Angie Nixon Talks Cannabis and U.S. Senate on The Rotation Florida State Representative Angie Nixon has never built her political identity around keeping her voice down. That was obvious during her appearance on the latest live-streamed episode of The Rotation with Suncoast NORML. Nixon, a Jacksonville Democrat, union organizer and longtime grassroots activist, joined Suncoast NORML Executive Director Christopher Cano, Deputy Director Carlos Hermida and Political Director Gar

A new clinical trial conducted by University of Florida researchers suggests that a low-THC, full-spectrum CBD formulation may control acute pain following laser eye surgery as effectively as a commonly prescribed opioid medication. Published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, the study compared oral CBD with a combination of codeine and acetaminophen in patients recovering from photorefractive keratectomy, better known as PRK. The findings add to a growing body

Georgia Medical Cannabis Enrollment Surges After 2026 Law Change Georgia’s medical cannabis program is experiencing a dramatic increase in participation following one of the most significant cannabis policy reforms in the state’s history. More than 8,000 additional patients have joined Georgia’s Medical Cannabis Patient Registry since lawmakers approved an expansion of the program in May 2026. The increase represents growth of more than 20%, bringing statewide enrollment to n

California Cannabis Use Remained Stable After Legalization California’s experience with adult-use cannabis legalization is offering an important reality check for policymakers still predicting that legalization will lead to a dramatic surge in marijuana consumption. A new study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research found that the prevalence and frequency of adult cannabis use in California remained largely stable during the eight-year period surrounding the launch of

Senate Votes to Delay Federal Hemp THC Ban Until December 11 The U.S. Senate has approved a short-term government funding bill containing language that would temporarily delay part of the forthcoming federal ban on hemp-derived cannabinoid products. That sounds like good news for hemp consumers, farmers and small businesses—and it is a meaningful development. But it is important to be precise: the Senate did not repeal the federal hemp ban. It approved a limited delay, the Ho

Medical Cannabis May Ease Endometriosis Pain and Reduce Opioid Use For millions of people living with endometriosis, pain is not limited to a difficult day or an uncomfortable menstrual cycle. It can become a chronic, life-altering condition that disrupts sleep, work, relationships, mental health, and quality of life. New real-world research offers a hopeful reason to study medical cannabis more seriously. In a two-year analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, endometr

Oral CBD Matches Opioids for Post-Surgery Eye Pain in Clinical Trial A new clinical trial from researchers affiliated with the University of Florida suggests that oral cannabidiol, better known as CBD, may relieve pain following certain laser eye surgeries as effectively as a commonly prescribed opioid combination. The findings are especially notable because researchers did not merely compare CBD with a placebo. They directly compared a standardized, low-THC oral CBD formulat

Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Changes Cannabis Leases For decades, cannabis businesses have paid a financial penalty simply for occupying legal commercial space. State-licensed operators could sign leases, hire workers and pay rent like any other business, yet federal tax law prevented many of them from deducting ordinary operating expenses. That landscape is beginning to change. As MJBizDaily recently reported, federal marijuana rescheduling is rewriting the economics and n

Parallel Closes Florida Cannabis Facilities, Lays Off 211 Workers One of Florida’s largest medical cannabis operators has permanently closed two cultivation and processing facilities in the Tampa Bay region, eliminating 211 jobs and taking more than 330,000 square feet of operational greenhouse space offline. Parallel Florida LLC—the corporate parent of Surterra Wellness—reported the layoffs in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the Florida Department

The First “Reefer Madness” Was in Ybor City: How the Victor Licata Case Helped Demonize Cannabis Long before Reefer Madness became a cult movie, long before Richard Nixon declared a War on Drugs, and years before the federal government effectively outlawed cannabis through the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, one of America's most influential marijuana horror stories unfolded right here in Tampa. More specifically, it happened in Ybor City, Florida. In October 1933, the Licata fami

Cannabis laws have changed dramatically, but many of the arguments used to justify prohibition never really disappeared. They simply learned how to sound more reasonable. Today, two statements appear constantly in conversations about legalization: “Cannabis is much stronger now, and it is making people psychotic.” “I support legalization—I just don’t want to smell it everywhere.” Both statements may sound like practical concerns. Both can contain a legitimate issue worth disc

Pregnancy can bring nausea, vomiting, pain, anxiety, insomnia and dramatic changes in appetite. For generations, some mothers have reported using cannabis to manage these symptoms—sometimes after conventional treatments failed or produced unwanted side effects. That does not mean cannabis has been proven safe during pregnancy. It does mean the subject deserves something better than fear, stigma or oversimplified talking points. The human body has its own endocannabinoid syste

Michele Rayner Jumps in The Rotation to Discuss Cannabis Reform and Florida Senate District 16 Florida Rep. Michele Rayner joined the latest episode of The Rotation by Suncoast NORML for a candid conversation about cannabis policy, civil rights, political participation and her campaign for Florida Senate District 16. Hosted by Suncoast NORML Executive Director Christopher Cano and Deputy Director Carlos Hermida, the episode placed Florida’s unfinished cannabis reforms at the

A large retrospective study found that prenatal cannabis exposure was not independently associated with an increased risk of childhood anxiety or depressive disorders after researchers adjusted for maternal health, other substance use and demographic factors. Researchers examining health records from more than 115,000 children found that prenatal cannabis exposure was not independently associated with a greater risk of early-onset anxiety or depressive disorders after key con

A University of Florida survey of 108 patients with inflammatory bowel disease found that nearly 88 percent reported improved quality of life with cannabis use, while roughly 59 percent said it reduced their opioid consumption. Patients living with inflammatory bowel disease say cannabis may help them maintain independence, improve their quality of life and reduce their reliance on opioids, according to newly published survey data highlighted by National NORML. The findings c

Topical CBD Shows Promise for Localized Fibromyalgia Pain BARCELONA, Spain — A topical formulation containing cannabidiol, or CBD, was associated with meaningful reductions in localized pain among women with fibromyalgia, according to a newly published pilot study. The findings, first reported by National NORML, add to a growing body of research examining cannabinoids as possible tools for chronic pain management. However, the researchers emphasized that the study was explora

Older adults with local access to medical cannabis dispensaries reported better mental health outcomes than their peers without nearby access, according to a recently published analysis of New York health data. As first reported by National NORML, researchers found that medical cannabis availability was associated with a nearly 15% reduction in the likelihood that adults aged 65 and older experienced poor mental health days during the previous month. The study, published in E

Florida’s medical marijuana industry just experienced its largest sales month ever. Licensed medical marijuana dispensaries generated $198,209,750 in July 2026, establishing a new monthly record. That total was approximately $18.5 million higher than the previous record set in April and nearly $37.8 million above June’s sales. Through the first seven months of 2026, Florida medical marijuana sales have reached approximately $1.19 billion. For the complete sales breakdown and

A Hillsborough County firefighter plans to appeal a major medical marijuana employment ruling to the Florida Supreme Court. Here is what Florida patients should know.

Florida House candidate Robin Lockett and congressional candidate Elijah Manley joined The Rotation for a direct conversation about marijuana reform, hemp small businesses, criminal justice and what people-powered representation should look like. Florida voters are about to make some important choices, and The Rotation by Suncoast NORML is making sure cannabis policy is part of the conversation. In the latest episode, hosts Gary Stein, Christopher Cano and Carlos Hermida welc