Daily Cannabis News Brief for 9/14/2026

Below is The Marijuana Herald’s Daily Cannabis News Brief for September 14, 2026. The Marijuana Herald publishes a new edition every weekday at around 3 p.m. Pacific Time. Previous editions are available here.

Connecticut will eliminate its 70% THC potency cap on adult-use marijuana concentrates beginning October 1. The change will allow concentrates, extracts, oils, tinctures, shatter and waxes exceeding the current limit to be sold legally, while the state’s 35% THC cap on marijuana flower will remain in place. High-potency products will continue to face warning and advertising requirements.

A 10-year study involving 1,000 patients with chronic low-back pain found medical marijuana was associated with major reductions in opioid use, pain and disability. Among 638 patients who completed the study, average opioid use fell nearly 90%, pain scores declined 84%, and researchers documented substantial reductions in several other commonly used medications.

Utah’s Medical Cannabis Policy Advisory Board voted 7-0 to recommend loosening several advertising restrictions affecting medical marijuana pharmacies, producers and recommending health care providers. Proposed changes include allowing promotion of card and educational events, permitting QR codes and website addresses on product packaging, and allowing certain branded merchandise. Legislative and regulatory changes would be required before the recommendations could take effect.

CBD and CBG, when separately combined with sodium pentaborate, produced anti-cancer effects in human colorectal cancer cells, according to research published in Molecules. Certain combinations reduced cancer-cell proliferation and increased programmed cell death, though results varied by cell type and dosage. Researchers said additional testing is needed before the approach’s therapeutic potential can be determined.

Alaska health officials have proposed extending medical marijuana registry cards from 12 months to 24 months and allowing primary caregivers to serve multiple registered patients. The proposal would also eliminate a requirement that applicants provide Social Security numbers. Public comments will be accepted through November 6, with a telephone-only hearing scheduled for October 29.

New European Union rules taking effect January 1, 2027, will establish THC limits for hemp-leaf tea and ready-to-drink infusions. Hemp leaves intended for brewing will be limited to 40 milligrams of THC equivalents per kilogram, while prepared infusions will face a 0.02-milligram limit. Packages must also carry preparation instructions and warnings concerning consumption by young children.

The New York City Council has approved legislation allowing regulators to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew tobacco and electronic cigarette retail licenses when businesses are found to have illegally sold cannabis. Introduction 813-A was approved September 10 and sent to the mayor. If signed, the measure would take effect immediately and require outreach to affected businesses.

Rhode Island marijuana regulators are directing licensed hemp businesses to remove products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container before December 11. The Cannabis Control Commission said products exceeding the new federal threshold must also be removed from websites and cannot be transferred into the state’s regulated marijuana market.

The Trump administration is approaching a September 30 date requested by four bipartisan House lawmakers for responses about marijuana rescheduling. Their questions address federal taxation, health insurance, home cultivation, Drug Enforcement Administration registration and enforcement under the new Schedule III framework. A separate broader rescheduling proceeding remains pending following a Drug Enforcement Administration hearing that concluded in July.

San Francisco regulators have proposed operating standards for marijuana cafés covering on-site consumption, employee training, security, product storage and medical marijuana access. Businesses would need procedures preventing customers from removing marijuana intended for on-site use, while employees supervising consumption would receive specific training. The Office of Cannabis is accepting public comments through September 25.

A THC-based drug being developed for obstructive sleep apnea was generally well tolerated in a Phase I trial involving 125 healthy adults. The oral treatment combines 5 milligrams of dronabinol, a synthetic form of delta-9 THC, with 250 milligrams of acetazolamide. Researchers reported no serious adverse events, with most side effects classified as mild or moderate.

Curaleaf Holdings has asked the Alberta Securities Commission to halt Aurora’s ongoing share sales while Curaleaf’s takeover offer remains outstanding. Curaleaf argues the sales are diluting shareholders and making its acquisition more expensive, saying Aurora has issued about 2.81 million shares since Curaleaf first expressed interest in a transaction in June.

The Marijuana Herald has launched a comprehensive Marijuana Laws by State guide covering all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The resource includes individual state guides addressing recreational and medical marijuana laws, possession limits, home cultivation, licensed sales, penalties and hemp-derived THC rules, along with a nationwide comparison table. The guides will be updated as laws and regulations change.

Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research is seeking manuscripts for a special issue focused on minor cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV and CBDV. The issue, titled “Mechanisms and Translation of Minor Cannabinoids,” will examine how lesser-studied cannabinoids work and their potential clinical applications. Researchers have until April 30, 2027, to submit manuscripts.

Researchers found that a solventless electrostatic separation technique more than doubled the THC concentration of selected cannabis kief fractions. After three separation cycles, THC increased from 228.5 milligrams per gram to 492 mg/g, a 115.3% increase, while visible stalks and other impurities fell by 50%. Researchers say the technique could improve postharvest cannabis processing.