Cannabis & Hemp

Federal hemp regulations face potential delays as the Senate votes to extend the ban deadline, while new bipartisan legislation proposes treating hemp beverages like alcohol. Meanwhile, Rhode Island reopens its cannabis retail licensing process and New York authorizes microbusinesses to sell at farmers' markets.

The first half of 2026 was an important year for the Massachusetts adult-use and medical cannabis industry, with significant developments on multiple fronts.

Federal appeals courts are divided on whether states can legally favor in-state residents in their cannabis licensing programs, with some circuits applying the Dormant Commerce Clause while others exempt cannabis due to its federal illegality. The Supreme Court's recent decision to decline hearing this constitutional question leaves cannabis operators facing different rules depending on their geographic location, creating uncertainty for interstate expansion.