From groundbreaking medical research to dramatic shifts in state policies, the cannabis landscape continues its rapid evolution across the United States. Here's what's been happening in the world of marijuana over the past two weeks.
Banking Giants Signal Readiness as Federal Reform Stalls
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon made waves by stating his bank "probably would" begin serving cannabis businesses if federal law changes. As head of the nation's largest bank, Dimon's cautious optimism sends a powerful signal that major financial institutions are waiting in the wings for regulatory clarity.
"We simply can't [bank them]... If there was a federal law, we probably would," Dimon told reporters, noting current federal prohibitions prevent the banking giant from entering the space.
Meanwhile, hopes for federal rescheduling of cannabis have hit a temporary delay. The anticipated Drug Enforcement Administration hearing on moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III has been postponed into 2025, slowing momentum toward potentially relieving the tax burden on cannabis businesses.
States Forge Their Own Paths
Across the country, state legislatures continue refining—or resisting—cannabis laws:
Consumers Cutting Back Due to Inflation
Economic pressures are hitting the dispensary counter. A new nationwide poll found that two out of three marijuana consumers are cutting back on cannabis spending due to inflation.
About 66% of surveyed cannabis users said they're spending less than before, while only one-third said their purchasing hasn't been affected by economic pressures.
"Our poll establishes that inflation is hitting cannabis consumers hard, which should come as no surprise," said Andrew Graham of NuggMD, which conducted the survey. He suggested that repealing the 280E tax rule that inflates prices or getting insurers to start covering medical marijuana could help with affordability.
Medical Breakthroughs: Cannabis Proves Effective for Seniors
A robust new study brings encouraging news for older Americans using medical marijuana. Researchers followed over 200 patients age 50 and above and found that cannabis is a "safe and effective treatment" for pain and sleep problems in older people.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis, this six-month study reported significant improvements in pain levels, sleep quality, and overall quality of life. Nearly 45% of participants achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in their pain and sleep scores, with many able to reduce their use of prescription opioids.
"Medical marijuana is at least as effective, if not more, than traditional prescription meds for pain in seniors—and comes with the bonus of improved sleep," noted one doctor involved in the study.
Cannabis vs. Opioids: Saving Lives
Several recent studies, including federally funded research, bolster the case that increasing legal access to cannabis can literally save lives amid the opioid epidemic.
One NIH-backed study found that when states legalized marijuana, there was a notable drop in opioid painkiller prescriptions among commercially insured adults. As recreational dispensaries opened, people in legal states filled fewer opioid prescriptions.
Perhaps most striking, another study observed a "consistent negative relationship" between marijuana legalization and fatal opioid overdoses—states with legal adult-use sales saw overdose death rates decline by an estimated 3.5 fewer deaths per 100,000 people compared to non-legal states.
"Our findings suggest that broadening recreational marijuana access could help address the opioid epidemic," the authors concluded.
Youth Protection: Licensed Stores Prove Responsible
A new study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics' journal eases fears about youth access. In New York City, researchers conducted "secret shopper" visits and found that state-licensed marijuana dispensaries rigorously verified customers' ages and avoided marketing to kids—while unlicensed shops frequently did not.
Every single legal retailer in the sample checked IDs at the door 100% of the time, and again at purchase. By contrast, illicit smoke shops selling cannabis only carded about 10% of the time upon entry and fewer than half at the point of sale.
Licensed stores also refused to sell "youth-appealing" products, whereas most illegal operators were found selling THC-infused candies and snacks with colorful, kid-friendly branding.
Cannabis at the Fair: Normalization Continues
In perhaps the clearest sign of marijuana's mainstream acceptance, the California State Fair announced it will again feature on-site marijuana sales and consumption this summer—with expanded contests and exhibits celebrating cannabis.
This will be the second year fairgoers can legally buy and enjoy cannabis at a designated area during the 17-day event. Organizers expanded the popular California Cannabis Awards competition to include new categories like best blunts, hash, and infused chocolates.
"In just a few short years, cannabis has become a staple of the fair," said James Leitz, the State Fair's cannabis exhibit director. The state now proudly honors its top cannabis cultivators just as it does award-winning wines, beers, and cheeses.
Safety Concerns Remain: Brittney Griner Incident
Despite progress, safety concerns persist. WNBA star Brittney Griner was forced to cancel an appearance at a cannabis conference after discovering a threatening message in her hotel room.
Griner—who spent 10 months imprisoned in Russia for carrying hashish oil before her release in a prisoner swap—was slated to speak at the Women Grow Leadership Summit in Maryland. But shortly before her talk, she found a disturbing note scrawled on duct tape in her room.
Fearing for her safety, she immediately left and flew home. "Brittney Griner arrived to be with us but felt unsafe because of threatening objects and words left inside her hotel room. For her safety, she chose to return home," the Women Grow president explained.
Sports Embraces Cannabis: NHL Players Choose Edibles Over Alcohol
A New York Times survey of NHL hockey players revealed that today's hockey pros are increasingly choosing cannabis and video games over alcohol and nightclubs as their post-game unwind.
According to the survey, about two-thirds of NHL players admit to using cannabis edibles during the season—often on off-nights to relax. Many prefer the mellow recovery and sleep benefits rather than risking hangovers from drinking.
One younger player quipped that bonding with teammates now often happens over Mario Kart tournaments with a joint or gummy, instead of at the bar. With cannabis legal in Canada (home to 7 NHL teams) and many U.S. states, the league no longer penalizes marijuana use.
Business Consolidation Accelerates
In the business world, major acquisitions are reshaping the industry. Canadian giant Canopy Growth completed its long-awaited acquisition of U.S. operator Acreage Holdings, creating a cross-border powerhouse that also folded in Wana Brands, a top Colorado edibles maker, and the majority of Jetty Extracts, a California vape producer.
Meanwhile, domestic consolidation continues as multi-state operator Vireo Growth announced deals to acquire four cannabis companies in Florida, Missouri, Nevada and Utah for a combined $397 million in stock. These acquisitions will dramatically expand Vireo's footprint to seven states with 48 dispensaries and over a million square feet of cultivation.
The Road Ahead
As 4/20 approaches on the horizon—with event organizers preparing for what is expected to be the biggest cannabis celebration yet—the industry continues to navigate complex challenges and opportunities.
From statehouse debates to scientific breakthroughs and cultural milestones, these developments show that cannabis reform is not just about a plant, but about people, policy, and progress. And if the last two weeks are any indication, America's green revolution is only picking up speed, one headline at a time.
Banking Giants Signal Readiness as Federal Reform Stalls
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon made waves by stating his bank "probably would" begin serving cannabis businesses if federal law changes. As head of the nation's largest bank, Dimon's cautious optimism sends a powerful signal that major financial institutions are waiting in the wings for regulatory clarity.
"We simply can't [bank them]... If there was a federal law, we probably would," Dimon told reporters, noting current federal prohibitions prevent the banking giant from entering the space.
Meanwhile, hopes for federal rescheduling of cannabis have hit a temporary delay. The anticipated Drug Enforcement Administration hearing on moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III has been postponed into 2025, slowing momentum toward potentially relieving the tax burden on cannabis businesses.
States Forge Their Own Paths
Across the country, state legislatures continue refining—or resisting—cannabis laws:
- Nebraska lawmakers began crafting a framework to implement the medical marijuana program that voters approved with 70% support last November, despite the state Attorney General threatening a lawsuit over the proposed licensing system.
- Georgia, traditionally cautious, appears poised to expand its limited medical marijuana program. The Georgia House voted 164-1 to make it easier for patients to access "medical cannabis" and loosen requirements for qualifying conditions.
- Ohio's Republican lawmakers introduced a controversial bill to roll back parts of the voter-approved legalization law, including halving the number of home-grow plants adults can cultivate and creating new criminal penalties.
- Washington State abandoned a bipartisan home-grow bill, keeping personal cultivation a felony—an ironic stance for one of the first states to legalize commercial sales.
Consumers Cutting Back Due to Inflation
Economic pressures are hitting the dispensary counter. A new nationwide poll found that two out of three marijuana consumers are cutting back on cannabis spending due to inflation.
About 66% of surveyed cannabis users said they're spending less than before, while only one-third said their purchasing hasn't been affected by economic pressures.
"Our poll establishes that inflation is hitting cannabis consumers hard, which should come as no surprise," said Andrew Graham of NuggMD, which conducted the survey. He suggested that repealing the 280E tax rule that inflates prices or getting insurers to start covering medical marijuana could help with affordability.
Medical Breakthroughs: Cannabis Proves Effective for Seniors
A robust new study brings encouraging news for older Americans using medical marijuana. Researchers followed over 200 patients age 50 and above and found that cannabis is a "safe and effective treatment" for pain and sleep problems in older people.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis, this six-month study reported significant improvements in pain levels, sleep quality, and overall quality of life. Nearly 45% of participants achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in their pain and sleep scores, with many able to reduce their use of prescription opioids.
"Medical marijuana is at least as effective, if not more, than traditional prescription meds for pain in seniors—and comes with the bonus of improved sleep," noted one doctor involved in the study.
Cannabis vs. Opioids: Saving Lives
Several recent studies, including federally funded research, bolster the case that increasing legal access to cannabis can literally save lives amid the opioid epidemic.
One NIH-backed study found that when states legalized marijuana, there was a notable drop in opioid painkiller prescriptions among commercially insured adults. As recreational dispensaries opened, people in legal states filled fewer opioid prescriptions.
Perhaps most striking, another study observed a "consistent negative relationship" between marijuana legalization and fatal opioid overdoses—states with legal adult-use sales saw overdose death rates decline by an estimated 3.5 fewer deaths per 100,000 people compared to non-legal states.
"Our findings suggest that broadening recreational marijuana access could help address the opioid epidemic," the authors concluded.
Youth Protection: Licensed Stores Prove Responsible
A new study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics' journal eases fears about youth access. In New York City, researchers conducted "secret shopper" visits and found that state-licensed marijuana dispensaries rigorously verified customers' ages and avoided marketing to kids—while unlicensed shops frequently did not.
Every single legal retailer in the sample checked IDs at the door 100% of the time, and again at purchase. By contrast, illicit smoke shops selling cannabis only carded about 10% of the time upon entry and fewer than half at the point of sale.
Licensed stores also refused to sell "youth-appealing" products, whereas most illegal operators were found selling THC-infused candies and snacks with colorful, kid-friendly branding.
Cannabis at the Fair: Normalization Continues
In perhaps the clearest sign of marijuana's mainstream acceptance, the California State Fair announced it will again feature on-site marijuana sales and consumption this summer—with expanded contests and exhibits celebrating cannabis.
This will be the second year fairgoers can legally buy and enjoy cannabis at a designated area during the 17-day event. Organizers expanded the popular California Cannabis Awards competition to include new categories like best blunts, hash, and infused chocolates.
"In just a few short years, cannabis has become a staple of the fair," said James Leitz, the State Fair's cannabis exhibit director. The state now proudly honors its top cannabis cultivators just as it does award-winning wines, beers, and cheeses.
Safety Concerns Remain: Brittney Griner Incident
Despite progress, safety concerns persist. WNBA star Brittney Griner was forced to cancel an appearance at a cannabis conference after discovering a threatening message in her hotel room.
Griner—who spent 10 months imprisoned in Russia for carrying hashish oil before her release in a prisoner swap—was slated to speak at the Women Grow Leadership Summit in Maryland. But shortly before her talk, she found a disturbing note scrawled on duct tape in her room.
Fearing for her safety, she immediately left and flew home. "Brittney Griner arrived to be with us but felt unsafe because of threatening objects and words left inside her hotel room. For her safety, she chose to return home," the Women Grow president explained.
Sports Embraces Cannabis: NHL Players Choose Edibles Over Alcohol
A New York Times survey of NHL hockey players revealed that today's hockey pros are increasingly choosing cannabis and video games over alcohol and nightclubs as their post-game unwind.
According to the survey, about two-thirds of NHL players admit to using cannabis edibles during the season—often on off-nights to relax. Many prefer the mellow recovery and sleep benefits rather than risking hangovers from drinking.
One younger player quipped that bonding with teammates now often happens over Mario Kart tournaments with a joint or gummy, instead of at the bar. With cannabis legal in Canada (home to 7 NHL teams) and many U.S. states, the league no longer penalizes marijuana use.
Business Consolidation Accelerates
In the business world, major acquisitions are reshaping the industry. Canadian giant Canopy Growth completed its long-awaited acquisition of U.S. operator Acreage Holdings, creating a cross-border powerhouse that also folded in Wana Brands, a top Colorado edibles maker, and the majority of Jetty Extracts, a California vape producer.
Meanwhile, domestic consolidation continues as multi-state operator Vireo Growth announced deals to acquire four cannabis companies in Florida, Missouri, Nevada and Utah for a combined $397 million in stock. These acquisitions will dramatically expand Vireo's footprint to seven states with 48 dispensaries and over a million square feet of cultivation.
The Road Ahead
As 4/20 approaches on the horizon—with event organizers preparing for what is expected to be the biggest cannabis celebration yet—the industry continues to navigate complex challenges and opportunities.
From statehouse debates to scientific breakthroughs and cultural milestones, these developments show that cannabis reform is not just about a plant, but about people, policy, and progress. And if the last two weeks are any indication, America's green revolution is only picking up speed, one headline at a time.
