The Federal Door Opens — States Decide How Wide. Courts, States & Cannabis Power Shifts This Weekend
Rescheduling goes official, courts get involved, states redraw the lines, and local governments quietly push reform forward.
Federal cannabis reform finally crossed a line this week — not with a vote, not with a court ruling, but with a signature. President Trump’s executive order formally launching federal marijuana rescheduling shattered a decades-old stalemate and forced every stakeholder — states, courts, regulators, businesses — to respond.
But rescheduling is not resolution.
Across the country, attorneys general are challenging ballot initiatives, governors are tightening hemp rules, courts are deciding whether voters went too far, and local governments are quietly deprioritizing enforcement where statehouses refuse to act. Cannabis policy is no longer about whether reform happens — it’s about who controls the pace, the scope, and the profits.
This weekend’s edition captures that shift.
Trump Signs Executive Order to Reschedule Marijuana
President Trump formally signed an executive order directing federal agencies to reschedule marijuana away from Schedule I, acknowledging accepted medical use and reducing federal restrictions on research and taxation. While the order stops short of federal legalization, it removes the most politically toxic classification cannabis has carried for 50+ years.
Key Takeaways:
• 280E tax relief now becomes a real, near-term possibility
• Research barriers will ease, accelerating FDA-grade studies
• Criminal justice reform is not included — yet
Florida Attorney General Asks State Supreme Court to Review 2026 Legalization Ballot
Florida’s AG asked the state Supreme Court to evaluate the constitutionality of a proposed 2026 adult-use marijuana ballot measure, injecting uncertainty into one of the largest potential legalization markets in the country.
Key Takeaways:
• Ballot wins are no longer guaranteed even before voters weigh in
• Courts are becoming gatekeepers of legalization strategy
• Southeast expansion remains politically fragile
Another Michigan City Votes to Deprioritize Psychedelics Enforcement
Jackson, Michigan joined a growing list of cities directing police to deprioritize enforcement of psychedelic substances — part of a broader reform movement running parallel to cannabis legalization.
Key Takeaways:
• Local governments are acting where states hesitate
• Cannabis reform momentum is bleeding into psychedelics
• Expect crossover policy frameworks by 2027
Drug-Testing Industry Sounds Alarm Over Cannabis Rescheduling
Drug-testing trade groups launched a public campaign opposing rescheduling, arguing it could undermine workplace safety and transportation standards.
Key Takeaways:
• New opposition blocs are mobilizing
• Expect clashes over employment law and impairment standards
• THC testing reform will become unavoidable
DOJ Argues Marijuana Users Are More Dangerous Than Alcohol Users
In court filings, DOJ attorneys argued marijuana users present greater public safety risks than alcohol users — a claim sharply criticized by public health experts.
Key Takeaways:
• Federal agencies are not aligned internally
• Science vs ideology remains a fault line
• These arguments may backfire post-rescheduling
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Cannabis Prohibition Challenge
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging federal marijuana prohibition under the Commerce Clause, leaving reform to Congress and the executive branch.
Key Takeaways:
• Courts won’t save cannabis — policy will
• Litigation remains a pressure tool, not a solution
• Executive authority matters more than ever
Alabama Approves Medical Marijuana Dispensary Licenses
After years of delays, Alabama regulators approved dispensary licenses, clearing the path for patient access in 2026.
Key Takeaways:
• Southern medical markets are finally operational
• Demand will likely outpace supply early
• Conservative states are moving quietly — but firmly
Online Child Safety Bill Could Restrict Cannabis Advertising
A federal online safety bill could unintentionally restrict cannabis marketing by tightening digital advertising standards.
Key Takeaways:
• Compliance costs will rise
• Cannabis brands must rethink digital strategy
• Regulation is expanding beyond plant control
Closing: The Shape of 2026
Cannabis reform is no longer theoretical. It’s administrative, adversarial, and fragmented. Rescheduling cracked the federal wall — but states, courts, agencies, and industries are now fighting over what comes through the opening.
The winners of 2026 won’t be those waiting for legalization headlines — they’ll be the ones navigating implementation, enforcement gaps, and regulatory spillover.
This is where the real work begins.