Last Week in Cannabis #2
August 10–16, 2026 | Issue #2
Hey friend — welcome back to Last Week in Cannabis. A strong week for cannabis producers, a fast-moving US regulatory story, and a science headline worth paying attention to. Let's get into it.
1. INDUSTRY — One of Cannabis's Most Watched Companies Is Growing Again
Canopy Growth, one of the most closely watched cannabis companies in the world, reported first quarter fiscal 2027 results on August 7th — posting consolidated net revenue of $81.2 million, up 13% from the same period last year. Cannabis revenue grew 14% year over year, led by a 22% jump in medical cannabis and 10% growth in both adult-use and international markets. The company's CEO noted it was the first quarter since he joined in January 2025 that every single business line grew at the same time. secYahoo Finance
Mary Jane's Take: Canopy has had a difficult few years — it was one of the most high-profile examples of the cannabis industry over-expanding and burning through cash in the early legalization era. Seeing every part of the business grow at once, with losses narrowing sharply, is a meaningful turnaround signal. For anyone watching the global cannabis industry, a healthier Canopy is a good sign for the sector overall.
2. UNITED STATES — The Hemp THC Ban Is Heading to the House
We have been following the looming US federal ban on hemp-derived THC products for several weeks. The US Senate voted last week to delay the ban from November to December, and the legislation now moves to the House of Representatives. Hemp and alcohol advocates are warning that Congress has limited time to develop a proper regulatory framework for the $28 billion hemp sector before the ban takes effect, with cannabis industry advocates vowing to fight any outright prohibition that lacks a replacement regulatory structure. MJBizDaily
Mary Jane's Take: The hemp THC story matters beyond US borders. Hemp-derived cannabinoid products — drinks, gummies, vapes — have exploded in markets around the world, often in regulatory grey zones similar to what exists in the US. How American lawmakers resolve this debate — ban outright, or regulate properly — will influence how other governments approach the same question. The one-month delay is not a solution. It is a signal that nobody wants to own the consequences of the ban going ahead on schedule.
3. GLOBAL — A New Study Found CBD May Suppress a Key Breast Cancer Receptor
A study accepted for publication in BMC Complementary Medicine found that cannabidiol reduced the expression of a key receptor that drives HER2-positive breast cancer while activating cellular stress pathways and increasing cancer cell death. Researchers also examined the effects when CBD was combined with trastuzumab, a standard breast cancer drug. The Marijuana Herald
Mary Jane's Take: HER2-positive breast cancer is one of the more aggressive forms of the disease. Research suggesting CBD may enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies, or suppress cancer-driving receptors independently, is the kind of early-stage finding that warrants serious follow-up clinical investigation. This is a laboratory study, not a clinical trial — it is not a treatment recommendation. But it is the kind of science that deserves attention and further research funding, and it adds to a growing body of work examining cannabinoids in oncology settings.
4. GLOBAL — CBD Shows Antidepressant-Like Effects, New Review Finds
A new systematic review published in August found that cannabidiol produces antidepressant-like effects, potentially through multiple biological mechanisms involving neuroplasticity, inflammation, and neurotransmitter signalling. The review examined experimental studies published over the previous five years. The Marijuana Herald
Mary Jane's Take: CBD's potential role in mental health is one of the most active areas of cannabis research right now — and one of the most important, given how many people around the world live with depression and anxiety. A systematic review pulling together five years of experimental evidence and finding consistent antidepressant-like signals is meaningful. It does not mean CBD is a proven antidepressant — clinical trials in humans are what establish that. But the biological mechanisms being identified are specific and plausible, which is exactly what good early-stage science looks like.
That's your week — one from the cannabis industry, one from US policy, two from the global research world. See you next Monday.
— Mary Jane
