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The Trump administration is “very anxious” to create a pathway for access to psychedelics therapy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. says, and top officials across federal agencies want to “get it out to the public as quickly as possible.” In an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that was released on Friday, Kennedy said he’s confident “we’re going to get it done,” with plans to develop and finalize rules that would enable patients with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression to access psychedelic substances like psilocybin and MDMA in a “very controlled setting.” The secretary has stood out for his advocacy for psychedelics reform, pitching the idea as a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate before ultimately becoming the nation’s top health official under the Trump administration. The president himself has been largely silent on the issue, but as Kennedy noted, support for expanding research and access to the novel therapeutics extends beyond HHS, with the heads of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) also looking to tap into the potential benefits of psychedelic medicines. “Everybody in my agency—and over at VA at [Secretary Doug Collins’s] agency—is very anxious to get a rule out there that will allow these kind of studies and will allow access under therapeutic settings, particularly [for] the military soldiers who have suffered these injuries to get access to these products,” Kennedy said. “We’re working through that process now. We’re all working on it and trying to make it happen.” “I think that we’re going to get it done.” While some of the reform proposals under consideration would simply be designed to “encourage more clinical trials” with “very strong guidelines,” the health secretary said, agencies are interested in the full range of possibilities that psychedelics therapy and other “rapid interventions” may present. One of Kennedy’s personal goals for substances like psilocybin would be to validate its utility over SSRIs for depression. “We’re looking at that as an entire category of interventions that people ought to be able to study and ought to have good access to, and we should get it out to the public as quickly as possible,” he said. “This is what we’re envisioning, so I can’t tell you exactly what we’re going to do—but very, very strong therapeutic guidelines, so how they’re applied, what kind of follow up. Because a lot of these things rewire your brain. If you don’t do follow up, it doesn’t work, or you have a failure rate. So those kind of protocols are all stuff that we’ve been developing and studying, and I think most of the people in the administration are anxious to make this happen as quickly as possible. I know Doug Collins over at the VA has, I think, 21 studies going over there. They’re very, very promising.” “You need those guidelines because you don’t want to make the Wild West. You can have horror stories overnight because some people can have a very, very bad experiences on that,” Kennedy said. “We’re looking at ways to get it done so that it’s in a very controlled setting.” When asked by Rogan to expand on how he envisions the future of psychedelics therapy and whether it’d include people other than those in the military or other front line roles, the secretary said “personally” he would like to see broad access, but “we need to move in baby steps because you don’t want to create a situation where people are getting hurt.” Still, you “shouldn’t have a soldier who has given everything for the country, who has suffered terribly, who has got to Tijuana to get these treatments—to leave our country in order to get the treatments,” he said. “It doesn’t make any sense.” “I have seen so much overwhelming anecdotal evidence,” Kennedy said, noting that a relative of his has benefitted from psychedelic therapy, “but also clinical studies that attest to the effect.” And officials at agencies like NIH and FDA are “doing whatever they can to make this happen.” The interview on Rogan’s podcast comes months after the release of a book from a journalist who allegedly had a romantic relationship with Kennedy, where she claims that, as a presidential candidate, Kennedy still used psychedelics like DMT “for fun” and hid his drug use from his wife. Meanwhile, in November, Kennedy, Vice President JD Vance, the FDA commissioner and other Trump administration officials attended a “Make America Healthy Again” summit that featured a session dedicated to exploring psychedelic medicine. In June, Kennedy said his agency is “absolutely committed” to expanding research on the benefits of psychedelic therapy and, alongside of the head of FDA, is aiming to provide legal access to such substances for military veterans “within 12 months.” The secretary also said in April that he had a “wonderful experience” with LSD at 15 years old, which he took because he thought he’d be able to see dinosaurs, as portrayed in a comic book he was a fan of. Last October, Kennedy specifically criticized FDA under the prior administration over the agency’s “suppression of psychedelics” and a laundry list of other issues that he said amounted to a “war on public health” that would end under the Trump administration. The post Trump Administration ‘Very Anxious’ To Allow Psychedelic Therapy ‘As Quickly As Possible,’ RFK Tells Joe Rogan appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Lawmakers in multiple states are considering bills to allow seriously ill patients to access and use medical marijuana in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, with several such proposals advancing this week and one running into a legislative roadblock. While the specific provisions of the legislation differs from state to state, the main goal is same: Legislators are hoping to adopt versions of what’s known as “Ryan’s law,” named after a young medical cannabis patient in California who passed away. The 2026 session has seen iterations of the reform move in a wide variety of state legislatures so far. And this week, Ryan’s Law bills have seen positive action in at least five states—Connecticut, Hawaii, Oregon, Virginia and Washington State—while stalling, at least for now, in Mississippi. Here’s a look at where Ryan’s Law bills are seeing action in state legislatures: Connecticut Members of the Connecticut legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing on a bill to allow terminally ill patients to access cannabis products that could not be smoked or vaporized at health facilities such as hospitals. That would not extend to patients receiving emergency care, however. The bill, HB 5242, also stipulates that health facilities could suspend the medical cannabis allowance if a federal agency such as the Justice Department or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiates an enforcement action or issues guidance specifically prohibiting medical marijuana access on their premises. Erin Gorman Kirk, Connecticut’s Cannabis Ombudsman, advised the joint committee that current policy means “a registered patient facing a terminal prognosis may be forced to abandon their legally authorized regimen the moment they are admitted to a hospital or nursing home.” “Patients who cannot or will not tolerate opioids, or who have found in medical cannabis the only effective relief for their pain, nausea, or anxiety, are left without options simply because of where they receive care,” she said. “HB 5242 corrects this by requiring covered facilities to allow those with a terminal prognosis of one year or less, to use non-smokable cannabis forms including tinctures, edibles, and topicals.” “HB 5242 is important, impactful, and morally necessary. It is a n ethical, commonsense bill that protects vulnerable patients who do not want opioids, who cannot tolerate them, or who have simply found in cannabis the relief and clarity that allows them to die with dignity. Medical cannabis is backed by clinical evidence, endorsed by nurses and policy analysts who work with these patients every day, and modeled on laws that are working right now in states across the country. Connecticut should not be a state that tells a dying patient: your medicine is legal, your doctor approved it, but you cannot have it here.” The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA), meanwhile, voiced opposition to the proposal, telling lawmakers that the bill “misapprehends several issues about the laws and regulations governing hospitals.” “HB 5242 requires Connecticut hospitals to break the law—a law that [the Department of Public Health, or DPH] itself will need to enforce as part of the [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS] oversight system and the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) would need to enforce as part of its role overseeing controlled substances laws,” it said. The Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities and Connecticut Center for Assisted Living (CAHCF/CCAL) also submitted testimony in opposition to the reform, advising that “compliance would place providers in a very difficult and untenable situation of trying to navigate conflicting federal and state laws.” Hawaii A Hawaii bill to allow qualifying patients to access medical marijuana at health facilities passed another Senate committee on Friday—a development that comes as a House companion version also advances. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the legislation from Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D). The proposal, SB 2408, states that it’s the “intent of the legislature in enacting this chapter to support the ability of terminally ill patients and qualifying patients over sixty-five years of age with chronic diseases to safely use medical cannabis within specified health care facilities.” Health facilities that could allow such cannabis use would be limited to residential centers that provide a “non-institutional, homelike environment” with inpatient care that’s “generally less intense than that provided in general acute care hospitals but more intense than that provided in skilled nursing facilities.” Smoking or vaping marijuana would not be permitted at eligible facilities under the bill. And health facilities would not be required to facilitate the issuance of medical cannabis recommendations to patients. In the event that a federal regulatory agency, Justice Department or Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) takes enforcement action against a health facility related to the medical cannabis policy, or if they explicitly notify the facility that they’re violating federal law, the health care institution could suspend the policy. The state Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation (OMCCR) under the Department of Health (DOH) submitted testimony ahead of Friday’s committee hearing that said it appreciates the legislation, and it feels members of a prior legislative panel adequately addressed concerns they initially had about potential complicated resulting from conflicts with federal law prohibiting marijuana. In previous testimony, the office of the Hawaii attorney general said it felt the legislation could put the state’s health centers at risk of enforcement action from the federal government. Supporters of the legislation, meanwhile, include the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and Hawai‘i Alliance for Cannabis Reform, as well as its member organizations such as the ACLU of Hawaii and Last Prisoner Project (LPP). Mississippi As lawmakers in several other states are advancing measures to allow patients to use medical cannabis in healthcare facilities, the issue saw a setback in Mississippi this week. A House-passed bill to allow terminally ill patients to access medical marijuana in hospitals, nursing facilities and hospice centers was rejected by a Senate committee. The legislation from Rep. Kevin Felsher (R) would require hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and hospice centers to “allow terminally ill qualifying patients in the facility to use medical cannabis” in forms other than smoking or vaping. There’s also another carve-out in the legislation stipulating that, if a federal agency such as the Justice Department or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services takes enforcement action against a health facility over the cannabis policy change or issues guidance explicitly prohibiting the reform from being implemented, that facility may suspend compliance with the state law until the federal issue is resolved. Short of that, under HB 1034, patients or their caregivers would be “responsible for acquiring, retrieving, administering and removing medical cannabis,” the legislation summary says. Medical marijuana products would need to be “stored securely at all times in a locked container in the patient’s room or other designated area.” Health professionals and facility staff would be prohibited from administering or retrieving the cannabis from storage. And after a patient is discharged, “all remaining medical cannabis must be removed by the patient or patient’s designated caregiver.” Despite clearing the House in a 117-1 earlier this month, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee rejected the measure on Wednesday. Sen. Angela Burks Hill (R) said she worried it could make medical professional subject to liability issues and raised concerns about medical cannabis’s potential to negatively interact with other medications and conditions. Sen. Hob Bryan (D), the chair of the panel said he thinks that “if you’re terminally ill, you ought to have access to most anything you want,” according to The Clarion Ledger. One lawmaker proposed an amendment to make hospital participation with the law optional and not mandatory, but Felsher, the bill sponsor, rejected the idea. “If we put ‘may’ in there, we might as well not have a bill,” he said. “We’re talking about people with less than 12 months left to live.” Another amendment to limit the legislation only to hospitals with a hospice unit was also rejected. The legislation was ultimately defeated by the panel in an 8-9 vote—but a motion to reconsider was made, allowing it to potentially advance next week if one lawmakers changes their mind. Oregon The Oregon Senate Health Care Committee on Wednesday approved a House-passed bill to allow patients with debilitating medical conditions to access medical marijuana in certain health facilities such as hospices. The legislation from Rep. Farrah Chaichi (D) cleared the House in a 39-3 vote earlier this month, and the Senate panel advanced it in a 3-2 vote. Chaichi said in testimony to the committee that the bill is “an important tool to facilitate cannabis use as an alternative or addition to opioid use in end of life care. “While sometimes necessary, opiates are often overly sedative, preventing quality family interaction in someone’s final days,” she said. “As someone who lost my mother while she was intubated, I know how meaningful it is for patients to be present and in the moments of their last days and weeks with their loved ones. This is a quality of life and a quality of care issue. The bill’s goal is to ensure patients who desire this important and valid medical treatment have access across the board.” HB 4142 would require hospice, palliative and home care organizations, as well as residential facilities, to develop rules permitting registered patients with debilitating conditions to use medical cannabis. The reform is similar to—albeit somewhat more limited than—multiple “Ryan’s law” measures that have advanced in state legislatures across the country. Ryan’s law, which is named after a young cannabis patient in California who passed away, generally refers to a policy broadly permitting medical marijuana use in health facilities such as hospitals. The Oregon bill wouldn’t extend to hospitals, but it would build upon the state’s medical cannabis program in a way that advocates say would meaningfully improve quality of life for seriously ill patients. Under the proposal, the Oregon State Board of Nursing would further be prohibited “from disciplining a nurse who discusses the medical use of marijuana with a patient,” according to a legislative summary. It would additionally make it so eligible health facilities could act as medical marijuana caregivers if authorized by regulators. The legislation “exempts residential facilities that provide a patient with medical marijuana from criminal laws related to the possession, delivery, or manufacture of marijuana” and “allows a conditionally designated residential facility to develop a written policy and train staff before the operative date,” the summary says. If enacted into law, the measure would become operative on January 1, 2027. Virginia Virginia lawmakers in both chambers this week took steps to advance legislation to allow patients to use medical marijuana in hospitals. After each chamber earlier this month approved differing versions of the cannabis legislation, the sponsors of those bills have agreed on a compromise approach which cleared the House in a 97-1 vote on Tuesday and the Senate by a vote of 39-1 on Thursday. As amended, SB 332 from Sen. Barbara Favola (D) and HB 75 from Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra (D) would build upon existing state law protecting health professionals at hospices, nursing homes and assisted living facilities that aid terminally ill patients in utilizing medical cannabis treatment from punishment by adding hospitals to the statute. It would also create a new working group under the Department of Health to “discuss the implementation process for providing cannabis products to patients within medical care facilities.” “The work group shall assess any available federal guidance or proposed regulations on the use of cannabis products or changes to the schedule for cannabis products under the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.) as well as interaction with applicable state laws,” the bill says. Its members would include representatives of the Virginia Hospital & Health Care Association and the Virginia Health Care Association, as well as health care providers and palliative, hospice, and hospital volunteers familiar with issues associated with providing care to individuals experiencing chronic illness. The legislation directs the working group to submit a report to key legislative committees including “written guidelines for the use of medical cannabis within medical care facilities and the safe operations of medical care facilities” by November 1. Washington State A Washington State Senate committee took up a House-passed bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and hospices on Thursday. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Shelley Kloba (D), would mandate that hospitals and other specified healthcare facilities allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana on the premises beginning on January 1, 2027, subject to certain rules and restrictions. “The medical use of cannabis may support improved quality of life for a qualifying patient…with a terminal condition,” the bill’s text says. “It is the intent of the legislature to promote dignity and comfort for terminally ill patients while maintaining the integrity and safety of health care environments.” Under HB 2152, patients and their caregivers would be responsible for acquiring and administering medical marijuana, and it would need to be stored securely at all times in a locked container. Smoking or vaping of cannabis would be prohibited, so patients would need to consume it via other methods. Marijuana could not be shared between patients and visitors, and the right to use medical cannabis under the bill would not apply to patients who are in the emergency department. Healthcare facility officials would need to see a copy of patients’ authorization to use medical cannabis, and they would be required to note their use of the drug in medical records. They would also need to establish a formal policy “allowing for the medical use of cannabis” on the premises. Facilities would also be able to suspend permission to use cannabis under the bill if a federal agency such as the U.S. Department of Justice or Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services takes an enforcement action against such use or “issues a rule or other notification that expressly prohibits the medical use of cannabis in health care facilities.” The House Health Care & Wellness Committee adopted an amendment to exempt nursing homes operated by a residential habilitation center from the requirement to allow the medical use of cannabis, to clarify that the bill doesn’t apply to patients who haven’t been formally admitted to a hospital and to specify that patients and their caregivers are responsible for retrieving the medical cannabis (in addition to their responsibilities related to acquiring, administering, and removing the medical cannabis). The Senate panel has not yet scheduled a vote on the measure, but took testimony from advocates this week. The post Bills To Let Patients Use Medical Marijuana In Hospitals Are Advancing In States Across The U.S. appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Maryland Senate has unanimously approved a bill to 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. Just days after moving through committee—which came on the same day that the House of Delegates passed that chamber’s version—the full Senate on Thursday approved the legislation from Sen. Brian Feldman (D) in a 44-0 vote. Both chambers’ proposals are aimed at building upon a current law that created the Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances. That panel released an initial final report to state lawmakers last year, with recommendations for the phased implementation of a wide range of reforms to provide legal therapeutic access to substances such as psilocybin. “The mission was to study the use of natural psychedelic substances and make recommendations regarding changes to state law, policy and practices to create a Maryland natural psychedelic substance access program and to make recommendations to transition from the criminalization of these substances,” Feldman said at a committee hearing earlier this month. “This is a really hard-working group of individuals.” Members of the task force have already advised that it was ultimately recommending a “multi-pathway framework for safe, broad, and equitable access to natural psychedelic substances, with an initial focus on psilocybin.” The psychedelics task force was formed following Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) signing of a pair of bills into law in 2024. The 17-person body, overseen by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), was charged with studying how to ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances” in the state. SB 336 and HB 427 would continue that work, maintaining the panel through December 31, 2027. In the interim, the task force would be required to submit an updated report to legislators with additional findings and recommendations by October 31 of this year. The Senate version of the bill has been amended to add a representative of a historically black college or university to the task force, so the House will need to sign off on that change before the legislation can head to the governor’s desk. Beyond the extended timeline for the task force to study and develop the report, the current law would not change under the legislation. The multi-step regulatory framework that members recommended last year “involves phased implementation of complementary elements from medical/therapeutic use and supervised adult use, to deprioritization, and to commercial sales,” the earlier report said. “This model broadly and inclusively serves the needs of Maryland’s diverse population while enabling unified safety standards, accountability, and viable economic pathways for small businesses.” The first phase of the plan would be to create an advisory board to establish safety parameters, data monitoring, practice guidelines, licensing protections, public education campaigns, training for facilitators, law enforcement and testing facilities, as well as “immediate restorative justice measures,” the report states. Under phase two, the state would implement “deprioritization measures” to mitigate the harms of criminalization, provide for supervised medical and adult-use consumption facilities, allow personal cultivation for “permitted individuals” and promote research processes. Finally, phase three would be contingent on the “demonstrated safety outcomes and provider confidence” based on the prior steps. Should those factors be satisfied, the last phase would lead to a commercial sales program for adults “who maintain an active license to use natural psychedelic substances,” coupled with an evaluation of the state’s “readiness for expanding to additional natural psychedelic substances.” “Safety and oversight measures ensure responsible and gradual expansion of access while maintaining capacity to identify and respond to emerging issues swiftly,” the report said. “This approach plans for long-term learning and improvement: starting small, utilizing built-in evaluation and accountability mechanisms from the outset, gathering real-world data, and committing to an iterative approach to policymaking.” Notably, the task force said it did not support “delaying state action pending future federal [Food and Drug Administration] approval.” “The Task Force recognizes that implementing such a comprehensive framework requires careful sequencing and coordination, with particular attention to scope of practice issues that may significantly affect the viability and safety of different pathways. However, the order of implementation must carefully consider professional regulatory frameworks and safety concerns raised by medical organizations and health care providers. The Task Force’s recommendation for simultaneous implementation of multiple pathways does not mean that all components must activate on the exact same day, but rather that Maryland should avoid the sequential approach seen in other jurisdictions where implementing one pathway causes others to ‘languish,’and/or bolster black and gray markets.” Rather, the task force said, the multi-phase approach to psychedelics reform “establishes foundational systems that support all pathways equally, followed by a coordinated launch of medical, supervised adult use, and deprioritization pathways, with commercial sales following once product safety systems are operational.” Members also said that the model envisioned could be used by other states to develop their own laws that “adapt to their own circumstances and values.”At this point, the task force is only looking at psilocybin, mescaline and DMT. While the legislature empowered members to investigate potential regulations for other psychedelic substances, they decided to take a more conservative approach in their initial work. As originally introduced, the House version of the task force legislation contained more prescriptive requirements to explore and issue recommendations on aspects of psychedelics policy such as “systems to support statewide online sales of natural psychedelic substances with home delivery” and “testing and packaging requirements for products containing natural psychedelic substances with clear and accurate labeling of potency.” That language was ultimately removed, however. The task force legislation advanced about two years after a different law took effect creating a state fund to provide “cost-free” access to psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury. — 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, earlier this month, Maryland lawmakers took up a bill to protect the gun rights of medical marijuana patients in the state. Members of the House Judiciary Committee discussed the legislation from Del. Robin Grammer (R), who has sponsored multiple versions of the cannabis and gun rights measure over recent sessions, but they have not yet advanced to enactment. Separately, a Republican congressional lawmaker representing Maryland who has built a reputation as one of the staunchest opponents of marijuana reform on Capitol Hill—and whose record includes ensuring that Washington, D.C. officials are blocked from legalizing recreational cannabis sales—may be at risk of being unseated in November due to redistricting in his state. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Workman. The post Maryland Senate Unanimously Passes Bill To Extend Psychedelics Task Force Through 2027 appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Virginia bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales continue to advance toward enactment into law. On Friday, lawmakers in both the House of Delegates and Senate amended and advanced the opposite chambers’ proposals on the issue. Members of the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee voted 8-7 to advance the House-passed legislation from Del. Paul Krizek (D) by making it similar to the version that originated in their chamber, with additional amendments that the panel chair said both sponsors of the House and Senate bills agreed to include. Later in the day, the Court of Justice Committee advanced the legislation to the Finance and Appropriations Committee in a 10-5 vote, without making additional changes. Separately, the House Appropriations Committee voted 16-6 to approve the Senate-passed cannabis sales legislation from Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D), with a substitute that a staffer said makes seven technical changes to the language. The latest actions come just days after the House General Laws Committee advanced the Senate bill with an amendment that largely aligned it with Krizek’s House measure. Its next stop will be the House floor. Both House and Senate marijuana sales proposals are aimed at giving adults a legal means of buying cannabis, the possession and home cultivation of which was legalized in the state in 2021. The legislation in both chambers has now been amended to stipulate that microbusiness licensees can cultivate, process or conduct retail sales at up to two locations instead of one, so long as they’re located within 10 miles of each other and operate under common ownership and control. Lawmakers also revised the legislation to clarify that current medical cannabis businesses would only be able to cultivate cannabis indoors, including in secure greenhouses with a total canopy cap of 70,000 square feet. The amendment also makes it so they could not have any additional marijuana licenses beyond their medical permits with “dual-use privileges.” Finally, the measure’s conversion fee structure was revised in a way that lets current medical marijuana businesses pay for the privilege to serve the adult-use market in three installments. A Senate staffer said on Friday that the latest changes to the House bill also align testing requirements for medical cannabis products with those for recreational marijuana products and increase how many early marijuana licenses will go to industrial hemp processors and growers from 10 total to 20 total. There are certain remaining major differences between the chambers’ bills that will still need to be addressed—related to the start date for legal sales and cannabis tax rates—before a final product is delivered to the governor’s desk. Virginia lawmakers took action on multiple marijuana bills on a key deadline last week—advancing proposals to legalize cannabis sales, provide a pathway to resentencing for prior marijuana convictions and allow medical cannabis access in hospitals for seriously ill patients. With respect to the Senate bill, members recently clashed in committee about amendments to the body’s version that would have added new penalties for illegal cannabis activity. The amendments at issue from the Courts of Justice Committee included penalties for consumers who buy from unlicensed sources, the recriminalization of cannabis possession by people under 21 and making sales a class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense and a crime punishable by mandatory jail time for a second offense. As revised, the bill would have also raised the penalty for unlicensed cultivation to a felony punishable by up to five years in jail and made it a felony to transport with intent to distribute cannabis across state lines. But the Finance and Appropriations Committee reversed the amendments earlier this month amid pressure from a coalition of advocacy groups that sent a letter to senators saying they undermined the “intent” of the legislation and the “will of the people” by adding criminal penalties for certain cannabis-related activity. Despite the outstanding differences, both chambers’ commercial sales bills have largely aligned with recommendations released in December by the legislature’s Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market. Meanwhile, certain GOP members have found themselves ideologically aligned with their Democratic colleagues throughout this legislative process, breaking with the majority of their caucus in support of creating a regulated marketplace for adults to purchase cannabis. Since legalizing cannabis possession and home cultivation in 2021, Virginia lawmakers have worked to establish a commercial marijuana market—only to have those efforts consistently stalled under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who twice vetoed measures to enact it that were sent to his desk by the legislature. Here are the key details of the Virginia marijuana sales legalization legislation, SB 542 and HB 642: 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. The House bill sets the state date for legal sales as November 1, 2026, while the Senate measure would allow them to begin on January 1, 2027. The Senate bill would set an excise tax on cannabis products of 12.875 percent, in addition to a 1.125 percent state sales tax and a mandatory 3 percent local tax. The House measure would apply an excise tax of 6 percent as well as a 5.3 percent retail sales and use tax, while allowing municipalities to set a local tax of up to 3.5 percent. Under the House bill, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee licensing and regulation of the new industry, while the Senate legislation tasks that to a new combined Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control Authority. The House bill calls for revenue to be distributed to a new Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund (60 percent), early childhood education (10 percent), the Department of Behavioral & Developmental Health Services (25 percent) and public health initiatives (5 percent). The Senate proposal, meanwhile, would put 30 percent toward the equity reinvestment fund, 40 percent for early childhood eduction, 25 percent to the behavioral and developmental health services department and 5 percent to public health initiatives. 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 $15 million in the Senate bill and $10 million in the House measure. 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. Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) supports legalizing adult-use marijuana sales. Meanwhile, House and Senate lawmakers also advanced separate legislation to provide resentencing relief for people with prior marijuana convictions. The legislation 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. The measure applies 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. Separately this week, the Virginia House passed a bill to allow patients to use medical marijuana in hospitals. It would require healthcare facilities to establish policies “to address circumstances under which an eligible patient would be permitted to use medical cannabis.” The Senate passed differing legislation concerning the use of medical cannabis in health care facilities earlier this month. — 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, the Virginia House this month approved a bill to protect the rights of parents who use marijuana in compliance with state law. Under the proposal from Del. Nadarius Clark (D), possession of use of cannabis by a parent or guardian on its own “shall not serve as a basis to deem a child abused or neglected unless other facts establish that such possession or consumption causes or creates a risk of physical or mental injury to the child.” “A person’s legal possession or consumption of substances authorized under [the state’s marijuana law] alone shall not serve as a basis to restrict custody or visitation unless other facts establish that such possession or consumption is not in the best interest of the child,” the text of the bill, HB 942, states. Separately, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry recently published a new outlining workplace protections for cannabis consumers. Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen. The post Virginia Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Sales Legalization Bills As Reform Nears Finish Line In Both Chambers appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A majority of Pennsylvania voters say they’re ready for the state to legalize adult-use marijuana, according to the latest Quinnipiac University Poll. The survey—which involved 836 registered voters in the Keystone state—asked respondents about a variety of policy issues such as immigration, the minimum wage, AI data centers and cannabis legalization ahead of the November midterm elections. It found that 56 percent of voters are in favor of legalizing adult-use cannabis, with 37 percent opposed. As in past polling, Democrats were the most likely to back legalization, at 72 percent. By contrast, 63 percent of independents support legalizing cannabis, while a majority of Republicans (63 percent) are opposed to the reform. The survey was conducted from February 19-23, with a +/- 4.7 percentage point margin of error. Quinnipiac released the results as Pennsylvania lawmakers once again consider proposals to replace marijuana criminalization with regulation. That includes a plan put forward by Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) as part of his latest budget request. Legalizing marijuana in Pennsylvania under that plan could bring in nearly half a billion dollars in annual revenue by 2028, according to a new analysis from the state’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) that estimates a significantly larger cash windfall compared to projections from the governor’s own office. With a proposed 20 percent wholesale cannabis excise tax, 6 percent state sales tax for retail and licensing fees, IFO said Shapiro’s legalization plan that he unveiled earlier this month 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 that 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. Of course, the projections assume the legislature advances adult-use legalization in line with the governor’s budget request and sales begin on January 1, 2027. It remains to be seen whether lawmakers will follow through on the reform this year, but it wouldn’t be the first time marijuana legalization stalled out in the state if they don’t act this session. Meanwhile, this month, 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. In a letter led by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and sent to the governor, the coalition noted that legalization has consistently made it into Shapiro’s budget requests, “reflecting both sound fiscal policy and the clear will of the people of the Commonwealth.” Pennsylvania House Democratic lawmakers have separately called on the GOP-controlled Senate to come to the table and pass a bill to legalize marijuana. At a press conference earlier this month, three Democratic members of the House who have championed adult-use legalization stressed the need to move on reform, laying blame for inaction on the Senate where even supporters of the policy change have so far been unable to deliver on the issue. Reps. Rick Krajewski (D) and Dan Frankel (D), who sponsored a bill to legalize with state-run shops that advanced through the House last year, said they understand that the novel regulatory approach they envisioned may be “controversial” to some members, but that’s all the more reason for the Senate to bring their own ideas to the conversation to finally enact the reform. House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D) said in December that legalizing marijuana is one way to create a “very important” revenue source for the state—and that it’s an achievable reform if only legislators could find “the will to do it.” Bipartisan Pennsylvania lawmakers who’ve been working to enact adult-use legalization over recent sessions without success so far have also recently said that President Donald Trump’s federal marijuana rescheduling order could grease the wheels in 2026. For what it’s worth, another top GOP senator—Sen. Scott Martin (R), chair of the chamber’s Appropriations Committee—said in December that he was skeptical about the prospects of enacting legalization in the 2026 session, in part because of the federal classification of cannabis that’s now expected to change. Of course, marijuana would still be federally illegal under Schedule III, so it’s unclear if a simple loosening of the law would move the needle enough from his perspective. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — A top aide to Pennsylvania’s governor said in September that lawmakers should stop introducing new competing legalization bills and instead focus on building consensus on the issue—while emphasizing that any measure that advances needs to contain equity provisions if the governor is going to sign it into law. Sen. Dan Laughlin (R), for his part, said in August that the House “needs to pass the language in my bill and send it to my committee” after which point he “can negotiate with the Senate and the governor.” The senator separately said recently that supporters are “picking up votes” to enact the reform this session. Meanwhile, bipartisan Pennsylvania senators in October introduced a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to use of medical marijuana in hospitals. Separately, the leading Republican candidate in the race to become the next governor of Pennsylvania dodged a question about her stance on legalizing marijuana—saying she doesn’t have a “policy position” on the issue and arguing that the sitting governor’s proposal for reform “way, way overstated” potential revenue. The candidate, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R), pointed to neighboring Ohio, which launched its own adult-use cannabis market this year, saying “they generated about $115 million in revenue.” And while the populations of both states are relatively comparable, Shapiro’s budget projected $536.5 million in cannabis revenue in the first fiscal year of implementation. She did, however, say that if Pennsylvania moves forward on enacting the reform, she’ll “make sure that it’s banked appropriately.” Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania Democratic senator recently said that federal marijuana rescheduling would be “very influential” in advancing legalization in his state, giving “political cover” to GOP members on the fence about reform. Polls have shown bipartisan support for legalization among voters, but the reform has consistently stalled in the legislature, due largely to GOP opposition. But not all Republican members are against the policy change—and one recently said she felt her party should seize the “opportunity to snatch” the issue from Democrats. Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post Majority Of Pennsylvania Voters Back Legalizing Marijuana, New Poll Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A Louisiana lawmaker has introduced a bill to create an adult-use marijuana legalization pilot program in the state to determine whether the reform should eventually be expanded and permanently codified. Rep. Candace Newell (D)—who has long championed legislation to end cannabis criminalization and filed a similar legal marijuana pilot program measure last session—is sponsoring what’s titled the “Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Regulation and Enforcement Act.” “In an effort to protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is the purpose of this Section to establish a temporary pilot program designed to test and evaluate the parameters of the implementation of a permanent adult-use cannabis program in this state,” the bill text states. The pilot program is meant to evaluate the feasibility of a “potential permanent program” for adult-use cannabis, gain feedback and data on the small-scale trial and analyze the “outcomes and results” to determine whether the pilot program should be expanded and implemented on a permanent basis. Under the proposal, the state Department of Health would be responsible for regulating the pilot program, including the “cultivation, extraction, processing, production, transportation, and retail sale of adult-use cannabis.” Only existing medical marijuana dispensaries would be eligible to participate in the pilot program. Those retailers would have to notify the department of their intent to participate no later than 90 days before the implementation of the law. If they don’t express such intent, they could still continue to serve medical cannabis patients in the state. Regulators would need to issue initial permits for cannabis licensees to participate in the pilot program by January 1, 2027. Then, on July 1 of that year, finalized permits would be issued, and they’d be valid for one year. An annual permit fee of $5,000 would be imposed on participating retailers, cultivators and laboratories. The pilot program would last through July 1, 2030. “For the duration of the pilot program, the department shall assess a fee of three and one-half percent of the gross wholesales of all marijuana, for therapeutic and adult-use, distributed to a therapeutic retail permit holder or pilot program permit holder,” the bill says. “The fee shall be reported and paid by the licensee participating in the pilot program authorized to cultivate, extract, process, produce, and transport adult-use cannabis.” The legislation—which has been referred to the House Health and Welfare Committee—would maintain current statute limiting the number of licensed dispensaries in the state to 30, and only 10 of those could join the pilot program to serve both patients and adult consumers. — 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. — Getting the bill across the finish line could prove complicated in the conservative legislature, however. Newell’s earlier version of the pilot program legislation didn’t advance to enactment last year, and lawmakers that session also rejected other marijuana reform proposals such as one that would have established a tax system to prepare the eventual legalization of adult-use cannabis. Meanwhile in Louisiana, the Senate last year passed a Republican-led resolution calling for the creation of a task force to study and make recommendations on the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for military veterans. The post Louisiana Lawmaker Files Bill To Create Three-Year Marijuana Legalization Pilot Program appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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PA legalization analysis; TX marijuana poll; MO psychedelics bills advance; Cannabis kiosks for seniors; MI marijuana tax op-ed Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… BREAKING: Journalism is often consumed for free, but costs money to produce! While this newsletter is proudly sent without cost to you, our ability to send it each day depends on the financial support of readers who can afford to give it. So if you’ve got a few dollars to spare each month and believe in the work we do, please consider joining us on Patreon today. https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) said an amendment to delay the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products is not germane to the Farm Bill that’s set for a markup next week. Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office is projecting that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) marijuana legalization proposal would generate nearly half a billion dollars in annual revenue by 2028—a higher estimate than that from the governor’s own office. The Missouri House Emerging Issues Committee approved several psychedelics bills to expand access to and research on psilocybin and ibogaine. A new poll of Texas voters shows they are dissatisfied with how lawmakers are handling marijuana and THC issues—a result that comes as a cannabis legalization question appears on the Democratic ballot for the March 3 primary. Life Is Chill and LoveBud are partnering to launch marijuana kiosks at senior independent living communities in Arizona that older residents can use to learn about and order cannabis products for delivery. Hirsh Jain of Verdant Strategies argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that Michigan’s new cannabis tax increase is having disastrous consequences on the industry and that other states should learn from its experience, “rather than repeat the same economic misstep the next time they face a budget shortfall.” The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed legislation to extend a medical cannabis business license moratorium through August 1, 2028 and limit the number of cultivation licenses to 2,500. / FEDERAL A federal judge criticized Department of Justice lawyers’ “sloppiness” after they mistakenly claimed a man in an immigration case had a marijuana conviction from when he was four years old. Colorado Democratic congressional candidate Wanda James, who is a cannabis business owner, discussed her platform. The House bill to designate psychedelic therapy centers of excellence got one new cosponsor for a total of 23. / STATES New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) appointed a new acting executive director for the Office of Cannabis Management. The South Dakota Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill to legalize the pharmaceutical composition of crystalline polymorph psilocybin upon federal approval. The Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee is expected to vote on a bill to prevent police from conducting searches based solely on the smell of marijuana on Monday. A Michigan senator filed a bill to repeal a recently implemented marijuana tax increase. Virginia lawmakers discussed their bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales. A Nebraska notary was convicted of misconduct related to petitions for medical cannabis legalization ballot initiatives. Massachusetts’s top marijuana regulator said if a ballot initiative to roll back the state’s legalization law passes, it wouldn’t get rid of cannabis but would be “getting rid of regulated cannabis and the $300 million that comes with it.” Florida regulators filed changes to medical cannabis business rules. Washington State regulators took action against unlicensed marijuana sales. California generated $255.1 million in cannabis sales tax revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Executive Advisory Council will meet on Friday. Colorado regulators will host a stakeholder meeting on psychedelics rules on Tuesday. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / LOCAL The Chesterfield County, Virginia Board of Supervisors chair formed a committee to study psychedelics. / INTERNATIONAL The chair of the Bahamas Cannabis Authority said officials signed an agreement for a cannabis licensing and monitoring platform. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “the ability to metabolise [cannabigerolic acid] originated in a recent ancestor of cannabis and that early cannabinoid oxidocyclases were promiscuous enzymes producing all three THCA, CBDA and CBCA.” A study “demonstrates the feasibility of group psilocybin therapy in a low-income population with depression.” / BUSINESS Green Thumb Industries Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $311.1 million. Trulieve Cannabis Corp. reported quarterly revenue of $293.1 million and a net loss of $43.6 million. Cronos Group Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $44.5 million and a net loss of $0.5 million. Sunnyside workers in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania are going on strike. Holistic Industries workers in Springfield, Massachusetts removed United Food and Commercial Workers union officials from their workplace. / CULTURE Former basketball player Lamar Odom checked out of a rehab program he entered for marijuana. 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 Hemp THC ban delay hits roadblock in Congress (Newsletter: February 27, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“Other states as well should learn from Michigan’s experience, rather than repeat the same economic misstep the next time they face a budget shortfall.” By Hirsh Jain, Verdant Strategies In an effort to raise short-term revenue, Michigan recently adopted a cannabis tax structure that is already proving economically counterproductive and strategically shortsighted. For years, Michigan was widely regarded as one of the most successful legal cannabis markets in the United States. The explanation was simple. Michigan, wisely, had adopted one of the lowest cannabis tax rates in the country. The state imposed a 10 percent adult-use excise tax, shared between the state and local governments, plus the standard 6 percent sales tax, for a total effective rate of 16 percent. By comparison, California’s cannabis tax burden was more than twice as high, even approaching 40 percent in some cities. The contrast was notable because both California and Michigan share deep medical cannabis histories. California became the first state in the nation to legalize medical cannabis in 1996. Michigan later developed one of the most robust caregiver-based medical cannabis markets in the country during the 2000s and 2010s. Both states built strong cultural and policy foundations around the idea that cannabis is medicine. When adult-use legalization arrived, however, the two states moved in different directions. Michigan largely maintained the view that cannabis should be treated more like medicine than vice. It adopted a moderate tax structure that kept legal prices competitive. California, by contrast, layered on heavy taxes and regulatory costs that treated cannabis more like a luxury or vice product than a therapeutic good. Predictable results followed. Michigan’s fairly modest taxes helped draw consumers out of the illicit market and into licensed stores. Legal sales climbed rapidly, reaching roughly $3.3 billion annually in a state with just 10 million residents. California’s market has hovered around just $4 billion in recent years, despite having nearly four times the population. On a per capita basis, Michigan became one of the strongest adult-use cannabis markets in America, while California became the weakest, largely driven by tax policy. In July 2025, industry analytics firm Headset remarked, “What is so shocking about Michigan keeping pace with California sales is the difference in population. With a population of 10 million, Michigan is at the point of usurping America’s largest state, California, which has a population of nearly 40 million.” Cannabis became a major engine of employment in Michigan. According to industry recruiting firm Vangst, 47,000 Michiganders worked in the industry in 2024, incredibly representing almost 1 percent of the entire state’s workforce. Even more striking, Crain’s Detroit Business reported that cannabis accounted for an astonishing 52 percent of Michigan’s net private-sector job growth from 2018 through 2024. During a period when many of Michigan’s traditional manufacturing industries struggled and wage growth stalled for many workers, cannabis was the state’s most consistent source of job growth. Then the tax structure changed. Effective January 1, 2026, Michigan imposed a new 24 percent wholesale cannabis tax. This more than doubled the effective tax burden on operators at a critical point in the supply chain. The consequences were immediate. According to New Cannabis Ventures, Michigan’s legal cannabis market generated just $226 million in sales in January 2026, the lowest monthly total since late 2022. Sales fell by a sharp 16 percent from December 2025, the month before the tax took effect, and were 8 percent lower than January 2025. The situation may worsen in the months ahead. Many Michigan dispensaries stocked up on inventory in late 2025, before the tax took effect, and are still selling product that was not subject to the new wholesale tax. And even that temporary workaround came with tradeoffs. As retail analytics firm Happy Cabbage noted, high-demand products were often in limited supply in late 2025, while lower-demand items were readily available. As a result, purchasing decisions increasingly reflected what suppliers had on hand rather than what customers were most likely to buy. The full impact of the tax increase will become clearer in the coming months, as more newly taxed inventory reaches store shelves and higher costs are passed on to consumers. But already the effect on the industry has been sobering. In January alone, several sizable Michigan operators announced cultivation shutdowns, retail consolidations, and workforce reductions, citing collapsing margins following the tax increase. Higher Love Cannabis announced layoffs for 61 of its 213 employees, explaining that the cuts were necessary to withstand the new tax. C3 Industries said it would close its Webberville cultivation facility and lay off 62 employees, noting that it had warned lawmakers of this outcome if the wholesale tax were enacted. PinCanna placed its operations up for sale, citing the new wholesale tax as the reason. The owner of The Greenhouse predicted that as many as 30 percent of Michigan dispensaries could close within the next year because of the tax increase. This tax increase is rapidly destabilizing perhaps the most dynamic job-creating industry in Michigan’s recent history. It is an unmistakable reminder that cannabis does not operate in a closed legal market. It competes directly with a resilient illicit market that faces no excise taxes, no compliance costs and no regulatory burden. That illicit market has operated for decades and can quickly absorb consumers if the legal price gap becomes too wide. When policymakers raise cannabis taxes, the notion that they are simply adjusting revenue projections is an intellectual fantasy. In reality, they are shifting market share and economic resources to a highly unscrupulous, often-violent illicit market. Michigan’s earlier success showed that moderate taxation can expand the legal market and grow revenue organically. Its recent shift suggests that aggressive taxation can quickly reverse that progress. It is critical that other states take note of what is happening in Michigan right now. In recent months, states like Maine, Maryland and Minnesota have also increased their cannabis tax rates in an effort to plug various unrelated revenue gaps. But whether policymakers in these states appreciate it or not yet, those decisions will simply reduce legal sales and strengthen illicit operators. In fact, California learned this lesson in the third quarter of 2025, when it raised its already high cannabis excise tax from 15 percent to 19 percent. Legal sales fell 5 percent from the previous quarter, dropping to their lowest quarterly level in more than five years and prompting the state to quickly reverse course and restore the tax rate to 15 percent. Michigan failed to heed this clear economic lesson. Beyond its economic consequences, overtaxing cannabis runs counter to the spirit and logic of federal rescheduling. If cannabis is formally recognized at the federal level as having accepted medical use under Schedule III, states with long medical cannabis histories should pause and reconsider whether their tax policy properly reflects and honors their own legacies. Michigan and California were pioneers in recognizing cannabis as medicine, creating the conditions for a dramatic change in national attitudes that the current push for rescheduling reflects. Taxing cannabis at rates that exceed those applied to alcohol and tobacco, products which kill hundreds of thousands of Americans each year, betrays that pioneering medical legacy. If the lessons of rescheduling are taken seriously, both Michigan and California should reexamine their punitive tax structures in light of their own histories. And states such as Pennsylvania and Virginia, which may vote in 2026 to create new adult-use markets, also face a clear choice. They can pursue illusory short-term fiscal gains through heavy taxation and risk repeating Michigan’s recent mistakes. Or they can design competitive tax structures that support stable businesses, protect jobs and align policy with the growing recognition of cannabis as medicine. Michigan’s tax experiment is still unfolding, but the early signs are concerning. The state still has time to change course, as California did, albeit modestly. For the sake of its citizens, tens of thousands of cannabis workers, and the legal market it built, Michigan’s lawmakers should reverse this tax increase. Other states as well should learn from Michigan’s experience, rather than repeat the same economic misstep the next time they face a budget shortfall. Hirsh Jain is the Director of Market Intelligence at Verdant Strategies, a financial services and solutions company that provides tax planning and accounting services to many of the nation’s leading cannabis brands and retailers. He is also a principal at Los Angeles-based consulting firm Ananda Strategy. The post Michigan’s Marijuana Tax Experiment Should Be An Urgent Warning To Other States (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Senior residents in Arizona independent living communities could soon see a different kind of care service available in their neighborhoods: Kiosks allowing them to view and buy marijuana products from licensed dispensaries. The retailer Life Is Chill and cannabis technology company LoveBud announced on Thursday that they were partnering for the launch of the novel initiative, which will involve deploying the kiosks in participating senior living communities that residents can use to learn about and order marijuana products for delivery. “We are launching something Arizona has not seen yet, a kiosk experience that makes ordering simple when ordering from licensed dispensaries,” James Watkins, CEO of LoveBud, said in a press release. “This creates a clear revenue opportunity for smaller dispensaries and gives customers a guided way to place orders with confidence.” With a focus on education, the kiosks are meant to help seniors make informed decisions about their cannabis purchases, while helping facilitate access through the delivery service that can be especially useful to residents without means of transportation to dispensaries. Dana Lillestol, Life Is Chill’s senior education advocate, said the kiosk model “can improve access and education for older adults who want a straightforward, guided experience.” “When people can review clear product information at the point of ordering and choose delivery, it can remove common barriers and support more informed decisions,” she said. Not all independent senior living communities in Arizona will be involved in the rollout—but for those that do permit marijuana for their senior residents and incorporate the kiosks, the new initiative could help improve access while providing information about what types of products could best suit a given senior. — 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 Arizona, senators recently approved a pair of measures that would make the act of creating “excessive” amounts of marijuana smoke or odor a criminal nuisance punishable by jail time, even if the person is using cannabis in compliance with state law in their own homes. Also in the state, anti-cannabis activists are working to put an initiative on the state’s November ballot that would significantly roll back its voter-approved marijuana legalization law. A GOP congressional lawmaker said recently he’d like to see his state take that action—but he also acknowledged that President Donald Trump’s recent federal rescheduling order could complicate that prohibitionist push. Under the proposal, possession would remain lawful if voters chose to enact the initiative—and Arizona’s medical marijuana program would remain intact—but the commercial market for recreational cannabis that’s evolved since voters approved an adult-use legalization measure in 2020 would be quashed. A findings section on the latest initiative states that “the proliferation of marijuana establishments and recreational marijuana sales in this state have produced unintended consequences and negative effects relating to the public health, safety, and welfare of Arizonans, including increased marijuana use among children, environmental concerns, increased demands for water resources, public nuisances, market instability, and illicit market activities.” “Arizona’s legal marijuana sales have declined for two consecutive years, resulting in less tax revenue for this state, while some patients have relied on recreational use of marijuana instead of utilizing the benefits of this state’s medical marijuana program,” it says. The initiative would also instruct the legislature to make conforming changes by amending existing statute as it relates to the commercial industry, including tax and advertising rules. In order to make the ballot, the campaign will need to collect 255,949 valid signatures by July 2. If the proposal goes to voters and is approved, it would take effect in January 2028. It remains to be seen if there will be an appetite for repeal among voters, as 60 percent of the electorate approved legalization at the ballot in 2020. What’s more a poll from last year found majority support for medical cannabis legalization (86 percent), adult-use legalization (69 percent) and banking reform (78 percent). The post Marijuana Kiosks For Seniors Are Coming To Independent Living Communities Across Arizona appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Missouri lawmakers have approved legislation aimed at expanding therapeutic access to and research on psychedelics such as psilocybin and ibogaine for adults and military veterans. On Wednesday, members of the House Emerging Issues Committee passed two psychedelics proposals—combining two psilocybin- and two ibogaine-focused bills from Reps. Matthew Overcast (R) and Rep. Richard West (R)—that would take a series of steps to fund psychedelics studies, prepare for federal approval of novel therapeutics and create regulated psilocybin programs through which the substance could be administered to eligible patients. The ibogaine measures as introduced by both lawmakers were identical, but there were certain differences in the psilocybin bills that were merged. The final text of the merged legislation hasn’t been released yet, however, so it’s currently unclear what made it in the deal. Here’s an overview of all four of the Missouri psychedelics bills that were taken up in committee: HB 2817 (Overcast) and HB 2961 (West) As introduced, the Veterans Mental Health Innovation Act—identical versions of which were filed by both Overcast and West—would create a state fund to support federal Food and Drug Administration- (FDA) approved clinical trials exploring the therapeutic potential of ibogaine for opioid misuse disorder and other serious neurological conditions. The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) would be responsible for awarding grants for the psychedelics research, with money appropriated by the legislature and outside sources through a Ibogaine Study Fund. DHSS would award the grants to Missouri entities with specific neurological and neurosurgical capabilities, provide cardiac health services, are able to match funding they receive from the state and partner with an institution that has submitted an investigational new drug application to FDA seeking breakthrough therapy status. Under the legislation, there would also be an Ibogaine Intellectual Property Fund, which would be supported by revenue from patents and licensing fees associated with the clinical trials. That revenue would go toward assistance for military veterans and other at-risk populations. If FDA eventually grants approval to an ibogaine medication, the Missouri bill stipulates that only licensed physicians would be able to prescribe the novel therapy. And people seeking the treatment would still need to receive it in a medically supervised environment. The proposal would make it so the DHSS grant application process would need to begin before November 1. HB 1717 (West) The bill as introduced aims to expand upon the state’s existing right-to-try law by allowing veterans 21 and older receive psilocybin treatment for mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, substance misuse disorder and end-of-life care. Prospective patients would need to enroll in a psilocybin study, with documentation from a physician affirming that they have a qualifying condition, and receive the psychedelic treatment in a medically supervised environment. There would also be a 150mg cap on the amount of psilocybin analyte that a patient could receive in a given year. Patients and facilitators would be protected against criminal and civil enforcement action for participating in the program, and it would be prohibited to disclose information about participants to federal authorities. The legislation also calls for $2 million to be appropriated for psilocybin research grants to support the psychedelic treatment. Further, the legislation would revise the definition of an “investigational drug” under state statute to remove language that exempts Schedule I substances from the right-to-try policy. Finally, the measure would require the state Department of Mental Health (DMH) to partner with a university or FDA-affiliated research institute to carry out a study into the medical potential of psilocybin for psilocybin and other alternative therapeutics, with a final report due to the legislature within one year of enactment. HB 1643 (Overcast) Similar to West’s HB 1717, the bill as filed is meant to provide regulated therapeutic access to psilocybin—though that access would be available to all adults 21 and older (not just veterans) and it would not require enrollment in a psychedelics study in order to receive the alternative treatment. Adults would still have to demonstrate that they’ve been diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition—PTSD, major depressive disorder, substance misuse disorder or a terminal illness—and they’d still be limited to 150mg of psilocybin analyte on an annual basis. Also, the legislation would expand the state’s right-to-try law by including Schedule I substances like many psychedelics in the definition of an investigational drug. Manufacturers of such investigational drugs would need to register their products with DHSS, and the department would be required to publish a registry of those organizations by November 1. — 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. — West also sponsored a bill last session to provide therapeutic access to psilocybin for military veterans that ultimately wasn’t enacted into law. The passage of the bills through committee this session comes months after bipartisan and bicameral Missouri legislators pre-filed a series of drug policy reform proposals that range from providing early release for people incarcerated for certain cannabis-related convictions to promoting access to alternative therapies such as psilocybin. The post Missouri Lawmakers Approve Psychedelics Bills To Expand Access To And Research On Psilocybin And Ibogaine appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Republican chair of a key House committee says a proposed amendment to a large-scale agriculture bill that would delay a hemp THC ban by a year isn’t relevant to the legislation, casting doubt on the prospects that it will get a vote in the panel next week. Shortly after Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) submitted the amendment—which supporters say is necessary to give farmers more time to prepare and stakeholders more time to negotiate a long-term deal on potential regulations for hemp products—House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) reportedly said he doesn’t think the proposal is germane to the 2026 Farm Bill that’s scheduled for a markup on Tuesday. If that’s the position of the chair, as CQ reported, it’s unlikely the amendment will receive a vote in the panel. Thompson “doesn’t think the amendment is germane, making it unlikely that Baird could offer the provision for a vote at the markup despite bipartisan backing,” the outlet reported. “The House Energy and Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over the Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for regulating hemp products when they reach the market. The Agriculture Department only has control over the plant.” CQ said that Baird has acknowledged his amendment is unlikely to succeed in being attached to the 2026 Farm Bill. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Marijuana Moment. The hemp sector has been sounding the alarm about the cannabinoid ban that was included in broader spending legislation President Donald Trump signed into law last year. They argue that the redefinition of what constitutes federally legal hemp—which is currently set to take effect in November— would effectively upend the market that’s emerged since the crop was legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill during the president’s first term. Here’s the summary of the Baird amendment: “This amendment would delay the redefining of hemp by 1 year in section 781 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act of 2026.” Delaying the THC ban by a year would serve as a temporary bridge for the industry as it works to convince Congress to regulate—rather than recriminalize—hemp products, and it’s a shorter delay than Baird is working to secure through separate standalone legislation he filed this session that would put a pause on the policy change for two years to give stakeholders more time to navigate the issue. Since 2018, cannabis products have been considered legal hemp if they contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. The provisions set to take effect later this year specify that, within one year of enactment, the weight will apply to total THC—including delta-8 and other isomers. It will also include “any other cannabinoids that have similar effects (or are marketed to have similar effects) on humans or animals as a tetrahydrocannabinol (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services).” The new definition of legal hemp will additionally ban “any intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid products which are marketed or sold as a final product or directly to an end consumer for personal or household use” as well as products containing cannabinoids that are synthesized or manufactured outside of the cannabis plant or not capable of being naturally produced by it. Legal hemp products will be limited to a total of 0.4 milligrams per container of total THC or any other cannabinoids with similar effects. Within 90 days of the bill’s enactment, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies were supposed to publish list of “all cannabinoids known to FDA to be capable of being naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant, as reflected in peer reviewed literature,” “all tetrahydrocannabinol class cannabinoids known to the agency to be naturally occurring in the plant” and “all other known cannabinoids with similar effects to, or marketed to have similar effects to, tetrahyrocannabinol class cannabinoids.” However, FDA appears to have missed that deadline. A spokesperson told Marijuana Moment earlier this month that the lists would be posted in the Federal Register when they’re available. Lawmakers from across the aisle have been raising concerns about the potential consequences of the hemp redefinition, which would eradicate most consumable cannabinoid products that have become commonplace in states across the U.S., including those where marijuana hasn’t been legalized. Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell are among the critics of the ban, and they sent a letter to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) last week imploring him to use his influence to avert the recriminalization, at least on a temporary basis, by supporting the proposed implementation delay. While McConnell championed hemp legalization under the 2018 Farm Bill, however, the former Senate majority leader has supported unraveling the hemp THC market that he’s described as an unintended consequences of the broader agriculture legislation. — 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, last month, major alcohol retailers came together to encourage Congress to delay the enactment of the law Trump signed that will federally recriminalize hemp-derived THC beverages and other products. The coalition says it wants to apply the same regulatory structure that governs beverage alcohol producers, distributors and merchants to hemp drinks “to ensure safe, transparent access.” Other alcohol industry groups such as Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America have also backed regulating hemp products instead of prohibiting them. Photo courtesy of Brendan Cleak. The post Amendment To Delay Hemp THC Ban Won’t Get A Vote At Farm Bill Hearing, Key GOP Congressional Committee Chair Signals appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“We don’t want to go back to the Wild, Wild West and have 10,000 licenses out there. We wanna put a number on that so we can keep them in compliance.” By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice Oklahoma House lawmakers on Wednesday sent two bills to the Senate extending a moratorium on medical marijuana licenses and limiting the number of grow licenses. House Bills 3143 and 3144 would extend an existing moratorium on all new marijuana business licenses to August 1, 2028, and limit the number of grow licenses to 2,500, respectively. The current moratorium on new licenses expires August 1. There are currently 2,164 licensed grows in Oklahoma, according to a dashboard posted by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. There are 686 processors, 1,421 dispensaries and 58 transporters licensed in Oklahoma. Extending the moratorium Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, said the extended moratorium in House Bill 3143 is only for new licenses. Current medical marijuana businesses in good standing with OMMA could open new locations with their existing licenses, he said. He said the moratorium will help control the black market side and keep the medical marijuana industry medical, not recreational. Rep. Jared Deck, D-Norman, said one of his constituents was worried they wouldn’t be able to expand their existing business into new parts of the industry, like growing. Businesses are able to sell their current licenses to other business owners who are interested in the industry or expansion, said Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee. The bill heads to the Senate with a vote of 82-8. Limiting medical marijuana grows House Bill 3144 limits the number of licensed medical marijuana grows in the state to 2,500, more than currently exist. Rep. Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinitia, said this bill goes “hand in hand” with House Bill 3143. “We anticipate the moratorium to lift at some point,” he said. “When that happens we don’t want to go back to the Wild, Wild West and have 10,000 licenses out there. We wanna put a number on that so we can keep them in compliance.” The House approved the measure with a vote of 82-15. Medical marijuana was approved by voters in 2018 through a state question, and lawmakers have been attempting to regulate the industry in the years since. This story was first published by Oklahoma Voice. The post Oklahoma Lawmakers Vote To Extend Medical Marijuana Business License Moratorium appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Texas voters say they disapprove of how state leaders and lawmakers have handled marijuana and THC policy issues, according to a new poll that comes amid a primary election where people will get the chance to make their voices heard on cannabis legalization at the ballot. The Texas Politics Project survey, released on Monday, asked registered voters about a variety of policy issues—from abortion rights to border security to cannabis laws—and how they feel officials are managing them. Efforts to legalize marijuana in Texas have consistently stalled in the conservative legislature, and state statute continues to impose strict penalties on those who possess, cultivate or sell cannabis outside of the limited medical marijuana program. Last year also saw tension within the legislature over the regulation of hemp products containing THC, with the GOP governor ultimately vetoing a bill that stakeholders say threatened to eradicate the cannabinoid market. All told, a plurality of voters in the state (40 percent) said they disapprove of how their elected officials have approached marijuana and THC laws, according to the survey. Just 29 percent said they approve of how cannabis issues have been handled, while 31 percent said they didn’t have an opinion one way or another. The poll didn’t give respondents specific examples of marijuana or hemp policy matters that have gone before the legislature, so it’s not clear exactly why voters approved or disapproved on how they’ve been handled. But it does reveal partisan divides on the question. Democrats were the most likely to say they disapprove (60 percent) of how legislators and the administration have approached cannabis laws, while 16 percent said they approved and 24 percent selected “neither” approve nor disapprove. By contrast, most Republicans (42 percent) said they approve of how officials have managed marijuana and THC issues, compared to 24 percent who disapproved and 33 percent said they were neutral. Among independent voters, 42 percent disapproved, 14 percent approved and 43 percent said “neither.” Via Texas Politics Project. The 72nd Texas Politics Project survey involved interviews with 1,300 registered voters from February 2-16, with a +/- 2.72 percentage point margin of error. The poll is also being released as voters head to the polls for the state’s primary election. And voters who select a Democratic ballot can weigh in on a non-binding proposition asking about their positions on legalizing cannabis and expunging past convictions. The yes or no question on Democratic primary ballots reads: “Texas should legalize cannabis for adults and automatically expunge criminal records for past low-level cannabis offenses.” — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — The result of the voting on Democrats’ marijuana question will not on its own change any cannabis laws, but they could send a signal to lawmakers about popular support for reform. For what it’s worth, a poll released last year found that a plurality of Texas voters want the state’s marijuana laws to be made “less strict.” And among the legislative items lawmakers considered during recent special sessions, voters say a proposal to address hemp regulations was among the least important. In the background, officials with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in December conditionally approved nine new medical marijuana business licenses in December as part of a law that’s being implemented to significantly expand the state’s cannabis program. The department will issue conditional licenses to three additional dispensaries by April 2026. This represents a major change to the program, as there are currently only three dispensaries licensed to operate in Texas. DPS in October adopted additional rules to increase the number of licensed dispensaries, establishing security requirements for “satellite” locations and authorizing the revocation of licenses for certain violations. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) also recently finalized rules allowing doctors to recommend new qualifying conditions for cannabis patients and creating standards for allowable low-THC inhalation devices. Meanwhile, bipartisan Texas lawmakers say the stage is set to advance legislation next session establishing regulations for hemp THC products, with growing understanding among their colleagues that prohibition fails to effectively address concerns about the cannabis market. In the interim, Texas regulators have taken a series of steps to enact rules around consumable hemp products over recent month, which began after Gov. Greg Abbott (R) vetoed a bill last year that would’ve effectively eradicated the state’s hemp market. In late December, meanwhile, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) released a set of proposed rules to regulate the state’s hemp market—including provisions related to age-gating, licensing fees, testing requirements, packaging restrictions and more in response to an executive order the governor signed in September. Image element courtesy of AnonMoos. The post Texas Voters Disapprove Of How State Officials Are Handling Marijuana And THC Laws, Poll Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Legalizing marijuana in Pennsylvania under the governor’s latest budget plan could bring in nearly half a billion dollars in annual revenue by 2028, according to a new analysis from the state’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) that estimates a significantly larger cash windfall compared to projections from Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) own office. With a proposed 20 percent wholesale cannabis excise tax, 6 percent state sales tax for retail and licensing fees, IFO said Shapiro’s legalization plan that he unveiled earlier this month 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 that 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. Of course, the projections assume the legislature advances adult-use legalization in line with the governor’s budget request and sales begin on January 1, 2027. It remains to be seen whether lawmakers will follow through on the reform this year, but it wouldn’t be the first time marijuana legalization stalled out in the state if they don’t act this session. Under Shapiro’s plan, revenue from cannabis sales would go toward small business loans, restorative justice programs, the state Department of Agriculture, state police and the Department of Revenue—with any remaining tax and fee dollars going to the general fund. “The tax revenue estimate is based on the annual average dollar amount of recreational marijuana sales per adult (age 21 to 65) from comparable states and applied to Pennsylvania’s population,” IFO said in its analysis. “Because marijuana remains illegal under federal law, all marijuana sold in Pennsylvania must be grown in state (no imports).” IFO legal recreational marijuana estimate $589 million lower than Executive Budget in FY 26-27 (lower fees) but ~$80 million higher in future years (higher tax revenues). See: https://t.co/wwprjfqk6E pic.twitter.com/VpcrwWnkWv — Independent Fiscal Office (@ind_fisc_office) February 19, 2026 “For FY 2028-29, the analysis estimates $450 million of new taxes and fees from the proposal,” it says. “Because the new tax replaces deficit-financed spending (i.e., not new state spending that would have a positive offsetting economic impact), it results in a negative impact on other tax revenues such as income and sales tax.” There would be seven rounds of licensing opportunities beginning on July 1 under Shapiro’s plan. Existing medical cannabis dispensaries would be eligible to apply for a conversion license in the first round if they pay a $25 million initial fee. The annual renewal fee would be $500,000, and licensees could vertically integrate to grow, process and sell marijuana products. Due to the high cost of that conversion license, IFO said it only expects four medical cannabis businesses would expand their operations. First-time farmer/grower licenses would come with a $1,000 initial fee, and applications would open on October 1. Starting January 1, 2027, grower, processor, dispensary and microbusiness applications would open, with a $25,000 initial fee. “The initial license fee ($25 million) imposed on existing medical marijuana dispensaries that seek to sell recreational marijuana is much higher than other states. For example, the maximum license fee in other states include: Connecticut ($3 million), Maryland ($2 million), Ohio ($180,000) and New Jersey ($50,000). With an initial fee of $25 million, the estimate assumes that only four existing medical marijuana dispensaries would expand to the Pennsylvania recreational marijuana market and each dispensary would open five retail locations (assumed maximum allowed).” The IFO report also notes that taxes and fees from legal cannabis sales would offset revenue from the state sales tax by $8.7 million, personal income tax by $2.5 million and all other taxes—including tobacco, alcohol and gaming) by $2.8 million. Analysts also noted that certain studies have found that cannabis use “is much more prevalent for lower-income groups,” and so the marijuana taxes would be “regressive.” That said, “there is insufficient data to allocate the new tax to specific income groups.” Meanwhile, this month, 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. In a letter led by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and sent to the governor, the coalition noted that legalization has consistently made it into Shapiro’s budget requests, “reflecting both sound fiscal policy and the clear will of the people of the Commonwealth.” Pennsylvania House Democratic lawmakers have separately called on the GOP-controlled Senate to come to the table and pass a bill to legalize marijuana. At a press conference earlier this month, three Democratic members of the House who have championed adult-use legalization stressed the need to move on reform, laying blame for inaction on the Senate where even supporters of the policy change have so far been unable to deliver on the issue. Reps. Rick Krajewski (D) and Dan Frankel (D), who sponsored a bill to legalize with state-run shops that advanced through the House last year, said they understand that the novel regulatory approach they envisioned may be “controversial” to some members, but that’s all the more reason for the Senate to bring their own ideas to the conversation to finally enact the reform. House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D) said in December that legalizing marijuana is one way to create a “very important” revenue source for the state—and that it’s an achievable reform if only legislators could find “the will to do it.” Bipartisan Pennsylvania lawmakers who’ve been working to enact adult-use legalization over recent sessions without success so far have also recently said that President Donald Trump’s federal marijuana rescheduling order could grease the wheels in 2026. For what it’s worth, another top GOP senator—Sen. Scott Martin (R), chair of the chamber’s Appropriations Committee—said in December that he was skeptical about the prospects of enacting legalization in the 2026 session, in part because of the federal classification of cannabis that’s now expected to change. Of course, marijuana would still be federally illegal under Schedule III, so it’s unclear if a simple loosening of the law would move the needle enough from his perspective. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — A top aide to Pennsylvania’s governor said in September that lawmakers should stop introducing new competing legalization bills and instead focus on building consensus on the issue—while emphasizing that any measure that advances needs to contain equity provisions if the governor is going to sign it into law. Sen. Dan Laughlin (R), for his part, said in August that the House “needs to pass the language in my bill and send it to my committee” after which point he “can negotiate with the Senate and the governor.” The senator separately said recently that supporters are “picking up votes” to enact the reform this session. Meanwhile, bipartisan Pennsylvania senators in October introduced a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to use of medical marijuana in hospitals. Separately, the leading Republican candidate in the race to become the next governor of Pennsylvania dodged a question about her stance on legalizing marijuana—saying she doesn’t have a “policy position” on the issue and arguing that the sitting governor’s proposal for reform “way, way overstated” potential revenue. The candidate, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R), pointed to neighboring Ohio, which launched its own adult-use cannabis market this year, saying “they generated about $115 million in revenue.” And while the populations of both states are relatively comparable, Shapiro’s budget projected $536.5 million in cannabis revenue in the first fiscal year of implementation. She did, however, say that if Pennsylvania moves forward on enacting the reform, she’ll “make sure that it’s banked appropriately.” Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania Democratic senator recently said that federal marijuana rescheduling would be “very influential” in advancing legalization in his state, giving “political cover” to GOP members on the fence about reform. Polls have shown bipartisan support for legalization among voters, but the reform has consistently stalled in the legislature, due largely to GOP opposition. But not all Republican members are against the policy change—and one recently said she felt her party should seize the “opportunity to snatch” the issue from Democrats. Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Legalizing Marijuana In Pennsylvania Would Generate Almost Half A Billion Dollars In Revenue By 2028 Under Governor’s Plan, State Analysis Finds appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Trump surgeon general pick on psychedelics; Marijuana industry disappointed about SOTU; VA medical cannabis in hospitals; Cannabis prisoners op-ed Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… 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 Casey Means, President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, said she wouldn’t recommend that other people use psilocybin like she has—but added that she supports “exciting” research being done on psychedelics’ therapeutic potential. An American Civil Liberties Union Official gave Marijuana Moment a preview of the arguments the organization’s lawyers plan to make to the Supreme Court next week in a case challenging the federal ban on gun possession by cannabis consumers. The National Cannabis Industry Association’s chairman said President Donald Trump “missed an opportunity” to talk about marijuana reform in his State of the Union address—saying, “The industry has heard promises before, including support for rescheduling. What’s missing is delivery.” The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill to allow medical cannabis use in hospitals and create a new state working group to publish guidelines on the issue. The Last Prisoner Project’s Stephanie Shepard argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed for Black History Month that rescheduling cannabis “does not free a single person from prison, clear a single criminal record or repair the racial harm created by decades of cannabis prohibition.” The Nebraska legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill to protect doctors who recommend medical cannabis from civil, criminal or disciplinary action. An Indiana bill to ban intoxicating and synthetic hemp-derived products died as a key legislative deadline passed. / FEDERAL The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy launched a new ad “to raise public awareness for the grave threat that illicit drugs pose to human life.” The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up a case challenging Maryland’s cannabis social equity business licensing rules. The House bill to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to study psychedelics got one new cosponsor for a total of three. / STATES Kansas lawmakers held a press conference to promote bills to legalize recreational and medical marijuana. Colorado lawmakers are considering several cannabis reform bills this session. A Nebraska court began a criminal trial of a notary accused of misconduct in relation to medical cannabis legalization ballot initiative petitions. Missouri regulators published draft changes to cannabis business rules. Guam regulators approved the territory’s first two cannabis business licenses. The U.S. Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board approved changes to regulations. California’s top marijuana regulator discussed his plans for overseeing the industry. Oregon regulators sent a newsletter with updates about the psilocybin services program. The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Monday and Tuesday. The New York Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / INTERNATIONAL The Welsh Conservative Party leader is criticizing Plaid Cymru’s support for drug decriminalization. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “anxiety significantly decreased over the study period in both flower and edibles groups” and that “CBD-dominant edibles were associated with less anxiety over time in this naturalistic study.” A study’s results “experimental support for the traditional use of C. sativa roots in [gastrointestinal] disorders and indicate their potential as a non-psychoactive source of bioactive constituents.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The National Cannabis Industry Association announced new board of directors members, / BUSINESS Decibel Cannabis Company Inc. is selling its property in Creston, British Columbia. Leading Retirement Solutions published a cannabis industry retirement report. 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 ACLU previews cannabis & guns arguments for Supreme Court (Newsletter: February 26, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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