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420 News October 2026: US Rescheduling, the UK Review & a Hemp Net Zero Push
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The short version: the US has moved medical cannabis to Schedule III, the UK's big medical cannabis review is due by the end of 2026, and a new report says hemp could help the UK hit net zero. Here's what happened and what it means. Nothing here is legal advice. Recreational cannabis is still illegal in the UK.
πΊπΈ US: medical cannabis moved to Schedule III
On 23 April 2026, the US Justice Department issued a final order moving state-licensed medical cannabis, and cannabis in FDA-approved medicines, from Schedule I to Schedule III. Everything else stays Schedule I, and adult-use (recreational) cannabis is still not federally legal. The acting Attorney General has ordered a fresh, expedited hearing on fully rescheduling cannabis, and campaign groups have gone to court to try to overturn the change. It's a major federal shift, but it isn't legalisation.
π¬π§ UK: the medical cannabis review is due
- Cannabis is still a Class B drug in the UK.
- Medical cannabis has been legal on prescription from specialist doctors since 1 November 2018.
- The government's drug advisers, the ACMD, are reviewing how that's gone. Their final report is expected by the end of 2026.
- An estimated 140,000 patients were accessing private medical cannabis treatment as of June 2026, but NHS access is still extremely rare.
The review could shape prescribing, NHS access and how police treat patients, so it's one to watch.
π± Hemp could be a UK net zero win
On 15 October 2026, the Cannabis Industry Council launched a report in Parliament arguing hemp is an overlooked climate tool. Its asks:
- Move industrial hemp licensing from the Home Office to DEFRA.
- Raise the THC limit for hemp from 0.3% to 1.0%.
- Allow whole-plant use.
The report says hemp captures 8β15 tonnes of COβ per hectare, compared with 2β6 for trees, and points to hempcrete and hemp-reinforced roads as big opportunities. Fun fact: hemp is also behind a lot of the papers you already use, like RAW Organic Hemp and Gary Payton x RAW.
πͺπΊ Elsewhere in Europe
- Spain: its medical cannabis framework is finally reaching patients.
- France: the final medical cannabis decree could be done in the coming weeks.
Sources
- Marijuana Policy Project: DOJ reschedules medical cannabis to Schedule III
- Cannabis Health: medical cannabis UK law in 2026
- Business of Cannabis: hemp could be the UK's net zero solution
- Business of Cannabis: European news
420 News is a monthly roundup of the culture and policy stories that matter. LoudBox sells legal smoking accessories only.
