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Bipartisan congressional lawmakers introduced a bill to direct the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out studies on the therapeutic potential of marijuana for military veterans with certain conditions. An earlier Senate version of the VA medical cannabis legislation cleared a committee in that chamber and was taken up on the floor for action but was blocked from advancing by Republicans. Under the proposal as reintroduced for the current Congress on Thursday by Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI), VA would be tasked with conducting studies that explore the effects of cannabis for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. “With the opioid crisis raging across America, it is imperative to the health and safety of our veterans that we find alternative treatments for chronic pain and service-related injuries,” Correa said in a press release. “Throughout my district, I consistently meet veterans who depend on cannabis to manage their pain. Numerous veterans attest to the treatment benefits of medical cannabis. It’s time the VA did a formal study and began recognizing that cannabis can play a safe role in our veterans’ healthcare.” Bergman said that “veterans struggling with PTSD and chronic pain deserve access to treatments backed by sound science and rigorous research.” “The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act will help us better understand whether medicinal cannabis can provide safe and effective relief while ensuring Veterans’ health and safety remain the top priority,” he said. “We owe it to our veterans to explore every responsible avenue that could improve their quality of life.” A change to the version of the bill that was filed last Congress as compared to initial iterations, which has also carried over to the new measure, would give VA greater latitude in determining for itself whether it’s capable of overseeing clinical trials into marijuana for chronic pain and PTSD. That appeared to be responsive to concerns expressed by VA officials who testified against the earlier proposals. — 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. — A previous version of the legislation cleared a House committee in 2021, despite the protests of VA officials. Earlier iterations of the measure also moved through committee in 2020 and 2018 as well, but none were enacted into law. The current legislation includes a requirement for a retroactive observation study to look into the experiences of veterans who’ve used marijuana for such treatment in the past outside of the clinical trail context. Within 90 days of completion of an observational study on the effects of cannabis on PTSD and chronic pain, VA would be required to submit a report to Congress on whether it’s capable of carrying out the more robust clinical trials that were at the center of earlier forms of the legislation. “The Secretary may terminate the clinical trials…if the Secretary determines that the Department of Veterans Affairs is unable to meet clinical guideline requirements necessary to conduct such trials or the clinical trials would create excessive risk to participant,” the bill text says. VA has repeatedly come out against past versions of the reform proposal, with the department suggesting that the research mandate goes too far with too many requirements. Under the current language, the department could finish the qualitative observational study and then independently decide against carrying out the clinical trial portion involving human subjects. Other revisions in the most recent prior version that carried over to the current measure as compared to those filed in past years include removing language that required studies to involve at least seven cannabis varieties and instead leaving that open-ended. “The VFW supports the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act,” Pat Murray, director of national legislative service for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), said. “VFW members tell us that medicinal cannabis has helped them cope with chronic pain and other service-connected health conditions. They cannot receive these services at VA because of VA’s bureaucratic hurdles. “VA uses evidence-based clinical guidelines to manage other pharmacological treatments of post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, and substance use disorder because medical trials have found them effective,” Murray said. “VA must expand research on the efficacy of non-traditional medical therapies, such as medicinal cannabis and other holistic approaches.” Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), said that the group’s members “have said consistently and passionately that cannabis offers real help with the most pressing injuries we face when we come home, from chronic pain to PTSD to traumatic brain injury.” “Our national policies are lagging, research is lacking, and the stigma persists,” Hunter said, “The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act is how we start to change that. Every solution begins with research, and veterans have waited long enough for it.” The post VA Would Be Required To Study Medical Marijuana’s Benefits For Veterans With PTSD And Pain Under New Congressional Bill appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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A new Maryland law that took effect this week will protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job. Gov. Wes Moore (D) gave final approval to the measure in April after it cleared the Senate and House of Delegates, and it officially became operative on Thursday. The new policy, which was sponsored by Sen. Carl Jackson (D), amends the state’s medical marijuana law by stipulating that firefighters, emergency medical technicians, cardiac rescue technicians and paramedics employed by the state or local governments will not face employment discrimination or retaliation for testing positive for cannabis metabolites if they’re a registered patient. As of October 1, employers cannot “discipline, discharge, or otherwise discriminate against the fire and rescue public safety employee with respect to the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment” if they test positive while holding a medical cannabis registration. Further, employers cannot “limit, segregate, or classify its employees in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive the fire and rescue public safety employee of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the fire and rescue public safety employee’s status as an employee.” Nothing in the legislation prohibits employers from taking action against an employee for showing up to work while under the influence of cannabis, and any instances where a public safety worker is found to be impaired while on duty will be reported to the State Emergency Medical Services Board. The enactment of SB 439 comes after years of attempts over recent sessions to enact the reform aimed at giving emergency service professionals the option to use cannabis as an alternative treatment for health conditions that commonly afflict the first responder community. Del. Adrian Boafo (D) sponsored an identical bill, HB 797, that passed the House this session. The change is “so critically important to our firefighters” and other rescue professionals who “work long shifts in tense emergencies and high-stress situations every day,” Boafo said at a committee hearing. “Many experience chronic pain, injuries and anxiety as a direct result of serving our communities,” the lawmaker said. “Medical cannabis, when prescribed and used off duty, can help manage those conditions. But under current policies, firefighters who use medically prescribed cannabis can face retaliation or discipline from their employers, even when they’re following the law.” “That leaves many of these public servants with a difficult choice: Either continue doing their jobs in pain, or turn to stronger prescription drug drugs, often opiates, just to get through the day,” Boafo said, while emphasizing that “nothing in this bill allows for impairment on the job” and that those who come to work impaired “will still face serious consequences and will be reported” to state emergency medical services regulators. “Public safety remains a top priority here in Maryland, but our state must modernize its laws to protect employees who use medically certified cannabis responsibly and outside of the workplace,” he said. “Our firefighters and rescue professionals dedicate their lives to protecting us. They should not be punished for seeking legal, medically prescribed relief for the physical toll of that work.” The enactment of the House and Senate cannabis bills comes a year after officials in Maryland’s most populous county said they were moving to loosen marijuana policies for would-be police officers in an effort to boost recruitment amid a staffing shortage. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Also taking effect this week is a new Maryland law providing legal protections for veterinarians who recommend medical cannabis for animals. Another proposal that Moore signed this session extends a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027 to develop updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel drugs and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. Legislators also took up a bill this session to protect the gun rights of medical marijuana patients in the state, but it did not pass. Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen. The post Maryland Firefighters And Rescue Workers Can Now Use Medical Marijuana Off Duty Without Being Punished For It appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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The governor of California has signed a bill to revise packaging and labeling rules for marijuana-infused edibles and beverages. Under AB 2532, which Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) approved on Wednesday, labels and inserts for cannabis edibles and drinks would need to include the toll-free telephone number for the national Poison Help line. The legislation from Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D) also mandates that labels for multi-serving THC beverages with more than one serving will need to “clearly and conspicuously” notify consumers that the product contains multiple servings as well as detail the size of servings—measured in fluid ounces to the nearest tenth of a fluid ounce—and provide “information regarding how to accurately measure a single serving for consumption.” Multi-serving cannabis drinks in containers that are transparent or otherwise visibly display the amount of liquid inside must feature “unobstructed and conspicuous lines delineating individual serving or portion sizes,” the new law says. Additionally, retailers selling marijuana beverages with more than one serving will need to offer consumers measuring instruments or devices, provided by manufacturers, that contain at least one fluid ounce and measure to the nearest tenth of a fluid ounce under the now-enacted bill. The new law also prohibits cannabis businesses from advertising or marketing THC drinks with more than one serving as single-serve products or otherwise encouraging consumptions of multiple servings at a time. The provisions of the legislation are set to take effect on July 1, 2027. Earlier this week, Newsom separately signed a pair of bills revising various state marijuana laws related to product testing, tracking, consumer access to information and cannabinoid content. In August, he signed legislation to more clearly define the types of marijuana packaging and labeling that is prohibited due to appealing to children. Last month, the governor touted the fact that that legal marijuana sales have generated nearly $8.4 billion in tax revenue for the state since voters legalized recreational cannabis in 2016, saying that the money “helps fund programs that benefit Californians, including childcare and early childhood development, youth substance abuse prevention, medical research and environmental recovery.” Newsom recently took credit for helping to lead the push for the state to legalize marijuana and discussed his own limited experience with using cannabis. Last October, however, the governor 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. — 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. — Last September, the governor also signed a measure into law to put a pause on a recently enacted tax hike on marijuana products. Meanwhile, a lawmaker spoke to Marijuana Moment about her decision to put her own bill to legalize cannabis dispensary drive-thru windows on hold for now. California’s treasurer recently said the marijuana legalization law that voters approved a decade ago has been a “complete failure” and should be replaced with a new ballot initiative that prioritizes consumers and small businesses. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, recently told Marijuana Moment that taxes and regulations on cannabis are “too high.” California’s top cannabis regulator spoke recently about how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hasn’t been cooperative in answering questions about the implications of the Trump administration’s rescheduling move. DCC Director Clint Kellum said that there have been “national-level efforts” to contact DEA in conjunction with cannabis regulators from other states, but they “just really haven’t seen any sort of interest on that front, unfortunately.” Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen. The post California Governor Signs Marijuana Bill Adding New Packaging And Labeling Requirements For THC Edibles And Drinks appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Georgia regulators have approved new regulations that will allow medical marijuana to be delivered directly to patients—including via the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and private carriers like FedEx, UPS and DHL. It’s not clear, however, if those entities are willing to participate in cannabis commerce. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (GMCC) adopted the reform on Wednesday as part of a broader package of new rules covering issues such as product recalls, tracking, business license applications and research. The most notable change, on delivery via the mail, is being made possible by the Trump administration’s move to reclassify medical cannabis, which effectively federally legalizes it, state officials have said. The rule specifies that: “Where delivery is performed by the U.S. Postal Service, a common carrier, the Commission, or a common carrier engaged by the Commission, the dispensing licensee shall use certified mail, or a carrier service providing equivalent tracking and proof of delivery, with delivery restricted to, and the signature required of, the patient, caregiver, or healthcare institution employee. No person other than the registered patient, the patient’s caregiver, or the listed healthcare institution employee may sign for or accept such delivery. A dispensing licensee shall record the certified mail receipt, tracking number, or other information evidencing proof of delivery in the Commission-approved tracking system immediately upon completion of delivery.” A USPS official, when contacted by Marijuana Moment, refused to clearly state the agency’s position on participating in medical marijuana deliveries. Nikolaj Hagen, a senior public relations representative for USPS, pointed to general regulations on the mailability of controlled substances. Those rules state that if distribution of a controlled substance is unlawful, “then the mailing of the substance is also unlawful.” Mailing of controlled substances in domestic mail, it says, is only acceptable under three conditions. One is when both the mailer and the addressee are registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). While DEA has launched a process to register medical marijuana businesses that want to receive protections in line with federal rescheduling, there is no such registration process for patients. There is a carve-out in the USPS rule for those who are exempt from DEA registration, but it cites “military, civil defense, and law enforcement personnel” who are “performing official duties.” Another condition under which mailing controlled substances is acceptable concerns mail-back programs, which allow patients to send unused or expired prescription drugs for safe destruction. That also doesn’t apply to patients who want to receive medical marijuana deliveries to their homes. The final and perhaps most applicable condition in the USPS rules allows mailing of prescription medications “when mailed by drug manufacturers or their registered agents, pharmacies, medical practitioners, or other authorized dispensers, as permitted by 21 CFR § 1307.11, or in compliance with any regulation of the FDA or other applicable law.” While state medical marijuana laws have allowed patients to access it via doctors’ recommendations, and not the formal prescription process due to federal prohibition, the cannabis rescheduling order that Attorney General Todd Blanche issued in April contains a provision that seems to deem those recommendations as prescriptions for the purposes of federal law: “Prescriptions. Notwithstanding part 1306 of this chapter or any other provision of these rules, a certification or other document (including an electronic document) that state law deems sufficient for a user to obtain marijuana or products containing marijuana for medical purposes shall be sufficient to permit dispensing of marijuana or products containing marijuana to a user so long as the certification or other document is dated as of, and signed on, the day when issued; bears the full name and address of the user; and contains the name, address, and state license number of the practitioner who signed the certification or other document and is authorized to do so under state law.” When pressed for further clarification on USPS’s position on mailing medical marijuana in light of rescheduling, Hagen simply said that “we have nothing additional to offer at this time.” A spokesperson for DHL told Marijuana Moment that the company is “monitoring and will continue to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries and territories where we operate.” Representatives for UPS and FedEx did not reply to requests for comment. Georgia officials, meanwhile, seem confident that federal rescheduling will allow mailing of medical cannabis under the the newly adopted state rule. “We think this provides a great pathway. It maintains the same tracking standards that the commission has, and it really leverages the authority in that DEA rescheduling order for state-regulated medical marijuana program,” Andrew Turnage, GMCC’s executive director, previously said of the newly adopted rule in a earlier meeting in August. “Without these regulations, we don’t have guidelines in place for things like delivery. We think it’s really important to put those guardrails in place and establish standards.” He noted that Georgia is a “very large state” and that it has been hard for some patients to easily access the medical cannabis that their doctors have recommended. “Patients in many areas are having to travel two hours or more, either into a congested metropolitan area or around large geographic divides—whether that’s the mountains, the rivers, or the lakes, and it makes it impossible to get east to west across our great state, Turnage said. The GMCC official noted that one of the “greatest values” of the new proposed delivery rules will be getting cannabis to patients in healthcare facilities, including those such as nursing homes where they are permanent residents. “This creates a much more secure transaction for that healthcare facility to be able to make a purchase at our dispensaries and have that shipped and delivered securely to those facilities, without presenting a risk for diversion, without presenting a risk for, frankly, theft, robbery, an attack in the parking lot,” he said. This isn’t the first time the state has pushed the envelope of what’s federally acceptable with its medical marijuana program. In 2023, the DEA warned Georgia pharmacies that they could potentially lose their federal registrations if they began dispensing THC products under a provision of state law. Meanwhile, Georgia’s medical cannabis program is seeing a huge influx in the number of registered patients as the state implements a recently enacted law that expands access. The legislation, which Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed in May and which officially took effect on July 1, adds new qualifying conditions for the program, allows patients to vaporize medical cannabis and changes THC potency limits, among other reforms. Gary Long, the CEO of Botanical Sciences, a Georgia-based medical cannabis company, recently predicted that the expanded law could triple the number of patients by mid-2027. Under the legislation, patients with lupus are allowed to legally access medical marijuana, building on the state’s prior law that allowed certain people with cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, autism spectrum disorder, intractable pain and other conditions to qualify. The policy, which was sponsored in the legislature by 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 also expands how patients can use medical marijuana. Previously they were able to access oils, tinctures, capsules, lozenges, topicals and transdermal patches—but now vaping is allowed as delivery method for people over 21 years of age, though smoking continues to be prohibited 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 new law 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, also now has 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 Officials Approve New Rule Allowing Medical Marijuana Delivery By USPS, But Federal Agency Won’t Say If It’ll Participate appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A group of Republican senators are pressing the attorney general to “investigate the growing role of Chinese transnational criminal organizations in America’s cannabis and intoxicating-hemp markets.” The lawmakers, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday expressing concerns that criminal networks linked to China are “exploiting vulnerabilities in federal law to operate expansive illicit drug enterprises that threaten our communities and national security.” Citing a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) report that found that Chinese criminal organizations “dominate marijuana cultivation and distribution in the United States, especially in states with legal cannabis markets,” the GOP senators are asking the Department of Justice to “fully investigate these criminal networks, including their financing, land usage, chemical imports, and any connections to the Chinese Communist Party.” Chinese-linked criminal organizations are purchasing and leasing land on U.S. soil to conduct “illegal grow operations, traffic foreign workers, and use toxic pesticides and fertilizers shipped from China, including chemicals banned in the United States,” the lawmakers wrote. The letter, which was also signed by Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Susan Collins (R-ME), notes the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that is currently set to mostly take effect in December after Congress and President Donald Trump recently approved legislation to delay portions of the ban from its original November 12 effective date. “Congress has recognized the need to address vulnerabilities in this market, including closing gaps in the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed unregulated intoxicating hemp and THC products to proliferate,” they wrote. “Leaving the loophole unaddressed would give these networks additional time to flood American commerce with synthetic products.” Continuing to allow production and sales of hemp THC products would allow Chinese criminal organizations to “further entrench their operations on American soil, fund their enterprises with illicit revenue, and expose consumers to unregulated, dangerous synthetic products masquerading as legal hemp,” the senators alleged. Chinese criminals should never be allowed to grow marijuana on American soil. I’m asking @TheJusticeDept to investigate. https://t.co/TQRK9vC9lj — Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) October 1, 2026 Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, the president signed new legislation containing provisions that redefined hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container would remain legal after November 12. Now, however, under provisions included in a funding bill Trump signed last month, the effective date of the ban for most products is being pushed back to December 11 to give lawmakers more time to craft regulations for hemp derivatives. There is a carve-out, however, to allow the recriminalization on November 12 of synthetic cannabinoids “that are not capable of being naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant.” While the four Republican senators who signed the new letter to Blanche support outright recriminalizing hemp THC products, other members of Congress are weighing how the crop’s derivatives should be regulated as an alternative to prohibition. Several Republican lawmakers recently spoke to Marijuana Moment about the kinds of rules they would like to see enacted to keep hemp THC products legal. A number of lawmakers from both chambers and both parties have filed or are circulating a growing number of bills to prevent the scheduled federal recriminalization of hemp THC drinks and other products. For example, Reps. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) and Greg Landsman (D-OH) filed a bill to keep hemp THC drinks legal while taxing and regulating them like alcohol. Rep. James Comer (R-KY), who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is circulating legislation that would delay a planned federal ban on hemp THC products and institute some regulations—including packaging requirements, testing rules and age limits. Separately, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), filed a lengthier proposal to prevent the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products and put in place a number of regulations for manufacturing, labeling, sales and taxation of hemp-derived products, including an age limit of 21. Trump and White House officials repeatedly pressed Congress to delay, alter or reverse the ban in recent months. In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) in June, for example, White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought said the Trump administration wants lawmakers to “ensure the fair treatment of hemp products”—specifically citing Barr’s earlier amendment to keep many hemp products legal while adding regulations and taxes. The administration “welcomes the opportunity to work with the Congress to, at a minimum, update the statutory definition of final hemp-derived cannabinoid products to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products,” OMB separately said in June, “while preserving the Congress’s intent to restrict the sale of products that pose serious health risks.” Also in April, the president himself urged congressional lawmakers to again redefine hemp to avoid recriminalization of full-spectrum CBD products. “I am calling on Congress to update the Law to ensure that Americans can continue to access the full-spectrum CBD products they have come to rely on, and that help them, while preserving Congress’s intent to restrict the sale of products that pose Health risks,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “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 post GOP Senators Want Investigation On Chinese Role In U.S. Marijuana And Hemp Industries appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A new report from a bipartisan psychedelics caucus in Congress summarizes stakeholders’ views on how the therapeutic use of substances like psilocybin, ibogaine and DMT can be “safely and ethically integrated” into the U.S. healthcare system, emphasizing the need for collaboration across federal agencies and with states. The document, published on Thursday by the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus, comes after lawmakers in 2024 issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input from experts about how to best set up a regulatory framework for psychedelic medicines. An analysis of responses to the RFI found “broad consensus among clinicians, researchers, veteran advocates, Tribal leaders, payors, regulators, and patients that [psychedelic-assisted therapy] could offer safe, equitable, and evidence‑based treatment for a wide array of treatment-resistant conditions,” a press release from the caucus says about the new report. The report itself, however, cautions that there are “areas of agreement, tension, concern, and hope that require consideration, discussion, and further input to ensure that actions going forward are supported by policies related to safe access and participant and patient protections in PAT research.” “These policies must ensure that the potential benefits are based on patient needs and minimally restricted by geography across the U.S. in rural and urban areas. Policies should be put in place to support coordinated national data systems to monitor benefits as well as potential unintended consequences of PAT and provide an evidence-base to ensure the best possible patient care that evolves in approach with the diverse emerging pipeline of new medicines and potential medical applications over time.” The co-chairs of the PATH Caucus, Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Lou Correa (D-CA) said in response to a question from Marijuana Moment at a press briefing about the new report that President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order to streamline research and access into psychedelic medicine this year has boosted their efforts to get fellow lawmakers to take the issue seriously. “I think it’s been very helpful, in my opinion,” Correa said. “President Trump signing the executive order really pushed everybody forward, really pushed us to look at these new treatments—psychedelic treatments—and take them seriously.” “Seventy years of war on drugs has really tied us down, and I think we need to open ourselves to the possibilities of cannabis, psychedelics and maybe other things that are out there that could help us when it comes to mental illness,” he said. Bergman agreed that “the president signing the executive order put it on people’s radar who had not considered it before in a positive way.” “It informed people who are trying to do the right thing for the right reason that they’ve got support from the highest levels,” he said. “And it also puts potential bad actors on notice that we’re watching in a very proactive way because we’re not going to let bad actors or illicit interests take down what we believe is imperative to the next steps in better mental health, not only for Americans but for people around the world.” A major theme of the PATH caucus’s report is the need for federal agencies to effectively coordinate with one another and with state and tribal governments to advance research on and access to psychedelic therapies. “Federal alignment is viewed as essential to reduce regulatory bottlenecks, ensure insurance coverage/reimbursement, establish safety standards, protect cultural knowledge, and integrate longstanding Indigenous customs into policymaking,” the report says. Bergman, speaking at the press briefing, said that “federal agencies need to coordinate their work with states and tribes as partners, because if we don’t do the coordination effort, a one-size-fits-all from one entity is not going to work.” Correa agreed, pointing to recent news that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is taking steps to criminalize additional psychedelics at the same time the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to accelerate therapeutic access. “Federal agencies have to coordinate the efforts as we move in this direction of exploring and determining what psychedelics are good for and under what context,” he said. Marion Coe, a researcher with the firm Pinney Associates that was hired to conduct the analysis of responses to the caucus’s RFI, similarly said that “we can’t have different federal agencies moving in opposite directions when we come to psychedelic research and regulation.” The report offers a number of recommendations stemming from input the caucus received in response to the RFI—including the development of federal guidelines for psychedelic therapy, creation of multiple credentialing pathways for therapy providers and creation of a national system to monitor adverse events related to the use of psychedelics. It also highlights the importance of determining how psychedelics can be covered under insurance, protecting indigenous and religious entheogenic practices and safeguarding against the over-commercialization and monopolization of the substances. “We’re talking about medical treatments administered by trained professionals in supervised clinical settings, not—and I repeat—not at home,” Bergman said at the press briefing. “We must follow the evidence, uphold strong safety standards and understand both the promise and the limits of these therapies, and not be afraid to make adjustments as we see the need.” Correa said that while psychedelics are not “the cure-all” for mental health issues, “the research has shown a lot of promise here when it comes to treatment, mental health, alcoholism, drug addiction, PTSD.” “It’s compelling,” he said. “Our society has a lot of challenges that psychedelics can help with.” The post Bipartisan Congressional Psychedelics Caucus Lays Out Plan For Federal And State Cooperation To Increase Therapeutic Access appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

PA won’t legalize marijuana soon, top GOP senator says; Ads against MA anti-cannabis ballot measure; VA psychedelics research op-ed Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Subscribers who value this daily dispatch enough to show their support with a few dollars help us keep doing this. Please chip in and help ensure Marijuana Moment’s continued operations. https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), whose reelection campaign is being boosted with ads paid for by marijuana industry donations to a Trump-linked political action committee, said during a debate that New York’s cannabis legalization law is “hurting” the state’s economy and neighborhoods. Pennsylvania’s Republican Senate majority leader said he doesn’t think the state can legalize marijuana until it receives “national direction” on the issue. “The Department of Health has not exactly done a bang-up job on medical marijuana, so I don’t have a whole ton of confidence in our ability, even if we were to legalize recreational marijuana, to do it well.” A Massachusetts campaign working to defeat an initiative on the November ballot that would roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law released two new ads featuring a public health expert, a military veteran and a business owner. Stacey Armstrong and Alan Davis of Ohio State University Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education argue in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that while the Department of Veterans Affairs’s new psilocybin study is a “remarkable milestone,” independent research is still needed to “reach those who receive care elsewhere, including those who have disengaged from VA entirely.” “Independent psychedelic science is neither a rival nor a replacement for VA’s efforts. It is a necessary complement, one that can ask different questions, test different models of care and help reach veterans who might otherwise have nowhere else to turn.” The Portland, Oregon City Council approved an ordinance making enforcement of laws against personal use of natural psychedelics a low priority for police. / FEDERAL The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing changes to rules on the time allowed for reexports of controlled substances outside of the European Economic Area. The U.S. Forest Service touted its role in eradicating an illegal marijuana grow site in the Mendocino National Forest. / STATES Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand discussed his support for legalizing marijuana. Ohio regulators adopted changes to cannabis rules. Massachusetts regulators are accepting public comments on proposed changes to marijuana business agent registration rules. Virginia’s acting top cannabis regulator discussed recently released draft recreational marijuana sales rules. Minnesota officials are promoting a cannabis industry worker training program. Oregon regulators are accepting applications to join the 2026 Cannabis Technical Rules Advisory Committee. Michigan regulators revoked a business’s medical cannabis licenses and imposed a fine over alleged violations. California regulators sent updates about various cannabis issues. — 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 Democratic Los Angeles, California mayoral candidate Nithya Raman, currently a City Council member, rolled out a cannabis platform. / INTERNATIONAL Australian Capital Territory officials said they aren’t ready to implement a policy to protect medical cannabis patients from driving under the influence charges. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “wild hemp [essential oil] possesses strong insecticidal potential against cereal aphids, while its biological activity appears to be primarily associated with toxic effects rather than behavioural deterrence.” A study found that “MDMA administration reduces ethanol drinking and is associated with altered nociceptin and dynorphin system gene expression in alcohol-preferring rats.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The prohibitionist Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions launched a new ad calling on President Donald Trump to ban kratom. / BUSINESS The founder of KindManage, LLC is facing federal securities fraud and wire fraud charges. 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 GOP congressman backed by cannabis biz donations bashes legalization (Newsletter: October 1, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Trying recipes inspired by different countries can make Cooking games more interesting, especially when new ingredients and cooking techniques are introduced.

“People seeking healing should not have to live in fear of unnecessary criminalization.” By Jack Gorsline, Psychedelic State(s) of America In a unanimous decision, the Portland, Oregon City Council voted on Wednesday to officially deprioritize law enforcement activities surrounding the personal use, cultivation and non-commercial sharing of naturally occurring psychedelics. The newly-passed ordinance carefully distinguishes between different types of substances and activities, designating non-commercial, naturally occurring psychedelics—including psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca—as low-priority targets for the Portland Police Bureau. However, the council included deliberate caveats in the policy. Peyote, a cactus containing the psychoactive compound mescaline, is explicitly excluded from the deprioritization measure. This exception was written into the framework to protect the ecologically threatened plant species and to honor the exclusive religious practices of Native American communities who have historically relied on it. The ordinance maintains strict prohibitions against the commercial sale of any psychedelics outside of state-licensed frameworks; it also preserves all existing criminal penalties for impaired driving, leaving driving under the influence of intoxicants strictly forbidden. Additionally, the measure leaves all existing workplace and professional licensing regulations fully intact, meaning employees and licensed professionals are still subject to their respective occupational standards. Finally, the ordinance ensures that all local provisions remain entirely subordinate to existing Oregon state laws. Advocates who championed the measure emphasize that it represents a critical step in reforming drug policy to focus on public health rather than punitive criminal justice. Max Kelemen, Executive Director of the Portland Psychedelic Society, praised the city’s decision as a milestone for community well-being. “This has been a long, community-led journey shaped by years of organizing, listening, public testimony and conversations with people whose lives and work have been deeply touched by psychedelics,” Kelemen said. “We are standing on the shoulders of indigenous cultures that have stewarded these medicines for millennia, the early psychedelic pioneers whose work was interrupted by criminalization and the war on drugs, and the researchers and advocates who have helped bring this conversation back into public view.” Kelemen noted that the intent behind the initiative is rooted in providing support for vulnerable populations seeking alternative mental health care. “At its heart, this effort has always been about equitable access, freedom of consciousness and giving people greater agency over their own healing, spiritual growth and mental health, especially people who have historically been marginalized or excluded from traditional systems of care,” he added. While Kelemen was careful to clarify the legal boundaries of the new policy, he underscored its practical impact on citizens facing immense mental health hurdles. “This policy does not legalize or decriminalize naturally occurring psychedelics, but by making their personal, noncommercial use a lowest law enforcement priority and putting Portland Police Bureau’s existing approach into durable public policy, it can reduce fear of arrest and prosecution and create greater psychological safety for people already making these choices,” Kelemen said. “It is a hopeful and measured step that allows Portland to keep exploring new possibilities for mental and behavioral health while focusing limited public safety resources on the issues causing the greatest harm.” The push for psychedelic policy reform in Portland occurs against the complex backdrop of Oregon’s broader, and sometimes rocky, history with drug decriminalization, including the widely debated Measure 110. Yet, supporters of this specific psychedelic ordinance argue that plant medicines require a distinct approach, particularly for populations dealing with severe trauma. Amy Charlesworth, a Portland resident, military veteran, Oregon Psilocybin Services Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) member and licensed psilocybin facilitator, spoke to the urgency of providing alternative treatments for those suffering from post-traumatic stress and other mental health conditions. “Portland’s unanimous passage of Ordinance 2026-186 sends a powerful message that people seeking healing should not have to live in fear of unnecessary criminalization,” Charlesworth said. “As a military veteran, and licensed psilocybin facilitator, I’ve seen firsthand how urgently people need new options for addressing trauma and mental health.” For veterans who often exhaust traditional pharmaceutical options without finding relief, the fear of legal repercussions can be a significant barrier to accessing potentially life-saving natural therapies. “This ordinance recognizes the growing body of research around the therapeutic potential of psychedelics while prioritizing public health, harm reduction, education, and dignity over punishment,” Charlesworth continued. “For veterans, first responders and everyday Portlanders exploring these tools for healing, this is an important step toward reducing stigma and creating greater reassurance that seeking support for their mental health should not make them a target of law enforcement.” The local deprioritization vote comes at a pivotal time for psychedelic policy, both in Oregon and nationally. As the Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the first psychedelic pharmaceutical compound before the end of the year, Oregon continues to navigate the complexities of its first-in-the-nation legalized psilocybin services program. Recently, that state-level program faced a significant economic crossroads. Following intense industry pushback from business owners, advocates and patients, the Oregon Health Authority announced it will not proceed with highly controversial proposed plans to double the licensing fees for the state’s regulated psilocybin services program. Industry advocates and licensed facilitators had warned for months that the steep fee hike could effectively cripple the nation’s first regulated psychedelic access model, forcing service centers to close and driving the cost of legal treatment out of reach for average Oregonians. With the proposed fee hike officially dropped, the fledgling industry has been granted a crucial reprieve. As Portland steps back from criminalizing the personal use of entheogenic plants, the city continues to cement its reputation as a testing ground for progressive drug policy. For now, proponents are celebrating the City Council’s vote as a compassionate victory that aligns local law enforcement practices with the rapidly evolving scientific understanding of psychedelics. This article was produced in partnership with Psychedelic State(s) of America—a nonprofit-sponsored news organization dedicated to rigorous independent psychedelic journalism. Subscribe to PSA online and Follow PSA on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X and Facebook. Learn more about PSA and donate to the PSA Media Fund here. The post Portland, Oregon City Council Votes To Deprioritize Police Enforcement Against Psychedelics appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Independent psychedelic science is neither a rival nor a replacement for VA’s efforts. It is a necessary complement, one that can ask different questions, test different models of care and help reach veterans who might otherwise have nowhere else to turn.” By Stacey Armstrong and Alan Davis, Ohio State University Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education When the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a major new psilocybin research initiative this summer, it signaled a remarkable shift in how America approaches veterans’ mental health. But if we want to understand whether psychedelic therapies can truly help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), VA cannot do this work alone. Most veterans do not use VA as their primary source of healthcare. Research must also reach those who receive care elsewhere, including those who have disengaged from VA entirely. That requires sustained support for independent academic research alongside federal efforts. The Veteran Suicide Epidemic Veteran suicide remains one of the most urgent public health challenges facing our country. VA reported that 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023. PTSD is an important part of that crisis. Although evidence-based psychotherapies and medications help many people, a substantial proportion of veterans do not experience adequate relief. Consider Zachariah Collett, an Army veteran from Washington Court House, Ohio, who was medically retired at 25 after serving in Iraq. He lived with nightmares, constant vigilance and anger that affected his family. Years of counseling and medications had not helped. “I was just absolutely tortured by the internal struggle, the internal dialogue, the noise inside my head and my inability even to just be still,” he said. Clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy and an early psilocybin study have reported promising PTSD outcomes, but veteran-specific evidence remains limited. At Ohio State University’s Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education (CPDRE), our team conducted a clinical trial to examine whether psilocybin, the primary psychoactive compound in so-called “magic mushrooms,” could be a safe and feasible intervention for veterans with severe PTSD when paired with structured psychotherapy. VA And PIVOT In August, VA announced the launch of Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression, or PIVOT. This randomized, controlled Phase 3 trial will enroll approximately 240 veterans with treatment-resistant depression, with or without concurrent PTSD, at five VA medical centers. The program will provide two dosing sessions with psychological support and is expected to continue until approximately 2031. VA is working with psychedelic drug developer Compass Pathways, which is donating its proprietary psilocybin formulation and supporting investigator training. The company received an expedited FDA review pathway for that formulation in April. This is a remarkable milestone: a federal agency investing in rigorous research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. A Welcome Change, With A Caveat As psychedelic researchers, we welcome a broader and more rigorous program of inquiry. At the same time, it would be a mistake to rely on these studies, or studies like them, alone. Many veterans never enroll in VA programs, and others may be reluctant to return because of prior negative experiences or distrust of institutions. In a 2025 essay for The War Horse, Navy veteran Dylan Harrington described being unable to work or leave home and losing trust in the VA after cycling through therapists and medications without adequate relief. If psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans is developed solely through government channels, some veterans may remain beyond its reach. Those in the greatest distress may be among those least likely to seek care within the systems available to them. Our Research & Findings At CPDRE CPDRE is an independent academic research center that operates outside VA. We conducted what is, to our knowledge, the first U.S. clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy designed specifically for military veterans with severe, treatment-resistant PTSD. The results were recently published in Communications Medicine, a Nature Portfolio journal. Nine of the 12 participants, or 75 percent, no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD one month after treatment. We observed no serious adverse events. Reported side effects included headaches and brief periods of anxiety. Collett was one of those 12 participants. His recovery had begun with an earlier integrative therapy program; he later described psilocybin-assisted therapy as helping him find peace, acceptance and a different way of relating to his family. Some participants’ PTSD symptoms began improving during the preparation phase, before they received psilocybin. Those who improved most during preparation also tended to show the greatest improvement after the dosing sessions. Participants’ expectations about the benefits of psilocybin did not predict these outcomes in our sample. In other words, careful preparation and the development of a trusting, supportive therapeutic relationship may have contributed meaningfully to improvement. There is more to psilocybin-assisted therapy than psilocybin alone. This distinction may sound technical, but it reflects one of the central questions in psychedelic research: How much therapeutic benefit comes from the compound itself, and how much comes from the human connection, preparation and support surrounding it? Answering that question requires careful science conducted across multiple settings, including independent academic research. Building Parallel Tracks For Greater Access To be clear, we do not view our work as competing with PIVOT or substituting for it, nor should PIVOT be viewed as a substitute for independent research. These are parallel, complementary tracks that serve veteran mental health while studying different conditions and answering different questions. PIVOT will operate at a scale far beyond what CPDRE has accomplished to date. Beyond questions of reach and access are questions of scientific independence and objectivity. Concentrating too much of a developing field within any single research program or institution carries risks. Long-term scientific progress is strengthened when there is consistent support across multiple institutions and funding sources. At present, expanding psychedelic research for veterans has both scientific and political support. That alignment may not always continue. Federal agencies and foundations should increase funding for veteran-focused academic research, including investigator-initiated trials testing therapeutic approaches, dosing models and patient populations beyond those studied within VA. Academic centers should partner with veteran-serving community organizations to improve recruitment and engagement, particularly among veterans outside the VA system. Training programs should prepare clinicians and researchers to conduct rigorous psychedelic research with these populations. The Need For Many Stakeholders, Large And Small We must also acknowledge the limitations of our own work. Our trial included only 12 participants, had no control group and used a relatively short follow-up period. The results are encouraging, but they do not provide definitive evidence of efficacy or establish how long improvements will last. No single organization, large or small, can do this work well on its own. We should maintain healthy skepticism about the findings of any one study, including our own, and build multiple scientific pathways toward the same goals, both within and outside the federal research and funding system. Overall, we remain optimistic about VA’s announcement. Its recognition of psychedelic research and its capacity to conduct large trials represent meaningful steps in the right direction. They are not, however, the finish line for independent inquiry, nor should they become the only path forward. Independent psychedelic science is neither a rival nor a replacement for VA’s efforts. It is a necessary complement, one that can ask different questions, test different models of care and help reach veterans who might otherwise have nowhere else to turn. Stacey B. Armstrong is associate director and senior researcher at the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education (CPDRE) at Ohio State University. Alan K. Davis is director of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education at Ohio State University and an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University. Photo courtesy of Mark Groeneveld. The post VA’s New Psilocybin Study For Veterans Is Progress, But Independent Psychedelic Research Needs Support Too (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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As Pennsylvania Democrats step up the push to legalize marijuana, the state’s top Republican senator says he doesn’t think the state will enact the policy change this year—and he believes that it should not move ahead at all without further changes at the federal level. “I don’t see it coming before this session ends,” Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R) said when asked about the prospects of cannabis legalization at a press conference on Monday. “People tend to forget that recreational marijuana, for better or worse, is a scheduled narcotic at the federal level,” he said. “And I think we would all be well served to have some more national direction on how to deal with this issue.” Pittman criticized leaders of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives for passing a bill last year that would have legalized marijuana and put sales in state-controlled dispensaries, saying it displays a “lack of seriousness on this issue” on the part of the other chamber’s majority party. “They sent us a recreational marijuana legalization proposal that would have marijuana in the state stores. Now, come on,” the top GOP senator said. “I mean, we’re not going to put weed in state stores, number one, because they can’t functionally do it because they couldn’t comply with federal law.” Pittman also said he doubts the state’s ability to manage a recreational marijuana program, pointing to a recent report from the Pennsylvania auditor general that was critical of the current medical cannabis system. “The Department of Health has not exactly done a bang-up job on medical marijuana, so I don’t have a whole ton of confidence in our ability, even if we were to legalize recreational marijuana, to do it well,” he said. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvania are continuing to call for broader marijuana legalization. The speaker of the Democratic-controlled House said last week that the state could legalize recreational marijuana next year if her party wins a handful of seats in the November elections and takes a Senate majority. A Democratic senator recently filed a discharge resolution seeking to bring a bipartisan cannabis bill out of committee. A Republican senator said she will soon file legislation to keep hemp THC products legal in the state while adding age limits as well as new requirements for registration, testing and labeling. A separate bill that has already been introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate would create a new Cannabis Control Board (CCB) to oversee the state’s medical marijuana program and significantly restrict most hemp THC products. That legislation was defeated on the Senate floor in June, though it is pending reconsideration. Separately, a Pennsylvania Senate committee approved a bill this week to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, while the full House passed similar legislation earlier 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. — The legislative maneuvering around cannabis comes as a recent poll shows that Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly support marijuana legalization—and that the largest share put the blame on Republican lawmakers for the fact that the state has not yet enacted the reform. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has repeatedly called on lawmakers to send him a marijuana legalization bill and for the last several years has included the reform in his budget requests to the legislature. Republican gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity, who is running against Shapiro, recently pledged to veto a marijuana legalization bill if lawmakers ever sent one to her desk—though she added that she doesn’t think the reform stands a chance of making it that far in the state. Her running mate for lieutenant governor, Jason Richey, claimed that legalizing marijuana would be “catastrophic” for the state, arguing it would increase the size of the illegal market, undermine job creation and harm public health. The governor earlier this year, as he has in past years, included cannabis legalization and the resulting expected revenue in his budget request. The state’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) reported in February that legalizing cannabis in Pennsylvania would generate nearly half a billion dollars in annual revenue by 2028, an estimate that is a significantly larger cash windfall compared to projections from Shapiro’s own office. A spokesperson in the governor’s office said the Trump administration’s federal marijuana rescheduling move is an “important step” that “adds support” to his push to legalize cannabis. A senator also said that federal reform will make it easier to legalize marijuana in the state. The post Top Pennsylvania GOP Senator Says State Needs ‘National Direction’ Before It Can Legalize Marijuana appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A Massachusetts campaign working to keep recreational marijuana dispensaries open by defeating an initiative on the November ballot that would roll back the state’s legalization law has launched two new ads. One spot rolled out on Tuesday by the No on 8: Stop the Repeal Campaign features Alan Balsam, a former commissioner of public health for the city of Brookline. “Not long ago, people in Massachusetts could only buy marijuana illegally. Question eight would take us back to those days,” he said in the ad. “It bans the safe, legal sale of marijuana.” “As a public health expert, I’m voting no on 8 because it will have unintended consequences,” Balsam said. “It creates real risk, forcing people to buy products that aren’t regulated, tested or labeled. There’d be no way to know potency or if products were laced with fentanyl, pesticide residues or mold. “I’m voting no on 8 to keep people safe.” The campaign’s second new ad features a number of rotating speakers delivering a unified script, including a doctor, a military veteran and a business owner. “Voting no on 8 stops the ban on legal marijuana sales and keeps Massachusetts from going backwards to unregulated marijuana sales on our streets,” the speakers say in the ad, switching from one to another mid-sentence. “Voting no on 8 protects jobs and tax revenue and maintains regulations that protect my patients.” “Voting no on 8 keeps marijuana safe with ID checks, testing and labeling that ensures safety and known potency,” they said. “Vote no on 8 and stop the ban.” A press release from the campaign says the ads will run on digital, streaming and broadcast. “Over the last ten years, legal cannabis has had an immense positive impact on our state and local economies, creating jobs and generating billions in tax revenue,” Ryan Dominguez, chair of Stop the Repeal, said. “These ads will help voters to understand how repealing highly-regulated adult-use cannabis will have a deep effect on Massachusetts communities and our state economy.” “Massachusetts voters made their voices clear when they chose to legalize marijuana and we cannot allow out-of-state groups to come into the Commonwealth and repeal this law,” he said. “We are grateful for all the support we have received from our regional leaders, public health officials, law enforcement, small business owners, and advocates.” Meanwhile, a new poll released this week shows that most Massachusetts voters oppose the ballot measure to roll back marijuana legalization. The survey, published on Tuesday by CommonWealth Beacon and conducted by MassINC Polling Group (MPG), shows that 61 percent of likely voters oppose the initiative—which would repeal laws allowing the regulated commercial sales of recreational cannabis and home cultivation while maintaining legal possession and continuing the medical marijuana system. Just 27 percent of respondents said they favor the anti-cannabis ballot measure, while 11 percent are undecided and 1 percent responded that they would prefer not to state their opinion. A separate poll released last week by The University of New Hampshire, shows that nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of respondents plan to vote against the anti-cannabis measure, while just 24 percent plan to support it. Another survey released last month found that Massachusetts voters oppose the marijuana legalization repeal measure, 55 percent to 33 percent. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, which regulates the legal industry, announced this month that the state has surpassed $10 billion in adult-use cannabis purchases since the market launched in 2018. CCC Chair Chris Harding told Marijuana Moment that he can’t comment directly on the initiative and that the commission does not take positions on pending ballot questions or legislation, but he said that, in general, “repeal of the adult-use industry could eliminate thousands of jobs, hundreds of businesses and billions in tax revenue.” Meanwhile, a top labor union—the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Massachusetts State Council—is urging voters to reject the cannabis legalization rollback initiative. While the latest survey results provide some comfort to cannabis reform supporters, advocates are not resting. A coalition of Massachusetts marijuana business leaders, healthcare professionals and other advocates have launched a campaign to defeat the measure. The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) recently issued a warning that passage of the legalization rollback measure would have “disastrous political and economic consequences for legal cannabis markets everywhere.” “Even a too-close victory would spook markets and incentivize a rash of similar initiatives in states around the country, each costing millions to try and defeat,” the group said. After the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office determined that organizers for the anti-cannabis proposal had turned in enough valid signatures to put the measure before voters, a marijuana reform advocate filed an objection with the State Ballot Law Commission claiming that various signatures were not genuine, obtained through fraudulent means or were not “signed substantially as registered.” The body rejected the challenge to the legal marijuana rollback measure, however, clearing it to go before voters to decide. In June, the campaign behind the anti-legalization ballot measure fired a signature gatherer it says was shown appearing to engage in “wholly unacceptable” conduct in a recent video. As Marijuana Moment reported, a man petitioning for the Massachusetts initiative as well as a similar anti-cannabis proposal in Maine was depicted in recent social media posts seeming to argue that voters who support legal marijuana access should sign the petitions in order to advance or protect reform. The campaign later said it has “zero tolerance for any circulation tactics that would mislead petition signers.” “The identified canvasser was immediately terminated, in coordination with our vendor, upon being made aware of the alleged conduct,” the group said. “The conduct apparent in the video would be wholly unacceptable and does not reflect how this campaign operates. We demand honesty, transparency and professionalism from everyone associated with our effort.” A video posted to Reddit of the signature gatherer shows the man collecting signatures outside a retail store in Massachusetts next to a sign that says “keep cannabis legal.” When confronted by a marijuana reform supporter who recorded the petitioner’s interactions with voters, he appeared to be trying to convince them that it is important to qualify the anti-cannabis measure for the ballot in order to then defeat it. “This is what we’re fighting against right here. That’s why we vote no,” he said. “If we can get this to the ballot right here, we vote no.” The person who captured the video pointed out that Massachusetts voters already approved marijuana legalization years ago, and that the only way it could be imminently repealed is if the new ballot measure qualified for the November election. If the initiative does not get enough signatures to go before voters, the state’s laws will remain the same. “It’s my job,” the petitioner insisted, however. “I know what I’m talking about.” “It’s a group of rich folks from out of state that want to basically take marijuana to when it was a medical marijuana card,” he said. “We don’t want that to happen.” The same man also appeared to also be gathering signatures for a separate measure in Maine that would similarly repeal laws allowing regulated adult-use marijuana sales and home cultivation rights for adults while keeping possession legal and adding new testing requirements for medical cannabis. A staffer for the prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), whose affiliated group SAM Action is largely funding the anti-cannabis ballot campaigns in both states, declined to comment about the petitioner’s conduct when reached by Marijuana Moment. The campaigns have previously been accused of misleading petitioning tactics. In Massachusetts, some voters reported that the campaign used fake cover letters for other ballot measures on unrelated issues like affordable housing and same-day voter registration during the first round of petitioning. Legal cannabis supporters filed an earlier formal complaint about the prohibitionist effort’s tactics, but the State Ballot Law Commission rejected the challenge. The measure also faced a legal challenge from cannabis industry operatives who argued it contains “impermissibly unrelated subjects,” and that the state attorney general’s official summary is “misleading and deficient.” The state Supreme Judicial Court heard oral arguments on the litigation challenging the anti-marijuana initiative but it ultimately ruled against the lawsuit. The governor of Massachusetts last week filed legislation proposing to increase military veterans’ access to medical marijuana by allowing them to receive patient cards without having to get a doctor’s recommendation. The post New Ads Urge Massachusetts Voters To Keep Marijuana Sales Legal By Rejecting Measure On November Ballot appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A Republican congressman whose reelection bid is being boosted by donations from some of the U.S.’s largest marijuana businesses says the legalization of cannabis is “hurting” society. A question posed to Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and his Democratic opponent Cait Conely during a debate on Monday asked whether New York’s legal cannabis law is “helping or hurting our local economy and neighborhoods.” Conley said legal marijuana is “helping,” while Lawler replied that it is “hurting.” Although the answer is in line with the incumbent congressman’s track record of opposing marijuana reform, it comes as his effort to keep his seat is being boosted with ads that are paid for by cannabis company contributions. As Marijuana Moment reported earlier this month, a political action committee that shares the same treasurer as President Donald Trump’s own super PAC is using money raised from marijuana business donations to pay for independent expenditures in support of several vulnerable Republican members of Congress, including Lawler. Some of the U.S.’s largest cannabis companies donated a collective $11.5 million to America First Agriculture Action Inc. in June. The PAC’s funding comes entirely from marijuana businesses. The contributions—from Trulieve Inc., Curaleaf Inc., Verano Holdings LLC and Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc., along with other entities tied to Green Thumb Industries and AYR Wellness Inc.—brought the total amount of donations from cannabis businesses or an industry-linked political action committee to Trump-linked PACs to at least $15.05 million, according to a review of Federal Election Commission filings. Now, the agriculture-focused PAC is spending some of that to support several GOP lawmakers who are in tough reelection fights in November. The PAC’s ad in support of Lawler—funded by the marijuana business donations—doesn’t mention cannabis at all and instead focuses on his votes to ban insider trading by members of Congress and in support of tax cuts, including a measure to make it so there would be no taxes on tips, overtime and social security. FEC records show that as of the PAC’s latest filings on Monday, it had spent $288,774.79 of the cannabis business donations in support of Lawler specifically. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano told Marijuana Moment that the tens of millions of cannabis consumers in the U.S. “have the potential to be a powerful voting block and sway politicians to support policies that are in consumers’ best interests.” “Consumers should not tolerate politicians that either take their votes for granted or that support policies that jeopardize their personal freedoms and civil liberties,” he said. “As the cannabis industry becomes a larger player in both local and national politics, consumers should also pay attention to whether the political lobbying decisions engaged in by specific industry players align with their own political preferences, and act accordingly.” Lawler said last year that it would be “wrong” for the Trump administration to reschedule cannabis, claiming that “marijuana is a gateway drug” and arguing that “most of the people [who] end up using harder substances start out on marijuana.” He also joined a sign-on letter to the president arguing that rescheduling cannabis would “send the wrong message to America’s children, enable drug cartels, and make our roads more dangerous.” “Marijuana has no real medical value,” the letter said, calling cannabis a “harmful drug that is worsening our nation’s addiction crisis.” The letter Lawler signed also addressed the marijuana businesses that are now indirectly funding the effort to keep him in Congress, calling them “addiction-for-profit dispensaries.” “The marijuana industry wants Schedule III because large marijuana companies will receive billions in tax relief. Under Section 280E of the tax code, businesses trafficking Schedule I and II drugs cannot deduct business expenses. Financial estimates predict the marijuana industry will get a $2 billion annual tax break if they are no longer constrained by 280E. This would incentivize addiction-for-profit dispensaries to advertise more kid-friendly products than ever. Tax relief should be prioritized for hard-working, law-abiding Americans and businesses, not marijuana shops.” “Rescheduling marijuana will not make America great,” the letter said. Lawler is additionally a cosponsor of a bill that would continue to block marijuana businesses from taking federal tax deductions under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code 280E, even under rescheduling. Although Trump’s administration has taken steps to federally reschedule marijuana, Republican congressional leadership and many members of the party’s House and Senate conferences remain openly hostile to cannabis reform. The GOP-controlled House Appropriations Committee this year voted to block federal officials from taking further steps to carry out cannabis rescheduling, for example. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) told Marijuana Moment in an interview this month that he thinks “marijuana is a gateway drug, and it causes other problems down the road” for people who use it. In contrast, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who would be poised to become speaker next year if Democrats win back a majority in the chamber in November’s elections, said earlier this year that his party will “be in a position to do something about” marijuana laws “in the next Congress.” The only two times that Congress has considered marijuana legalization legislation on the floor was under Democratic control in 2020 and 2022, via bills that all but a handful of Republicans voted against. Notably, the treasurer of the agriculture PAC behind the ads supporting Lawler and other GOP lawmakers in tight races, Charles Gantt, is the same person named as treasurer of Trump’s political committee, MAGA Inc., which has separately received $2.05 million in donations from a cannabis-industry-backed committee, the American Rights and Reform PAC, Inc. Last year, that cannabis industry PAC additionally gave a total of $1.5 million to the agriculture PAC. Earlier FEC records also previously showed that Trulieve and Curaleaf contributed a total of $1 million to support Trump’s inaugural committee following his election in 2024. Curaleaf executive Matt Harrell is listed as treasurer of the American Rights and Reform PAC. The most recent contributions from the cannabis companies to the Trump-linked agriculture PAC came weeks after the Department of Justice announced it is moving forward with the process of federally rescheduling marijuana, a reform that Trump backed during the 2024 campaign and then issued an executive order on late last year. Under an action announced by Attorney General Todd Blanche in April, marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license immediately moved from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to Schedule III, as did any marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A hearing is considering broader cannabis rescheduling, including for recreational products. The Trump administration’s marijuana rescheduling move is also challenged by opponents through litigation. Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post GOP Congressman Being Supported By Marijuana Industry Donations Says Legalization Is ‘Hurting’ People appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

MA anti-marijuana measure poll; PA medical cannabis in hospitals; MD vets’ cannabis law; Medical marijuana patient growth; Local psychedelics votes 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 A Drug Enforcement Administration judge has granted a stay in an ongoing hearing on marijuana rescheduling requested by opponents who want a recent Government Accountability Office report finding “gaps” in the federal drug scheduling process to be entered into the record. Another new poll shows that Massachusetts voters strongly oppose an initiative on the ballot to roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law, 61 percent to 27 percent—though Republicans are twice as likely to support the anti-cannabis measure as Democrats are. The Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee unanimously approved a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. A new Maryland law taking effect on Thursday will provide legal protections for veterinarians who recommend medical cannabis for animals, making it so they can’t be punished for it by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. A pair of new studies published by the American College of Physicians shows that there are nearly 4 million patients registered to use medical marijuana under state laws in the U.S., as well as at least 35,000 doctors and clinicians approved to recommend it and nearly 110,000 caregivers authorized to assist patients in growing and obtaining cannabis products. Local officials in California, Oregon and Washington State cities are advancing measures to deprioritize police enforcement of laws criminalizing psychedelics like psilocybin, ayahuasca and mescaline. Workers at Greenlight Dispensary in Springfield, Missouri claim they were fired in retaliation for holding a union organizing meeting—though management reportedly accused them of consuming marijuana at work. / FEDERAL The Government Accountability Office reported that 30 percent of noncitizens incarcerated by the Bureau of Prisons were there for drug-related offenses. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said that banning hemp “is a violation of medical freedom.” / STATES Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) discussed his opposition to legalizing marijuana. Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerri Green said she would like to work with lawmakers to legalize marijuana if elected. Ohio regulators adopted changes to rules on non-marijuana ingredients in cannabis products. Illinois officials are proposing to add cannabis-related criminal codes for operators of electric bicycles, scooters and other vehicles. Massachusetts regulators issued guidance about marijuana business advertising rules. Missouri regulators published guidance on changes to marijuana and hemp laws. Maine regulators sent a newsletter with various cannabis updates. Georgia regulators will consider changes to medical cannabis rules on Wednesday. The Virginia Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council will meet on November 12. — 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 The Baltimore, Maryland City Council approved a proposal to allow police to padlock smoke shops that are caught repeatedly selling unlicensed cannabis or other controlled substances. / INTERNATIONAL Sint Maarten’s minister of tourism, economic affairs, transport and telecommunication defended the government’s proposed cannabis legislation in response to criticism from a lawmaker. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “Germany’s 2024 cannabis reform was not associated with changes in 12-month use prevalence or heavy use early (two years) after implementation.” A review concluded that “clinical trials confirm that single or limited-dose [psilocybin] (particularly 25 mg) rapidly and sustainably alleviates symptoms in treatment-resistant depression.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Marijuana Policy Project published a voter guide for Tennessee’s upcoming elections. / BUSINESS Vireo Growth Inc. entered into a put/call agreement with Battle Green Holdings SR LLC. 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 DEA judge grants cannabis opponents’ request to pause rescheduling hearing (Newsletter: September 30, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge is pausing proceedings in an ongoing hearing on the Trump administration’s marijuana rescheduling proposal and asking asking agency officials and other participants to weigh in after a federal watchdog issued a report finding that there are “gaps” in the government’s process for evaluating controlled substances. DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek Julius on Tuesday issued a stay in response to a motion from a drug testing industry association and other participants who want a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on drug scheduling to be entered into the record for the hearing, which took testimony in June and July. Until now, the only expected remaining step in the proceedings was for Julius to issue his own recommendation on marijuana rescheduling to the DEA administrator, who would then make a final determination on the policy. But the judge granted the motion for a stay filed by the National Drug and Alcohol Association (NDASA), DUID Victim Voices and Kenneth Finn, M.D.—parties opposed to cannabis rescheduling that participated in the hearing and who now want the GAO report included as part of the record. That report found, among other things that DEA “does not have any policies or procedures regarding how its staff are to conduct evaluations or schedule substances” and the Food and Drug Administration “does not have policies or procedures specifying how its staff are to conduct evaluations or develop scheduling recommendations for substances.” Julius said he “finds merit in this argument that, if the record were to be extended to also include the GAO Report, a stay would be warranted to await briefing on it.” “Likewise, while considering the merits of the instant Motion to add the GAO Report to the record and allow supplemental briefing, a stay is warranted for the same reasons,” his order on Tuesday said. “Accordingly, based on the nature [of] this Motion, it is ORDERED that this matter is STAYED pending the Motion’s resolution.” The judge is ordering DEA to file a response of up to 20 pages in length on whether the hearing record should be reopened to include the GAO report by October 13. Other parties in the hearing are “permitted, but not required, to file responses” with the same specifications, Julius’s order said. The anti-rescheduling groups that requested the stay wrote in their motion that the government’s case to move marijuana to Schedule III is based on an evaluation that is “only as good as the process that produced it.” “The GAO Report is an independent audit of that process,” the motion said, arguing that the watchdog’s findings show that “the Government therefore lacks written criteria for a finding it must make to move marijuana to Schedule III.” Attorney General Todd Blanche in April issued an order that immediately reclassified state-licensed medical cannabis, as well as marijuana products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to Schedule III. Under a separate order he signed, the DEA hearing was held to consider more comprehensively moving marijuana to Schedule III. “The Government is not putting forth any evidence to suggest that marijuana is not dangerous. All controlled substances by definition are dangerous,” James Schwartz, a DEA attorney, said on the opening day of the hearing, according to the transcript. “That is why they are scheduled in the first place. However, controlled substances must be evaluated by the risks they pose balanced with the medical use they provide.” “The proposed rule, the supporting documents, and the Government witnesses will establish that marijuana has a currently accepted medical use,” he said. “With that determination, marijuana can no longer remain in Schedule I.” Meanwhile, DEA and parties that participated in the marijuana rescheduling hearing laid out their arguments in final briefs. The federal agency, which was charged with defending the proposed rescheduling move, said in its brief that “marijuana no longer fits the statutory requirements for Schedule I because it has a currently accepted medical use within the United States and it has an accepted safety for its use under medical supervision.” The agency noted that under the law it must give “significant deference” to an “extensive ten-month study on the scientific and medical properties” of cannabis conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which recommended rescheduling. “Currently there are over 30,000 practitioners treating more than six million patients in 43 U.S. jurisdictions,” DEA said. “Such practices demonstrate that there is no longer a lack of accepted safety for use of marijuana under medical supervision, and as such, marijuana does not fulfill the requirements of being a Schedule I substance.” It also said that there is “substantial evidence sufficient to show that marijuana’s abuse and dependency profiles better align with Schedule III substances than Schedule II” or Schedule I. “The vast majority of individuals who use marijuana do so in a manner that does not result in dangers to themselves or to their communities.” In conclusion, DEA asked the judge overseeing the hearing to “expeditiously recommend” that marijuana be transferred from Schedule I to Schedule III. During the hearing, DEA officials charged with defending the cannabis rescheduling proposal highlighted testimony on marijuana’s medical benefits and its relative safety compared to other substances such as alcohol and opioids. That included appearances from a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientist and a medical doctor from New Hampshire who detailed how medical marijuana provides relief to pain patients and can serve as an alternative to opioids. Meanwhile, lawyers and witnesses for parties who are oppose marijuana rescheduling and participated in the hearing put significant focus on the alleged harms of cannabis use as well as criticism of recently adopted changes to an analysis used to determine whether drugs have accepted medical value. DEA invited only organizations and people who oppose marijuana reform to join the hearing as designated participants—telling supporters that they do not meet the definition of an “interested person” to participate because they are not “adversely affected or aggrieved by any rule or proposed rule issuable.” Ahead of the hearing’s start, marijuana reform activists held a press conference outside DEA headquarters to highlight how they feel the have been “shut out” of the process—criticizing the fact that no supporters of reform were invited to participate and that the proceedings were not livestreamed despite officials’ vows of “transparency.” Marijuana Moment sent requests to Julius, the DEA judge, and to Cole, the DEA administrator, requesting they reverse a decision to prohibit the public from tuning into the cannabis hearing via livestream. A congressman and other journalists later joined in that request. — Marijuana Moment’s journalism is made possible by readers like you who value this work enough to support us with monthly pledges on Patreon. If you rely on our reporting to stay informed about key cannabis developments, please help us keep doing this by becoming a sustaining subscriber today. Backing us at the $25/month level also gets you access to our Bill Tracker so you won’t miss any important marijuana legislation in your state. — A prior hearing process on the marijuana rescheduling process that was initiated by the Biden administration stalled last year amid litigation over alleged improper communications and witness selection. The current marijuana rescheduling process is being challenged with several lawsuits that have been consolidated by a federal appeals court. Those pieces of litigation against the cannabis reform have been filed by state attorneys general, marijuana legalization opponents and a cannabis-focused biopharmaceutical corporation. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently rejected a drug testing industry association and a pharmaceutical company’s request to block the Trump administration from moving forward with cannabis rescheduling while the litigation is considered. A congressional committee recently voted to block federal officials from taking further steps to carry out cannabis rescheduling, though bipartisan lawmakers told Marijuana Moment they don’t believe that provision will be enacted into law. Read the DEA judge’s order in the marijuana rescheduling hearing below and the motion that precipitated it: Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post DEA Judge Pauses Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing As Opponents Highlight Government Report Detailing ‘Gaps’ In Federal Processes appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“We all are very well aware that it was because we were unionizing.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Madison Taylor has spent the past eight days picketing outside her former workplace, Greenlight Dispensary in Springfield. Two weeks ago, Taylor says she and a group of coworkers met outside of work to discuss forming a union. Days later, 12 employees who attended the meeting were fired, she said, after management accused them of consuming marijuana at work. The workers contend the firings were retaliation for their union activity. “My hope, at this moment, is to just continue speaking up for my coworkers’ rights, the industry workers as a whole, and making sure that our community continues to be aware of the predatory practices of this business,” Taylor told The Independent. The firings came just one day before employees at another Greenlight dispensary, this one in Joplin, voted to 18-2 to unionize. Both the Springfield and Joplin locations came under new management of “an entity affiliated with Good Day Farm” in March 2025, a Greenlight representative said in a statement to The Independent. The Joplin workers began seeking representation from the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 2 after they saw the management change and new “top-down changes,” according to a press release announcing the September 18 election results. “I love my job and the customers I get to help every day,” said Kelli Jones, a budtender at the Joplin Greenlight, in the union’s release, “and with a union, we will be able to serve them better. Job security at Greenlight is crucial for us.” In Greenlight’s statement to The Independent, the company said regarding the Springfield employees’ claims, “We do not comment on personnel matters, but we take compliance matters very seriously.” Regarding the Joplin union election, the statement said, “Greenlight respects employees’ right to decide whether they wish to be represented by a union. We will continue to provide great service and products to the people of Joplin.” Joplin workers there will now begin negotiating for their first collective bargaining agreement, which they hope will include more consistent scheduling, equitable tip distribution and better pay. “UFCW Local 2 is thrilled to welcome workers from Greenlight’s Joplin location into our union family,” said Chad Price, the union’s director of collective bargaining and retail servicing. “We commend these workers on their solidarity and commitment to improving their workplace, and we look forward to supporting them as they bargain their first contract.” The Joplin vote comes on the heels of a busy summer of union activity for Missouri cannabis workers, including the ratification of three union contracts. Taylor said she’s happy for her Joplin colleagues and is unsure why the group was able to successfully petition and her Springfield colleagues weren’t. She said one employee who attended the union meeting told management about the organizing effort later that day. “On Monday evening, we found out that somebody that we decided to trust with that information decided to go against the best interests of the group and notify management,” she said. “And then Thursday at about noon, it was just one after another.” Eleven employees received calls on September 17, Taylor said, saying they were terminated effective immediately. Another, she said, was fired a day later. “We all are very well aware that it was because we were unionizing,” she said. The workers have protested outside the Springfield dispensary every day since. Taylor said the demonstrations have been exhausting, particularly during stretches of hot weather, but union supporters have joined them in shifts. “If I would have known that this would have happened, I think I still would have pursued it because this is such an important issue, and bud tenders matter,” Taylor said. “Our workers matter.” She began working at Greenlight nearly two years ago. Before that, she worked at a Good Day Farm dispensary for almost two years, leaving because she said she considered it a “toxic environment.” “For about two years, I watched some of the most dedicated, knowledgeable people in this industry get treated really poorly and just kind of get trampled on by Good Day and discarded like trash,” she said. Asked about Taylor’s comment, a representative from Good Day Farm said the company does not comment on personnel matters. Evan Arehart, a budtender at the Joplin Greenlight location, said the group’s election win will hopefully improve their workplace and “ensure the sustainability and success of Missouri’s cannabis industry.” “With our union, my co-workers and I will have a say in how our tips are distributed, protection from corporate whims, and the ability to bargain for better wages,” Arehart said. “I love this industry and I want to see it thrive, which is why I’m proud to have a seat at the table and a voice in the decisions being made at Greenlight.” This story was first published by Missouri Independent. The post Missouri Marijuana Business Workers Claim They Were Fired In Retaliation For Holding A Union Organizing Meeting appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net