Here is today's cannabis news in 60 seconds. Sixteen governors asked Congress to pass the SAFE Banking Act in the lame-duck session, pointing to the federal move to reschedule marijuana.
Banking and rescheduling
The coalition of Democratic governors says banking access would "protect public safety, increase revenues, and improve transparency" so cannabis businesses "can bank like everyone else." The DEA has issued its first registrations to more than 900 state-licensed medical dispensaries since the move to Schedule III. Senate appropriators also told federal agencies to consider medical marijuana as an opioid alternative, and raised concerns about cannabinoid-infused foods.
The states
North Carolina's House Speaker-elect Robert Reives said decriminalization "has been on top of everybody's minds" after Democrats won the House, and stalled medical bills could get a vote. Oklahoma moved THC to Schedule I, raising questions about DUI exposure for medical cardholders.
Hemp
Illinois agreed to hold off enforcing its Hemp Act, set to start Thursday, for about 250 businesses that sued, until a federal judge hears arguments Nov 19. A former aide to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claims White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles meddled in the federal hemp THC ban.
Business
Maryland cannabis cultivators voted to unionize with the UFCW. Christina Lake Cannabis rejected two unsolicited takeover proposals, citing a strong 2026 harvest. Peoria approved drive-thru and curbside sales, against its staff's recommendation.
International
MediPharm Labs began selling an ANVISA-authorized cannabis extract oil in Brazil. UK producer Grow Group completed a £12m recapitalisation and named co-CEOs. Denmark is reviewing its medical cannabis fees after finding errors in its 2026 rules.
The takeaway: the asks landing in Washington now run both ways. Governors want banking access, while the hemp THC ban has become a fight inside the White House.
If SAFE Banking passed this lame duck, what would your business change first?
Sources: 16 governors (Marijuana Moment): https://www.marijuanamoment.net/16-governors-from-across-the-u-s-push-congress-to-pass-marijuana-banking-bill/ 16 governors (Cannabis Business Times): https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/safe-banking-act/news/16425050/16-governors-urge-congress-to-pass-safe-banking-act-for-cannabis-industry DEA dispensary registrations (Sentinel Colorado): https://sentinelcolorado.com/uncategorized/dea-approvals-could-bring-big-tax-benefits-for-medical-marijuana-businesses/ Senate appropriations (Marijuana Moment): https://www.marijuanamoment.net/senate-committee-floats-marijuana-as-opioid-alternative-encourages-psychedelic-research-and-raises-concerns-over-cannabis-infused-foods/ North Carolina (Marijuana Moment): https://www.marijuanamoment.net/decriminalizing-marijuana-in-north-carolina-is-on-top-of-everybodys-minds-incoming-house-speaker-says/ North Carolina (News & Observer): https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article318016326.html Oklahoma Schedule I (Hoodline): https://hoodline.com/2026/11/oklahoma-thc-scheduling-change-raises-questions-for-medical-cannabis-drivers/ Illinois delay (Block Club Chicago): https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/11/10/illinois-delays-hemp-thc-ban-for-250-businesses-that-sued-over-it/ White House and hemp (MJBizDaily): https://mjbizdaily.com/news/report-top-trump-white-house-chief-meddled-in-hemp-thc-ban/619161/ Maryland union (UFCW): https://www.ufcw.org/actions/victories/cannabis-cultivators-in-maryland-vote-to-unionize/ Christina Lake (MMJ Daily): https://www.mmjdaily.com/article/9891690/christina-lake-cannabis-rejects-two-acquisition-proposals-citing-strong-2026-harvest/ Peoria drive-thru (BND): https://www.bnd.com/news/article318026073.html MediPharm Brazil (Reuters via TradingView): https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2026:newsml_FWN46R27K:0-medipharm-labs-expands-brazilian-business-with-commercial-launch-of-anvisa-authorized-cannabis-extract-oil/ Grow Group (Business of Cannabis): https://businessofcannabis.com/grow-group-completes-12m-recapitalisation-and-restructuring-appoints-co-ceos-and-completes-transition-to-full-operations-at-its-uk-manufacturing-facility/ Denmark fees (Cannabis Law Report): https://cannabislaw.report/denmark-revises-medical-cannabis-prices-following-errors-in-2026-regulations/
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