Cannabis Legalization News Podcast

Cannabis Legalization News
  • 4.3 (58)
  • News Commentary
  • Weekly

Cannabis Legalization News explains what changed in cannabis—and what comes next.Each week, cannabis attorney and dispensary owner Thomas Howard and activist Miguel “Miggy” Santiago connect the laws, court decisions, policy shifts, rights issues, hemp developments and regulated-market realities that matter.Each episode connects consequential cannabis developments and explains what they mean. Ask Thomas is a forthcoming pilot and will not be represented as an active series until it launches.CLN publishes news, analysis, commentary and education—not legal advice. Sponsored work and related-party relationships are disclosed; coverage is not for sale.Watch, read the sources and find current episodes at cannabislegalizationnews.com.

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    DEA Registers 900+ Medical Dispensaries—But Moves to Deny This One

    Send us Fan Mail Recorded November 1, 2026. More than 900 medical dispensaries have entered the DEA’s federal registration system, while one Minnesota applicant faces a proposed denial. Who gets in—and what does a state license actually get you? Tom Howard and Miggy discuss federal registration, the medical/adult-use licensing dispute, cannabis reform proposals, the approaching election, hemp rules and the practical business of running a dispensary. Watch the original CLN recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni-DYWKKFho Subscribe to Cannabis Legalization News for the next chapter. Find the show and newsletter at https://cannabislegalizationnews.com/. Support the show Get our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

    DEA Registers 900+ Medical Dispensaries—But Moves to Deny This One

  2. 5d ago ·  Bonus Video

    The Schedule III Loophole Nobody Saw Coming

    Send us Fan Mail Same jar. Same batch. Same licensed supply chain. What puts marijuana covered by a qualifying medical license back in Schedule I—the cash register? Show me the legal change. Request a Howard East consultation: https://www.cannabisindustrylawyer.com/280e-license-supply-chain-review/ The federal rule puts marijuana “subject to a state medical marijuana license” in Schedule III. My position: if that qualifying coverage continues through the supply chain, selling it to an adult does not, by itself, put it back in Schedule I. That coverage is disputed. We have to follow the actual licenses and the actual batch. In this episode, I read the rule, test the GHB comparison, examine DEA’s crop purchase and sale-back requirement for registered medical manufacturers, and confront Medpharm and Hello Farms. Then we read §280E’s actual Schedule I/II language and work through what the classification question means for a cannabis business. At Howard East, we read the law, examine your licenses and follow your supply chain with your tax professionals. Request a consultation to discuss whether a scoped legal review or formal opinion makes sense for your operation. We read the laws around here—subscribe for more analysis on them. PRIMARY SOURCES April 2026 final rule—tax discussion, pp. 6–7; operative license definition and rules, pp. 8–9: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-28/pdf/2026-08176.pdf Schedule III—21 CFR 1308.13(g)(2); GHB approved products, (c)(6): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-II/part-1308/section-1308.13 Schedule I—21 CFR 1308.11(d), including its opening exception: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-II/part-1308/section-1308.11 State medical marijuana license—21 CFR 1300.01: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-II/part-1300/section-1300.01 Registration limits and crop purchase/sale-back—21 CFR 1301.13(k)(1)(iv), (6)(i): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-II/part-1301/section-1301.13 Tax statute—26 USC 280E: https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-120/t26/s280E/ Congress’s GHB legislation—Public Law 106-172, §3: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-106publ172/pdf/PLAW-106publ172.pdf DEA’s GHB fact sheet—scheduling, p. 2: https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/GHB-Drug-Fact-Sheet_0.pdf Missouri facility and inventory rules—19 CSR 100-1: https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/AdRules/csr/current/19csr/19c100-1.pdf Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act—410 ILCS 705, including §55-85: https://my.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?ActID=3992&ActName=Cannabis+Regulation+and+Tax+Act.&ChapAct=410&Chapter=PUBLIC+HEALTH&ChapterID=35&MajorTopic=HEALTH+AND+SAFETY Medpharm Research—DEA decision and order, October 7, 2026: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-10-07/pdf/2026-20553.pdf Hello Farms—Sixth Circuit opinion, September 10, 2026: https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/26a0260p-06.pdf Treasury/IRS announcement on rescheduling and §280E: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0471 Attorney Advertising—Howard East. General information, not legal or tax advice for your return. No outcome is guaranteed. An inquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship. Keep confidential records and patient information out of public comments and the initial inquiry. Support the show Get our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

    The Schedule III Loophole Nobody Saw Coming

  3. Oct 25 ·  Video

    DEA Judge Rules on Rescheduling: The GAO Report and What’s Next

    Send us Fan Mail Recorded October 25, 2026. Thomas Howard and Miggy discuss the DEA judge's October 22 order admitting the GAO report and refusing to reopen the marijuana rescheduling hearing. Optional briefs are due October 29 and replies November 5. Those are briefing deadlines, not a promised ruling date; this order is not a final rescheduling decision. Jump to 07:32 for the DEA order discussion. The opening covers CLN, advocacy and hemp; the chapters follow the actual conversation. Also discussed: the Louise Lucas indictment (allegations, not a conviction), Massachusetts Question 8, cannabis health headlines and testing, state hemp deadlines, dispensary-neighbor research, Glass House, the Curaleaf-Aurora bid, Idaho and Houston ballot measures, and medical versus adult-use markets. Watch the original recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNGnLb2V4yg Public show notes and sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ezfcy3khUPjOW2FKGEKL8lKZw2yifqNrouM2VhaqNqw/edit Thomas Howard holds Illinois cannabis retail interests. Brought to you by Collateral Base. News, analysis, commentary and education; not legal, medical or investment advice. Support the show Get our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

    DEA Judge Rules on Rescheduling: The GAO Report and What’s Next

  4. Oct 21 ·  Bonus Video

    Running 10 Dispensaries Is Harder Than You Think

    Send us Fan Mail Running a dispensary is more than selling cannabis. Tom Howard talks with Omar Delgado, Ivy Hall's vice president of retail, about the work behind a 10-store Illinois operation: buying power, customer loyalty, staff experience, local relationships and competing as prices change. They compare loyalty programs, talk about what brings customers back, and explain why permission to stay open longer doesn't mean those hours make business sense. They also cover medical access, operating rules and the tax questions that are still unanswered. Recorded October 20, 2026. The legal and tax discussion reflects the law as of that date. Tom's Schedule III / 280E supply-chain point is his analysis, not a settled tax result. Guest: Omar Delgado, VP of Retail, Ivy Hall CLN: https://cannabislegalizationnews.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Running a dispensary is a business 00:29 Meet Omar Delgado 01:33 How Ivy Hall reached ten stores 03:15 How the loyalty program works 04:08 The work behind an off-site event 07:26 Employee and customer experience 08:55 Community outreach and ROI 12:51 Growth within a ten-store cap 13:50 Dual licenses and local approval 17:15 Tom's unanswered Schedule III tax question 18:53 Medical patients and access 20:32 Medical-patient priority 21:30 Illinois' November 12 hemp change 23:15 Drive-through and curbside plans 24:27 Deciding operating hours 27:09 Retail with a culture 28:23 Events, mail and digital marketing 30:26 Brand and customer education 31:33 The capital behind ten stores 32:15 Employee benefits and appreciation 34:20 Tom's view on limited markets 35:43 Taxes, prices and value 37:11 Developing the next leaders 38:56 Helping other operators Disclosure: Tom Howard has an ownership interest in Miggy's Shop, LLC, which operates Pekin's Local Dispensary & Supply. This is an operator conversation and general educational commentary, not legal or tax advice. Support the show Get our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

    Running 10 Dispensaries Is Harder Than You Think

  5. Oct 19 ·  Video

    DEA Pushes Back on Marijuana Rescheduling Delays

    Send us Fan Mail DEA is pushing back on additional GAO briefing while opponents seek to reopen the marijuana rescheduling hearing. The judge ordered a response to that separate reopening motion by October 21. The matter remains stayed; no reopening has been granted. Jump to 10:39 for the DEA discussion; this full replay opens with Illinois hemp enforcement. Recorded live October 18, 2026. This replay also covers Massachusetts Question 8, South Dakota's medical program, Illinois cannabinoid labels, the Hello Farms contract verdict, cannabis deal economics, the Supreme Court's gun-case denial and vape recalls. The conversation includes retail economics, industrial hemp, a remembrance of cannabis advocates, and the beer-versus-weed explainer. Watch the original CLN broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2Od0vmxM3I Watch the beer explainer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eS7afDQaik CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Welcome to CLN 00:01:18 - Illinois hemp enforcement: Nov. 12 00:07:54 - License limits and small operators 00:10:39 - The request to reopen the DEA hearing 00:15:06 - Massachusetts Question 8 00:17:57 - South Dakota and state medical programs 00:18:46 - Licensing and retail economics 00:23:48 - StreamYard, AI and editing the beer video 00:25:53 - Illinois cannabinoid labeling deadline 00:29:38 - Hello Farms and the $31.8 million verdict 00:32:20 - Cannabis deals and shareholder economics 00:37:36 - The Supreme Court and the gun-rights case 00:39:27 - Vape recalls and product oversight 00:43:31 - Remembering cannabis advocates 00:45:25 - Industrial hemp and domestic supply chains 00:51:21 - Federal reform and the unified supply chain 00:55:45 - Why weed is not treated like beer 00:58:34 - Wrap-up and guest invitation 00:59:15 - Collateral Base sponsor message PRIMARY SOURCES IDOR Bulletin FY 2027-04 (Illinois hemp): https://tax.illinois.gov/research/publications/bulletins/fy-2027-04.html CRS on federal hemp dates: https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2026-09-28_IF13136_aa36fad7d69289127cbbbafef54e2aede431b2c4.html DEA ALJ order, Oct. 14, 2026: https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/Proposed%20Marijuana%20Rescheduling_Order%20for%20Response%20to%20Motion%20to%20Reopen%20Hearing.pdf Massachusetts Question 8 (official): https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/research-and-statistics/2026-Information-for-voters/2026-ballot-question8.htm South Dakota AG Opinion 26-06: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/OfficialOpinions/opinionhtml.aspx?id=1779 IDOA CRTA rule update bulletin: https://cannabis.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/cannabis/documents/idoa/informational-bulletin-crta-rule-update-summary.pdf Sixth Circuit, Hello Farms v. GR Vending (No. 25-1759): https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/26a0260p-06.pdf Aurora SEC filing (14D-9F/A): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001683541/000110465926116021/tm2627570d1_sc14d9fa.htm Curaleaf revised offer: https://ir.curaleaf.com/2026-10-05-Curaleaf-Enhances-Offer-to-Acquire-Aurora-Cannabis Supreme Court docket, Johnson v. United States (No. 26-270): https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/26-270.html Colorado MED advisories: https://med.colorado.gov/health-and-safety-advisory Oct. 9 remarks transcript (Factba.se): https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-columbus-day-celebration-october-9-2026 CONTEXT AT RECORDING Illinois' Nov. 12 date is state guidance on state law, not yet in effect. Nothing in the DEA hearing has been reopened; it's a pending motion. Question 8 hasn't been decided. The Hello Farms rehearing request is as reported. Aurora hasn't accepted any offer. A cert denial isn't a merits ruling. The latest Colorado pesticide batch and 226 stores are primary-verified; broader totals are omitted. Sponsor CLN: https://www.cannabislegalizationnews.com/sponsor/ Collateral Base sponsors Cannabis Legalization News. Thomas Howard is a cannabis lawyer with Illinois cannabis retail interests. This show is general education, not legal, tax or investment advice. Support the show Get our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

    DEA Pushes Back on Marijuana Rescheduling Delays

  6. Oct 18 ·  Bonus Video

    Why the Government Won't Treat Weed Like Beer

    Send us Fan Mail Understanding marijuana rescheduling starts with knowing why alcohol and tobacco were excluded from the Controlled Substances Act. Cannabis lawyer Tom Howard breaks down the statutory history of how marijuana was placed in Schedule I while alcohol and tobacco remained exempt. This distinction creates massive hurdles for businesses today, specifically regarding tax treatment. Moving to Schedule III does not automatically create an alcohol-style exemption because the plant remains subject to the Controlled Substances Act. We analyze how Section 280E creates tax penalties for cannabis businesses that do not apply to breweries. True reform requires understanding why federal cannabis law functions this way and how current marijuana rescheduling efforts might actually change the playing field for operators. Subscribe for weekly cannabis industry legal breakdowns, and comment below on what reform topics you want covered next. Watch the original CLN video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eS7afDQaik Watch the video on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3M5dkSYAVXYJK6HnehRN3J Brought to you by Collateral Base. General education, not legal, tax or investment advice. CHAPTERS 00:00 Beer vs Weed Taxes 00:52 Why Alcohol Excluded 01:21 Prohibition Lessons 02:35 Tobacco Separate System 03:53 280E and Schedule Math 04:17 Schedule Three Rule Limits 05:18 Sponsor Message 05:31 Paths to Descheduling 06:17 After Descheduling Questions 06:49 Build a Cannabis Framework 07:22 Reform Checklist 07:52 Closing Takeaway Support the show Get our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

    Why the Government Won't Treat Weed Like Beer

  7. Oct 11 ·  Video

    Marijuana Rescheduling's Court Fight Could Stretch Into 2027

    Send us Fan Mail Recorded October 11, 2026. Thomas Howard and Miggy present the Cannabis Legalization News weekly roundup. Watch the original CLN video replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mHjZk34FPo Brought to you by Collateral Base. CLN is news, analysis and education—not legal advice. Discussion reflects the information available at the time of recording. Chapters 00:00:00 - Welcome and dispensary operations 00:06:05 - Rescheduling court fight 00:09:05 - How the briefing calendar works 00:12:04 - Hemp THC and legalization debate 00:18:27 - DEA registration and supply chains 00:24:48 - Trump's cannabis comments 00:25:44 - Washington medical-cannabis verification 00:29:04 - Illinois homegrow and possession limits 00:34:54 - Massachusetts and Idaho ballots 00:42:46 - AI and running a law firm 00:46:39 - Illinois oversight and age checks 00:48:28 - Medicare CBD court challenge 00:52:40 - Missouri cannabis ownership dispute 00:55:39 - Cannabis takeovers and valuations 00:59:02 - Cannabis enforcement and promotions 01:02:13 - Taxes, banking and business costs 01:04:38 - Closing updates 01:06:58 - Collateral Base sponsor message Support the show Get our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

    Marijuana Rescheduling's Court Fight Could Stretch Into 2027

  8. Oct 4 ·  Bonus Video

    DEA Judge Stays Rescheduling Case: Is This a Dead End?

    Send us Fan Mail Thomas Howard examines the DEA marijuana rescheduling stay, the GAO report, and what the delay means for cannabis operators. October 13 is a response deadline—not a promised decision date. Recorded analysis reflects the record as of October 3, 2026. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtbMDdoG-h8 Signed DEA stay order: https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/Proposed%20Marijuana%20Rescheduling_Stay%20and%20Briefing%20Order.pdf GAO report: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108623 This episode is sponsored by Howard East—counsel for regulated operators, from dispensaries to data centers. Public education, not individualized legal, tax, medical or investment advice. Thomas holds Illinois cannabis retail interests. Chapters 00:00:00 - Delay Hits Operators 00:01:09 - GAO Report Triggers Pause 00:02:02 - What The Stay Order Does 00:02:36 - Judge Authority After Hearing 00:03:41 - Inside The GAO Findings 00:04:58 - Opponents Seek Do Over 00:05:32 - Law Limits GAO Role 00:07:57 - Best Case For The Pause 00:09:14 - Real World Cost Of Waiting 00:10:18 - Sponsor And April Rule 00:11:12 - What Happens Next 00:11:53 - Closing Thoughts And Call Support the show Get our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

    DEA Judge Stays Rescheduling Case: Is This a Dead End?
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About

Cannabis Legalization News explains what changed in cannabis—and what comes next.Each week, cannabis attorney and dispensary owner Thomas Howard and activist Miguel “Miggy” Santiago connect the laws, court decisions, policy shifts, rights issues, hemp developments and regulated-market realities that matter.Each episode connects consequential cannabis developments and explains what they mean. Ask Thomas is a forthcoming pilot and will not be represented as an active series until it launches.CLN publishes news, analysis, commentary and education—not legal advice. Sponsored work and related-party relationships are disclosed; coverage is not for sale.Watch, read the sources and find current episodes at cannabislegalizationnews.com.

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