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As opioids continue to drive overdose deaths, a new study suggests that making medical cannabis available and affordable can help patients reduce their use of the prescription painkillers. “Although cannabis has historically been characterized as a potential ‘gateway drug,’ it may also serve as a harm-reduction tool for some patients seeking to reduce reliance on higher-risk opioid medications,” the researchers from University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine found. The study, a prospective observational trial conducted at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, followed 29 adults over five months. All had been living with chronic pain for years—a median of 11 years—and all were already taking opioid medications but had struggled to taper them despite other treatments. The investigation is unique for its focus on cost as a factor in medical marijuana access, with the researchers describing their work as “the first prospective observational study evaluating medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids in a setting where cost was removed as a major barrier.” Participants were recruited from a university-based outpatient chronic pain clinic and then underwent monthly pain assessments using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS). Researchers measured daily opioid use, measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs). “Seven patients (24%) were able to completely discontinue opioid therapy by the end of the study, five of whom achieved this by the second month. Pain levels also decreased over time,” the authors wrote. Notably, there was “a statistically significant reduction in mean pain scores that was sustained over the five-month study period,” the paper, published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science, says. “There was also a reduction in mean opioid consumption of approximately 32 MMEs per day, which was similarly sustained throughout the follow-up. In addition, seven patients were able to discontinue opioid therapy completely during the study.” “Mean daily opioid consumption decreased from a baseline of 46.8 MMEs/day to 16.2 MMEs/day at one month and remained low throughout the five-month follow-up period,” the researchers observed. What sets the new study apart was not only the introduction of medical cannabis, but the deliberate removal of cost as an obstacle. Participants have “consistently identified cost as a major barrier to initiating medical cannabis” prior to enrollment in the study, the paper says. Highlighting the novelty of the study, they added their hypothesis that “improving access to medical cannabis will enable a subset of patients, particularly those for whom cost is a major barrier, to reduce or discontinue opioid use while maintaining adequate pain control.” “These results suggest that medical cannabis may be a useful adjunct therapy for reducing opioid use, relieving chronic pain, and improving health-related quality of life,” they concluded. “The findings of this study add to the growing body of literature supporting the safety profile and potential therapeutic role of cannabis.” The study’s authors are careful in their conclusions, warning of limitations and the need for further research. “The sample size was small and derived from a single clinical site, and there was no control group.” And because “patients self-titrated medical cannabis products, resulting in variability in dosing and frequency of use,” the findings are not standardized. But the authors concluded that “when used under appropriate medical supervision, medical cannabis may represent an effective adjunctive strategy for reducing opioid use among patients receiving long-term opioid therapy.” This research comes on the heels of a recent study showing that using medical marijuana appears to help people reduce the use of other medications, including opioids, sleeping aids and antidepressants. They also experience far fewer negative side effects after switching to cannabis from prescription drugs, the study involving more than 3,500 patients found. It also comes after President Donald Trump said marijuana can “make people feel much better” and serve as a “substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioid painkillers.” Last month, the Trump administration announced it is moving ahead with the federal reclassification of marijuana by moving medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. The post Medical Marijuana Helps Pain Patients Reduce Use Of Opioids, New Study Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A Louisiana lawmaker has filed legislation that would create a new state task force to “study and develop findings and recommendations regarding the potential legalization of recreational marijuana.” Under HCR111 from Rep. C. Denise Marcelle (D), the Louisiana Recreational Cannabis Policy Task Force would examine marijuana policy issues and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the legislature by February 1, 2027. The resolution notes that Louisiana currently allows medical cannabis while other states have gone further to legalize adult-use marijuana. “Multiple states have enacted laws permitting the sale of recreational marijuana and have generated data regarding economic impact, public health outcomes, criminal justice implications, and regulatory challenges,” it says. “Louisiana has the opportunity as a later-adopting state to evaluate existing regulatory models and avoid deficiencies observed in other jurisdictions, including market oversaturation, revenue instability, and inadequate community reinvestment.” The legislation further highlights “mechanisms to promote a stable and equitable cannabis market,” such as structured taxation models, population-based licensing, social equity participation and strict supply chain oversight. “The legislature recognizes the need to evaluate potential benefits including economic development, tax revenue generation, workforce opportunities, and funding for education and public safety, as well as risks related to public health, impaired driving, and law enforcement,” the measure says. “A comprehensive, data-driven study is necessary to inform legislative action and ensure that any future policy is tailored to the unique economic, geographic, and public safety needs of Louisiana.” If the proposal is enacted, the task force would be directed to specifically study several issues: Economic impacts including projected state and local tax revenues and industry development. Regulatory frameworks including taxation structures such as wholesale valuation models and point-of-sale taxes. Licensing structures including population-based caps and measures to prevent market monopolization. Public health considerations including youth access, product safety, and consumption limits. Criminal justice and law enforcement impacts. Social equity policies, including mechanisms to promote participation by disproportionately impacted communities. Impacts on the existing medical marijuana program. Supply chain regulation including testing, transportation, and seed-to-sale tracking systems. Under the the resolution as introduced, members of the panel would include representatives of the state Department of Health, law enforcement and the medical marijuana industry, as well as experts with experience in substance use policy and economic development or tax policy. — 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. — Another Louisiana lawmaker, meanwhile, recently introduced a bill to create an adult-use marijuana legalization pilot program in the state to determine whether the reform should eventually be expanded and permanently codified. Rep. Candace Newell (D)—who has long championed legislation to end cannabis criminalization and filed a similar legal marijuana pilot program measure last session—is sponsoring what’s titled the “Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Regulation and Enforcement Act.” Getting the bill across the finish line could prove complicated in the conservative legislature, however. Newell’s earlier version of the pilot program legislation didn’t advance to enactment last year, and lawmakers that session also rejected other marijuana reform proposals such as one that would have established a tax system to prepare the eventual legalization of adult-use cannabis. Separately, lawmakers this session are advancing legislation to let patients with terminal and irreversible conditions use medical marijuana in hospitals. At the same time, however, advocates are alarmed that lawmakers are advancing a bill that threatens to send people to jail for up to one year if they smoke marijuana within 2,000 feet of a school property—including a college campus. Another piece of drug policy legislation that has traction this session would create a psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program, using opioid settlement dollars to fund clinical trials aimed at developing alternative treatments such as psilocybin, ibogaine and MDMA. The post Louisiana Government Task Force Would Study Marijuana Legalization Under Lawmaker’s New Proposal appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A bipartisan pair of members of Congress are continuing their push to expedite the availability of psychedelic therapies that they believe can aid military veterans and other people who are struggling with mental health conditions. Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Lou Correa (D-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies Caucus, appeared together on CNN last week. Correa said therapy with substances like psilocybin, ibogaine and MDMA “works,” citing high suicide rates among veterans and arguing that psychedelics can be part of the solution. “You have people in my community that have actually been alcoholics [that] have been cured, drug addicts that have been cured, people with mental illnesses that are cured,” he said. “This promises to be that magic pill, that magic cure that we’ve been waiting for.” Bergman cited his own experience as a Vietnam combat veteran, saying he’s “seen so many of my brothers and sisters who came back in Vietnam who never assimilated back into society, a lot of times due to post-traumatic stress.” “We’ve been doing things the same way forever in mental health and expecting different results,” he said. “Now it’s the right thing for Congress to do, to get the money, direct the research—whether it’s the [Department of Veterans Affairs] or anybody else—to do the research and get these therapies on the ground and working for the veterans and others as well.” The GOP congressman said it’s important to not just free up legal access to psychedelic compounds themselves but also to provide resources for “the therapies that are going to be needed to work those veterans and everybody else through the process.” “So we not only need the medicine, we need the therapist trained and ready to go,” Bergman said. “So we have to move forward, and we will do it diligently and minimize, if not eliminate, the risk to anybody going through the therapy.” Correa, for his part, spoke about U.S. military veterans who are traveling outside the country to access psychedelic therapies. “You got a lot of veterans that are going to Tijuana, Mexico right now to get their therapy—two or three days in the ibogaine treatment center, where they go through a high where they essentially confront their fears that have led them to suicidal thoughts,” he said. “They come out on the other side essentially cured. This is not just hypothetical. These are truths evidenced by Navy veterans and other individuals that have essentially kicked the habit of doing drugs or alcohol. It does work.” “People in our districts in this country are doing psychedelics, so Congress needs to catch up, needs to get the research there,” Correa said. “We need to put those guardrails there to make sure people don’t get hurt. But people are desperate for a solution, and this one promises to be the solution.” The bipartisan PATH Caucus is focused on finding the safest and most effective ways to utilize psychedelics to help our veterans and anyone struggling with PTSD. pic.twitter.com/yTlx4OosXK — Rep. Lou Correa (@RepLouCorrea) May 9, 2026 The two lawmakers are sponsoring an amendment to a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding bill on the House floor this week that seeks to raise awareness about the benefits of psychedelic and other therapies for military veterans. Its description says it “increases and decreases funding for the Medical and Prosthetic Research account at the Department of Veterans Affairs to emphasize the importance of the Department’s research on areas benefiting veterans such as oncology, traumatic brain injury care, psychedelic therapies, and assistive devices.” Bergman and Correa also recently led a bipartisan coalition of 32 members of Congress in sending a letter urging federal health officials to expedite ongoing reviews of psychedelic therapies. FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last month announced steps that they say will help with “accelerating” therapeutic access to psychedelics for patients dealing with serious mental health conditions. That move followed a psychedelics executive order that President Donald Trump signed. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said recently that the Trump administration is “very anxious” to create a pathway for access to psychedelics therapy and that top officials across federal agencies want to “get it out to the public as quickly as possible.” In an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience in February, Kennedy said he’s confident “we’re going to get it done,” with plans to develop and finalize rules that would enable patients with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression to access psychedelic substances like psilocybin and MDMA in a “very controlled setting.” “Everybody in my agency…is very anxious to get a rule out there that will allow these kind of studies and will allow access under therapeutic settings, particularly [for] the military soldiers who have suffered these injuries to get access to these products,” the HHS secretary said. “We’re working through that process now. We’re all working on it and trying to make it happen.” “I think that we’re going to get it done,” he said. Last June, Kennedy said his agency is “absolutely committed” to expanding research on the benefits of psychedelic therapy and, alongside of the head of FDA, is aiming to provide legal access to such substances for military veterans “within 12 months.” Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins also disclosed in April that he had an “eye-opening” talk with Kennedy about the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine. And he said he’s open to the idea of having the government provide vouchers to cover the costs of psychedelic therapy for veterans who receive services outside of VA as Congress considers pathways for access. Bipartisan congressional lawmakers introduced legislation this session to provide $30 million in funding annually to establish psychedelic-focused “centers for excellence” at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, where veterans could receive novel treatment involving substances like psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine. A U.S. Senate committee held a hearing last month on a bipartisan bill to promote research into the therapeutic potential psychedelics by creating a new office at VA that would advance the development innovative treatments for serious mental health conditions and assist in reviewing the scheduling status of drugs like psilocybin, ibogaine and MDMA. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) has said ibogaine represents an “astonishing breakthrough” in the nation’s current “sick care system” that’s left people with serious mental health conditions without access to promising alternative treatment options. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer. The post Psychedelics Are A ‘Magic Cure’ For Mental Health Conditions, Congressman Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Lawmakers in Colombia have advanced a bill to legalize marijuana through its first step in the legislative process. The First Committee of the House of Representatives approved the measure from Rep. Alejandro Ocampo on Tuesday, sending it to the full chamber for consideration. If approved there, the legislation would then go to the Senate for two additional votes. “We just approved the regulation of cannabis in the first debate. It’s time to regulate. We’re going to regulate everything from seed to finished product,” Ocampo said in a social media post. “We’re going to keep marijuana off the streets so that it can only be sold in places where you have to show your ID, have a permit, and have a license.” The bill will “help homeless people, help farmers and indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities who have lived with this plant for many years,” he said. ¡Lo logramos! Fue aprobado nuestro proyecto de ley de cannabis Seguimos avanzando hacia una política más justa y moderna para Colombia. pic.twitter.com/lUH2b2oS05 — Alejandro Ocampo (@alejoocampog) May 12, 2026 Colombian lawmakers have considered cannabis legalization legislation over multiple recent sessions, with one such proposal to insert the reform into the nation’s constitution falling short at the final stage of the process in 2023. A separate bill to legalize marijuana advanced through the first stage of the process last year, but then stalled. President Gustavo Petro, for his part, is supportive of legalizing cannabis—and he’s put pressure on legislators to advance the reform. He said in late 2023 that lawmakers who voted to shelve a legalization bill that year only helped to perpetuate illegal drug trafficking and the violence associated with the unregulated trade. Last year, Petro said U.S. President Donald Trump should replace the policy of marijuana prohibition with a regulatory framework allowing for adult use and international cannabis exports. Quiero agradecerle a la Comisión Primera por permitir que nuestro proyecto de ley sobre cannabis avance a segundo debate. Esto representa una oportunidad para seguir construyendo una política más responsable y enfocada en la protección de la juventud. pic.twitter.com/7gaTCNG0yC — Alejandro Ocampo (@alejoocampog) May 12, 2026 The new bill that advanced in committee this week, as first reported by Infobae, would allow adults over the age of 18 to purchase up to 20 grams of cannabis flower and 5 grams of concentrates per day. There would be a 20 percent tax on sales. Personal cultivation of up to 20 plants per person would be allowed, and people with past convictions could request expungement of their records and release from incarceration. Non-profit cannabis clubs would be able to grow up to 200 plants to supply to members. The legislation puts a significant focus on aiding vulnerable communities, with requirements that at least half of legally distributed cannabis come from crops grown by ethnic and peasant associations, and that 70 percent of cultivation licenses be reserved for them, according to Infobae. Cannabis advertising would be restricted to limit its reach to underage people, and the government would implement awareness campaigns about the potential harms of use. At a public hearing before a Senate panel in 2022, the country’s justice minister said Colombia has been the victim of “a failed war that was designed 50 years ago and, due to absurd prohibitionism, has brought us a lot of blood, armed conflict, mafias and crime.” Also, after a visit to the US in 2023, the Colombian president recalled smelling the odor of marijuana wafting through the streets of New York City, remarking on the “enormous hypocrisy” of legal cannabis sales now taking place in the nation that launched the global drug war decades ago. Petro also took a lead role at the Latin American and Caribbean Conference on Drugs in 2023, noting Colombia and Mexico “are the biggest victims of this policy,” likening the drug war to “a genocide.” In 2022, Petro delivered a speech at a meeting of the United Nations, urging member nations to fundamentally change their approaches to drug policy and disband with prohibition. He’s also talked about the prospects of legalizing marijuana in Colombia as one means of reducing the influence of the illicit market. And he has signaled that the policy change should be followed by releasing people who are currently in prison over cannabis. Image element courtesy of Bryan Pocius . The post Colombian Lawmakers Approve Bill To Legalize Marijuana appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Members of Congress joined activists at a press conference on Wednesday to highlight the need for further federal marijuana policy reform beyond the incremental cannabis rescheduling process that the Trump administration is undertaking. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, pointed strong public support for broader marijuana legalization. “Millions of people across this country agree that cannabis should be legal. People understand that the old approach has failed. They understand that adults should not carry criminal records for possessing cannabis,” she said. “They understand that we should be investing in education and economic opportunity, not mass incarceration.” “It is about damn time Congress caught up with where the American people are,” Omar said. But she also argued that “legalization alone is not enough.” “If we legalize cannabis and simply allow large corporations to make huge profits while the very communities destroyed by the War on Drugs are left behind, then we have failed. Cannabis reform must be about justice and repair. That means expunging the records of people arrested for nonviolent cannabis offenses. It means reinvesting in communities that were targeted for decades by discriminatory policies, and it means ensuring working class people small businesses and entrepreneurs have a real opportunity in participating in this new economy.” It's about damn time Congress legalizes marijuana. pic.twitter.com/lWBLBly28u — Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) May 13, 2026 Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), another Congressional Cannabis Caucus co-chair, also spoke at the press conference that is part what advocates are calling “Cannabis Week of Unity,” organized by a nationwide coalition that aims to push Congress toward comprehensive federal cannabis reform. “States have been way ahead of the federal government the whole time,” she said. “What we’re trying to do here now is bring the federal government up to the level of the states, because dragging behind is just not realistic and just doesn’t make any sense—morally, ethically, legally, health-wise, you name it.” “Look how many states allow the use of marijuana, whether it’s medically or recreationally. I mean, let’s catch up.” Titus discussed several pieces of cannabis reform legislation she is sponsoring, including one that would allow federal drug officials to more fairly consider the evidence about marijuana’s effects—including why it is “so much better than other things like maybe alcohol.” “So let’s do the research, get the facts that these folks need, so they can educate our members,” she said. “They can advocate for this, and we can puff puff, pass that bill.” Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) appeared at the event as well, saying “there’s never really been a logical path why marijuana is illegal, except for politics,” citing the Nixon administration’s use of cannabis criminalization as a way to oppress people of color, young people and the anti-war movement. “So a lot of people went to jail,” Cohen said. “A lot of people away from their families, lost SNAP payments and other housing opportunities because of marijuana convictions.” Omar, the Cannabis Caucus co-chair, said the U.S. is “long overdue for a rational, just and humane cannabis policy.” “For decades, we have spent billions of dollars enforcing a war on drugs that has failed and has devastated communities, ruined lives and disproportionately targeted Black, Brown and low-income Americans,” she said. “Right now, we have a completely unjust and ridiculous system in America, where most states have now legalized cannabis for medical and recreational use, but federal law has continued to lag behind.” “That contradiction makes no sense. It hurts consumers, it hurts workers, it hurts small businesses and it only creates more chaos and inequity across this country. So let me be clear about what cannabis reform needed. What cannabis reforms are needed immediately. We must fully deschedule cannabis now. We must stop the federal hemp ban. We must fix the outrageous barriers facing legal legal cannabis businesses that cannot access banking services, and we must ensure that the millions of Americans living in legal cannabis states—from our veterans who use medical marijuana to deal with pain and PTSD, to our public housing residents who are threatened with eviction for using legal product—can finally do that without fear of federal punishment or government overreach.” Cohen, for his part, said the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) resisted marijuana rescheduling during the Biden administration. “It’s hard to get the DEA to get something done. My history and experience has been that the DEA is the Strait of Hormuz for marijuana legislation,” he said, comparing the agency to the waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which much of the world’s oil trade passes but which has been blocked amid recent hostilities between Iran and the U.S. and Israel. “You have to go through it, but you can’t do it.” Under an order signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche last month, marijuana regulated by a state medical cannabis license immediately moved to Schedule III. Marijuana products such as those in state-legal recreational markets remain in Schedule I for now, however, subject to a hearing process this summer to consider broader rescheduling of cannabis. While rescheduling eases barriers to research and gives state-licensed businesses access to tax benefits, it does not broadly legalize marijuana. Representatives of several drug policy reform organizations also spoke at Wednesday’s event, including Students for Sensible Drug Policy, NORML, Marijuana Policy Project, Last Prisoner Project, Drug Policy Alliance, Latino Cannabis Alliance, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition and other groups. — 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 in Congress, the House is expected to consider an amendment this week to let military veterans receive recommendations for medical marijuana through their doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies approved a bill last month containing provisions that would block federal officials from taking further steps to reschedule cannabis. Separately, the House Appropriations Committee approved a spending bill and an attached report that expresses concerns about health risks from cannabis-derived products, while also encouraging research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. The full House also recently passed a Farm Bill with provisions aimed at aiding industrial hemp producers—but without any language to delay or alter the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that’s scheduled to take effect later this year. A new report from the Congressional Research Service details the scope and limitations of the federal marijuana rescheduling move. The post It’s ‘About Damn Time’ The Federal Government Catches Up To Voters On Marijuana Legalization, Congresswoman Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Nevada is losing out on $80 million in annual marijuana tax revenue by imposing rules that have created strict barriers between the state’s cannabis and gaming industries, according to a new report. And that policy choice has also driven consumers to purchase “unlicensed, unsafe” products in the illicit market. At the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Cannabis Policy Institute and International Gaming Institute’s 3rd Annual Gaming & Cannabis Policy Discussion late last month, lawmakers and officials discussed the impact of regulations that have kept the licensed marijuana industry from fully integrating with the state’s storied gaming sector. Specifically, they pointed to rules highlighted in the UNLV cannabis institute’s report that prevent marijuana deliveries to most hotels and gaming properties, ban retailers from operating within 1,500 feet of gaming establishments in major counties and broadly restrict gaming licensees from dually participating in or profiting from the licensed cannabis sector. “The separations act as severe constraints on capital mobility, tourism synergy, and public-revenue growth, without any corresponding economic, public health or safety, or risk benefits to market participants in either market,” the authors wrote. The report—titled “The 1,500 Foot Wall”—estimates that marijuana businesses are missing out on $750 million in revenue each year due to the onerous regulations. That includes lost revenue from retail sales ($540 million) and wholesale ($210 million). With respect to unrealized tax revenue from those missed sales opportunities, the forced separation amounts to approximately $80 million that Nevada could be adding to its coffers every year if the two industries were freed up to more closely integrate. Marijuana is legal in Nevada for adults, including tourists, 21 years or older. But because licensed cannabis businesses are effectively pushed outside of main commercial gaming hubs such as the Strip in Las Vegas, illicit businesses that aren’t playing by the rules in the first place are taking advantage of the state regulations, the report found. “The cannabis-gaming barriers are currently preventing millions of Nevada consumers from accessing legal cannabis,” it said. “All of the cannabis sold [in gaming areas such as the Strip] is unlicensed, unsafe cannabis from the illegal market.” “Another result of the barriers is that many of the state’s legal cannabis businesses are struggling to survive as a result of their severely limited access to tourists,” the authors said. “The original separation between cannabis and gaming was a rational precaution in 2014. A decade later, it is an economic and policy anachronism.” “Convergence is not deregulation—it is optimization.” At the policy discussion earlier this month, Nevada Sen. Rochelle Nguyen (D) echoed that point, stating that the “idea that we’ve limited one aspect of our tourism economy is ridiculous.” “To think the cannabis industry is outside of our other tourism industry is naive, inaccurate and not what’s happening out there in the tourism corridor,” she said, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We got this wrong in some areas. We had good intentions, but as we move forward, this industry is changing.” The report comes about a year after UNLV’s Cannabis Policy Institute released a poll finding that about seven in ten American adults say they’re in favor of having designated marijuana consumption areas at casinos and resorts—and two in five would be more inclined to visit casinos if cannabis use was allowed. — 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. — Nevada’s first legal marijuana consumption lounge officially opened it doors in February 2024, marking the culmination of years of rulemaking to allow the latest license type. Tyler Klimas, who served as executive director of the Nevada Cannabis Control Board (CCB) from 2020 to late 2023, said in a podcast that the cannabis consumption lounge development represents the “next frontier” for the industry. The law—which was enacted under legislation from Assemblyman Steve Yeager (D) and signed by then-Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) in 2021—also allows for businesses that couple cannabis with yoga, serve infused food, offer THC-aided massage therapy or incorporate marijuana in other ways. Sisolak touted Nevada’s lounge law in a 4/20 op-ed for Marijuana Moment in 2022, writing: “The idea isn’t new, but no one is doing it like we are in Nevada.” “While most of the consumption lounges in other states don’t offer food, beverages or other entertainment options,” he said, “Nevada’s lounges will be a one-stop entertainment shop to create jobs, grow the industry and boost our economy.” As consumption lounges started to open, the state’s marijuana laws also changed in another meaningful way at the beginning of 2024, with an updated policy put in place that more than doubled the amount of cannabis that a person can buy and possess to 2.5 ounces. The post Nevada Is Losing Out On $80 Million In Annual Revenue By Separating The Marijuana And Gaming Industries, Report Finds appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“The next phase of cannabis policy will not be decided by a single bill. It will be shaped by the political environment that determines whether any bill has a path.” By Jordan Isenstadt, National Cannabis Industry Association The cannabis industry loves a headline bill. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. Rescheduling. Federal reform. Every cycle brings the same conversation. Is this the moment something finally passes? It makes sense. Legislation is tangible. It gives the industry something to rally around and react to. But it misses how Washington actually works. Bills do not move on their own. The people who decide whether they move are about to be decided in the 2026 elections. Before working in communications, I spent years in government. I sat in rooms where policy decisions were shaped long before they became public debates. The outcome was rarely about one issue standing on its own. It was about who held power, who controlled the agenda and which issues were worth spending political capital on. Cannabis is no different. The industry tends to treat federal reform as a question of timing. When will something pass? In reality, it is a question of alignment. Committee chairs. Party control. Agency leadership. Governors and state legislatures. These are the forces that determine whether cannabis policy moves forward, stalls or gets chipped away. The 2026 elections will shape all of that. That matters in Washington, but it also matters at the state level. While federal reform gets the headlines, cannabis policy is still being defined every day through state decisions. Implementation, enforcement and in some cases efforts to roll back existing markets are all happening in real time. Prohibitionist groups like Smart Approaches to Marijuana understand this. They are not waiting on one federal bill. They are active in elections, in statehouses and in the broader policy conversation. They are also shaping perception. That part gets overlooked. In communications, perception is not secondary. It often determines what is politically possible. Policymakers respond to pressure, to narrative and to what they believe is safe to support or risky to touch. An issue can have broad public support and still stall if it is not backed by sustained pressure. Cannabis has made real progress on public opinion. That does not automatically translate into policy outcomes. If the industry wants movement on banking, taxation or broader reform, it has to engage with the system that produces those outcomes. That means paying attention to elections. It means understanding who is running, what they care about and how cannabis fits into their priorities. It also means showing up. The industry is not small anymore. It includes state-regulated operators, hemp and cannabinoid businesses, technology companies and a wide range of stakeholders. That reach is a strength. It also makes alignment harder at the exact moment when it matters most. The next phase of cannabis policy will not be decided by a single bill. It will be shaped by the political environment that determines whether any bill has a path. The industry has spent years building momentum. The question now is whether it is willing to engage in the political process that actually determines what happens next. In Washington, outcomes are not driven by what gets introduced. They are driven by who is in the room when decisions get made. Jordan Isenstadt is a senior vice president at Marino PR and founder of the firm’s cannabis practice. He has over a decade of experience in the industry and a background in government, including roles in the New York State Senate and executive chamber. He was recently appointed to the board of the National Cannabis Industry Association. The post The 2026 Elections Matter More For Cannabis Than The Next Bill Filed In Congress (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Vets medical marijuana vote; CA cannabis drive-thrus; GA & IA medical marijuana expansion; OH cannabis attitudes poll; IN officials talk rescheduling 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… Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The House Rules Committee is allowing an amendment to let military veterans get medical cannabis recommendations from their Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to be considered for a floor vote. A separate amendment that seeks to raise awareness about the benefits of psychedelic and other therapies for military veterans is also advancing. The House Appropriations Committee released a draft report calling on the Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug Administration to crack down on the “proliferation of Federally unregulated ingestible, inhalable, and topical products that contain intoxicating cannabinoids” and that “threaten consumer safety.” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed a bill to expand medical cannabis access by adding new qualifying conditions, allowing vaping and changing THC potency limits. Iowa lawmakers sent Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) a bill to double the number of medical cannabis dispensaries that can be licensed to operate, while also allowing out-of-state residents to register in the program if they have a certification from an Iowa healthcare provider. The California Assembly passed a bill to allow marijuana dispensaries to offer drive-thru windows to serve customers, subject to local approval. Ohio officials are launching a new anti-cannabis public education campaign as a new poll shows that 53 percent of adults “believe that their community would be better off if more adults used marijuana on a regular basis.” “Ohioans just don’t believe that marijuana poses significant risks to its users.” The Indiana Board of Pharmacy held a preliminary discussion about federal marijuana rescheduling’s impact, with members noting that they have the opportunity to object to automatically mirroring the change at the state level. Oklahoma lawmakers sent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) a bill to support clinical trials on ibogaine, with the goal of developing the psychedelic into an approved treatment for substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries and other conditions. / FEDERAL Outgoing Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary noted that he “wrote new guidance to advance psychedelics” in a list of accomplishments he included in a message to President Donald Trump upon resigning from the role. The Drug Enforcement Administration sent a public safety advisory about fentanyl mixed with emerging synthetic drugs. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Joe Rogan discussed President Donald Trump’s psychedelics executive order as well as hemp. / STATES Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed a bill raising the legal age for purchasing kratom to 21. New Jersey Gov. MIkie Sherrill (D) cited the cannabis policy experience of her new nominee to lead the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Ohio lawmakers reacted to President Donald Trump’s psychedelics executive order. A lawsuit challenging Washington, D.C. marijuana rules was voluntarily dismissed. Nebraska regulators voted to allow medical cannabis cultivation businesses that pass inspection to begin growing immediately. The Arizona Corporation Commission ordered a marijuana payment processor company and operator to pay restitution and administrative penalties for alleged securities registration violations. Vermont regulators hosted Ghanaian officials who are exploring cannabis policy options. California regulators sent updates on various cannabis issues. The Colorado Hemp Advisory Committee will meet on June 17. — 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. — / INTERNATIONAL The UK Employment Appeal Tribunal found that a decision to fire a rail worker over medical cannabis may have constituted disability discrimination. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A review concluded that there is a “statistically significant, albeit small, advantage for adjunctive CBD over placebo for total, positive, and general symptoms in schizophrenia.” A review concluded that “results showed no significant changes in authoritarian attitudes after psychedelic use.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The chair of the Florida Democratic Party noted cannabis changes to a federal gun purchase form, tweeting, “In 2022, as Commissioner of Agriculture, we filed a federal lawsuit challenging the prohibition of medical marijuana patients from purchasing firearms. No one should have to choose between Constitutional rights. Today is a tremendous day for mmj patients!” / BUSINESS MJBizDaily parent Emerald Holding, Inc. is being acquired by Apollo-managed funds. Vireo Growth Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $106.2 million. Jushi Holdings Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $66.4 million and a net loss of $19.8 million. Village Farms International, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $50.2 million. Organigram Global Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$59.8 million and a net loss of C$0.9 million. WM Technology, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $43.6 million. High Tide Inc. announced the purchase of shares by officers, directors and consultants of the company. / CULTURE Wrestler Rob Van Dam launched a line of cannabis products. 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: Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Congress wants crackdown on unregulated cannabis products (Newsletter: May 13, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Georgia’s governor has signed a bill to expand medical marijuana access in the state. SB 220, which Gov. Brian Kemp (R) approved on Tuesday, will add new qualifying conditions for the program, allow patients to vaporize medical cannabis and change THC potency limits, among other reforms. Under the legislation, patients with lupus will be allowed to legally access medical marijuana, building on the state’s current law that allows certain people with cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, autism spectrum disorder, intractable pain and other conditions to qualify. The bill from Sen. Matt Brass (R) also removes the requirement for many conditions that the patient’s status be severe or end-stage to be allowed to enter the medical cannabis program. The reform will also expand how patients can use medical marijuana. Until now, they have been able to access oils, tinctures, capsules, lozenges, topicals and transdermal patches—but the new law will also allow vaping as delivery method for patients over 21 years of age, while continuing to prohibit smoking for all patients. The Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act additionally replaces the current 5 percent THC potency cap for medical cannabis products with a limit of 12,000 milligrams of THC that a patient can possess at any one time. “These changes, while meaningful to the affected patients, do not materially alter where Georgia sits in the national landscape on this issue,” Kemp said in a signing statement. “This bill passed with a constitutional majority in both chambers of the General Assembly.” “I, like many of those who expressed opposition to this bill, have reservations about the legalization of recreational cannabis. Many states that have legalized recreational cannabis have come to regret that decision,” he said. “I also recognize that for some patients, medical cannabis provides significant relief to symptoms that would otherwise go untreated or would be treated with even more harmful opioids.” “I do not believe that a well-implemented medical cannabis program must inevitably lead to the legalization of recreational use in Georgia, nor is the question of recreational use anywhere in the bill on my desk for signature,” the governor said. The bill also replaces references to “low THC oil” in current law with “medical cannabis.” — 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 Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, which oversees the program, will get a new duty of conducting public awareness activities about “effective uses of medical cannabis and products, including, but not limited to, publishing materials and conducting outreach and public education activities to inform members of the public, law enforcement, and healthcare providers about the medical cannabis program in this state and the potential benefits that medical cannabis and products may have to eligible patients.” Last year, House leaders created a Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Georgia’s Medical Marijuana and Hemp Policies to examine the state’s cannabis laws. Lawmakers in Georgia have also considered legislation to support research on the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. The post Georgia Governor Signs Bill To Expand Medical Marijuana Access By Allowing Vaping And Adding New Qualifying Conditions appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A powerful congressional committee is allowing an amendment that would let military veterans receive recommendations for medical marijuana through their doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to advance to a vote on the House floor. The proposal from Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL), Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Dina Titus (D-NV), if enacted, would prevent VA from enforcing a longstanding directive that has blocked its providers from assisting veterans with registering for state medical cannabis programs. Under current policy, VA doctors can discuss marijuana use with their patients, but they cannot fill out forms to help them actually get legal access to cannabis. As a result, veterans need to seek outside, often expensive, services from separate providers instead of just being able to get assistance from their own doctors at VA. That would change under the new amendment from the co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, which is being offered to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The House Rules Committee on Tuesday determined that the proposal can be considered in floor votes, expected later this week. The veterans medical marijuana amendment reads: “SEC. __. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act may be used to enforce Veterans Health Directive 1315 as it relates to— (1) the policy stating that ‘VHA providers are prohibited from completing forms or registering Veterans for participation in a State-approved marijuana program’; (2) the directive for the ‘Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management’ to ensure that ‘medical facility Directors are aware that it is VHA policy for providers to assess Veteran use of marijuana but providers are prohibited from recommending, making referrals to or completing paperwork for Veteran participation in State marijuana programs’; and (3) the directive for the ‘VA Medical Facility Director’ to ensure that ‘VA facility staff are aware of the following’ ‘[t]he prohibition on recommending, making referrals to or completing forms and registering Veterans for participation in State-approved marijuana programs.'” While similar proposals on veterans’ medical marijuana access have been passed by both the House of Representatives and Senate in past years, they have never been enacted into law. Last year, when the House- and Senate-passed language was left out of the final bill sent to President Donald Trump, Mast told Marijuana Moment that the exclusion was “ridiculous.” “It was a great and easy opportunity to do so, and a sensical thing to move forward—and detrimental to veterans to not do so,” he said. — 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 current amendment comes just weeks after medical marijuana was rescheduled under federal law by the Trump administration, a major policy and political development that advocates hope could boost the chances of the veterans-focused reform being enacted this year. A separate amendment to the military and veterans spending bill that the Rules Committee is also allowing to receive a floor vote seeks to raise awareness about the benefits of psychedelic and other therapies for military veterans. Sponsored by Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI), who co-chair the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies Caucus, the amendment’s description says it “increases and decreases funding for the Medical and Prosthetic Research account at the Department of Veterans Affairs to emphasize the importance of the Department’s research on areas benefiting veterans such as oncology, traumatic brain injury care, psychedelic therapies, and assistive devices.” Meanwhile in Congress, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies approved a bill last month containing provisions that would block federal officials from taking further steps to reschedule cannabis. Separately, the House Appropriations Committee approved a spending bill and an attached report that expresses concerns about health risks from cannabis-derived products, while also encouraging research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. The full House also recently passed a Farm Bill with provisions aimed at aiding industrial hemp producers—but without any language to delay or alter the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that’s scheduled to take effect later this year. A new report from the Congressional Research Service details the scope and limitations of the federal marijuana rescheduling move. The post Congressional Amendment To Let Military Veterans Get Medical Marijuana Recommendations Through The VA Advances To Floor Vote appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“This bill is more than a policy change—it offers real hope to so many people who desperately need it.” By Jack Gorsline, Filter The Oklahoma State Senate voted on April 29 to pass the Oklahoma Breakthrough Therapy Act. Formally known as House Bill 3834, the measure authorizes the use of state funds to support trials focused on ibogaine—the powerful, naturally occurring psychedelic compound. The bill passed the House in March. If signed into law by Governor Kevin Stitt (R), it will mark a significant shift in Oklahoma’s approach to the ongoing crises around mental health and substance use disorders. It would authorize the State Department of Health to enter into contracts with drug developers to conduct extensive, state-monitored clinical trials for ibogaine-based therapeutics. Lawmakers who championed the bill argue that traditional treatment methods have consistently fallen short, necessitating a research-driven exploration of breakthrough therapies. The legislation is also designed to facilitate collaboration with other states currently conducting similar clinical research, creating a multistate consortium aimed at securing federal regulatory approval. Ibogaine is derived from the root bark of the iboga shrub. For decades, the compound has shown observational promise in interrupting severe substance use disorders—particularly opioids—and alleviating post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. However, because ibogaine is federally classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, it remains illegal to possess, distribute or administer outside of highly restricted research settings. This has seen desperate patients seek unregulated and costly treatments abroad. Ibogaine use for these purposes is not without controversy or risk. There are well-documented medical hazards, most notably the potential for severe cardiac complications, which have led to efforts to develop safer versions of the compound. There are also risks around resumed opioid use with lowered tolerance if ibogaine is used for withdrawal and abstinence. Recognizing these issues, proponents of the Oklahoma bill stress that state-sponsored clinical trials would bring the treatment out of the unregulated shadows and into highly controlled medical environments. Under the proposed framework, patients would undergo rigorous pre-treatment medical evaluations and receive the drug under continuous monitoring by medical professionals. To mitigate financial risk to the state and seek a high standard of research, the bill imposes requirements on participating drug developers. Any drug developer contracting with the health department would have to match the state’s financial investment in the trials dollar-for-dollar Developers would additionally be required to submit a detailed plan for obtaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with protocols for trial participant recruitment, patient screening criteria, safety and post-acute treatment support. The bill also mandates that drug developers prioritize treatment access for Oklahoma residents once FDA approval is secured. And the legislation requires a plan to protect the state’s economic interest in any intellectual property generated. The idea is that if the trials yield a profitable, FDA-approved therapeutic, funds will come back to the state. The legislation establishes a dedicated revolving fund to capture any proceeds. By law, this money could only be utilized for programs or further research that directly benefit at-risk Oklahomans with conditions treatable by ibogaine. The bill grants medical professionals professional immunity too, shielding them from adverse licensing actions by state medical boards for recommending these trials to their patients. The passage of House Bill 3834 through the Senate represents a major victory for a coalition of patient advocates, veterans and others. These groups have spent months sharing deeply personal stories of addiction, trauma and recovery with state lawmakers, aiming to demystify ibogaine and highlight its potential. “Oklahoma for Ibogaine is celebrating the passing of HB 3834 through the Senate,” Nate Morgans, an Oklahoma-based psychedelics advocate and CEO of the Casey Skudin 343 Fund, told Filter. “Our team has worked tirelessly since December to educate, inform, and persuade Oklahoma legislators on the importance of authorizing and funding FDA clinical trials of Ibogaine. This initiative was led by a grassroots effort, employed no lobbyists, and focused on education through truly lived experiences. Our success today serves as a testament to what can be accomplished with determined hearts.” In recent months, other state legislatures have begun viewing ibogaine research as a pragmatic health care response. In March, for instance, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) signed similar legislation. The Mississippi law authorizes the state to form a consortium to conduct ibogaine clinical trials in direct coordination with other participating states—most notably neighboring Texas, which has already committed substantial funding to psychedelic research. While Mississippi’s new law establishes the legal and administrative framework for the clinical trials, the new law does not currently appropriate state general funds toward the program. However, state lawmakers have indicated their intent to allocate a portion of the state’s federal opioid settlement funds to support the initiative. Advocates are divided over such uses of money that could otherwise be funding under-resourced harm reduction efforts. State efforts to establish ibogaine clinical trials have not been uniformly successful. In April, a similar bill in West Virginia was derailed, after Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) vetoed it. The bill would have established a state grant program to fund ibogaine drug development trials. It passed the state legislature, but Morrisey cited fiscal concerns in his veto message. Before killing the bill in the hours leading up to the state’s legislative deadline, he said that while he supports this medical innovation in principle, “we should do so without requiring the state to award grants of undefined and unfunded amounts.” Despite such setbacks and controversies, advocates for ibogaine access and development remain optimistic about growing national momentum. “This bill is more than a policy change—it offers real hope to so many people who desperately need it,” Chase Rowan told Filter of the Oklahoma bill. A US Army Ranger veteran, Rowan serves as both the veteran coordinator for Texans for Greater Mental Health and the director of Community Engagement & Advocacy for Americans for Ibogaine. It’s a development that will “offer hope” to veterans and their families, including those impacted by substance use disorders, he said, and who have “tried every conventional method known to man, with no success.” “Hello, Ibogaine, now we have an answer,” Rowan continued, “a real legitimate answer, something we can study, a medicine that will help so many people find true healing. Exciting things to come in the world of healing.” The Oklahoma Breakthrough Therapy Act now heads to Stitt’s desk, where it remains to be seen if it will be signed into law. This article was originally published by Filter, an online magazine covering drug use, drug policy and human rights through a harm reduction lens. Follow Filter on Bluesky, X or Facebook, and sign up for its newsletter. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Scamperdale. The post Oklahoma Lawmakers Pass Ibogaine Bill, Sending Psychedelic Reform To Governor’s Desk appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The California Assembly has passed a bill that would allow marijuana retailers to offer drive-thru windows to serve customers. The measure, which was approved in a floor vote of 55-9 on Monday, says that licensed cannabis retailers and microbusinesses with storefronts could sell marijuana products “to a customer in a motor vehicle in a drive-through located on the premises.” It previously cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee and Business and Professions Committee, and next heads to the Senate for consideration. Under AB 2697 from Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D), cannabis businesses would need approval from the local jurisdictions in which they operate in order to add the drive-thru option. The sponsor said on the floor that the bill “will expand access to legal cannabis products while strengthening legal market’s ability to compete with the illicit market.” Pellerin and supporters have testified that the legislation will help make legal cannabis more accessible, especially for medical patients who may find it difficult to get out of their cars. “California cannabis retailers lack a common and accessible transaction path for consumers afforded so many other retailers in California, including fast food, pharmacies, banks and even liquor stores,” Pellerin previously said. “Cannabis consumers who have mobility issues or other disabilities have limited options for being able to obtain cannabis without having to step out of their vehicles. And while home delivery is legal, there are service area restrictions,” she said. “Allowing cannabis retailers to add the consumer-friendly option of a secured drive through, if approved by the local jurisdiction, will enhance the consumer experience, increase safety at cannabis retailers, and help expand California’s legal cannabis marketplace.” The California Narcotic Officers’ Association opposes the proposal, however, arguing that “while intended to promote convenience, this retail model introduces elevated risks related to impaired driving, regulatory compliance, crime exposure, and traffic safety.” “Importantly, no similar statute authorizes drive-thru window liquor sales. Drive-thru window cannabis sales create a direct nexus between purchase and vehicle operations,” the police group said. “This will increase the likelihood of drug-impaired driving incidents and deaths by encouraging the immediate or near-immediate consumption following the purchase of edible and high-potency products resulting in dangerous impairment.” Under a current policy enacted during the height of the COVID pandemic, dispensaries can already offer curbside pickup. The bill that is advancing in the legislature would mandate that drive-thru sales “shall occur through a fixed-pane security window with a security drawer or similar secure transfer mechanism that is part of a building located within the premises.” — 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. — California regulators recently adopted changes to the state’s marijuana licensing process that are intended to make it easier for businesses to qualify for benefits in line with the Trump administration’s recent move to federally reschedule medical cannabis. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), meanwhile, recently took credit for helping to lead the push for the state to legalize marijuana and discussed his own limited experience with using cannabis. In October, however, Newsom vetoed a bill that would have allowed certain marijuana microbusinesses to ship medical cannabis products directly to patients via common carriers like FedEx and UPS, stating that the proposal “would be burdensome and overly complex to administer.” Newsom did sign a bill earlier that month aimed at streamlining research on marijuana and psychedelics. In September, the governor also signed a measure into law to put a pause on a recently enacted tax hike on marijuana products. California officials recently awarded nearly $30 million in grants for marijuana-focused academic research projects. The post California Assembly Passes Bill To Legalize Marijuana Dispensary Drive-Thru Windows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

If board members object to a federal change, they must publicly issue their reasons and allow for a hearing process before any state action moves forward. By Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle Indiana lawmakers could soon revisit debates over medical marijuana legalization, but state officials say it remains unclear when—or if—federal marijuana reclassification will formally trigger action in Indiana. At a Monday meeting, the Indiana Board of Pharmacy reviewed a federal notice related to marijuana rescheduling but took no formal action. Board members said any future state response depends on the federal process becoming official. That means Indiana’s marijuana laws remain unchanged, for now. Even so, Republican Sen. Mike Bohacek announced on Monday his plans to draft 2027 legislation that would legalize medical marijuana in Indiana and establish regulations governing its sale, distribution and use. Bills for the 2027 session can’t be filed until later this year. “In light of the governor’s openness to consider legislation regarding the legalization of marijuana, we need to consider a feasible marijuana policy that would be the most helpful to Hoosiers and the economy,” Bohacek, of Michiana Shores, said in a statement. “The use of medical marijuana has been proven to be beneficial for some medical disorders and could help people throughout the state who are suffering find some relief.” The senator said his proposal would legalize medical marijuana, establish rules for medical use, create a tax structure for marijuana sales and distribution and update Indiana’s impairment laws related to THC use. The announcement sets up another likely marijuana debate at the Statehouse after years of failed efforts to loosen Indiana’s cannabis laws. Gov. Mike Braun (R) last month also signaled openness to broader discussions about marijuana legalization and regulation in Indiana. The governor stopped short of endorsing full legalization but said he was open to reviewing policy recommendations and hearing proposals from lawmakers on how Indiana should approach marijuana regulation moving forward. Although the U.S. Department of Justice last month announced limited Schedule III reclassification for certain state-licensed medical marijuana products, broader federal marijuana rescheduling remains tied up in an ongoing Drug Enforcement Administration process that has not yet been finalized. Federal hearings on broader rescheduling are scheduled to begin in June. The proposed federal change would move state-approved medical marijuana from Schedule I—reserved for drugs with no accepted medical use—to Schedule III, a less restrictive category that recognizes some medical uses. Leif Johnson, a lawyer for the state pharmacy board, said Monday that Indiana law requires the board to review any finalized federal scheduling change and determine whether the state will object to adopting similar changes under Indiana law. Under Indiana Code, the pharmacy board is tasked with reviewing controlled-substance scheduling changes and recommending whether the state should adopt comparable classifications. If board members object to a federal change, they must publicly issue their reasons and allow for a hearing process before any state action moves forward. Indiana remains among a shrinking number of states without a medical marijuana program, even as neighboring states have expanded legalization efforts. Multiple proposals to legalize or decriminalize marijuana—including limited medical-use bills—have repeatedly stalled in the General Assembly in recent legislative sessions. Earlier this year, Indiana lawmakers again failed to reach agreement on cannabis-related policy changes. A Senate-approved proposal to crack down on intoxicating hemp-derived THC products died before the legislature adjourned. Bohacek emphasized that his bill would not legalize recreational marijuana, though. “While the legislation I plan to propose would legalize the use of medical marijuana, it would not take away from the safety standards that would need to be established to keep Hoosiers safe,” he said. “This proposed legislation would not legalize the use of recreational marijuana.” Bohacek additionally said he plans to build “plenty of parameters” into the legislation governing how medical marijuana would be distributed and regulated in Indiana. “I intend to include plenty of parameters around the implementation and use of medical marijuana to ensure it’s being properly regulated and distributed by Hoosier healthcare professionals,” Bohacek said. He maintained that the legislation would establish THC impairment standards and additional law enforcement training requirements. “Many of our state’s current laws regarding the use of marijuana would remain in place, with some adjustments to account for those who may have medical exemptions,” Bohacek said. The senator argued, too, that Indiana should consider regulating and taxing marijuana products already widely available in the state. “Indiana has already allowed the sale of delta-8 THC and other similar cannabinoids, so creating a tax policy is a logical next step in expanding the use of THC products,” Bohacek said. “There is potential to bring in millions of dollars in tax revenue every year.” This story was first published by Indiana Capital Chronicle. The post Indiana Board Of Pharmacy Discusses Federal Marijuana Rescheduling’s Impact On State Policy appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A powerful congressional committee is expected to approve a report this week that directs federal officials to take enforcement action against unregulated cannabinoid products that “threaten consumer safety.” The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday is set to take up a Fiscal Year 2027 spending bill covering Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, as well as an attached report that includes the directive. It calls on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address the “proliferation of Federally unregulated ingestible, inhalable, and topical products that contain intoxicating cannabinoids.” “Intoxicating Cannabidiols.—The Committee is concerned by the proliferation of Federally unregulated ingestible, inhalable, and topical products that contain intoxicating cannabinoids. The Committee directs the DEA, in coordination with the FDA Office of Inspections and Investigations, to take appropriate enforcement actions against those whose products threaten consumer safety and fail to meet the statutory definition of section 10113 of Public Law 115–334 and section 781 of Public Law 119–37. The Committee further directs the DEA to report on these efforts and any resources necessary to enforce the controlled substance laws and regulations of the United States not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act.” While the provision doesn’t use the word “hemp,” it cites statutes covering the crop and appears responsive to widespread sales of products derived from it after they became legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. Congress has since passed, however, and President Donald Trump has signed, new legislation that will broadly recriminalize hemp THC products starting in November. The new appropriations report, meanwhile, also calls on the Department of Justice to take action against “money laundering schemes” tied to Chinese-connected illegal marijuana grow operations within the U.S. “Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Money Laundering.—The Committee directs the Department to utilize funds directed to anti-money laundering programs to investigate potential money laundering schemes involving CCP-connected marijuana businesses and entities providing financial services to these businesses.” Finally, the report notes that funding is being set aside for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to monitor wastewater to detect use of synthetic cannabinoids and other drugs by incarcerated people. “Wastewater Surveillance Pilot.—The Committee provides $8,500,000 to BOP to carry out a pilot program using a wastewater surveillance system to monitor the prevalence of infectious diseases—including Hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis, and respiratory pathogens—as well as the use of covered drugs, including fentanyl, nitazenes, and other synthetic opioids, methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids, and other controlled substances, among the incarcerated population at not fewer than six Federal correctional institutions. Sites will be selected to ensure representation across security classification levels, geographic regions of the United States, and institutional population sizes. Not later than 180 days after the completion of the pilot program, BOP shall submit a report detailing findings regarding the prevalence of infectious diseases and covered drug use at participating institutions, along with recommendations for legislative or administrative action.” The underlying spending legislation that the report is attached to, meanwhile, contains a provision to block federal officials from taking further steps to reschedule cannabis. It also includes an updated version of a longstanding rider that since 2014 has protected state medical cannabis programs from federal interference. The House Appropriations Committee last month approved a separate spending bill and an attached report that expresses concerns about health risks from cannabis-derived products, while also encouraging research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. The full House also recently passed a Farm Bill with provisions aimed at aiding industrial hemp producers—but without any language to delay or alter the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that’s scheduled to take effect later this year. The House Rules Committee is considering an amendment this week that would allow military veterans to receive recommendations for medical marijuana through their doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). A new report from the Congressional Research Service details the scope and limitations of the federal marijuana rescheduling move. The post Congressional Committee Directs DEA To Crack Down On Unregulated Cannabis Products That ‘Threaten Consumer Safety’ appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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