Cannabis Legalization News Podcast

Hosted by Cannabis Legalization News

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610

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

🌿✨ "Cannabis Legalization News" 🌿✨ - Dive into the latest on cannabis laws with hosts Tom & Miggy, Illinois dispensary owners! 🎙️ Each episode, we unpack state regulations, discuss impacts on consumers & businesses, and share expert tips on navigating the cannabis legal scene. 📈🌱 Join us for lively chats with industry leaders, policymakers, and legal pros. 🌟 Whether you're in the biz, curious about your rights, or following cannabis trends, we've got you covered. 📚🔍 Stay informed, compliant, and ahead of the curve. Subscribe for your regular dose of cannabis clarity! 🎧 #CannabisNews #LegalizeIt #CannabisCommunity

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60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 69638 min

Drug Testing Lobby Sues Over Schedule III as Illinois Signs Major Cannabis Law Changes

Send us Fan MailOn the June 14 (Flag Day) episode of Cannabis Legalization News, the hosts preview a lead story about the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association suing to pause federal cannabis rescheduling to Schedule III, arguing economic harm as federal marijuana trafficking prosecutions have dropped about 95%. They discuss Illinois’ newly signed SB 3222, described as the biggest change to Illinois cannabis laws in six years, including requiring ID checks for hemp, ending most hemp sales by November 12, doubling possession limits, expanding hours, allowing drive-through/curbside options, and increasing craft grow limits to 14,000 square feet; they note it may also help their dispute over Illinois social equity loan eligibility and discuss their dispensary operations in Pekin. Other topics include a possible Virginia deal to legalize sales, Rhode Island ending residency requirements, DC proposing higher medical taxes, Alabama reaching 100 patients, Maine recalls for yeast/mold, and international news from France, plus a 710 Seattle Dab Roast cannabis art event.00:00 Welcome and Rundown00:00 Schedule III Lawsuit00:50 Schedule III Lawsuit Setup01:55 DEA Registration and Dispo Plans04:52 Drug Testing Lobby Explained08:18 Illinois SB 3222 Signed09:56 SB 3222 — Illinois Law11:24 New Store Ops and 710 Promo13:45 Virginia Deal13:45 Virginia Legal Sales Deal15:15 Rescheduling and Next Green Rush18:26 Hemp Crackdown and THCA Debate18:40 Hemp Crackdown20:32 Federal Rules and Enforcement Ahead21:17 AI Employees Debate21:59 Marijuana Laws Shift22:25 Green Lab Blog Plug23:32 Rhode Island Lottery Woes23:35 Rhode Island Update25:03 Cannabis Taxes Breakdown26:10 Alabama Program Slow Roll26:11 Alabama, France & International News27:56 Recalls and Mold Testing29:11 Data Centers and Latency30:23 France Hemp Market Chaos31:43 Hemp Genetics Loopholes33:00 Missouri Genetics Lockdown36:02 FDA Breakthrough Cannabinoid36:22 Dispensary Grand Opening Talk37:31 Shop Operations and Q&A38:38 Wrap Up and Next ShowSupport the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

June 7, 2026Episode 69548 min

Trump to Congress: SAVE THE CBD🚨 Illinois Doubles Possession

Send us Fan MailTrump Signals Support for Full-Spectrum CBD as Dispensary Operators Share Compliance, Illinois Law Changes, and Market UpdatesHosts of Cannabis Legalization News announce a new operator-focused segment and newsletter, discuss a White House push to keep hemp CBD legal via a narrow mention of “full-spectrum CBD,” and debate how rescheduling could affect hemp and finished cannabinoid products. They tour their newly opened Pekin, Illinois dispensary with general managers Sean and Brittany, covering people-first management, education, Dutchie systems, payroll, menu updates, and compliance. The hosts describe Illinois legislative changes pending the governor’s signature, including a hemp regulatory scheme, delayed hemp provisions, immediate dispensary changes that may remove mandatory on-site licensed security costs, and potential hybrid medical sales. They also review stories on blocking medical cannabis in federal workers’ comp, Louisiana exiting a rescheduling lawsuit, Alabama’s first medical store after delays, Tennessee restricting hemp THC products, Kentucky expanding medical conditions, Trulieve’s NYSE uplisting path, Connecticut psychedelics efforts, and travel warnings about cannabis in Mexico, while promoting sponsorships and their Freedom Grow round-up donations.00:00 Trump to Congress_ SAVE THE CBD_ Illinois Doubles Possession00:22 Intro & Lead Story: Trump Pushes Full Spectrum CBD04:44 Behind the Counter: Meet the Dispensary GMs11:10 Illinois Doubles Possession Limits: Wedding Gift16:53 Congressional Block on Medical Marijuana Workers Comp18:22 Louisiana Drops Rescheduling Lawsuit21:56 Alabama Opens First Medical Dispensary After Years of Delay28:44 Name That Strain: Billy Ocean Edition31:07 Tennessee Bans Hemp THC Products36:30 Kentucky Expands Medical Cannabis Conditions39:05 Trulieve Eyes NYSE UplistingSupport the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

May 25, 2026Episode 69458 min

MEMORIAL DAY SHOCK: The Federal War on Cannabis Just Started (DEA Raids, $8.3M Tax Clawbacks)

Send us Fan MailThis week, as the summer starts, the federal government escalated its actions against the cannabis industry on multiple fronts, signaling a new era of enforcement and compliance pressure. We break down the "Federal War" that is separating the legal operators from the illicit market, and what the rapid pace of change—from rescheduling to tax clawbacks—means for every business and consumer in the cannabis space.1Here's what we cover in this educational episode on cannabis law, policy, and business:The 280E Tax Clawback: The DOJ files the first-ever lawsuit to claw back an $8.3 million 280E refund from MSO TerrAscend, sending a clear warning shot to all operators who have filed for refunds.1DEA's "Operation Weed Out": Federal task forces are turning hard toward the unlicensed market, with DEA-led raids shutting down illegal dispensaries in New York. The throughline: the line between who gets a buildout and who gets a raid is a state license.1The DEA's Rescheduling Showdown: The comment window for the expedited Schedule III hearing closes this week, and we discuss the urgency for industry participation and what a full plant reschedule means for 280E and research.1Virginia's Legalization Stalls: Governor Spanberger vetoes the adult-use market bill again, five years after possession was legalized, leaving the illicit market to thrive and eat up potential state revenue.1The TSA Policy Change: The Transportation Security Administration quietly updates its 'What Can I Bring?' page regarding medical marijuana, reflecting the DEA's Schedule III reclassification and the ripple effect on everyday life.1Cannabis Safety for Seniors: Stanford Medicine experts lay out 5 crucial risks older adults must consider, especially as a federal judge clears the path for Medicare's hemp/CBD coverage pilot.1The Rogue Crime Lab: In Illinois, a flawed THC testing method at a crime lab led to a marijuana DUI case being dropped, tainting over 2,000 cases nationally and challenging the reliability of per se THC DUI limits.1Final Thought: The contrast between the federal "gas pedal" and the state "brake" is the whole show. Rescheduling is prospective and uneven, rewarding the operators who built on compliance instead of loopholes. The winners in 2026 are the ones reading the fine print.1LINKS & RESOURCESNewsletter (free, spicy, actually useful): bit.ly/3VEn9vu1Sponsor — Collateral Base: bit.ly/m/collateral-base1Sponsor — Howard Law Group (Cannabis Industry Lawyer): [cannabis industry lawyer dot com](http://cannabis industry lawyer dot com)1Merch Store: spreadshop-admin.spreadshirt.com/Legalization-News-merch/all1Support the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

May 17, 2026Episode 69350 min

Dispensary Inspection Passed + DEA Registration Window, Schedule III, and State Cannabis Updates

Send us Fan MailThe hosts discuss their Illinois dispensary passing its regulatory inspection on the first attempt, share examples of required compliance fixes (signage, plexiglass barriers, door relocation, and added redundant cameras), and describe setting up a punch-card rewards program integrated with Dutchie to prevent fraud while aiming for a smaller, fresher menu. They cover a DEA registration portal expansion limited to medical license holders and debate a “self-certifying medical use” approach as federal Schedule III efforts progress, including House action to allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana to veterans. Additional updates include Georgia’s Patients First Act expanding qualifying conditions and changing caps, Arkansas tax implications tied to 280E, Susan Collins urging FBI help with illegal Maine grow houses, hemp beverage retail trends, ATF form wording on medical marijuana, a BEA memo on tracking illegal activity alongside legal markets, and a rundown of popular U.S. cannabis strains.Support the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

May 4, 2026Episode 69212 min

DEA’s New Schedule III Portal: Historic Chance or Trap for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries?

Send us Fan MailCannabis lawyer Tom Howard explains that a new Justice Department final rule moving medical marijuana to Schedule III did not legalize marijuana broadly but created a DEA registration portal that could make state-licensed medical dispensaries more federally compliant than ever, while leaving adult-use sales tied to Schedule I enforcement risks. He outlines the DEA portal structure, $794 per-application fee, and key requirements, including drug codes, listing state licenses, suppliers, and all employees with access to controlled substances. Howard highlights a major liability question that effectively forces operators to disclose prior controlled-substance activity without DEA registration, raising Fifth Amendment and “trap” concerns, and notes the application window closes June 26 with expedited review within six months. He anticipates legal challenges alleging arbitrariness, ultra vires action, and post-Chevron limits, while urging operators to weigh filing now versus waiting.00:00 Hook: DEA portal opportunity or trap00:50 What the final rule changed01:20 Schedule III contradiction02:48 What operators need to know03:47 DEA registration process04:12 Application fee and warning06:02 Sponsor: Collateral Base08:33 Liability questions09:06 Fifth Amendment concern09:53 What happens next12:06 Closing CTASupport the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

April 28, 2026Episode 69152 min

Medical Marijuana Declared Federally Legal: Schedule III Shakeup, 280E Fallout, and Illinois Dispensary Updates

Send us Fan MailThe hosts discuss what they describe as a major bulletin that medical marijuana is now legal nationwide when compliant with state licensing, tying it to a DOJ executive action by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. treaty obligations that would require a government monopoly over medical cannabis. They react to 4/20, YouTube channels being yanked for on-air smoking, and update progress on opening their Pekin, Illinois dispensary while noting Illinois “social equity” status helped with licensing but not loans, creating urgent debt. They outline how rescheduling was split into two lanes, reference OLC reasoning under CSA 811(d), anticipate lawsuits and resumed hearings (June 29), and argue IRC 280E may be retrospectively disallowed around 2023. They also debate hemp loopholes, “full spectrum CBD,” checkpoints/transport issues, employment drug tests, home grow under state law, and emphasize freeing incarcerated people and building coherent cannabis rules.00:00 Medical Legalization Shock00:09 Show Intro and QR00:25 Illinois Dispensary Update01:18 420 and Channel Strikes02:28 Why Nothing Changed Yet03:01 DOJ Executive Action Deep Dive06:51 Treaty Monopoly Explained07:56 Farm Bill Hemp Loopholes09:14 Full Spectrum CBD Debate12:53 No Smoking and Creator Risks14:43 Rescheduling Precedent Talk16:51 Illinois Loan and Lawsuit Math22:17 280E Tax Fallout25:14 Hearing Restart June 2926:19 Checkpoints and Federalism27:20 Rescheduling Reality Check27:36 Interstate Transport Risks29:10 420 Culture and Protest31:42 Medical Model Expansion34:42 Hemp Loopholes and Safety38:47 Workplace and Drug Tests41:18 Policy Memos and Politics43:47 Homegrow and State Compliance50:55 Wrap Up and What’s Next52:19 Sponsor Collateral BaseSupport the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

April 26, 2026Episode 69030 min

DOJ’s Confusing Schedule III Move: Todd Blanche’s Treaty-Based Order Explained

Send us Fan MailTom Howard of Cannabis Legalization News analyzes Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s 33-page final order (signed April 22, published April 23) that creates a narrow, treaty-based “Schedule III” path under CSA §811(d)(1) to comply with the 1961 Single Convention. The order places two categories into Schedule III: FDA-approved marijuana drugs and marijuana covered by qualifying state medical marijuana licenses, while adult-use and other unlicensed/bulk marijuana remain Schedule I. Howard explains how DOJ bypassed the usual §811(a)/(b) hearing process, cites HHS findings on abuse potential and withdrawal, and ties the move to treaty controls like quotas, registration, recordkeeping, and a government purchase/resale mechanism. He discusses DEA registration, research access to state medical products, 280E mentions, and forecasts legal challenges by Smart Approaches to Marijuana and Torridon Law amid the ongoing broader rescheduling docket.00:00 Schedule Three Shockwave01:14 Order Overview and Oddities03:15 Treaty Based Rescheduling05:22 Why Medical Only07:38 Two Lane Schedule Three10:17 HHS Science and Abuse Data13:22 Bulk Marijuana Stays Schedule One16:29 DEA Rules and Compliance19:47 Research Access and 280E21:08 Regulatory Analysis and Definitions24:54 Naturally Derived THC Language25:37 Lawsuits and What Comes Next30:13 Wrap Up and SubscribeSupport the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

April 20, 2026Episode 68949 min

420 Cannabis Legalization News: IRS Tip Taxes, Rescheduling ‘Slow Walk,’ Illinois Loans Stalled & Hemp Crackdown

Send us Fan MailOn 420 Eve, Tom and co-host discuss cannabis legalization news, arguing the IRS is the main federal agency still enforcing marijuana laws through IRC 280E, including an IRS clarification that the “no tax on tips” deduction doesn’t apply to cannabis workers like budtenders. They cover a hot-mic clip of Trump joking that DOJ is “slow walking” rescheduling, and compare broader non-enforcement by agencies like the FDA. The episode highlights Illinois delays with $40 million in promised social equity loans for 166 licensees as they struggle to open a regulated dispensary with costly requirements like full-time security, vault rules, and limited product display. Other topics include Rhode Island’s residency-requirement lawsuit delaying licensing, tariffs raising RAW rolling machine costs, a Canadian-structured cannabis company using Chapter 15 bankruptcy, Maryland and Oregon medical cannabis bills (pets and hospitalized kids), Texas hemp litigation, Virginia retail delays, and a Singapore execution for cannabis trafficking.00:00 Show Intro and Headlines00:53 420 Eve and Hemp Loopholes02:01 IRS and No Tip Tax03:06 Cannabis Culture and Activism04:19 Trump Rogan Rescheduling Clip06:06 Illinois Equity Loans Delayed07:02 Hemp Influencers and Real Rules13:01 Dispensary Build Compliance Grind13:54 Vaults Security and Tech Stack17:36 Rhode Island Licensing Blocked19:29 Regulation vs Open Markets22:16 Where Did the Culture Go24:59 Manifesto for the Normies25:48 Absurd Cannabis Laws26:27 Hemp Versus Weed Divide27:03 Canadian Bankruptcy Loophole29:56 Debt Restructuring Basics32:12 Puppies Kids And Cannabis33:56 420 Store Prep Struggles36:25 Colorado Tax Overhaul Talk37:29 Hemp Confusion And Politics39:58 Virginia Texas And Crackdowns42:02 Global Penalties And 420 Sales46:47 Kentucky Hemp Drink Rules48:46 Live Pod Sign OffSupport the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

April 13, 2026Episode 68845 min

Cannabis Legalization News (April 12, 2026): Texas & Ohio Hemp Rulings, Schedule III Hold-Up, and Virginia Licensing Reality Check

Send us Fan MailThe hosts discuss cannabis legalization news dated April 12, 2026, focusing on a Texas judge granting an injunction affecting hemp/THCA policy ahead of 4/20 and an Ohio judge ruling that Ohio’s hemp restrictions are discriminatory because intoxicating cannabinoids can be sold through licensed marijuana channels but not ordinary retail when derived from hemp. They argue hemp loopholes (Delta-9/THCA) created bad policy and market chaos, cite enforcement issues like a large hemp shipment being stopped at a FedEx center, and predict the “civil war” between hemp and regulated cannabis will end as loopholes close. They say marijuana Schedule III rescheduling is being held up in the White House, reference Roger Stone’s claim about internal blocking, and express skepticism it will move under Trump. They also warn Virginia’s coming licensing lottery will be cash- and timeline-intensive, note Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro’s projected $1.3B plan faces a Republican Senate, and mention North Carolina’s advisory report estimating a $2.2B unregulated market.00:00 Welcome And Headlines00:36 Newsletter And Story Rundown04:56 Texas Hemp Injunction Explained07:50 Shipping Loopholes And Rescheduling Doubts09:54 Virginia Licensing Reality Check13:36 Ohio Hemp Ruling And THCA Science17:13 Schedule Three Stalled Politics20:00 Illinois Policy Nonsense And PA Budget Pitch23:16 Strain Names Teaser23:37 Viral Strain Breakdown24:35 Trust and Online Hype26:04 Hemp Loophole Fallout27:50 Licensing Lawsuit Reality29:28 Funding Social Equity Dreams33:22 Branding Rules by State36:59 Dispensary Build Grind38:24 North Carolina Market Push40:02 Stigma and Medical Future42:34 420 Plans and Wrap UpSupport the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

April 5, 2026Episode 68758 min

April 2026 Cannabis Policy “Shit Show”: Medicare CBD Rollout, Hemp Ban, Georgia Expansion, and State Licensing Frustrations

Send us Fan MailThe hosts recap a chaotic first week of April 2026 cannabis headlines, clarifying their April Fools clickbait about federal legalization and focusing on real developments: a new CMS/Medicare CBD program tied to the Commonwealth Project and Howard Kessler that offers limited oral-only low-THC/CBD coverage through a small number of approved vendor networks, alongside FDA non-enforcement despite federal-law conflicts; a lawsuit seeking to stop the program had its TRO denied with another hearing slated for late April. They discuss hemp restrictions taking effect March 31 (including Texas), South Carolina indictments over marijuana/THC products, a challenge to Michigan’s new wholesale marijuana tax, and Georgia’s bipartisan medical cannabis expansion removing a 5% THC cap, adding vapes for 21+, and expanding qualifying conditions. The conversation also covers frustrations with Illinois social equity loans and dispensary delays, skepticism about certain licensing lawsuits, Virginia rollout concerns, and ends with a Howard Law Group promotion for cannabis transactions and litigation.00:00 April Fools Headlines01:53 Medicare CBD Rollout04:41 Why Seniors Only05:58 AI Video Backlash09:59 Dispensary Money Crunch11:07 Lawsuit And FDA Memo14:46 Hemp Kids And YouTube19:05 Pam Bondi Fired20:52 Michigan Tax Lawsuit22:02 Illinois Hemp Politics25:20 Georgia Medical Expansion28:17 Alcohol Versus Cannabis30:09 Brands Closing Down30:31 Marketing Rules Reality31:37 Weed Normalization Debate32:55 Virginia Rollout Critique36:22 Funding Zoning Barriers38:28 Social Equity vs MSOs41:16 Illinois Lawsuit Hot Take43:35 Delivery IP and Hemp48:07 Investing Options Basics53:24 Texas and State Crackdowns55:05 Illinois Loans Frustration57:30 Howard Law Group OutroSupport the showGet our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu