State of Cannabis: Weekly News Digest

Cannabis News Roundup - Podcast: Week 2025-27: AL Hemp Crackdown, CO Operator Banned, MO Eyes Expansion, MA Shuts Down Lab

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5 Jul, 2025

Join us as we break down key cannabis developments in Alabama, Delaware, California, and more. From zoning wars to lab fraud, enforcement crackdowns to medical program reforms, this episode brings clarity to the chaotic cannabis landscape. Featuring updates from Florida, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and a surprising appearance from Mike Tyson, we cover the policies, penalties, and politics reshaping the industry.

 

Tags:

cannabis news 2025, Alabama hemp ban, California cannabis tax, Delaware marijuana zoning, Florida MMJ crackdown, Colorado THC scandal, Massachusetts cannabis testing lab, Missouri cannabis licenses, Hawaii cannabis privacy, New Mexico cannabis enforcement, Nebraska medical marijuana, US cannabis reform, state cannabis laws, cannabis legalization update, cannabis industry news, marijuana podcast, cannabis policy podcast, legal weed 2025, dispensary news, weed tax hike, marijuana law changes, weed zoning battles, Mike Tyson cannabis Trump

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https://hawaiistatecannabis.org/news-30jun2025
https://massachusettscannabis.org/news-30jun2025
https://nebraskastatecannabis.org/news-01jul2025

https://newmexicostatecannabis.org/news-01jul2025

 

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SUMMARIES:

  • Alabama’s controversial hemp law took effect on July 1. A judge denied a request from hemp companies to stop the ban on smokable hemp and synthetic THC. Now, hemp shops across the state are forced to close or change operations, with more regulations coming in 2026.
  • California’s cannabis excise tax rose from 15% to 19% on July 1, 2025, sparking backlash from industry leaders who warn the increase will drive more consumers to the black market and harm already struggling legal businesses. With taxable sales down 30% from their 2021 peak, dispensaries are cutting prices to compete. A proposed bill, AB 564, aims to reverse the hike, but until then, operators fear closures and lost market share.
  • Colorado has permanently banned the owner of CBDDY from the cannabis industry after an investigation found the company sold high-THC products under the label of legal hemp. The settlement bars him from future operations. 
  • Delaware is poised to launch its adult-use cannabis market on August 1st, but local zoning restrictions and slow regulatory approvals are limiting access for hundreds of new licensees. A newly passed bill aims to override county-level bans and standardize rules statewide, though it awaits the governor’s signature. 
  • Florida has tightened its medical-marijuana rules. Under a bill just signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, patients or caregivers charged with trafficking or selling drugs—including cannabis—will immediately lose their medical-marijuana cards. If they’re convicted, the cards are permanently revoked until all sentencing is complete and a new application is filed.
  • Hawaii Governor Josh Green has signed a bill expanding access to medical marijuana, allowing patients to get certified via telehealth and giving doctors more freedom to recommend cannabis. But the new law also lets the Department of Health inspect patient records without a warrant, raising major privacy concerns among advocates and healthcare providers.
  • The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has suspended the license of Assured Testing Laboratories, citing repeated misreporting of contamination results. The lab, which tested 25% of the state’s cannabis, failed to report hundreds of yeast and mold contamination cases. Regulators say the violations posed an immediate threat to public health and consumer safety.
  • Missouri is taking a closer look at its cannabis market. The state has awarded a $238,700 contract to a New York-based firm to study whether more marijuana business licenses should be issued—and if so, where and to whom. The year-long study will focus on the industry’s economic impact and how it can better support disadvantaged communities. Missouri made $1.46 billion in cannabis sales last year, and the results of this study could reshape the future of the industry.
  • Nebraska has officially launched its medical marijuana program. Governor Jim Pillen signed emergency rules just before a voter-mandated deadline, allowing license applications to begin. But the rules ban cannabis flower and limit dispensaries to one per district, raising concerns that patients won’t have meaningful access. Public comment is open until mid-July, with permanent rules expected by fall.
  • Three years after legalizing recreational marijuana, New Mexico is taking enforcement seriously. Starting July 1, a new cannabis enforcement bureau was launched under House Bill 10. The bureau has full police powers to investigate and shut down illegal operations. The state’s cannabis market has grown rapidly, with over $1.7 billion in sales, but lawmakers now worry about rule-breaking and too many dispensaries—especially in border towns like Sunland Park.

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