Cannabis Legalization News Podcast

The cannabis legalization battle is accelerating on multiple fronts—and every apparent victory is triggering another legal, political, or regulatory fight.

Virginia is finally moving from legal adult possession to a regulated retail cannabis market. Meanwhile, the DEA’s Schedule III hearing is approaching its conclusion, cannabis operators are fighting the IRS over Section 280E refunds, and the banking industry is again pressing Congress to pass SAFE Banking legislation.

But prohibitionist pressure is also building.

Massachusetts voters may be asked to eliminate adult-use cannabis sales and home cultivation. North Carolina lawmakers are choosing between regulating intoxicating hemp and effectively prohibiting much of the market. Wyoming is resisting automatic state rescheduling, while proposed federal youth-safety legislation could further restrict how lawful cannabis companies communicate with adults online.

Thomas Howard and Miggy break down the legal, business, tax, and political consequences—including what these developments mean for dispensary owners, cannabis investors, patients, advocates, and entrepreneurs.

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Pharmaceutical Companies Fighting Marijuana Rescheduling? Here's Why

Jul 6, 2026

DOJ just filed a brief telling the D.C. Circuit to deny the anti-rescheduling stay motion — and the argument is brutal: the drug-testing lobby and cannabinoid pharma challengers are not protecting public health, they are protecting “pocketbook interests.”

This week on Cannabis Legalization News, Tom and Miggy break down the DOJ’s new marijuana rescheduling brief, the live DEA hearing where the government is now arguing FOR Schedule III, Illinois’ new SB 3222 cannabis and hemp law, and the latest legalization battles across Arizona, Pennsylvania, and beyond.

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DEA Stacks Hearing Against Cannabis Industry—Here's What Happens Next

Jun 29, 2026

Tomorrow morning, the DEA opens one of the biggest cannabis hearings in federal history — and somehow the witness table is packed with prohibitionists while the cannabis industry gets zero seats.

This week on Cannabis Legalization News, we break down the June 29 DEA marijuana rescheduling hearing, the one-sided panel, the lack of livestream access, and why the administrative record built over the next two weeks could shape the future of Schedule III.

We also cover:

The Trump White House asking Congress to save hemp before the November ban

SAFE Banking coming back in both the Senate and House

The U.S. Census Bureau tracking nearly $15 billion in state cannabis tax revenue

California dropping $227 million to fight illegal grows

Congress moving to let the Air Force and Marines accept cannabis-positive recruits

The EDUCATE Act and federal cannabis scholarships for HBCUs and Hispanic-serving schools

Guam issuing its first cannabis permit seven years after legalization

Hawaii’s hemp crackdown taking effect July 1

Hempcrete homes keeping Europe cooler during extreme heat

The story this week is simple: the government is trying to regulate cannabis like it’s playing Twister in a hurricane. DEA is building a one-sided record, the White House is trying to rescue hemp, Congress is dusting off banking reform, and the states are already counting billions in cannabis tax revenue.

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Supreme Court Gun Rights, DEA Rescheduling Hearing, and Dispensary Updates

Jun 21, 2026

On a Father’s Day episode of Cannabis Legalization News, the hosts discuss running their dispensary ahead of an upcoming grand opening, including signage delays, compliance burdens, medical tax differences, pricing pressures, curbside ordering with cashless payment, and a “round up” donation program supporting Freedom Grow. They lead with a unanimous Supreme Court decision affirming cannabis users’ Second Amendment rights to bear arms, then cover the DEA’s upcoming rescheduling hearing and concerns about limited participation and delays, plus early DEA on-site inspections at Mississippi dispensaries seeking federal protections. Other topics include Virginia lawmakers’ negotiated marijuana sales bill with automatic resentencing hearings, a Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling rejecting a legalization rollback challenge, Ukraine issuing its first cannabis license after two years, industry lobbying around hemp and beverages, and criticism of Illinois’ social equity and licensing system.

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

Jun 15, 2026

On 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 Rundown
00:00 Schedule III Lawsuit
00:50 Schedule III Lawsuit Setup
01:55 DEA Registration and Dispo Plans
04:52 Drug Testing Lobby Explained
08:18 Illinois SB 3222 Signed
09:56 SB 3222 — Illinois Law
11:24 New Store Ops and 710 Promo
13:45 Virginia Deal
13:45 Virginia Legal Sales Deal
15:15 Rescheduling and Next Green Rush
18:26 Hemp Crackdown and THCA Debate
18:40 Hemp Crackdown
20:32 Federal Rules and Enforcement Ahead
21:17 AI Employees Debate
21:59 Marijuana Laws Shift
22:25 Green Lab Blog Plug
23:32 Rhode Island Lottery Woes
23:35 Rhode Island Update
25:03 Cannabis Taxes Breakdown
26:10 Alabama Program Slow Roll
26:11 Alabama, France & International News
27:56 Recalls and Mold Testing
29:11 Data Centers and Latency
30:23 France Hemp Market Chaos
31:43 Hemp Genetics Loopholes
33:00 Missouri Genetics Lockdown
36:02 FDA Breakthrough Cannabinoid
36:22 Dispensary Grand Opening Talk
37:31 Shop Operations and Q&A
38:38 Wrap Up and Next Show

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Trump to Congress: SAVE THE CBD🚨 Illinois Doubles Possession

Jun 7, 2026

Trump Signals Support for Full-Spectrum CBD as Dispensary Operators Share Compliance, Illinois Law Changes, and Market Updates

Hosts 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 Possession
00:22 Intro & Lead Story: Trump Pushes Full Spectrum CBD
04:44 Behind the Counter: Meet the Dispensary GMs
11:10 Illinois Doubles Possession Limits: Wedding Gift
16:53 Congressional Block on Medical Marijuana Workers Comp
18:22 Louisiana Drops Rescheduling Lawsuit
21:56 Alabama Opens First Medical Dispensary After Years of Delay
28:44 Name That Strain: Billy Ocean Edition
31:07 Tennessee Bans Hemp THC Products
36:30 Kentucky Expands Medical Cannabis Conditions
39:05 Trulieve Eyes NYSE Uplisting

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

May 25, 2026

This 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.1

Here'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.1
DEA'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.1
The 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.1
Virginia'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.1
The 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.1
Cannabis 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.1
The 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.1
Final 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.1

LINKS & RESOURCES
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Sponsor — Howard Law Group (Cannabis Industry Lawyer): [cannabis industry lawyer dot com](http://cannabis industry lawyer dot com)1
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Dispensary Inspection Passed + DEA Registration Window, Schedule III, and State Cannabis Updates

May 17, 2026

The 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.

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

May 4, 2026

Cannabis 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 trap
00:50 What the final rule changed
01:20 Schedule III contradiction
02:48 What operators need to know
03:47 DEA registration process
04:12 Application fee and warning
06:02 Sponsor: Collateral Base
08:33 Liability questions
09:06 Fifth Amendment concern
09:53 What happens next
12:06 Closing CTA

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

Apr 28, 2026

The 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 Shock
00:09 Show Intro and QR
00:25 Illinois Dispensary Update
01:18 420 and Channel Strikes
02:28 Why Nothing Changed Yet
03:01 DOJ Executive Action Deep Dive
06:51 Treaty Monopoly Explained
07:56 Farm Bill Hemp Loopholes
09:14 Full Spectrum CBD Debate
12:53 No Smoking and Creator Risks
14:43 Rescheduling Precedent Talk
16:51 Illinois Loan and Lawsuit Math
22:17 280E Tax Fallout
25:14 Hearing Restart June 29
26:19 Checkpoints and Federalism
27:20 Rescheduling Reality Check
27:36 Interstate Transport Risks
29:10 420 Culture and Protest
31:42 Medical Model Expansion
34:42 Hemp Loopholes and Safety
38:47 Workplace and Drug Tests
41:18 Policy Memos and Politics
43:47 Homegrow and State Compliance
50:55 Wrap Up and What’s Next
52:19 Sponsor Collateral Base