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“These products have the potential to reshape how Americans approach wellness by offering accessible, plant-based alternatives that complement traditional care, but realizing that potential will require more than enforcement discretion.” By Thomas Winstanley, Edibles.com For years, the hemp-derived CBD market has operated in a paradox: federally legal, widely available and increasingly normalized—yet lacking a clear regulatory framework that gives consumers confidence and businesses stability. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) latest move to exercise enforcement discretion for certain CBD products is a meaningful step forward, underscoring how incomplete and fragile the current system remains. At its core, FDA’s posture acknowledges that hemp-derived cannabinoids are part of Americans’ daily wellness routines. By signaling that it does not intend to enforce certain provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act against qualifying orally administered CBD products, the agency is recognizing a practical path forward, and one that is rooted in a supplement-style framework with guardrails around safety, labeling and marketing. That matters. For the first time in decades, cannabinoids are being discussed in terms that resemble the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. The implication is a viable lane for CBD products that aligns with how consumers already engage with wellness through vitamins, nutraceuticals and other over-the-counter formats with established expectations around dosing, transparency and quality. But let’s be clear about what this is and what it is not. This is not full regulatory approval. It does not establish CBD as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS), nor does it create durable protections for the broader market. Instead, it reflects a policy of selective enforcement under narrow conditions. Products must meet supplement-style standards, avoid contamination, not appeal to children and be distributed within a physician-directed, Medicare-related framework. That last point is where the gap becomes most obvious. FDA’s position is confined to a highly specific use case tied to healthcare programs. It does little to address the far larger and more dynamic reality of a national consumer market spanning retail, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer platforms. This is where millions of Americans already access CBD and where businesses have built entire categories in the absence of federal clarity. The industry is no longer a fringe experiment. Since the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived products have grown into a multi-billion-dollar sector, expanding access to cannabinoids in ways that state-regulated cannabis markets cannot. In doing so, the category has helped normalize THC and reshape public perception, bringing new consumers into the fold and broadening acceptance of plant-based alternatives for wellness. Consumers are integrating these products into their daily lives. Sleep support, stress management, recovery and general well-being are now core use cases. From small businesses to national platforms, companies have also invested heavily in building responsible, compliant offerings to meet that demand. Yet the rules governing this market remain fragmented and, at times, contradictory. Federal agencies continue to send mixed signals. States have implemented a patchwork of inconsistent standards. Responsible operators like those investing in testing, labeling and compliance are forced to compete alongside bad actors exploiting regulatory gray areas. The result is a market that functions, but not efficiently and certainly not safely at scale. This is why FDA’s move, while encouraging, falls short of a comprehensive solution. Selective enforcement is not regulation. It offers temporary flexibility, not long-term certainty. It signals tolerance, not endorsement. Without congressional action, the entire category remains exposed to sudden policy shifts that can disrupt supply chains, deter investment and erode consumer trust. In fact, recent legislative developments risk moving the industry backward. The narrowing of the federal definition of hemp under the latest appropriations framework introduces new ambiguity around product eligibility, particularly for cannabinoids that fall outside traditional interpretations. Without a clear federal standard, we risk creating an outcome worse than the problem policymakers are trying to solve. Overly restrictive or unclear rules will not eliminate demand. They will simply redirect it, potentially toward unregulated or imported products that lack basic safety oversight. That is a genuine consumer protection risk. At the same time, the U.S. stands to dismantle a largely domestic supply chain just as it reaches meaningful scale, undermining farmers, manufacturers and retailers who have built this industry responsibly. None of this is to dismiss FDA’s progress. The agency deserves credit for taking a pragmatic step forward. Its emphasis on contamination-free products, responsible marketing and clear labeling reflects principles the entire industry should support. These are not controversial standards. They are baseline expectations. However, they must be applied broadly, not selectively. FDA’s latest action signals growing alignment within the executive branch and among lawmakers that a federal framework is needed. It reflects openness to integrating cannabinoids into established regulatory systems. It also reinforces the importance of safety and oversight. What it does not do is solve the problem. Only Congress can provide the clarity this market requires. A comprehensive federal framework that establishes consistent standards for manufacturing, labeling, distribution and access is needed. This step is essential to unlocking the full potential of hemp-derived cannabinoids. The opportunity is significant. These products have the potential to reshape how Americans approach wellness by offering accessible, plant-based alternatives that complement traditional care, but realizing that potential will require more than enforcement discretion. It will require policy. Until then, FDA’s shift is a step in the right direction. It is not the destination. Thomas Winstanley is the executive vice president and general manager of Edibles.com®, an innovative and trustworthy marketplace of high-quality THC products that offers convenient delivery direct to the consumer. Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney. The post FDA’s New Hemp CBD Enforcement Move Is Encouraging, But Congress Still Needs To Enact Real Regulations (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives has passed budget legislation proposed by the governor that relies on revenue that would be generated from recreational marijuana sales, which have not yet been legalized in the state. The Democratic-controlled House voted 107-94 on Tuesday to approve the spending plan from Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) who earlier this year included cannabis legalization and the resulting expected revenue in his budget request. The vote was largely along party lines, though five GOP lawmakers joined Democrats in supporting the bill. The $53.2 billion budget legislation, which doesn’t itself include provisions to actually legalize marijuana even as it contemplates allocating money that would result from it, now heads to the Senate for consideration. “This legislation reflects the proposal put forward by Governor Shapiro in February and builds on the work we have diligently done,” House Majority Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris (D) said. “This budget continues our investment in public education, support for law enforcement, and strengthening Pennsylvania’s economy, all while returning money to working families and not raising taxes.” The Senate’s Republican majority leadership has continually criticized cannabis legalization, including a bill that the House passed last year that would put marijuana sales in state-owned stores. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-) and Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R) said in a joint statement on Tuesday that they “continue to have profound concerns about the level of spending in the budget proposed by Governor Shapiro and passed by the House today.” “Moving a budget plan forward is an important step in the process, but much work remains to reach a final agreement which respects taxpayers both now and in the future,” they said. “We will continue to fight for a more fiscally responsible spending plan that better positions our Commonwealth to grow and prosper, without placing unreasonable financial burdens on Pennsylvania families and taxpayers.” Shapiro, for his part, said the budget legislation “builds on the progress we’ve made and continues Pennsylvania’s rise—putting money back in folks’ pockets, investing in schools, expanding our workforce, keeping our communities safe, and growing our economy.” “The ball is now in the State Senate’s court. It’s time to get to work to deliver for Pennsylvanians,” he said. BREAKING: The Pennsylvania House just passed my budget proposal with bipartisan support — a 107-94 vote. This budget builds on the progress we've made and continues Pennsylvania's rise — putting money back in folks' pockets, investing in schools, expanding our workforce, keeping… — Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 14, 2026 Also on Tuesday, the House Health Committee approved a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and other healthcare facilities The legislative developments come as a new poll shows that seven out of ten Pennsylvania likely voters support legalizing adult-use marijuana—including majority backing for the reform across party lines. When asked whether they “support or oppose the regulation and taxation of legal cannabis for use by adults 21 and older in Pennsylvania,” 69 percent of respondents said yes. Support was strongest from Democrats, at 72 percent, but also includes 67 percent of Republicans and 64 percent of independents. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s governor is increasing pressure on lawmakers to send him a bill to legalize marijuana in the state, saying that doing so would generate new revenue that could be invested in key programs. “While some in Harrisburg claim we can’t afford to make bigger investments in our kids, public safety, and our economy, know this: If we legalized and regulated adult-use cannabis, we’d bring in $1.3 BILLION in revenue for our Commonwealth over the first five years,” Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said in a recent social media post. “Those are dollars that can be invested back into our people and our communities,” he said. “Stop with the excuses. Let’s get this done.” 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. With a proposed 20 percent wholesale cannabis excise tax, 6 percent state sales tax for retail and licensing fees, IFO said the governor’s legalization plan would generate $140 million in tax revenue in the first year of implementation from 2027-2028 and increase to $432 million by 2030-2031. That’s a much higher revenue estimate than what the governor’s office put forward in the latest executive budget. According to his office’s analysis, legalization would generate about $36.9 million in tax dollars in its first year from a 20 percent wholesale tax on marijuana—rising gradually to $223.8 million by 2030-2031. In February, a coalition of drug policy and civil liberties organizations urged Shapiro to play a leadership role in convening legislative leaders to get the job done on cannabis legalization this session. Last month, the Senate Law and Justice Committee amended and approved a bill to create a Cannabis Control Board (CCB) to oversee the state’s medical marijuana program and intoxicating hemp products and that could eventually regulate adult-use cannabis if it is legalized in the state. The post Pennsylvania House Passes Governor’s Budget Plan With Expected Revenue From Marijuana, Which Hasn’t Yet Been Legalized appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Cannabis law is constantly evolving—we’re just doing our best going forward with the Cannabis Act that we’ve been provided that we need to follow.” By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant The two-person Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission and staff met behind closed doors for around an hour Tuesday morning to discuss last week’s federal court order halting the process that was set to award 20 new retail licenses as soon as May. Three and half hours later, the commission filed an appeal against the April 8 ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa Dubose involving three federal lawsuits challenging the state’s requirement that all cannabis license holders must be majority owned by Rhode Island residents. No details of the commission’s conversation on the three federal lawsuits filed by out-of-state entrepreneurs, along with the commission’s next steps, were disclosed upon their return to open session. The only action taken during the special meeting was to seal the minutes of the executive session and adjourn at around 12:30 p.m. The state’s appeal was filed at 4:04 p.m. A public update will come Friday during the panel’s monthly open session at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) offices in Warwick, chief legal counsel Mariana Ormonde told Rhode Island Current after the meeting. “I know for a lot of people this looks like it came out of left field,” she said. “But we’ve been litigating these cases for years, and we actually got the cases dismissed at one point—now they’re back.” Commissioner Robert Jacquard issued a similar statement at the beginning of the meeting before making the motion to enter executive session. “We talk about litigation cases in every executive session of our regular monthly meeting,” he said. “This is not as if we have not talked about them in the last week. Due to the opinion that came out last week, we thought it was prudent that we meet as soon as possible to talk about this again because we know how important it is to so many people.” Plaintiffs in each case argued the residency requirement violated the dormant commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits states from engaging in protectionist practices against other states. DuBose had initially dismissed the complaints in February 2025 since two were filed before the state’s inaugural cannabis regulations were enacted in May 2025 by the commission. But the cases were revived in December by Boston’s federal appeals court, which demanded DuBose rule based on the merits of the cases. The recent injunction against the state means none of the 97 prospective applicants can get their applications reviewed by regulators. It also means would-be business owners will continue to bleed money as they wait to learn whether they can open up their stores. Lisa Ann Pontarelli, part-owner of a social equity applicant in Cranston, told Rhode Island Current that she and her partners have collectively put in “at least six figures” in their bid to open up a shop at a former Pizza Hut on Reservoir Avenue. “Everything’s in order, everything is waiting,” she said while the commission was meeting in closed session. “It’s all crazy that we’ve been waiting here because of a decision from a judge that doesn’t really make any sense.” The ruling does make sense to the ACLU of Rhode Island, whose executive director notes that federal law generally supersedes state law when there’s a conflict. “I don’t think a state law becomes immune from constitutional scrutiny because people would argue that they probably shouldn’t have the power to pass the law in the first place,” ACLU of Rhode Island Executive Director Steven Brown said in a phone interview Tuesday. Michael Yelnosky, a professor at Roger Williams University School of Law, said while cannabis is an unlawful market at the federal level, that does not mean states that allow its sales are exempt from judicial interpretation of the dormant commerce clause. “It’s not a legal market, but it’s a market,” he said. Legal challenges have been filed against states that tried to impose residency requirements, including Maine and New York. Both states then had to update their retail cannabis license rules. Washington’s residency requirement was upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier in the year. Because of the other legal challenges, applicant Jason Calederon, who hopes to open a shop in North Kingstown, says the commission should have tried to get Rhode Island’s law changed at any point throughout the lawsuit. “At any time, they could have called the House or Senate and said we need to amend this law,” Calderon said. “It’s their ball to run.” Two state lawmakers, both Providence Democrats, introduced legislation that would eliminate the residency requirement from Rhode Island’s cannabis law at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session. Rep. Scott Slater (D) introduced his bill on January 30. A companion bill by Sen. Jacob Bisaillon (D) was introduced February 6. Both bills were the subject of committee hearings by their respective chambers on March 12 and held for further study, as is standard procedure for an initial review by a legislative panel. But Brown warns the legislation as written may not fully resolve the state’s legal challenge. Both bills still include Rhode Island references in its requirements to apply for social equity licenses, which are reserved for those adversely affected by the war on drugs. The 2022 Rhode Island Cannabis Act requires social equity applicants to be from a “disproportionately impacted area.” Among the qualifiers are being from an area where 75 percent or more of the children participate in the federal free lunch program, according to reported statistics from the Rhode Island Board of Education. “Those Rhode Island references are just as problematic because they would have the same effect of automatically disqualifying any out-of-state applicants for these particular licenses,” Brown said. Ormonde says the commission’s role is to abide by the laws set by the General Assembly. “The statute is the province of the legislature,” she said. “Cannabis law is constantly evolving—we’re just doing our best going forward with the Cannabis Act that we’ve been provided that we need to follow.” Slater told Rhode Island Current Tuesday he’s still awaiting guidance from the Cannabis Control Commission’s attorneys on what language could be added to ensure the changes to Rhode Island’s cannabis law meet constitutional muster. “Maybe by Friday when they convene and release more details they’ll have some fixes,” he said in a phone interview. An agenda has not yet been posted for Friday’s meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. The Cannabis Control Commission has three members, but the chair has been vacant since October when former Chairperson Kim Ahern resigned to pursue a run for state attorney general. Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for Gov. Dan McKee’s (D) office said in an email Tuesday that the search process is underway and “remains a priority.” “We’ll share updates as they become available,” DaRocha said. This story was first published by Rhode Island Currant. The post Rhode Island Marijuana Officials Appeal Federal Court Ruling Blocking Licensing Lottery appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A Virginia lawmaker who sponsored a bill to provide resentencing relief for people with past marijuana convictions that the governor is proposing to significantly scale back says he will accept those changes, even if he is not happy about them. As approved by lawmakers, HB 26 from Rozia Henson, Jr. (D), along with companion bill SB 62 from Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas (D), would create a process by which people who are incarcerated or on community supervision for certain felony offenses involving the possession, manufacture, selling or distribution of marijuana could receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of their sentences. Under the amendments proposed to the cannabis legislation by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) on Monday, however, affected persons would have to proactively file petitions to get the relief instead of having the courts proceed automatically. Henson said on Tuesday that his legislation was “built for the people still paying the price for something Virginia has since made legal.” “If the commonwealth changed the law, it has an obligation to revisit the consequences still being borne by people convicted under the old one,” he said. The relief would apply to people whose convictions or adjudications are for conduct that occurred prior to July 1, 2021, when a state law legalizing personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana went into effect. Under the bill as approved by lawmakers, state and local corrections officials would have been required to identify and notify eligible people of their rights for resentencing relief and then work with courts to schedule hearings automatically “No one would fall through the cracks simply because they lacked a lawyer or did not know to ask,” Henson said. “The amendment shifts that entire burden onto individuals navigating incarceration or active supervision; often without the information or resources to file a petition on their own.” The governor’s office claimed in a press release that her amendments “clarify that under no circumstances would reconsideration be allowed for violent offenses that remain illegal in Virginia—from armed burglary to firearm possession to distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and other dangerous drugs.” Henson said he shares “the governor’s commitment to ensuring that violent offenders are not eligible for this relief; and that commitment is reflected in the bill itself, which already excluded individuals convicted of acts of violence under Virginia law.” “We are aligned on that principle,” he said. “What I continue to believe, however, is that this amendment changes something else entirely: whether the people who do qualify will have to find their own way to the courthouse door.” Spanberger’s release did not make any mention of her major actual change to the bill, which is to remove its provisions for automatic relief for people with cannabis convictions. Despite the disagreement, the lawmaker said he is willing to accept the governor’s amendment. “A petition pathway is a real pathway, and I am not willing to let the perfect be the enemy of the good when people’s freedom is at stake,” Henson said. “But acceptance is not the same as agreement.” “The communities most harmed by decades of marijuana enforcement deserve a process that meets them where they are; not one that requires them to navigate the legal system alone while still behind bars. I will be working to ensure that legal aid organizations, public defenders, and community groups have the resources they need to help eligible individuals access the relief this law provides. To every Virginian still carrying the weight of a marijuana conviction; and to every family that has watched a loved one remain incarcerated for something Virginia has since made legal; I want you to know that this moment is not the end of the fight, it is proof that the fight is working. Change is hard and it is rarely as fast or as complete as it should be, but we are moving forward.” pic.twitter.com/T2o4H8oAHh — Delegate Rozia A. Henson Jr (@Henson4Virginia) April 14, 2026 Spanberger’s amendment also removes deadlines for court hearings on resentencing relief. Similar legislation was approved by lawmakers last session but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). Meanwhile, Spanberger is also suggesting large-scale amendments to separate legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales in the Virginia—including by delaying the start date for sales by six months, increasing taxes and instituting new criminal penalties for cannabis consumers. The sponsors of those bills are also pushing back against Spanberger’s proposed cannabis amendments, though unlike Henson they have given no public indication that they are willing to accept them. Separately, Spanberger signed several other reform bills this week—including measures to protect the parental rights of marijuana consumers and allow patients to access medical cannabis in hospitals. The post Virginia Lawmaker Worries Governor’s Marijuana Resentencing Bill Amendment Will Let People ‘Fall Through The Cracks’ appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Maryland’s governor has signed legislation to provide legal protections for veterinarians who recommend medical marijuana for animals. Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Tuesday approved a pair of bills to make it so the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners cannot “suspend or revoke a license, reprimand or censure a licensee, or place a licensee on probation solely on the basis of the licensee discussing or recommending the use of cannabis…or a product that contains cannabidiol on an animal for potential therapeutic effect or health supplementation purposes.” SB 54 from Sen. Clarence Lam (D) and HB 452 from Del. Michele Guyton (D) had both cleared each chamber of the legislature in unanimous votes this session. The new law will take effect on October 1. At the Senate bill’s hearing before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in February, Lam said the proposal came about from conversations he had with veterinarians. “I’d heard from some vets who were concerned, because they had heard from animal owners or pet owners that some of their pets and animals were experiencing things like cancer,” he said, “and their veterinarians were not able to even discuss the options for cannabis use for those animals to be able to alleviate alleviate their pain and suffering for those animals, even if the animal owner requested it.” The lawmaker said a letter about the issue sent by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners a few years ago “has given a lot of caution to veterinarians to even talk about whether cannabis might be helpful for an animal.” The legislation now heading to the governor’s desk, Lam argued, will help by “setting a baseline level of protection to ensure that veterinarians are able to answer their clients’ or customers’ questions and provide evidence-based information about the use of cannabis and CBD products for pets who may need them.” Matthew Weeman of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association told the committee that the bill will “reinforce the veterinary client patient relationship and allow us to have a discussion with our clientele.” “This is a topic that comes up frequently, and in small animal medicine, in particular…CBD products are available over the counter,” he said. “Consumers are taking those in. They’re giving them to their pets, and they come to us with questions, and most of us feel a little bit hamstrung and that we try to keep up on this, but we can’t discuss it with them, knowing that [state officials] could take punitive action against our license if we do that.” The legislation, Weeman said, “removes a layer of ambiguity at the state level and helps us to just reinforce that communication so that we can keep pets safe and clients informed of the questions that they’re bringing to us every day.” — 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, Maryland lawmakers are also recently sent the governor legislation to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job. They also passed bills to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027, charging it with developing updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel substances and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. The post Maryland Governor Signs Bills To Protect Veterinarians Who Recommend Medical Marijuana For Animals appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says that while marijuana industry workers are not currently eligible under the “No Tax on Tips” law signed by President Donald Trump last year to write off any gratuities they receive, that could change in the event of federal legalization. The agency discussed the issue in a final rule for implementing the policy that was published in the Federal Register on Monday. One person who submitted a public comment in response to an earlier draft rule that was circulated in September “noted that State-legal cannabis industry workers operate in regulated, State-compliant industries and should not be excluded merely because their employers engage in commerce that involves a federally classified controlled substance,” IRS said in the new filing. It is not uncommon for so-called budtenders to receive tips from customers at the point of purchase in marijuana dispensaries, similar to bartenders who serve alcohol or baristas who pour coffee. However, the new IRS rule says that “qualified tips” do not include those “received while performing services that are misdemeanors or felonies under applicable law”—and cannabis remains federally illegal. “Workers in the cannabis industry must meet statutory and regulatory requirements like any other employee to be eligible for the deduction for qualified tips,” IRS said in response to the public comment. “Tips received by these workers must be received in an occupation that is included on the List of Occupations that Receive Tips and must not be received for a service the performance of which is a felony or misdemeanor under applicable law, including under Federal law, to be qualified tips eligible for the deduction under section 224.” While current federal law and some state laws consider marijuana to be illegal, “if Federal law changes, making certain marijuana-related transactions legal, and those same transactions are legal under State law, then tip amounts received in such transactions may be qualified tips if all other requirements for qualified tips are met. No change was made in the final regulations in response to this comment,” the agency said. Meanwhile, IRS told the U.S. Tax Court in a filing that while marijuana may soon be rescheduled under federal law, that doesn’t currently exempt state-legal cannabis businesses from a law known as 280E that bars them from taking federal tax deductions. In response to a petition to the court filed by the New Mexico marijuana business Ultra Health—which challenged the conventional interpretation of the IRS code, which applies to tax deduction claims connected to the sale of Schedule I and Schedule II drugs under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)—IRS said the issue has already been soundly settled by Congress and various federal courts. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has separately discussed prior attempts to challenge 28oE as it applies to state-legal marijuana businesses. In a report published in February, CRS pointed out that judges in the Tax Court issued a majority opinion upholding 280E and determining that the statute doesn’t violate the U.S. Constitution “because the disallowance of deductions does not constitute a ‘penalty’ for the purposes of the Eighth Amendment.” Meanwhile, IRS in 2024 warned the marijuana industry that some companies have, without a “reasonable basis,” filled out a supplementary form in an attempt to take federal tax deductions that they’re prohibited from receiving under a provision known as 280E. The federal tax issue may ultimately be resolved if the Justice Department follows through on an executive order Trump issued in December directing officials to move cannabis to Schedule III “in the most expeditious manner,” but there haven’t been any updates on the status of that process in the months since the president signed the order. The post Marijuana Budtenders Could Qualify For ‘No Tax On Tips,’ IRS Says, But Only After Federal Legalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Fed 4/20 DUI campaign; MD 1st responder medical marijuana bill passes; TN anti-cannabis bill to gov; PA medical cannabis in hospitals; Vape 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… Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is rolling out a 4/20-themed public education campaign aimed at deterring marijuana-impaired driving around the unofficial cannabis holiday. The sponsors of Virginia legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales are forcefully pushing back against Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D) suggested amendments—saying they raise “serious concerns about fairness, access and public safety.” Maryland lawmakers sent Gov. Wes Moore (D) a bill to let firefighters and rescue workers use medical cannabis off duty, with the sponsor saying first responders “should not be punished for seeking legal, medically prescribed relief.” Tennessee lawmakers sent Gov. Bill Lee (R) legislation to block an automatic review that could have legalized medical cannabis under state law following federal marijuana rescheduling. The Pennsylvania House Health Committee approved a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals, long-term care nursing facilities, assisted living residences and other healthcare facilities. A new marijuana study found that “vaporization reduced harmful byproducts by up to 99% compared to joint smoke.” “These results demonstrate that combustion—not cannabis itself—is the primary driver of harmful inhalation byproducts, and that controlled vaporization can significantly reduce exposure to these compounds.” Idaho medical cannabis activists say they have collected more than 100,000 signatures for a legalization initiative they want to place on the November ballot as the petition deadline at the end of this month approaches. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission signed off on rules for licensing, businesses and products—sending them to Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) and Gov. Jim Pillen (R) for final approval. / FEDERAL The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted a podcast about the “growing dangers of vaping and high-potency cannabis among youth.” The Government Accountability Office published a report about Department of Justice enforcement of laws related to unauthorized e-cigarettes. / STATES Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) vetoed legislation to protect people from being charged for possessing illegal drug residue. The Maine House of Representatives rejected a bill to require testing and tracking of medical cannabis. A New Jersey law restricting hemp products took effect. California regulators filed proposed changes to cannabis pesticide testing rules. Colorado regulators published guidance on marijuana business compliance issues. Michigan regulators posted guidance about marijuana taxes. Washington, D.C. regulators are asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging their medical cannabis business licensing framework. Oregon regulators adopted a new state health improvement plan that includes a strategy to “destigmatize psilocybin as a culturally responsive option for healing and wellness.” The Maryland Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council will meet on Wednesday. The Nevada Cannabis Advisory Commission’s Scheduling Hemp Subcommittee will meet on Friday. — 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 British Columbia, Canada’s health minister said it is “disappointing” that the province rolled back its drug decriminalization trial. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “CBD is well tolerated in individuals with [anorexia nervosa]” and that “indication of better weight recovery and improvement of eating disorder specific symptoms in the CBD group suggest treatment effects of CBD.” A study found that “adolescent cannabis [criminal legal system]-referred treatment rates decreased overall by 81.6% from 2010 to 2022.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Albany Times-Union editorial board is urging New York officials to address health issues related to marijuana use. / BUSINESS Verano is being sued for allegedly mishandling medical cannabis patients’ private data. Michigan retailers sold $255.5 million worth of legal marijuana products in March. 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 Virginia lawmakers push back on governor’s cannabis amendments (Newsletter: April 15, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“We are collecting thousands of signatures a day at this point to make sure that we get over that threshold in each legislative district.” By Clark Corbin, Idaho Capital Sun Supporters of a proposed medical cannabis ballot initiative in Idaho said they have gathered more than 100,000 signatures and are making a final push in hopes of qualifying the proposal for November’s general election ballot by the April 30 deadline. A group called the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho is hoping to legalize medical cannabis as a treatment option for Idahoans with debilitating medical conditions like cancer, post traumatic stress disorder, AIDS, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. Under Idaho law, cannabis means the same thing as marijuana, and the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Currently, all forms of cannabis are illegal in Idaho but recreational marijuana or medical cannabis are available in all of Idaho’s bordering states other than Wyoming. Supporters said they want to legalize medical cannabis to give people with serious medical conditions and chronic pain an alternative to opioid medications. “We’ve had hundreds of people email us about how they’re suffering with PTSD or they’re suffering with epilepsy and they’re driving across the border and illegally buying gummies because they would like some dignity in their care, in their state, but they can’t get it, and they’re still accessing these things because they’re right there and available,” said Amanda Watson, a Boise-based spokeswoman for the initiative. “This framework would allow for really strong regulation, restricted access and it’s a medical program.” Opposition is being led by the Republican-controlled Idaho Legislature, which is pushing a competing marijuana measure on November’s ballot and is calling for voters to reject the medical cannabis ballot initiative. “The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act lacks safeguards to such an extent that it would effectively legalize widespread recreational use of marijuana,” Idaho legislators warned in a resolution adopted earlier this month. Who is behind the Idaho medical cannabis ballot initiative? Rob Cronin, a Sun Valley businessman who has opened several restaurants in Idaho and across the country, serves as the chairperson and treasurer for the Natural Medicine Alliance PAC. In an interview last week, Cronin said his experience as a cancer survivor and his friendship with the late Dr. Dori Tunney, a physician and philanthropist, inspired him to help push the medical cannabis ballot initiative. Tunnery was diagnosed with glioblastoma and treated her pain with opioids that brought on severe side effects, curbed her appetite and led to a severe physical decline, Cronin and Watson said. During treatment in California, where cannabis is legal, Tunney tried a medical cannabis gummy and Cronin and Watson said her appetite and sleep returned to normal and her pain decreased. Cronin and Watson said Tunney began advocating for legalizing medical cannabis in Idaho in 2022, a push that continued until her death in 2024. Cronin said he also had severe side effects when he used opioid medications after surgery from his cancer treatment. Cronin said he weighs 175 pounds today, but his weight dropped to 119 pounds due to nausea, loss of appetite and loss of sleep caused by opioids. “The pain was just outrageous and I was hammering Vicodin like it was going out of style,” Cronin said. “I can tell you firsthand that I would have chosen a cannabis alternative to opioids all day long, because the opioid puts you on that funky roller coaster of, ‘Oh, I feel better. Oh, I’m depressed, and my life sucks. Oww, now I’m in pain. another opioid. Oh, I’m depressed again and my life sucks.’ It really messes with your head.” Cronin and Watson said they met each other while volunteering with Tunney to support cancer patients in Idaho. Cronin and Watson said they are supporting the measure in order to try to finish the job for Tunney before the Idaho Legislature can attempt to further restrict voters’ ability to legalize medical cannabis in Idaho. Watson said most of the funding for the initiative comes from an investment from Double Springs Ranch, which Tunney and her husband owned. The ranch is located in central Idaho and produces hemp and hemp fiber and raises Black Angus cattle. What is a ballot initiative and what will it take to get medical cannabis on the November ballot? In Idaho, a ballot initiative is a form of direct democracy where the voters of Idaho—not the Idaho Legislature—vote on whether to pass a proposed law. Organizers say they are bringing the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act to voters as a ballot initiative because the Idaho Legislature has not taken action to legalize medical cannabis. All of Idaho’s neighboring states other than Wyoming offer either medical cannabis, like Utah, or recreational marijuana, like Washington, Oregon, Montana and Nevada. In order to qualify for the November general election, organizers need to collect signatures from 6 percent of registered voters statewide, which is 70,725 valid signatures. On top of that raw total, organizers also need to collect signatures from 6 percent of registered voters in at least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts. The deadline to submit signatures to the state for verification is April 30. “I would say we are cautiously optimistic,” Watson said Friday. “We are collecting thousands of signatures a day at this point to make sure that we get over that threshold in each legislative district. There’s some rural parts of Idaho that we’re working really hard to hit that 6 percent in. Right now, we’ve collected over 100,000 raw signatures.” The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho is using paid signature-gatherers in an effort to meet the requirements to qualify the initiative for the election. The alliance pays $25 per hour plus incentives, Watson said. If the initiative qualifies for November’s general election, it would take a simple majority of votes to approve it. Why does the Idaho Legislature oppose cannabis? If the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act qualifies for the ballot, there would be competing marijuana-related questions on the November ballot. The Idaho Legislature has already come out in opposition to medical cannabis and placed a proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution known as House Joint Resolution 4 on the November ballot. If approved by a majority of voters, House Joint Resolution 4 would make it so that only the Idaho Legislature, not voters, could legalize marijuana or other narcotics. “Too many legislatures across this nation have sat back and just waited as initiative after initiative would come after them, until they finally overwhelm it and overwhelm the legislature,” state Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, said last year. “We are acting because that’s our responsibility.” During the 2025 legislative session, the Idaho Legislature and Gov. Brad Little (R) passed a law that creates a mandatory minimum fine of $300 for anyone convicted of simple marijuana possession, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. This year, the Idaho Legislature also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 127, which encourages Idaho voters to reject the medical cannabis ballot initiative. In the resolution, legislators warn that legalization of marijuana and medical cannabis has created problems for other states and would increase the budget and costs for the Idaho Department of Health Welfare at a time when state revenues are uncertain. Idaho legislators also allege that the requirements to obtain a medical cannabis card would be so loose that almost anyone would be able to get one. “The 18 medical conditions that qualify one to obtain a medical cannabis card, including insomnia, anxiety, and acute pain, are so broad that almost anyone could qualify,” Idaho legislators wrote. On Thursday, officials with the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office said 10,232 signatures have been submitted so far, and the office has marked 4,698 of those signatures as valid. How would the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act work? Here are the basics of how the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act would work if it qualifies for the November election and a majority of Idaho voters pass the act. Idahoans would be able to apply for a renewable medical cannabis card by presenting medical records showing a substantial or terminal health condition, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, MS, post traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain. Meanwhile, the state would initially issue three medical cannabis production licenses across the state that would allow a licensee to grow, produce, distribute and sell medical cannabis to individuals with a valid Idaho medical cannabis card. When Idaho’s population increases by 650,000, additional production licenses could be issued – up to a total of six in the state. The application process for a production license requires a valid Idaho hemp license in good standing, submission of an operational plan, background checks and the use of a pharmacist for oversight. The act would allow each license holder to operate up to six retail locations, two facility locations, fulfillment centers, warehouses and distribution centers. For individuals with an Idaho medical cannabis card, online ordering, delivery and pickup at distribution centers would be allowed. Using medical cannabis in public and sharing medical cannabis with someone who does not have an Idaho medical cannabis card would be prohibited in Idaho under the act. It would also be illegal to drive, operate a boat, operate aircraft, operate heavy machinery or drive a train under the influence of medical cannabis. This story was first published by Idaho Capital Sun. Photo courtesy of Carlos Gracia. The post Idaho Medical Marijuana Campaign Has More Than 100,000 Signatures For Legalization Ballot Measure As Deadline Nears appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Virginia lawmakers who sponsored bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales are pushing back forcefully against the governor’s suggested changes to their legislation. On Monday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) proposed amendments to the cannabis commerce legalization measure—including delaying the start date for sales by six months, increasing taxes and instituting new criminal penalties for cannabis consumers. Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D) said the governor’s substitute of her legislation “represents a significant departure from the framework passed by the General Assembly, raising serious concerns about fairness, access and public safety.” “By making the legal market harder to access, this proposal allows the illicit market to continue to thrive in every corner store in our Commonwealth. That undermines the core goals of legalization and increases the likelihood of untested products, inconsistent potency, and lacks consumer protections,” she said. “It also weakens safeguards designed to prevent youth access and ensure accountability ultimately posing a risk to public health and safety.” Del. Paul Krizek (D), who sponsored the cannabis bill in the House of Delegates, said Spanberger’s proposal “creates a less accessible legal marketplace.” “These changes reduce the number of available licenses, delay the launch of retail sales and impose high barriers to entry, resulting in revenue losses, delayed economic opportunity for market participants and the elimination of investment to small businesses,” he said. “These barriers do not eliminate demand, it simply redirects it back to the illicit market.” Delegate @KrizekForVA and I release the following statement as our historic legislation HB642/SB542 establishing a regulated adult-use cannabis retail market in Virginia was substantially rewritten: pic.twitter.com/58GY4nwVqh — Senator Lashrecse Aird (@lashrecseaird) April 14, 2026 Meanwhile, Spanberger signed several other cannabis bills on Monday—including measures to protect the parental rights of consumers and allow patients to access medical marijuana in hospitals. She also proposed amendments to legislation to provide resentencing relief for people with past convictions and to change rules for marijuana delivery services. Personal marijuana possession and home cultivation of marijuana has been legal in Virginia since 2021, but former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) twice vetoed bills to provide consumers with a way to legally purchase regulated adult-use cannabis. Aird said that the governor’s amendment “substantially introduces harsh escalating criminal penalties that risk repeating the very harm legalization was meant to correct, particularly in communities that have historically been harmed by prohibition, while simultaneously encouraging intoxicating hemp products to continue to be sold without any safeguards.” Krizek said “Virginians have not been waiting since 2021 for a legal retail marketplace that will expand criminal penalties, introduce new felony tiers for cannabis-related offenses and expose individuals to lifelong prison sentences while Virginia is actively correcting these wrongs from the past.” Here are the other key details of the cannabis bills— SB 542 and HB 642—as approved by lawmakers and with the governor’s suggested amendments: Lawmakers voted to allow adults to be able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in a single transaction, or up to an equivalent amount of other cannabis products as determined by regulators. That represents an increase from the limit in current law of 1 ounce. The governor, however, wants the amount increased to only 2 ounces. Under the legislature’s plan, legal sales could begin on January 1, 2027, but the governor is proposing to push that back to July 1, 2027. Lawmakers voted to impose an excise tax of 6 percent on cannabis sales as well as a 5.3 percent retail sales and use tax, while allowing municipalities to set an additional local tax of up to 3.5 percent. The governor’s plan is largely the same, though it would increase the excise tax to 8 percent starting on July 1, 2029. Under the legislation as approved by lawmakers, revenue would be distributed to the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund (30 percent), early childhood education (40 percent), the Department of Behavioral & Developmental Health Services (25 percent) and public health initiatives (5 percent). The governor, however, wants to put all revenue into the general fund while earmarking it “for purposes such as early childhood education, behavioral health, public health awareness, prevention, treatment, and recovery services, workforce development, reentry, indigent criminal defense, and targeted reinvestment in historically disadvantaged communities.” The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee licensing and regulation of the new industry, and would also take on oversight of hemp, which is currently under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Local governments could not opt out of allowing marijuana businesses to operate in their area. Delivery services would be allowed. Serving sizes would be capped at 10 milligrams THC, with no more than 100 mg THC per package. The governor is proposing to make public marijuana use a class 4 criminal misdemeanor instead of civil violation punishable by a $25 fine as under current law. She also wants to make possessing cannabis by people under the age of 21 a class 1 misdemeanor, punishable with a mandatory minimum fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service, as well as the suspension of drivers licenses for at least six months. Illegally selling or distributing 50 pounds or more of marijuana would be a class 2 felony punishable by life in prison. The governor is seeking to eliminate support for the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund. Existing medical cannabis operators could enter the adult-use market if they pay a licensing conversion fee that is set at $10 million. Cannabis businesses would have to establish labor peace agreements with workers. As passed by lawmakers, the bill would have directed a legislative commission to study adding on-site consumption licenses and microbusiness cannabis event permits that would allow licensees to conduct sales at venues like farmers markets or pop-up locations, but the governor is proposing to remove that language. The legislature is set to reconvene to address the governor’s proposal on April 22. The post Virginia Marijuana Bill Sponsors Push Back Against Governor’s Proposed Changes appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“There is a standard process for review of regulations which will be followed.” By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission unanimously signed off on formal regulations over the budding supply chain Monday, nearly a year after issuing the first regulations. Guidelines have ebbed through temporary 90-day periods since just before July 1. The rules have been extended multiple times and largely define restrictions on medical cannabis establishments, including licenses that can be issued, security requirements, types of products that can be sold to patients and which doctors can recommend the medicine. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) has a legal duty to review the formal regulations for legal and constitutional compliance. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) then has the final say. Hilgers has been openly critical of the voter-approved laws and some bills in the Legislature. He and Pillen questioned the legality when the laws took effect December 12, 2024, following overwhelming voter approval the month before—71 percent for legalization, 67 percent for regulations. “Both the governor and the attorney general believe that serious issues remain regarding the validity of these [ballot measure] petitions under federal law and the Nebraska Constitution,” Pillen and Hilgers said at the time. “The federal government has designated marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance. Under federal law, it is unlawful to either possess or sell Schedule I controlled substances.” Nebraska also finds itself in a precarious, one-of-a-kind situation: it has no congressional protections for a state medical cannabis program from federal interference. It’s unclear why Nebraska was left off the latest update in January. Today, 47 states are protected. ‘Standard process for review’ Pillen, at times, has tried to strike a different tone than Hilgers, offering administrative support and setting aside more than $2 million in the latest round of state budget adjustments for the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, which houses the Medical Cannabis Commission, as decided by voters. The state’s three liquor commissioners serve on both commissions. The governor also signed off on the temporary regulations just before the voter-imposed July 1 deadline. He supports access to the medicine in part to prevent recreational marijuana. This time, Pillen’s signature on the regulations would give a more permanent force of law. Asked for comment Monday, Hilgers spokesperson Suzanne Gage said: “There is a standard process for review of regulations which will be followed.” Gage did not respond to a follow-up question about whether Hilgers’s questioning about the constitutionality and validity of the 2024 laws would impact his review. President Donald Trump has sought to expedite a move started under President Joe Biden to federally downgrade marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. Schedule I drugs, such as heroin, LSD, ecstasy and peyote, are drugs the federal government has classified with a high likelihood of abuse and no currently accepted medical value. Schedule III drugs are defined as those with moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, such as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine and testosterone. Hilgers and Pillen have spoken against the rescheduling effort. Trump has endorsed both for reelection this year. Legal protections for providers At Monday’s commission meeting, some advocates told the four commissioners they question whether the program will be functional after the derailing of legislation last week that would have given legal protection to health care providers who recommend medical cannabis. Under current law, Nebraskans with a health care practitioner’s recommendation can legally possess up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis. The recommendation does not have to come from an in-state doctor. The commission has decided to restrict access to commission-licensed dispensaries—the only route for legal sales in the Cornhusker State—to patients with in-state recommendations. Since the laws took effect, advocates and lawmakers say no Nebraska physicians have issued recommendations, in part due to fear of retaliation, including from Hilgers. Some patients have turned to other states for recommendations or to buy the medicine in the meantime. Bill Hawkins of the Nebraska Hemp Company said the defeat of the 2026 bill might mean no in-state doctors sign up through the commission, making access to commission-licensed dispensaries impossible. Physicians would also need to complete annual education to qualify. Commissioners, responding to public comments on the regulations, said they want to limit it to Nebraska providers, “but might consider a waiver process in the future.” Last year, Hilgers spoke against such protections in a larger regulatory bill. He said all health care licenses are subject to review, unless these protections have passed. The AG’s Office told KETV last week that it is “responsible for ensuring the safety of patients.” “[The Attorney General] is charged with reviewing complaints as to medical professionals who violate the terms of their licenses,” the AG’s Office told KETV. “We take that obligation very seriously, and the office will look at any medical professional who has been alleged to have violated the conditions of their license.” ‘Games with people’s lives’ State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, who sought the legal protections this year, pulled his bill last week. He said it was “hijacked” by a handful of “hostile” amendments that imperiled the “goal of making a functioning medical cannabis program available to sick Nebraskans.” Among the amendments were requirements that protections only be allowed if the recommendation was “based upon a preponderance of the current scientific evidence.” And only in-state providers could be protected if they followed current or future state regulations. Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the group that led the 2024 petition drive, said the defeat of Cavanaugh’s bill was “one of the most disgraceful displays” she had seen in the Legislature. She said politicians played “games with people’s lives.” “I hope they will remember who ignored their vote and dismissed their suffering, because I know I will,” Eggers said. “I will remember who forced me to go home and tell my son we failed him again.” Eggers, whose pre-teen son, Colton, has severe epileptic seizures, told the commission Monday it must work harder and faster and answer questions about when the program will be accessible. Next steps for the commission One of the commission’s four licensed cultivators asked for a slight variance in its grow plan so it will be ready for harvest by October 1. The cultivator’s representative, Michael Johnson, said refusal would delay planting until 2027. The commission granted the change 4-0. Also Monday, the commission decided to move forward with hiring its own legal counsel rather than working with an attorney from Hilgers’ soffice. Some commissioners said it was about optics and the appearance of “impropriety,” not a judgment on the legal help so far. The commission will also seek to hire an executive director and day-to-day staff. The passage of another, much smaller medical cannabis bill this year, the first in state history, gave the commission the authority to set fees. That requires new regulations, which will have to wait for Hilgers and Pillen to sign off on the latest set of rules. Any delay in approving the latest regulations could delay licensing of manufacturers, transporters and dispensaries and bottleneck the supply chain this fall. Patients urge action Tiffany Tex Gustafson, a double above-the-knee amputee who is paralyzed from the chest down, told the commissioners she is one patient waiting. She lives with one kidney, diabetes, gastroparesis and she is blind in one eye, which she said is the result of pharmaceuticals. Gustafson said when voters spoke, she “finally felt hope,” that her suffering mattered, and she would no longer be a “criminal to survive day to day.” But she said hope is “slipping away.” “I don’t have the luxury of waiting for political comfort. My pain doesn’t wait,” Gustafson testified. She continued: “I’m not asking for special treatment. I’m just asking for dignity. My pain is real. The question is, is your empathy real? Do you even care?” The next scheduled Medical Cannabis Commission meeting is 1 p.m. May 11. This story was first published by Nebraska Examiner. The post Nebraska Officials Approve Medical Marijuana Rules, Sending Them To Attorney General And Governor appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Federal transportation officials are rolling out a public education campaign aimed at encouraging people not to drive under the influence of marijuana on or around the upcoming unofficial cannabis holiday known as 4/20. “Relevant, timely messaging is an important addition to any communication plan, as it creates an opportunity for engagement with the community,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said of its new campaign pegged to Monday’s stoner holiday. “On the 20th of April, also known as 420—a number associated with marijuana use—marijuana users might observe a day of increased marijuana use,” the agency said. “We have themed material that reminds drivers: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different and that it’s dangerous and illegal to drive impaired.” The campaign includes graphics and sample press releases that state and local agencies can use to encourage people in their areas not to operate motor vehicles while impaired. One ad depicts a video game arcade cabinet that says “Game Over” and “If You’re High, Get A Ride.” The screen shows a bong with smoke coming out, a cannabis leaf and a car. NHTSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, also provides talking points about the issue, including suggestions that people “designate a sober driver who won’t be using any drugs or call a ridesharing service or taxi.” It also reminds consumers that in every U.S. state and territory—including those that have legalized cannabis use and sales—it remains illegal to drive under the influence. “Whether the drug is legally obtained or not, drug-impaired driving poses a threat to everyone on the road,” it says. “If you think driving while high from marijuana won’t affect you, you are wrong: It has been shown that marijuana can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.” Another ad in NHTSA’s 4/20 campaign shows a man separately appearing to be intoxicated from alcohol and high on marijuana and says, “You wouldn’t drive drunk. Don’t drive high.” The agency is also providing suggested text for electronic highway message boards: DRIVING HIGH RISKS LIVES DRIVE SOBER AVOID THE HAZE DRIVE SOBER ON 420 AND 24 7 A SOBER RIDE KEEPS EVERYONE ALIVE ON 420 DONT DRIVE HIGH SECURE A SOBER RIDE ON 420 The 420-themed campaign is just one of several “special activations” under NHTSA’s broader If You Feel Different, You Drive Different campaign. Others are pegged to Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and winter holidays. NHTSA recently partnered with the Ad Council on a separate campaign to “challenge the dangerous belief that it’s safe to drive after consuming marijuana,” with a disturbing ad that they said depicts a real-life story of a child killed by a driver who was under the influence of cannabis. That campaign represented a departure from recent cannabis-related NHTSA ads, which have taken a less “Just Say No” approach to marijuana use risk messaging and, at times, leaned into to cannabis culture to promote education around the potential consequences of driving while high. What stood out about the messages and graphics was the lack of fear-mongering and negative depictions of cannabis consumers that’s long been a hallmark of federal marijuana PSAs, such as those funded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in the 1990s and 2000s that perpetuated stigmas about laziness or forgetfulness. Instead, NHTSA seemed to be leveraging cannabis culture, with warnings against impaired driving that are coupled with images meant to appeal to marijuana consumers. It’s unclear if the more recent shift to alarmist messaging is directly or indirectly responsive to language in a spending bill approved by the House last year that would block the federal traffic safety agency from supporting ads to “encourage illegal drug or alcohol use.” Prohibitionists have celebrated the inclusion of those provisions. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said in August that he was prepared to “double down” on increasing awareness about the risk of marijuana-impaired driving in partnership with the White House. In 2021, meanwhile, NHTSA tried to get the word out about the dangers of impaired driving through an ad featuring a computer-generated cheetah smoking a joint and driving a convertible. Critics noted that the world’s fastest land animal hardly fits the stereotype of a cannabis consumer that the government has historically played into, while other commenters pointed out at the time that the ad made the cheetah look confusingly cool as he’s broke the law. The agency also played on horror-movie tropes in a 2020 ad featuring two men running for their lives from an axe murderer. The pair ultimately find a vehicle to escape the scene, but the driver pauses before he turns the key in the ignition. “Wait wait wait,” he says. “I can’t drive. I’m high.” While it’s widely understood that driving under the influence of cannabis is dangerous, the relationship between consumption and impairment is a messy one. In 2024, for example, a scientific review of available evidence on the relationship between cannabis and driving found that most research “reported no significant linear correlations between blood THC and measures of driving,” although there was an observed relationship between levels of the cannabinoid and reduced performance in some more complex driving situations. “The consensus is that there is no linear relationship of blood THC to driving,” the paper concluded. “This is surprising given that blood THC is used to detect cannabis-impaired driving.” Meanwhile, the Department of Justice recently announced a new breakthrough in the development of a marijuana breathalyzer, with a study partly funded by the federal government showing a potential pathway for a “portable, low cost” device that looks like an inhaler for asthma, built with 3-D printed material that can detect delta-9 THC without secondary lab analysis. Federal agencies outside of DOJ have also recognized the need for the THC detection technology. For example, last year the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the U.S. Department of Commerce planned a workshop aimed at facilitating “an open and candid discussion” about the development and implementation of device to test a person’s breath for marijuana impairment. In 2023, a federally funded report by researchers at NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder concluded that evidence does “not support the idea that detecting THC in breath as a single measurement could reliably indicate recent cannabis use.” A DOJ researcher in 2024, meanwhile, cast doubt on whether a person’s THC levels are even a reliable indicator of impairment, saying states may need to “get away from that idea.” That issue was also examined in a federally funded study in 2024 that identified two different methods of more accurately testing for recent THC use that accounts for the fact that metabolites of the cannabinoid can stay present in a person’s system for weeks or months after consumption. Also that year, researchers behind a federally funded study said they’d developed new procedures to enhance the selectivity of a popular forensic testing method, allowing better detection of delta-9 THC and its metabolites in blood. A study published in 2019 concluded that those who drive at the legal THC limit—which is typically between two to five nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood—were not statistically more likely to be involved in an accident compared to people who haven’t used marijuana. Separately, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in 2019 determined that while “marijuana consumption can affect a person’s response times and motor performance … studies of the impact of marijuana consumption on a driver’s risk of being involved in a crash have produced conflicting results, with some studies finding little or no increased risk of a crash from marijuana usage.” In a report in 2024, NHTSA said there’s “relatively little research” backing the idea that THC concentration in the blood can be used to determine impairment, again calling into question laws in several states that set “per se” limits for cannabinoid metabolites. “Several states have determined legal per se definitions of cannabis impairment, but relatively little research supports their relationship to crash risk,” that report said. “Unlike the research consensus that establishes a clear correlation between [blood alcohol content] and crash risk, drug concentration in blood does not correlate to driving impairment.” The post Feds Launch Campaign Warning Against Marijuana-Impaired Driving Ahead Of 4/20 appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill to block an automatic review that could potentially legalize medical marijuana under state law following the federal rescheduling of the drug. Under current Tennessee law, federal reclassification of a substance triggers an automatic review by the state’s commissioner of health and commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services. But under HB1972 and its companion SB1603, which lawmakers voted to send to Gov. Bill Lee (R) on Monday, that would not be the case when it comes to cannabis. “If marijuana is rescheduled or deleted as a controlled substance under federal law, then the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services shall not reschedule or delete marijuana under [state drug laws] unless the general assembly has established a regulatory framework for marijuana and authorized the commissioner to reschedule or delete marijuana as a controlled substance,” the bill says. Sen. Ferrell Haile (R), the lead sponsor of the senate legislation, said, “We don’t want the Wild West out here. We want the General Assembly deciding how we decide and deal with things.” But Sen. Kerry Roberts (R) argued that it’s unlikely the legislature “will ever do anything” to legalize medical cannabis. “We haven’t done anything for years,” he said, according to The Tennessean. “So if the feds make a decision to reschedule, delete or redesignate, I just don’t have any confidence that we’ll ever do anything.” Last month, however, House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R) said the push to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) could remove roadblocks at the state level. “My biggest objections are being resolved by the federal government right now in rescheduling cannabis and rescheduling specifically marijuana and allowing the doctors to take over and make a determination on how and if these substances could be helpful,” Lamberth said. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in Tennessee similarly discussed how the federal move to reclassify marijuana could open the door to medical marijuana reform after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in December directing officials to finalize the process. House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) said at the time that rescheduling represents a “first step” to medical cannabis reform in Tennessee, though he noted there are still certain outstanding logistical questions to answer. “There will have to be conversations about who manufactures it, who tests it, who distributes, which medical illness could it be used for, does this require [federal Food and Drug Administration, or FDA] approval and a host of other questions,” Sexton said. Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Tennessee Lawmakers Vote To Block Potential State Medical Marijuana Legalization After Federal Rescheduling appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

As Pennsylvania lawmakers consider the governor’s proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, separate legislation to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and other healthcare facilities is advancing. The House Health Committee approved the bill from Rep. Dan Frankel (D), who chairs the panel, in a 23-3 vote on Tuesday. If enacted into law, HB 2254 would require hospitals, long-term care nursing facilities, assisted living residences and personal care homes to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis on the premises, provided that doing so does not interfere with their broader treatment plan and that marijuana isn’t vaporized in a way that “could impact care to other patients.” Smoking cannabis is not allowed under Pennsylvania’s broader medical marijuana law. Within 180 days of the bill being enacted, covered healthcare facilities would have to “develop and disseminate written guidelines for the use or administration of medical marijuana.” That would need to include requirements that cannabis be stored in locked containers, safety measures to protect other patients and staff, specificity on the forms of marijuana that are allowed and procedures for documenting use. The legislation says that facilities are not required to administer medical cannabis to patients to to allow its use in emergency departments, but it also says that those that facilities violate the broader policy on allowing use can be assessed a civil penalty of up to $500 for each violation for each day a violation continues. The measure also provides that if the Department of Justice, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or another federal agency takes action against a healthcare facility over the use of medical cannabis, facilities should suspend compliance with the law. Finally, the bill would require the state Department of Human Services to prepare a sample medical marijuana plan for healthcare facilities and to host at least five educational sessions about the issue. “The needs of terminally ill patients were a key consideration when Pennsylvania enacted the Medical Marijuana Act. The law includes provisions allowing patients in care facilities to access medical marijuana by designating a caregiver to administer and even permits facility staff to serve in that role,” Frankel wrote in a cosponsorship memo for the legislation. “While some facilities in Pennsylvania have chosen to permit the use of medical marijuana, adoption remains inconsistent across the state. As a result, many terminally ill patients continue to face barriers to accessing medical cannabis during inpatient or end-of-life care.” “This measure will ensure patients have access to effective symptom relief while maintaining safety and compliance within care settings,” he said. Prior to approving the bill, the panel on Tuesday adopted an amendment that Frankel said “makes explicit the liability protections for facilities that are required to allow medical marijuana use” and “clarifies timeliness so that the requirement to allow use only begins once guidelines are in place.” The amendment also “exempts psychiatric facilities in settings where people may be dealing with cannabis use disorder,” he said. The medical cannabis bill’s advancement comes as a new poll shows that seven out of ten Pennsylvania likely voters support legalizing adult-use marijuana—including majority backing for the reform across party lines. When asked whether they “support or oppose the regulation and taxation of legal cannabis for use by adults 21 and older in Pennsylvania,” 69 percent of respondents said yes. Support was strongest from Democrats, at 72 percent, but also includes 67 percent of Republicans and 64 percent of independents. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s governor is increasing pressure on lawmakers to send him a bill to legalize marijuana in the state, saying that doing so would generate new revenue that could be invested in key programs. “While some in Harrisburg claim we can’t afford to make bigger investments in our kids, public safety, and our economy, know this: If we legalized and regulated adult-use cannabis, we’d bring in $1.3 BILLION in revenue for our Commonwealth over the first five years,” Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said in a social media post last week. “Those are dollars that can be invested back into our people and our communities,” he said. “Stop with the excuses. Let’s get this done.” Earlier this year, the governor again included marijuana legalization in his budget request to lawmakers, but so far the legislature has not enacted the reform. The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives last year passed a bill to legalize marijuana and put sales in state-owned dispensaries, but the Republican Senate majority has criticized that plan while also not advancing a cannabis legalization model of its own. The state’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) reported in February that legalizing cannabis in Pennsylvania would generate nearly half a billion dollars in annual revenue by 2028, an estimate that is a significantly larger cash windfall compared to projections from Shapiro’s own office. With a proposed 20 percent wholesale cannabis excise tax, 6 percent state sales tax for retail and licensing fees, IFO said the governor’s legalization plan would generate $140 million in tax revenue in the first year of implementation from 2027-2028 and increase to $432 million by 2030-2031. That’s a much higher revenue estimate than what the governor’s office put forward in the latest executive budget. According to his office’s analysis, legalization would generate about $36.9 million in tax dollars in its first year from a 20 percent wholesale tax on marijuana—rising gradually to $223.8 million by 2030-2031. In February, a coalition of drug policy and civil liberties organizations urged Shapiro to play a leadership role in convening legislative leaders to get the job done on cannabis legalization this session. Last month, the Senate Law and Justice Committee amended and approved a bill to create a Cannabis Control Board (CCB) to oversee the state’s medical marijuana program and intoxicating hemp products and that could eventually regulate adult-use cannabis if it is legalized in the state. The post Pennsylvania Lawmakers Approve Bill To Allow Medical Marijuana Use In Hospitals For Terminally Ill Patients appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Vaporizing marijuana releases far fewer harmful chemicals than smoking joints does, according to a new study. “These results demonstrate that combustion—not cannabis itself—is the primary driver of harmful inhalation byproducts, and that controlled vaporization can significantly reduce exposure to these compounds,” the study conducted and self-published by the vape device company PAX found. Lighting marijuana on fire through smoking releases a number of harmful or potentially harmful compounds (HPHCs)—including benzene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Vaporization, in contrast, heats cannabis to below the point of combustion while still releasing cannabinoids and terpenes. The research—conducted by Richard Rucker, who serves as PAX’s director of product integrity, and Derek Shiokari, a senior chemist and data scientist at the company—compared aerosol generated by PAX’s dry herb vaporization device (FLOW) and its oil vaporization device (TRIP) with smoke from combusted marijuana joints. The team compared levels of 16 HPHCs between the methods of consumption, all using the same batch of ground Lemon Cake Batter cannabis from Humboldt Farms. “Across all measured analytes, vaporization reduced harmful byproducts by up to 99% compared to joint smoke,” they concluded. Via PAX. “Combustion produces harmful byproducts—whether it’s tobacco, wood or cannabis,” Rucker said in a press release. “By heating cannabis without burning it, vaporization significantly reduces the formation of these toxic compounds. It’s the same plant, but completely different exposure. This research helps quantify the difference, giving consumers clearer information about how their choices impact exposure.” When cannabis is lit on fire via smoking, its components like cannabinoids, terpenes, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates experience thermal degradation and oxidation. That leads to the formation of particulate matter and generates additional compounds such as volatile organic compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen-containing compounds, among others, the study said. “Combustion of cannabis plant material produces a complex aerosol containing numerous harmful byproducts generated through pyrolysis and oxidation. Under matched puffing conditions, vaporization of cannabis flower reduced exposure to these harmful compounds by up to 99% compared with joint smoke. These findings demonstrate that combustion is the primary source of toxic chemical exposure during cannabis smoking, and that vaporization technologies can substantially reduce formation of these byproducts.” “Across the sixteen quantified HPHCs, vapor aerosol contained up to 99% lower concentrations compared with joint smoke,” the paper concluded. “These results demonstrate dramatic reductions in key combustion markers including aromatic hydrocarbons and aldehydes.” Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post Vaporizing Marijuana Reduces Harmful Inhaled Byproducts By 99% Compared To Joint Smoking, New Study Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Maryland lawmakers have sent the governor a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job. The House of Delegates approved the Senate-passed legislation, SB 439 from Sen. Carl Jackson (D) in a 108-23 vote on Monday, about two weeks after passing a companion measure, HB 797 from Del. Adrian Boafo (D). The Senate bill, now having cleared both chambers in identical form, heads next to the desk of Gov. Wes Moore (D), who can sign or veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature. The identical House bill cleared a committee in the opposite chamber but did not receive floor action there by the time lawmakers adjourned for the session on Monday night. The passage of the legislation 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. 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 this session. “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.” SB 439 and HB 797 would amend 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 could not face employment discrimination or retaliation for testing positive for cannabis metabolites if they’re a registered medical marijuana patient. Specifically, employers could not “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 could not “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 would prohibit 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 would be reported to the State Emergency Medical Services Board. The advancement 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. — Meanwhile in Maryland, lawmakers also recently sent the governor legislation to provide legal protections for veterinarians who recommend medical cannabis for animals. Another proposal that has passed the legislature and awaits the governor’s action would extend 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. The post Maryland Firefighters And Rescue Workers Could Use Medical Marijuana Off Duty Under Bill Heading To Governor’s Desk appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Feds want anti-marijuana groups’ lawsuit dismissed; PA legalization poll; Target adds new hemp THC drink licenses; NORML consumer freedom survey 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 Health and Humans Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Director Mehmet Oz filed a brief moving to dismiss a lawsuit from anti-marijuana groups that are suing to block a plan to cover hemp products for eligible patients. Notably, the government’s motion to dismiss was prepared in part by Matthew Zorn, a lawyer for HHS who before taking on the federal job led numerous cases suing government agencies on behalf of plaintiffs seeking marijuana and drug policy reform. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) is asking lawmakers to amend a recreational marijuana sales legalization bill—including by pushing back the launch date for the market by six months. She also signed bills to protect marijuana consumers’ parental rights and allow medical use in hospitals, while additionally suggesting amendments to legislation to provide resentencing relief for prior cannabis convictions. A new poll of Pennsylvania likely voters shows that 69 percent support legalizing marijuana—with majority backing among Republicans, Democrats and independents, and from every age, racial and geographic demographic. Target is significantly expanding its entry into the hemp-derived THC drinks market by obtaining 72 new lower-potency hemp edible licenses from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management—one for each of its stores in the state and making it the largest holder of such licenses. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is conducting a survey ahead of 4/20 to find out what cannabis consumers think about freedoms in the jurisdictions where they live. John Grady of the Slaphappy Hemp Company argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that the hemp industry didn’t kill itself as was claimed in another recent piece but is being targeted by a campaign of “market consolidation dressed as consumer protection.” “Something real—something built with care—is being dismantled by people who never had to love it to profit from it.” A Nebraska senator is pushing back against regulators’ restrictive proposed hemp rules that will classify many products as “adulterated” under the state’s Pure Food Act and block their sales. / FEDERAL A U.S. Army spokesperson addressed the case of a reserve officer who is being disciplined for owning a licensed New York cannabis business by saying that any member “who wrongfully uses, manufactures, and/or distributes marijuana could face action.” / STATES Oklahoma’s attorney general tweeted, “For all the illegal marijuana growers and other operators of organized crime considering a future in Oklahoma. Don’t. We will find you. We will arrest you. And we will continue to send a message that Oklahoma does not tolerate these illegal acts in our state.” A Missouri regulator discussed proposed rules to license marijuana research facilities. New York regulators are accepting applications to serve on the Medical Cannabis Advisory Council. Ohio officials sent an alert about preventing cannabis- and alcohol-related incidents during high school prom and graduation season. U.S. Virgin Islands regulators sent a reminder about cannabis consumption permits for events ahead of 4/20. New Jersey regulators will begin accepting applications for a cannabis business loan program on Monday. The Alaska Marijuana Control Board will meet on Wednesday and Thursday. The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board will meet on Thursday. — 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 German lawmakers are pushing officials to more quickly approve cannabis clubs throughout the country. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study confirmed “the sensitivity of glioma, neuroblastoma, and hippocampal neuronal cultures to CBD.” A study of “intranasal 5-MeO-DMT administered adjunctively to SSRIs demonstrated acceptable safety and tolerability with promising improvements in depressive symptoms.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana launched a new podcast. / BUSINESS Vireo Growth Inc. and Glass House Brands Inc. announced a joint venture through which each company will contribute its California dispensary operations to the joint entity in exchange for a 50 percent ownership interest. AYR Wellness Inc. announced the initial closing of the transfer of its Virginia operations into Arboretum Virginia LLC and the closing and initial funding of its new money exit facility with Arboretum. / CULTURE CNN’s Sanjay Gupta will debut a new installment in his ongoing “Weed” series on Sunday. 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 Virginia governor wants cannabis bill changes (Newsletter: April 14, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Virginia’s governor is requesting that legislators make amendments to a bill to legalize recreational marijuana sales that they sent to her desk last month. On Monday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) returned the legislation with suggested changes—including pushing back the launch date for sales to begin by six months, from January 1, 2027 to July 1, 2027. The move will “allow for additional time to implement a legal market safely and curb the illicit market,” a press release from the governor’s office says. “Five years ago, the Commonwealth took the first steps to legalize marijuana—and for five years, the work sat unfinished,” Spanberger said. “We are working to set up a marketplace that is controlled, regulated, and responsible—because legal markets only succeed when there are clear guardrails and enforcement to back it up.” “To keep our next generation safe, we must also ensure real consequences for vape shops that have spent years targeting Virginia’s kids,” she said. “We need to rein in these shady businesses and make sure a legal marijuana market does not make the problem worse.” The governor’s proposal will also “strengthen the enforcement provisions” in concert with a related bill lawmakers sent her on the issue “to put a greater focus on consumer and product safety,” her office’s press release said. Lawmakers are set to reconvene to address the governor’s proposal on April 22. Meanwhile, Spanberger acted on several other cannabis bills on Monday—including measures to protect the parental rights of consumers and allow patients to access medical marijuana in hospitals. She also proposed amendments to legislation to provide resentencing relief for people with past convictions. Personal marijuana possession and home cultivation of marijuana has been legal in Virginia since 2021, but former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) twice vetoed bills to provide consumers with a way to legally purchase regulated adult-use cannabis. The marijuana sales bills that Spanberger wants amendments to are SB 542 from Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D) and HB 642 from Del. Paul Krizek (D). Here are the other key details of the cannabis bills as initially sent to the governor’s desk by lawmakers: Adults would be able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in a single transaction, or up to an equivalent amount of other cannabis products as determined by regulators. Legal sales could begin on January 1, 2027. There would be an excise tax of 6 percent on cannabis sales as well as a 5.3 percent retail sales and use tax, and municipalities could set an additional local tax of up to 3.5 percent. The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee licensing and regulation of the new industry, and would also take on oversight of hemp, which is currently under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Revenue would be distributed to the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund (30 percent), early childhood education (40 percent), the Department of Behavioral & Developmental Health Services (25 percent) and public health initiatives (5 percent). Local governments could not opt out of allowing marijuana businesses to operate in their area. Delivery services would be allowed. Serving sizes would be capped at 10 milligrams THC, with no more than 100 mg THC per package. Existing medical cannabis operators could enter the adult-use market if they pay a licensing conversion fee that is set at $10 million. Cannabis businesses would have to establish labor peace agreements with workers. A legislative commission would be directed to study adding on-site consumption licenses and microbusiness cannabis event permits that would allow licensees to conduct sales at venues like farmers markets or pop-up locations. It would also investigate the possibility of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority becoming involved in marijuana regulations and enforcement. JM Pedini, development director for the advocacy group NORML and executive director for Virginia NORML, criticized the governor’s move to delay the launch of legal sales. “After years of deliberation, work groups, studies and commission reports, the legislature delivered a pragmatic bipartisan path to retail adult-use cannabis sales,” Pedini said. “Further delaying legal retail sales is just another page from the prohibitionist playbook, the kind of policy failure Virginians saw under Glenn Youngkin, not what they expect from Abigail Spanberger. Let’s be clear about what July 1, 2027 means for Virginia: another entire year of driving Virginians to the illicit market, endangering communities, undermining public safety and not keeping marijuana out of the hands of youth.” Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Virginia Governor Wants Amendments To Marijuana Sales Legalization Bill, Including Delayed Market Launch appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net