Daily Cannabis News Brief for 9/4/2026

The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld two voter-approved medical marijuana initiatives, rejecting a challenge alleging problems with petition circulators and notaries. The court affirmed that both measures had enough valid signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot. One legalized medical marijuana, while the other established the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate the industry.

The Food and Drug Administration has opened a public docket seeking input on improving and accelerating botanical drug development, a regulatory framework that can include cannabis-derived medicines. The agency is requesting feedback on research challenges, quality standards, study designs and potential updates to federal guidance. Comments will be accepted through November 3.

Misdemeanor marijuana arrests in Houston have climbed to about 440 per year under Mayor John Whitmire, compared with an annual average of roughly 35 from 2021 through 2023, according to data obtained by Houston Public Media. Black people accounted for approximately 72% of marijuana-related arrests over the past five years, despite representing 22.7% of the city’s population.

A study published in Metabolic Brain Disease found that full-spectrum CBD-rich oil reduced brain inflammation and oxidative stress in a rat model of maple syrup urine disease, a rare inherited metabolic disorder. Both tested doses improved key neurochemical markers, while the lower dose also improved short-term recognition memory. Researchers said it was the first cannabis-related study using an experimental model of the disease.

The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to decide whether a Missouri marijuana conviction expunged and declared legally invalid under the state’s voter-approved legalization law can still increase a federal sentence. John Merced Lozano argues that his vacated 2000 marijuana conviction should no longer support his career-offender designation. The federal government’s response to his petition is due October 5.

Nevada’s Cannabis Advisory Commission taxation subcommittee is considering recommendations that could eliminate the state’s 15% wholesale marijuana excise tax while potentially increasing the 10% tax on adult-use retail sales. The panel is also examining a tax on consumable hemp products. Any recommendations would eventually require legislative action and must be structured to remain at least revenue neutral for education funding.

Three companies have applied for Drug Enforcement Administration authorization to import or manufacture marijuana and related controlled substances for clinical research and pharmaceutical development. Fisher Clinical Services is seeking importer status, Irvine Labs wants to manufacture marijuana and related substances as pharmaceutical ingredients, and PCI Pharma Services is seeking authorization to import marijuana in dosage form for analytical and clinical research.

Independent journalist Jacqueline Botts has filed a federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the DEA, FBI, ICE and eight other agencies seeking records related to the July 2025 immigration raids at Glass House Farms facilities in California. Hundreds were arrested and worker Jaime Alanis Garcia died in connection with the operation. The lawsuit alleges inadequate searches, missed deadlines and improper withholding of records.

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. has opened a new medical marijuana dispensary in Dunwoody, Georgia, expanding its presence in the Atlanta area. The location offers flower, capsules, tinctures, topicals, troches and vaporizers, with a grand opening celebration scheduled for September 10. The opening is part of Trulieve’s continued expansion of its medical marijuana retail footprint in Georgia.