AGP Executive Report

Hemp & Regulation: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called new rules for “intoxicating hemp” long overdue, including a ban on sales to under-21 and tighter oversight under the state’s cannabis framework. Medical Cannabis R&D: HLB Life Science R&D won its fifth government-backed grant to build a full pipeline using minor cannabinoids (like CBG, CBC, and CBN) for medical hemp therapies in Korea’s hemp regulatory free zone. Corporate Moves: High Tide approved a new shareholder rights plan, updating its earlier 2025 structure. Enforcement & Courts: A Thai national and an Indian national face trial in Bahrain over a marijuana smuggling case tied to airport customs inspections and a “dead drop” delivery network. Drug Busts: Philippines authorities destroyed 23,000+ marijuana plants worth about P6M in a joint police/PDEA/Army eradication operation. Criminal Case (Cannabis + Driving): A Scottish man was jailed after a crash that injured passengers; tests showed cannabis levels more than double the legal limit. Local Business: Elevate Cannabis advanced plans for a Shrewsbury, Missouri recreational dispensary, but rezoning and ordinance changes are still required.

Online Drug Promotion Crackdown (Kuwait): Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior arrested a man accused of promoting marijuana on social media, saying the videos framed it as harmless and misled viewers—especially young people—violating a 2025 narcotics decree. Medical-Only Push (Thailand): Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party urged lawmakers to prioritize a new medical cannabis bill, arguing past policy gaps after cannabis was removed from the narcotics list fueled recreational use and weak enforcement. Airport Cocaine Smuggling (Nigeria/UK): NDLEA arrested 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother Mary Yetunde Barek at Lagos airport after 13kg of cocaine was found hidden in fake plantain peels in her luggage; she allegedly admitted ownership. Cross-Border Trafficking (Nigeria/Malaysia): NDLEA also arrested a 45-year-old PhD student accused of leading a Malaysia-bound cocaine syndicate, with cocaine concealed in Orijin Bitters cartons. Hemp/Cannabis Market Rules (Illinois): Illinois’ new law bans sales of intoxicating hemp products (including certain THC variants) to anyone under 21 and adds tighter packaging, labeling, and marketing limits while expanding medical cannabis access. Virginia Retail Timeline: Virginia’s adult-use retail marijuana market is set to launch July 1, 2027, with licensing starting Feb. 1, 2027, and possession limits rising to 2 ounces.

Retail Enforcement: Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police secured a three-month closure order for Cradley Market after a BBC undercover probe found cannabis, cocaine, and prescription medicines sold over the counter. Courtroom Drug-Driving: In the UK, multiple cases show cannabis and other drugs behind the wheel—one driver in Cumbria was caught with THC above the legal limit after a roadside DrugWipe test, while another in Ellesmere Port was banned for 25 months after smelling of cannabis and alcohol and recording a breath reading nearly three times the limit. Prison Violence: At HMP Wetherby, two teenagers faced court over a “relentless, frenzied” knife attack on a fellow inmate using toothbrush-made weapons. Hemp/THC Policy Watch: A new packaging study in Washington found some legal cannabis edibles’ branding and visuals could appeal to teens, raising youth-safety concerns even when products follow state packaging rules. Global Crackdowns: Nigeria’s Anambra SASA says it destroyed illicit drugs worth about N50m in Awka after raids, including cannabis, and handed suspects to the NDLEA for prosecution.

Legal/Policy: Barbados’ High Court tossed a Rastafari constitutional challenge to the Sacramental Cannabis Act, saying the restrictions don’t unlawfully infringe religious freedom; the claimant says he’ll seek Legal Aid to appeal. Enforcement: North Carolina senators advanced a bill to ban most “intoxicating hemp” products (THC over 0.4 mg) and restrict hemp consumables under 21, plus limits on xylazine and synthetic kratom. Courts/Local: A Greensboro man accused in the Liberty-area shooting is now charged with murder after a body was found June 25; police also noted marijuana and drug paraphernalia in a related stop. Criminal Cases: Barbados police charged three people with trafficking/importing 110.2 kg of suspected cannabis valued at about $1.76M; they were remanded pending further court dates. Public Safety: San Diego County stepped up DUI patrols for the July 4 holiday, warning impairment includes marijuana and prescription drugs. Business/Compliance: A new wave of hemp rules tied to THC measurement is already reshaping CBD/“wellness” guest-post marketing, with tighter standards and fewer compliant product angles. International: U.S.-led maritime interdictions seized about 20,334 pounds of cocaine and also netted marijuana in separate operations.

Drug Enforcement: Eastern Visayas police (PRO-8) reported 1,337 arrests and seized meth plus marijuana worth P11.19M during June operations, alongside firearms and explosives recovered in anti-insurgency work. Court & Sentencing: In the UK, a Bahrain garage worker was upheld in a drug distribution case with a 10-year sentence and deportation after cannabis was found in a workshop used to move narcotics. Hemp/Cannabis Retail Zoning: Delaware’s Sussex County retail cannabis rules loosened after a veto override, with lawmakers saying zoning blocked dispensaries and cost up to $30M a year. Impaired Driving Crackdowns: Illinois launched its Independence Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” push, warning that alcohol and cannabis can both impair driving. Border/Travel Seizures: Portland police arrested a man after TSA found about 30 pounds of marijuana in checked luggage, while UK cases also flagged roadside cannabis drug-driving and a Dubai-linked 32kg cannabis import plea. Public Health Policy: Malaysia health experts urged a total vape ban, citing UK “zombie vape” concerns and reports of synthetic drugs in devices.

DOJ vs. Rescheduling Critics: The Justice Department says marijuana rescheduling opponents (including a drug-testing group and a cannabinoid pharma firm) are pushing back for “pocketbook interests,” arguing Congress didn’t set Schedule I to protect private profits. Transportation Safety Pushback: Trucking and safety groups warn rescheduling could disrupt drug-testing for safety-sensitive workers like drivers and pilots, urging federal agencies to coordinate during the process. Age Limits on “Intoxicating Hemp”: Alton, Illinois police say a new state law bans sales of intoxicating hemp products (like Delta-8/THC-P/HHC) to anyone under 21, with enforcement and added rules coming later. Enforcement Escalation in Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia raises penalties and adds offences to curb illegal cannabis sales outside the legal retail system. Court/Policy Fight in New Mexico: Providers say New Mexico’s policy of taking custody of substance-exposed newborns is harming families, after the state’s Supreme Court rejected an immediate halt. Big Seizure Abroad: Guyana’s CANU raided a Georgetown safehouse, seizing about $80M in foreign cannabis and five illegal firearms. Local Crime/Drug News: A North Carolina postal worker with a prior drug conviction was kidnapped and murdered on her route.

Manitoba Cannabis Vote Push: Steinbach and Winkler residents have gathered enough signatures to force an October plebiscite on ending local bans on cannabis retail stores, after councils declined to call a vote. US Public Safety Crackdown: Missouri and Illinois officials say Operation Patriot Shield led to 224 arrests and cleared 290 felony warrants, with seizures including fentanyl, heroin, meth, marijuana, and firearms. CBD/THC in the Crosshairs of Enforcement: Illinois is ramping up “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” patrols for Independence Day travel, warning that impairment includes cannabis. Local Cannabis-Related Court Cases: A UK man was remanded after police found a £450k cannabis farm in Cumbria; in Ireland, authorities recovered another 500 BTC tied to a convicted cannabis trafficker, bringing the total seized to 1,500 BTC. Drug Busts With THC Products: A North Carolina traffic stop turned into a haul of THC vape cartridges, THC wax, marijuana joints, and THC gummies, alongside firearms. Medical/Legal Policy Watch: Illinois officials also highlighted new cannabis regulations and oversight measures as the state continues tightening rules around access and sales.

Illinois Cannabis Overhaul: Gov. JB Pritzker signed SB 3222, modernizing Illinois cannabis rules and cracking down on “intoxicating hemp” products like delta-8 by banning sales to anyone under 21 and bringing them under the state’s cannabis framework, with childproof packaging and tighter marketing rules. Nebraska Medical Cannabis Rules: Nebraska’s medical cannabis regulations were signed after criticism from advocates who say the program is too restrictive (limited cultivators/manufacturers/dispensaries and no edibles/vapes/smoking), while supporters argue it’s a workable start. Alabama Rescheduling Fight: Alabama’s public health department is holding a July 22 hearing after objecting to federal medical marijuana rescheduling, deciding whether to mirror the change in state law. Georgia Access Expansion: Georgia’s “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act” took effect, dropping the “low THC” label and shifting to a milligram system that could expand product options and patient access. Hemp Crackdown in Tennessee: A new THCA/kratom law took effect July 1, banning certain smokeable THCA products and all kratom sales, with steep penalties for retailers. Enforcement & Courts: Police in Wolverhampton arrested a man after suspected cannabis was found inside an oven; in Illinois, Grayville reported $1.2M in local cannabis tax revenue since 2023.

Recreational Retail Push (Virginia): Virginia approved a path for recreational marijuana sales in retail stores starting July 1, 2027, with regulators taking retail license applications Feb. 1 and the law raising the possession limit to 2 ounces. THC Beverages Mainstreaming: A new report highlights how Fourth of July barbecues are increasingly featuring THC-infused drinks sold in regular supermarkets, with industry groups urging Congress to keep hemp-derived THC products legal while lawmakers debate tighter limits. Local Market Watch (Manteca, CA): Manteca reported $760,749.81 in cannabis sales revenue in the first 16 months, with one dispensary operating and other permits tied up in location rules. Enforcement & Courts: Police and prosecutors across multiple states reported drug busts and court activity, including a prison-directed Indiana drug ring case involving “synthetic cannabis” and other narcotics. Public Safety (Holiday Patrols): An Independence Day enforcement push focused on impaired and unbuckled driving, explicitly warning against driving under the influence of cannabis or other drugs. Industry/Policy Tension: Commentary argues delaying regulated cannabis sales just pushes consumers toward untested, unregulated products while states miss out on tax and age-gating.

Tennessee Hemp/THCA Rules: Tennessee’s THCA ban is now in effect (July 1), tightening what hemp-derived products can be sold after lawmakers moved to close a regulatory gap that treated THCA differently from THC. Georgia Medical Cannabis Expansion: Georgia’s “Putting Georgia Patients First Act” is live, removing the 5% THC cap and letting licensed dispensaries sell more products, including vaporized flower and additional formats like edibles/gummies. Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulations: Nebraska’s AG Hilgers approved permanent medical cannabis regulations, with Gov. Pillen signing off so the rules become law after filing—though a Nebraska Supreme Court challenge could still affect the program. Tennessee CBD Retail Compliance: Nashville’s beer permit board reminded businesses that new Tennessee hemp-derived cannabinoid rules took effect Jan. 1, 2026, bringing licensing, testing, labeling, and age restrictions under TABC. Enforcement & Courts: Nigeria Customs and NDLEA seized counterfeit-labeled medicines and large cannabis shipments at Apapa port; in the U.S., prosecutors announced a major Camden County Jail drug-ring takedown involving fentanyl and synthetic marijuana. Public Safety: AAA and Virginia State Police ramped up July 4 travel enforcement aimed at cutting impaired-driving and seat-belt violations.

Massive UK grow bust: Bradford police released footage from a hidden £6.2M cannabis factory under Bradford Interchange, finding nearly 7,000 plants in tightly packed underground rooms; Sheraz Ahmed (27 months) and Hung Nguyen (24 months) were jailed after admitting production. US traffic stop drug haul: A Tennessee traffic stop on I-75 led to meth and marijuana charges after officers found a marihuana pipe plus meth and pipes in the car/trunk. Canada Day basics (cannabis hours note): Canada Day closures hit most services, but the report flags that cannabis store hours aren’t regulated—so shoppers should check local listings. South Africa protest fallout: NatJoints and police updates followed June 30 anti-immigration marches; in Hillbrow, suspects were arrested after a shooting injured protesters, with heavy security and SANDF deployment reported. Vermont July 1 cannabis rules: New laws take effect July 1, including limits on cannabis purchases (up to two ounces of flower or equivalent). Nebraska medical cannabis update: Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers signed off on medical cannabis regulations, while also signaling potential legal uncertainty tied to ballot signature requirements.

DEA/Rescheduling & Federal Policy: The DEA and FDA kicked off a major hearing on marijuana rescheduling, with advocates pushing for safer, more inclusive process as opponents try to shape outcomes. Supreme Court & Guns/Marijuana: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear challenges to state assault-weapons bans (AR-15/AK-style), while also rejecting appeals on firearm age limits for 18–20-year-olds—another reminder that cannabis legality doesn’t automatically translate into gun-policy clarity. State Cannabis Compliance: Michigan regulators flagged recurring METRC tracking violations in their latest disciplinary report, showing enforcement is still focused on seed-to-sale paperwork and operational compliance. Germany Cannabis Rules: German courts drew a line on cannabis cuttings (clones), clarifying when propagation material becomes regulated cannabis—important for anyone selling or commercializing clones. Local Licensing Moves: Georgia medical cannabis expands July 1 with more vape access for cardholders, while Sangerville, Maine paused new commercial cannabis licenses for 180 days as it drafts tighter local rules. Medical Cannabis Regulation: Nebraska AG Hilgers signed off on the Medical Cannabis Commission’s regulations as constitutionality review clears the way for final approval. Industry/Business: Avicanna promoted Nick Hilborn to CFO, and Cronos named ATB Cormark as broker for share repurchases.

Virginia Cannabis Retail Rollout: Virginia approved a path to sell recreational marijuana in retail stores starting in 2027, adding to the state’s July 1 wave of new laws. Youth Vaping & THC Enforcement: California’s Imperial Police won a nearly $800K grant to add a full-time school resource officer aimed at curbing rising youth THC vaping and boosting early intervention. Hemp Sellers vs New Rules: Hemp sellers head to court to fight new regulations, keeping pressure on how hemp products are defined and policed. Rescheduling Momentum: The DEA kicked off a historic hearing on cannabis rescheduling, with new filings and debate over medical benefits and safety implications. Courtroom Outcomes: A man was sentenced to 10 years for possessing cannabis with intent to supply after a Paphos stop found 12.5kg of cannabis; in the UK, a drug-driver got a prison term after a high-speed pursuit that included cannabis possession. Global Drug Policy Watch: The UN World Drug Report says North America leads in cannabis and opioid use, while Hong Kong pulled an anti-drug ad after it appeared to promote drug appeal.

DEA Rescheduling Hearing: The DEA kicked off its June 29–July 15 hearing on moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, with reform groups warning they’re being shut out of the process. Virginia Retail Push: Virginia approved budget-backed adult-use marijuana sales, setting up up to 350 retail shops starting July 1, 2027, while also locking in a steep public-consumption penalty that advocates call a “poverty penalty.” Idaho Ballot Setback: Idaho medical marijuana organizers say a judge ruled key signatures were turned in late, putting the initiative’s November chances at risk. Cannabis Banking: Senators and representatives reintroduced the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act to give banks legal clarity for state-legal cannabis businesses after the medical rescheduling shift. Industry Access: Tilray agreed to buy HelloMD to expand direct-to-patient medical cannabis access in Canada. Road Safety Angle: MADD Canada praised Saskatchewan’s move to strengthen impaired-driving administrative penalties, citing alcohol and cannabis-related crashes. Legal/Enforcement Notes: A Madisonville KY DUI case included a suspected marijuana grinder; Georgia police arrested three men in a gang-linked operation with marijuana and guns.

Hemp/CBD Regulation Watch (US): Virginia’s legal cannabis market is set to start next summer, but hemp store owners are already bracing for federal hemp definition changes coming in November—one Mannassas shop says it may have to shut early. Product Safety & Labeling: North Carolina investigators tested 21 hemp/cannabis products and found unsafe bacteria levels in more than half, plus multiple items with THC above legal limits and mismatched cannabinoid amounts. Federal Legal Pressure (US): A Pennsylvania employer was charged with failing to remit $1.13M in withheld taxes; the court also flagged that medical marijuana use is illegal under federal law for supervision terms. Enforcement (Nigeria): NDLEA says it busted a syndicate planting drugs in passenger luggage and seized 7.5kg cocaine from a Lagos businesswoman plus a massive shipment of “Canadian Loud” cannabis worth about ₦12.3B. Global Drug Trends: A new UN report says global drug use hit a record high in 2024, with cannabis still the most used drug and cocaine at record levels. Court/Policy (US): The Supreme Court blocked thousands of Roundup “failure to warn” cancer lawsuits, a reminder that federal pesticide rules can shut down state-level claims.

Hemp Legal Fight: A federal appeals court upheld the DEA’s position that CBD is a Schedule 1 controlled substance, a blow to hemp producers that could keep sales tied to state-by-state permission. DEA/Enforcement Push: Nigeria’s NDLEA reported major cross-border drug seizures, including ₦12.4bn worth of imported cannabis at Lagos ports plus arrests tied to cocaine and tramadol trafficking. CBD in the Real World: A National Sleep Foundation-funded survey found nearly 10% of U.S. adults use cannabis to sleep, but users reported poorer sleep quality—raising questions about whether cannabis helps or worsens sleep. Local Policy Watch: Vermont’s Act 164 lets towns opt into retail cannabis by vote; Royalton is now considering putting the question to voters. Courtroom Detail: An Indian court acquitted a man accused of carrying 10 kg of ganja, citing procedural failures under NDPS rules. Industry/Business: Curaleaf CEO Boris Jordan says institutional equity investors are finally willing to talk with cannabis firms, hinting at possible capital shifts. Public Safety: A Whangārei woman is campaigning to remove meth pipes from shops, spotlighting the debate over whether selling drug paraphernalia is legal.