D.C.’s ABC Board summer recess will end September 15. Catch up on the Aug. 12 disposition or subscribe to a paying membership to receive exclusive summaries of Board meetings and see our map of pending cannabis businesses in D.C.
Most hemp products are now illegal in Virginia
Starting August 15, 2026, most consumable hemp products containing over two milligrams of total THC per package are illegal to produce or sell in Virginia after U.S. District Judge Robert S. Ballou denied an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in Northern Virginia Hemp & Agriculture, LLC v. Governor Abigail Spanberger. The court’s decision clears the way for House Bill 30 to take effect, eliminating the state’s “25:1 ratio” exception and reclassifying non-compliant high-THC hemp items as marijuana under state law. While acknowledging the severe economic impact on local processors and retailers facing non-compliant inventory, Judge Ballou ruled that the state acted within its regulatory police powers and that financial losses do not constitute irreparable constitutional harm. With federal courts refusing to step in, Virginia hemp businesses face immediate operational disruption and compliance hurdles, leaving them in limbo until the state’s commercial adult-use cannabis retail market officially opens under the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority in July 2027.
Maryland’s Cannabis Social Equity Infrastructure Needs a Permanent Upgrade, DoSEM Report Finds
A new report from Maryland’s Department of Service and Equity Management (DoSEM) reveals that while the state boasts robust equity initiatives, it lacks the central governance and data infrastructure to coordinate them—a gap DoSEM proposes filling by expanding the Office of Social Equity (OSE) into a permanent, statewide equity hub. Originally created under the Cannabis Reform Act of 2023, OSE’s initial cannabis licensing mandate will soon transition to ongoing state oversight, making it the ideal home for broad, cross-agency policy analysis, data sharing, and technical assistance. By broadening OSE’s scope under the Office of the Secretary, Maryland can build on the office’s management of key funding pillars—including the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund, the Social Equity Partnership Grant Program, and the tax-funded Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund—to create a unified, permanent foundation for the state’s economic mobility and equity policy.
ICYMI: D.C. Halts Union Market Revocation for Fast-Track Action
East Coast Roundup
New York’s legal cannabis program continues to evolve as regulators balance expanding licensed storefronts with aggressive enforcement against illicit smoke shops.
Pennsylvania’s Attorney General is backing a proposed federal hemp crackdown that would ban most delta-8 and high-dose CBD products to protect public safety, though local hemp businesses warn the rule will eliminate 95% of their marketplace.
A newly signed New York law allows licensed microbusinesses and dispensaries to sell cannabis at farmers’ markets and pop-up showcase events, opening up direct-to-consumer revenue streams for small cultivators
Culture & More
The original founders of Massachusetts beverage brand Levia bought back their company from MSO Ayr Wellness and are now expanding into Farm Bill-compliant hemp drinks.
A consumer-focused breakdown highlights the distinct physiological mechanisms, side effects, and federal legal statuses of non-intoxicating CBD versus intoxicating THC.
Louisiana’s surging hemp-derived THC beverage manufacturers are navigating strict state regulatory shifts that aim to balance rapid market growth with legislative caps.
Around the Country
Proposed federal restrictions on hemp-derived THC products threaten to wipe out Minnesota’s booming low-dose hemp edible and beverage market, imperiling over 2,000 licensed businesses.
A federal court denied emergency relief to halt Texas’s new regulations, keeping the state’s strict ban on alternative THC isomers like delta-8 in full effect.
State-level cannabis ballot initiatives face a tightening political landscape, leaving major adult-use measures off key state ballots for the upcoming election cycle.
From the Swamp
Moving medical cannabis to Schedule III eliminates Section 280E restrictions on rent deductions, giving operators stronger balance sheets and new leverage to renegotiate lease terms and personal guarantees with landlords.
A new bipartisan House bill proposes regulating hemp-derived THC drinks containing up to 5mg of THC like alcohol under a three-tier system, offering an alternative to total product bans
