The Weekly Roll January 16th 2026
Jan 16, 2026
Happy Friday!
Welcome back to The Weekly Roll! I hope everyone had a lovely week, here is what’s happening this week in cannabis and art:
New Hope in VA : A Virginia lawmaker has introduced legislation to establish legal recreational marijuana sales starting November 2026, allowing adults to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis. The bill would create a regulated market with an 11.625% tax, directing revenue toward equity programs, education, and substance abuse treatment, and comes as incoming Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger supports legalization unlike her predecessor who vetoed similar efforts. Article
Slow Down, Man! : A new study found that varenicline, a smoking cessation medication, significantly reduced cannabis use among men with cannabis use disorder but showed no effect in women. The 12-week trial of 174 participants revealed a notable sex difference in treatment outcomes, prompting researchers to call for further investigation with larger female sample sizes to better understand this disparity. Article
Interesting Number: 2 Years. A bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation to delay a federal ban on hemp THC products by two years, pushing implementation from November 2026 to 2028. The Hemp Planting Predictability Act aims to give the hemp industry more time to negotiate regulatory alternatives after Congress passed provisions last year that would effectively eliminate intoxicating hemp products, which have been legal since the 2018 Farm Bill established a 0.3% delta-9 THC threshold for hemp. Article
Art in Protest : At least four Iranian artists—including a sculptor, filmmaker, fashion designer, and hip-hop artist—have been killed by police and militias during nationwide anti-government protests that erupted in December 2025, according to Artists at Risk Connection. The killings occurred amid a government-imposed internet and mobile blackout, with human rights groups reporting over 2,000 civilian deaths as Iranian authorities violently suppress demonstrations sparked by the country's economic crisis and crashing currency. Article
Have a great weekend!
Aidan