Green State

At GreenState, we’re doing our best to keep you updated on the latest in cannabis law in the US. That’s why we partnered with Legalization Nation, an explanatory comic strip by Box Brown that provides a perspective for consumers and patients on the complexities of the emerging legal cannabis industry.

The path to move cannabis to Schedule III has hit a snag. An administrative law judge overseeing the process paused the proceedings after the release of a government report suggesting there could be “gaps” in the system. The report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) states that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lack comprehensive written procedures for evaluating drugs—something that could lead to inconsistent decisions.

Walk any cannabis trade show floor, and you’ll notice the industry still rocks a pretty consistent color pattern involving greens, blues, and black amongst the booths and product packaging. But when I showed up to Network Show in Long Beach, California, I was delighted to see my favorite color having a moment at Network Show: pink! For many years, cannabis has often been viewed as marketed towards men more so than women.

The cannabis industry is very good at talking to itself. We gather at conferences, post on LinkedIn, trade articles, and complain to one another about taxes, regulations, illicit operators, and the latest political setback. We know the legal market is imperfect. We also know returning to prohibition would make nearly every one of those problems worse. But outside our own circles, a very different story is gaining ground.

Many cannabis consumers turn to the plant to help them relax and unwind. But does weed actually reduce stress physiologically? New research suggests the answer may be complicated. A team of scientists led by Washington State University sought to learn whether cannabis affects how the body responds to stress. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was recently published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. The research involved 120 regular cannabis consumers.

More than 150 years ago, the streets of San Francisco were a bawdry boil. In the 1860s, saloons, gambling dens, and brothels dotted tent cities around Portsmouth Square. And on Sept. 18, 1865, a small article appeared in the newspaper with a headline referencing America’s first full-length experiential drug book: The Hasheesh Eater.

It’s officially Hispanic Heritage Month, and Latinas in Cannabis is putting the women who’ve been shaping the industry at the center of the conversation. The organization’s fourth annual summit will take place in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 26. This year’s theme, “Collaboration over Competition,” officially kicks off on September 25 with a dinner that brings the idea of community to the table: a concept that is needed for any industry to thrive.

At GreenState, we’re doing our best to keep you updated on the latest in cannabis law in the US. That’s why we partnered with Legalization Nation, an explanatory comic strip by Box Brown that provides a perspective for consumers and patients on the complexities of the emerging legal cannabis industry.

Manufactured delta-8-THC is now a Schedule I substance in Texas, and one Austin police officer says a product label could be enough to give police probable cause for an arrest. As of July 31, possessing less than a gram of delta-8 is a felony punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine up to $10,000. The ban follows a Texas Supreme Court decision granting the state authority to reinstate its rules on synthetic cannabinoids after years of open sales.

The Midwest’s biggest cannabis festival is back and is leveling up in a major way. Legacy Cup 2026 is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, at Surly Festival Field in Minneapolis. The celebration of all things green, now in its seventh year, features big-name musical performances, dozens of vendor booths, regulated cannabis sales and consumption, and high-energy activations. This year’s event could be one of the largest yet.