upLVL News

New Research Reveals Four Distinct Cannabis Aroma Profiles: The Inside Scoop

upLVLNews | Apr 2, 2026

Recently, a joint study conducted by Abstrax Tech in collaboration with the University of British Columbia unveiled four unique cannabis aroma profiles. Undeniably a game-changer for cannabis enthusiasts and industry workers alike, this research moves us beyond the conventional indica versus sativa binary into an entirely new layer of categorizing – the world of terpenes and their corresponding aromas.

The study, officially titled "Chemometric Analysis of Cannabinoids and Terpenes for the Chemical Phenotyping of Cannabis sativa L. Cultivars," breaks down the four unique cannabis profiles as 'Fruity', 'Hoppy', 'Earthy' and 'Flowery'. This discovery, according to sources, assists in a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the cannabis plant, opening new doors for breeders, growers, and consumers in the cannabis industry.

The terminology of 'Fruity' and 'Earthy' depicts clear sensory attributes, but what about 'Hoppy' and 'Flowery'? Fear not. 'Hoppy' refers to cannabis aromas that resemble the tangy bitterness you might taste in your favorite IPA beer. On the other hand, 'Flowery' denotes a profile that embodies a floral scent, similar to walking through a field of wildflowers.

The trailblazing research validates the fact that not all cannabis is created equal. Recognizing and understanding these aroma profiles, along with the cannabinoids THC and CBD content, can lead to significant variations in consumers' experiences. The potential applications of such knowledge range from enhanced retail sales guidance to advanced strain development and selection for therapeutic use.

The co-authors hope that this research will lay the foundation for a standardized system in profiling and cataloging cannabis. But as the cannabis world evolves and the depth of our insight about the plant increases, we can expect continued transformations and fine-tuning in how we perceive and categorize our favorite herb.

So, no matter where you sit in the upLVL ecosystem, from budtenders to owners to consumers, this study is something to listen to. Up your game by understanding these fascinating aroma profiles better. Remember, knowledge is power! 

Five-Year NY Cannabis Report: Total Sales Hit Stratospheric $3.3B, Reveals Gov. Hochul

upLVLNews | Apr 1, 2026

It's a green world out there, folks. Let knowledge be your guide: Subscribe to our upLVL and succeed in the thriving cannabis industry.

Riding high on the wave of legalization, the cannabis industry in New York reached a significant milestone recently. After five years of legalized adult-use sales, cannabis retailers licensed by the state have garnered a whopping $3.3 billion in sales, fondly termed "billion-dollar green rush" in cannabis parlance. 

The Empire State’s governor, Kathy Hochul (D), acknowledged the boom during a media interaction last week. The figure not only reflects the robust economic potential of the industry but also the changing societal perceptions and acceptance towards cannabis usage. 

Since the inception of licensed cannabis sales in 2016, the state has witnessed growing consumer demand and expanding retail outlets. In addition to providing access to safe and tested cannabis products, retail businesses have bolstered the state's economy by offering jobs and contributing to the tax revenues.

The sale of cannabis products in New York has notably diversified over the years. The available products range from premium flowers and pre-rolls to innovative edibles, tinctures, and topicals, making cannabis accessible and enjoyable for newbies and connoisseurs alike. The strides made in product innovation are reflective of an industry constantly evolving, mirroring consumer demands and tastes.

The success of cannabis sales can also be attributed to the rigorous regulatory framework established by the state. By setting clear rules and guidelines, the state has created an environment that promotes public safety while ensuring a fair market for cannabis businesses. It reflects a healthy balance that other states contemplating legalizing recreational cannabis can look up to. 

That said, the industry continues to wrestle with challenges like tax rates, banking access, and regulatory compliance. The ongoing discussions about federal cannabis legalization also cast a long shadow over the industry's future. 

The smokin' hot $3.3 billion sales figure undoubtedly puts New York on the global cannabis map. However, the journey ahead is twofold—continuing to tap the economic potential of this burgeoning industry while pushing for positive social change with equity plans and social justice programs integral to proposed cannabis policies. 

So, as we set sights on harnessing cannabis’s economic and social potential, here's to celebrating the green wave, cannabis’s brighter, inclusive, and lucrative future in New York! 

It's a green world out there, folks. Let knowledge be your guide: Subscribe to our upLVL and succeed in the thriving cannabis industry.

US Congressman Presses DOJ, DEA Heads on Cannabis Rescheduling Timeline

upLVLNews | Apr 1, 2026

Democratic U.S. House Rep. Steve Cohen sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and DEA Administrator Terry Cole asking for a status update. March 29, 2026

A U.S. congressman called into question the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) sense of urgency to follow President Donald Trump’s directive to loosen federal restrictions on cannabis.

House Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., sent a letter on March 27 to Attorney General Pam Bondi and DEA Administrator Terry Cole, seeking clarity on the administration’s progress toward reclassifying the plant from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

The letter comes 99 days after Trump signed an executive order on Dec. 18, directing Bondi to “take all necessary steps” to complete the Schedule III rulemaking process “in the most expeditious manner.” But the president provided no deadline for Bondi to act.

Cohen pointed out in the letter how the cannabis rescheduling process, initiated under the Biden administration, has been sidelined since January 2025, when the DEA’s now-retired administrative law judge (ALJ), John J. Mulrooney II, granted an interlocutory appeal in a hearing process that was supposed to provide pro- and anti-rescheduling parties the opportunity to debate the merits of the proposed rule in public.

When Mulrooney retired in August 2025, he left the DEA with no administrative law judges to hear the matter, and Cole has yet to fill that vacancy.

Read the full article here

Federal Bill Would Give State-Legal Cannabis Companies Access to Banking Services

upLVLNews | Mar 25, 2026

A bipartisan federal proposal, the Capital Lending and Investment for Marijuana Businesses (CLIMB) Act, would create protections for cannabis companies to access financial services and government loan programs.

U.S. Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) this week introduced the bipartisan Capital Lending and Investment for Marijuana Businesses (CLIMB) Act, which aims to give state-legal cannabis companies access to the lending and investment opportunities available to other industries.

Most financial institutions are currently unwilling to serve the industry, as cannabis remains a federally prohibited, Schedule I substance.

But the CLIMB Act would establish protections for private lenders to provide loans and for government agencies, like the Small Business Administration (SBA), or the Minority Business Development Association (MBDA), to provide grants to state-licensed cannabis companies.

“This legislation is an opportunity to bring equity and equal opportunity into our nation’s growing cannabis industry,” Rep. Carter said in a press release.

Read the full story here

7 States That Could Legalize Cannabis in 2026

upLVLNews | Mar 24, 2026

While bingo-card favorites Florida, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and New Hampshire are off the list, the reform push continues for seven other contenders this year.

The race is still on for seven state cannabis legalization hopefuls in 2026, with legislative and signature-gathering deadlines more quickly approaching for some than others.

Idaho activists, for instance, are up against a May 1 clock to collect 70,725 valid signatures for a medical cannabis legalization initiative to land on the November ballot, and the numbers are looking strong.

By contrast, the Pennsylvania Legislature has until its Nov. 30 adjournment date to decide whether to take up adult-use proposals. Perhaps with the biggest appetite for reform this year, bipartisan leaders in both chambers of the commonwealth’s government are backing proposals to create a commercial marketplace as the governor continues his years-long demand for it.

See full article here

63% of Massachusetts Voters Oppose Petition to Repeal Adult-Use Cannabis Program

upLVLNews | Mar 11, 2026

Smart Approaches to Marijuana spent $1.55 million, so far, backing a 2026 ballot proposal that just 20% of Bay Staters support, according to a new poll.

A seven-figure campaign to end Massachusetts’ adult-use cannabis program and recriminalize personal cultivation has yet to appeal to the state’s voters, according to a new survey.

Just 20% of likely voters in the commonwealth support the 2026 ballot proposal to wipe out the state’s $1.6 billion adult-use marketplace, while 63% oppose (48% strongly/15% somewhat) the measure, according a Bay State Poll conducted last month by the University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Survey Center under the university’s States of Opinion Project.

Read the full article here

Oregon Bill SB 1548 will NOT become law this legislative session. A victory for Oregon Cannabis!

upLVLNews | Feb 26, 2026

Hey Friends, Members, Supporters, and Advocates,

All of the work — the calls, the letters, the testimony, the meetings — it mattered!

SB 1548 will NOT become law this legislative session.

This afternoon, SB 1548 did not pass out of the House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business.  After substantial discussion of the pros and cons of the bill, the Chair did not move it forward. He determined that more discussion is warranted, and we at CIAO are committed to partnering with the Legislature, the OLCC, and others to determine the best path to keeping cannabis out of the hands of children.

This outcome did not happen by accident. It happened because of everyone who showed up and fought, and the legislators who listened to our message.

A huge thanks to everyone who signed letters, submitted testimony, showed up to lobby day, or spoke with legislators — thank you. And of course, this could not have happened without the CIAO team, who carried this effort every day, and the deduction and support of our members.

Together, 1,800+ people took action, generating 3,400+ letters and 140+ pieces of testimony. That’s what moved the needle.

That said — if this outcome mattered to you… if it benefited your business… if it protected our market and industry… and you are not a current CIAO member…

We are asking you to become a member and get involved. Political advocacy can’t be an afterthought — we must fight for the industry we want and deserve!

And there is more work to do. There are opportunities we need to advance. Our strength and success is directly related to the size of our membership. If you are not a CIAO member, join today, now is the time.

Your membership gives us the resources, credibility, and reach to stay at the table, protect the regulated market, and push for smart reforms that strengthen businesses and build a healthier, more stable industry.

We also must recognize something important: we as an industry must continue to take responsibility for our products and our future. That means doing our part to keep communities safe, ensuring minors — especially small children — do not have access to cannabis, and helping parents understand how to store THC responsibly.

That is why the CIAO will begin working on a Safe Storage campaign immediately.

And beyond that, we will be working on reforms that create a stronger, more financially viable, and more rewarding market for everyone.

Join us. Help us build the industry we all deserve — one that is prosperous, responsible, and sustainable.

Today, take a moment to appreciate what we accomplished together (and become a member).

Then let’s get back to work.

With gratitude,

Jesse Bontecou
E.D. | Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon (CIAO)
jesse@ciaoforegon.org
503-420-7441

We are stronger together — and your participation directly impacts our ability to protect and advance the industry.

🚨 If you work in the Oregon cannabis industry, this is urgent! Take Action on SB 1548.

upLVLNews | Feb 24, 2026

🚨 Oregon Cannabis Industry: Take Action on SB 1548

If you work in the Oregon cannabis industry, this is urgent!

SB 1548 has passed the Senate and is now moving quickly through the House. A committee vote is imminent, and the window to act is extremely short.

In plain terms, SB 1548 would:

• Require individual wrapping for every edible unit
• Cap each serving at 10mg THC (even if package totals remain 100mg)
• Force major operational and packaging changes
• Drive up production costs across the regulated market
• Place disproportionate strain on small and mid-sized processors
• Risk job loss and business closures

Those costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers and medical patients who rely on regulated products.

It also does not address the illicit or online marketplace, where most non-compliant products already originate. When regulated costs rise, demand doesn’t disappear, it migrates.

⏳ The timeline is moving fast:

✔ Senate Passed
✔ House Hearing Held
➡ House Committee Vote Scheduled

Direct outreach to legislators is critical right now.

📣 Take 60 seconds to email your State Representative through the official House Letter Campaign.

👉 Join the Legislative Letter Campaign here: [Insert Link]

If you’ve already written to the Senate, thank you. Now please contact your House Representative.

Then share this with your team, partners, and fellow licensees. Industry-to-industry outreach is how we amplify our voice.

Oregon’s regulated market depends on thoughtful policy. Make your voice heard.

#OregonCannabis #ORCannabis #CannabisAdvocacy #RegulatedMarket #SB1548

Study Shows Decrease in Adolescent Cannabis Consumption from 1999 to 2023

upLVLNews | Feb 23, 2026

A recent study from the University of Connecticut, published in Addictive Behavior, reveals a significant decrease in cannabis consumption among teens from 1999 till 2023. Analysis of the data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which surveyed over 254,000 high schoolers from 1991 to 2023, shows a drop from a peak of 47.3% in 1999 to 30.1% in 2023.

Interestingly, while males have generally reported higher rates of use, in 2003 females reported higher cannabis consumption statistics; 33.4% compared to 27% for males. A further study in 2024, from the University of Michigan, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, also showed a decrease in cannabis consumption among 12th graders, though usage in younger grades appeared to remain stable. 

These findings underline the importance of continuing to monitor trends, understanding the implications for regulation and ensuring our industry continues to prioritize responsible and safe use.

Study Reveals Lifelong Cannabis Use Tied to Brain Volume and Cognitive Function

upLVLNews | Feb 3, 2026

Study Reveals Lifelong Cannabis Use Tied to Brain Volume and Cognitive Function

Hey there, cannabis enthusiasts! We're keeping up on the science and today diving into the connection between lifetime cannabis use, brain volume, and cognitive function in the not-so-young-anymore club. It's the latest scoop straight from science town that might get those curiosity buds tingling!

Cannabis use has been a hot topic for years, either hailed as a panacea or demonized as a peril. But, we're all about the facts here, aren't we? So, let's break it down!

Current research shows a fascinating correlation between lifelong marijuana use and changes in brain volume and cognitive abilities in middle-aged and older adults. So, if you've been puffing the magical herb for a while now, you might find this intriguing.

What's the takeaway? Well, while we aren't neuroscientists yet, this study underscores the importance of understanding the potential long-term effects of heavy cannabis consumption. For all you cannabis connoisseurs out there, it's just another reason to understand the science behind your sesh.

So, whether you're a budtender, manager, owner, or simply a curious learner, let's seize the opportunity to become well-informed cannabis aficionados. After all, understanding today's cannabis news is tomorrow's knowledge and potential profit, right?

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