Welcome to the latest edition of “Last week in Weed,” catching you up on the latest breaking news and industry developments in the world of cannabis.
Here’s what you may have missed over the last week:
Congress Moves to Block Cannabis Rescheduling
Despite momentum earlier this year, a key congressional panel just threw a wrench into federal cannabis reform efforts. In a 31–26 vote, the House Appropriations Committee approved a rider that would block the Department of Justice from rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III—a major setback for reform advocates.
Republicans on the panel claim the DOJ is jumping the gun—acting without proper Congressional oversight. Meanwhile, Democrats are crying foul, accusing GOP members of jamming the brakes on reform for purely political theater. Both sides are gripping their own narrative like a lifeline, but the end result is the same: more red tape, and more uncertainty for an industry that was starting to believe the tide was finally turning.
Senate Advances Nationwide Hemp Product Ban
In another heavy-handed federal move, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a provision that could effectively ban all ingestible hemp-derived cannabinoids—including delta-8 and CBD—at the federal level. The sweeping language in the bill would bar any non-FDA-approved cannabinoid intended for human or animal consumption.
If passed into law, it would upend a multibillion-dollar hemp market overnight, hurting small businesses, farmers, and processors alike. Stakeholders are calling the move shortsighted and devastating to an industry already navigating murky legal waters.
Homegrow Gets a Power Boost with Industry-Shaking Merger
In a major shakeup for the cannabis cultivation space, five major homegrow brands have united to form The Homegrown Group (THG)—the first vertically integrated ecosystem for U.S. home growers. This merger includes Homegrown Cannabis Co., Seed Supreme, i49, United Strains of America, and Symple Fulfillment.
THG aims to bring verified genetics, disease-free clones, and nationwide compliant fulfillment into one supply chain. With home cultivation expected to surpass $3 billion by 2028, THG is positioning itself as the go-to resource for everyone from hobby growers to commercial seed retailers. Long gone are the days of back-alley botany—The game now runs on hard data, clean records, and a paper trail tight enough to pass a federal audit.
Flowhub Rolls Out POS-Native E-Commerce Platform
Retail software firm Flowhub unveiled a new point-of-sale-native e-commerce solution aimed at boosting online sales for cannabis dispensaries. Key features include live inventory synchronization, precise pricing, integrated prepayment options, a personalized shopping experience, intuitive user interface, and fully customizable branding. Early adopters have reported a 27% increase in average order value—this is the next-next step in the evolution of cannabis retail, where cannabis commerce rides the rails of code and convenience.
Americans Want Cannabis Decontaminated—But Don’t Understand How
A new survey from XRPure (a subsidiary of Varex Imaging) found that 91.7% of Americans believe medical cannabis should be decontaminated, and nearly as many want clear labeling when it is. Yet only 26.4% say they understand the available decontamination technologies like X-ray, ozone, and RF.
The confusion cuts both ways: a concern for consumers, and a wide-open lane for brands ready to slap science on the label and mean it.
Cannabis Stock Movers: TerrAscend, SNDL Surge
TerrAscend Corp. posted a 6.9% gain, bolstered by strong product sales and despite Congress throwing cold water on the cannabis rescheduling effort (for now), investors haven’t completely backed off the idea that this inevitability will eventually open up major tax relief and unlock banking access.
SNDL Inc. rose 5.6% for the week, reflecting investor confidence in its expanding Canadian retail strategy. The company continues to grow its brick-and-mortar presence through its Spiritleaf and Value Buds stores. Unlike many U.S.-based operators, SNDL has been less impacted by American regulatory limbo, giving it a more stable foundation and investor appeal, at least in the short term.
Meanwhile, Cresco Labs, Green Thumb Industries, and Curaleaf all experienced modest declines. These companies are heavily invested in U.S. operations, and with federal reform once again stalling in Congress, investor enthusiasm appears to be cooling. The regulatory bottleneck continues to weigh on multi-state operators (MSOs), many of which are constrained by high taxes, limited banking access, and state-by-state compliance hurdles.
