Bev Booms & High School Vape Alerts
Plus: Weed at the dentist?
Monday, March 9, 2026
Time to read: About 3 minutes. Contains 689 words.
Good morning!
Still here, still processing the slew of “cannabis addiction” stories published by NYT and NY Mag in recent weeks, and still impatiently awaiting more well-rounded cannabis reporting in major media outlets. For now, let’s get caught up on the latest national updates and a few intriguing state-specific news items.
One Hitters: Cannabis News At A Glance
The latest iteration of the Farm Bill won’t include any changes to the November hemp ban. After 20 hours of markup last week, the 2026 Farm Bill advanced with only one mention of the hemp world: restating the recent change to hemp plant definitions as “a cannabis plant that does not test higher than 0.3% total THC (including THCA),” replacing the loophole language from the 2018 Farm Bill that only addressed delta-9. Regulations on finished hemp products were not addressed in hearings, which House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson said isn’t an ag problem, but an issue the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should “promptly engage.”
Although this federal hemp ban still looms, many brands and investors don’t seem to care. Willie Nelson’s THC-infused beverage brand, Willie’s Remedy+, secured $15 million in Series A funding in February 2026 to accelerate its national retail expansion. Based on how many times I’ve heard ads on major podcasts, RYTHM-owned THC drink brand, Señorita, has been spending tens of thousands on recent media buys. A zero-proof, hemp THC-infused bar just opened in Chicago.
Is there something to so much beverage activity happening mere months before the potential ban? The bill pushing for a 2-year delay seems to be where many brands and lobbyists continue to focus their efforts, but nothing is set in stone—yet people remain so damn bullish on hemp-derived drinkables. I’m looking into some potential potable loopholes. More to come. 👀
Chicago’s United Center is set to be the first major US area to offer intoxicating hemp beverages at concession stands. Speaking of Señorita — four 5-milligram THC drinks from RYTHM and Señorita will be available to guests 21 and over at most concerts and live events. Unfortunately, not at any Chicago Bulls or Blackhawks games, though.
Wyld acquired Grön, cementing its status as the biggest edible company in the US. It was already considered the top-selling edible brand, but now it’s well ahead of the competition. The exact terms of the “cash-and-stock transaction” weren’t publicly disclosed. Both are Oregon success stories—I toured Grön’s small Central Eastside space for a 2018 story about their novel CBD-infused cafe. Wyld is notably still owned and operated by its original founders, and it reached this point without ever raising venture capital.
A push and pull on legal weed in Massachusetts. This November, a bill to repeal legalization will be on the ballot. However, based on recent polls, 63% of residents oppose the idea. And they’re about to be able to enjoy it in new places: The regulatory commission just finalized rules for social consumption licenses that will allow adults to buy and consume cannabis at licensed “Marijuana Establishments,” sanctioned events, and non-cannabis businesses that partner with licensees.
The Wall Street Journal reports on high schools losing the war on weed during classes. I only scanned some of this before the paywall kicked in, but I know you get the idea. Teens be teen-ing, as they always have. Amid pressure to cope with problems at school and at home, one 18-year-old cites an all-too-familiar need to “numb those feelings.” Now, the tech-infused consumption methods are enabling school staff to track areas of “high vape activity” with apps.
Would weed topicals get you to the dentist more regularly? A group of Brazilian dentists published a compelling white paper exploring the therapeutic potential of various cannabinoid-based treatments in dentistry. Beyond pain and anxiety management, they highlight CBD’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, as well as emerging evidence of CBD improving mineralization and dental tissue regeneration.
See you sooner than the last dispatch, promise!
Lauren Yoshiko
my baby sister gave some of my infusions to a friend who specifically asked for some for their tooth infection - apparently it helped. great roundup, friend!