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- GOP Wants Weed Audit Of Fed Employees, NJ Dispensary Adds Crypto Payments, CBN Sleep Gummies Surge In California
GOP Wants Weed Audit Of Fed Employees, NJ Dispensary Adds Crypto Payments, CBN Sleep Gummies Surge In California
Plus, the latest in cannabis news.
Hey, Benzinga Cannabis family! Maureen here, bringing you today’s Cannabis Daily rundown—and what a lineup we’ve got. We’re talking about an unexpected cannabinoid rising to the top of California’s edible charts, a New Jersey dispensary accepting crypto like it’s 2030, and even a Republican congressman taking us on a psychedelic time-travel tale. Plus, we’ve got Utah’s milestone in medical marijuana, new research on cannabis for lupus, and some wild WWE weed confessions.
Buckle up—this one’s full of twists.
In today's issue:
🏛️ Politics & Policy
File this one under “You can’t make this up.” After a Department of Defense audit flagged thousands of questionable purchases at casinos and bars, GOP lawmakers are now asking the Government Accountability Office to dig into whether federal employees used taxpayer-funded credit cards to buy weed. No specific allegations yet, but cannabis is on a list of “high-risk” merchant categories lawmakers want reviewed, alongside massage parlors and fortune tellers.
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) isn’t shy about his psychedelic journey. In a Wall Street Journal interview, the retired Navy SEAL opened up about ibogaine therapy in Mexico that helped him heal from PTSD. “Cosmic colors,” math formulas “raining down,” and even a sense of time travel? Yup, all part of his trip. Luttrell credits the treatment with saving his life and is now a vocal supporter of psychedelic medicine in Congress.
🏪 Markets & Business
New Jersey dispensary Pipe Dreams is riding the crypto wave. Owner Mahmoud Heikal has launched a system that lets customers pay in digital currencies using a QR code at checkout. Thanks to the PDX Beam platform, those crypto coins turn into U.S. dollars in seconds. While only a dozen transactions a month are crypto-based right now, Heikal sees big potential: “It’s just another way for me not to say no to money.” And in the cash-strapped cannabis world, that’s a vibe.
🔬 Science & Health
California can’t sleep on CBN—literally. Cannabinol, a once-obscure cannabinoid, is now packed into the Golden State’s best-selling edibles. From just 4% market share in 2020 to 25% in 2025, that’s a 525% jump. Cannabis companies say CBN is the ultimate sleep aid, though science hasn’t quite caught up. While early studies on rats and humans suggest some sleep support, one clinical trial found no real effect—at least not without THC in the mix. Still, it’s clearly struck a nerve (or a pillow).
Lupus patients are turning to medical cannabis for relief from chronic pain, inflammation, and restless nights. Studies suggest cannabinoids like THC and CBD can help dial down autoimmune chaos by regulating the body’s immune response. Research in Frontiers in Pharmacology and Journal of Pain Research found reduced inflammation, pain, and even less reliance on opioids. Notably, CBD also shows promise in improving sleep and anxiety—two frequent flyers in the lupus symptom list.
The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) just dropped a first-of-its-kind map showing where tribal cannabis and hemp programs are operating across the U.S. Collaborating with law firm Vicente LLP, the project reveals that 52 tribal communities run federally approved hemp programs, and dozens more regulate medical and adult-use cannabis. ICIA’s Rob Pero said the map showcases “how these businesses affect local employment and revenue for community service.”
🧾 State Spotlights
Utah just hit a new high—literally—with 100,000 registered medical cannabis patients. That’s a big deal in a conservative state still working out the kinks of its cannabis system. While a recent law eliminated more accessible pop-up evaluations, patient advocates like Desiree Hennessy of the Utah Patients Coalition are staying optimistic.
“Every year we go back to the legislative session, we go back to our platforms with education, and just try to remove some of those barriers,” she said.
🎤 Culture & Lifestyle
Wrestler MVP didn’t want to stop smoking weed—so he tried to prepay his WWE fines. On the Marking Out podcast, he recalled when the company started testing for cannabis: “If they test us once a month and the fine is $1,000, that’s $12,000 a year. I said, ‘Can I just give you a $12,000 check for the year? I’m gonna smoke.’” The fines eventually climbed to $2,500, and after what he described as enough fees “to buy a new car,” MVP said he finally slowed down.
💚 That’s a wrap for today’s Cannabis Daily, folks! Whether you’re drifting off with CBN or diving into crypto-powered weed vending machines, the industry never stops moving—and neither do we. Catch you back here tomorrow with more green goodness.
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🧭 Social & Cultural