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A former U.S. attorney general who served during President Donald Trump’s first term says marijuana “poses horrific health risks,” has no medical value and should not be rescheduled under federal law. “Rescheduling marijuana would create the false impression that it is safe, would reduce penalties for peddling the drug illegally and would give those who purvey it legally a huge tax windfall,” William Barr wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post on Wednesday that was coauthored by Kevin Sabet, CEO of the prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana. “That would be a disaster.” The op-ed comes as the Trump administration is moving ahead with cannabis rescheduling. Under an order issued by U.S. Acting 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). An administrative hearing is considering broader marijuana rescheduling, with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) charged with defending the cannabis reform highlighting 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. But Sabet and Barr, who was attorney general under Trump from 2019-2020, argued that “evidence presented at the hearing utterly failed to support rescheduling marijuana” and instead “confirmed what decades of data have shown: Raw marijuana has no scientifically established medical value and carries a high risk of abuse.” After parties in the hearing filed their closing briefs, the DEA administrative law judge overseeing the proceedings will issue a recommendation on rescheduling, and the agency’s administrator will then make a final determination. DEA Administrator Terrance Cole 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.” — 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 new op-ed from the former attorney general says the “stakes couldn’t be higher,” arguing that “today’s marijuana is more dangerous than ever before” and is “addictive,” rattling off a list of alleged harms to mental and physical health. “These health consequences are the predictable result of a highly potent, addictive drug being normalized, commercialized and marketed as medicine,” Barr and Sabet claim. “It would be one thing if marijuana had medical value. But there is no credible evidence that marijuana is effective treatment for any medical condition, notwithstanding the millions of dollars spent trying to prove otherwise.” The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2023 published a 252-analysis concluding that marijuana does have accepted medical value and should be rescheduled. The new opposition piece also says that “rescheduling would unlock enormous revenue for the corporate marijuana industry by putting the drug into a category not covered by a long-standing restriction on federal tax deductions,” referring to a law known as 280E that blocks sellers of Schedule I and II substances from writing business expenses off their taxes. “That would, in turn, allow the industry to spend even more on advertising and marketing to young people,” Barr and Sabet wrote, arguing that “those who would loose this dragon on society are laying the groundwork for another Big Tobacco.” Sabet’s organization, SAM, is one of several parties challenging the marijuana rescheduling process with several lawsuits that have been consolidated by a federal appeals court. Those separate pieces of litigation against the cannabis reform have been filed by state attorneys general, marijuana legalization opponents and a cannabis-focused biopharmaceutical corporation. The suit from SAM was signed by attorneys at Torridon Law PLLC, where Barr is a partner. The group had announced in January that it was hiring Barr’s firm to legally combat cannabis rescheduling after Tump signed an executive order directing officials to complete the process expeditiously. During his time in office under the first Trump administration, Barr was accused by a Justice Department official of directing improper antitrust investigations into multiple cannabis company mergers—accounting for nearly one-third of the division’s cases in 2019. Several Democratic members of Congress filed a resolution the following calling for an inquiry into Barr’s possible impeachment, saying he “abused the power of his office” to improperly investigate marijuana businesses while allegedly engaging in other unlawful conduct. The post Marijuana Has ‘Horrific Health Risks’ And No Medical Value, Former Trump Attorney General Claims appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Delaware’s governor has signed a bill that seeks to regulate hemp-derived THC beverages—including with an age limit, potency restrictions and taxes. Gov. Matt Meyer (D) signed HB 373 from Rep. Debra Heffernan (D) into law last week and announced the action on Tuesday. The legislation as enacted restricts sales of hemp THC drinks to people aged 21 and older. Beverages would be limited to 10 milligrams of delta-9 THC per single-serving container and a maximum of 60 milligrams per package containing multiple single-serving drinks. Large-sized 750 milliliter bottles could have up to 170 milligrams of delta-9 THC. Single-serving THC drinks would be taxed at 50 cents each, while 750 milliliter bottles would receive an $8.50 tax. Hemp THC drinks could only be sold to consumers at licensed liquor stores or marijuana dispensaries. Products would also need to meet state packaging, labeling, advertising, testing, sampling and safety standards. An amendment that was added to the bill by the Senate before its final passage clarifies that the legislation does not “prohibit or restrict the manufacture, distribution, or sale of hemp products or cannabinoid products that are not infused beverages, provided that such products are produced and sold in compliance with applicable federal and State hemp laws or regulations and any other applicable State or federal food, drug, consumer safety, or other regulations.” — 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 bill as signed contains a sunset clause, however, that says legal hemp beverage sales will terminate in the state if federal restrictions take effect that would make it so any “beverage authorized or regulated under this Act would be classified as a controlled substance under Federal law.” Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, the president signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal after November 12. Several members of Congress have filed bills to delay or alter the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products, and the Trump administration has called for similar action, but those efforts have not yet gained traction with House or Senate leadership. Meanwhile, in Delaware, the state’s top marijuana regulator recently touted changes to cannabis policies that lawmakers passed this session—including the hemp beverage bill—saying they will “further strengthen” the state’s regulatory framework. In May, Meyer signed a bill to let terminally ill patients use medical cannabis in hospitals. Under the reform, patients and their caregivers will be responsible for acquiring and administering medical marijuana, and it will need to be stored securely at all times in a locked container. Smoking or vaping of medical cannabis will be prohibited, so patients will need to consume it via other methods. Facilities will be able to prohibit medical marijuana use if they determine that such use would have an “adverse impact on the medical care and treatment of the patient or is otherwise contraindicated.” They will also be able to suspend permission to use cannabis if a federal agency such as the U.S. Department of Justice or Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services takes an enforcement action against such use or “issues a rule, guidance, or otherwise provides notification to health care facilities that expressly prohibits the use of medical marijuana in health care facilities.” Earlier this month, lawmakers voted to override the governor’s veto of a separate bill that would prevent local governments from imposing onerous zoning restrictions on marijuana businesses that make it more challenging for them operate in their jurisdictions. Delaware’s adult-use cannabis market launched last August, with the governor touting the state’s first “successful” weekend of adult-use cannabis sales, with total purchases for medical and recreational marijuana totaling nearly $1 million—and compliance checks demonstrating that the regulated market is operating as intended under the law. But when it comes to local control, Meyer aligned himself with county governments in a way that some lawmakers say is kneecapping the industry with zoning restrictions that limit the expansion of the commercial market. An additional piece of zoning-related legislation enacted this session clarifies that marijuana business spacing requirements apply only to retail dispensaries, letting non-retail operations like cultivation, manufacturing and testing facilities operate without additional spacing restrictions. — 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. — Separately, a House committee this session approved a bill to decriminalize public consumption of marijuana, but it didn’t advance further. While certain legal marijuana states like Colorado and Ohio still impose criminal penalties for public cannabis use, Delaware stands out as especially punitive, with a maximum penalty that carries the risk of jail time in addition to a fine. Last year, Meyer detailed a conversation he had with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) about regulating the marijuana industry—drawing a contrast between their respective responsibilities given the fact that Colorado is much larger with more local jurisdictions to interact with compared to Delaware, which has just three counties. The launch of Delaware’s legal market came about two years after marijuana legalization was enacted into law under former Gov. John Carney (D). Ahead of the sales roll-out, the current governor last July toured one of the state’s cannabis cultivation facilities, praising the quality of marijuana that’s being produced, which he said will be the “French wine of weed.” The launch of the legal market came with some controversy, however, with critics alleging that allowing medical operators to start adult-use sales ahead of other license applicants is unfair. Dozens of other would-be retailers that have either already received licenses or are still awaiting issuance will need to wait for further regulatory approvals until they can open their doors—a situation that’s frustrated some advocates. Regulators initially projected that recreational sales would start by last March, but complications related to securing an FBI fingerprint background check service code delayed the implementation. Lawmakers passed a bill to resolve the issue, and the FBI subsequently issued the code that the stat’s marijuana law requires. The post Delaware Governor Signs Bill To Regulate And Tax Hemp THC Drinks appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A coalition of New York marijuana businesses are asking the state’s governor to veto legislation that would create a new Cannabis Wage Board charged with recommending minimum hourly wages for industry workers. The proposal would “create significant uncertainty for operators at a time when many are finally beginning to find their footing after years of regulatory delays, capital constraints, and continued competition from the illicit market,” an action alert sent by the Cannabis Association of New York (CANY) on Tuesday. “It poses particular risk to the small, equity businesses that are the backbone of our industry,” the group warned. The legislation, S10643 from Sen. Jessica Ramos (D) and A11562 from Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D), was passed by both chambers of the legislation in June and is on the way to Gov. Kathy Hochul (D). The proposal would create a three-member Cannabis Wage Board, with one member being a representative of the state’s licensed marijuana industry, one representing the New York State AFL-CIO and another being a member of the general public who is selected by the state labor commissioner to serve as chair of the new body. The board would issue a report to the governor and legislature with recommendations on minimum hourly wages for cannabis industry workers. “The report shall include specific recommendations for workers in each of the following areas: cultivation; processing and packaging; distribution; and retail and delivery,” the legislation says. “The board shall have the discretion to include specific recommendations for additional classifications of cannabis industry worker, and an industry-wide minimum wage for workers not captured within any specific classification, and shall have the discretion to determine that wages in the industry are adequate.” Before issuing its report, the board would be required to hold at least three public hearings and could “consult with cannabis employers, cannabis workers, and their respective representatives, in the occupation or occupations involved, and with such other persons, as it shall determine,” the legislation says. The legislation would also eliminate provisions from current law concerning labor peace agreements that marijuana businesses have been required to enter into with unions representing workers. Another section of the bill would require marijuana business license applicants to provide details on their “full ownership structure” and any management service agreements they are party to, as well as information on compensation and scheduled hours for each paid position. A justification memo attached to the bill says its provisions are aimed at “helping to ensure workers in the industry are treated fairly.” But CANY has concerns. “Legal sales are growing. Enforcement against illegal operators is gaining momentum. The Office of Cannabis Management is finally stabilized,” the action alert from the group says. “This is not the time to introduce another layer of uncertainty that could increase costs, make it harder for businesses to compete, and ultimately push consumers back toward the illicit market.” — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — In March, the governor marked the five-year anniversary of adult-use marijuana legalization in New York, highlighting $3.3 billion in retail sales, the opening of more than 600 licensed cannabis shops and achievements in promoting social equity in the industry while taking steps to mitigate the illicit market. In May, New York marijuana officials began accepting applications from licensed dispensaries that want to host temporary cannabis farmers’ markets and pop-up events, known as “Cannabis Showcase Events.” In January, meanwhile, New York regulators released a set of reports providing a 2025 end-of-year status update on the evolution of the state’s medical and adult-use marijuana markets—touting record sales, revenue hauls for state coffers, licensing approvals, equity initiatives and more. The OCM annual report also notes that Hochul signed legislation into law that expands the state’s medical cannabis program by improving patient access and “updating the program framework to better meet patient needs statewide.” Also this year, New York senators approved a bill related to reciprocity for out-of-state medical marijuana patients and the availability of pre-rolled joints in the medical cannabis market—even though the state has already enacted those reforms separately. In February, the sponsor of the bill separately introduced legislation that would allow New York liquor and wine stores to obtain a permit to sell low-dose cannabis-infused drinks at their businesses. Also, the governor in February signed legislation into law that revises zoning requirements for licensed marijuana businesses, granting more flexibility to retailers located within certain distances of schools and places of worship. The post Marijuana Businesses Ask New York Governor To Veto Bill On Minimum Wage For Industry Workers appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Another Republican congressman 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. Rep. James Comer (R-KY), who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has not yet formally filed the proposal, but Marijuana Moment obtained a draft version of the bill. Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, the president signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal after November 12. The draft measure from Comer says that the restrictions on hemp products could not take effect until a year after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) complies with a requirement of that law to publish a list of known cannabinoids in cannabis and provide guidance on the term “container.” The agency was supposed to provide those items by February of this year, but has not done so. Comer’s legislation would also explicitly ban sales of consumable hemp cannabinoid products to people under the age of 21, and would further require that legal products be derived “exclusively from hemp cultivated and processed within the United States.” Consumable hemp products could also only contain cannabinoids that are capable of being naturally produced by cannabis plants. Hemp products that have labeling that imitates trademarked brands or that is marketed toward appealing to children would also be prohibited. The secretary of health and human services would be directed to establish, within 180 days of the bill’s passage, uniform manufacturing and testing rules for hemp foods—including mandatory third-party laboratory testing and good manufacturing practice requirements. The secretary would also set requirements for child-resistant packaging and QR codes linking to laboratory test results. Another provision of Comer’s seven-page bill would codify coverage of hemp products covered under Medicare in line with an initiative launched by the Trump administration earlier this year. Comer’s office did not reply to Marijuana Moment’s request for comment for this story. Last week, another Kentucky Republican, 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. A press release from the congressman’s office claimed that the White House supports the legislation, which is cosponsored by Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), but the administration has not specifically endorsed it despite generally calling for hemp regulations and backing a prior similar amendment filed by Barr. Trump and White House officials have in recent weeks repeatedly pressed Congress to delay, alter or reverse the ban. In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) last month, 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 last month, “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.” Industry advocates say that the law as enacted last year not only threatens to prohibit intoxicating and synthetic cannabinoid products but also stands to remove popular full-spectrum CBD products that many Americans use therapeutically from the market. “ONE in FIVE adults used it in the past year, and many say it improved their chronic pain enormously,” the president said in his social media post, adding that hemp-derived CBD “has made a HUGE difference for so many people.” He also referenced a new initiative the administration launched in April to cover up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products each year for eligible Medicare patients. The program being implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) focuses largely on CBD but also allows products to have up to 3 milligrams of total THC per serving. A federal judge granted the government’s motion to dismiss marijuana legalization opponents’ lawsuit challenging the initiative, but that is being appealed. “In December, I signed a very important Executive Order calling for Research and Innovation for Hemp-derived CBD,” Trump said. “Our wonderful Dr. Mehmet Oz moved fast to follow the directive in the Executive Order, and launched a model for some Seniors earlier this month. But more must be done!” “Please get it done, and SOON,” the president said in reference to a congressional fix for the broad recriminalization set to take effect in November. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!” The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), an alcohol industry trade association issued praise for Barr’s bipartisan hemp regulation bill, but said the measure’s tax provisions require “continued discussion.” Hemp policy observers expect to see a Senate companion bill to Barr’s proposal filed as soon as this week, likely from Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Sheehy recently cited hemp legislation as an area where Republicans and Democrats can work together in an otherwise “hyperpartisan time.” — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile, a new poll from NuggMD found that most cannabis consumers say that state-level hemp product bans that lawmakers are enacting in line with the planned federal recriminalization move are causing them to shift their purchases toward licensed marijuana businesses. The National Restaurant Association recently sent a letter urging congressional leaders to delay the federal recriminalization of hemp THC beverages and replace it with a regulatory framework that “ensures consumer safety while meeting growing market demand” for the products as an alternative to alcohol. Major retailer Target, meanwhile, recently moved to expand its sales of hemp THC drinks into more states. Read the full text of the draft hemp bill below: The post GOP Lawmaker Circulates Another New Bill To Keep Hemp THC Products Federally Legal appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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ID medical marijuana campaign won’t challenge ballot denial; Poll: Hemp bans drive consumers to license cannabis biz; Marijuana taxes study Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… *Rattling the tip jar* Got a few dollars you can spare to help Marijuana Moment pay our writers, keep our website running and grow into the kind of robust news organization the fast-paced world of drug policy deserves? Join us for $25/month and be a part of our work: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW A new federal report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that more Americans now use marijuana on a near-daily basis than drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes every day or almost every day. An Idaho medical cannabis campaign that failed to qualify its legalization measure for the November ballot is pushing back against the secretary of state’s claims about its petitions—but says it won’t file a legal challenge. A new poll of marijuana consumers shows that most say state-level hemp product bans are causing them to shift purchases toward licensed cannabis businesses—but that nearly one in ten now have trouble accessing cannabinoid products. A new federally funded study found that setting marijuana taxes too high leads to reduced sales, and that “given the sizable illegal market, a large portion of the consumption reduction due to taxes may be offset by switching to illegal products.” / FEDERAL Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft cited presidents’ suspended enforcement of marijuana policies as a threat to the rule of law. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) sent a press release about his cosponsorship of a bill to federally legalize marijuana. / STATES Texas’s lieutenant governor and House speaker sent a letter supporting further steps to advance ibogaine research. A spokesperson for North Carolina’s House speaker said the fate of a hemp product restriction bill rests with the chamber’s Republican caucus. A Wisconsin representative discussed his support for medical cannabis but said he’s reluctant to support recreational marijuana legalization. Virginia’s cannabis violation tip line received more than four dozen complaints in its first few weeks. Michigan regulators published a monthly report on disciplinary actions against marijuana businesses. California regulators sent updates on 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. — / INTERNATIONAL Canadian officials revised guidance on cannabis imports, odor mitigation and hemp policies. A Jersey lawmaker said cannabis prohibition “doesn’t necessarily work.” / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “marijuana can be helpful for symptom control and reducing the reliance on pharmaceuticals and may improve quality of life in patients with” inflammatory bowel disease. Case studies demonstrated “improvements in psychological and somatic symptoms following participation in” a psilocybin treatment protocol. / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. hosted a panel on psychedelics at its conference. / BUSINESS SNDL Inc. completed its acquisition of certain assets of Surterra Holdings, Inc. and its affiliates. Trulieve gave $250,000 to the Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund. A federal judge denied Flower Shop’s motion to freeze National Labor Relations Board proceedings concerning allegedly unfair labor practices. / CULTURE ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith said marijuana is a “performance-enhancing drug” and should be banned again by the National Basketball Association. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Daily cannabis use surpasses alcohol & cigarettes (Newsletter: July 29, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Americans are now more likely to use marijuana nearly every day than they are to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol on a daily basis, according to a new federal study. The 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released on Monday, shows that 21.4 million Americans over the age of 12 admit to using marijuana on a daily or almost-daily basis, which is measured as having consumed it on 20 or more days during a 30-day period. In comparison, 17.2 million Americans said they use alcohol every day or almost every day, using the same definition. When it comes to daily cigarette use, the survey only measures respondents who smoked them on each of the past 30 days, with 19.9 million saying they did so. It's official: pot is a more popular daily drug than alcohol or cigarettes. New data[1] from the federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that for 2025: * 21.4M daily/near-daily marijuana users * 19.9M daily/near-daily cigarette users * 17.2M daily/near-daily alcohol… pic.twitter.com/SqHQFlNPDY — Charles Fain Lehman (@CharlesFLehman) July 27, 2026 Daily or near daily marijuana use also outpaces that for nicotine vaping (17.5 million), cigar smoking (2 million) and smokeless tobacco (4.3 million), the results show. The fact that frequent cannabis consumption is now more popular than using alcohol or cigarettes comes as the latter two substances remain completely federally legal, and not subject to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), while marijuana is still largely federally prohibited—although the Trump administration has reclassified medical cannabis as a Schedule III substance and is considering broader rescheduling. The latest results of the annual NSDUH, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that teen marijuana use is continuing to decline, even as more states legalize cannabis for adults—undermining a key argument often voiced by opponents of the reform. Meanwhile, a prior study using NSDUH data found that more Americans now consume cannabis every day than drink alcohol on a daily basis. Since 1992, it showed, the per capita rate of daily cannabis consumption in the country has increased nearly 15 times over. Separate research based on the federally funded Monitoring the Future study showed that younger adults are nearly three times more likely to use marijuana than alcohol on a daily or near-daily basis. Gallup in 2024 reported that its polling data shows that American adults are now more likely to smoke marijuana than tobacco cigarettes. The post Daily Marijuana Use Now Outpaces Alcohol Drinking And Cigarette Smoking, Federal Report Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

With the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products looming in November, a growing number of states are enacting their own laws to ban intoxicating cannabinoid derivates. And most cannabis consumers in those jurisdictions are shifting their purchases toward licensed marijuana businesses, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD and provided exclusively to Marijuana Moment, noted that several states are moving to ban hemp-derived THC products such as THCA—asking, “How have these bans affected your access to cannabis?” Fifty percent of cannabis consumers said they have decided to get their medical marijuana card in response to hemp restrictions, and another 6 percent said they have “switched to licensed dispensaries.” An additional 8 percent said they have had “trouble” finding cannabis products in the wake of state hemp product bans, while 8 percent said they don’t use hemp-derived products and another 8 percent said they weren’t aware of any changes to state laws. The other 20 percent of respondents said state hemp product bans have had “no impact” on their access to cannabis. Q1: “Several states have just banned hemp-derived THC products like THCA. How have these bans affected your access to cannabis?” n: % I got my medical cannabis card 292 50% I’ve switched to licensed dispensaries 33 6% I’ve had trouble finding products 45 8% No impact 116 20% I don’t use hemp-derived products 48 8% I was not aware of these state changes 49 8% “Hemp ban supporters claim the bans will improve public safety, while opponents have argued the bans could push consumers into the illicit market,” Tyler Elson, director of content at NuggMD, told Marijuana Moment. “Our poll suggests these fears may be overblown, at least among frequent consumers. Over half of poll participants said they responded to state hemp bans by getting their med card or switching to state-licensed dispensaries.” “But the potential for hemp bans to push consumers into the black market isn’t zero, and the risk increases in states without accessible medical cannabis programs or adult-use markets,” he said. “Nearly one in ten poll respondents reported having trouble finding products after their state banned hemp.” “Demand doesn’t go away when bans are enacted, and that’s something regulators need to consider before eliminating a product category many consumers have come to rely on as a safer alternative to opioids, alcohol, and other drugs,” Elson said. The survey involved interviews with 583 cannabis consumers who live in state-legal markets, conducted between July 16-20, and has a margin of error of +/- 4.06 percentage points. Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, Trump signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal after November 12—though he has since called on Congress to scale back the scope of the forthcoming restrictions. The new poll results come as a new bipartisan bill in Congress would reverse the scheduled federal ban on hemp products and put in place a number of regulations for manufacturing, labeling, sales and taxation, including an age limit of 21. Trump and White House officials have in recent weeks repeatedly called on Congress to delay, alter or reverse the ban. In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) last month, 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 last month, “while preserving the Congress’s intent to restrict the sale of products that pose serious health risks.” 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 on the same day his administration announced it is moving forward with rescheduling marijuana. “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 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), an alcohol industry trade association issued praise for the bipartisan hemp regulation bill, but said the measure’s tax provisions require “continued discussion.” The post Banning Hemp THC Products Drives Consumers Toward Licensed Marijuana Businesses, Poll Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A campaign that tried unsuccessfully to get a medical cannabis legalization initiative on Idaho’s ballot this year is pushing back against a top state official’s claims about its petitioning drive. Secretary of State Phil McGrane (R) said earlier this month that his office received “received numerous complaints concerning the petition process” for the marijuana initiative—adding that “even under the most favorable assumption” that every petition sheet turned in was timely filed and that every submitted signature was valid, activists still wouldn’t have met minimum requirements. He also said that possible illegal petitioning conduct has been referred to the State Police for “review and potential criminal investigation.” Now, in a letter to McGrane, a lawyer for the Natural Medical Alliance of Idaho (NMAI) says that the campaign “does not agree with several issues” the secretary of state raised—although he made clear that advocates won’t be pursuing a legal challenge to the decision to keep the measure off the November ballot. To be certified for the ballot, the team needed to submit signatures from at least 6 percent of registered voters as of the state’s last general election, which currently amounts to 70,725. They also needed to meet that 6 percent threshold in at least 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts. But the secretary of state said they only turned in 58,024 county-certified signatures and met the local threshold in only 13 districts. The new letter on behalf of NMAI, signed by Jeremy C. Chou of Givens Pursley LLP, said that there was an “unusually high rejection rate” for the cannabis campaign’s petitions. “It appears that well over 10,000 signatures from registered Idaho voters were rejected based on technicalities or legally questionable grounds,” he said. For example, Chou wrote that the decision to reject signatures due to voters from different counties signing a single petition sheet “may have served a purpose when clerks had access only to county records, Idaho now maintains a statewide voter-registration database.” He also said the rejection of signatures because they were undated is “especially concerning because the governing statutes do not expressly require each signer to provide a date.” The NMAI attorney additionally questioned the decision not to accept signatures from voters deemed to be not “active,” writing that “the initiative statutes do not impose a specific registration timeline.” The letter from Chou also notes state officials’ concerns about circulator residency and petition warning requirements, saying that the campaign relied on a contractor to handle much of the signature gathering effort. “If the contractor inadequately documented residency or used an incorrect form, NMAI nevertheless acted in good faith to comply with Idaho law,” the letter, which was first reported by KTVB-TV, says. Regarding the secretary of state’s flagging potentially fraudulent petitioning activity—including the submission of a signature purporting to be from a person who died in 2021—Chou said the campaign “has zero tolerance for fraud and stands ready to cooperate with any fraud-related investigation” and arguing that “a small number of questionable signatures do not undermine the integrity of the broader signature-gathering effort.” Finally, regarding potential campaign finance reporting deficiencies related to disclosures for paid signature gatherers, Chou again put the blame on the petitioning contractor firm. “To the extent the concerns involve reporting of payments to petition circulators, NMAI engaged a professional contractor to manage circulator payments; that contractor held all payment data and was required by law to accurately report that information,” he wrote. “In any event, reporting deficiencies of this kind do not provide a basis for rejecting otherwise valid signatures.” Meanwhile, Black Peak, the petitioning contractor that NMAI first used before switching to a different one, responded to the campaign’s criticism, saying it “stands behind the work we did to help bring medical cannabis access to Idaho voters.” “Our petition circulators operated under clear rules and clear expectations. We collected identification from every circulator we hired, and we confirmed each circulator’s Idaho residency on three separate occasions during the application and onboarding process,” it told KTVB. “Every signature we collected was then subjected to a rigorous validation process, including a forensic handwriting review, before it was submitted.” “As for the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho’s claim that our operation was disorganized, the record tells a different story. Black Peak did the job we were hired to do. The Alliance owes Black Peak a substantial sum for services rendered and has chosen to attack our work rather than pay its bills. Criticizing a vendor you have not paid is not accountability. It is deflection, and Idaho voters deserve better from a group asking for their trust. The problems on this campaign did not begin in the field, and they did not end there. Black Peak remains prepared to resolve any outstanding matters professionally, and we wish the effort to expand patient access in Idaho every success.” While the cannabis campaign submitted more than 150,000 total signatures in May, there were some recent indications that there could be an issue meeting the county-level requirement as well as potentially the statewide total. A judge ruled last month that signatures in Minidoka County were turned in too late to be counted. Separately, some petitions for the medical cannabis measure throughout the state were at risk of being thrown out due to the possibility they may have been collected by out-of-state circulators. Meanwhile, voters in November will see a different kind of cannabis proposal on the ballot: A constitutional amendment that the legislature approved to make it so only lawmakers could legalize marijuana or other controlled substances—preventing the reform from being enacted by voters via a future ballot initiative. While NMAI pursued ballot access for the legalization measure, Idaho lawmakers have also pushed back in other ways. Both the Senate and House of Representatives passed a resolution this session urging voters to “reject” the medical marijuana petition. The measure, sponsored by the Senate State Affairs Committee, claims that cannabis legalization in other states has led to a host of harms, including “increased cartel activity, development of black market marijuana production, human trafficking, and increased crime rates” as well as “increased rates of serious health issues,” environmental harms and “safety concerns on job sites.” It argues that the marijuana initiative would not only increase costs to the state but that its list of approved medical conditions is “so broad that almost anyone could qualify.” “The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act lacks safeguards to such an extent that it would effectively legalize widespread recreational use of marijuana,” the resolution claims. “The legalization of marijuana would have devastating impacts on Idaho children and their families… The Legislature urges the citizens of Idaho to reject any effort to bring the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act to the ballot.” A statement of purpose filed with the legislation says it “addresses the devastating impact that legalizing marijuana has had on other states” and “identifies the significant problems” with the ballot initiative. Contrary to the claims made about marijuana reform in the legislative resolution, advocates often point to data showing that legalizing and regulating cannabis diminishes the size of the illegal market and has not led to increases in youth use. Meanwhile, NMAI recently released an analysis showing that Idaho could see more than $100 million worth of medical marijuana sold on an annual basis and up to $28 million in new yearly revenue for state coffers if voters approved the legalization initiative. The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, which NMAI unveiled last October, would provide patients with qualifying conditions access to marijuana from a limited number of dispensaries and provide a regulatory framework for the market. Here are the main provisions of the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act: Health practitioners would be able to recommend medical cannabis to patients with conditions that include, but are not limited to, cancer, anxiety and acute pain. Medical marijuana patients or their designated caregiver could purchase up to 113 grams of smokeable cannabis, or 20 grams of THC extract for vaping, per month. The state would be start by issuing three vertically integrated cannabis business licenses, after which point it could license up to six total. Marijuana would be reclassified under state law as a Schedule II, rather than Schedule I, controlled substance. State and local law enforcement would be barred from assisting in federal drug enforcement activities related to the state-legal cannabis program. There would be anti-discrimination protections for those who use or sell marijuana in compliance from state law, preventing adverse actions by employers, landlords and educational institutions. It does not appear that there would be any equity-centered reforms, nor would the initiative provide for a home grow option. The campaign in February also released the results of a statewide poll showing that 83 percent of likely voters back medical cannabis legalization, including 74 percent of Republicans, 95 percent of Democrats and 92 percent of independents. Asked how they would vote if the current medical cannabis legalization does appear on the November ballot, 76 percent of respondents said “yes.” Of that cohort, 50 percent said they would “definitively” vote yes, and just 21 percent said they’d vote “no.” After the medical cannabis initiative was unveiled last year, a separate campaign that launched in 2024, Kind Idaho, told supporters that it would be suspending its own signature gathering for a ballot initiative to legalize the personal possession and cultivation of marijuana by adults. Kind Idaho previously introduced medical marijuana ballot measures intended to go before voters in both the 2022 and 2024 elections, but the efforts proved unsuccessful. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Legislators separately held a hearing last year to discuss a bill to enact medical cannabis legalization legislatively, but there hasn’t been meaningful action on the issue in the months since. Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) last year signed legislation setting a $300 mandatory minimum fine for marijuana possession. A prior version of the proposal, which did not pass, would have set a $420 mandatory minimum fine for possessing cannabis. The post Idaho Medical Marijuana Campaign Reacts To State Official’s Claims About Its Unsuccessful Push To Get On Ballot appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

States that impose high tax rates on regulated marijuana products are driving adult consumers to the illicit market, according to a new federally funded study. The research, published in the journal Health Economics, looked at past-month cannabis purchasing behavior of 1,525 adults aged 21 and older. Researchers with Ohio State University found that high cannabis taxes and prices are linked to “lower cannabis consumption and THC intake” from legal purchases, but that the majority of those reductions (89 percent) may be offset by consumers switching to unregulated products from the illegal market. “If the illegal market is restricted, policymakers can expect increasing cannabis prices using excise taxes to reduce both unit and THC consumption, while generating tax revenues,” the study said. “However, given the sizable illegal market, a large portion of the consumption reduction due to taxes may be offset by switching to illegal products.” States have worked to strike a balance between pricing marijuana low enough to transition adults to the regulated market but still high enough to generate revenue. The results so far have been mixed, with no firmly established universal price or tax rate. The study, meanwhile, also demonstrated that legal and illicit cannabis flower are essentially “substitutes for each other.” Raising the price of legal cannabis flower by 10 percent “results in a 0.9 percent-1 percent increase in illegal flower consumption (units and THC),” and the inverse follows a similar pattern, the researchers found. “While the cross‐price elasticities for unit demand between legal and illegal flowers are symmetric (not statistically significant), the cross elasticities for THC demand suggest that the increase in THC from illegal flowers in response to higher legal flower prices exceeds the increase from legal flowers in response to higher illegal flower prices.” Meanwhile, illicit flower seems to serve as a substitute for cannabis cartridges, as a 10 percent increase in the price of a THC cartridge drives consumption of unregulated flower by 0.4 percent. The study was partly funded through a grant awarded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Many states are sacrificing the long-term health and sustainability of the legal cannabis market for theoretical short-term gains reaped by sky-high taxes,” Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, said. “Imposing excessive taxes on legal cannabis strengthens illicit markets while weakening legal ones,” he said. “It encourages consumers to seek out unlicensed sellers who don’t check IDs, who lack the means or the desire to test their products for quality or purity, who operate without any regulatory oversight, and who don’t redistribute their revenues back into their local communities.” — 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. — Separately, a recent analysis from the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) showed that states have generated more than $28.4 billion in tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales since the first markets launched over a decade ago. Some states, it pointed out, are now generating more revenue from legal cannabis than from alcohol. A separate economic analysis released last month by Vangst and Whitney Economics found that, for the first time since state recreational marijuana markets launched in 2014, the industry saw a year-over-year decline in national revenue from cannabis sales in 2025. Photo courtesy of WeedPornDaily. The post Setting Marijuana Taxes Too High Drives Consumers To The Illegal Market, Federally Funded Study Finds appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Marijuana testing in ERs bill advances in Congress; WI gov: stop hemp THC product ban; VT cannabis reforms help combat illicit market 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… Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. Have you thought about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming months and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count on. Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW A new federal study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that teen marijuana use continues to decline as more states legalize cannabis for adults—further undermining a key argument from opponents of the reform. The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved a bill to require the Department of Health and Human Services to study how prevalent drug testing for marijuana, fentanyl and other drugs is in hospital emergency departments. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) sent a letter urging the state’s congressional delegation to “prevent mass disruption of the hemp industry” by stopping the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that’s set to take effect later this year. Vermont Cannabis Control Board Chair James Pepper said a newly enacted law doubling the legal marijuana possession limit “will hopefully encourage more consumers to purchase regulated cannabis”—adding that provisions on interstate commerce could lead to the development of regional standards for the industry. The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission announced that prospective marijuana business licensees will get their application fees refunded as regulators prepare to restart a licensing process that has been stalled due to litigation. / FEDERAL A Drug Enforcement Administration assessment determined that the Trump administration’s military strikes on suspected drug boats have not reduced the amount of cocaine entering the U.S., but have prompted cartels to develop new smuggling methods. Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) tweeted, “I’ve also seen firsthand how psychedelic therapy saves the lives of our veterans. We must make these treatments available here at home.” / STATES Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW gubernatorial candidate Rick Beard is proposing to move medical cannabis into a fully state-run program. A former Arkansas senator said he will work on criminal justice reform issues after being released from prison, where he says he met some of the “finest people,” including a man sentenced to 30 years for selling marijuana. The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Royal Oak’s city manager didn’t violate the open meetings laws while overseeing the selection process for two marijuana businesses. Washington State regulators published an updated list of pesticides allowed to be used on marijuana. Maryland regulators are conducting an investigation over a hemp product vending machine. The New York Department of Labor will host a cannabis careers webinar on Tuesday. — 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 San Francisco, California’s mayor signed a bill to legalize cannabis cafes. / INTERNATIONAL A York, Ontario, Canada police sergeant said there are “probably bigger problems at fast food establishments in the area” than at cannabis dispensaries. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found “decline in cannabis use disorder-related outpatient addiction care seeking following the introduction of the German Cannabis Act.” A study found that “patients receiving cannabis-based products frequently reported substantial seizure reduction and an acceptable safety profile in this real-world public health setting.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS A poll of U.S. likely voters found that 69 percent support forcing the marijuana industry to create a roadside test to detect driving under the influence of cannabis products, similar to an alcohol breathalyzer. / BUSINESS Vireo Growth Inc. is acquiring Planet 13 Holdings Inc. Glass House Brands Inc. retained a former Drug Enforcement Administration official to advise on interstate commerce and export opportunities. Police are investigating the discovery of a camera in the bathroom of a Curaleaf dispensary in Worth, Illinois. / CULTURE MMA fighter Bartlomiej Skowyra pulled a marijuana joint out of his shorts after winning a fight and smoked it. 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 Teen cannabis use is going down as more states legalize, federal study shows (Newsletter: July 28, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“We understand there may be questions about where things stand and where we are headed.” By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current Seventy-five prospective Rhode Island cannabis retailers will soon receive $7,500 refunds as state regulators prepare to restart the licensing process that was halted under a federal court order. The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission on Friday received an update on the timeline for restarting the state’s cannabis retail licensing process after lawmakers eliminated the residency requirement that prompted multiple federal lawsuits that upended the first round of applications. The new cannabis law allows any would-be shop owners who applied the first time for a license to be refunded any fees paid to the commission. “We understand there may be questions about where things stand and where we are headed,” Michelle Reddish, the commission’s new chairperson, said during the meeting. “While we can’t respond to every headline or comment, we remain committed to being transparent about our work and providing updates where we can.” Mariana Ormonde, chief legal counsel for the commission, said during Friday’s meeting that emails would be sent to the owners of would-be pot shops who paid the initial fee with their applications. All prospective retailers are required to pay an application fee of $7,500 and a yearly $30,000 licensing fee. Fees were waived for the first year for approved social equity applicants. Over half of all applicants—56—sought general retail licenses. Another 19 were worker cooperatives while the remaining 23 were for social equity applicants, or those adversely affected by the war on drugs. “Starting today, after this meeting, the office will contact each applicant via email to ensure that the name that is going to be going out on that check and the address is correct,” Ormonde said. Since April 8, the Cannabis Control Commission has been barred from reviewing the 97 license applications submitted for 20 new retail cannabis licenses after a federal judge halted the licensing process amid three lawsuits challenging the state’s requirement that the majority of a business must be owned by a Rhode Island resident. But on June 10, Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed a pair of bills to undo the contested provision. The new law voided the original application process and directs the Cannabis Control Commission to open a new license application process within 60 days, which would be August 10. Ormonde believes regulators will be able to meet that deadline. But she did not commit to a firm timeframe when applications will officially launch since regulators are awaiting court approval, which U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose said she would grant once the lawsuits are kicked down from Boston’s appellate court. Regulators also first have to set up a new certification process for social equity business, a specialty license reserved for those adversely affected by the war on drugs. The new statute eliminates any Rhode Island references in the eligibility criteria for applying for one of six social equity licenses. Businesses must still be majority owned by one or more people who can show they were disproportionally impacted by criminal enforcement of past prohibitions, including being arrested or having a family member who was. Ormonde said final license application criteria will remain the same as the first go-around, which required all would-be retailers to either own property or have a lease agreement before they even apply for a license, along with local zoning approvals. This story was first published by Rhode Island Current. The post Rhode Island Officials Will Refund Marijuana Business License Application Fees As Process Restarts Following Litigation appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Wisconsin’s governor is pushing congressional lawmakers to take action to “prevent mass disruption of the hemp industry” by stopping the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that’s set to take effect later this year. “Hemp has become an increasingly important tool for agricultural diversification, rural economic development, and value-added manufacturing, creating new opportunities for Wisconsin farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers across our state,” Gov. Tony Evers (D) wrote in a letter to members of the state’s U.S. House and Senate delegations. “As Congress considers the future of federal hemp policy, it is essential that any changes provide the certainty and regulatory clarity needed for this emerging industry to continue growing and investing in Wisconsin.” Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, the president signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal after November 12. Evers is specifically asking federal lawmakers to prevent the new ban from taking effect by adding provisions to the next Farm Bill or by passing standalone legislation on the issue, saying he favors a “science-based federal framework that supports innovation, protects lawful businesses, and allows Wisconsin farmers and producers to compete in a rapidly evolving marketplace.” “A strong and needed revised hemp policy in the Farm Bill will also help maintain the over $700 million in economic production Wisconsin’s hemp industry provides, preserve at least 3,500 jobs in the state, strengthen rural economies, and ensure that Wisconsin farmers and businesses can continue building on the progress made since hemp was removed from the Controlled Substances Act in the 2018 Farm Bill.” “Wisconsin farmers and businesses deserve the certainty and support necessary to fully realize the economic benefits of this thriving sector,” the governor wrote, adding that he wants the Farm Bill to strengthen research on hemp and improve the industry’s access to crop insurance and financial services. President Trump's reckless policies and erratic trade wars are hurting our farmers. I'm urging Congress to not turn their backs on our farmers and reauthorize the Federal Farm Bill to: Invest in FoodShare Safeguard our hemp industry Support programs farmers depend on — Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) July 27, 2026 A press release from Evers’s office notes that Wisconsin had 470 federally licensed hemp producers as of last November, arguing that the planned recriminalization will force “closures, layoffs, and lost investment.” “The need to revise the federal hemp law is also critical to the state’s agricultural economy, as the growing of hemp has become a strong diversification option for Wisconsin farmers,” it says. “Without timely federal legislative action, Wisconsin producers may be forced to abandon hemp cultivation altogether, resulting in lost income and diminished economic opportunities, especially in rural communities. In a prior letter earlier this year, Evers similarly called on members of Congress representing Wisconsin to take action to save the hemp industry—saying the issue is “intensified” by the fact that the state has yet to legalize marijuana for medical or adult use. The governor has repeatedly pushed for the broader reform—including marijuana legalization in multiple budget requests, for example—but efforts to enact it have consistently stalled out in the Republican-controlled House and Senate even as adult-use markets have come online in neighboring states such as Illinois and Michigan. Evers is not seeking re-election this year, but he said last year that if his party can take control of the legislature, the state can “finally” legalize marijuana so that residents don’t have to go to neighboring Illinois to visit its adult-use market. Democratic candidates seeking their party’s nomination for governor spoke at a cannabis-focused forum last month, making pledges to advance the cause of legalization if elected even in the face of potential opposition from Republican legislative leaders. In February, a Wisconsin Senate committee approved a limited bill to legalize medical marijuana in the state, but it did not advance any further before the end of the session. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile, bipartisan members of Congress have filed several bills aimed at delaying, preventing or altering the scheduled ban on hemp THC products, but none of those proposals have gained traction with House and Senate leadership/ The post Wisconsin Governor Pushes Congress To Keep Hemp THC Products Legal appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Opponents of marijuana legalization often argue that allowing adults to consume cannabis without punishment will cause more underage teens to use it—but that isn’t what is happening, according to the latest results of a new federal drug survey. The 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released on Monday, shows that 8.7 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 17 use marijuana within the past year. That’s down from 14.2 percent in 2011, the year before the first U.S. states legalized recreational cannabis. Although politicians and organizations that oppose ending marijuana prohibition have warned that the reform would lead to skyrocketing teen use, that hasn’t occurred. In fact, teen marijuana use has declined—dropping considerably over the last several years even as use by adults has risen. Via SAMHSA. The new NSDUH report, published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), shows that marijuana was the most commonly consumed illicit drug, with more than a fifth of population over the age of 12 (21.2 percent) having used it within the past year. That amounts to 61.6 million cannabis consumers, according to the federal government report, representing an increase from 2021, when 19 percent reported using cannabis in the past year. Marijuana use in 2025 was highest among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 (33.7 percent), followed by people 26 and older (20.6 percent). The SAMSHA study shows similar results when measuring past-month use: “Among people aged 12 or older, the percentage who used marijuana in the past month increased from 13.2 percent (or 37.0 million people) in 2021 to 15.1 percent (or 43.8 million people) in 2025. Among adults aged 26 or older, the percentage who used marijuana in the past month also increased from 2021 to 2025. However, the percentages among adolescents aged 12 to 17 and young adults aged 18 to 25 who used marijuana in the past month decreased from 2021 to 2025. For example, the percentage of adolescents who used marijuana in the past month decreased from 6.1 percent (or 1.6 million people) in 2021 to 5.0 percent (or 1.3 million people) in 2025.” To reform advocates, the results of the survey reinforce the idea that creating a regulatory framework for cannabis where licensed retailers must check IDs and implement other security mechanisms to prevent unlawful diversion is a far more effective policy than prohibition, with illicit suppliers whose products may be untested and where age-gating isn’t a strictly enforced regulation. SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher D. Carroll said in a press release that “building on encouraging trends first reported in the 2024 NSDUH, in 2025, adolescents aged 12 to 17 and young adults aged 18 to 25 continued to show downward or stable trends in most behavioral health indicators over the past five years.” The federal survey also looks at the methods by which people are consuming cannabis, finding that smoking was the most common, (74.8 percent or 46.1 million people), followed by eating or drinking (49.2 percent or 30.3 million people), vaping (39.2 percent or 24.2 million people) and dabbing waxes, shatter, or concentrates (14.5 percent or 8.9 million people). Via SAMHSA. Prior research also suggests that marijuana use by young people has generally fallen in states that legalize it for adults. A report from the advocacy group Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), for example, found that youth marijuana use declined in 19 out of 21 states that legalized adult-use marijuana—with teen cannabis consumption down an average of 35 percent in the earliest states to legalize. The report cited data from a series of national and state-level youth surveys, including the annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey, which is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The latest version of MTF, released late last year, found that cannabis use among eighth, 10th and 12 graders “remained stable” even as mort states enacted legalization. Another survey from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also showed a decline in the proportion of high-school students reporting past-month marijuana use over the past decade, as dozens of states moved to legalize cannabis. A separate federally funded study out of Canada found that that youth marijuana use rates declined after the country legalized cannabis. A Canadian government report similarly found that daily or near-daily use rates by both adults and youth have held steady over the last six years after the country enacted legalization. Another U.S. study reported a “significant decrease” in youth marijuana use from 2011 to 2021—a period in which more than a dozen states legalized marijuana for adults—detailing lower rates of both lifetime and past-month use by high-school students nationwide. Separately, a research letter published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2024 said there’s no evidence that states’ adoption of laws to legalize and regulate marijuana for adults have led to an increase in youth use of cannabis. Another JAMA-published study similarly found that neither legalization nor the opening of retail stores led to increases in youth cannabis use. In 2023, meanwhile, a U.S. health official said that teen marijuana use has not increased “even as state legalization has proliferated across the country.” The post Teen Marijuana Use Continues To Decline As More States Legalize It For Adults, Federal Study Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Vermont’s top marijuana regulator says a newly enacted law doubling the legal cannabis possession limit will help ongoing efforts to transition consumers from the illicit market to legal businesses. He also believes that provisions on interstate commerce could lead to the development of regional standards for the industry. “Anything that removes a prohibition will hopefully encourage more consumers to purchase regulated cannabis,” James Pepper, chair of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board, told VTDigger. Last month, Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed a bill allowing adults over the age of 21 to legally possess two ounces of marijuana or 10 grams of hashish—twice as much as they could previously. The new law also takes steps to potentially enable interstate cannabis commerce, creates a pilot program for marijuana sales at events and makes other changes to rules for licensed businesses. The enacted legislation allows the governor to enter into compacts with other states for cross-border cannabis trade, with the text noting that there is a “shifting federal posture on regulated cannabis markets” and saying it is “the intent of the General Assembly to prepare for the possibility of regional or interstate cannabis markets.” A provision says that such agreements could only move forward if federal law is amended to allow for interstate transfer of cannabis, if a federal law is enacted that blocks use of agency funds to prevent such transfers, if the U.S. Department of Justice issues a memo allowing or tolerating such activity or if the state attorney general certifies that entering into interstate marijuana commerce agreements “will not result in significant legal risk to this State based on review of federal judicial decisions and administrative action.” Pepper, the top marijuana regulator, told VTDigger that “if all of a sudden we wake up and the federal government is allowing for interstate commerce of cannabis products, we now have an easier path toward having regional standards for cannabis products.” He added that the pilot program for events—which will allow on-site sales, but not consumption—provide a unique opportunity for cannabis growers. “One complaint that the Legislature has heard consistently is that we don’t have an ability for a cultivator to kind of build their own brand,” he said. “There’s very little opportunity for a customer to know their grower and interact with the person that actually produced the cannabis that they’re purchasing.” — 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 newly enacted law additionally says that housing rental agreements cannot prohibit tenants from “possessing cannabis or cannabis products within the rental premises or using cannabis or cannabis products within a dwelling unit, except that a rental agreement may prohibit the use of lighted cannabis or cannabis products intended for inhalation within the rental premises.” It also eliminates the vertically integrated license type and reduces licensing fees for cannabis cultivation businesses, among other technical changes to current statute. Earlier versions of the bill would have altered potency restrictions for cannabis products, reduced taxes and allowed on-site consumption licenses and delivery services, but those provisions were removed during the legislative process prior to final passage. In 2018, Scott signed a bill to legalize marijuana possession and home cultivation and then allowed subsequent legislation to legalize commercial cannabis sales to take effect without his signature in 2020. The post New Vermont Law Doubling Legal Marijuana Possession Limit Will Help Combat The Illicit Market, Top Regulator Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A congressional committee has approved a bill to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study how prevalent drug testing for marijuana, fentanyl and other drugs is in hospital emergency departments. The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the legislation in a unanimous 46-0 vote last week. The measure from Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) is known as “Tyler’s Law,” after Tyler Shamash, a 19-year-old who died following a fentanyl ingestion in 2018 and was not tested for the drug when brought to the hospital for a suspected overdose. The panel’s Subcommittee on Health previously approved the bill last month. While the legislation, H.R. 2004, is largely focused on fentanyl, it says that within a year of passage the HHS secretary would need to complete a study to determine “how frequently hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl (in addition to testing for other substances such as amphetamines, phencyclidine, cocaine, opiates, and marijuana) when a patient is experiencing an overdose.” The study would also need to look at costs associated with fentanyl testing, the potential benefits and risks of such testing and how it may impact patients’ experiences—including with respect to confidentiality and privacy protections and the patient-physician relationship. The bill, which has 65 House cosponsors, says that within six months of completing the study, HHS would also need to issue guidance covering: “(1) Whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose. (2) How hospitals can ensure that clinicians in their hospital emergency departments are aware of which substances are being tested for in their routinely-administered drug tests, regardless of whether those tests screen for fentanyl. (3) How the administration of fentanyl testing in hospital emergency departments may affect the future risk of overdose and general health outcomes.” “A simple drug test can mean the difference between life and death,” Lieu said in a press release. “Tyler’s Law is a bipartisan and commonsense piece of legislation. It is a privilege to work with Tyler’s mom, Juli, to honor Tyler’s memory and fight so no other family is forced to undergo such devastating loss.” The bill is expected to head next to the House floor after its approval by the committee. — 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. — Companion legislation in the Senate from Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) was approved by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in January—but not before being amended to remove the language that references marijuana and other drugs besides fentanyl. Unlike the House bill, the HHS secretary would have three years to complete the study on hospital drug testing under the amended Senate proposal. In April, a pair of Republican senators filed a separate bill that would require the federal government to track the cost of hospitalization due to marijuana use. The Marijuana Impact on Medicaid Act of 2026 from Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) would require the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to compile data on “Federal and State expenditures under the Medicaid program…that are attributable to costs incurred for providing medical assistance for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, and for services received at a hospital emergency room…related to marijuana use.” The bill’s language is similar to two amendments Budd previously filed on the cannabis and hospitalization issue that didn’t end up being considered on the Senate floor. The post Congressional Committee Approves Bill To Require Federal Health Officials To Track Testing For Marijuana And Other Drugs In Hospital ERs appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net