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“THC was one of the many things that helped people make up their minds that Republicans in the state don’t care about them.” By Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) has led a crusade against THC products over the past few years, eventually leading to state officials banning several hemp-derived cannabis products, including popular items like smokeable vapes and joints. “I’m not going to legalize marijuana in Texas. And if people want to vote me out of office for that, so be it,” Patrick said at a news conference last year. On Election Day, Texans did just that. “This is the biggest [mess]-around-and-find-out moment I have ever seen in politics,” said Lukas Gilkey, chief executive of Hometown Hero, a manufacturer of hemp-derived products. Vikki Goodwin, the Austin state representative, unseated Patrick—a close ally of Trump—by focusing her campaign on his biggest vulnerabilities: his incumbency and a widely unpopular push to ban hemp-derived THC products. A big part of her campaign centered around undoing restrictions on hemp-derived THC products and using revenue from the sales tax to pay for health insurance programs for low-income Texans. Implementing that plan, however, will prove to be more difficult. While Goodwin’s stance on THC certainly helps the industry, it’s not an immediate fix, said Shayda Torabi, co-founder of RESTART CBD in Austin. “Right now, smokable products have gone back and forth through agency rules and court orders, and businesses and customers can’t plan around that,” she said. “Lawmakers can write clear rules: age limits, testing, labeling and real enforcement against bad actors.” Torabi warned Texans that even if the state lifts its smokeable ban, THCA flower, the raw, unheated version of THC, fails the new federal total THC test starting December 11. She said smokeable products in Texas will need a federal walk back or a state-legal market that the lawmakers and agencies build. “Don’t assume the election fixed this,” she said. “Texans could go a while without access to some products.” Few policy proposals had earned Patrick more backlash than his push to ban hemp-derived THC products in 2025, even drawing criticism from far-right personalities who have long adored him. “I truly believe THC access was on the ballot in Texas. Each of the major campaigns, including Talarico, Hinojosa and Goodwin, made hemp a key issue in their campaign,” said JD McCormick, founder of American Healthy Alternatives Association, based out of Florida. “Patrick clearly underestimated how popular hemp was.” The push, which the Legislature ultimately passed before the governor vetoed it, reflected the lieutenant governor’s power in the chamber and Senate districts. “I think THC did play a role,” said Texas Majority PAC Executive Director Katherine Fischer during a press conference on the key takeaways from the 2026 midterms. “I think THC was one of the many things that helped people make up their minds that Republicans in the state don’t care about them and that they should vote in a different way than they have been voting.” THC, along with a long era of incumbents and other issues, are all part of the Democratic sweep witnessed on Election Day, said Erik Peterson, an associate professor of political science at Rice University “When you are in the party in charge for a long period of time, you accumulate these issues over time,” Peterson said. “Whether it was school vouchers or THC, many of these things are probably not going to be decisive on their own, but when they intersect in a very unfavorable national political environment, that is when you see the kind of surprising and unprecedented shifts that we saw in a lot of places across Texas last night.” Now, hemp advocates, farmers, industry leaders and voters are waiting to see what the future might hold for THC products in Texas. “I think Vikki is going to represent constituents the way that it should have been done, and we’re going to start working to repeal all of this nonsense immediately,” Gilkey said. Katharine Neill Harris, a drug policy fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, said Goodwin’s win creates an opportunity for lawmakers to consider how to regulate hemp responsibly, but she can’t do it on her own. “She will need support from the Legislature and there are still folks in the Senate who want to see hemp banned, though Hinojosa’s win in the governor race could block those attempts,” she said. “If Goodwin is afforded the power Patrick had over the Senate, she could block ban efforts, but the Senate Republicans may try to take that power away.” Earlier this year, the Texas Department of State Health Services released regulations on consumable hemp-derived THC products that went into effect on March 31. These new regulations include child-resistant packaging, a significant increase in licensing fees, new labeling, testing, and bookkeeping requirements. The rules also codify the legal purchasing age to 21, which went into effect last year as an emergency directive. Hemp retailers warned lawmakers that the regulations that decrease the amount of total THC in products they sell to 0.3 percent will eliminate popular smokeable hemp products, such as rolled joints and smokeable flower buds, which make up more than 50 percent of some stores’ inventories. Yet the rules still went into place. The rules also increased licensing fees for manufacturers of hemp-derived THC from $258 to $10,000 per facility and retail registrations from $155 to $5,000, which industry leaders say will fulfill the ban by forcing businesses to close. Several hemp organizations filed lawsuits against the new rules that banned THC products, which are still playing out in court. “There is no reason that [hemp] flower shouldn’t be legal. There is no reason that vapes shouldn’t be legal,” said Gilkey. Hemp retailers now expect some of these lawsuits to face a more favorable environment now that voters replaced many of the judges who initially ruled against it. “Nothing has to change drastically. We had something that worked for seven years. We had something that thrived and generated $300 million a year in state tax revenue,” Gilkey said. “The regulations already exist; we have rules we have to abide by. There is not a lot that needs to be changed, other than removing some of the garbage that was created by Dan Patrick through the rulemaking process.” Harris said legislation on THC products is preferable to piecemeal rulemaking because it’s less vulnerable to litigation and provides an opportunity to develop a comprehensive regulatory strategy. “I don’t see any indication that DSHS would voluntarily change its rules at this time, though there is currently litigation over the THCA rule and it’s possible that the makeup for the deciding court is going to change,” she said. When the Legislature convenes January 12, a new question will be before them—whether hemp-derived THC is legal under Texas law, including a regulated market for hemp or even cannabis similar to the way legal marijuana has been done. If lawmakers decide to legalize THC products, they won’t be sold outside of the state, similar to how cannabis is treated in legal weed states, but the products will be able to safely return to the shelves. “Of course, Texas could also consider creating a more comprehensive legal cannabis market, as 24 other states have done, and allow smokable cannabis through that channel,” Harris said. Disclosure: Rice University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune within the past five years. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in our journalism. Find a complete list of them and more information about our financial and disclosure policies here. This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune. The post Texas Election Results Boost Efforts For Legal Marijuana And Hemp Access, Advocates Say appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The governor and lieutenant governor of Illinois, along with a U.S. senator that represents the state, released a policy agenda this week that calls on Congress to allow the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products to take effect without further delay. Gov. JB Pritzker (D), Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) on Wednesday published “Fighting for Illinois: Day One Agenda,” a document that contains roughly 200 policy proposals for Congress following this week’s midterm elections that gave Democrats a majority in both chambers. One proposal of interest for the cannabis industry is to “let the federal ban on intoxicating hemp take effect.” “Children can buy unlicensed, untested intoxicating hemp products at gas stations, corner stores, and smoke shops; children and adults in Illinois have overdosed or been sent to the ER,” the document says. “Continued sales also undercut Illinois’ licensed cannabis businesses and the social equity businesses at the core of its cannabis industry.” Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, the president signed new legislation containing provisions that redefined hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container would remain legal after November 12. Now, however, under provisions included in a funding bill Trump signed in September, the effective date of the ban for most products is being pushed back to December 11 to give lawmakers more time to craft regulations for hemp derivatives. There is a carve-out, however, to allow the recriminalization on November 12 of synthetic cannabinoids “that are not capable of being naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant.” In Illinois, Pritzker signed an omnibus cannabis reform bill in June that contains provisions to recriminalize hemp THC products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container under state law, in line with the federal ban. “Instead of letting an ambiguous marketplace keep putting people at risk, Illinois is taking action to protect consumers of all ages, especially children, from misleading packaging and labeling,” Pritzker said in a press release at the time. “This landmark legislation closes the intoxicating hemp loophole while bolstering equity and oversight and expanding medical access. Illinois is committed to cultivating a cannabis industry that benefits diverse businesses across the state and prioritizes accessibility, and I am proud to sign this measure into law.” Proud to fight for Illinoisans today with Senator Duckworth and Senator-Elect Stratton. pic.twitter.com/rek6ipqoe8 — Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) November 5, 2026 The new plan released by the governor and Stratton, who was just elected to a U.S. Senate seat, along with Duckworth, says that Congress should “oppose any further delay and any further amendment.” “Let the ban take effect, and do not further regulate or legalize intoxicating hemp,” it says. Duckworth, for her part, effectively voted in favor of delaying the originally scheduled ban by supporting a motion to table an amendment in August that sought to remove provisions from a funding bill that moved the effective date back. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who is vacating the seat that Stratton was just elected to, voted against tabling the prohibitionist amendment from Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC). Politico recently reported that alcohol industry lobbyists have pushed top state law enforcement officials to pressure Congress in support of keeping the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products on track. The outlet said it had obtained a “collection of emails” in which lobbyists for major alcohol companies such as Anheuser-Busch, Molson Coors and Diageo urged state attorneys general to sign a letter that asked Congress not to reverse course on the scheduled hemp product ban. Meanwhile in Illinois, the broad cannabis reform bill that Pritzker signed earlier this year also contains provisions to double the amount of marijuana that adults can legally possess, allow drive-thrus and curbside pickup at dispensaries and make it so medical cannabis certifications can be issued via telehealth, among other reforms. In August, Illinois officials separately added sickle cell disease and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) with chronic pain as new medical cannabis qualifying conditions. In September, a lawmaker filed a bill to create a new Illinois Freedom Program “for the purpose of issuing direct cash payments to eligible individuals who have been disproportionately impacted by historical cannabis enforcement.” The post Illinois Governor And US Senator Push For Federal Hemp THC Product Ban To Take Effect Without Further Delay appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“The 2026 election didn’t legalize cannabis in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina or Georgia. But it changed the political conditions under which those decisions will be made.” By Rodney Holcombe, LeafLink Cannabis legalization was on the ballot in far more states than voters might have realized on Election Day. While it was literally on the ballot in Massachusetts and Idaho, changes in state legislatures and governors’ offices across the country could prove even more consequential for the cannabis industry. From Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to Texas, North Carolina and Georgia, the election altered the political landscape in states where legalization has stalled, creating new opportunities to bring regulated cannabis to millions more Americans. It’s an opportunity we can’t let slip by. We must redouble our efforts to end prohibition, protect existing markets and build new markets that deliver public health, safety and economic benefits to their communities. In Massachusetts, voters overwhelmingly rejected Question 8, which would have eliminated adult-use sales and the businesses and jobs they’ve created. The signal couldn’t have been more clear: Commonwealth voters want to maintain a system that delivers tested, regulated products to consumers. Elsewhere, the implications of Election Day may be even greater. While Massachusetts preserved its market, changes to the political makeup of other states could open the door to reform where it was once stalled. Wisconsin and Pennsylvania present particularly significant opportunities for near-term progress. Both states now have Democratic control of the governor’s office and the legislature, removing a major political obstacle to advancing adult-use legalization. Just as importantly, both states spent years considering cannabis reform while watching neighboring states establish regulated markets. Pennsylvania’s debate has advanced into the specifics of how a commercial marketplace should operate, while Wisconsin lawmakers have repeatedly introduced legalization proposals that were later blocked by legalization opponents. The groundwork for reform exists across both states, and the economic consequences of continued inaction are also increasingly difficult to ignore. Electoral shifts in Texas, North Carolina and Georgia have also created openings in potentially significant cannabis markets, though the path to legalization is less clear. With Democrats gaining control of at least the North Carolina and Texas House and the Texas and Georgia governorships, the political landscape is much more ripe for reform than it was pre-election. These states represent millions of potential consumers and significant opportunities for job creation, investment, economic growth and addressing the consequences of prohibition. Texas already borders New Mexico’s legal adult-use market, while North Carolina will soon border an adult-use retail market in Virginia. The election creates an opportunity to move these discussions forward, even if establishing regulated markets remains a longer-term prospect. Changes in Washington may have also created opportunities to renew federal reform, including potential bipartisan action between the incoming Congress and the White House. Still, work is needed at the state level to advance meaningful reform and expanded consumer access. These states have the benefit of learning from established markets. We’ve seen repeatedly how excessive taxes, burdensome regulations and barriers to capital make it difficult for licensed businesses to compete with illicit operators. A successful market will require practical licensing frameworks, reasonable tax structures and opportunities for businesses of different sizes to participate throughout the supply chain. Taking best practices from other states and creating an accessible, choice-filled market will ultimately stave off competition from the illicit market, which does not test or age-gate its products. The 2026 election didn’t legalize cannabis in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina or Georgia. But it changed the political conditions under which those decisions will be made. Now it’s time to put in the work to bring those markets to fruition. Rodney Holcombe is vice president of corporate affairs for LeafLink. The post This Week’s Election Results Open The Door To Expanding Cannabis Legalization Across The US (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Maryland officials are providing guidance about a new law that protects firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job—including announcing that they are establishing a process allowing first responders who work in Maryland but live out-of-state to register as legal medical cannabis patients. Gov. Wes Moore (D) gave final approval to the measure in April after it cleared the Senate and House of Delegates, and it officially became operative on October 1. The new policy, which was sponsored by Sen. Carl Jackson (D), generally says that first responders will not face employment discrimination or retaliation for testing positive for cannabis metabolites if they’re a registered patient and are not impaired on the job. The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), in a new guidance document, explained the law covers firefighters, emergency medical technicians, cardiac rescue technicians and paramedics employed by municipal corporations, fire control districts, the state of Maryland, counties within the state and the state airport authority. Notably, MCA said that fire and rescue public safety employees who work in Maryland but do no live in the state are eligible to receive a written certification providing the employment protections. “MCA is establishing a process for fire and rescue public safety employees who live out-of-state to register as medical patients,” the agency said. “This process is forthcoming.” The statute, Chapter 183 of 2026, establishes certain workplace protections for fire and rescue public safety employees related to cannabis use. Visit https://t.co/3bmWf4WgkW to learn more. pic.twitter.com/bUrlhbzPbz — MD Cannabis (@MDCannabis) October 21, 2026 In the meantime, out-of-state workers who want to become certified medical cannabis patients in Maryland can fill out a form to express interest in being notified when the new application is available. “MCA will not disclose any identifying information you include in this form to your employer,” the form said. Meanwhile, the new guidance document said that fire and rescue workers cannot use medical cannabis recommendations from out-of-state doctors to qualify for the new employment protections. “A written certification must be issued by a Maryland-registered certifying provider,” MCA said. “A certifying provider must be licensed with the MCA and is licensed and in good standing with their respective state health professional licensing board.” Under the new law enacted last month, employers cannot “discipline, discharge, or otherwise discriminate against the fire and rescue public safety employee with respect to the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment” if they test positive while holding a medical cannabis registration. Further, employers cannot “limit, segregate, or classify its employees in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive the fire and rescue public safety employee of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the fire and rescue public safety employee’s status as an employee.” Nothing in the legislation prohibits employers from taking action against an employee for showing up to work while under the influence of cannabis, and any instances where a public safety worker is found to be impaired while on duty will be reported to the State Emergency Medical Services Board. The enactment of SB 439 came after years of attempts over recent sessions to enact the reform aimed at giving emergency service professionals the option to use cannabis as an alternative treatment for health conditions that commonly afflict the first responder community. Del. Adrian Boafo (D) sponsored an identical bill, HB 797, that passed the House this session. The change is “so critically important to our firefighters” and other rescue professionals who “work long shifts in tense emergencies and high-stress situations every day,” Boafo said at a committee hearing. “Many experience chronic pain, injuries and anxiety as a direct result of serving our communities,” the lawmaker said. “Medical cannabis, when prescribed and used off duty, can help manage those conditions. But under current policies, firefighters who use medically prescribed cannabis can face retaliation or discipline from their employers, even when they’re following the law.” “That leaves many of these public servants with a difficult choice: Either continue doing their jobs in pain, or turn to stronger prescription drug drugs, often opiates, just to get through the day,” Boafo said, while emphasizing that “nothing in this bill allows for impairment on the job” and that those who come to work impaired “will still face serious consequences and will be reported” to state emergency medical services regulators. “Public safety remains a top priority here in Maryland, but our state must modernize its laws to protect employees who use medically certified cannabis responsibly and outside of the workplace,” he said. “Our firefighters and rescue professionals dedicate their lives to protecting us. They should not be punished for seeking legal, medically prescribed relief for the physical toll of that work.” The enactment of the House and Senate cannabis bills comes a year after officials in Maryland’s most populous county said they were moving to loosen marijuana policies for would-be police officers in an effort to boost recruitment amid a staffing shortage. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Also taking effect this month is a new Maryland law providing legal protections for veterinarians who recommend medical cannabis for animals. Another proposal that Moore signed this session extends a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027 to develop updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel drugs and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. Legislators also took up a bill this session to protect the gun rights of medical marijuana patients in the state, but it did not pass. Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Maryland Is Launching A Process For Firefighters And Rescue Workers Who Live Out-Of-State To Qualify For New Medical Marijuana Protections appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Democratic leaders in Wisconsin’s Assembly and Senate say the state is poised to legalize marijuana now that their party won majority control of the legislature in this week’s elections while also installing a new pro-legalization governor from the party. “We know that legalization of marijuana is very popular in the state of Wisconsin, and we intend to listen to the voters of Wisconsin and the people of our state and legalize marijuana in the coming year to two years,” Rep. Greta Neubauer (D), who currently serves as Assembly minority leader and is poised to become speaker in the new session, said. Democrats, including Gov.-elect David Crowley (D), have discussed the opportunity to use tax revenue generated by legal cannabis sales to fund education and healthcare initiatives. “We do hope to raise some revenues from marijuana legalization,” Neubauer told WKOW-TV on Wednesday. Outgoing Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Democratic legislative leaders have pushed for legalizing marijuana for recreational or medical use for years, but have been stymied by Republican majorities. Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D), who serves as chair of the Democratic Caucus, said he is “very optimistic about the possibility of marijuana being legalized” under the legislature’s new composition following Tuesday’s midterm elections. “I think we’re going to be able to get it done.” “Representing a border community where we have Illinois with multiple dispensaries just a couple of miles from my house in Beloit, and we’re seeing our tax dollars go across the border,” he told WISN-TV on Wednesday. “I know that being an island of prohibition surrounded by legalization is not good for Wisconsin.” Sen. Chris Larson (D) added that “most of the country has figured it out, and we are just giving away $40 million across the border for bad policy.” “We have to make sure that we have the common sense pieces in place—of what the labeling is, of what the age limits are, of what it means to operate a vehicle, which you can’t,” he said. Larson also said it is important for the state’s framework to favor “homegrown businesses” so that the market is not comprised of operators from “all of the states that have figured it out coming in here and taking up root.” Crowley, the incoming governor, said at a debate last month that “we have to go towards full legalization because this is opportunity that we’re missing out on as a state,” cautioning that he also wants to “make sure that we have guardrails in place” to protect children and ensure accurate labeling on cannabis products. He said that “if we were to go to full legalization, we could bring in anywhere between $80-170 million, helping to invest in healthcare all across the state of Wisconsin without allowing our money—nor these opportunities—to go to Illinois, Minnesota or Michigan.” Crowley separately said earlier last month that Wisconsin should legalize marijuana to raise revenue that can be used to fund free pre-kindergarten education and an expansion of healthcare access. Evers, the outgoing governor, has pushed to legalize marijuana for recreational and medical purposes for years, but those proposals have been blocked by the legislature’s Republican majority. A limited medical cannabis bill did clear one committee this session, but did not advance further. Crowley said at a forum hosted by a cannabis reform group earlier this year reform supporters “cannot wait until after the governor’s election” to push the issue, arguing that they need to “organize in making this one of the top priorities in this upcoming election.” “If you can’t change minds, you have to change faces,” he said. “I want you all to know that we’re going to work directly with you and make sure that you have a seat at the table, because if you don’t have a seat at the table, that means you’re on it.” — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Democratic lawmakers filed legislation in the 2026 session to broadly legalize and regulate marijuana, and bipartisan legislation to simply decriminalize cannabis possession was also filed—but neither proposal advanced. A poll released last year by Marquette Law School found that two in three Wisconsin voters support legalizing marijuana. A legislative analysis requested by lawmakers estimated that Wisconsin residents spent more than $121 million on cannabis in Illinois alone in 2022, contributing $36 million in tax revenue to the neighboring state. Meanwhile, the state Department of Revenue released a fiscal estimate of the economic impact of a legalization bill in 2023, projecting that the reform would generate nearly $170 million annually in tax revenue. The post Top Wisconsin Lawmakers Say The State Will Legalize Marijuana Under New Democratic Control appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A Democratic lawmaker who leads efforts to reform marijuana laws on Capitol Hill and a GOP operative who has long advised President Donald Trump both say there is increased possibility for bipartisan cooperation on cannabis reform following this week’s midterm elections. “I will continue fighting for commonsense cannabis policy reform,” Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Marijuana Moment. “Whether it is access to banking services and regular tax treatment for cannabis businesses, veteran use of cannabis for medicinal purposes through the Veterans Administration or pushing the federal government to reform its outdated scheduling of marijuana as a dangerous drug, there is much work to be done.” Democrats regained majority control of the Senate and House of Representatives in Tuesday’s elections, a development that advocates say bolsters the chances for broad federal marijuana reform. “I look forward to meeting our new allies in this fight during the 120th Congress and working across the aisle to bring our drug policies into the 21st century,” the congresswoman said. Meanwhile, Roger Stone a Republican political operative who has served as a senior campaign aide to three Republican presidents, including Trump, told Marijuana Moment that he would advise the president to sign marijuana legislation that the Democratic Congress sends him. While Stone criticized Democrats who he said in the past “talked endlessly about criminal justice reform” but “never did anything about it when they had both houses of Congress,” he is looking forward to seeing if they will now “decriminalize marijuana at a minimum and deschedule at a maximum.” “I would urge President Trump to sign such legislation,” he said. The winner of one of the country’s most high-profile Senate races is already talking about partnering with Trump on marijuana reform. Sen.-elect James Talarico (D-TX) said on Wednesday that “I agree with the president on the need to legalize marijuana and reform this broken criminal justice system.” Prior to the election, the Democrat had said of the president that “he’s for legalizing marijuana, and so am I.” “I hope we can do that together and expunge the records of people who have been locked up for a crime that doesn’t hurt anybody,” Talarico said. Stone, for his part, wrote in an op-ed for Marijuana Moment last year that Trump should take the incremental step of rescheduling cannabis on the way to fully legalizing it under federal law. His administration has since moved forward with the process of transferring marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to Schedule III. “Rescheduling cannabis is not the end game, but it is the critical next step,” Stone wrote at the time. “The move would do more than signal a new direction—it would unlock immediate, measurable relief for patients, entrepreneurs and state programs.” The House under Democratic control has previously passed bills to federally legalize marijuana on two occasions, most recently in 2022. Trump endorsed a state-level marijuana legalization initiative that appeared on Florida’s ballot in 2024. The post Democratic Lawmaker And GOP Trump Advisor Urge Bipartisan Cooperation To Federally Legalize Marijuana appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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PA marijuana legalization prospects; WI could legalize cannabis; Incoming IA gov backs legalization; Talarico talks marijuana & Trump Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Free to read (but not free to produce)! We’re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we’re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen. If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW New Democratic congressional majorities provide an opportunity to advance broad federal marijuana reform, advocates say—with expected incoming House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) having previously teamed up on a bill to legalize cannabis. U.S. Sen.-elect James Talarico (D-TX) says he plans to work with President Donald Trump to federally legalize marijuana. “I hope we can do that together and expunge the records of people who have been locked up for a crime that doesn’t hurt anybody.” Pennsylvania is poised to legalize marijuana now that Democrats have claimed control of the state Senate in Tuesday’s elections while maintaining their existing majority in the House of Representatives. “Now, the real work begins—and we’re ready to get shit done,” Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said. Wisconsin could finally legalize marijuana for medical or even recreational use after voters in Tuesday’s elections gave control of the state legislature to Democrats while also installing a new pro-legalization governor from the party. Iowa Gov.-elect Rob Sand (D) wants to legalize marijuana and use the revenue to help address the state’s budget issues—also saying that cannabis reform will make law enforcement’s job easier. / FEDERAL The Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting an anti-drug PSA contest for college students. / STATES California regulators sent updates on various cannabis issues. Michigan regulators will allow e-services for a new marijuana wholesale tax starting on November 12. The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on November 20. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / LOCAL Menominee, Michigan voters approved a ballot measure to increase the number of marijuana businesses that are allowed to operate. / INTERNATIONAL Sint Maarten’s minister of tourism, economic affairs, transport and telecommunication discussed the economic benefits of medical cannabis. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “cold-pressed hemp seed oil exhibits measurable antioxidant activity and contains minerals of physiological relevance.” A study of patients with insomnia found that “initiation of [cannabis-based medicinal products] was associated with improvements in self-reported sleep quality across 2 years, with the largest associations observed in those with the most severe impairment.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana reacted to the defeat of a ballot measure it supported to roll back Massachusetts’s marijuana legalization law. / BUSINESS The Flower Shop unlawfully terminated workers during an unsuccessful union organizing campaign, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled. Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. reacted to news about Organigram Global Inc.’s announcement of acquiring Aurora Cannabis Inc. Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. closed a series of mortgage loans for gross proceeds of $11 million. / CULTURE Wiz Khalifa’s Romanian prison sentence for smoking marijuana at a concert in the country was overturned by a court. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: The post Federal cannabis reform gets Democratic boost (Newsletter: November 5, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Democrats won big in Tuesday’s midterm elections, retaking majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives—a development that advocates say stands to boost efforts to reform federal marijuana laws. The House under Democratic control has previously passed bills to federally legalize marijuana on two occasions, most recently in 2022. Advancing cannabis reform in the Senate has been a taller task, however, even under Democratic control—given the chamber’s rules that give the minority party the power to filibuster bills that doesn’t have support from 60 members. That has been true even for incremental reforms that enjoy broad bipartisan support such as legislation to ease cannabis businesses’ access to banking services. Marijuana reform has evolved significantly as an issue since the last time Democrats controlled Congress, however, with more state laws coming on board and President Donald Trump’s administration taking steps to advance the rescheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Given that context, advocates see opportunity for expected incoming House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to grasp onto the issue of broader federal marijuana legalization as an alternative to Trump’s incremental steps. Jeffries and Schumer have both sponsored legislation to federally legalize cannabis by removing it from the CSA—including a bill that they partnered in 2019 on called the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act. Schumer later joined with other Democratic senators on a more comprehensive legalization and regulation bill called the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, while Jeffries teamed up with a Republican lawmaker on a proposal lay the groundwork for federal marijuana legalization by creating a commission to study the issue and make recommendations on a regulatory system for cannabis that models what’s currently in place for alcohol. As of Wednesday morning, Democrats appeared poised to have won a sizable majority in the House and a Senate majority of somewhere between 54 and 56 seats, with two races yet to be called. If Democrats decide to prioritize the popular issue of marijuana reform in the 120th Congress that begins in January, they would likely need support from a handful of pro-reform Republican senators to advance any proposal to Trump’s desk. The president, for his part, endorsed a state-level marijuana legalization initiative that appeared on Florida’s ballot in 2024, While the measure fell short of the 60 percent threshold needed to enact a constitutional amendment in the state, it did get majority support. Meanwhile, though his administration isn’t pushing broad federal marijuana legalization at this point, it is taking steps on the more modest reform of rescheduling cannabis to acknowledge its medical uses. “Some two thirds of Americans support ending marijuana prohibition, and policies that punish responsible consumers and patients are increasingly out of step with voters across the political spectrum,” Morgan Fox, political director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), told Marijuana Moment. “Unfortunately, Republican leadership chose to ignore public sentiment and let popular cannabis policy legislation languish this session. Hopefully Democrats will not make the same mistake, and will provide the necessary leadership and bipartisanship to pass substantive, sensible reforms in the 120th Congress.” — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — While state-licensed medical cannabis has already been moved from Schedule I to Schedule III under an order issued by Attorney General Todd Blanche earlier this year, broader rescheduling of adult-use marijuana is “still uncertain” amid an ongoing Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearing, Fox said. As such, and because Schedule III’s practical effects for consumers are “relatively limited,” he said, “it is vital that federal lawmakers take on the issue.” “The fate of federal marijuana policy should not be left in the hands of bureaucrats and judges. It is Congress who initially prohibited cannabis and it is Congress who ultimately needs to abolish this failed federal policy, specifically by descheduling cannabis and passing other reforms that provide real-world relief for millions of responsible consumers. Lawmakers should begin preparing now to prioritize this issue as early as possible in the next session. NORML looks forward to working with members of both parties to make meaningful legislative progress in the 120th Congress. The American people deserve federal cannabis policies grounded in science, public health, personal freedom, and justice.” The latest edition of an ongoing quarterly tracking poll from Marijuana Moment and NuggMD released ahead of the election showed that marijuana consumers’ support for the Trump administration’s actions on cannabis have significantly declined as completion of a federal rescheduling proposal remains stalled amid procedural delays in an ongoing hearing on the reform. Cat Packer, director of drug markets and legal regulation for the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), told Marijuana Moment that Tuesday’s election results signal “a broader desire among American voters for change, greater accountability, and an end to abuses of government power.” “Federal marijuana prohibition is one such abuse that has persisted for far too long,” she said, adding that merely rescheduling marijuana “is not enough.” “The Trump Administration’s limited and exclusionary approach to rescheduling, which has created significant uncertainty while leaving federal criminalization intact, only underscores the urgent need for Congress to enact meaningful reform,” Packer said. “Rather than continuing to advance incremental reforms that primarily benefit large, politically connected cannabis corporations, this new Congress has an opportunity to address the ongoing harms of marijuana criminalization, which continues to disrupt families, undermine economic opportunities and burden communities even as most states have moved away from prohibition,” she said. “That means ending federal criminalization of personal marijuana activity and protecting public health by establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for both marijuana and hemp that puts people and communities first.” Adam Rosenberg, board chair for the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), said in a statement on Wednesday that “with Democrats taking control of both chambers of Congress, there is a new opportunity to advance comprehensive federal cannabis reform.” “America’s legal cannabis industry generates more than $29 billion in annual sales and supports more than 400,000 jobs, yet federal policy continues to impose unnecessary barriers on businesses operating in state-regulated markets,” he said. “The new congressional leadership has an opportunity to build bipartisan support for legislation that improves access to banking and capital, resolves unfair federal tax treatment and establishes a durable regulatory framework that respects state markets.” Republican leaders in the House and Senate have strongly opposed marijuana law reform, even as Trump’s administration has advanced rescheduling. As Marijuana Moment reported last month, executives of major cannabis companies donated to Jeffries’s joint fundraising committee, the Jeffries Majority Fund, and the likely incoming House speaker attended a fundraiser host by a marijuana dispensary CEO. Meanwhile, as some cannabis industry executives donated to Jeffries and other Democrats, a political action committee that shares the same treasurer as President Donald Trump’s own super PAC used money raised from marijuana business donations to pay for independent expenditures in support of several vulnerable Republican members of Congress—including several who have voted against legislation to legalize cannabis. The post Could Democrats Federally Legalize Marijuana With Their New Senate And House Majorities? appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Wisconsin does not currently allow marijuana for either medical or recreational use, but that could soon change after voters in Tuesday’s elections gave control of the state legislature to Democrats while also installing a new pro-legalization governor from the party. Gov.-elect David Crowley (D) said at a debate last month that “we have to go towards full legalization because this is opportunity that we’re missing out on as a state,” cautioning that he also wants to “make sure that we have guardrails in place” to protect children and ensure accurate labeling on cannabis products. Meanwhile, outgoing incumbent Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Democrats in the state legislature have consistently pushed to legalize marijuana for medical and adult use, but have been blocked by Republican Assembly and Senate leaders. Both chambers flipped to Democratic control in Tuesday’s elections, however, teeing up the possibility of marijuana legalization finally advancing in the state. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano told Marijuana Moment that “Wisconsin is among the nation’s leaders in marijuana possession arrests and it is remains one of the few states lacking significant medical cannabis access or legal protections.” “It’s time for the Badger State to shed these dubious distinctions. Nearly seven in ten registered voters want cannabis legalized for adults and an even greater percentage support medical access,” he said. “It is high time for Wisconsin lawmakers to enact cannabis policies grounded in health, safety and compassion, and that align with voters’ sentiments. Patients and those who consume cannabis responsibly have waited long enough.” Crowley, the newly elected incoming Democratic governor said at last month’s debate that governor of neighboring Illinois “literally thanks Wisconsin residents because they have made $30 million in in sales tax collection just from Wisconsin residents.” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) quipped during his 2020 State of the State address that the state’s legal cannabis program would attract buyers from nearby states. The following year, Evers, Wisconsin’s current governor, said he is getting “tired” of hearing about Illinois’s cannabis sales figures, joking that Pritzker always “thanks me for having Wisconsinites cross the border to buy marijuana.” Crowley, who currently serves as the Milwaukee County executive, said during the recent debate that “if we were to go to full legalization, we could bring in anywhere between $80-170 million, helping to invest in healthcare all across the state of Wisconsin without allowing our money—nor these opportunities—to go to Illinois, Minnesota or Michigan.” He separately said earlier last month that Wisconsin should legalize marijuana to raise revenue that can be used to fund free pre-kindergarten education and an expansion of healthcare access. Crowley’s Republican opponent in the gubernatorial election, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), had said he supported legalizing medical cannabis but wanted to be more cautious about recreational marijuana. A Democratic congressman who represents Wisconsin recently told Marijuana Moment that he thinks the state is poised to legalize cannabis as soon as next year—especially if his party gained control of the legislature, but perhaps even if Republicans had maintained a majority under new leadership for the 2027 session. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) said there’s a “really good chance” of legalizing cannabis in Wisconsin in the short term if Democrats can “flip the legislature,” where marijuana reform proposals have stalled under Republican control in recent sessions. Evers and Democratic lawmakers have pushed to legalize marijuana for recreational and medical purposes for years, but those proposals have been blocked by the legislature’s Republican majority. A limited medical cannabis bill did clear one committee this session, but did not advance further. Crowley said at a forum hosted by a cannabis reform group earlier this year reform supporters “cannot wait until after the governor’s election” to push the issue, arguing that they need to “organize in making this one of the top priorities in this upcoming election.” “If you can’t change minds, you have to change faces,” he said. “I want you all to know that we’re going to work directly with you and make sure that you have a seat at the table, because if you don’t have a seat at the table, that means you’re on it.” Evers, for his part, recently sent a letter calling on the state’s congressional delegation to “prevent mass disruption of the hemp industry” by stopping the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that’s set to take effect later this year. The governor has repeatedly pushed for broader reform—including marijuana legalization in multiple budget requests, for example—but efforts to enact it have consistently stalled out in the Republican-controlled Assembly and Senate even as adult-use markets have come online in neighboring states such as Illinois and Michigan. Evers said last year that if his party can take control of the legislature, the state can “finally” legalize marijuana so that residents don’t have to go to neighboring Illinois to visit its adult-use market. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Democratic lawmakers filed legislation in the 2026 session to broadly legalize and regulate marijuana, and bipartisan legislation to simply decriminalize cannabis possession was also filed—but neither proposal advanced. A poll released last year by Marquette Law School found that two in three Wisconsin voters support legalizing marijuana. A legislative analysis requested by lawmakers estimated that Wisconsin residents spent more than $121 million on cannabis in Illinois alone in 2022, contributing $36 million in tax revenue to the neighboring state. Meanwhile, the state Department of Revenue released a fiscal estimate of the economic impact of a legalization bill in 2023, projecting that the reform would generate nearly $170 million annually in tax revenue. The post Wisconsin Could Legalize Marijuana Under New Democratic Control Of The State Legislature appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Iowa’s incoming Democratic governor has a plan to legalize marijuana and use the resulting tax revenue to help shore up the state’s budget deficit. Rob Sand, who won the gubernatorial election on Tuesday over Republican Zach Lahn, has consistently discussed his support for legalizing cannabis on the campaign trail. “If we tax cannabis the way we tax alcohol and treat it the way we treat alcohol, that would be a positive move for the state’s budget,” Sand said during during a debate last month. “I also think it would be a positive move for law enforcement—taking some of the burden off of their backs. Every time I talk to police officers, they’d rather deal with someone who was using cannabis than someone who was drunk.” “And look, these are both dangerous drugs,” he said. “The bottom line is, we don’t want to be throwing people in prison just for using them.” Later in the debate, Sand was asked how he would pay for a proposed 5 percent increase in supplemental state aid to schools in his first year in office. He replied that part of the solution is to legalize marijuana. “If we legalize cannabis and treated like alcohol, the first year we’re probably seeing $50 million. But in years after that it will be over $100 million.” The cannabis plan on Sand’s campaign website says legalization will also create jobs and support farmers. It additionally pledges to reverse restrictions on “hemp and THC beverage products while ensuring oversight and regulation over those products by hemp producers selling their products through cannabis retailers.” Look – it isn't my thing but Iowa is facing a budget crisis to the tune of $1.4 billion. A common-sense way to help address that would be to fully legalize adult-use cannabis in Iowa. And to solve the problems that come with it – we treat it like alcohol. Read my full plan… pic.twitter.com/kOCsxTOxEL — Rob Sand (@RobSandIA) October 25, 2026 Lahn, for his part, had said he is “not in favor of full legalization” but does support increased medical cannabis access as he has family members and friends who benefit from it. Sand, meanwhile, said in September that legalizing marijuana is a “no-brainer” move to help forestall a “fiscal time bomb” in Iowa that could otherwise lead to cuts in funding for education and public safety in the state. “I think we should treat it the way we treat alcohol. That seems like a no-brainer to me, right?” the Democrat, who is currently the state auditor, said at a town hall event. “Alcohol is a dangerous drug. You shouldn’t abuse it. Also, we’re not going to throw you in prison for having a beer,” Sand said. “Why is it any different for marijuana? It is a dangerous drug. You shouldn’t abuse it. We shouldn’t be throwing people in prison just for using it.” Sand also spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana at an earlier event in August, saying that he thinks cannabis should be legalized and treated like alcohol, even if he thinks it’s “dangerous.” “Marijuana is a dangerous drug,” he said at the time. “You shouldn’t abuse it, but we also shouldn’t throw people in prison just for using it. We should treat it the way we treat alcohol. Alcohol is a dangerous drug. You shouldn’t abuse it, but we don’t throw you in prison just for having a beer when you get home.” The then-candidate said that Iowa is “spending perfectly good tax dollars to lock people up” for marijuana while people who want to use it are driving across the border to purchase it in other states. “They’re spending their money in Illinois, or they’re spending it in Missouri. And then they’re driving back without their money,” Sand said. “The money stays there, and the tax dollars stay there.” Sand also recently praised President Donald Trump’s administration for taking steps to federally reschedule cannabis. “I’m someone who has always been willing to call the good ‘good,'” he said. “I was really glad to see the Trump administration move towards making marijuana more accessible for medical purposes. I’m a believer that it should be treated the way we treat alcohol. And so when they did it, I said, ‘Good for them.'” Josh Turek, the Democratic candidate who won a U.S. Senate race in Iowa on Tuesday, said in September that cannabis’s longtime restrictive Schedule I status is “ridiculous.” Marijuana “should be legalized and regulated, and let’s tax it,” he said. Meanwhile, Iowa regulators are circulating proposed rules changes to remove the residency requirement for patients in the state’s medical cannabis program while also ensuring that military veterans qualify for reduced registration fees. The residency-focused part of the regulatory change from the state Department of Health and Human Services is meant to comply with provisions of a bill that outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed into law in June. In addition to allowing out-of-state residents to register in the medical cannabis program if they have a certification from an Iowa healthcare provider legislation, that legislation also doubles the number of medical cannabis dispensaries that are allowed to operate in the state. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — The Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board, which oversees the state’s medical marijuana program, recommended in a 2023 report that the state allow more licenses “in an effort to provide Iowans with greater geographical access to medical cannabis products.” Under the program, patients with certain conditions can obtain cannabis products containing no more than at 4.5 grams of THC every 90 days. Flower and smoking are not allowed. Healthcare practitioners can allow greater amounts of THC for patients who are terminally ill or who have experience with the program and for whom the provider believes 4.5 grams is not enough. Separately this session, Iowa lawmakers considered a bill to create a state-regulated therapeutic psilocybin program for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Last year, the governor vetoed earlier legislation that would have allowed doctors in the state to immediately prescribe a synthetic form of psilocybin in the event of federal approval of the psychedelic substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), arguing that it “surrenders state authority to make an informed determination about classification to federal officials.” The post Incoming Iowa Governor Wants To Legalize Marijuana To Help Fix State’s Budget Issues appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Pennsylvania could become the next state to legalize marijuana now that Democrats appear to have taken control of the state Senate in Tuesday’s elections while maintaining their existing majority in the House of Representatives. Although votes are still being counted in some races, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and other Democratic leaders said they are confident their party will end up winning enough seats to secure a trifecta in state government. “Pennsylvanians just came together to flip the State Senate for the first time in over THREE DECADES—delivering a Democratic trifecta that’s ready to raise the minimum wage, codify reproductive freedom, invest in mass transit, and so much more,” the governor, who also won reelection on Tuesday, said in a social media post. “Now, the real work begins—and we’re ready to get shit done.” While Shapiro did not mention cannabis in his statement, he has long supported legalization and has regularly included the reform in his budget proposals to the legislature. TRIFECTA DELIVERED. Pennsylvanians just came together to flip the State Senate for the first time in over THREE DECADES — delivering a Democratic trifecta that’s ready to raise the minimum wage, codify reproductive freedom, invest in mass transit, and so much more. I’m so proud… — Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) November 4, 2026 Michael Bronstein, the Pennsylvania-based president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp, told Marijuana Moment that “with Democrats poised to take control of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the first time in three decades, legalization has never been closer in Pennsylvania.” Monica McCafferty, a spokesperson for the cannabis reform group ResponsiblePA, said that “with the new Democratic majority in the Senate, voters just handed Harrisburg permission to legalize.” “There’s no excuse left,” she said. “2027 is the year Pennsylvania gets this done.” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano told Marijuana Moment that “for far too long, Pennsylvania has existed as an island of cannabis prohibition.” “Yet, this policy is highly unpopular with Pennsylvania’s voters—nearly 70 percent of whom want to see the adult-use cannabis market regulated and legalized—and it is highly destructive to the more than 10,000 Pennsylvanians who continue to be arrested annually for minor marijuana possession offenses,” he said. “Lawmakers and regulators have already established that they can safely and effectively regulate the medical cannabis market. It is now time for them to advance legislation to similarly regulate the adult-use market and put an end to the failed policy of marijuana prohibition in the Keystone state.” In September, House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D) said at a cannabis event that Pennsylvania would be poised to legalize marijuana if Democrats gained Senate control, arguing that the state still has “a ways to go” to catch up with its neighbors that have already “moved in the right direction” by enacting legalization. While McClinton’s chamber passed a bill to legalize cannabis last year, it has stalled in the Senate, where Republican have had a narrow majority. House Appropriations Committee Chair Jordan Harris (D) also spoke alongside McClinton on the Black Cannabis Week panel, noting that “attitudes are changing in Pennsylvania with regards to cannabis” but that “one of the reasons why we don’t have full adult use legalized here is because of the attitudes of a handful of members of the Pennsylvania State Senate.” “If we had those attitudes changed and/or the attitudes of their constituency, we would pass a bill out of the House, we would send it to the Senate and they would be able to run it,” he said. Harris, who oversees fiscal issues in his committee leadership capacity, said “it is the finances that’s going to finally drive the conversation, regardless of how we personally feel.” “At the end of the day, it’s going to be about the money, and I think that money is going to drive us to actually legalizing adult use very soon in the commonwealth,” he said. “Our friends in the bordering states are benefiting from us not legalizing cannabis,” Harris said, noting that Pennsylvania residents are crossing the border to buy marijuana. “We are missing out on that tax revenue here, and so for me, it would be a real boom to our economy here in Pennsylvania for us to legalize it.” Sen. Sharif Street (D), who has sponsored legislation to legalize marijuana for several sessions, said that if Democrats take a majority in the Senate, “we may be helping to move this process forward and having a different kind of say” as compared to his ability to advance legislation in the minority caucus. The Black Cannabis Week panel came ahead of a hearing on marijuana legalization that the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held later in the day where lawmakers highlighted the need for reform. Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvania have continually pushed for marijuana legalization, including with a discharge resolution that Street filed seeking to bring a bipartisan cannabis bill out of committee. The measure, which was signed by every Democratic senator, aimed to increase pressure on the chamber’s Republican majority to allow a vote on legalizing cannabis. The bill in question is sponsored by Street along with Sen. Dan Laughlin (R), who chairs the Senate Law & Justice Committee but hasn’t called the legislation up for consideration in the panel. The GOP chairman has instead focused on moving a separate bill to create a new Cannabis Control Board to regulate medical marijuana and hemp. That measure failed on the Senate floor in June amid partisan fighting about the best way forward for cannabis in the state. The marijuana legalization bill that Street wants to advance, SB 120, would allow adults aged 21 and older to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, 1,000 milligrams of THC in edible products and 5 grams of concentrate. It would also create a process to expunge prior marijuana-related criminal records. If enacted, there would be an 8 percent excise tax on cannabis sales, alongside the state’s regular sales tax of 6 percent. The legislative maneuvering around the bill came as a recent poll showed that Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly support marijuana legalization—and that the largest share put the blame on Republican lawmakers for the fact that the state has not yet enacted the reform. Republican gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity, who lost to Shapiro in Tuesday’s election, had pledged to veto a marijuana legalization bill if lawmakers ever sent one to her desk—though she added that she doesn’t think the reform stands a chance of making it that far in the state. Her running mate for lieutenant governor, Jason Richey, claimed that legalizing marijuana would be “catastrophic” for the state, arguing it would increase the size of the illegal market, undermine job creation and harm public health. Current Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R) said he doesn’t think the state will legalize marijuana this year—and he believes that it should not move ahead at all without further changes at the federal level. The governor earlier this year, as he has in past years, included cannabis legalization and the resulting expected revenue in his budget request. The House last year passed a bill to legalize marijuana and put sales in state-owned dispensaries, but the Republican Senate majority has criticized that plan while also not advancing a cannabis legalization model of its own. The state’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) reported in February that legalizing cannabis in Pennsylvania would generate nearly half a billion dollars in annual revenue by 2028, an estimate that is a significantly larger cash windfall compared to projections from Shapiro’s own office. A spokesperson in the governor’s office said the Trump administration’s federal marijuana rescheduling move is an “important step” that “adds support” to his push to legalize cannabis. A GOP senator also said that federal reform will make it easier to legalize marijuana in the state. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile, Laughlin is blaming the governor for the defeat of his bill to create a new Cannabis Control Board (CCB) to oversee the state’s medical marijuana program and intoxicating hemp products and that could also one day oversee recreational cannabis if it is legalized. Most GOP senators in the Republican-controlled chamber voted for the legislation from Laughlin, and all but two Democrats opposed it—with even some lawmakers who signed onto the measure as cosponsors ultimately voting against it. The measure would transfer regulatory authority for the state’s existing medical cannabis program from the Department of Health to a new seven-member CCB. The body would oversee cannabis permits, enforcement, seed-to-sale tracking, advertising, labeling, testing and other aspects of the legal industry. Moments after the bill’s defeat on the Senate floor, the chamber adopted a motion to reconsider—but it’s not yet clear when or if the legislation will get another vote. Laughlin’s legislation would also significantly restrict most hemp THC products, aligning the state with a new federal policy that is set to take effect later this year recriminalizing preparations with total THC content of more than 0.3 percent on a dry-weight basis or more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container. The action on the cannabis regulatory bill, SB 49, came shortly after the House of Representatives passed a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. A companion bill on medical marijuana access in healthcare facilities is also advancing in the Senate. Meanwhile, a Republican senator recently announced plans to file legislation to keep hemp THC products legally available while enacting new regulations. The post Pennsylvania Is Teed Up To Finally Legalize Marijuana As Democrats Claim Majority In State Senate appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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After becoming the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas in decades, James Talarico plans to work with President Donald Trump on federally legalizing marijuana—saying that cannabis use is “a crime that doesn’t hurt anybody.” “I agree with the president on the need to legalize marijuana and reform this broken criminal justice system,” he said in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, also listing immigration and housing as issues he would like to partner with Trump on. "I look forward to working with him for all 31 million Texans." Texas Senator-elect James Talarico says he's ready to work with President Trump, pointing to several issues where the Democrat believes they can find common ground. Talarico gives Trump credit for doing a better… pic.twitter.com/IoDaMghrHW — Fox News (@FoxNews) November 4, 2026 In an earlier interview last month, Talarico was asked what he could realistically accomplish as a senator while a Republican is president, Talarico acknowledged that “with Donald Trump in the Oval Office, we’re going to have to find areas where we can work together.” After discussing housing issues, the then-candidate zeroed in on criminal justice reform, saying he was “a fan of” Trump’s work on the issue during his first term in office when he enacted legislation to aid reentry into society for incarcerated people. “He’s for legalizing marijuana, and so am I,” Talarico said of the president. “I hope we can do that together and expunge the records of people who have been locked up for a crime that doesn’t hurt anybody.” “Those are some areas I think we could work together with the president,” he said. While Trump’s administration isn’t pushing broad federal marijuana legalization at this point, it is taking steps on the more modest reform of rescheduling cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act to acknowledge its medical uses. Trump himself did endorse a state-level marijuana legalization initiative that appeared on Florida’s ballot in 2024, While the measure fell short of the 60 percent threshold needed to enact a constitutional amendment in the state, it did get majority support. Earlier last month, Talarico said he would work to federally legalize marijuana if he wins the Senate race. “Like prohibition, bans don’t work,” Talarico, who currently serves as a state representative, said. “Texans aren’t going to stop smoking weed because politicians in Austin or D.C. told them not to. People will still use THC, but instead of getting it safely from regulated, local small businesses, they’ll get it from the black market, from the drug cartels. “In the Senate, I’ll support legalizing marijuana for adults—regulating and imposing taxes on its sales to support public safety and health programs,” he said. Talarico’s now-defeated Republican opponent for the Senate seat, Ken Paxton, meanwhile, has filed lawsuits to block several Texas cities from implementing local voter-approved laws to decriminalize marijuana in his capacity as state attorney general. His office has also defended state hemp THC product restrictions from litigation. In an interview with The Breakfast Club in August, Talarico candidate said that keeping marijuana illegal while also moving to restrict hemp THC products is an “insane” form of “corruption.” “Think about what industries are most worried about THC products being readily available: Big Beer, Big Tobacco, right? And so they were the ones pushing this THC ban because it hurts their bottom line,” he said. “And a lot of research shows that THC—cannabis—these products are safer and less addictive than than beer or tobacco.” “And so to me, this is a prime example of what corruption looks like when you’ve got big industries buying politicians and pushing bills that harm people, but benefit them financially,” Talarico said. He has also suggested that Paxton supports banning cannabis in order to aid his political donors in the alcohol and tobacco industries. “People are outraged across the state, and it’s not any one political party,” Talarico said of recently enacted state restrictions on hemp products in an interview with KTSM-TV. “It’s people across the spectrum.” “It doesn’t make any sense until you follow the money and realize that it is big beer and big tobacco that are funding the politicians, like Ken Paxton, who turned around and banned these safe THC products in order to enrich the big beer and a big tobacco lobby,” Talarico said. While Talarico’s suggestion that Paxton’s actions were undertaken to support any specific business can’t be verified, campaign finance records reviewed by Marijuana Moment show that Paxton has accepted more than $500,000 in political donations from the alcohol industry while using the power of his office to crack down on cannabis. Meanwhile, voters in Houston on Tuesday approved an initiative to make misdemeanor marijuana possession the “lowest possible enforcement priority” for local police on the November ballot. Image element courtesy of Antonioaesparza. The post Newly Elected To Senate, Talarico Plans To Work With Trump On Federally Legalizing Marijuana appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Houston deprioritizes marijuana arrests; ID anti-cannabis amendment fails; Poll: 280E tax savings should lower prices; Cannabis medicine op-ed Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… By starting a $10 per month pledge on Patreon—or about 45 cents per issue of this newsletter—you can help us rely less on ads to cover our expenses, hire more journalists and bring you even more marijuana news. https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Massachusetts voters rejected a ballot initiative to roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law—opting to keep recreational cannabis sales legal. Idaho voters defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have prevented them from ever being able to legalize marijuana or other drugs for medical or recreational purposes in future elections. Voters in Houston, Texas approved a ballot measure to make misdemeanor marijuana possession the “lowest possible enforcement priority” for local police while also banning no-knock warrants. The Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee approved a House-passed bill to let military veterans get medical cannabis recommendations without doctors’ recommendations—and to add PTSD, opioid use disorder and chronic pain as qualifying conditions. A new poll shows that three out of four marijuana consumers expect cannabis businesses to lower product prices as they get tax relief from the federal 280E penalty under the Trump administration’s rescheduling move. Matthew Myro Rothman of EM2P2 and CannaLnx argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that the growing legitimacy of cannabis as a medicine raises questions about “who gets to decide what cannabinoid healthcare looks like from here.” “Cannabis could finally achieve the legitimacy the industry spent decades pursuing while much of the knowledge that built medical cannabis remains fragmented, underdocumented or pushed aside… Becoming a credible healthcare category does not require whole-plant cannabinoid medicine to become indistinguishable from conventional pharmaceuticals.” / FEDERAL The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration tweeted, “Secondhand marijuana smoke can affect people nearby. Understanding the risks can help you make informed decisions and protect those around you.” / STATES Vermont regulators approved changes to various cannabis rules. Illinois officials included cannabis-related offenses as disqualifications in healthcare worker background check rules. Georgia regulators are increasing the cost of medical cannabis patient and caregiver cards. California officials touted enforcement actions against illicit cannabis and tobacco operations. Michigan regulators published a monthly report on disciplinary actions against marijuana businesses. Washington, D.C. officials touted enforcement action against a business accused of illegal cannabis and psilocybin sales. Montana regulators sent a newsletter with various cannabis updates. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “there were significant associated decreases in total Part 1 crime and total property crime in dispensary census tracts relative to control tracts, after dispensaries were allowed to sell recreational marijuana.” A review concluded that “psilocybin administered with structured psychological support shows short-term antidepressant activity in carefully selected adults with” treatment-resistant depression. / BUSINESS Organigram Global Inc. is acquiring Aurora Cannabis Inc. Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $352.7 million and a net loss of $32.7 million. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $64.9 million. Tilray Brands, Inc. is moving to consolidate its Canadian cannabis operations. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: The post Massachusetts voters reject cannabis legalization rollback measure (Newsletter: November 4, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Idaho voters have rejected a ballot measure that would have restricted their own ability to legalize marijuana in the future. The proposed constitutional amendment was trailing by a 69-31 margin on Tuesday night, with an estimated 32 percent of ballots counted, according to The Associated Press. If approved, the measure would have made it so that “only the legislature of the state of Idaho shall have power and authority to legalize the growing, producing, manufacturing, transporting, selling, delivering, dispensing, administering, prescribing, distributing, possessing, or using of marijuana, narcotics, or other psychoactive substances.” That would have meant that voters could never collect signatures to place an initiative on the ballot to legalize marijuana or other drugs for medical or recreational purposes. Adam J. Smith, executive director for the Marijuana Policy Project, said that “Idaho voters have scored a major victory for citizen-led advocacy and common sense by soundly rejecting HJR 4.” “Idaho’s cannabis laws are among the most draconian in the nation, and Idahoans suffer one of the highest cannabis arrest rates in the U.S.,” he said. “Simple possession in the state can be punished by up to a year in jail, while a second offense can be elevated to a felony. Medical cannabis is overwhelmingly supported by Idaho voters, and this year, advocates made a nearly successful run at putting the medical issue onto the ballot.” “HJR 4 was the legislature’s effort to silence their constituents on this or any other common-sense drug policy reform once and for all. We applaud Idaho’s voters for sending this powerful message to their elected representatives, and we hope this leads to an even stronger effort in the coming cycle to allow voters to override their legislature’s obstinacy.” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said the proposal, HJR 4, “wasn’t anti-marijuana; it was anti-democracy.” “In a healthy democracy, those with competing visions on public policy vie for voters’ support,” he said. “But Idaho lawmakers know that they can no longer make a rational case for the state’s prohibitive and punitive marijuana policies—policies that are out of step not only with most other states, but also with most Idahoans.” “Rather than evolve their views to align with those of their constituents, Idaho lawmakers cynically asked Idahoans to relinquish one of the most fundamental powers they have in a free society: their power to vote,” Armentano said. “Fortunately, voters rejected this authoritarian proposal.” Sen. C. Scott Grow (R), who led the effort in the legislature to put the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot, said the measure was a way to push back against the marijuana industry, which he claimed is trying to make money off of addiction. “The reason that people push this—the marijuana lobby, whomever—is because there’s money to be made, particularly when people become addicted,” the lawmaker said. “They can make it look chic, make it look wonderful, say it solves all ills. But the end game is money to be made by people that are purveyors of drugs, including marijuana.” Activists in Idaho tried to place a separate initiative on the ballot this year to legalize medical cannabis, but they failed to submit enough valid signatures to qualify the measure. The Natural Medical Alliance of Idaho (NMAI), the campaign behind that unsuccessful effort, has pushed back against the secretary of state’s determination about its signature submissions—including his decision to refer allegations of possible illegal petitioning conduct to law enforcement. Aside from the proposed constitutional amendment to restrict future voter initiatives on marijuana and other drugs, Idaho lawmakers have also pushed back against reform in other ways. Both the Senate and House of Representatives passed a resolution this session urging voters to “reject” the medical marijuana petition. The measure, sponsored by the Senate State Affairs Committee, claimed that cannabis legalization in other states has led to a host of harms, including “increased cartel activity, development of black market marijuana production, human trafficking, and increased crime rates” as well as “increased rates of serious health issues,” environmental harms and “safety concerns on job sites.” It argued that the marijuana initiative would not only increase costs to the state but that its list of approved medical conditions is “so broad that almost anyone could qualify.” “The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act lacks safeguards to such an extent that it would effectively legalize widespread recreational use of marijuana,” the resolution claimed. “The legalization of marijuana would have devastating impacts on Idaho children and their families… The Legislature urges the citizens of Idaho to reject any effort to bring the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act to the ballot.” A statement of purpose filed with the legislation said it “addresses the devastating impact that legalizing marijuana has had on other states” and “identifies the significant problems” with the ballot initiative. Contrary to the claims made about marijuana reform in the legislative resolution, advocates often point to data showing that legalizing and regulating cannabis diminishes the size of the illegal market and has not led to increases in youth use. Meanwhile, NMAI released an analysis showing that Idaho could see more than $100 million worth of medical marijuana sold on an annual basis and up to $28 million in new yearly revenue for state coffers if voters approved the legalization initiative. The campaign in February also released the results of a statewide poll showing that 83 percent of likely voters back medical cannabis legalization, including 74 percent of Republicans, 95 percent of Democrats and 92 percent of independents. Asked how they would vote if the current medical cannabis legalization does appear on the November ballot, 76 percent of respondents said “yes.” Of that cohort, 50 percent said they would “definitively” vote yes, and just 21 percent said they’d vote “no.” After the medical cannabis initiative was unveiled last year, a separate campaign that launched in 2024, Kind Idaho, told supporters that it would be suspending its own signature gathering for a ballot initiative to legalize the personal possession and cultivation of marijuana by adults. Kind Idaho previously introduced medical marijuana ballot measures intended to go before voters in both the 2022 and 2024 elections, but the efforts proved unsuccessful. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Legislators separately held a hearing last year to discuss a bill to enact medical cannabis legalization legislatively, but there hasn’t been meaningful action on the issue in the months since. Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) last year signed legislation setting a $300 mandatory minimum fine for marijuana possession. A prior version of the proposal, which did not pass, would have set a $420 mandatory minimum fine for possessing cannabis. The post Idaho Voters Reject Ballot Measure That Would Have Restricted Their Own Ability To Legalize Marijuana appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Voters in Massachusetts have rejected a ballot initiative that would have rolled back the state’s marijuana legalization law. Question 8 was trailing by a significant margin of 76 percent to 24 percent on Tuesday night, with an estimated 48 percent of ballots counted, according to The Associated Press. If approved, the measure would have repealed laws allowing the regulated commercial sales of recreational cannabis and home cultivation while maintaining legal possession and continuing the medical marijuana system. “There’s no ‘buyer’s remorse’ among voters when it comes to legalizing and regulating marijuana,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “In fact, more Massachusetts voters support legalization today than did a decade ago, and these election results prove it.” “Proponents of this failed effort spent millions of dollars to, in their own words, reset the conversation around cannabis policy,” he said. “They found out the hard way that the public hasn’t changed their minds. Americans favor legalization and regulation over the failed policy of marijuana prohibition.” “This campaign was never about promoting the health and safety of Massachusetts residents. It was a trial balloon by prohibitionist groups intent upon rolling back legal cannabis markets nationwide. This decisive election day defeat will likely cause these groups, and those who fund them, to reconsider those plans.” Adam J. Smith, executive director for the Marijuana Policy Project, said that “despite a well-funded scare campaign, Massachusetts voters have chosen common sense by defeating the ballot initiative to end the state’s legal adult-use cannabis market.” “This outcome shows that Massachusetts voters recognize the true value of regulated cannabis markets: reducing youth access, which means significantly fewer kids using cannabis; safer access for adults to rigorously tested and properly labeled products; plummeting arrest rates, which means fewer lives needlessly disrupted and fewer tax dollars wasted; tens of thousands of new jobs, and hundreds of millions in new revenues; and a recognition of personal liberty and freedom of consciousness,” he said. Polls leading up to Election Day consistently found that a strong majority of Massachusetts voters opposed the anti-cannabis proposal, and one survey showed that most believe legal marijuana has been good for the state’s economy, tax revenue, criminal justice system and local communities. A host of major politicians had publicly said they planned to vote against making marijuana sales illegal again. That includes Gov. Maura Healey (D), who said “the cannabis industry is important” and her Republican challenger for reelection, Mike Minogue, who despite having opposed legalization initially said he is “not in favor of repealing it.” U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) both recently told Marijuana Moment that they would be voting against the anti-cannabis measure. “We could make improvements in the operations but legalizing cannabis is better than continuing an unregulated, underground market,” Warren said. “So I’m opposed to the repeal. I’m voting no on the ballot to repeal.” Markey, for his part, said the state’s marijuana legalization law that voters approved in 2016 continues to enjoy “overwhelming support.” “We’ve had debate,” he said. “The voters are satisfied at this moment with the experience that the state has had with it… I support keeping it on the books and overwhelmingly so do the people of Massachusetts.” Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) also urged voters to reject the measure, saying that “keeping marijuana legal in Massachusetts is both economic justice and racial justice policy.” More than 50 state lawmakers said they would be voting against the anti-marijuana ballot measure—including the House speaker and Senate president. Boston’s mayor also said she opposed the initiative to roll back marijuana legalization. The City Council in Worcester—the state’s second-most populous municipality—passed a resolution urging voters to reject the anti-cannabis initiative. Competing campaigns working to pass and defeat the legalization rollback launched a series of ads trying to convince voters of their respective positions. The prohibitionist campaign’s ads focused on the dangers of marijuana-impaired driving, while the campaign seeking to keep cannabis sales legal highlighted the public health and safety harms of sending consumers back to the unregulated market. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), which regulates the legal industry, announced in September that the state has surpassed $10 billion in adult-use cannabis purchases since the market launched in 2018. CCC Chair Chris Harding told Marijuana Moment that he couldn’t comment directly on the initiative and that the commission does not take positions on pending ballot questions or legislation, but he said that, in general, “repeal of the adult-use industry could eliminate thousands of jobs, hundreds of businesses and billions in tax revenue.” Meanwhile, a top labor union—the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Massachusetts State Council— urged voters to reject the cannabis legalization rollback initiative. The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers (NABLEO) also announced its endorsement for the No On 8 campaign, and a group of more than 50 current and former law enforcement officials separately signed an open letter opposing the anti-cannabis initiative. Leading up to the election, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) issued a warning that passage of the legalization rollback measure would have had “disastrous political and economic consequences for legal cannabis markets everywhere.” “Even a too-close victory would spook markets and incentivize a rash of similar initiatives in states around the country, each costing millions to try and defeat,” the group said. After the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office determined that organizers for the anti-cannabis proposal had turned in enough valid signatures to put the measure before voters, a marijuana reform advocate filed an objection with the State Ballot Law Commission claiming that various signatures were not genuine, obtained through fraudulent means or were not “signed substantially as registered.” The body rejected the challenge to the legal marijuana rollback measure, however, clearing it to go before voters to decide. In June, the campaign behind the anti-legalization ballot measure fired a signature gatherer it says was shown appearing to engage in “wholly unacceptable” conduct in a recent video. As Marijuana Moment reported, a man petitioning for the Massachusetts initiative as well as a similar anti-cannabis proposal in Maine was depicted in recent social media posts seeming to argue that voters who support legal marijuana access should sign the petitions in order to advance or protect reform. The campaign later said it has “zero tolerance for any circulation tactics that would mislead petition signers.” “The identified canvasser was immediately terminated, in coordination with our vendor, upon being made aware of the alleged conduct,” the group said. “The conduct apparent in the video would be wholly unacceptable and does not reflect how this campaign operates. We demand honesty, transparency and professionalism from everyone associated with our effort.” A video posted to Reddit of the signature gatherer shows the man collecting signatures outside a retail store in Massachusetts next to a sign that says “keep cannabis legal.” When confronted by a marijuana reform supporter who recorded the petitioner’s interactions with voters, he appeared to be trying to convince them that it is important to qualify the anti-cannabis measure for the ballot in order to then defeat it. “This is what we’re fighting against right here. That’s why we vote no,” he said. “If we can get this to the ballot right here, we vote no.” The person who captured the video pointed out that Massachusetts voters already approved marijuana legalization years ago, and that the only way it could be imminently repealed is if the new ballot measure qualified for the November election. If the initiative did not get enough signatures to go before voters, the state’s laws would remain the same. The same man also appeared to also be gathering signatures for a separate measure in Maine that would similarly repeal laws allowing regulated adult-use marijuana sales and home cultivation rights for adults while keeping possession legal and adding new testing requirements for medical cannabis. A staffer for the prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), whose affiliated group SAM Action is largely funding the anti-cannabis ballot campaigns in both states, declined to comment about the petitioner’s conduct when reached by Marijuana Moment. The campaigns have previously been accused of misleading petitioning tactics. In Massachusetts, some voters reported that the campaign used fake cover letters for other ballot measures on unrelated issues like affordable housing and same-day voter registration during the first round of petitioning. Legal cannabis supporters filed an earlier formal complaint about the prohibitionist effort’s tactics, but the State Ballot Law Commission rejected the challenge. The measure also faced a legal challenge from cannabis industry operatives who argued it contains “impermissibly unrelated subjects,” and that the state attorney general’s official summary is “misleading and deficient.” The state Supreme Judicial Court heard oral arguments on the litigation challenging the anti-marijuana initiative but it ultimately ruled against the lawsuit. Broken Lizard, the comedy troupe behind films such as Super Troopers and Beerfest, recently launched a video ad that explains how Massachusetts residents who want to keep cannabis sales legal should vote on the measure given its confusing wording and path to the ballot. The Massachusetts House of Representatives recently passed a bill to increase military veterans’ access to medical marijuana by allowing them to receive patient cards without having to get a doctor’s recommendation and adding additional qualifying conditions. The post Massachusetts Voters Decide To Keep Marijuana Sales Legal, Rejecting Ballot Measure Bring Back Criminalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net