Gary Payton Strain, Senate Legalization Bill & Pentagon's Cannabis Warning

This week: the Gary Payton strain gets the Camry-of-weed treatment, and 2026 cannabis policy goes full split-screen — Senate legalization bill on Wednesday, Pentagon "stand down" memo on Thursday. In this episode: Gary Payton strain deep dive — hybrid cross of Snowman × The Y from Cookies × Powerzzzup Genetics, ~22% THC, essentially no CBD. Why Leafly named Gary Payton a breakout strain to watch in 2026 — caryophyllene-forward, "anxiety-slaying" chill profile. Reported effects (giggly, relaxed, euphoric) and the apricot-pepper-lavender flavor profile that sounds like a farmers-market jam. July 17, 2026: Schumer, Booker, and Wyden re-file a Senate bill to federally legalize and tax cannabis with restorative-justice programs. July 16, 2026: Department of War memo reminds service members marijuana use and possession remain punishable, even as rescheduling advances. Michigan Supreme Court bars trial judges from making "no marijuana" a blanket probation condition in a legal-weed state. Georgia expands its medical program — new qualifying conditions, vaping of flower allowed, adjusted THC potency limits. Idaho legalization initiative fails to qualify for the ballot; California pulls contaminated cannabis products in a pesticide recall. Sources: Leafly: Gary Payton strain profile Leafly: Hot weed strains to watch in 2026 Marijuana Moment: Senate federal legalization bill (July 17, 2026) Marijuana Moment: Military anti-cannabis warning (July 16, 2026) Marijuana Moment: Georgia, Idaho, and California cannabis updates Marijuana Moment: Michigan Supreme Court probation ruling Subscribe: mncannabishub.com Full transcript Daisy: —no but that's the thing, I walked into the dispensary already high, which is like showing up to the DMV drunk, it's just RUDE. Astoria: Daisy. You did not. Daisy: I did! And the budtender goes, "what are you looking for today," and I said, and I quote, "something that talks trash to my anxiety." Astoria: Okay that's actually a solid brief. Daisy: Right? And he goes, "Gary Payton." And I was like, sir, I know who Gary Payton is, I need a STRAIN. Astoria: Oh no. Daisy: And he just stared at me. Like, dead-eyed. And slowly turned the jar around. Astoria: So the strain is named after— Daisy: The Glove. Yeah. Hall of Fame point guard, trash-talked everybody into the ground, don't fact-check me on the specifics. Astoria: Great, love that for our research standards. Daisy: Astoria, it's a podcast, not a deposition. Astoria: Okay so tell me about the actual weed. Daisy: So it's a hybrid. Cross of Snowman and The Y, bred by Cookies with Powerzzzup Genetics, which sounds like a My Little Pony villain. Astoria: Powerzzzup. Daisy: Powerzzzup! Like she has a lightning bolt on her flank and a Soundcloud. Astoria: Stop. Daisy: Around twenty-two percent THC, basically no CBD, and Leafly is calling it one of the breakout strains to watch this year. Astoria: Wait, this year meaning 2026? Daisy: Twenty twenty-six, yeah. They did a whole "hot strains" piece and Gary Payton is on it. Caryophyllene-forward, which they described as, and this is where I got sold, "anxiety-slaying." Astoria: Anxiety-slaying. Daisy: Anxiety-SLAYING. Astoria. My anxiety needs to be slain. It needs a Viking funeral. Astoria: Okay okay. Daisy: Effects people report are giggly, relaxed, euphoric. Leafly literally calls it "middle-of-the-road." Astoria: Middle-of-the-road weed. Daisy: It's the Toyota Camry of weed. Astoria: That is not a compliment— Daisy: It IS a compliment! Everyone owns a Camry. Camrys never die. You