21 Feb, 2026

Florida heads toward a high-stakes court fight over petition signatures that could decide whether adult-use cannabis even reaches voters. Pennsylvania ramps up pressure to legalize as neighboring states cash in, while Nebraska hits a rare federal roadblock as its medical program takes shape.

Also in this episode: Hawaii tries to cut medical patient wait times with a temporary purchase option, South Dakota moves medical cannabis cards onto smartphones, and Maryland considers job protections for firefighters and EMTs—while cracking down on impairment at work. On the market side, Massachusetts debates freezing new grow licenses as prices slide, Arizona targets smoke and odor complaints, Missouri votes to overhaul intoxicating hemp-derived THC products, and New York floats a new permit for low-dose THC drinks in liquor and wine shops with new taxes and tracking.

A week of cannabis headlines puts medical access and legal stability in the spotlight.

NOTE: To make this episode's narration more dynamic, it was generated by a text-to-voice AI.

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