Last Week in Cannabis #2
May 25–31, 2026 | Issue #2
Hey friend — welcome back to Last Week in Cannabis. A lot happened this week, including one story out of the United States that has been years in the making. Let's get into it.
1. CANADA — Aurora Cannabis Just Won a First-of-Its-Kind Patent on Two Cannabis Strains
Aurora Cannabis announced on May 14th that it has been granted Plant Breeders' Rights in Canada for two proprietary cannabis cultivars developed at its Aurora Coast research and development facility in British Columbia. The cultivars, known commercially as Farm Gas and Driftwood Diesel, are already core medical products for patients in Germany, Poland, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Global News
Mary Jane's Take: Plant Breeders' Rights work a lot like patents — they give a company exclusive rights to grow and sell a specific plant variety. This is actually a big deal for the cannabis industry. It means Canadian companies are starting to protect their genetics the same way agricultural companies protect crop varieties. As the global medical market grows, proprietary strains could become a serious competitive advantage.
2. CANADA — Air Transat's Zero-Tolerance Cannabis Policy Just Got Upheld
An arbitrator ruled this week that Air Transat's policy of zero tolerance for cannabis use among its employees is legally sound and enforceable. The case had been brought forward challenging whether the policy was reasonable given that cannabis is legal in Canada.
Mary Jane's Take: This is a good reminder that legal doesn't mean unrestricted. Employers — especially in safety-sensitive industries like aviation — have the right to set strict standards around substance use, and courts have consistently backed them up. If you work in transportation, healthcare, or any safety-sensitive field, it's worth knowing your employer's policy clearly.
3. UNITED STATES — The DEA Is Finally Holding Its Cannabis Rescheduling Hearing
This one has been a long time coming. On April 23rd, the US Department of Justice issued an order immediately placing cannabis subject to a state medical marijuana license into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. At the same time, the DEA announced an expedited hearing beginning June 29, 2026, to consider whether all cannabis — including recreational — should be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III. New Cannabis Ventures
NORML filed a notice this week to participate in the hearing, arguing that cannabis consumers must have a voice in the proceedings. StratCann
Mary Jane's Take: Schedule I in the US means a substance is considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse — the same category as heroin. Schedule III means it has accepted medical uses and lower abuse potential. Moving cannabis to Schedule III wouldn't legalize it federally, but it would be a significant shift that removes major tax penalties for cannabis businesses and opens the door to more research. The hearing runs until July 15th. Worth watching closely.
4. AUSTRALIA — Victoria's Labour Party Is Putting Cannabis Decriminalization on the Agenda
Cannabis decriminalization for personal and recreational use has been added to the agenda at Victoria's upcoming Labour Party conference. It doesn't guarantee a policy change, but it signals that the conversation is moving inside one of Australia's largest states.
Mary Jane's Take: Australia has had a complicated relationship with cannabis reform. Medical access has expanded significantly, but recreational use remains illegal in most states. Victoria putting decriminalization on the Labour Party's official conference agenda is meaningful — these kinds of internal party debates often precede actual policy change. One to watch.
5. UNITED STATES — The FDA Backed a Cannabis-Based Pain Drug
The FDA granted its first Breakthrough Therapy Designation to VER-01, an investigational full-spectrum cannabis extract developed for chronic pain. Breakthrough Therapy Designation is a program designed to speed up the development and review of drugs that may offer substantial improvement over existing treatments. StratCann
Mary Jane's Take: This is significant. The FDA doesn't hand out Breakthrough Therapy Designations casually — it's an acknowledgment that the early evidence is promising enough to fast-track the review process. A pharmaceutical-grade cannabis extract being given that status for chronic pain is exactly the kind of legitimization the medical cannabis world has been working toward for decades. The science is catching up to what many patients have known for years.
That's your week — two from Canada, three from around the world. See you next Monday.
— Mary Jane
