Nevada panel weighs eliminating the wholesale cannabis excise tax and taxing hemp beverages; Nebraska's Supreme Court upholds voter-approved medical cannabis laws; three firms seek DEA authorizations for cannabis research.

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Daily Compliance Brief

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Vol. 1 • Edition 23 • Sunday, September 6, 2026 • Alcohol & Hemp/THC Regulation • Federal + All 50 States

Good morning — here's the regulatory picture for alcohol and hemp/THC beverages, readable in about three minutes. Every headline links to the original source. A quiet weekend on the news front, so today's edition runs shorter and draws mainly on Friday's developments.

Top Story

Nevada panel weighs dropping the wholesale cannabis tax, raising the retail tax — and taxing hemp beverages

NEVADA • The Marijuana Herald • Sep 4

A taxation subcommittee of Nevada's Cannabis Advisory Commission met Friday to vote on draft recommendations that would eliminate the state's 15% wholesale excise tax on marijuana, raise the 10% excise tax on adult-use retail sales, and impose a new excise tax on retail consumable hemp products. Under the 2025 law that ordered the review, any restructuring must remain at least revenue neutral to the State Education Fund, which received $107.8 million from the two cannabis taxes in fiscal 2024, and the panel must weigh effects on retail prices, licensed businesses, consumers, the illicit market and the hemp industry. Recommendations advance to the full commission and are due to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Revenue by October 5 for the 2027 legislative session.

Why it matters: Nevada is now formally scoping a state excise tax on hemp beverages alongside its cannabis taxes — a template other states may copy, and a direct pricing variable for anyone selling or planning to sell THC drinks into that market.

Federal

Three firms seek DEA authorization to import or manufacture cannabis for clinical research

FEDERAL • The Marijuana Herald • Sep 4

Fisher Clinical Services (Pennsylvania), Irvine Labs (California) and PCI Pharma Services (Illinois) have applied to DEA to import or bulk-manufacture marijuana, extracts and THC for clinical trials and analytical research, with Federal Register notices scheduled for September 8 and a public comment and objection window to follow. The applications signal continued pharmaceutical-channel activity while DEA's separate marijuana rescheduling proceeding remains pending.

Around the States

Nebraska Supreme Court unanimously upholds voter-approved medical cannabis laws

NEBRASKA • Nebraska Examiner • Sep 4

In a 7–0 decision by Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke, the court rejected a challenge to the 2024 medical cannabis ballot initiatives that alleged invalid signatures and notarial misconduct, leaving both voter-approved laws in force. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana director Crista Eggers said the case was about whether officials could use the courts to override the will of the people; the state's Medical Cannabis Commission continues writing licensing rules and meets September 14.

Why it matters: The ruling clears the legal cloud over Nebraska's nascent medical cannabis program — licensing timelines now run through the commission's rulemaking rather than the courts.

Michigan regulators publish updated compliance best-practices guide for cannabis businesses

MICHIGAN • Marijuana Moment • Sep 4

Michigan's Cannabis Regulatory Agency released an updated best-practices compliance guide for licensed marijuana businesses, part of a Friday round of state actions that also saw California regulators rescind a product recall after confirming the item had passed required compliance testing.

On the Radar

Dec. 11 — The federal ban on intoxicating hemp products takes effect under the delay signed September 2; synthetic cannabinoids remain on the original November 12 date. Bipartisan regulatory bills, including alcohol-style rules for THC drinks, are pending in Congress.

This week — The Cannabis Association of New Mexico says it plans to refile its NMS2S tracking-system challenge with documented financial damages; Nebraska's Medical Cannabis Commission meets September 14.

Sept. 17 / Oct. 8 — Possible Travis County hearing dates on Texas's "Total THC" rules, with a TRO ruling pending; Oct. 5 — Nevada's tax recommendations are due to the legislative revenue committee.

Jeremy Barnes | Chief Financial Officer, New Realm Brewing Co.

Prepared for New Realm's leadership team and valued partners. This brief is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice; it is compiled with AI assistance from the linked sources — please confirm details at the link before acting on them.

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Audio transcript (~2 min read)

This is the New Realm Compliance Brief, Volume One, Edition Twenty-Three, for Sunday, September Sixth. A quiet weekend for regulatory news, so today's update draws mainly on Friday's developments.

The top story: Nevada's cannabis tax structure is under formal review. A subcommittee of the state's Cannabis Advisory Commission met Friday to vote on recommendations that would eliminate Nevada's fifteen percent wholesale excise tax on marijuana, raise the ten percent excise tax on retail sales, and, notably for the beverage business, impose a new excise tax on retail consumable hemp products. Any change must remain at least revenue neutral for the state education fund, which received about one hundred eight million dollars from the two taxes in fiscal year twenty twenty-four. Recommendations are due to a legislative committee by October fifth for possible action in Nevada's twenty twenty-seven session.

In federal news, three pharmaceutical service companies, Fisher Clinical Services, Irvine Labs, and PCI Pharma Services, have applied to the Drug Enforcement Administration to import or manufacture marijuana, extracts and THC for clinical research. Federal Register notices are scheduled for September eighth, with a public comment window to follow.

Around the states: Nebraska's Supreme Court unanimously upheld the state's two voter-approved medical cannabis laws, rejecting a signature challenge brought by a former state senator; the state's Medical Cannabis Commission meets September fourteenth as licensing work continues. And Michigan's Cannabis Regulatory Agency released an updated compliance best-practices guide for licensed businesses.

On the radar: the federal ban on intoxicating hemp products takes effect December eleventh, with synthetic cannabinoids still set for November twelfth. New Mexico's cannabis trade association says it plans to refile its tracking-system challenge this week with documented damages. And possible Texas court dates on the state's total THC rules are September seventeenth and October eighth.

Full details and source links are in today's email. This update is for general information only — it is not legal advice.