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Bill To Put Marijuana On The Ballot In North Carolina Unlikely To Advance, GOP Senate Leader Says

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4 weeks ago

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“I’m not sure we’re at a place where we’re going to take legalization of marijuana.”

By Brandon Kingdollar, NC Newsline

A new bill proposed by North Carolina Senate Democrats would vote on constitutional amendments to legalize recreational and medical cannabis. But the chances of getting a vote in the Senate are not high, says the Republican leadership.

Senate Bill 1072 would put two separate amendments on the ballot in November, asking voters to legalize the possession of “limited quantities of cannabis” by patients who qualify for recreational and medical use, respectively.

“The people of North Carolina deserve a voice in determining the future of cannabis policy in our state,” said Sen. Kandie Smith (D-Edgecombe), one of the bill’s lead sponsors. “What it does is it gives North Carolinians a way to vote on whether or not limited personal property and medical use should be allowed under our state constitution.”

Senate President Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) had a candid response: “I’m not sure we’re in a place where we’re going to take legalization of marijuana,” he said Wednesday afternoon.

“I think there is some interest in looking at the state of hemp and the sale of hemp ingredients and some derivatives,” Berger said. “It’s really unclear whether we’re talking about an outright ban, or a regulatory scheme, or whether we’re talking about including these and not including those. It’s just a matter of discussion about what we get a consensus on.”

It would be a proposal that is currently moving through the Chamber prohibit anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing hemp-derived consumables.

Berger has supported medical marijuana in the past. In 2024, the Senate passed a bill that legalized medical marijuana while restricting hemp-based consumables. The bill, which passed 36-10, was championed by Senate Rules Chairman Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick), a cancer survivor who said cannabis helped him endure intensive chemotherapy for colon cancer.

However, the House refused to take up Rabon’s bill because of insufficient GOP support in that chamber. North Carolina remains one of 10 states that have yet to legalize medical marijuana.

With no medical cannabis program in North Carolina, many have turned to the state’s booming hemp industry to meet what they describe as medical needs, such as relieving pain, insomnia and anxiety among other conditions. However, many of these products will disappear after much stricter federal restrictions on hemp-based consumables take effect in November.

A February 2025 Meredith College Poll found that 71 percent of North Carolina residents supported passing a bill allowing medical marijuana, while 17 percent of respondents opposed it. Polls conducted by Elon University and the progressive think tank Carolina Forward have also shown majorities in favor of recreational marijuana in recent years.

Sen. Caleb Theodros (D-Mecklenburg), another key sponsor of S1072, said invoice State legislation would allow for the capture of public opinion on the use of cannabis.

“If the Legislature can’t fix this problem after years of debate, who should? I think the answer is simple, and it’s the people of North Carolina,” Theodros said. “Senate Bill 1072 gives voters an opportunity to have a direct voice on an issue that has been unresolved for too long.”

He said Berger has supported a push for cannabis legislation over the past year, an apparent reference to the Senate leader’s comments about medical cannabis. That makes him “cautiously optimistic” about the bill’s fate.

“We are aware of the political climate in this building. But again, we were not made to sit on our hands and say we are in the minority and therefore we can’t do anything,” Theodros said. “We’re trying to move with our colleagues here and join the rest of America and the rest of the planet to suggest that we need to have some kind of policy on this.”

This story was first published by NC Newsline.

user photo Philip Steffan.

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Will the top World Cup expert in the fruit, vegetable, and horticulture sector come from Canada, the U.S. or Belgium?

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15 hours ago

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July 20, 2026

By






FreshPublishers 2026 World Cup Group Stage






The World Cup is coming to an end, with the third-place play-off between France and England on Saturday, and the final between Spain and Argentina the following day. It won’t be long until the grand winner of FreshPublishers’ first World Cup pool is revealed.

© Fresh Publishers

As previously reported, Slim Kooli from Courchesne Laros is the favorite to win the €1,000 prize. He has secured a comfortable lead over Nol Batist of North American Interstate Greenhouse Company, while buyer Bjorn Van Ryckeghem of Deprez Construct is currently in third place.

1 Sim School Spain 1–0 2–1 737 9716
2 Nol Batist France 2–1 1–1 674 9433
3 Bjorn Van Ryckeghem France 2–2 3–1 674 9264
4 Christian Anton Smedshaug England 1–2 1–2 659 9134
5 Perry Springintveld Spain 1–1 2–1 647 9105
6 Willem Tijssen Spain 2–0 2–1 710 9098
7 Hans Borsboom Spain 2–1 2–1 528 9058
8 Bart Triemstra Spain 2–1 2–1 737 9052
9 Youness Bensaid Spain 2–1 1–1 722 8954
10 Vijay Dijkstra Portugal 2–0 2–1 382 8953

However, there have been some surprises during the tournament, and bonus points must be added, so we will keep the suspense a little longer. On Monday we will find out who is the main World Cup announcer in the international fruit, vegetable and horticulture sector…



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States Move To Let First Responders Use Marijuana And Psychedelics To Treat PTSD

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15 hours ago

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July 20, 2026

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“When you’re in the fire service, or in any of the first response industries, or especially in the military, things are going to accumulate over time, and what happens is you see a lot of things, crazy things that at least seem normal.”

By Amanda Watford, Stateline

This year more states have looked beyond traditional counseling and medication to help first responders deal with traumatic stress.

Firefighters, police, and emergency medical personnel routinely experience fatal accidents, violent crimes, and other traumatic events that can leave lasting psychological scars.

“When you’re in the fire service, or the first response industry, or especially the military, things just pile up over time, and what happens is you see a lot of things, crazy things that at least seem normal,” said Jason Cerrano, a retired firefighter and paramedic with more than 20 years of experience in Missouri. Cerrano is now director of research and commercial development at IDEX Fire & Safety.

In Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law last month a measure that will create the Post-Traumatic Injuries Commission to review requests from first responders to help cover treatment costs.

Maryland took a different approach this year, enacting a law protecting firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and other rescue workers. employment discrimination for the illegal use of medical marijuana outside of work.

The new law, which will take effect in October, applies to medical cannabis patients who test positive for cannabis metabolites but are impaired while working.

Several other states are exploring emerging therapies.

A new Connecticut law expands a pilot program at Yale University studying psilocybin-assisted therapy Allowing any state resident 18 years of age or older to participate, provided they meet clinical eligibility criteria established by the Yale University Institutional Review Board. Previously, the pilot program was limited to veterans, retired first responders and frontline healthcare workers.

Missouri lawmakers advanced a bill allowing veterans and first responders to receive the psychedelics psilocybin and ibogaine in approved research studies. Under medical supervision for PTSD and other mental health conditions. The legislative session adjourned in May before lawmakers sent a bill to the governor.

This story was first published by Stateline.

Image courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos.

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Standard Wellness expands into Cleveland with dispensary acquisition

Published

2 days ago

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July 19, 2026

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Standard Wellness has entered into an agreement with License in the Flats, LLC to enter into definitive agreements to acquire a dispensary license in the Flats following the required regulatory review period. At the end of that period, the company and License in the Flats intend to execute those agreements and then continue to develop the dispensary into a retail location branded The Forest Cleveland.

Following regulatory approval of the change of ownership by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, the new dispensary will become the Company’s first retail location in the city of Cleveland, where the Company is headquartered.

Additionally, the Company announced the divestiture of The Forest Sandusky and The Forest Springfield, its Ohio dispensaries, to Greenlight, again subject to pending regulatory approvals.

“We are excited to expand our presence in the city of Cleveland and serve guests in our hometown,” said Kate Ols, Vice President of Retail for Standard Wellness. “As our business continues to grow, we are focused on building a retail network that will best position us to serve our communities for the long term. At the same time, we are proud of the role our Sandusky and Springfield dispensaries have played in Ohio’s cannabis history, and we are confident that those communities will continue to grow under Greenlight’s leadership.”

Standard Wellness and Greenlight are working closely together to support a smooth transition for staff and guests throughout the transfer process. As established operators in Ohio and Missouri, the companies share a commitment to strengthening the regulated cannabis industry and serving the communities in which they operate.

The new dispensary is expected to serve both local residents and visitors while completing the Company’s Northeast Ohio footprint.

Under Ohio law, a cannabis operator cannot hold more than eight dispensary licenses statewide. The acquisition of the Cleveland license and divestiture of The Forest Sandusky and The Forest Springfield allows Standard Wellness to continue to meet Ohio’s property limits while strategically repositioning its Ohio retail footprint and focusing investments in key markets.

Forest Sandusky and Forest Springfield have played significant roles in the evolution of Ohio’s cannabis industry. Sandusky was the site of the state’s first legal cannabis sale in January 2019, and Springfield became the first part of Ohio’s cannabis industry merger and acquisition transaction when Standard Wellness purchased Pure Ohio Wellness’ dispensary.

For more information:
Standard Wellness Holdings
standardwellness.com/

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