Cannabis Market Pulse Sept 8th to 14th

An eventful week for cannabis. With supply chain strikes in B.C., Congress blocking rescheduling in the U.S., and Morocco’s first legal export, the headlines were relentless. Here’s a concise roundup of the top cannabis stories (Sept 8–14, 2025) from Canada, the U.S., and around the world.

Canada

1. Labor Strike Threatens Cannabis Distribution in B.C.: The BC General Employees’ Union expanded its strike by implementing an overtime ban at key Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses that supply cannabis, heightening fears of product shortages. BCLDB officials said they will maintain shipments during regular hours, but retailers remember a 2022 strike that halted new deliveries for weeks.

2. Quebec Set to Allow Cannabis Vapes by November: Quebec’s provincial retailer (SQDC) announced it will begin selling cannabis vape products in late November, ending a years-long vape ban. About 30 products (25 cartridges and 2 devices) are planned for stores and online, all limited to Quebec’s 30% THC cap and without added flavors except cannabis terpenes.

3. Alberta Testing Reveals THC Label Inaccuracies: Alberta’s regulator, AGLC, revealed it has been quietly conducting secondary lab tests on cannabis since 2020, identifying 35 products that violated federal regulations. Most issues (33 cases) involved THC potency not matching labels, along with one pesticide and one microbial contamination case. Problem batches lead to producer investigations and can be confiscated sale.

4. Irradiation May Degrade Cannabis Quality, Study Finds: New Canadian research warns that electron-beam irradiation used to sanitize cannabis could reduce product quality over time. In tests, irradiated buds lost about 10% of THC over six months compared to less than 1% in non-irradiated samples. Researchers also observed browning trichomes, micro-seed formation, and flavor changes in irradiated cannabis, raising concerns about this common decontamination method.

5. Ontario Police Bust Massive Illegal Grow: Acting on a Health Canada tip, South Simcoe Police raided a rural property in Bradford, Ontario, on September 9 and seized more than 8,000 illegal cannabis plants along with large quantities of dried product and packaging. Officers arrested two individuals at the unlicensed site. Authorities say such large-scale illegal grows undermine the legal market and pose public safety risks.

6. String of Cannabis Store Robberies in Calgary: Calgary police report 12 armed robberies at city cannabis shops so far this year, many involving teen suspects. This is a troubling trend, even though incidents are down from 29 last year. Thieves often target cash and high-value products. Alberta retailers are increasing security measures and urging customers to pay cashless to deter crime.

7. Ontario Cannabis Store Highlights Social Impact: The OCS (Ontario’s public cannabis wholesaler) released its second annual Social Impact Report, detailing progress in public education, community investment, and social equity initiatives. Over the past year, OCS spent $2.8 million on responsible use campaigns and funded programs supporting cannabis industry diversity, research, and environmental sustainability. The report is part of OCS’s effort to foster a more inclusive and socially responsible cannabis market.

8. Cannabis Store Window Coverings Policy Eased: Ontario officially removed its requirement for opaque window coverings at cannabis shops, effective May 2025, allowing stores to have transparent fronts. The change aims to improve safety by increasing visibility into stores and normalize cannabis retail. It also follows industry complaints that covered windows hurt customer experience. Other provinces like Alberta and B.C. never mandated window frosting, and retailers welcomed Ontario’s policy shift.

United States

1. Congress Moves to Block Federal Rescheduling of Marijuana: The House Appropriations Committee approved a budget rider that prevents the DOJ from using funds to reschedule or deschedule cannabis. Republicans added this provision to block the Trump administration from loosening federal marijuana laws. (The Biden-era HHS had recommended moving cannabis to Schedule III, but that effort stalled due to these political roadblocks.)

2. House Panel Votes to Overturn D.C. Cannabis Expungements: A GOP-controlled committee voted to repeal Washington D.C.’s marijuana expungement law, which had been automatically clearing minor cannabis possession records. Chairman James Comer argued that the District’s 2022 Second Chance Act, which mandated mass expungements for past offenses, was too lenient. The move, part of Congress’s oversight of D.C. laws, drew criticism from advocates who say it undermines local criminal justice reform.

3. Trump Administration Halts Cannabis & Hemp Regulations: The U.S. Department of Justice suddenly withdrew dozens of pending rules, including one to implement a 2022 law expanding medical marijuana research and another easing hemp lab testing regulations. DOJ claimed a “deregulatory” initiative, but observers note that one withdrawn rule oddly shared an identifier with the stalled rescheduling proposal, which adds to the confusion. Lawmakers and researchers are worried that this cancellation of rules (some required by law) could slow down medical cannabis research and the growth of the hemp industry.

4. House OKs Amendment on Cannabis and Military Recruits: The House approved an amendment requiring the Pentagon to create a program for potential enlistees who test positive for THC to have a second chance to join. It requests that DoD waive the one-and-done policy and permit recruits disqualified due to a positive marijuana test to reapply after a waiting period. Supporters say this waiver, included in a defense bill, recognizes widespread legal cannabis use and helps the military recruiting.

5. Pennsylvania Governor Urges Lawmakers to Unite on Legalization: In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office told state legislators to stop submitting competing cannabis legalization bills and to collaborate on a single, consensus plan with robust equity provisions. The governor (a Democrat) indicated he would only sign an adult-use legalization bill that includes social equity measures such as expungements and community reinvestment. Several legalization bills have been introduced by PA lawmakers, prompting the push for a coordinated strategy.

6. New Hampshire Pushes Ahead on Legalization Despite Likely Veto: A New Hampshire House committee advanced a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis, even as lawmakers openly acknowledged the state’s governor remains opposed. “Let’s send a virtue signal,” said the bill sponsor, arguing the House should again pass legalization to pressure the resistant GOP-led Senate and Governor. The plan under discussion included a novel twist: selling only low-THC cannabis beverages via state-run liquor stores; though ultimately the panel favored a broader legalization model.

7. Poll: Americans Largely Neutral on Cannabis’ Societal Impact: A new NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll of over 30,000 Americans found that 44% believe legal marijuana is neither good nor bad for society, while 29% see it as positive and 27% as negative. Younger adults were slightly more optimistic: one-third of Gen Z respondents called legalization “good,” but neutrality was the most common response across all age groups. These lukewarm attitudes suggest that as more states legalize, cannabis has become relatively normalized in the public eye.

8. Study: No Driving Impairment for Regular Users After 48 Hours: A UC San Diego-led study, the largest of its kind, found that frequent cannabis users showed no driving deficits after a 2-day abstinence period. Researchers tested daily cannabis users in driving simulators about 48 hours after their last use and observed no significant differences compared to non-users. The findings reinforce that THC impairment doesn’t simply correlate with the presence of THC in blood, and they cast doubt on per se DUI laws. Officials say this highlights the need for better impairment tests than just blood THC levels.

9. Massachusetts Ballot Measure Aims to Repeal Legal Sales: In an unexpected turn, Massachusetts prohibitionists are aiming to recriminalize cannabis sales through 2026 ballot initiatives. The state attorney general’s office approved two proposed questions that would dismantle key parts of Massachusetts’ 2016 legalization—one would ban recreational marijuana sales, and the other would shut down existing cannabis businesses. Advocates for legalization are preparing to oppose these measures, which require tens of thousands of voter signatures to appear on the ballot.

10. Feds Eye Anti-Cannabis Campaign Targeting Youth: A federal commission led by prominent anti-drug officials, including RFK Jr. in a role, recommended that the U.S. Surgeon General launch an educational campaign about marijuana’s risks to youth health. The “Make Our Children Healthy Again” strategy, supported by the Trump administration, advocates for public warnings regarding high-potency THC products and their potential effects on young people. This issue has gained attention in Congress as youth cannabis use rates and messaging about potency continue to be hot topics.

International (Non-U.S./Canada)

1. Australia: Regulator Under Fire for Skipping Cannabis Safety Reviews: An ABC News investigation revealed Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has not investigated the safety of most medicinal cannabis products despite 615 adverse event reports since mid-2022. The reports, which range from coughing to psychosis, involve unapproved cannabis medicines prescribed to patients. In response to media inquiries, the TGA announced it will review the safety and regulation of medicinal cannabis products, as doctor and patient groups call for more oversight.

2. Germany Pulls Back Draft Bill to Tighten Medical Cannabis: Germany’s Health Ministry drafted a law to tighten rules on medical cannabis, such as requiring in-person doctor visits and ending telemedicine prescriptions, but the proposal was suddenly removed from the September 10 Cabinet meeting agenda amid political opposition. Reports indicate that the junior coalition partner (SPD) would not support the amendment “under any circumstances,” halting the plan. Separately, Germany is progressing with a pilot program for recreational cannabis through social clubs, maintaining medical access under scrutiny.

3. Netherlands: Cannabis Farm Ordered to Cut Odor Nuisance: Dutch authorities have given a licensed cannabis grower, CanAdelaar, one week to reduce the odor from its facility after receiving over 2,000 complaints from neighbors. The Friesland-based cultivator, part of the Netherlands’ limited legalization experiment, risks fines or operational limits if it fails to contain the skunky smell. Odor control has become a key issue as the Dutch wiet experiment rolls out, testing how tolerated grows can coexist with communities.

4. Uruguay Updates Cannabis Compounding Rules: Uruguay’s Institute for Regulation and Control of Cannabis (IRCCA) issued new instructions for pharmacies to obtain licenses for preparing custom cannabis formulations. The guidance, posted in mid-September, simplifies the process for magistral preparations: cannabis-based medicines tailored for individual patients. Uruguay, which led the way in national cannabis legalization, continues refining its medical program (e.g., allowing compounded tinctures and topicals) to expand patient access beyond standard products pharmacies.

5. Morocco Approves 67 Cannabis Products as Legal Market Grows: Morocco took a major step in creating a legal cannabis industry by approving 67 cannabis-based products for sale. The newly approved products include 26 cosmetics and 41 dietary supplements, which are registered with Morocco’s health products agency as the country moves its large traditional cannabis sector into a regulated market. Officials say that 4,400 hectares of cannabis were legally planted this season (three times the area of last year), and the first legal export of medical cannabis (50 kg to Australia) was completed this month, signaling Morocco’s ambitions as a global player supplier.

6. Global Study: Cannabis Use May Quadruple Diabetes Risk: A large analysis of over 4 million patient records in the US and Europe found that cannabis users face nearly four times higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes within five years compared to non-users. Presented at a diabetes conference, the study matched roughly 96,000 cannabis users to 4.1 million controls. Even after adjusting for other factors, new diabetes diagnoses were significantly higher among cannabis users (2.2% vs 0.6%). Researchers suggest that cannabis-related effects on appetite, weight, and insulin sensitivity could be responsible, and they call for increased awareness as cannabis use expands globally.

7. Cannabis May Harm Female Fertility, New Research Shows: A Nature Communications A study by Canadian and Israeli scientists found evidence that THC exposure can impair human egg (oocyte) quality and embryo development. In IVF patients, those with THC detectable in their follicular fluid had lower rates of genetically normal embryos. Lab tests also showed THC can induce chromosome segregation errors in oocytes and alter gene expression involved in reproduction. The authors warn that as cannabis use rises, women trying to conceive should be cautious about potential fertility issues risks.

8. Mexican Cartel Boss Sentenced for Massive Cannabis Trafficking: U.S. authorities sentenced a high-ranking Los Zetas cartel member to over 31 years in prison for operating an international drug network that trafficked tons of cocaine and marijuana. The Mexican national, arrested during a DEA operation, pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle large quantities of illegal drugs into the U.S. and was also ordered to forfeit $26.5 million. Officials say the case highlights how Mexican cartels, known for cocaine and fentanyl, continue to smuggle black-market cannabis into the U.S. despite state legalizations.

9. Nigeria Explores Medical Cannabis Legalization: Nigeria’s National Assembly is reportedly working on a bill to legalize medical cannabis, according to a former senator involved in drug policy reform. The move in Africa’s most populous country comes as other African nations like Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Ghana have begun allowing medicinal or industrial cannabis under strict regulations. While Nigeria’s government has not officially announced anything, policy experts say there’s increasing interest in exploring the economic and therapeutic benefits of cannabis, though cultural and religious opposition still exists strong.