Daily Cannabis News Brief for 9/9/2026

Virginia’s Cannabis Control Authority has released draft regulations for the state’s forthcoming adult-use marijuana market ahead of legal sales scheduled to begin July 1, 2027. The extensive proposal addresses licensing, cultivation, processing, retail stores, delivery, testing, packaging, product safety and ownership requirements. Regulators expect the rules to be finalized in December.

A federal appeals court rejected an attempt to temporarily block the federal government’s marijuana rescheduling order, allowing state-licensed medical marijuana and certain FDA-approved marijuana products to remain in Schedule III while legal challenges continue. The D.C. Circuit said challengers failed to meet the requirements for a stay, while making clear the ruling does not resolve the underlying cases.

A real-world study accepted by Frontiers in Pain Research found that documented CBD or CBG exposure following neurotoxic chemotherapy was associated with an approximately 84% lower hazard of a subsequent neuropathy diagnosis. Penn State researchers analyzed de-identified electronic health records, comparing cannabinoid-exposed patients with people receiving commonly used neuropathy medications.

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board will hold a special meeting September 22 to consider numerous regulatory changes, including eliminating daily limits of seven grams of marijuana concentrate and 5,600 milligrams of total THC. The board previously considered the purchase-limit changes during its September 2-3 meeting but adjourned without taking a vote.

A preclinical study published in Discover Food found that a beverage made from hemp seeds reduced total cholesterol, free fatty acids, inflammation and several markers of liver stress in rats fed a high-fat diet. Researchers also observed increased HDL cholesterol and glutathione, although triglycerides and LDL cholesterol were not significantly changed.

Young adult cancer survivors who use marijuana reported that medical marijuana helped them manage symptoms, according to research published in Substance Use & Misuse. Participants also frequently reported difficulty obtaining reliable medical guidance, leading many to rely on dispensaries, friends, personal research and experimentation for information about marijuana use.

Missouri regulators have selected 77 applicants through the state’s third marijuana microbusiness licensing lottery following 888 applications submitted in July. The Division of Cannabis Regulation will now review the selected applications for eligibility, with licenses expected to begin being issued in December. About 20 available licenses came from earlier licenses that were revoked or surrendered.

Aurora Cannabis has appointed biopharmaceutical executive Faris El Refaie as executive vice president of global commercial, effective September 28. El Refaie, who has 25 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, will oversee Aurora’s global medical marijuana strategy and commercial operations across Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other international markets.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit rejected an argument that a drug dog’s ability to detect legal hemp made a roadside sniff unconstitutional. The court upheld a firearm conviction stemming from a Wyoming traffic stop, finding the defendant had not established that the exterior sniff violated a legitimate expectation of privacy.

Montana marijuana retailers generated $29.2 million in sales during August, bringing sales through the first eight months of 2026 to approximately $221.2 million. That is 2.1% higher than the same period in 2025. Adult-use sales increased about 4.5% year over year, while medical marijuana sales declined nearly 16%.

The Maryland Cannabis Administration has opened registration for an October 10 workforce conference and job fair connecting prospective marijuana industry workers with employers. The event in Columbia will feature professional development workshops, networking and companies from cultivation, processing, dispensary and ancillary sectors. Registration is required by September 30.

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by Connecticut hemp farmers and processors challenging state restrictions on hemp-derived THC products. U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall found the plaintiffs failed to establish standing, concluding they had not adequately demonstrated concrete injuries caused by the challenged laws or sufficiently connected those injuries to the officials they sued.

A federal judge has allowed a consolidated class action against Ohio Medical Alliance, which does business as Ohio Marijuana Card, to move forward following the exposure of 957,434 records. The databases allegedly contained medical records, identification documents, Social Security numbers, physician certification forms, mental health evaluations and more than 210,000 email addresses.

Using information from cannabis research firm Headset, state-level sales data and the strain review site Leafly, The Marijuana Herald compiled 15 of the most popular marijuana strains in the U.S. as of September 2026. The list includes longstanding varieties such as Blue Dream and GG4 alongside Runtz, Wedding Cake and other major sellers.

Vermont Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers is facing a $5,000 fine after state regulators alleged he cultivated approximately 200 marijuana seedlings at a location that had not been authorized under his cultivation license. Rodgers holds a license for a separate property about a mile away from the greenhouse where regulators said the plants were discovered.

Oral CBD significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity associated with apical periodontitis in a mouse model, according to research published in the journal Pain. A single oral dose produced significant reductions at 45 and 120 minutes after administration. Researchers said the findings support further investigation of CBD as a potential nonopioid treatment for dental pain.

New Jersey regulators have approved 2,568 marijuana business applications since the launch of the state’s regulated market, according to data presented at today’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission meeting. As of September 1, the state had received 3,267 applications, including approvals for 1,700 conditional licenses, 504 conditional-to-annual conversions and 363 annual licenses.

West Virginia University researchers are recruiting adults ages 18 to 30 for a randomized study examining how CBD affects driving performance, cognition and sedation. Participants will receive either CBD or a placebo before completing cognitive assessments and driving simulations. Researchers hope the study will help inform public safety efforts as CBD products become increasingly available.

A Pennsylvania government audit identified significant weaknesses in medical marijuana oversight, including missing inspection records and delayed enforcement. Of 103 inspection checklists reviewed, 35 were missing and two were partially retained. Auditors also found 15 of 26 required deficiency notices were never issued, while the Department of Health agreed with all nine audit recommendations.