It’s been over six months since DCR’s last overview of national state cannabis updates. Things continue to change across the country. While some states have seen considerable progress towards economic opportunity and medical access, others have experienced the opposite – with one state even putting a cannabis repeal measure on the ballot. Read on for more on the latest in the “Divided States of Cannabis.”

California

August 31, 2026, was the last day for the California Legislature to pass bills and send them to the Governor for consideration. While a few key cannabis bills made it to the Governor’s desk, others stalled in committee, including legislation related to cannabis drive-throughs, recalls and embargos, and commercial cannabis agreements with state tribal governments.

Most recently, Governor Newsom signed AB-2249 into law – a bill that defines “attractive to children” as it relates to restrictions on cannabis advertising, packaging, and labeling. The new standards take effect on January 1, 2028, and include prohibitions on the use of cartoons, images, and references to characters, celebrities, or brands associated with children’s media, fantasy characters, certain font styles, and more. The full list of restrictions can be found here.

A second bill related to cannabis packages and labels was also sent to the Governor and awaits a final decision. If signed into law, AB-2532 will require all cannabis edibles and beverage product labels to: 1) include the toll-free number for the national poison help line; 2) require cannabis beverages containing more than one serving to feature lines delineating individual servings/portions; and 3) require that retailers offer the consumer a measuring instrument at the time of purchase. The Governor has until October 1 to sign or veto the bill.

New York

Licensed cannabis microbusinesses in New York can now sell products at approved community events and farmers’ markets under a recently signed law. Previously, microbusinesses could only sell from a fixed retail location, and if they wanted to participate at community events or farmers’ markets, they had to partner with a licensed retailer.

Georgia

This past July, Georgia became the 41st state to establish a comprehensive medical cannabis program through the Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act. The legislation significantly expanded what products are available to qualified medical patients, as they were previously limited to low THC oil products (5% or less). Now, patients can purchase edibles, tinctures, and vaporized flower, with a legal possession limit of 12,000 mg of THC at any one time.

Idaho

In November, Idaho residents will vote on a ballot measure related to a constitutional amendment that, if passed, would make it so only the State legislature has the authority to legalize cannabis, narcotics, or other psychoactive substances. In other words, citizens would no longer have the ability to pursue state statutes (such as ballot measures) related to legalizing these substances.

Massachusetts

Another state placing a vote on the ballot this November is Massachusetts. Voters will decide whether they want to repeal the legislation that legalized the sale, regulation, taxation of recreational marijuana, and the personal cultivation of cannabis in homes. If passed, it would essentially shut down the state’s adult-use cannabis program.

Louisiana

A pilot program for adult-use cannabis was being considered by Louisiana legislators, but failed to pass before the legislative session ended on June 1. The program would’ve allowed adults 21 and older to purchase cannabis from a limited number of existing medical facilities. Instead, cannabis regulations in the state became stricter through a separate measure: on May 29, the Governor signed a law that created a new cannabis-related felony. Starting August 1, anyone caught consuming cannabis within 2000 feet of a school or on a school bus will face a felony charge that carries a $1000 fine and up to one year in jail.

What’s next

As different states go in their own unique direction, the states seem to remain as divided as ever on what’s next for cannabis within their borders. DCR will keep you posted on continued news.