Pennsylvania’s governor is using the unofficial cannabis holiday of 4/20 to once again send a bill to lawmakers to legalize marijuana.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers held a hearing on the impact of cannabis convictions and the need for legalization.
“Pennsylvanians looking to buy recreational marijuana are crossing the border into one of our neighboring states that has legalized it,” Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said in a social media post Monday. “That’s hundreds of millions in revenue being taken out of state instead of being spent here in Pennsylvania.”
“It’s time to finally catch up, and get the legislature to send a bill to my desk and get this done,” he said.
Pennsylvanians looking to buy recreational marijuana are crossing the border into one of our neighboring states that have legalized it.
That’s hundreds of millions in revenue being taken out of state, instead of being spent here in Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the House Majority Policy Committee held a hearing on the “clean slate” issues of cannabis to examine how criminal records affect people’s lives.
Members heard from representatives of the Last Prisoner Project, Law Enforcement Action Partnership and Community Legal Services.
Rep. Andre Carroll (D) said passing cannabis reform would be “truly transformational” and have a “direct impact” on people across the state.
“States with seemingly nothing else in common, like Mississippi and North Dakota, have already decriminalized cannabis,” he said. “However, Pennsylvania remains one of 19 states in the country where possession of cannabis is a criminal offense, which carries a prison sentence in our commonwealth.”
Rep. Darisha Parker (D) said at Monday’s event that “we did our part here in the House, but the Senate is still working.”
Pennsylvania House Democrats also promoted a network demand On Monday, people have the opportunity to contact their state senators to support the legalization of marijuana.
When asked “whether they support or oppose the regulation and taxation of legal cannabis for use by adults 21 and older in Pennsylvania,” 69% of respondents said yes. Democratic support was strongest at 72 percent, but also includes 67 percent of Republicans and 64 percent of independents.
“While some in Harrisburg say we can’t make greater investments in our children, public safety and our economy, know this: If we legalized and regulated adult-use cannabis, we would generate $1.3 billion in revenue for our Commonwealth in the first five years,” the governor said in a recent social media post.
“These are dollars that can be invested in our town and our communities,” he said. “Stop with the excuses. Let’s do this.”
With a 20 percent excise tax on wholesale cannabis, a 6 percent state sales tax on retail and license fees, the IFO said the governor’s legalization plan would generate $140 million in tax revenue in 2027-2028 and rise to $432 million in 2030-2031.
That’s much higher than what the governor’s office presented in the last executive budget. According to his office’s analysis, legalization would generate about $36.9 billion in tax dollars in the first year from a 20 percent wholesale tax on marijuana, rising gradually to $223.8 million in 2030-2031.
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Well, it’s not 2026 photos, but with around 600 photos, we definitely did our best. For the past two days, the Netherlands has been the place to be for the global greenhouse industry. From Flower Trials for the horticulture sector, company visits to growers and technical suppliers, as well as dinners, get-togethers, drinks, knowledge sessions and much more. And of course with GreenTech Amsterdam.
The event brought together professionals from around the world to connect, network, share knowledge and do business.
Next week, we’ll be sharing more information on market developments, trends, what’s on display, news, business news, innovations and whatever else you can think of, but for now we’ll stick to photo reporting.
Governor JB Pritzker on Friday gave final approval to the legislation, which cleared the House and Senate about two weeks ago.
As established by law, SB 3222 allows state residents over the age of 21 to possess up to 60 grams of marijuana flower, double the previous law. They can also contain up to 10 grams of concentrated cannabis and infused products with up to 1,000 mg of THC, double the previous limit. Ownership amounts for non-resident adults are also doubled under the bill.
People with past convictions for possession of 60 grams of marijuana will now have the option to have those records expunged; they can double the previous cut, which only those with convictions of up to 30 grams can have the right.
The legislation also recriminalizes hemp THC products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container, in line with the federal ban that will take effect in November.
“Rather than allowing an ambiguous market to put people at risk, Illinois is taking steps to protect consumers of all ages, especially children, from misleading packaging and labeling,” Pritzker said in a press release. “This landmark legislation closes the intoxicating cannabis loophole while strengthening equity and oversight and expanding medical access. Illinois is committed to cultivating a cannabis industry that benefits diverse businesses across the state and prioritizes accessibility, and I’m proud to sign this measure into law.”
Illinois continues to set the standard for opportunity, equity and safety in the adult cannabis industry.
Today, I’m signing legislation to ban the intoxicated sale of marijuana to people under the age of 21 to protect our children, simplify licensing, and strengthen oversight. pic.twitter.com/HEnEdSWe7e
Among other changes, the bill also allows for drive-thru and curbside pickup at dispensaries, allows them to stay open until 2 a.m., and allows medical cannabis certificates to be issued via telehealth.
The hood limits of craft cannabis growers will be expanded to between 5,000 and 14,000 square meters, and the new the law loosens some security requirements for marijuana companies, and also waives or reduces fees for smaller operators.
While broader restrictions on hemp products take effect in the state on Nov. 12, along with a similar federal move, sales to people under the age of 21 are immediately prohibited,
The legislation allows all marijuana dispensaries to register individually to specifically sell medical cannabis. The list of conditions for medical marijuana is also expanding to include female orgasmic disorder, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and uterine fibroids.
“Illinois has led the nation in building a cannabis industry that prioritizes equity and public safety, and SB 3222 builds on that progress,” Governor Juliana Stratton said. he said. “By protecting young people from intoxicating unregulated hemp products and creating clear standards for the industry, we’re ensuring consumers are safer while maintaining opportunities for diverse businesses and communities across our state.”
Mike Latimer’s photo.
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On May 29, 2026, global cannabis technology company CannBro was invited to the Cannabis Expo in Johannesburg to share insights on emerging cannabis-related medical applications and supply chain strategies in the cannabis markets.
At the event, CannBro highlighted its partnership with the CHEEBA Cannabis Academy to promote industry education, compliance awareness and the development of regulatory standards in emerging cannabis markets. The company highlighted the importance of establishing strong regulatory and compliance frameworks for the sustainable growth of the industry.
As a company certified with ISO 13485 and GMP, CannBro actively explores medical cannabis applications and collaborates with health organizations to discuss potential clinical research and CBD product applications.
CannBro also introduced the “Factory Pricing + Local Stock” strategy, combining manufacturing capabilities in China with warehouses located overseas, enabling efficient delivery of local inventory. The company currently operates warehouses in the United States, Canada, Germany and South Africa and has helped more than 150 customers with local stock delivery solutions that reduce costs and improve inventory turnover.
In addition, CannBro visited local cannabis cultivation facilities to learn about the evolution of the South African market and explore potential partnerships for cultivation, medical applications and product development.
Andy Zhao, CEO of CannBro, said: “As the global cannabis market matures, fulfillment and medical applications will become key drivers of sustainable growth. CannBro remains committed to advancing the industry through education, medical research and supply chain innovation.”