Two threads dominated the past 24 hours in cannabis policy. The House Appropriations Committee moved to increase federal scrutiny of unregulated cannabinoid products, while state-licensed operators competed to file DEA applications under the 60-day Schedule III registration window. Georgia significantly broadened its medical programme, and corporate earnings from MariMed and Organigram gave the latest financial read on an industry adjusting to shifting rules on both sides of the Atlantic.
House Appropriations Committee targets unregulated cannabinoid products
The House Appropriations Committee released draft spending report language on 13 May directing the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration to address the proliferation of “ingestible, inhalable, and topical products that contain intoxicating cannabinoids” sold outside federal oversight. The committee cited consumer safety, signalling frustration over hemp-derived compounds, including delta-8 and delta-9 THC products, that occupy a regulatory grey area created by the 2018 Farm Bill. Marijuana Moment reported that the draft language stops short of mandating specific enforcement timelines but adds visible legislative pressure on federal agencies to act before the next appropriations cycle.
Georgia broadens medical cannabis programme
Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 220 on 13 May, substantially liberalising Georgia’s medical cannabis framework. NORML reported that the legislation removes the existing five per cent THC cap, replaces all statutory references to “low THC oil” with “medical cannabis,” and permits patients to possess up to 12,000 milligrams of cumulative THC. Inflammatory bowel disease and lupus join the list of qualifying diagnoses. Adults over 21 may now use vaporisation devices for approved products. Georgia had operated one of the South’s most restrictive medical cannabis regimes since its limited-access programme began in 2019.
Operators file DEA applications as 60-day registration window narrows
Three weeks after the Justice Department’s 23 April final order reclassified medical cannabis to Schedule III, state-licensed operators are moving quickly to secure federal registration before a critical deadline. Verano Holdings announced on 13 May that it had submitted DEA applications for its qualifying facilities, becoming one of the first major multistate operators to enter the expedited review process. Glass House Brands also filed this week. Companies that register before the window closes ahead of the June 29 hearings, at which full rescheduling could be considered, are promised accelerated review by the DEA, which also plans new registration forms for cultivators, manufacturers, and laboratories in the coming weeks.
MariMed posts improved first-quarter earnings
MariMed released first-quarter 2026 results on 13 May, reporting revenue of $39.5 million, up 4.2 per cent year-on-year, with non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of $3.6 million, a 44 per cent improvement on the same period in 2025. The company attributed the performance to expanded wholesale distribution and growth in its core branded product lines. GAAP net loss narrowed from $5.5 million to $3.8 million. In a parallel capital-structure move, MariMed restructured its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, extending weighted average maturity to 4.6 years and removing near-term refinancing risk. Full results are available on GlobeNewswire.
Organigram raises full-year guidance after Sanity Group acquisition despite quarterly revenue dip
Organigram filed its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on 13 May, reporting a nine per cent year-on-year decline in net revenue for the quarter ended 31 March alongside a net loss for the period. Shares fell to a 52-week low in response. The Canadian producer nonetheless raised its full fiscal-year revenue guidance to more than C$350 million, citing its April acquisition of Germany’s Sanity Group. The Globe and Mail noted that Sanity Group is expected to generate approximately €25 million in average quarterly revenue and provide a platform for broader European market expansion. Organigram’s partnership with British American Tobacco remains central to its international strategy. Track sector consolidation via the Cannabis M&A Tracker.
Watch this week for a full House floor vote on the amendment that would allow veterans to receive medical cannabis recommendations through the VA, cleared by the Rules Committee on Tuesday, and for further DEA registration filings as operators approach the 60-day deadline. State legislative sessions across the South and Midwest remain active, with further medical programme adjustments possible before summer recess.
