Author: Vanessa

Welcome to the latest edition of “Last Week In Weed,” catching you up on the latest breaking news and industry developments in the world of cannabis. Here’s what you may have missed over the last week: DEA Rescheduling Hearing Opens a Defining Chapter for Federal Cannabis Policy The cannabis industry’s attention is fixed on Washington as the DEA begins long-awaited hearings on whether adult-use marijuana should join medical cannabis in Schedule III. The proceedings follow April’s historic decision to move state-licensed medical cannabis into Schedule III, leaving the recreational market in legal limbo. Witness testimony is expected to focus heavily…

.As cannabis markets continue to open around the world, operators and investors are increasingly asking the same question: How long will attractive margins last? The answer may be more predictable than many industry participants realize, as laid out in the new report from the Global Cannabis Network Collective (GCNC) and Whitney Economics. The report, “What You Need to Know: Pricing Compression & Its Impact on International Cannabis Markets,” examines pricing trends across established and emerging cannabis markets. Now that several legal markets have 5+ years of data to analyze, the trendlines reveal that price compression follows a remarkably consistent pattern…

Five years after becoming the first Southern state to legalize cannabis possession in small quantities, Virginia has approved a legal framework for adults to purchase it in stores. State budget legislation enacted Monday will allow up to 350 cannabis shops to open across Virginia beginning July 1, 2027. The move marks the latest expansion of cannabis access through state-level policymaking. “Virginia legalized adult possession years ago, but without a regulated retail market, we left the illicit market to fill the gap,” state Sen. Lashrecse Aird, a Democrat and legislative leader on the issue, said in a statement earlier this month. “This…

The Woods WeHo The moment I met Madison Hernandez, I knew I was in the presence of a true cannabis leader. Hernandez is that increasingly rare combination of artist, researcher, and community builder. She served as one of the principal authors of High Stakes, the UCLA Labor Center’s landmark report on California’s cannabis workforce and helped bring queer cannabis history to life through Coming Out Green, a multimedia installation celebrating LGBTQ+ cannabis leaders from across California, and her vivid and colorful psychedelic drawings have been exhibited with Art Share LA. Hernandez is also the founder of The Cannabis Club, a…

Dear Umesh,My work has contacted my clinic with an occupational health request about my medical cannabis prescription, and I’m worried I’m going to lose my job. What do I need to know?First, take a breath. An Occupational Health assessment doesn’t automatically mean bad news. However, I understand your concern, and you’re right to want to understand what’s happening.To be transparent, I am not a Human Resources (HR) or Occupational Health (OH) professional, nor do I claim to be. While I have previously been a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and have helped develop HR teams…

Legalising medical cannabis is associated with a 6.9% reduction in health-related workplace absenteeism, according to a new study published in the Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health.The research, which examined the impact of cannabis laws across the United States, found that workers in physically demanding roles saw the most significant improvements. Manual labourers missed work 39% less, whilst industrial machine operators saw a 33% reduction in sick days. Health service workers and farm workers experienced reductions of 32% and 18%, respectively.“The absenteeism-reducing effects of medical cannabis decriminalization were notable in occupations (e.g., manual laborers, machine operators) and industries (e.g., manufacturing, agriculture,…

There’s no question about it: a gender health gap – referring to the fact that women don’t always get fair access to healthcare or have the same outcomes as men – exists in the UK, even in 2026. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap 2024 Report ranked the UK 104th globally in terms of gender health equality.“Right now, there are over 760,000 people on gynaecology waiting lists across the UK, enough to fill Wembley Stadium about eight times over,” Dr Shabnam Sarshar, who has a PhD in pharmaceutical biology and phytochemistry, and extra training in cannabinoid medicine and natural…

The cannabis industry has entered an era where facility design carries consequences far beyond construction costs. As operators contend with tighter margins, increasing competition, strict regulations, and growing pressure to improve efficiency, every square foot of a facility must support a larger business objective. Whether developing a cultivation site, manufacturing operation, dispensary, or vertically integrated enterprise, success increasingly depends on a clear understanding of what a facility is expected to accomplish before a single wall is built. For Sam Andras, president of 3rd Act Architecture and Consulting, that challenge has defined much of his career in cannabis. After decades in…

SciPhy Systems has become the first U.S. distributor of Valenveras’ portable near-infrared testing platform, giving cannabis businesses access to rapid, on-site analysis for cultivation, processing, and purchasing decisions. Laboratory testing has become one of the cannabis industry’s defining quality assurance tools, but it has also become one of its most persistent bottlenecks. As operators contend with longer turnaround times, rising analytical costs, and increased pressure to optimize every stage of production, interest in portable testing technologies continues to grow. SciPhy Systems announced this week that it has become the first official U.S. distributor for Valenveras Portable Lab, bringing the company’s…

Cannabis culture has long been flattened into a narrow set of images, often focused on burnout stoners, frat-house humor, and the same recycled narratives about excess and escape. But across Los Angeles and beyond, a different kind of cannabis culture is quietly flourishing. For Christina Wong and Chef Wendy Zeng of Mogu Magu, cannabis is not simply a product or lifestyle accessory, it is a portal into storytelling, hospitality, mythology, and collective care. Inspired by Magu, the Taoist hemp goddess of longevity, Wong and Zeng have built Mogu Magu into an immersive cultural experience blending infused dining, mythology, food, wellness,…