Daily Cannabis News Brief for 8/14/2026

Arizona collected $23.9 million in marijuana-related taxes in July, bringing the state’s total for the first seven months of 2026 to $173.45 million. That is about $4.1 million, or 2.4%, more than during the same period in 2025. Since recreational sales began in January 2021, Arizona has collected nearly $1.5 billion in marijuana-related taxes.

Florida medical marijuana treatment centers have dispensed more than 13.3 billion milligrams of THC and 4.56 million ounces of smokable marijuana so far in 2026, while the number of registered patients has climbed to 939,381. The state now has 774 dispensing locations, up from 771 in the previous weekly report.

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission has proposed rules allowing registered patients to have medical cannabis delivered directly to their homes through the United States Postal Service or private carriers. The proposal would also allow deliveries to qualifying patients in long-term care and other health care facilities, with a public hearing on the changes scheduled for September 16.

Massachusetts cannabis regulators completed an audit of THC potency labeling on marijuana flower, finding that most products tested were within the state’s acceptable accuracy range, while 13 of 63 samples were noncompliant. Regulators have placed holds on the affected products to prevent additional sales while producers determine whether to retest, relabel, repurpose or destroy them.

The Marijuana Herald has compiled a breakdown of more than 300 cannabis-related studies published in 2026, covering subjects ranging from pain, sleep and mental health to cancer, neurological conditions, cannabinoids, cultivation and marijuana policy. Each entry includes a brief summary and links to more detailed coverage and the underlying research.

A scientific review of 16 studies found that hemp-derived feeds and cannabinoids may influence gut bacteria, fermentation and intestinal health in livestock. Poultry studies reported increases in beneficial bacteria and reductions in E. coli or coliform bacteria, while some research involving ruminants found changes in fermentation and reductions in methane production, although researchers said the evidence remains preliminary.

A computational study found that several cannabis compounds, including cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), showed predicted antifungal activity and could warrant further investigation as natural biofungicides. Researchers emphasized that the findings were based on computer modeling and require laboratory and living-organism studies to confirm actual antifungal effects.

A study published in ACS Omega found that cannabidiol (CBD)-loaded hydrogel strongly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of skin and soft-tissue infections, while remaining noncytotoxic to human skin cells. Researchers also found that the hydrogel released CBD over an extended period, while a cannabinol (CBN) formulation provided slower sustained release but did not produce the same antibacterial effect.

A study found that cannabidiol (CBD) significantly inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of Streptococcus oralis, a bacterium involved in the early development of dental plaque, while maintaining the viability of human gum cells at the concentrations tested. Researchers said the preclinical findings support further investigation of CBD as a potential antimicrobial compound for oral health applications.

Cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG), when combined with melatonin, produced synergistic reductions in human glioblastoma cell viability and significantly enhanced the effects of temozolomide, a chemotherapy drug commonly used to treat the aggressive brain cancer. The findings were observed across three genetically distinct cancer cell lines but remain preclinical and have not been tested in animals or humans.

Researchers identified 227 terpenes in cannabis and mapped genetic differences that help explain why cultivars develop distinct aromas and terpene profiles. The study found substantial variation between cultivars and throughout plant development, while genetic and enzyme testing showed that individual terpene-producing enzymes can generate multiple compounds, helping explain cannabis’s unusually diverse range of aromas.

A systematic review of seven experimental studies found that cannabidiol (CBD) produced antidepressant-like effects through several potential mechanisms involving neuroplasticity, inflammation and serotonin and norepinephrine signaling. Researchers said the findings support further investigation, while noting that the evidence reviewed was preclinical and does not establish CBD as an effective treatment for depression in humans.

Vireo Growth Inc. has authorized a share buyback program allowing the cannabis company to repurchase up to approximately 2.43 million subordinate voting shares beginning August 17. Purchases may continue through August 17, 2027, with repurchased shares to be canceled; the company says the program reflects confidence in its long-term outlook and current valuation.