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China’s agricultural history with cannabis is deeper than previously believed, with a new study placing the staple crop among “the five grains” (alongside rice and barely, for example) that were foundational to the ancient Eurasian economy and “deeply integrated into the daily lives of the inhabitants.” For the study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, researchers at Shandong University conducted phytolith extraction and analysis of 132 samples found in Beitaishang and Qianzhongzitou settlements dating back to the Late Neolithic era. The results showed that, by that point, cannabis had become a “core crop in northern China, primarily used for food or fiber.” The study authors—who also listed affiliations with the Chinese Ministry of Education, the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Shandong Province and other institutions in China—said the samples they analyzed “suggest that cannabis had been systematically integrated into the local agricultural economy, becoming a key component of the core crop assemblage in northern China by at least the Late Neolithic.” “By the Late Neolithic, cannabis became a core crop in northern China, primarily used for food or fiber.” Part of the reason the discovery seems to reflect a broader agricultural integration of the crop is because samples were collected from archaeological features such as ash pits, floors and foundations in small- to medium-sized settlements in the Shandong region, which provides “valuable insights into the role of cannabis in the local agricultural economy.” Finding cannabis in these specific types of ancient features reflects “daily seed processing and consumption activities at the household level,” the study says. “At the Beitaishang site, cannabis phytoliths were found in 22 out of 32 samples (68.8 percent) in the Longshan period. At the Qianzhongzitou site, cannabis phytoliths were identified in 47 out of 65 samples (72.3 percent) from the Longshan period, and in 16 out of 31 samples (51.6 percent) from the Yueshi period,” it says. “Our study demonstrates that cannabis had already become one of the ‘five grains’ (rice, millet, barley, soybean, and cannabis) since the Longshan period in Shandong, as evidenced by systematic phytolith analysis. The analysis of the archaeological context further reveals that cannabis processing and consumption were deeply integrated into the daily lives of the inhabitants, making it an indispensable component of their agricultural subsistence. This finding fundamentally challenges the previous underestimation of cannabis’s status based on limited organic remains and reaffirms its significant role in the agricultural economy of prehistoric northern China.” The study—funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China, which is part of the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology—suggests that “cannabis processing and consumption were deeply integrated into daily life,” the researchers said. Unlike in other archaeological records indicating that psychoactive cannabis was “typically associated with burial and ritual contexts across Eurasia,” including “psychoactive shoots, infructescences and Teaves of cannabis found in Bronze Age Xinjiang tombs,” these latest findings “reflect clear differences in both unearthed contexts and plant parts, emphasizing the more daily and subsistence-oriented use of cannabis in Shandong.” “This study focuses on the fibre-type cannabis for experimentation and analysis, as the drug-type cannabis is strictly regulated in most countries due to its psychoactive compounds,” the study concludes. And to that point, one of the study authors, Yong Ge, told Marijuana Moment in an email that the researchers “stand against the abusive use of cannabis as a drug.” “In this regard, we are fully aligned with China’s stance on drug control,” she said. China’s strict anti-drug policies have also extended to low-THC hemp and its derivatives like CBD. In 2024, for example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advised stakeholders about a policy change in China that imposed tighter regulations on cannabidiol, though it said at the time that the rules were expected to benefit the industry. Meanwhile, with respect to the evolution of human relationships with the cannabis plant, a 2023 paper in the European Journal for Chemistry traced the history of the crop through “thousands of years of contact with mankind,” noting the plant’s legacy as a source of fiber, nutrition, medicine, spirituality and pleasure. An ancient biblical tribe in Israel also likely used marijuana to produce hallucinogenic effects as part of cultic rituals, according to a 2020 study that identified cannabis resin on an alter in a shrine built around 750 BCE. Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post Chinese Researchers Reveal Ancient Use Of Cannabis As ‘Indispensable’ Crop That Was ‘Deeply Integrated’ Into Daily Life appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

North Carolina lawmakers will take a more serious look at legalizing medical marijuana in the state following the Trump administration’s move to reschedule cannabis at the federal level, the state’s top senator says. The North Carolina Senate has passed medical cannabis bills in a number of past sessions that have later stalled out in the House of Representatives. But now that federal marijuana rescheduling is moving forward under a process announced by the U.S. Department of Justice last week, North Carolina’s Senate leader says his members will discuss plans to potentially try to advance the issue again. “We’ll have a conversation within our caucus as to whether or not we do something, if they’re interested in continuing to pursue that,” Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) said, WRAL-TV reported. If the Senate does pass a medical cannabis bill again, it’s not yet clear how House leadership would react this time. The federal marijuana reform action and comments by the state Senate leader come weeks after a governor-appointed cannabis commission in North Carolina issued a report recommending that the state move away from a criminalization-based approach to the plant and toward a system of “robust” regulations that provide for adults’ legal access to THC products. The North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis, which Gov. Josh Stein (D) convened last year, says in the new document approved earlier this month that the current “absence of regulation for North Carolina’s intoxicating cannabis market raises numerous concerns,” noting that hemp products are readily available yet largely unregulated and that marijuana remains prohibited altogether in the state, even for medical use. “Compared to regulated marijuana frameworks in other states, this environment presents identifiable risks,” the interim report says. “While some operators voluntarily implement consumer protection protocols, these safeguards are not required under state law.” Stein, for his part, thanked the group for its “expertise, hard work, and thoughtful deliberation” in a press release and reiterated his support for legalizing marijuana. “Last year, I charged this group with developing a comprehensive solution to the unregulated sale of cannabis that is grounded in public health and public safety, with a special focus on keeping young people safe,” the governor said. “This report provides the General Assembly with guidance and makes clear that a well-regulated market, including both oversight and enforcement authority, is a safer market for our state.” “Our state’s unregulated cannabis market today is the Wild West and is crying for order,” he said. “Let’s get this right. Let’s protect our kids and create a safe, legal, and well-regulated market for adults.” The interim report recommends that rather than construct separate frameworks for hemp and marijuana, the state should enact molecule-based regulation focused on THC itself, saying that “the plant source is irrelevant and should not drive different treatment when the intoxicating compound is the same.” It also suggests that when choosing how to regulate THC and cannabis, North Carolina should enact “an adult access market with protections for medical consumers.” The panel, however, “does not view a medical-only program as an effective interim step or compromise solution,” and the state should proceed to adult-use access immediately while considering the “availability of medical-consumer protections” as “an important component of a broader regulatory structure.” The group’s report notes that “ultimately, the authority to bring order to the unregulated, unsafe cannabis market rests with the General Assembly.” The advisory council was formed after Stein issued an executive order last year, and is comprised of legislators, law enforcement officials, agriculture industry stakeholders, health experts, tribal representatives, advocates and others charged with exploring possible regulatory models for adult-use marijuana and hemp. The governor’s order said there’s a need for reform because the “current lack of regulation, including age, potency, and purity limitations, poses a threat to all North Carolinians, particularly our youth.” And “rather than allowing this unsafe and unregulated market to continue, smart and balanced regulation presents an opportunity not only to protect the health and well-being of our people, but also to generate revenue that can benefit our state.” Members are tasked with developing and submitting initial recommendations on a “comprehensive cannabis policy, including any proposed legislation,” with a final report due by December 31 of this year. During his time as the state’s attorney general, Stein led a separate task force under then-Gov. Roy Cooper (D) that examined racial injustice issues and ultimately recommended decriminalizing marijuana and studying broader legalization in response to racially disparate enforcement trends. Meanwhile, a tribe in North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, launched the state’s first marijuana dispensary in 2024—despite the protests of certain Republican congressional lawmakers. The post North Carolina Could Legalize Medical Marijuana Now That It’s Been Federally Rescheduled, Senate Leader Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

What an inspiring transformation, Andrea! Your journey from Wine Mom to Canna Mom highlights the power of making intentional choices for our health and well-being. It reminds me of the dummies world cup, where individuals come together to celebrate their passions and support each other in their journeys.

WH press secretary: Marijuana reform “overwhelmingly popular”; TN gov signs bill blocking medical cannabis review; IN gov directs marijuana meetings 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… Your good deed for the day: donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there. Support our work at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration is moving forward with marijuana rescheduling because it is “overwhelmingly popular with the vast majority of Americans” and will help people “who need it for medical treatment.” “The president was willing to take this step to do that at the behest of the American public, who largely support it, and many of his health advisors on his team who he spoke with about it.” The Drug Enforcement Administration announced it will begin accepting applications this week for medical marijuana businesses to apply for federal protections being granted under the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a bill to block an automatic review that could have legalized medical cannabis under state law following federal marijuana rescheduling. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) has directed state agencies to meet with medical cannabis advocates as federal marijuana rescheduling takes effect. Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that federal cannabis rescheduling will upend policies discriminating against patients in housing, employment and healthcare. “The recognition of cannabis as a legitimate medicine means that patients and their caregivers are no longer considered criminals under federal law. They have federal rights. Those rights now protect patients in housing, employment, healthcare and in their military careers.” The Nebraska Supreme Court held a hearing in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn voter-approved medical cannabis legalization because, as the former state senator who filed it argues, the policy is preempted by federal law. / FEDERAL The Food and Drug Administration’s annual congressional budget justification touts the agency’s work on “exploring efforts to accelerate treatment development for post-traumatic stress disorder, including psychedelic drug development.” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) asked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about psychedelics during a hearing. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted, “Good work by @POTUS protecting continued research and access to alternative treatments with hemp-derived CBD. My bipartisan solution, the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, would keep hemp products accessible to Americans who rely on their medical benefits while keeping consumer safety in mind.” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) tweeted, “Deregulate Hemp completely.” Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) hosted Trulieve’s CEO on his show for a segment about marijuana rescheduling. Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) appeared on the podcast of prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana. / STATES Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is proposing changes to cannabis tax laws. Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (R), who is running for governor, tweeted, “I’ve been clear from day one. I am completely against legalizing marijuana. We’ve seen the impact in other states, and that’s not where Florida is headed. I stand with Governor DeSantis on this. No compromises, and no money from the marijuana industry. That can’t be said for all of my opponents.” New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland, a former U.S. interior secretary, tweeted, “The cannabis industry is an essential part of New Mexico’s economy. As your next governor, I will bring stability to the cannabis industry and improve quality testing so that this industry can thrive.” Washington State regulators are moving to amend rules on cannabis business licensing fees. Michigan regulators are refusing to release an unredacted version of a memo about the implications of a new wholesale marijuana tax. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics director is celebrating federal marijuana rescheduling. The Vermont Cannabis Control Board’s general counsel said federal marijuana rescheduling could “turbocharge” the state’s medical marijuana industry. The Maryland Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances is accepting applications for special advisors. Oregon regulators sent a newsletter about the psilocybin services program. — 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 Canadian officials released data about medical cannabis registrations. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “patients with chronic health conditions prescribed [medicinal cannabis] had significant and clinically meaningful improvements in [health-related quality of life] and reduced their dependence on conventional medicines.” A study found that “CBD inhibits infection of all HIV-1 cellular targets, and commercial CBD products might be repositioned as novel HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis, namely ‘CBD PrEP’.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS A poll of Pennsylvania adults found that they support legalizing marijuana, 47 percent to 25 percent. The Wall Street Journal editorial board said “too many Americans still think pot is harmless, and the Trump Administration is contributing to that delusion.” / BUSINESS TerrAscend Corp. announced preliminary expected quarterly net revenue of $65.5 million, Canadian retailers sold C$440.5 million worth of legal cannabis products in February. 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 Mike Latimer. The post Cannabis businesses can apply for federal protections with DEA this week (Newsletter: April 28, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Chiara's dedication to cannabis law and now her focus on psychedelic justice is truly inspiring! It's great to see experienced legal professionals like her advocating for these communities. Her work with The Psychedelic Justice League sounds incredibly important. It reminds me of the precision and control needed in something like Drift Hunters, where every small adjustment makes a huge difference in the final outcome. Kudos to Chiara for her commitment!

Indiana state officials are holding a series of meetings with medical marijuana advocates at the direction of the Republican governor. One day after the Trump administration announced that federal cannabis rescheduling is moving forward, officials from the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Health and other state agencies sat down with Hoosier Veterans for Medical Cannabis and Indiana NORML to discuss potential next steps at the state level. The meetings, activists said, came at the request of Gov. Mike Braun (R). “The governor has reached out to us to meet with other heads within his department to get their intake on this move,” military veteran Jeff Staker, one of the advocates, told Fox 59. “Our next step, hopefully, will be in the governor’s office.” Lucy Luman, who is also a veteran and serves as chair of Indiana NORML, said that federal reform “does address the major challenges that our legislators have put forward previously.” The advocates previously met with Indiana Secretary of Business Affairs Mike Speedy, they told WHTR-TV. “It tells you that the governor’s really taken a close look at this, and I’m hoping that our organization and others can get in the governor’s office and have that discussion with him and brainstorm further,” Staker said. “You got to realize that a lot of our state legislators have been waiting for exactly this to happen.” “The feds have made their move, and now it’s time for Indiana to make ours,” he said. “And of course, we want to do it right.” State Rep. Jim Lucas (R) said that federal marijuana rescheduling “takes away the arguments that the opposition had in our state.” State Sen. Rodney Pol (D) agreed, saying the Trump administration’s action “has helped move the ball.” Last month, the governor said the “crescendo will rise” in the call to legalize marijuana, with regional dynamics and even law enforcement buy-in favoring reform down the line. But for now, he said GOP legislative leadership is “not interested in doing anything soon,” even if “over half of Hoosiers probably smoke it illegally.” Braun said at the time that he thinks lawmakers should take “an additional look at” medical cannabis and that, while he’s personally “agnostic” on legalization, the reality is that Indiana is “surrounded now by four states” that allow either medical or adult-use cannabis. “Over half of Hoosiers probably smoke it illegally,” he said, noting that neighboring Kentucky permits patients to access medical cannabis, while Illinois, Michigan and Ohio have recreational marijuana laws on the books. “I’m going to listen to law enforcement. Even they have changed their opinion in terms of legalizing it and regulating it,” Braun said, adding that he’d compare cannabis to gambling. The state was late in the game to adopt laws allowing adults to gamble, he said, but now it ranks in the top three states nationwide in terms of revenue per capita from the vice. “Some people aren’t going to want it, just out of principle. A lot of our state police and sheriffs are tolerating people going across the border [to buy cannabis]. It’ll be an increasing issue that, so far, our state legislature has kind of dug in against it,” he said. “I’ve been more agnostic about it. I can see points of view, and I’ve seen law enforcement move on it somewhat.” “So that would give you the best description of where the dynamic is in our state,” the governor told WOWO. “I think the leader of the Senate especially, and the Speaker of the House, are pretty—and they control the legislative agenda—not interested in doing anything soon. But I think the crescendo will rise, and that describes in a snapshot where we’re at.” Braun similarly talked about the issue in another recent interview, saying the state is “probably going to have to address” the issue and likening cannabis reform to sports betting. Lawmakers in the state had already signaled that marijuana legalization isn’t in the cards in the 2026 session, meaning another year where Indiana will be an outlier as one of the few remaining states without effective medical or adult-use cannabis laws. The governor separately said in January that he’s “amenable” to the idea of legalizing medical cannabis in the state. Instead, Indiana legislators this session have been focused on efforts to ban hemp THC products—though it seems that fight is over for 2026 after a last-minute push failed late last month. Braun has previously said that federal marijuana rescheduling could add “a little bit of fire” to the local push for cannabis legalization in his state. Among Indiana residents, a survey released in January found that nearly three in five back legalizing cannabis for medical and recreational use. Specifically, the annual Hoosier Survey from the Bowen Center at Ball State University (BSU) found that 59 percent of residents are in favor of legalizing cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes. An additional 25 percent back only allowing patients to access medical marijuana, raising the total support for that reform to 84 percent. — 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. — Braun, for his part, previously said that “it’s probably time” to allow access to therapeutic cannabis among patients in the state. Those comments came alongside a separate poll indicating that nearly 9 in 10 Indiana adults (87 percent) support marijuana legalization. Top Republicans in the legislature, however, have openly opposed marijuana reform. “It’s no secret that I am not for this,” Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R) said in late 2024. “I don’t have people coming to me with really compelling medical cases as to why it’s so beneficial. And any state that I’ve seen pass medical marijuana is essentially passing recreational marijuana.” House Speaker Todd Huston (R) doubted any medical benefits associated with marijuana, calling the substance “a deterrent to mental health.” He and others suggested that lawmakers supportive of the reform merely want to boost state revenue. The post Indiana GOP Governor Directs State Agencies To Meet With Medical Marijuana Advocates As Federal Rescheduling Takes Effect appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Often the best remedy is not in this court. It’s to go down the hall and persuade your state legislator to…amend the statutes that you have an issue with.” By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner The Nebraska Supreme Court heard a technical appeal Monday in a second case in six months asking the high court to void Nebraska’s medical cannabis laws. Both cases have been brought by former State Sen. John Kuehn of Heartwell, a longtime opponent to marijuana, who alleges Nebraska can’t move forward with medical cannabis because of federal laws classifying marijuana as a dangerous drug. Kuehn argues state laws like Nebraska’s voter-enacted legalization of medical cannabis are “preempted” by federal law under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. Monday’s oral arguments did not address shifting federal guidelines on marijuana. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche downgraded state-licensed medical cannabis to a Schedule III drug last Thursday, down from a Schedule I drug. Nebraska’s Medical Cannabis Commission is working toward implementing such a program. ‘Courts should be open’ Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong had dismissed Kuehn’s preemption lawsuit in June. She ruled Kuehn had not proven he had the legal “standing” to sue, a legal term of art requiring someone to show injury. Strong ruled against letting Kuehn use two “narrow” exceptions to the standing rule. Kuehn’s attorneys, led by Eddie Greim of Missouri, argue Kuehn should be able to sue to try to prevent an “illegal expenditure” of public funds (taxpayer standing) or because the laws constitute a “matter of great public concern (great public concern standing).” “It is not enough to wait for the United States government to one day come to Nebraska and challenge these acts,” Greim told the justices. “Instead, Nebraska’s courts should be open to Nebraskans who want to hold their Nebraska state government to its constitutional limitations.” Unlike in other taxpayer standing cases that try to block public spending, Kuehn seeks to go further and declare the Nebraska medical cannabis laws unconstitutional. At least four justices would need to side with Kuehn for the case to return to the district court and allow him to argue his case. If the case proceeds and later returns to the Supreme Court, it would take five justices to rule a law unconstitutional. ‘Incidental’ vs. ‘direct’ spending Zachary Pohlman, the state deputy solicitor general representing five state officials; Jason Grams, an attorney representing members of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission; and Daniel Gutman, representing the three ballot sponsors for the 2024 petition campaign, have all argued Kuehn’s arguments risk “swallowing” taxpayer standing and making it the norm. Pohlman argued that taxpayer standing requires a “direct” and “explicit” expenditure of public funds. And despite “verbal gymnastics” from Greim, Pohlman said, Kuehn offered no limitations. “In their theory, any time you have a state agency doing anything in the real world, as long as the officers who are carrying that out are paid a salary from the state budget, a taxpayer can challenge that action,” Pohlman said. Pohlman and the Nebraska AG’s Office are defending Gov. Jim Pillen, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services CEO Steve Corsi, former State Treasurer Tom Briese and Tax Commissioner Jim Kamm. Staffers for the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission have administratively and budgetarily assisted the Medical Cannabis Commission since its creation in December 2024. The Legislature has given the Liquor Control Commission more funding as a result, and lawmakers this spring approved paying medical cannabis commissioners an annual salary of $12,500. State regulations are in progress and are now sitting in the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office for legal review, an office held by Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who has criticized the constitutionality of the medical cannabis laws. Pohlman said taxpayers do have an “equitable interest” in how government funds are spent, but the focus must be on spending, not regulation. He said that if a taxpayer could merely request spending be withheld and then sue when it’s not, “it’s really not clear what state action would be off limits or challenged by a taxpayer.” “The groveling here is not taking issue with how the government is spending money,” Pohlman said. “It’s taking issue with how the government is regulated.” Grams also referenced Strong’s June decision, in which she mentioned the “incidental burdens” of implementing a law, such as staff. Wrote Strong last June: “Nebraska, like other states, has no shortage of citizen-taxpayers with strong political opinions. That is not necessarily a bad thing. But it would be bad if all those citizens could sue whenever a law requires a government employee to do something.” Gutman and the ballot sponsors waived oral arguments. They’ve previously pointed to states’ rights to legalize medical cannabis under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Reschduling impacts? It’s unclear how rescheduling, including the Trump administration move to downgrade all marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act, might affect Kuehn’s case. Schedule I drugs, such as heroin, LSD, ecstasy and peyote, are drugs the federal government has classified with a high likelihood of abuse and no currently accepted medical value. Schedule III drugs are defined as those with moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, such as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine and testosterone. Pillen said last week that federal rescheduling wouldn’t alter the state regulatory process. “My goal is to honor Nebraska’s vote, while putting safeguards into place to prevent unregulated or unintended marijuana production,” Pillen said in a Thursday statement. “We will continue to engage with our federal partners as the process evolves.” Nebraska is the only state with a medical marijuana program not to be congressionally protected from federal interference. Kansas and Idaho are the two other states not protected. Neither has a state medical marijuana law on the books. Another legal challenge? Strong in November 2024 separately ruled against Kuehn and the Nebraska AG’s Office as she upheld the legal validity of the overwhelmingly successful 2024 petition campaign that asked voters to legalize and regulate medical cannabis. Kuehn and the AG’s Office appealed. Justices considered that appeal in December but have yet to decide the case. On Monday, Pohlman argued at least five parties are better suited to sue than Kuehn: The federal government, to enforce the Controlled Substances Act. The state attorney general, “if he concludes that the statutes are unconstitutional” and could thereby test the legal validity. A property owner whose property values are affected by state regulations. A prospective medical cannabis user who wants to test and ensure possession is legal. A criminal defendant charged by state prosecutors with marijuana possession and who asserts the voter-approved legalization as a defense. Pohlman said at that point, the Nebraska AG’s Office could advance a similar preemption argument as Kuehn. “Those are just five. I assume there are many more, as there are with many statutes that regulate,” Pohlman said. The AG’s Office had threatened to sue the commission, including if it issued its first licenses shortly after October 1, which commissioners did. No such challenges have materialized. Pohlman continued: “Even more fundamental than that, this court has said in its taxpayer standing cases that often the best remedy is not in this court. It’s to go down the hall and persuade your state legislator to…amend the statutes that you have an issue with.” ‘Cat-and-mouse game’ Greim disagreed and told justices there must be an increase in spending to qualify and that taxpayers shouldn’t need to wait until “rumor leaks” about government spending. He said if justices deviate, it’s hard to see how taxpayer standing would exist in a “vast majority of cases.” “It’s not enough that someone breathes a breath while in a state office building and utters a word or signs a paper,” Greim said. Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke countered that there would still be a cost for employees or paper and questioned the difference between a “direct” and “indirect” expenditure. In response, Greim said the existence of taxpayer standing can’t depend on the particular way that money is being spent on an allegedly unlawful act. “Then this becomes a cat-and-mouse game,” Greim said. “Then it encourages appropriations just to go to general matters.” The Nebraska Supreme Court typically releases opinions every Friday and lists “anticipated” opinions by noon the day before release. This story was first published by Nebraska Examiner. Photo elements courtesy of rawpixel and Philip Steffan. The post Nebraska Supreme Court Holds Hearing In Suit Seeking To Overturn Medical Marijuana Law Passed By Voters appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced that it will begin accepting applications this week for medical marijuana businesses to apply for federal protections being granted under the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. The agency’s “Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Portal” is set to go live on Wednesday at 9 AM ET. The move follows last week’s announcement by the Department of Justice that marijuana is being moved from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), in phases. Under an order signed by Acting Attorney General Blanche on Thursday, marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license will immediately move to Schedule III, as will any marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). State-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries that want to take advantage of new legal protections and tax benefits that come with Schedule III status will first have to fill out an application with DEA that asks for information about their processes for storage, ordering, dispensing, inventory, maintenance of records and other aspects of their businesses. The application specifically asks about security measures such as vaults, safes, secure storage rooms, access controls, alarm systems and on-site security personnel. Applicants can choose whether they are requesting to handle marijuana, marijuana extracts or naturally derived delta-9 THC. While only medical marijuana is currently being moved to Schedule III, the application also asks potential registrants whether their firms handle or dispense recreational marijuana. Under last week’s DOJ order there will be an expedited administrative hearing process to consider the broader rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, beginning on June 29. The DEA application, meanwhile, also asks businesses to submit information about their state cannabis licenses and to answer questions about criminal and disciplinary histories. They must additionally list suppliers from which they intend to procure marijuana, and to disclose whether they anticipate repackaging or relabeling cannabis products. Applicants also need to provide lists of individuals with the business that are anticipated to have “access to controlled substances,” including their dates of birth, social security numbers, criminal histories related to drugs. There is also an annual $794 application fee, currently only payable via PayPal, though DEA says “we anticipate having additional forms of payment in the coming weeks.” Application fees are not refundable. Blanche’s rescheduling order last week said that to align with an international drug control treaty “requirement that a government agency serve as the exclusive purchaser of cannabis production,” DOJ is rolling out a process by which the federal government will technically purchase marijuana from producers and then sell it back to them or related entities. “Registered manufacturers must store crops in a facility to which DEA maintains access until that transaction is complete, and each manufacturer registration must specify the areas in which cultivation is permitted,” it said. “All manufacturers registered under this subsection shall establish a nominal price for the purchase of their marijuana crops. The Administration shall then purchase the entity’s crops at that price and sell the crops back to the entity, or a related or subsidiary entity, at the same price with the addition of the administrative fee as calculated under Part 1318.06(a).” Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said they plan to issue new tax guidance for the marijuana industry following the rescheduling announcement. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the administration is moving forward with marijuana rescheduling because cannabis reform is “overwhelmingly popular” with voters and because doing so will help people who need access to the drug for medical purposes. During a press event in the Oval Office last week, President Donald Trump spoke about the medical benefits of marijuana. “A lot of people are suffering from big problems, which this seems to be the best answer,” he said. “They’re very happy about it. So the rescheduling is starting, and that’s a big thing, rescheduling.” The president noted that his administration’s actions on cannabis rescheduling came after his friend Howard Kessler told him about how he used medical marijuana. “He had some medical difficulties, and he came upon this by accident, in a way,” he said. “He had to go through a lot of different medications, and he said this was the one that was much better than anything else. And so he experienced that. He didn’t benefit by it, other than from the standpoint that he lives a much better life now.” “So hopefully you don’t need it,” Trump said. “But if you do need it, I hear it’s the best of all the alternatives.” Separately, the president called on Congress to take action to amend a law that threatens to federally recriminalize hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD products later this year. “We must get this done RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who saw that CBD helps them,” he said in a social media post. “Plus, I am told it will also help our GREAT FARMERS, who we love, and will always be there for.” Days earlier, Trump had complained that federal officials were “slow-walking” following through on his cannabis order. The post DEA Will Start Accepting Applications From Medical Marijuana Businesses That Want Federal Rescheduling Protections This Week appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Tennessee’s governor has signed a bill to block an automatic review that could have potentially legalized medical marijuana under state law following the federal rescheduling of the drug. Under Tennessee law, federal reclassification of a substance generally triggers an automatic review by the state’s commissioner of health and commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services. But under SB1603, which Gov. Bill Lee (R) approved on Thursday, that will not be the case when it comes to cannabis. “If marijuana is rescheduled or deleted as a controlled substance under federal law, then the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services shall not reschedule or delete marijuana under [state drug laws] unless the general assembly has established a regulatory framework for marijuana and authorized the commissioner to reschedule or delete marijuana as a controlled substance,” the bill says. The governor’s action came on the same that the the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it is formally moving forward with marijuana rescheduling. Last month, House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R) said the push to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) could remove roadblocks at the state level. “My biggest objections are being resolved by the federal government right now in rescheduling cannabis and rescheduling specifically marijuana and allowing the doctors to take over and make a determination on how and if these substances could be helpful,” Lamberth said at the time. But now, with Lee’s action, there will be no automatic state scheduling review for cannabis following the federal policy change. Lawmakers, however, could always pass legislation to enact legalization—if they choose to do so. To that end, Rep. Jason Powell (D) last week called on the governor and legislative leaders to convene a special session focused on legalizing medical marijuana access for patients. “The suffering of Tennesseans who could benefit from medical cannabis is more than enough reason to bring lawmakers back to Nashville,” he said. “If the governor chooses not to act, then members of the General Assembly should come together and call a special session ourselves. This issue deserves action this year.” — 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. — Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in Tennessee discussed how the federal move to reclassify marijuana could open the door to medical marijuana reform after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in December directing officials to finalize the process. House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) said at the time that rescheduling represents a “first step” to medical cannabis reform in Tennessee, though he noted there are still certain outstanding logistical questions to answer. “There will have to be conversations about who manufactures it, who tests it, who distributes, which medical illness could it be used for, does this require [federal Food and Drug Administration, or FDA] approval and a host of other questions,” Sexton said. The post Tennessee Governor Signs Bill Blocking State Medical Marijuana Legalization Review Following Federal Rescheduling appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“These products are now federally recognized as legitimate medicine… Patients and their caregivers are no longer considered criminals under federal law. They have federal rights.” By Steph Sherer, Americans for Safe Access The Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration’s rescheduling of cannabis is more than just validation for the millions of Americans who rely on cannabis medicines. It is a legal platform for the restoration of their federal rights and privileges. In light of the changes announced last week, federal policies limiting access to medical cannabis and federal services are not just discriminatory; many are now in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Medical cannabis advocates are elated to see federal recognition of their medicine, protected patient access and movement toward healthcare integration—concepts that we have fought for decades to realize. The DOJ order moves the country closer to those goals by recognizing “marijuana products regulated by qualifying state medical cannabis licenses” as falling within Schedule III, rather than Schedule I. These products are now federally recognized as legitimate medicine. For years, courts and federal agencies have upheld discrimination against medical cannabis patients by pointing to the Schedule I status of cannabis and specifically the federal government’s claim that cannabis has “no currently accepted medical use.” That premise is no longer true for qualifying medical cannabis products and state-regulated medical cannabis systems recognized under the order. Federal agencies, businesses, landlords and federally funded programs can no longer rely on outdated interpretations of 42 U.S.C. § 12210 of the ADA or the FHA, 42 U.S.C. §§ 13661-63, to categorically deny services, housing or accommodations, or protections to medical cannabis patients solely because their medicine is cannabis. Over the coming weeks and months, there will be a great deal to unpack. Federal agencies will need to implement licensing procedures, tax rules, reporting pathways and regulatory controls. During this time, protecting patients from discrimination must be treated with the same urgency as figuring out registration and tax schemes for cannabis businesses. The Treasury Department has already recognized the need for implementation guidance for cannabis businesses, announcing forthcoming guidance on the federal tax consequences of DOJ’s final order, including Section 280E. Patients deserve the same expedience in restoring their federal rights and protections. Stigma and discrimination have remained prevalent for patients even in states that have passed medical cannabis laws. Patients have lost housing, jobs, healthcare access and child custody at great cost to their health and dignity. The culprits have long relied on the federal scheduling of cannabis to justify their actions. As of last week, that is no longer legally permissible; it’s discrimination. The Trump administration can lead by example by directing federal agencies to immediately review and update policies that are now inconsistent with ADA and FHA, and by avoiding putting patients in a familiar and expensive position of having to ask the courts to vindicate their rights. When it comes to the Department of Justice, the federal recognition of medical cannabis requires agencies to stop treating the patients as if they were criminals, void of federal rights. That includes patients in hospitals, hospices, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, veterans’ healthcare, public housing, federal workplaces and military systems. As the agency responsible for enforcing ADA and FHA, DOJ should issue nationwide directives, putting federal agencies and the private sector on notice that denying accommodations, services, housing and participation to medical cannabis patients is now a federal crime. Here are some examples of discriminatory federal polices: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) maintains policies, such as the Quality Housing and Work and Responsibility Act of 1998, that prohibit tenants of federally subsidized housing from possessing or using cannabis, even if they comply with state and local laws. The 2014 HUD memo “Use of Marijuana in Multifamily Assisted Properties” gave landlords “the discretion to evict or not evict current tenants for their use of marijuana.” When it comes to medical cannabis, that “discretion” is now legally prohibited discrimination. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) continues to enforce Executive Order 12564, “Drug-Free Federal Workplace,” a 1986 policy requiring federal employees to refrain from illegal drug use on or off duty. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SMHSA) federal workplace drug-testing framework still includes cannabis in federal employee testing panels without exceptions for patients who are complying with state medical cannabis laws and are not impaired at work. Denying medical cannabis patients’ employment is now illegal. The Department of Defense maintains Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 912a, a policy that prohibits active-duty service members from using or possessing cannabis and cannabis-derived products, including CBD. Branch-specific rules, including Army Regulation 600-85, Air Force Manual 44-197, Navy and Marine Corps ALNAV 057/19, and Coast Guard ALCOAST 308/20, reinforce that prohibition even when products are lawful for civilians or recommended under state medical cannabis laws. When it comes to medical cannabis, a zero-exception policy that treats therapeutic use as misconduct is now discrimination. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Directive 1315, “Access to VHA Clinical Programs for Veterans Participating in State-Approved Marijuana Programs,” prohibits VA healthcare providers from recommending medical cannabis, completing state medical cannabis forms, making referrals, or helping veterans register for state medical cannabis programs. For many veterans, the burden of paying out-of-pocket costs to see a non-VA clinician under this policy is a de facto ban on cannabis medicines. Additionally, while VA clinicians are permitted to discuss medical cannabis use with their patients, VA’s electronic medical records system only allows VA clinicians to document their patients’ medical cannabis use as abuse. This impacts a veteran’s access to other healthcare options in the VA system. These policy and system deficiencies can now be classified as healthcare discrimination. The Department of Health and Human Services’s (HHS) policies require compliance with federal laws as a condition of funding and licensing for hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other healthcare providers. Many facilities cite this as the reason for refusing access to cannabis medicines, declining to complete state paperwork or forcing patients to stop using their medicine when entering care. Refusing to provide patient care will now be considered discrimination. The recognition of cannabis as a legitimate medicine means that patients and their caregivers are no longer considered criminals under federal law. They have federal rights. Those rights now protect patients in housing, employment, healthcare and in their military careers. But like all rights, these protections mean little unless people exercise them. We should also expect that the protections and privileges tied to these rights will not be enforced equally or automatically. Continued patient engagement and advocacy will remain essential until these rights are expressly restored and every patient, regardless of ZIP code or income, has safe and legal access to cannabis medicines Patients, caregivers, healthcare providers and advocates must stay engaged and be ready to mobilize! A New Era In Advocacy DOJ’s order is a historic victory for medical cannabis patients that should be celebrated. This is a major turning point in federal policy, but it is certainly not the end of the fight. Over the coming days and months, we can expect congressional and legal challenges, as well as a series of regulatory interpretations at the state and federal levels. The medical cannabis movement’s first act was the fight for recognition, making the federal government admit that cannabis has medical value. The second act must ensure that recognition serves patients by securing access, rights, protections and integration of cannabis medicines into U.S. healthcare systems. Patient advocates must be ready to help the administration and Congress do that work. We know where federal policies break down, and we know what happens when agencies write rules without the people most affected. The federal government acknowledging cannabis is medicine is a call to action to medical cannabis stakeholders and allies. We need Congress, the administration and policymakers across the U.S. to understand that patients need more than recognition. From May 13-14, 2026, Americans for Safe Access, Veterans Initiative-22, Unite for National Medical Cannabis and the Pain Foundation will be in Washington, D.C., to bring this message to policymakers on Capitol Hill. Join us in demanding that rescheduling cannabis creates the rights, protections, and access needed to improve health outcomes for all Americans. Steph Sherer is the founder and executive director of Americans for Safe Access. The post Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Will End Discrimination In Housing, Healthcare And Employment For Medical Cannabis Patients (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Trump administration is moving to federally reschedule marijuana because cannabis reform is “overwhelmingly popular” with voters and because doing so will help people who need access to the drug for medical purposes, the White House press secretary says. “The president hears from a number of people, both inside and outside the administration, and frankly, the American people,” Karoline Leavitt, President Donald Trump’s press secretary said on Friday. “If you do look at the public polling on this issue, it is overwhelmingly popular with the vast majority of Americans.” She added in response to a question about the issue from a Real America’s Voice reporter that “rescheduling will lead to more research into cannabis as a drug, especially for those who need it for medical treatment.” “And so the president was willing to take this step to do that at the behest of the American public, who largely support it, and many of his health advisors on his team who he spoke with about it,” Leavitt said, referencing comments that Trump made a day earlier after the Department of Justice announced that cannabis rescheduling was happening. TRUMP BACKS CANNABIS RECLASSIFICATION FOR MEDICAL & RESEARCH@PressSec @karolineleavitt: "The President was willing to take this step, to do that at the behest of the American public, who largely support it, and many of his health advisors on his team.” RAV’s @BeniRaeHarmony… pic.twitter.com/8Su3Nej7By — Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) April 24, 2026 During a press event in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump spoke about the medical benefits of marijuana. “A lot of people are suffering from big problems, which this seems to be the best answer,” he said. “They’re very happy about it. So the rescheduling is starting, and that’s a big thing, rescheduling.” The president noted that his administration’s actions on cannabis rescheduling came after his friend Howard Kessler told him about how he used medical marijuana. “He had some medical difficulties, and he came upon this by accident, in a way,” he said. “He had to go through a lot of different medications, and he said this was the one that was much better than anything else. And so he experienced that. He didn’t benefit by it, other than from the standpoint that he lives a much better life now.” “So hopefully you don’t need it,” Trump said. “But if you do need it, I hear it’s the best of all the alternatives.” Separately on Thursday, the president called on Congress to take action to amend a law that threatens to federally recriminalize hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD products later this year. “We must get this done RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who saw that CBD helps them,” he said in a social media post. “Plus, I am told it will also help our GREAT FARMERS, who we love, and will always be there for.” Days earlier, Trump had complained that federal officials were “slow-walking” following through on his cannabis order. “You’re going to get the rescheduling done, right, please? Will you get the rescheduling done, please?” Trump said during a signing ceremony for a separate order on psychedelics, seeming to speak to a Department of Justice or White House official during an event in the Oval Office. “You know, they’re slow-walking me on rescheduling. You’re going to get it done, right?” Trump in December signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice to expeditiously finish the process of moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday announced that rescheduling is finally happening through a process that will happen in phases. Under an order signed by Blanche, marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license will immediately move to Schedule III, as will any marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Then, beginning on June 29, there will be a new expedited administrative hearing process to consider the broader rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. The Federal Register filing on the hearing says it “will conclude not later than July 15.” DOJ is ending a prior administrative hearing process on the rescheduling proposal that stalled near the end of the Biden administration amid litigation from pro-reform parties that alleged improper agency communications and witness selection decisions. Rescheduling won’t federally legalize cannabis, but it will remove certain Schedule I research barriers, while benefitting state-licensed marijuana businesses by allowing them to take federal tax deductions they’re currently barred from under an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E. To that end, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said they plan to issue new tax guidance for the marijuana industry following the rescheduling announcement. Meanwhile, “any form of marijuana other than in an FDA-approved drug product or marijuana subject to a state medical marijuana license remains a schedule I controlled substance, and those who handle such material remain subject to the regulatory controls, and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions, applicable to schedule I controlled substances set forth in the CSA and DEA regulations,” Blanche wrote. For now, DOJ is establishing “an expedited review process for entities holding state medical marijuana licenses who seek registration as a marijuana manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser” in order to become federally compliant under Schedule III. In order to align with an international drug control treaty “requirement that a government agency serve as the exclusive purchaser of cannabis production,” DOJ is rolling out a process by which the federal government will technically purchase marijuana from producers and then sell it back to them or related entities. “Registered manufacturers must store crops in a facility to which DEA maintains access until that transaction is complete, and each manufacturer registration must specify the areas in which cultivation is permitted,” Blanche’s filing says. The order also allows researchers to legally obtain marijuana products from state-licensed businesses to be used in studies, for the first time. There has been some uncertainty about how DOJ would navigate the issue. While the department faced a mandate from the president, top officials have been notably silent on the issue in the months since receiving that directive—even as the White House touted Trump’s order as an example of a policy achievement during the first year of his second term. When Trump issued the rescheduling order late last year, Pam Bondi was attorney general. She opposed cannabis reform as Florida’s attorney general and she didn’t attend the president’s signing ceremony for the rescheduling executive order. Now, the process is being overseen by Blanche, who said in response to a written question about marijuana rescheduling during his confirmation process to become deputy attorney general that he would “give the matter careful consideration after conferring with all relevant stakeholders, including DEA personnel.” The president’s rescheduling directive was overwhelmingly popular among cannabis consumers, according to a recent poll from the cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD. About 83 percent of respondents said they support the executive order, compared to 7 percent who expressed opposition and 10 percent who said they didn’t have an opinion about the proposed reform. The cannabis rescheduling process was initiated by then-President Joe Biden, under whom the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a 252-page report finding that marijuana does not meet the criteria to remain classified as a Schedule I drug. The Department of Justice later issued a proposed rule to move cannabis to Schedule III, which then led to a stalled administrative hearing process. A Democratic senator told Marijuana Moment in January that it’s “too early to tell” what the implications of Trump’s cannabis order would be—saying that while there are “things that look promising” about it, he is “very concerned about where the DOJ will land.” “The ability of the Trump administration to speak out of both sides of their mouth is staggering,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said. “So I’m just going to wait and see right now. Obviously, there’s things that look promising—to end generations of injustice. I really want to wait and see.” — 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 in January, two GOP senators filed an amendment to block the Trump administration from rescheduling cannabis, but it was not considered on the floor. A recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report discussed how DOJ could, in theory, reject the president’s directive or delay the process by restarting the scientific review into marijuana. The Department of Justice separately missed a congressionally mandated deadline in January to issue guidelines for easing barriers to research on Schedule I substances such as marijuana and psychedelics. The post Trump’s Marijuana Move Is ‘Overwhelmingly Popular’ With Voters And Helps Patients, White House Press Secretary Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Federal marijuana industry tax guidance; White House weighs in on hemp legislation; FDA psychedelics moves; Congress wants state cannabis law study 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… BREAKING: Journalism is often consumed for free, but costs money to produce! While this newsletter is proudly sent without cost to you, our ability to send it each day depends on the financial support of readers who can afford to give it. So if you’ve got a few dollars to spare each month and believe in the work we do, please consider joining us on Patreon today. https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to amend a law that threatens to federally recriminalize hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD products this year while also continuing to restrict “sale of products that pose Health risks.” “We must get this done RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who saw that CBD helps them,” he said. “Plus, I am told it will also help our GREAT FARMERS, who we love, and will always be there for.” The White House sent feedback about pending hemp legislation to Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), and Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) filed a new amendment to accelerate enforcement of the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that’s currently set to take effect in November. The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service said they expect cannabis rescheduling “to have significant positive tax consequences for businesses in the medical marijuana industry” and will soon issue guidance on how 280E relief applies. “Guidance is also expected to include a transition rule providing that, for purposes of section 280E, rescheduling generally will be considered to first apply for a business’s full taxable year that includes the effective date of the Final Order, for the business’s activities that do not involve Schedule I or II controlled substances as a result of the Final Order.” The Food and Drug Administration announced a series of new steps for “accelerating” access to psychedelics for people with mental health conditions following a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The House Appropriations Committee approved a spending bill report calling on federal agencies to study the “adequacy” of state marijuana laws and assess ways for “preventing diversion of state legal cannabis product into jurisdictions that do not permit the use of cannabis.” Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed a bill to ban intoxicating hemp THC products in the state, even if planned federal restrictions are delayed or reversed—along with provisions protecting marijuana consumers’ privacy and recognizing cannabis industry workers’ right to unionize. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) office said the Trump administration’s federal marijuana rescheduling move is an “important step” that “adds support” to his push to legalize cannabis in the state. Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidates are campaigning on their support for legalizing marijuana. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (R) certified a law updating a ban on intoxicating hemp-derived products following the conclusion of litigation challenging an earlier policy. / FEDERAL The Drug Enforcement Administration is promoting a post claiming that marijuana has become “four times more dangerous in three decades.” Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary discussed his agency’s psychedelics reform actions. A federal judge nominee who currently serves as director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation cited his overseeing raids against businesses that were allegedly illegally selling cannabis products as an “act of courage” during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted, “I just introduced bipartisan legislation to regulate hemp products and protect consumers. Washington has let this industry operate in a gray zone for too long. Americans deserve clarity about what they’re buying. This is commonsense policy that crosses party lines.” Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-KY) tweeted, “Thank you @POTUS for your leadership on promoting access to Hemp-derived CBD. I agree Congress must deliver on important reforms, and after years of working on this issue, my HEMP Act is one potential solution to address this important policy.” Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) tweeted, “Psychedelic treatments changed my life. Thankful to have a president who gets it.” The House bill to federally legalize marijuana got three new cosponsors for a total of 64. / STATES California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) suggested that President Donald Trump should use psychedelica to treat mental illness. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) tweeted, “Three ribbon cuttings in one week as we continue to open more medical cannabis facilities for Kentuckians in need. Just a year in, we’re delivering results that help our people and boost our economy. It’s a win-win.” New Hampshire lawmakers said they don’t expect federal marijuana rescheduling to change Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s (R) opposition to cannabis legalization. The Idaho secretary of state’s office is reviewing contribution records for a campaign seeking to place a medical cannabis legalization initiative on the November ballot. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission elected a new chair and vice chair, and took disciplinary action against marijuana businesses over alleged violations. Oklahoma’s top medical cannabis regulator said there are “still unanswered questions about how the federal reclassification will directly affect Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry and patients.” Maryland’s top cannabis regulator said the full implications of federal marijuana rescheduling for the state are not yet clear. Minnesota’s top cannabis regulator expressed support for federal legislation to let states opt out of a scheduled ban on hemp THC products. Michigan regulators launched a new webpage promoting cannabis curriculum offered by colleges and universities 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. — / LOCAL A Wake County, North Carolina candidate pledged to deemphasize marijuana prosecutions if elected. / INTERNATIONAL Singaporean officials executed a man for importing cannabis. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “public sentiment on Regulations.gov supports the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s proposal for cannabis rescheduling, though the majority views the proposed Schedule III classification as inadequate and supports further rescheduling or complete de-scheduling of cannabis.” A study of mice suggested that “CBD has a beneficial effect on the inflamed urinary bladder and could potentially serve as an adjunct treatment for patients with [interstitial cystitis] in the future.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS A poll of Utah voters found that they support legalizing marijuana, 52 percent to 43 percent. The Family Research Council said President Donald Trump’s psychedelics executive order “poses grave dangers to the public’s mental and spiritual health.” / BUSINESS Jushi Holdings Inc. is seeking shareholder approval for continuance of the company out from British Columbia, Canada and its concurrent domestication in Nevada. 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 Trump pushes Congress for hemp & CBD reforms (Newsletter: April 27, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“These drugs honestly have been always illegal, but we brought clarity to the law and we brought reinforcement to the law.” By Antoinette Grajeda, Arkansas Advocate Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (R) on Wednesday formally cleared the way for the state to enforce a law regulating hemp-derived products following the conclusion of litigation challenging an earlier state measure banning the sale of these products. Act 934 of 2025 updated a 2023 law that prohibited the sale and distribution of certain hemp-derived products, such as Delta-8 and THC-O, according to a press release from Griffin’s office. The 2023 law was challenged and blocked by a federal judge who said it likely was preempted by the 2018 Farm Bill, which prohibits laws that interfere with the right to transport hemp in interstate commerce. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction last summer, allowing Arkansas to implement its ban on these products. Within three months, the state’s Department of Finance and Administration seized more than 6,000 products, according to the release. The 2025 law was to take effect once Griffin certified that a final judgment had been issued in the litigation. The Republican attorney general signed that certification Wednesday at a news conference in his office. “It has been a long road to get to this point, but I am proud of my team for successfully defending the 2023 law, and I am happy to finally certify this Act,” Griffin said in a statement. The hemp-derived products were often packaged as gummies and drinks that were marketed to children and sold online and in convenience stores without an age requirement to purchase, Griffin said. Sen. Tyler Dees, a Siloam Springs Republican who sponsored both laws, said Wednesday that this issue is important to him as a father of three young children. Dees said he heard from lobbyists and concerned parents when the legislation was debated, and sided with “protection of children over the profit of peddlers of these illegal drugs.” “These drugs honestly have been always illegal, but we brought clarity to the law and we brought reinforcement to the law,” he said. “And that’s why I’m so excited today that Arkansas is now safer for all of our communities because of the action we’ve been able to take.” Arkansas is among a number of states trying to regulate hemp products, including Alabama, Indiana and Missouri. Arkansas voters legalized medical marijuana in 2016, and a ballot measure that would have also allowed recreational marijuana was rejected in 2022. This story was first published by Arkansas Advocate. The post Arkansas Attorney General Certifies Law Restricting Hemp-Derived THC Products appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Wisconsin is falling behind. Legalizing marijuana is about fairness, growth, and common sense.” By Benjamin Yount, The Center Square There was lots of pot talk on social media in Wisconsin on Monday. A number of Democrats, including two of the leading candidates for governor, took to X to push for legal marijuana on 4/20. “It’s about time Wisconsin legalizes marijuana. Illinois got $36 million dollars in tax revenue from Wisconsinites in one year – we are giving our neighbors millions every year by not legalizing,” former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said in a post. “Happy 4/20, please enjoy responsibly!” It’s about time Wisconsin legalizes marijuana. Illinois got $36 million dollars in tax revenue from Wisconsinites in one year – we are giving our neighbors millions every year by not legalizing. Happy 4/20, please enjoy responsibly! — Mandela Barnes (@TheOtherMandela) April 20, 2026 4/20, celebrated on April 20th, is the unofficial holiday for marijuana. Barnes was not the only one who took to X to push for full legalization in Wisconsin. “Wisconsin is one of the last states without a real cannabis program, and we’re handing our neighbors millions every year because of it,” Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, said in a post. “My Weed for Speed policy sets us up for smart legalization and puts the revenue into rural broadband. We’ll build it right and repair the damage from decades of criminalization.” My Weed for Speed policy sets us up for smart legalization and puts the revenue into rural broadband. We'll build it right and repair the damage from decades of criminalization. Send us $4.20 if you think this is a good idea https://t.co/1HJezADAkA — Francesca Hong For Governor (@FrancescaHongWI) April 20, 2026 Hong and Barnes are the frontrunners in Wisconsin’s Democratic race for governor. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is also running for governor, also took to X to show his support for legal marijuana. “Wisconsin is falling behind. Legalizing marijuana is about fairness, growth, and common sense. Outdated laws hurt communities and waste resources,” Crowley said. “As governor, I will legalize it and invest the revenue in schools, infrastructure, and small businesses.” WI is falling behind. Legalizing marijuana is about fairness, growth, and common sense. Outdated laws hurt communities and waste resources. As governor, I will legalize it and invest the revenue in schools, infrastructure, and small businesses. — David Crowley (@DavidCCrowley) April 20, 2026 Almost every Republican in Wisconsin was silent about Monday’s push for legalized pot, but Republicans at the Capitol have fought full legalization for years. The only Republican who spoke up on X on Monday was the head of the St. Croix Valley Young Republicans, who pushed back on the statement from Madison’s Democratic Socialist candidate for the Assembly who said Wisconsin needs to join most of its neighbors and legalize marijuana. “”No, Wisconsinites shouldn’t have to drive to Illinois or Michigan to buy weed,” DSA candidate Juliana Bennet said on X. “Actually, they should,” said Brady Penfield. Actually they should. — Brady Penfield (@brady_penfield) April 20, 2026 This story was first published by The Center Square. Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Wisconsin Democratic Candidates For Governor Call For Marijuana Legalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“Practically every one of our neighbors has legalized marijuana and is benefiting from hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and revenue.” By John Cole, The Center Square Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) thinks the Trump administration took an “important step” on Thursday after it redefined how the federal government classifies medical marijuana. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche issued an order immediately placing both FDA-approved marijuana products and marijuana regulated by state medical licenses in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. “Governor Shapiro has made clear that we need to catch up—practically every one of our neighbors has legalized marijuana and is benefiting from hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and revenue—and this important step by the federal government only adds support to the Governor’s proposal,” Shapiro spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky told The Center Square. “The Shapiro Administration stands ready to work with the General Assembly to take advantage of this opportunity to legalize marijuana and make our Commonwealth more competitive and more just.” Since 1970, marijuana, alongside heroin, LSD and ecstasy, has been classified as a Schedule I drug. That designation defined those as drugs with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule III drugs are defined as having moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Some examples of Schedule III drugs are products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone. The decision by the Trump administration on Thursday moves medical marijuana from one of the most restricted drug classifications to a less regulated category and delivers a tax break to cannabis businesses. However, it stops short of federal legalization. In April 2016, then-Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed legislation making Pennsylvania the 24th state to create a medical marijuana program. Shapiro announced his support for the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2019, while he was serving his first term as the state’s attorney general. Since being elected governor in 2022, he’s called on lawmakers to approve an adult-use program—even including the purported tax revenues in all of his budget plans. If enacted July 1, the administration believes legalization would rake in $729 million. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. has been a vocal advocate of marijuana legalization and celebrated the decision made by the Trump administration. “John has been for legal weed forever,” a Fetterman spokesperson told The Center Square. “This is a good step forward and he supports it.” NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, has given Shapiro and Fetterman “A+” grades for their stated support of marijuana legalization. However, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., has seen things differently in the past. In December, he signed a joint letter with 21 of his Republican Senate colleagues to the Trump administration opposing reclassifying the drug. “Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America’s next economic Golden Age,” the senators write in the letter to the Trump administration. “The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill.” During a telephone town hall that same month, McCormick referred to himself as a “big advocate of the use of medical marijuana” but said at that time he was “opposed to rescheduling Marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.” However, McCormick did not respond to a request for comment from The Center Square on Thursday regarding his thoughts on the latest move by the Trump administration. Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor, also did not respond to a request for comment from The Center Square. FOX43 reported in August 2025 that Garrity said she did not have a firm policy position on the issue, but cautioned lawmakers who touted its financial benefits. “The money that they had in the budget, I would say that it’s way, way overstated,” Garrity said, according to FOX43. “I don’t have a policy position on it, but I will tell you that if they pass the legislation, I’ll make sure that it’s banked appropriately.” Outside organizations in Pennsylvania and beyond have also weighed in on the latest move from the Trump administration. “Today’s order marks a historical reversal in federal cannabis policy,” said NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano. “It validates the experiences of tens of millions of Americans, as well as those of tens of thousands of physicians, who have long recognized that cannabis possesses legitimate medical utility, as well as the legitimacy of the longstanding medical cannabis access programs available in the majority of US states.” “It wasn’t long ago that federal officials were denying that cannabis possessed any legitimate medical utility, threatening to seize doctors’ medical licenses for discussing medical cannabis with their patients, and shutting down state-licensed marijuana dispensaries,” he added. “Now the government is seeking to integrate these programs into the existing federal and international framework for regulating substances with accepted medical value.” The PA Family Institute sees the matter differently. They said they were disappointed with the Trump administration’s decision. “PA Family Institute is disappointed in the Trump Administration’s decision to give the marijuana industry significant tax breaks and prop up this addiction-for-profit industry,” said Dan Bartkowiak, Chief Strategy Officer at the Pennsylvania Family Institute. “Big Marijuana should not be allowed to more easily target new consumers with harmful marijuana products.” “In Pennsylvania, the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal, a policy maintained thus far by sensible leaders in the PA Senate. Maintaining that people-first policy helps to avoid many public health and safety challenges seen in other states,” he added. “Evidence continues to link marijuana use, especially among young people, to increased emergency room visits, mental health concerns, and negative impacts on families and communities.” A majority of Pennsylvanians believe that the government should go further, according to at least one survey. A recent poll conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research showed that 72 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of Republicans, and 64 percent of independents support the legalization of recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania. However, because of the latest decision by the Trump administration, any marijuana not sold through a state medical program or approved by the FDA remains Schedule I. Forty states have adopted medical marijuana programs, while 24 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized adult recreational use. This story was first published by The Center Square. The post Pennsylvania Governor Says Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Move Is An ‘Important Step’ That Helps The Push To Legalize In The State appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Missouri needs to be a place where it’s safe to be able to have your children get access to a product that doesn’t include harmful intoxicants.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed a bill Thursday that will take all intoxicating hemp products off the shelves starting November 12—including THC seltzers currently sold in bars and grocery stores. The legislation largely aligns state law with the upcoming federal ban that Congress approved in November. “If you take the House and Senate vote together, it was 151 aye and 28 nay, so you could tell it was a bipartisan vote,” Kehoe said before signing the bill. “Both chambers really worked hard to put something that eliminated the access for our children to these drugs, off of the shelves.” Under the bill, if Congress reverses course and decides to allow the sale of these products, Missouri would only permit them in licensed marijuana dispensaries. And if Congress delays the ban for a couple years, Missouri law would still ban all products, except for intoxicating beverages. The bill also includes provisions to protect marijuana consumer privacy and cannabis workers’ right to organize, provisions added in the state Senate. Similar bills have been debated since 2023, but failed to pass. Without regulations, intoxicating hemp products with as much as 1,000 mg of THC are sold in smoke shops—outside of Missouri’s licensed marijuana dispensaries. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway (R) has been cracking down on intoxicating hemp retailers since coming into office in September, using state consumer-protection laws. “This important piece of legislation builds upon our enforcement efforts already underway,” Hanaway said in a statement Thursday. “A storefront and a sales counter do not make an illegal drug operation into a legitimate business. We will do everything in our power to protect Missouri neighborhoods.” https://t.co/R8dnzjlnEw — Governor Mike Kehoe (@GovMikeKehoe) April 23, 2026 The Missouri Hemp Trade Association said the bill “effectively dismantles an industry built by real Missourians who have operated in good faith under existing federal and state law,” in a statement. Kehoe’s office received 10,000 handwritten letters last week asking him to veto the bill. The association gathered them in just 10 days from small-business owners, farmers and customers across the state. “At the federal level, Congress is actively working on lawful framework for hemp and we believe actions like this conflict with that intent,” the association’s statement said. The hemp association is also “actively preparing to challenge [the bill] through legal action.” At the bill signing, Republican State Sen. David Gregory, who sponsored a similar version of the bill, held up a package that mimicked Oreo cookies. “See right here, it looks like an Oreo package,” Gregory said, “but it actually has THC in it—marijuana and they’re labeling it as hemp.” After holding up a THC Doritos look-alike bag, he said, “These are the kinds of things we’re putting an end to.” Sarah Willson, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said her team has seen the harmful consequences of unregulated cannabis products after Missourians have unknowingly consumed the products, as there’s no label requirements regarding THC content. “Even more alarming, children in Missouri and across the country have been hospitalized due to accidental ingestion,” Willson in a statement to The Independent. “This situation is unacceptable and deeply concerning, and we are thankful to see this piece of legislation come to fruition.” The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Dave Hinman, a Republican from O’Fallon, said the legislation gives state law enforcement and prosecutors the authority to enforce the federal hemp ban. He said the bill “brings order to an unregulated marketplace by directly mirroring federal standards.” The bill signing came the same day Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order immediately placing both FDA-approved products containing marijuana and marijuana products regulated by a state medical marijuana license in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. The move gives marijuana companies some tax relief and long-awaited recognition for the medicinal benefits their products can offer, but medical marijuana is still federally illegal. Blanche’s order expedited the administrative hearing process to consider the broader rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, with a hearing beginning June 29. Blanche was acting on President Donald Trump’s December executive order that also directed his administration to work with Congress to develop a framework that permits full-spectrum CBD products, which have a trace amount of THC. Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rolled out an initiative that could cover $500 per year worth of hemp-derived THC of 3mg per serving and CBD products for eligible users. Those products would be illegal in Missouri under the bill Kehoe signed. The hemp association said its members “appreciate the supportive stance” the president has taken toward hemp and full-spectrum CBD products. “We encourage continued leadership at the federal level to ensure that federally lawful industries are not dismantled at the state level,” it states, “due to outside pressure and corrupt political interests.” Kehoe said the bill signing was significant because Missouri lawmakers have talked about the issue for several years. “It’s been an issue that, unfortunately, has been around our children for a long time,” he said. “Missouri needs to be a place where it’s safe to be able to have your children get access to a product that doesn’t include harmful intoxicants.” This story was first published by Missouri Independent. The post Missouri Governor Signs Bill To Ban Hemp THC Products In Line With Scheduled Federal Recriminalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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