Send us Fan Mail<br>Hosts Tom and a co-host discuss cannabis legalization news for the week ending August 16, 2026, focusing on how legalization may unfold over the next 18–60 months and why “hybrid” dispensaries (serving medical and adult-use) could shape tax and regulatory outcomes, including arguments around IRC 280E. They review Illinois’ SB322 process and IDPFR forms to convert to hybrid status, speculate on federal Schedule III rescheduling timelines and upcoming briefing deadlines, and note Treasury/IRS awaiting rescheduling for 280E guidance while FDA is late on intoxicating cannabinoid packaging rules. They criticize politicization, lobbying, and hemp-derived THC beverage bills, citing Virginia’s 2mg cap taking effect. Other items include Illinois rulemaking to allow outdoor cultivation, New York’s Gotham Buds “sole control” ruling risks for investors, Massachusetts shelf audits finding mislabeled potency, and a “Name That Strain” reveal: Revolution’s Peach Crescendo.<br><br>Support the show<br>Get our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3VEn9vu

Hybrid Dispensaries, Schedule III Rescheduling, and the Fight Over THC Hemp Drinks (Week Ending Aug 16, 2026)

Cannabis Legalization News Podcast

Hey, you're tuned in to the number one cannabis news policy and industry podcast that you can find on the internet. My name's Tom. I'm one of your hosts. And right there is a QR code that you can get our newsletter every week delivered directly to you. So we have 10 stories in the hopper for today. We do have a name that strain. We just started to stock it over at a place which will be named later.

Hmm. Okay. But our main story this week has to do with our prognostication for how legalization will probably play out over the course of the next 18 to 36, maybe even 60 months. It could be five years. Spoiler alert, it will not include intoxicating hemp. But it probably will include a lot of what our dispensary is going to be doing hybrids. And so let's dig into Cannabis Legalization News.

That is the week ending August 16, 2026. What up, man? Hey, what's up, everybody? Yeah, before we get too far into this, I do want to give a shout out to our members. Our members, they help us keep making these videos and then they get our videos fastest. And also we interact with them on here. Sometimes we might lambast a troll on here. What?

What? What? What? Each state has its own. Even Washington state hasn't addressed the issue yet for when to lock it down.

So hybrids. That's what I would do. I mean, like this, this policy evolution coming out of Illinois, and also Missouri had it from the drop because Missouri was one of the fastest from medical to adult use for years 2018 to 2022. And everybody was an existing medical. And so they self dealt as they always do.

Hybrid Dispensaries, Schedule III Rescheduling, and the Fight Over THC Hemp Drinks (Week Ending Aug 16, 2026)

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Hybrid Dispensaries, Schedule III Rescheduling, and the Fight Over THC Hemp Drinks (Week Ending Aug 16, 2026)

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.