spokesperson told SF Gate that the agency is reviewing the judge’s decision and looks forward to improving its track-and-trace system. In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Catalyst CEO Elliot Lewis said that he didn’t enjoy battling the state, and that he offered “about a hundred times” to drop the case in exchange for some adjustments to the agency’s database. “I would like to see the DCC and the Attorney General’s office be openminded that their system is broken, and maybe some solutions might help,” Lewis said in the the post. “Hopefully [the ruling] will send a little motivation over there.” < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5