This week’s newsletter honors the life of Wade Laughter, the horticulturist behind the landmark CBD-rich cannabis cultivar Harlequin, alongside updates on hemp THC legislation, state cannabis policy shifts, and promising preclinical CBD research for Alzheimer’s disease.
Noteworthy Read
Remembering Wade Laughter, the Unsung Hero of CBD (Project CBD)
Wade Laughter passed away last week after a long battle with cancer. Beloved within the cannabis community as the modest, softspoken horticulturist with a big heart and a great last name, Wade is one of the unsung heroes of botanical CBD that took root in northern California in the early 2010s.
At that time, hardly anyone knew about nonintoxicating cannabidiol and its remarkable therapeutic potential outside of a small group of scientists who were studying the endocannabinoid system. Word about CBD started to spread within medical marijuana circles when a handful of CBD-rich cannabis cultivars were identified by newly established analytical labs servicing the nascent cannabis industry.
One of these CBD-rich varietals was “Harlequin,” so named by Wade Laughter, who didn’t take credit for breeding it. He said he merely discovered it. And we were very fortunate that he did. With CBD emerging as the exciting new kid on the cannabinoid block, several early adopters who had access to rare CBD-rich genetics were initially skittish about releasing their proprietary property. Not so with Wade Laughter.
Wade didn’t feel like he was the rightful owner of Harlequin. Nor was anyone else. He had been gifted this plant serendipitously, and he would gift it back to the community. He opted to make Harlequin available to anyone who was interested in growing it and exploring its healing attributes. Harlequin clones began to “seed” the California cannabis landscape, and soon Wade’s gift popped up in other states, as well. Thus began an unsupervised, mass-based medical experiment, a grassroots laboratory experiment in democracy, enabled by Laughter’s decision to share Harlequin with the world.
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CBD for Alzheimer’s (NORML)
Preclinical data continues to show promising results for cannabidiol (CBD) as a multifaceted treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, with studies indicating anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cognition-enhancing effects that target key mechanisms of the disorder.
Federal Spending Bill Closing Hemp THC Loophole Passes House Committee (Ganjapreneur)
A key House committee approved a federal spending bill that includes language to close the hemp-derived THC loophole, potentially restricting the sale of intoxicating hemp products nationwide.
Licensed California Cannabis Sales Down 11% in Q1 (Ganjapreneur)
California’s licensed cannabis market saw an 11% drop in sales during the first quarter of 2025, continuing a trend of industry contraction amid economic and regulatory challenges.
Florida Cannabis Advocates Submit Enough Signatures to Trigger State Review of 2026 Legalization Proposal (Ganjapreneur)
Florida activists submitted over 200,000 signatures in support of a 2026 cannabis legalization ballot initiative, clearing the threshold for a mandatory state review of the proposal’s language.
Ohio Raises Cannabis Purchasing Limit (Ganjapreneur)
Ohio regulators have doubled the state’s legal cannabis purchase limit, allowing medical and adult-use consumers to buy up to 5.3 ounces of flower or its equivalent every 30 days.
Minnesota Tribe Signs Agreements to Open Adult-Use Dispensaries Off Tribal Land (Ganjapreneur)
The Red Lake Nation has reached agreements with two Minnesota counties to open adult-use cannabis dispensaries outside of tribal land, expanding their footprint under state legalization.
Texas Lawmakers Pass Hemp THC Ban (Ganjapreneur)
Texas legislators approved a sweeping bill that would ban hemp-derived THC products. The state’s limited medical cannabis program is not affected by the measure.
A heartfelt thank you to all of the CBD brands whose generous support makes it possible for Project CBD to shine a light on the people, plants, and science driving plant medicine forward. We are deeply grateful for your partnership.
