D.C. medical cannabis market hits $7.8M in September despite sales decline
In September, D.C.’s medical cannabis program saw total sales of $7.8 million, a slight 5% decline from August, continuing a typical seasonal slowdown. While dispensary sales and overall patients served dipped, manufacturing sales nearly quadrupled year-over-year, and concentrate and infused products saw strong growth. Out-of-District patients from Maryland, Virginia, and Florida remained the top buyers.
- The next ABC Board meeting is Oct. 29, 2025: watch, agenda.
- Oct. 22, 2025 disposition.
Maryland awards $217K grant to CannaWorkforce for cannabis job training expansion
The Maryland Department of Labor has awarded a $217,000 grant to CannaWorkforce, Inc. to expand its cannabis workforce training programs in 2026. Funded through the EARN program, the grant will help train unemployed and underemployed Marylanders for careers in cultivation, processing, dispensary operations, and now specialized laboratory technician roles. Founded in 2023 by Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, CannaWorkforce reports a 94% job placement rate for graduates and partners with Jacquie Cohen Roth of CannabizMD and The Tea Pad Foundation to develop programs that provide meaningful career pathways and economic opportunities in the state’s growing cannabis industry.
Maryland police pause cannabis research program amid surge in volunteer response
Maryland law enforcement temporarily suspended sign‑ups for its cannabis impairment study — dubbed the “Green Lab” — after being overwhelmed by volunteer applications. Critics say the abrupt halt signals a lack of preparedness despite the program’s aim to help officers better understand how cannabis use affects consumers.
Virginia governor’s race puts spotlight on retail cannabis market
As the gubernatorial election in Virginia draws near, the future of adult‑use retail cannabis sales is gaining renewed attention after legalization of possession in 2021 but no authorized retail market to date. Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger supports setting up a regulated commercial market, while Republican nominee Winsome Earle‑Sears opposes full legalization, emphasizing medicinal use and workplace safety concerns.
- The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority launched an accredited online training program for healthcare practitioners.
ICYMI: D.C. neighbor wins landmark cannabis smell lawsuit, sustainability concerns in the market arise
East Coast Roundup
New York regulators ordered a record $30 million cannabis product recall linked to Omnium Health but have provided little guidance since, creating confusion in the industry and raising concerns about consumer safety. Critics say delays and gaps in oversight, including the lack of a centralized tracking system, threaten trust in the state’s legal cannabis market.
A Massachusetts campaign aiming to abolish adult‑use retail cannabis sales reports it is “on track” to collect the roughly 74,600 valid signatures needed by Dec. 3 for the 2026 ballot; the initiative would retain medical access but repeal the state’s commercial adult‑use market and home‑cultivation rights.
Since its first dispensary opened in 2021, West Virginia’s medical cannabis program has collected about $34 million in taxes, licensing fees and interest—but none of it has been spent because federal restrictions prevent use of the funds until legal barriers change.
Culture & More
The rise of high‑potency cannabis and shrinking shelf space for “mild” flower varieties has led to a market where low‑dose, flavorful cannabis is becoming rare — a shift analyzed in Rolling Stone’s “Where Have All the Mild Flowers Gone?” article.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a wave of hemp‑THC bars and cafes is emerging as entrepreneurs fill a regulatory void, offering adult social consumption spaces in a state still debating full cannabis legalization.
Health experts are issuing alerts about Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), a condition of cyclic vomiting and abdominal pain linked to chronic, heavy cannabis use, underscoring risks often overlooked in the broader legalization narrative.
Around the Country
In Missouri, the booming market for hemp‑derived THC beverages—potentially worth up to $75.4 million in the state alone—is facing a crackdown by law enforcement and legislators over safety and regulatory concerns.
The Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill to regulate and tax “intoxicating hemp” products while also restricting public use of marijuana, thus reshaping the state’s cannabis and hemp policy landscape.
In Kansas, THC‑infused drinks—which exploit a regulatory loophole by qualifying as hemp under federal law—are suddenly drawing legislative scrutiny as lawmakers question their legality and public‑health impact.
Rob Bonta, California’s Attorney General, affirmed a continued collaboration with local, state, and federal law‑enforcement agencies to combat illicit cannabis cultivation, underscoring the state’s enforcement priorities.
From the swamp
Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia, called on Donald Trump to legalize and regulate cannabis — including exports — as a strategy to combat the illicit‑drug trade.
The Supreme Court of the United States agreed to review whether the federal law banning firearm possession by unlawful drug users violates the Second Amendment, a case that could affect millions of cannabis users.
Steve Daines, a U.S. Senator, expressed skepticism that rescheduling cannabis would significantly shift GOP support, despite backing the SAFE Banking Act — suggesting divided views among Republicans on broader cannabis reform. Listen to the whole interview on Ask a Pol Drugs.
