ARTICLE
19 May 2026

The Week In Weed: May 22 , 2026

SS
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Contributor

With approximately 1,000 lawyers across 17 offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide. Our high-caliber legal representation and advanced delivery capabilities allow us to take on our clients’ unique challenges and opportunities-no matter the scale or complexity. Whether navigating complex litigation, negotiating transformational deals, or advising on cross-border projects, our attorneys achieve exceptional legal outcomes. Our drive for excellence leads us to seek out better ways to work with our clients and each other. We have been first-to-market on many legal service delivery innovations-and we continue to break new ground with our clients every day. This long history of excellence and innovation has created a culture with a sense of purpose and belonging for all. In turn, our culture drives our commitment to the growth of our clients, the diversity of our people, and the resilience of our workforce.
Virginia's governor vetoes retail cannabis legislation, dashing hopes for a legal marketplace, while the TSA issues ambiguous guidance on medical marijuana in airports and Congress moves to block federal rescheduling funds. In an unexpected cultural shift, the Grand Ole Opry announces its first official THC beverage partnership.
United States Cannabis & Hemp
Seyfarth Shaw LLP are most popular:
  • within Compliance topic(s)

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, the big news is coming out of Virginia, where there will not be a retail cannabis market. Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration will now allow medical marijuana on airplanes – maybe. The House Appropriations Committee has removed funding to reschedule cannabis. And finally, the Grand Ole Opry now has an official THC beverage.

VIRGINIA

Meet the new boss; same as the old boss. That’s the tune supporters of a cannabis retail market in Virginia are singing this week, as Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) vetoed a bill that would have allowed legal sales of adult-use marijuana.

“We were all hoping that under a Democratic governor, it would not be a question of whether we would have a retail marketplace, but when we would have a retail marketplace. And today’s veto is evident that those expectations were false hope.”

– Democratic Petersburg Senator Lashrecse Aird, sponsor of the vetoed bill

TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

The rule has always been that cannabis is strictly forbidden in airports and on airplanes, even if those airports and airplanes are located in a state where cannabis is legal. Now, with medical cannabis moved to Schedule III, things may be different. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued new instructions concerning medical marijuana. They are perhaps not a model of clarity as regards whether you’ll definitely be able to bring your cannabis onboard, so you might want to just purchase what you need at your destination.

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Speaking of rescheduling, the House Appropriations Committee is not on board with it. They recently passed a funding bill that would prevent any federal funds from being used to reschedule cannabis. Since the Department of Justice has just done exactly that, the situation is a bit…awkward. Keep in mind that a similar provision has appeared in previous bills and never made it into law.

AND FINALLY

In a sign that times are truly changing for cannabis, the Grand Ole Opry has announced that Senorita THC Margaritas are now the venue’s official THC beverage.

Be well everyone – we’ll see you next week.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

[View Source]

Mondaq uses cookies on this website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies as set out in our Privacy Policy.

Learn More