October 26 – November 1, 2026 | Issue #13
Hey friend, welcome back to Last Week in Cannabis. The federal medical cannabis framework in the United States took its first big practical step, Massachusetts voters head to the polls on Tuesday, and Europe moved closer to treating hemp like any other farm crop. Let’s get into it.
1. UNITED STATES: The DEA Issued the First Federal Registrations to More Than 900 Medical Dispensaries
On October 30th, the Justice Department announced that the DEA has begun issuing federal registrations to more than 900 state-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries. They are located in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The Justice Department called this the first phase of putting April’s rescheduling order into practice. The DEA also said that nearly 7,000 medical cannabis businesses have applied for federal registration, and that a state licence alone does not earn one. Applications from manufacturers and distributors are being considered separately and require additional review. The DEA also told businesses to establish compliant supply chains by November 29th.
The DEA declined registration to at least one operator in Minnesota, saying that registering a business licensed to dispense for non-medical purposes would violate federal law. This means businesses in states with combined medical and adult-use licences face an open question. Separately, Senator Cory Booker criticized a DEA expectation that registered businesses not employ people with prior convictions.
Mary Jane’s Take: This is the first visible, practical result of rescheduling for medical cannabis. For patients in those seven states, it signals a more formal, federally recognized system. It is also important to read the fine print. The order covers qualifying medical activity only and does not legalize adult-use cannabis. The separate proceeding on whether to move all cannabis to Schedule III is still before the DEA judge. There is a lot still to be worked out, especially for operators in states with combined licences.
2. UNITED STATES: Massachusetts Votes on Tuesday on Whether to Repeal Its Legal Cannabis Market
On Tuesday, November 3rd, Massachusetts voters will decide Question 8. If it passes, it would repeal the state’s adult-use cannabis law, ending licensed retail sales, commercial production and home cultivation. The medical program and limited adult possession would remain. It would make Massachusetts the first state to dismantle its recreational market by popular vote.
Supporters of the repeal, backed by a national anti-legalization organization, argue that legalization has increased youth access to cannabis. Opponents argue repeal would close an industry that provides jobs and tax revenue and would make buying cannabis less safe. Recent polls show strong majorities opposed to repeal, although the size of the majority varies from poll to poll. The Democratic governor and her Republican challenger have both said they will vote against the measure, and several civil liberties groups have urged a no vote.
Voters in Idaho will also see a proposed constitutional amendment on their November ballot aimed at preventing voters from legalizing marijuana.
Mary Jane’s Take: Polls are not results, and a vote like this is decided by who turns out. What stands out is that both sides are raising questions that matter to real people: how to keep cannabis away from young people on one side, and how to protect jobs, tax revenue and product safety on the other. Whatever happens, the outcome will be watched closely well beyond these two states. We will report the result next week.
3. UNITED STATES: Emergency Responses for Suspected Marijuana-Related Incidents Have Declined About 15 Percent
A federally funded report analyzed 169,468 suspected marijuana-related emergency medical responses across the United States. It found that monthly incidents declined by about 15 percent nationwide between early 2024 and June 2026.
Mary Jane’s Take: Keep one word in mind: “suspected.” These are cases where responders believed cannabis was involved, and the report on its own cannot tell us why the numbers fell. Changes in how incidents are recorded, how products are labelled, or how much people know about dosing could all play a part. A decline is encouraging, but the safety basics still apply: start with a low dose, wait before taking more, and store products securely away from children and pets.
4. EUROPE: The EU Moves Toward Recognizing the Whole Hemp Plant as an Agricultural Crop
On October 19th, the Council of the European Union adopted its negotiating position for reforms to the bloc’s agricultural markets, and it would recognize all parts of the hemp plant, including flowers and leaves, as an ordinary agricultural product. Until now, EU law has recognized only hemp fibre and seed, which has often forced farmers to destroy the rest of the plant. Under the proposal, hemp would have to come from registered varieties with no more than 0.3 percent THC and be grown from certified seed. Hemp farmer co-operatives would gain access to EU rural development funding, and importing hemp from outside the EU would become easier.
This is not final approval, and member states would keep the power to set their own rules on how hemp products can be used, including restrictions for public health and security reasons.
Mary Jane’s Take: The difference between hemp and cannabis often comes down to a legal definition rather than a different plant. Europe appears to be moving toward treating hemp as a farm crop, while in the United States the federal definition of hemp changes on December 11th, based on how much THC ends up in the finished product. The two regions are heading in different directions, and farmers and consumers will feel the effects. The EU proposal is still early, so the details may change before anything becomes law.
That’s your week, with three stories from the United States and one from Europe. See you next Monday, when we will have the Massachusetts result.
Mary Jane
