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As speculation abounds over a potential marijuana rescheduling decision by the Trump administration, the Justice Department is telling the U.S. Supreme Court that it should reverse a lower court ruling that deemed a federal ban on gun ownership by cannabis consumers to be unconstitutional—in part because people who use illegal drugs “pose a greater danger” than those who drink alcohol. In a brief submitted to justices on Friday, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer maintained the administration’s position that a federal statute restricting marijuana consumers’ gun rights, 922(g)(3), is consistent with the Constitution and does not infringe upon Second Amendment rights. “Indeed, unlawful drug users pose a greater danger than users of alcohol, which was lawful at the founding and remained so for most of American history,” the brief says. “Congress and the Executive have determined that marijuana and other Schedule I drugs ‘ha[ve] a high potential for abuse’ and ‘a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision’ that justifies their criminal prohibition, unlike alcohol.” Given Supreme Court precedent that weakened states’ rights to impose firearms restrictions that are antithetical to the founders’ intent when the Constitution was ratified, DOJ said historical examples of “drunkard laws…amply justifies analogous restrictions on users of unlawful drugs.” And, according to DOJ, that’s relevant to the case before the court, U.S. v. Hemani. The administration’s brief said “drug users pose a danger of misusing firearms because of ‘drug-induced changes in physiological functions, cognitive ability, and mood,’ and the ‘use of drugs can embolden [individuals] in aggression.'” “Armed drug users pose ‘extraordinary’ ‘hazards,’ as ‘even a momentary lapse’ caused by their ‘impaired perception and judgment’ can result in ‘disastrous consequences,'” it continued. “In particular, the physiological, cognitive, and mood-based effects of many illegal drugs—such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, phencyclidine (PCP), and fentanyl—present grave risks of firearm misuse.” Additionally, “habitual drug users by definition will pose these dangers on a frequent and recurring basis,” the Justice Department said. “Drug users also ‘commit crime in order to obtain money to buy drugs’ and so pose a danger of using firearms to facilitate such crime, regardless of whether drug users are intoxicated at the time.” This brief was filed as rumors swell that President Donald Trump intends to issue an executive order directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana, moving it from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Whether that happens is yet to be seen, but predictions about timelines for the potential action range—with some outlets like CNBC reporting that it could occur on Monday and others like Axios projecting a decision early next year. Meanwhile, the Biden administration was evidently concerned about potential legal liability in federal cases for people convicted of violating gun laws simply by being a cannabis consumer who possessed a firearm, documents recently obtained by Marijuana Moment show. The previously unpublished 2024 guidance from former President Joe Biden’s Justice Department generally cautioned U.S. attorneys to use discretion in prosecuting federal cannabis cases, particularly for offenses that qualified people for pardons during his term. But one section seems especially relevant as the Supreme Court takes on a case challenging the constitutionality of the current federal gun statute. With respect to Hemani, in a separate August filing for the case, the Justice Department also emphasized that “the question presented is the subject of a multi-sided and growing circuit conflict.” In seeking the court’s grant of cert, the solicitor general also noted that the defendant is a joint American and Pakistani citizen with alleged ties to Iranian entities hostile to the U.S., putting him the FBI’s radar. Now that the Supreme Court has agreed to take up Hemani, if justices declare 922(g)(3) constitutional, such a ruling could could mean government wins in the remaining cases. The high court last month denied a petition for cert in U.S. v. Cooper, while leaving pending decisions on U.S. v. Daniels and U.S. v. Sam. The court also recently denied a petition for cert in another gun and marijuana case, U.S. v. Baxter, but that wasn’t especially surprising as both DOJ and the defendants advised against further pursing the matter after a lower court reinstated his conviction for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Meanwhile, in recent interviews with Marijuana Moment, several Republican senators shared their views on the federal ban on gun possession by people who use marijuana—with one saying that if alcohol drinkers can lawfully buy and use firearms, the same standard should apply to cannabis consumers. Separately, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit earlier this year sided with a federal district court that dismissed an indictment against Jared Michael Harrison, who was charged in Oklahoma in 2022 after police discovered cannabis and a handgun in his vehicle during a traffic stop. The case has now been remanded to that lower court, which determined that the current statute banning “unlawful” users of marijuana from possessing firearms violates the Second Amendment of the Constitution. The lower court largely based his initial decision on an interpretation of a Supreme Court ruling in which the justices generally created a higher standard for policies that seek to impose restrictions on gun rights. Separately, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh District, judges recently ruled in favor of medical cannabis patients who want to exercise their Second Amendment rights to possess firearms. As a recent report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) explained the current legal landscape, a growing number of federal courts are now “finding constitutional problems in the application of at least some parts” of the firearms prohibition. In a recent ruling, a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated a defendant’s conviction and remanded the case back to a district court, noting that a retrial before a jury may be necessary to determine whether cannabis in fact caused the defendant to be dangerous or pose a credible threat to others. The Third Circuit separately said in a published opinion that district courts must make “individualized judgments” to determine whether 922(g)(3) is constitutional as applied to particular defendants. A federal court in October agreed to delay proceedings in a years-long Florida-based case challenging the constitutionality of the ban on gun ownership by people who use medical marijuana, with the Justice Department arguing that the Supreme Court’s recent decision to take up Hemani warrants a stay in the lower court. — 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. — Earlier this year, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the ban was unconstitutional as applied to two defendants, writing that the government failed to establish that the “sweeping” prohibition against gun ownership by marijuana users was grounded in historical precedent. A federal judge in El Paso separately ruled late last year that the government’s ongoing ban on gun ownership by habitual marijuana users is unconstitutional in the case of a defendant who earlier pleaded guilty to the criminal charge. The court allowed the man to withdraw the plea and ordered that the indictment against him be dismissed. DOJ has claimed in multiple federal cases over the past several years that the statute banning cannabis consumers from owning or possessing guns is constitutional because it’s consistent with the nation’s history of disarming “dangerous” individuals. In 2023, for example, the Justice Department told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that historical precedent “comfortably” supports the restriction. Cannabis consumers with guns pose a unique danger to society, the Biden administration claimed, in part because they’re “unlikely” to store their weapon properly. Meanwhile, some states have passed their own laws either further restricting or attempting to preserve gun rights as they relate to marijuana. Recently a Pennsylvania lawmaker introduced a bill meant to remove state barriers to medical marijuana patients carrying firearms. Colorado activists also attempted to qualify an initiative for November’s ballot that would have protected the Second Amendment rights of marijuana consumers in that state, but the campaign’s signature-gathering drive ultimately fell short. As 2024 drew to a close, the ATF issued a warning to Kentucky residents that, if they choose to participate in the state’s medical marijuana program that’s set to launch imminently, they will be prohibited from buying or possessing firearms under federal law. The official said that while people who already own firearms aren’t “expected to” turn them over if they become state-legal cannabis patients, those who “wish to follow federal law and not be in violation of it” must “make the decision to divest themselves of those firearms.” Since then, bipartisan state lawmakers have introduced legislation that would urge Kentucky’s representatives in Congress to amend federal law to clarify that users of medical marijuana may legally possess firearms, though no action has since been taken on that bill. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said in January that he supported the legislature’s effort to urge the state’s congressional delegation to call for federal reforms to protect the Second Amendment rights of medical marijuana patients, but the governor added that he’d like to see even more sweeping change on the federal level. The post Marijuana Users ‘Pose A Greater Danger’ Than Alcohol Drinkers, Trump DOJ Tells SCOTUS In Gun Rights Case Filing appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Amid heightened rumors that the Trump administration will be moving forward on marijuana rescheduling, multiple top congressional Democrats are making the case that the reform would not go far enough—including one senator who said the move is only an attempt by the president to “gaslight” voters into thinking he legalized cannabis to boost his “pathetic” approval ratings. It remains to be seen whether President Donald Trump will fulfill his campaign promise to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which would not legalize the plant but would let marijuana businesses take federal tax deductions while removing certain research barriers. There was speculation that it’d happen late last week, and CNBC reported a decision would be made as early as Monday, while Axios said it’d occur early next year. In the interim, Democratic lawmakers are making clear they feel that simply rescheduling cannabis would do little to address the harms of the drug war while problematically maintaining prohibition. Without Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, marijuana sold in dispensaries across the state would remain illicit in the eye’s of the federal government. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), who has cosponsored cannabis legalization bills, posted an especially inflammatory statement about the issue, accusing Trump of attempting to “gaslight” Americans into “believing he just made pot legal” by facilitating rescheduling. Trump will try to gaslight everyone into believing he just made pot legal. Wrong. He has not decriminalized cannabis or expunged the records of black and Latino Americans stuck in prison for minor drug offenses. This is just an attempt to boost his pathetic approval ratings. https://t.co/JvCuhLycxA — Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) December 12, 2025 “Wrong. He has not decriminalized cannabis or expunged the records of black and Latino Americans stuck in prison for minor drug offenses. This is just an attempt to boost his pathetic approval ratings,” the senator—who didn’t appear to levy such sharp criticism against former President Joe Biden despite his administration initiating and failing to complete the process to move marijuana to Schedule III during his tenure—said. In a statement to Marijuana Moment, Wyden’s Oregon counterpart Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) was more diplomatic, calling rescheduling “an important step in the right direction.” “However, we cannot let up on momentum to address the wide range of issues impacting legal cannabis businesses, users, and community members,” he said, adding that a bipartisan marijuana banking bill he’s sponsored also “remains critical to ensure all legal cannabis businesses can access banking and financial services.” “Without this bill, banking for many state-legal cannabis businesses will continue to be inaccessible, making them vulnerable targets to crime,” the senator said. “The complete descheduling of cannabis, my bipartisan bill, and other common-sense cannabis reforms remain unequivocally necessary for communities in Oregon and across the nation.” Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who recently reintroduced a bill to federally legalize marijuana and promote equity to help repair the harms of the drug war, said “Trump’s push to reschedule is not enough, we must federally decriminalize marijuana.” That’s the reason he refiled the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, Nadler said. “Federal laws must remedy the patchwork of state laws, recognize growing public support, and reverse failed policies criminalizing marijuana.” Trump’s push to reschedule is not enough, we must federally decriminalize marijuana. That’s why I reintroduced the MORE Act months ago. Federal laws must remedy the patchwork of state laws, recognize growing public support, and reverse failed policies criminalizing marijuana. https://t.co/afFfGMU0Cd — Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) December 12, 2025 Nadler’s MORE Act twice passed the House under Democratic majorities, but it has never been taken up in the Senate, nor has the legalization legislation that Wyden cosponsored. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), another longstanding advocate for reform, said she was ‘urging President Trump to listen to the American people & loosen restrictions on marijuana.” “It’s an economic, medical, & public safety issue,” she said. “Reclassifying marijuana is progress, & I’ll continue my fight to legalize marijuana & expunge prior marijuana possession convictions.” I'm urging President Trump to listen to the American people & loosen restrictions on marijuana. It’s an economic, medical, & public safety issue. Reclassifying marijuana is progress, & I'll continue my fight to legalize marijuana & expunge prior marijuana possession convictions. pic.twitter.com/TDBNnS3KGl — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (@gillibrandny) December 12, 2025 Meanwhile, a major drug testing industry organization is “sounding the alarm” amid reports Trump may soon finalize the marijuana rescheduling proposal, arguing that the reform would “have catastrophic consequences for the safety of the United States workforce and transportation sectors.” Cannabis industry stakeholders are holding out hope that the reform will be achieved as soon as possible, but opponents—including the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) and Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)—are working to dissuade the administration before a final decision is made. For what it’s worth, a White House spokesperson told Marijuana Moment last week that no actions have been finalized so far. Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have been weighing in on the potential rescheduling decision over the past week—with Democrats like Rep. Alex Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) calling the reform a “no-brainer” and others like Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) pushing back against the proposal. Trump said in mid-August that he’d be making a decision on rescheduling within weeks. But despite that timeline and the escalating rumors, a White House spokesperson told Marijuana Moment last week that “no final decisions have been made on rescheduling of marijuana.” The Washington Post reported on Thursday evening that Trump was planning to issue an executive order directing federal agencies to move ahead with cannabis rescheduling. The outlet also said the president met earlier this week in the Oval Office with marijuana industry executives, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz. During that meeting, Trump phoned Johnson, the House speaker, who expressed his opposition to rescheduling cannabis, If the administration does ultimately enact rescheduling, it would mark one of the most significant developments in federal marijuana policy since its prohibition a half a century ago, with a Schedule III reclassification recognizing that marijuana has medical value and a lower abuse potential compared to other Schedule I drugs like heroin. — 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. — Trump endorsed rescheduling—as well as industry banking access and a Florida adult-use legalization initiative—on the campaign trail last year. The president had been largely silent on the issue since taking office during his second term, until a briefing in August where in response to a reporter’s question he announced the administration would decide on rescheduling within weeks. The possibility of an imminent rescheduling announcement comes weeks after the president signed a key spending bill that would effectively ban most consumable hemp products, drawing criticism from stakeholders in the hemp industry who argue the policy change would eradicate the market. The post Trump Is Trying To Boost ‘Pathetic’ Approval Ratings With Marijuana Rescheduling Move, Senator Says As Democrats Push Full Legalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Although our study is still preliminary, it lays an important foundation for future research into the potential applications of CBD and THC in ovarian cancer treatment.” By Angharad Brewer Gillham, Frontiers Ovarian cancer is dangerous and difficult to treat, partly because it’s hard to diagnose early, and partly because it’s often resistant to existing drugs. Now scientists looking for new treatments have identified two promising compounds in cannabis. Both THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) can stop ovarian cancer cells reproducing, and a combination of both compounds kills existing cancer cells. More research is needed to see if these compounds work as well outside the lab, but if these findings are confirmed they could become a source of new treatments for patients, less toxic and more effective than current options. In the future, scientists could use drugs made from cannabis to fight ovarian cancer. A team of scientists testing the effects of two chemical compounds sourced from cannabis on ovarian cancer cells have found that both show promising anti-cancer effects. While more research will be required to turn these results into drugs which can be delivered to patients, these findings are an important opportunity to develop effective new therapies for a cancer which is hard to diagnose and even harder to treat. “Ovarian cancer remains one of the deadliest gynecological malignancies, characterized by late diagnosis, high recurrence rates and limited effective treatment options,” said Dr Siyao Tong of Khon Kaen University, lead author of the article in Frontiers in Pharmacology. “Our goal is to find alternative drugs that can improve efficacy and potentially reduce toxicity, ultimately bringing new hope to patients facing this challenging disease.” “These findings highlight that CBD: THC combination treatment effectively inhibited ovarian cancer cell growth and invasion.” A deadly illness Of all the gynecological cancers, ovarian cancer kills most patients. Although there have been advances in treatment strategies, available drugs are not always effective and come with formidable side effects. New options are desperately needed. Since CBD (cannabidiol, which is not psychoactive) and THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is) have shown potential against other cancers, the research team decided to test them against ovarian cancer cells. They took two different lines of ovarian cancer cells, one of which is sensitive to platinum-derived drugs and one of which is resistant, and challenged the lines with CBD, THC or both, to see if the cells could survive and reproduce after exposure. The scientists also challenged a line of healthy cells, to see if the compounds damaged them. They found that cells for both cancer lines which had been treated with CBD or THC formed fewer and smaller colonies of cells. Though both compounds worked to prevent cancer cells reproducing, combining them gave particularly good results. And although neither compound alone killed a large proportion of cancer cells, a combination of the two was very successful. It’s possible that THC and CBD act on the cancer cells in different ways, and when used together, their effects are amplified. “Notably, the inhibitory effect was most pronounced when CBD and THC were used in a 1:1 ratio,” said Tong. Additional assays showed that the compounds prevented cells from migrating, which means they might be able to stop ovarian cancer spreading to other parts of the body. Many patients die of metastases, so a treatment which prevents metastasis could save lives. Both cell lines were similarly affected, suggesting that the compounds could work equally well for different types of ovarian cancer. The compounds and their combinations also had minimal effects on healthy cells, which suggests that patients might find treatments made from them less toxic and easier to tolerate than current drugs. To understand the mechanism behind these anti-cancer effects, the scientists looked at cell signaling pathways. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is overactivated in ovarian cancer cells, which contributes to tumor development and treatment resistance. The CBD and THC compounds seemed to restore normal regulation of the pathway, which could explain why the cancer cells couldn’t reproduce and began to die off after treatment. Looking to the future But much more work remains to be done before these results can be translated into practical treatments. The scientists call for further research which can establish if and how these compounds can be used as effective new ovarian cancer therapies. “Although our study is still preliminary, it lays an important foundation for future research into the potential applications of CBD and THC in ovarian cancer treatment,” said Tong. “By confirming their anti-cancer activity and identifying key molecular mechanisms, our findings are expected to drive further preclinical research. If future studies confirm these effects, CBD-THC combination therapy may ultimately contribute to the development of new treatment strategies.” “However, this study has some limitations,” Tong added. “All experiments were conducted in vitro, so the results may not fully reflect the complexity of tumor behavior in living organisms. We did not include in vivo models and pharmacokinetic data, which are crucial for determining whether CBD/THC can be safely and effectively used clinically. Finally, regulatory and legal issues surrounding cannabinoid therapy may also affect future translational research. While the results are encouraging, more studies are needed before these findings can be applied to patient treatment.” This story was first published by Frontiers. The post Marijuana Components ‘Effectively Inhibited Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth,’ Study Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The U.S. Supreme Court is declining to take up a case challenging the constitutionality of federal marijuana prohibition—an issue that even one of the bench’s more conservative members, Justice Clarance Thomas, had previously argued must be resolved amid the state legalization movement. The case, Canna Provisions v. Bondi, was on the agenda for a closed-door meeting of the justices on Friday. On Monday, the court posted an order list showing that the matter failed to receive the needed votes from four justices to grant certiorari. Massachusetts-based marijuana businesses had asked the court to take their case because they argued that federal law unconstitutionally prohibits intrastate cannabis activity, contravening the Commerce Clause. That issue was raised in amicus briefs filed by supporters of the suit over recent weeks. That includes a public interest law firm representing a man who says federal law infringed on his property rights, libertarian think tank the Cato Institute and the Koch-founded Americans for Prosperity Foundation. The powerhouse law firm Boies Schiller Flexner LLP submitted their petition for writ of certiorari from the court on behalf of their cannabis industry clients in October, and the Justice Department subsequently declined the opportunity to file a brief for or against the case’s consideration by the justices. A lead attorney representing the petitioners previously told Marijuana Moment that he was “hopeful”—albeit somewhat “nervous”—about the prospect of justices ultimately taking up the matter and deciding to address the key legal question about the constitutionality of federal cannabis prohibition. “Time is of the essence,” Josh Schiller said, noting the dramatic shift in public opinion and state laws governing cannabis. “We think that this is the right time for this case because of the need—the industry needs to get relief from federal oversight at the moment.” Schiller did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Marijuana Moment about the court’s action on Monday. A U.S. appeals court rejected the arguments of the state-legal cannabis companies the firm is representing in May. It was one the latest blows to the high-profile lawsuit following a lower court’s dismissal of the claims. But it’s widely understood that the plaintiffs’ legal team has long intended the matter to end up before the nine high court justices. One of the court’s justices, Thomas, said in 2021 that the federal government’s inconsistent approach to marijuana policy ought to be resolved, suggesting that outright national prohibition may be unconstitutional. “Once comprehensive, the Federal Government’s current approach is a half-in, half-out regime that simultaneously tolerates and forbids local use of marijuana,” Thomas said at the time. “This contradictory and unstable state of affairs strains basic principles of federalism and conceals traps for the unwary,” he said, adding that “though federal law still flatly forbids the intrastate possession, cultivation, or distribution of marijuana…the Government, post-Raich, has sent mixed signals on its views.” Thomas’s comments seemed to suggest it’d be appropriate revisit the precedent-setting case, Gonzales v. Raich, where the Supreme Court narrowly determined that the federal government could enforce prohibition against cannabis cultivation that took place wholly within California based on Congress’s authority to regulate interstate commerce. The initial complaint in the current case, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, argued that government’s ongoing prohibition on marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) was unconstitutional because Congress in recent decades had “dropped any assumption that federal control of state-regulated marijuana is necessary.” — 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. — At oral arguments on appeal late last year, attorney David Boies told judges that under the Constitution, Congress can only regulate commercial activity within a state—in this case, around marijuana—if the failure to regulate that in-state activity “would substantially interfere [with] or undermine legitimate congressional regulation of interstate commerce.” Boies, chairman of the firm handling the case, has a long list of prior clients that includes the Justice Department, former Vice President Al Gore and the plaintiffs in a case that led to the invalidation of California’s ban on same-sex marriage, among others. Judges, however, said they were “unpersuaded,” ruling in an opinion that “the CSA remains fully intact as to the regulation of the commercial activity involving marijuana for non-medical purposes, which is the activity in which the appellants, by their own account, are engaged.” The district court, meanwhile, said in the case that while there are “persuasive reasons for a reexamination” of the current scheduling of cannabis, its hands were effectively tied by past U.S. Supreme Court precedent in Raich. This comes in the background of a pending marijuana rescheduling decision from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump said in late August that he’d make a determination about moving cannabis to Schedule III of the CSA within weeks, but he’s yet to act. Meanwhile, in October the Supreme Court agreed to hear a separate case on the constitutionality of a federal law prohibiting people who use marijuana or other drugs from buying or possessing firearms. The Trump administration has argued that the policy “targets a category of persons who pose a clear danger of misusing firearm” and should be upheld. Photo elements courtesy of rawpixel and Philip Steffan. The post U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Marijuana Companies’ Case Challenging Federal Prohibition appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A former top state marijuana regulator and current executive at a cannabis consulting firm will participate in a Senate committee hearing on banking issues this week. While attention within the cannabis community is largely focused on a potentially imminent marijuana rescheduling decision by President Donald Trump, the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection will likely be discussing an adjacent issue for the marijuana industry: The lack of banking access for cannabis companies under federal prohibition. Tyler Klimas—who served as executive director of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) and was a founding member of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) before becoming the founder of Leaf Street Strategies—will testify before the panel as the Democratic minority’s witness. The hearing, which is scheduled for Tuesday, is titled “Ensuring Fair Access to Banking: Policy Levers and Legislative Solutions.” The description of the meeting doesn’t specifically mention marijuana, but Klimas’s participation signals that, at least on the Democratic side, there’s interest in addressing the industry’s banking issues. The hearing is set to take place about two weeks after a GOP member of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), raised the cannabis banking issue with Comptroller Jonathan Gould at a meeting of that panel. “Nearly every state, whether you like it or not, has made some form of marijuana lawful in those states, and we haven’t synced up at the federal level,” Davidson said. “So I’d love to catch up on how we’re doing that.” Many banks continue to resist accepting even state-licensed cannabis businesses as clients because of the potential risk of federal enforcement action given that marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). However, some banks and credit unions have taken that gamble, while following Obama-era reporting guidance to mitigate the risk. There was a surge in reporting last week about a soon-to-come Trump administration action on a proposal to move marijuana to Schedule III, with varying predictions about the timing of the announcement. On banking, the increased willingness of certain financial institutions to work with marijuana businesses is partly connected to the perception that Congress could pass bipartisan legislation protecting those banks from being penalized by federal regulators simply for servicing the industry. That said, the prospects of advancing something like the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act in the near future seem doubtful. Multiple key House and Senate lawmakers told Marijuana Moment last month that the issue has taken a back seat to other legislative priorities. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who is expected the carry the marijuana banking measure in his chamber this Congress, previously said that he imagined the bill would come up over the fall. Those comments came before a historically long government shutdown, however, and the bill has not yet been filed in either chamber for the current session. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), who has sponsored the legislation in prior sessions, told Marijuana Moment that the banking issue is among those Congress has put “on the back burner,” with Democrats focused on other priorities such as preserving health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. On the House side, Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) said “it feels like I’ve heard nothing” about the path forward for SAFE Banking, and he feels “by now we should’ve had some buzz on it.” The House has passed versions of the legislation seven times over recent sessions. It advanced out of committee in the Senate last Congress, but it was not taken up on the floor. One of the most proactive anti-cannabis lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), told Marijuana Moment that he’s not sure about the status of the banking bill but he remains of the mind that, “if it’s illegal at the federal level, it should be kept out of the banking system.” “But it’s the will of the chamber. My position hasn’t changed,” he said. “I don’t hear that [the bill is moving], but it’s been tried before. It may succeed this year. I don’t know.” The comments from the bipartisan and bicameral lawmakers came about a month after bipartisan senators said they remain eager to advance the marijuana banking measure—though there was disagreement about whether a possible decision from Trump to reschedule cannabis would open the door to passing additional reforms in Congress. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), who’s been the lead GOP sponsor of that banking measure in past sessions, said he’s “not sure absolutely” whether moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) would meaningfully affect how his colleagues approach the financial services legislation. He said “many senators hold strong opinions,” and “they keep those opinions separate from SAFE Banking.” Unlike Daines, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said rescheduling would send a “huge message” to his colleagues about the need to “finally come up with a modern approach” to marijuana laws. Moreno, for his part, said he did feel that Trump advancing rescheduling would be an “important domino” to advance the bipartisan cannabis banking legislation. The upcoming House committee hearing comes months after senators on both sides of the aisle addressed the lack of banking access for the marijuana industry at a separate hearing in February, with one GOP member suggesting that the issue warrants a broader examination of federal cannabis policies. — 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, during a House Appropriations Committee markup in September, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) criticized the exclusion of provisions to protect banks that work with state-licensed marijuana and hemp businesses from a key spending bill. Relatedly, a bipartisan coalition of 32 state and territory attorneys general from across the U.S. recently called on Congress to pass a marijuana banking bill to free up financial services access for licensed cannabis businesses. In January, the office of Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), who is again leading the effort on the House, told Marijuana Moment that he would be filing the cannabis banking legislation this session but that its introduction was “not imminent” as some earlier reports had suggested. The post Former Top State Marijuana Regulator To Testify At U.S. Senate Banking Hearing This Week appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A major drug testing industry organization is “sounding the alarm” amid reports that President Donald Trump may soon finalize a proposal to reschedule marijuana, arguing that the reform would “have catastrophic consequences for the safety of the United States workforce and transportation sectors.” Ahead of a scheduled “National Conversation on the Rescheduling of Marijuana” webinar this week, National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) board member Emilee Avery said in a press release that rescheduling “will dismantle critical safety measures that have protected our roads, airways, and communities for decades.” “The guardrails implemented under President Reagan’s administration 30 years ago have been instrumental in ensuring that safety-sensitive positions, such as truck drivers, school bus drivers, and airline pilots, remain drug-free,” she said. “This decision threatens to undo all of that progress.” A final decision hasn’t been made at this point, but multiple sources have claimed that there’s an executive order that could be issued imminently, possibly directing the attorney general to complete the process of moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Cannabis industry stakeholders are holding out hope that the reform will be achieved as soon as possible, but opponents—including NDASA and Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)—are working to dissuade the administration before a final decision is made. For what it’s worth, a White House spokesperson told Marijuana Moment last week that no actions have been finalized so far. “Rescheduling by Presidential Order does not come without unintended consequences that should be addressed,” Jo McGuire, executive director of NDASA, told Marijuana Moment. “We must consider that drug testing for THC can only occur at the federal level for the safety-sensitive employee population (such as airline pilots, school bus drivers, railway workers, and commercial truck drivers) under Schedule I and II.” “Let’s not forget that marijuana is still an impairing substance and the labs will not be approved to test for THC under Schedule III, without a policy intervention,” she said. “We are also removing foundational, best-practice protocols that protect public safety from drug-related accidents, injuries, and fatalities.” NDASA claimed in a bulletin to its drug testing industry members that if rescheduling doesn’t come with that it called a “Safety Carve Out,” the reform “would open the door for school bus drivers, truck drivers, and even pilots and other transportation positions to use marijuana without mandatory testing.” “That means the people we trust with our children, our families, and our lives could be at risk,” it said. Several Republican members of Congress are expected to speak at NDASA’s marijuana rescheduling event on Tuesday. McGuire told Marijuana Moment that Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) is “confirmed” and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) is “highly likely.” Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) is a “probably,” she said, with two other unnamed lawmakers who are “waiting to hear about the voting schedule” before confirming. Mark Magsam, chairman of NDASA, said, “If marijuana is rescheduled without regard to workplace safety, transportation employees may very well find a loophole where they would be free from marijuana testing. This poses a significant risk to the safety of our roads, skies, and rails.” NDASA was also a participant in a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearing on the Biden administration-initiated marijuana rescheduling proposal, opposing the reform. Meanwhile, bipartisan congressional lawmakers have been weighing in on the potential rescheduling decision this week—with Democrats like Rep. Alex Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) calling the reform a “no-brainer” and others like Harria pushing back against the proposal. Trump said in mid-August that he’d be making a decision on rescheduling within weeks. But despite that timeline and the escalating rumors, a White House spokesperson told Marijuana Moment on Thursday that “no final decisions have been made on rescheduling of marijuana.” The Washington Post reported on Thursday evening that Trump was planning to issue an executive order directing federal agencies to move ahead with cannabis rescheduling. The outlet also said the president met earlier this week in the Oval Office with marijuana industry executives, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz. During that meeting, Trump phoned Johnson, the House speaker, who expressed his opposition to rescheduling cannabis, If the administration does ultimately enact rescheduling, it would mark one of the most significant developments in federal marijuana policy since its prohibition a half a century ago, with a Schedule III reclassification recognizing that marijuana has medical value and a lower abuse potential compared to other Schedule I drugs like heroin. — 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. — Trump endorsed rescheduling—as well as industry banking access and a Florida adult-use legalization initiative—on the campaign trail last year. The president had been largely silent on the issue since taking office during his second term, until a briefing in August where in response to a reporter’s question he announced the administration would decide on rescheduling within weeks. The possibility of an imminent rescheduling announcement comes weeks after the president signed a key spending bill that would effectively ban most consumable hemp products, drawing criticism from stakeholders in the hemp industry who argue the policy change would eradicate the market. The post Drug Testing Industry Group Is ‘Sounding The Alarm’ About Marijuana Rescheduling As Trump Plans Action appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Congressional candidate pledges legalization bill on 1st day; AK psychedelics initiative; Study: Legal marijuana reduces suicide rates in older people Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… *Rattling the tip jar* Got a few dollars you can spare to help Marijuana Moment pay our writers, keep our website running and grow into the kind of robust news organization the fast-paced world of drug policy deserves? Join us for $25/month and be a part of our work: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Bipartisan members of Congress spoke to Marijuana Moment about reports the Trump administration is planning to reschedule cannabis—with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) calling it a “no brainer” that the two parties have been in a “race” to achieve and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) saying he doesn’t “agree with everything the president does.” Colorado Democratic congressional candidate Wanda James, who is also a cannabis business owner, reacted to news of the Trump administration potentially rescheduling marijuana by pledging to file legislation to “fully legalize cannabis nationwide” on her first day in office if elected. She also hired marijuana reform and industry veteran Neal Levine as her campaign manager. Alaska psychedelics activists announced that they will not be able to collect enough signatures to put a legalization initiative on the 20206 ballot—but are shifting focus to 2028, and the petitions they’ve already collected will still be good toward that effort. A new study found that “suicide rates among older age groups decline following the opening of recreational marijuana dispensaries.” “Given that older adults are more prone to chronic pain and various physical and mental health issues, it is not surprising that this demographic is increasingly turning to marijuana for its medicinal properties.” The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission approved three dispensary licenses, which the chair of the body says positions the state to potentially launch sales to patients in early 2026. A new report from a coalition of advocacy groups highlights how drug prohibition drives the climate crisis by forcing trafficking routes into sensitive forested areas, failing to regulate chemicals used in drug production and allowing authorities to spray herbicides via aerial fumigation. Ohio sellers of hemp products say a new restrictive bill on the desk of Gov. Mike DeWine (R) will put them out of business. Virginia hemp businesses are considering how to strategically pivot their operations as a newly approved federal ban on THC product looms. / FEDERAL The Drug Enforcement Administration highlighted a podcast about substance misuse and body image issues. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) referenced Chinese-backed illegal marijuana grow operations in a press release about the advancement of President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. attorney for Maine. Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) tweeted, “Marijuana prohibition has failed our communities. It has disproportionately harmed people of color — fueling mass incarceration, tearing families apart, stripping away opportunities, and burdening people with lifelong criminal records.” / STATES Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) tweeted, “The Post Dispensary in Beaver Dam is officially open as of today, selling safe medical cannabis to eligible Kentuckians! It took other states up to six years to get up and running, but we did it in two while still ensuring a safe, legal process.” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) discussed his reasons for planning to sign a bill restricting hemp products. He also spoke about his support for banning synthetic kratom products. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) administration diverted more than $35 million in taxpayer funds for child welfare and medical programs toward an effort to defeat marijuana legalization and abortion rights ballot initiatives last year, newly unveiled records show. A Massachusetts campaign seeking to scale back the voter-approved marijuana legalization law submitted signatures for its ballot initiative. California regulators sent a warning about products containing psilocin. Illinois regulators are seeking public feedback on cannabis rules. Oklahoma regulators sent an update about difficulties with a new medical cannabis licensing portal. Colorado regulators published average market rates for retail marijuana. Virginia regulators posted a guide to following cannabis legislation in the 2026 session. The New York Cannabis Control Board will meet on Thursday. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / LOCAL Pinal County, Arizona’s attorney claimed that “marijuana has become a precursor to fentanyl use, cocaine and methamphetamine.” / INTERNATIONAL Jamaica’s minister of industry, investment and commerce said he is closely monitoring marijuana rescheduling developments in the U.S. German federal officials have consistently rejected local proposals for cannabis commerce pilot trials. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A new study is exploring whether using CBD can help people smoke less marijuana. A study found that “LSD use [is] linked to a reduced risk of” alcohol use disorder. / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS Prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana launched a TV ad campaign urging President Donald Trump not to reschedule cannabis. The R Street Institute circulated a statement saying that cannabis rescheduling “is welcome, but it still leaves federal prohibition in place.” The Cato Institute published a blog post arguing that “little will actually change” under marijuana rescheduling. / BUSINESS Trulieve and ScottsMiracle-Gro executives were reportedly with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office when he phoned House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to discuss marijuana rescheduling. 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 Lawmakers react to Trump’s big cannabis news (Newsletter: December 15, 2025) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“It’s a bad situation for a lot of hemp growers and processors and retailers.” By Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury Richmond-based Bingo Beer legally joined a nationally-growing market for hemp-derived THC products earlier this year when it unveiled THC seltzers. The nonalcoholic beverage option has been growing nationwide as an alternative for people who are looking to cut back or cut out alcohol altogether. A recent Gallup poll showed the percentage of Americans drinking alcohol has fallen to 54 percent. Analysts and farmers say the hemp-based THC industry, however, could come to an abrupt halt by November of next year as Congress voted to ban most hemp-derived THC products in a last-minute addition to a government spending bill that ended the most recent government shutdown. The THC seltzers and other hemp-based products are a “big and growing segment of the economy,” Bingo Beer co-owner Jay Bayer told the Mercury earlier this year. “I don’t think the solution is to put the genie back in the bottle,” Bayer said in a recent call. He added that offering THC products has been a “lifeline” for some in the alcoholic beverage industry to stay afloat while meeting consumers’ needs. But as Virginia continues to explore a legal cannabis market, Bayer is eyeing possible ways to pivot. “If we were to switch over to THC from marijuana, consumers would come over with us,” he said. Uncertain future Hemp businesses nationwide are trying to map their next steps. In North Carolina, for example, hemp businesses are bracing for potential legal battles to defend their industry, like other states where cannabis isn’t legal. “We can’t really pivot,” Dana Burham, co-owner of Otherside Hemp, told NC Newsline last month. But Virginia is in a “privileged” space, Pure Shenandoah co-owner Tanner Johnson said in a recent call. He runs the company with several of his siblings as their products run the gamut of industrial hemp uses, from a “hempcrete” study contract with the U.S. Air Force they were awarded in 2023, to being the supplier for Bingo Beer’s THC seltzers. While Congress laid the groundwork for businesses in the industry in 2018, Johnson likened the hemp-limited provision in the government spending bill as “pulling the rug” from under people. But companies like his own with diversified portfolios and Virginia businesses could have an easier time pivoting than those in states with no existing or forthcoming legal cannabis market. Still, he said, he’s keeping an eye on things nationally. As a representative of the Virginia Cannabis Association, he will also lend insights and ideas to lawmakers as they craft and pass the legislation to enable the new market. “It’s a bad situation for a lot of hemp growers and processors and retailers,” Johnson said. “But in Virginia, we kind of feel like we’re almost threading a needle, where this industry is coming to a close right as another industry opens.” This story was first published by Virginia Mercury. Photo courtesy of Brendan Cleak. The post Virginia Hemp Businesses Consider How To Pivot With Federal Ban Looming appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“So many chemical products are used. Because it’s criminalized, there is no control over the waste process. It contaminates water, soil and animals in the surroundings.” By Alexander Lekhtman, Filter Drug prohibition is a driver of the climate crisis, outlines a major report by international researchers and policy experts. Both drug policy reform and “ecological harm reduction,” it argues, are essential to climate justice. “From Forest to Dust: Socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the prohibition of the coca and cocaine production chain in the Amazon basin and Brazil” was produced by a coalition called Intersection – Land Use, Drug Policy and Climate Justice, involving numerous NGOs. Its 100-plus pages cover vast historical and geographical expanses, from the Spanish colonial era to today, and from the jungles of Brazil to the ports of West Africa. It calls for a system of legal regulation for coca, but one that doesn’t simply replace the control and violence of trafficking networks with that of multinational corporations. Instead, the authors argue, Indigenous communities and family farms should be centered, to ensure that the coca and cocaine trade won’t harm people and their lands. “In some regions, coca acts as a direct driver of deforestation,” Rebeca Lerer told Filter. A Brazilian journalist and human rights activist, Lerer was the editor and coordinator of the report, and founded the Intersection coalition. “When armed conflict or the military arrive, it moves coca to more remote areas,” she explained. “It pushes the frontier of production into forest-covered areas—then authorities [seek to] eradicate coca, then usually mining or cattle ranching projects come.” The cocaine trade is tied to environmentally destructive industries, details the report, as it provides financing and the infrastructure needed to move people, goods and services engaged in the illegal wildlife, fishing and logging trades—to name a few. “The cocaine trade in the Amazon works as an investment bank for other environmental crime,” said Lerer, who also serves as the Latin American secretariat of the International Coalition for Drug Policy Reform and Environmental Justice, one of the groups that collaborated on the report. “When the [authorities] repress one [cocaine trafficking] route, they shift to another forest area,” she continued. Trafficking groups “then involve traditional communities and local Indigenous lands in these routes. Repression moves this around without reducing the trade or consumption, and while increasing violence.” The first section of the report was written by David Restrepo, research lead at the Center for Studies on Drugs and Security at the Universidad de los Andes. He gives a brief history of the coca leaf—from its ancient use as a spiritual, medicinal and communal substance in the Andes highlands; to the chemical extraction of the cocaine alkaloid and its launch as a global commodity; and finally, to the onset of prohibition and the rise of wealthy, militarized “cartels.” It’s a story that’s taken another twist even since the publication of “From Forest to Dust.” On December 2, the World Health Organization opted not to recommend easing the blanket global prohibition of coca—going against the findings of the agency’s own expert report. “Among the millions of people across South America who continue to chew, cultivate, and revere coca today, the leaf is not considered an intoxicant but a vital substance for social cohesion and balance with the natural world,” Restrepo writes. Traditional use spans peoples like the Nasa in Colombia, mambe circles in the northwest Amazon, and Quechua-speaking highland Peru and Bolivia. But the plant’s importance to diverse cultures is overshadowed by its potent white derivative—and authorities’ disastrous attempts to suppress it. The report covers harmful domestic and international crackdowns, the export of the United States drug war through initiatives like “Plan Colombia,” and how enforcement moves the trade around, per the “balloon effect.” “Prohibition, even in its infancy, generated adaptive supply,” Restrepo writes. “When one route closed, another emerged.” He criticizes US and Colombia-led anti-trafficking actions, and notes how Colombia’s 2016 peace deal with the leftwing militia group FARC fragmented the cocaine trade in the country, with “dissident factions, paramilitary successors, and criminal entrepreneurs filling the authority gap.” In Peru and Bolivia, meanwhile, Restropo explains how coca cultivation has continued to increase. Prohibition “reshuffles and disperses [the trade], often into ecologically fragile regions where state presence is weak.” He cites UNODC data showing that potential leaf yields more than doubled, from 4.1 tons per hectare in 2013 to 8.5 tons by 2023. That single hectare could produce up to 19 kilograms of cocaine per year. But changing fortunes in the global cocaine trade have made Brazil an emerging player, with groups like the Red Command and the Capital’s First Command taking key roles in manufacturing, the domestic supply and global export. Amid these changes, coca-related forest loss has doubled over the past decade—exceeding 20,000 hectares in some years. The refinement process also produces significant pollutants from gasoline, sulfuric acid, ammonia and acetone. Field studies show elevated heavy metal and acid residues in nearby soils and waterways, and coca processing areas are associated with more fish and amphibians dying. But efforts to eradicate coca are also environmentally destructive. Notoriously, aerial crop fumigation operations have poisoned forests, waterways, farms and human beings with the herbicide glyphosate. The report’s second section, jointly written by University of São Paulo urban geography researcher Thiago Godoi Calil and members of the Mãe Crioula Institute, continues to document the destruction. It describes the rise of “narco-deforestation” and “narco-mining”, where the illicit drug trade is tied to illegal extractive industries like logging, wildlife and plant smuggling, and to land-grabs and sex trafficking. The authors note that from 2017-2021, 16 major seizures in the Brazilian Amazon found cocaine shipments in illicit lumber on its way to Europe. In the following section, members of the Instituto Fogo Cruzado cite UNODC estimates showing that global cocaine production of 3,708 tons in 2023 produced an estimated 2.19 billion tons of carbon dioxide. Every aspect of the production and supply chain—from cutting and burning forests to grow coca, to the refinement process, disposal of waste and transportation—contributes to this. And prohibition means the absence of mitigating regulations. “The production itself generates impacts,” Lerer told Filter. “So many chemical products are used. Because it’s criminalized, there is no control over the waste process. It contaminates water, soil and animals in the surroundings. There are health hazards for lab workers, and adulterants used by people with poor expertise.” These environmental harms go far beyond the interior regions of the Brazilian Amazon—including out to the oceans, with chemical traces found in mussels, sharks and other fish. The multi-billion dollar cocaine industry additionally serves as an “investment bank” for extractive underground industries in Brazil, the authors write: “The main ‘indirect’ effects of the prohibition associated with this refining structure are related to the financing of other illegal activities and the use of political influence and the armed branches of the drug trade to corrupt public agents and avoid oversight. For communities and environmental defenders, this translates into an increase in deaths and threats.” To put the scale in perspective, the authors estimate that the cocaine refinement industry alone could generate up to $6 billion a year in Brazil—a sum nearly six times larger than the total target for the Amazon Fund ($1.05 billion), a government-managed philanthropic organization combating deforestation. In another section of the report, Mary Ryder and Steve Rolles of Transform Drug Policy Foundation briefly mention some local efforts—particularly in Europe—to consider legal regulation of cocaine and other stimulants. Hower, they write, “More realistic in the short term, perhaps, is the possibility for coca based products, such as coca tea, coca leaf or mambe (that only contain a small amount of the active cocaine alkaloid) to be imported and sold in European markets—particularly if coca’s legal status under the UN conventions is revisited.” Jenna Rose Astwood and Clemmie James, of the International Coalition on Drug Policy Reform and Environmental Justice, conclude the report by describing an approach they call “ecological harm reduction.” “The question is no longer why the drug war has failed—but why it persists,” they write. “The answer: it enables illegal, unregulated extraction in biodiversity-rich forests vital to our climate future.” “Despite these impacts, drug policy reform is almost entirely absent from the climate policy agenda,” they continue. “This omission is dangerous. It is not possible to protect the Amazon, or meet climate goals, while ignoring one of the biggest forces driving its destruction.” Astwood and James call for environmental justice and an end to the drug war, pointing to what they describe as Indigenous peoples’ “approach rooted in ecological interdependence.” But they don’t completely endorse the legal regulation of drugs unless it’s combined with efforts to protect the environment, workers and people who depend on vulnerable lands. “A legal market, if poorly implemented, can reproduce the harms of prohibition through unsustainable agricultural practices, corporate capture, land grabbing, and further marginalization of those already embedded in the drug economy,” they write. “A just transition to a regulated drug market must reduce the influence of extractive and criminal economies by establishing safeguards to prevent exploitative actors from entering the legal space.” Their recommended components of this vision include sustainable environmental practices such as permaculture and companion planting; responsible land, water and energy use; ensuring food security for rural communities; and diversifying agricultural systems. Processing and refining of controlled substances, they argue, should be relocated to urban and suburban areas where waste can be better controlled. They also endorse various protections for workers including the rights to organize, collective bargaining, safe working conditions, fair wages, and an end to forced and child labor. And land reforms should protect peoples with traditional ties to ecosystems. Stolen lands should be returned with just compensation, and resources should be provided for restitution and community-led redevelopment. “Prohibition started with the plants, and we think we need to go back to the plants,” Lerer said. “We need to start by freeing the coca leaf—from there we should design what this trade should look like from an ecological harm reduction lens and avoid corporate capture. Illegal cocaine promotes environmental destruction, but ‘Big Pharma’ cocaine is also not going to deliver climate justice.” This article was originally published by Filter, an online magazine covering drug use, drug policy and human rights through a harm reduction lens. Follow Filter on Bluesky, X or Facebook, and sign up for its newsletter. The post The War On Drugs Makes The Climate Crisis Worse, New Report Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“I am absolutely elated today because we’re on the cusp of having a working program.” By Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Thursday approved three dispensary licenses, which members of the commission hailed as a critical step toward making medical cannabis available in Alabama nearly five years after the Legislature established the program. “We waited a long time to get to this point in time where we can make a decision like this, and it is monumental,” Rex Vaughn, chair of the commission, said. “It’s a milestone meeting for us, so I’m tickled we can get this far.” GP6 Wellness, RJK Holdings and CCS of Alabama will receive dispensary licenses within 28 days, as long as the companies pay the $40,000 licensing fee. A fourth license will be approved by the commission in late January due to a recommendation from an administrative law judge, Vaughn said after the meeting. Vaughn said multiple times during the meeting that the approval of dispensary licenses is a milestone and will lead to patients getting care they need and tax revenue for the state. “It takes a while for that to come through the system, but we should be seeing revenue by springtime at the latest,” Vaughn said. The Alabama medical cannabis law, enacted in 2021, allows registered physicians to recommend cannabis for about 15 medical conditions, including cancer, depression, Parkinson’s Disease, PTSD, sickle-cell anemia, chronic pain and terminal diseases. The approved product forms are restricted to tablets, tinctures, patches, oils and gummies (only peach flavor), with raw plant material and smokable forms remaining prohibited. People who suffer from the qualifying conditions must get approval from their physician and enter the patient registry in order to buy products at a dispensary. Litigation has also held up access to medical cannabis. Some firms sued the commission for not being awarded a license, citing a discriminatory process. Another case involved five parents that sued the commission over delays in access to cannabis, which was dismissed in August. As of Thursday, the commission had distributed licenses for nine cultivators, four processors, four transporters and three dispensaries. There is also one patient in the registry, Vaughn said. Vaughn was not able to give a specific timeline for when the product will be available for purchase, but estimated Spring 2026. Earlier this year, AMCC Executive Director John McMillan had expressed hopes of getting medical cannabis in patients’ hands by the end of 2025. “We’ve gotta get our physicians certified quickly. All those things are being staged as we talk right now, and we’ll see how the wintertime goes,” Vaughn said. “Hopefully all these things will fall in place quite quickly.” Sam Blakemore, a pharmacist and member of the commission, said in an interview after the meeting that medical cannabis can help relieve symptoms without side effects like nausea and vomiting. “Everybody focuses on Delta-9, but there are over 120 chemicals in the plant that’s able to give this full body experience of allowing patients to really get relief when it comes to nausea and vomiting, spasticity,” Blakemore said. Blakemore primarily prescribes drugs for pediatric oncology patients. He brought his wife and two young children to the meeting to celebrate the approval of licenses. “I’m not going to say cannabis is a cure all, but the big thing with getting this done today is at least the folks, that I call the sick and shut in, in the state, they can get relief,” Blakemore said. “They can’t get relief from opioids. They can’t get relief from the gabapentin. They can finally have an opportunity to try something.” Supporters of medical cannabis attended the meeting Thursday. Amanda Taylor, a medical cannabis patient advocate, has been a part of the commission’s process since 2021. She suffers from multiple lesions on her brain and spine. “I am absolutely elated today because we’re on the cusp of having a working program,” she said in an interview after the meeting. This story was first published by Alabama Reflector. The post Alabama Officials Approve Medical Marijuana Dispensary Licenses, Readying Program For Sales To Start In 2026 appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“This was my American dream, so to see it get taken away from you, kind of hurts.” By Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal Ohioans in the intoxicating hemp industry fear a bill heading to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s (R) desk will put them out of business. Ohio Senate Bill 56 is on its way to DeWine after Ohio Senate Republicans passed the bill Tuesday. The Ohio House passed the bill last month after it went to conference committee. Ohio’s bill complies with recent federal changes by banning intoxicating hemp products from being sold outside of a licensed marijuana dispensary. If DeWine signs the bill into law before the new year, the ban could take effect as soon as March. “This bill is going to put businesses like me and families like me out of business,” said Ahmad Khalil, one of the owners of Hippie Hut Smoke Shop, with locations in Ohio and Washington. “Overnight, we’re going to see tens of thousands of people directly impacted, which will ripple effect into 50,000 of families that are also dependent on this person.” Khalil has been in the hemp industry for nine years. “This was my American dream, so to see it get taken away from you, kind of hurts,” he said. Jason Friedman, owner of Ohio CBD Guy in Cincinnati, said this is extremely frustrating. “My tentative plan will involve eventually closing my East Walnut Hills location resulting in less hours and likely loss of jobs for some of my employees,” he said. Instead of a ban, Friedman wants regulations for the hemp industry such as age-gating, packaging restrictions, and testing requirements. “For the state to say that they are changing their stance to banning from regulating because of what the federal government has done in banning intoxicating hemp in the recent spending bill, makes no sense because marijuana has been illegal federally the whole time,” he said. Mark Fashian, president of hemp product wholesaler Midwest Analytical Solutions in Delaware, Ohio, said this will put him, and hundreds of others out of business, if this becomes law. He works with more than 500 stores around Ohio that sell intoxicating hemp products. “It’s just despicable what [the lawmakers have] done,” he said. “It’s actually slowed my business down a lot because a lot of companies are now afraid to buy products because they don’t know what tomorrow will bring.” The intoxicating hemp ban has nothing to do with protecting children, Fashian said. “If we want to protect children, make it 21 and over,” he said. “If there is an increase in kids getting hold of this stuff it’s because mom and dad are pretty careless and leave it on the kitchen table, and the kids grab it from them.” Fashian said he expects lawsuits if the bill is signed into law. Kim Bryant, a salesperson at Your CBD Store Marion, said these products help people with their anxiety, sleep, and pain management. “It’s very sad to me,” she said. “This product helps so many people.” Bryant said the average age of their customer is 50 years old and she does not think they will want to go to a marijuana dispensary. The bill also allows five milligram THC beverages to be manufactured, distributed, and sold until Dec. 31, 2026. Marijuana Ohio S.B. 56 also makes changes to the state’s marijuana law. It would reduce the THC levels in adult-use marijuana extracts from a maximum of 90 percent down to a maximum of 70 percent, cap THC levels in adult-use flower to 35 percent, and prohibit smoking in most public places. The bill prohibits possessing marijuana in anything outside of its original packaging and requires drivers to store marijuana in the trunk of their car while driving. “This is a re-criminalization bill,” said Morgan Fox, political director at the advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML. “Civil protections for cannabis consumers were stripped for absolutely zero justification offered is incredibly disappointing,” Fox said. Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Washington, D.C. require marijuana to be transported in a sealed package and/or in the trunk of a car, Fox said. “I fear that what we will see in Ohio is an emphasis on enforcement combined with little to no consumer education on the part of the state,” he said. “People might think they’re in complete compliance, but yet are engaging in activity that could lead to prosecutions.” A similar law in Illinois has kept marijuana-related arrests high post-legalization with 6,944 arrests in 2024, according to NORML. The bill also criminalizes bringing legal marijuana from another state back to Ohio. “To the best of my knowledge, no other state other than Ohio explicitly bans possession of cannabis that did not originate in the state,” Fox said. He said is disappointed, but not surprised. Ohio lawmakers “have been trying to weaken the voter approved law and laws surrounding protections for cannabis consumers since after voters approved Issue Two,” he said. This “absolutely goes against the will of the voters.” Ohioans passed a citizen-initiated law to legalize recreational marijuana in 2023 with 57 percent of the vote. Sales started in August 2024 and exceeded $702.5 million in the first year. The Ohio Cannabis Coalition is happy lawmakers voted to ban intoxicating hemp products and give 36 percent of adult-use marijuana sale revenue to municipalities and townships that have recreational marijuana dispensaries. “Ohio is taking decisive action to protect families and demonstrate leadership as one of the first states in the nation to act since the closure of the Farm Bill loophole,” OHCANN Executive Director David Bowling said. “These tax dollars are an important way the cannabis industry benefits the communities where they live and operate.” This story was first published by Ohio Capital Journal. Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Bill On Ohio Governor’s Desk Will Put Hemp Companies Out Of Business, Owners Say appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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One of the games that isn't part of the main Geometry Dash series is Geometry Dash SubZero. When it was first made, the game was meant to show off new features that will soon be added to the main game with the long-awaited Update 2.2.

The revolutionary independent video game project known as Ragdoll Hit was developed by a team of hardworking individuals who were committed to the creation of one-of-a-kind physics challenges and thrilling arcade experiences. Our flagship game, Ragdoll Hit, is characterized by unpredictable combat mechanisms and a gameplay style that is based on insane physics.

Explore the art and science in the book publishing process. mr flip

114. How to Start Microdosing with Psilocybin A science-backed guide to microdosing psychedelics with SetSet’s 12-week protocol, featuring expert insight and lived experience. Episode Summary If you’ve been microdose-curious — or maybe you’re already experimenting and want a little more structure — this episode is your map. Host April Pride pulls together insights from SetSet collaborators including author Amy Wong, integrative therapist Kendra Bloom, and medicine woman Sand Symes. You’ll learn exactly what microdosing is, why it works, and how SetSet’s 12-week Micro-Psyched protocol guides real, sustainable shifts—especially for women navigating overwhelm, transitions, or burnout. Whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced journeyer seeking structure, this episode will help you align mindset, medicine, and method. Key Takeaways Microdosing is a sub-perceptual, regular-dose protocol designed to shift your mental patterns gently over time. There are three main microdosing personas: psychedelic curious, psychedelic conscious, and providers supporting others. Microdosing supports subtle but profound behavior changes—like reducing compulsions or regaining clarity. SetSet’s 12-week structure mirrors the natural cycle of change: preparation, resistance, and consolidation. Real change doesn’t require fireworks. Tiny, steady choices reshape your reality. Timestamps 00:36 What microdosing really is and how it works (Amy Wong)02:10 Three types of people who join SetSet’s protocol08:45 Why structure matters: stories from women in Micro-Psyched13:20 Real-life benefits from microdosing: cravings, clarity, choice18:00 Why 12 weeks? The brain’s timeline for transformation21:40 Live workshops: coming to Seattle in 202524:00 What’s included in SetSet’s Annual Membership27:10 Final reflections: microdosing as a relationship, not a hack Guests Amy Wong: Author of Living on Purpose | amywong.com Kendra Bloom: Therapist, Integration Specialist | @kendrabloom Sand Symes: Medicine woman and facilitator | @sandsymes Additional Resources Q: How Do Psychedelics Unlock Creativity? Micro-Psyched 12-Week Microdosing Program Women in the Wild application Learn more about this episode: https://aprilpride.substack.com/p/how-to-start-microdosing-psilocybin Hosted by April Pride Subscribe for April’s newsletter on Substack at https://aprilpride.substack.com/subscribe or at getsetset.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@getsetset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@getsetset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@getsetset Get full access to SetSet with April Pride at aprilpride.substack.com/subscribeCatch the full episode here

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers are weighing in on a potentially imminent decision by President Donald Trump to move forward with federal marijuana rescheduling—with Democrats like Rep. Alex Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) calling the reform a “no-brainer” and others like Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) pushing back against the proposal. It was first reported on Thursday that Trump intended to sign an executive order on rescheduling, potentially directing the attorney general to complete the Biden administration-initiated process to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Since then, a number of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have shared their views on the plan in interviews with Marijuana Moment. While Democrats might disagree with the president on a multitude of policy issues, they’ve generally welcomed the news about the rescheduling development, even if they’d ultimately like to see a complete end to federal prohibition rather than the incremental change. Ocasio-Cortez said it’s a “no-brainer” to enact the policy change, which would federally legalize marijuana but would remove certain research barriers and let cannabis businesses take federal tax deduction, while symbolically recognizing the medical value of the plant. “I’ve honestly felt that it’s been a race” between the two major parties to achieve the reform, the congresswoman said. “I mean, it’s inevitable, so of course I’m supportive of that move.” Asked about reports that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told Trump not to reschedule, Ocasio-Cortez noted that an executive order would circumvent congressional lawmakers who are opposed. The speaker “doesn’t have the pen” on such orders, she said. “If he wants to try to pass some legislation and whip his entire Republican caucus into doing that, I think that’s well within his powers,” the congresswoman said. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Marijuana Moment that it’s it’s true that Trump plans to advance rescheduling, that would be a “game-changer” and a “huge” accomplishment. However, she said that it’s hard for any lawmaker to ever take his word seriously” given that the president has frequently shifted his position on various policy issues in the past. “I do hope he is going to [act on rescheduling] and it comes true,” she said. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), another co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Marijuana Moment that “Trump’s proposal would be a positive step toward commonsense cannabis policy reform, but more work remains.” Although @POTUS’s proposal would ease restrictions on medical cannabis research and alleviate certain tax burdens on state-legal cannabis businesses, classifying marijuana as a Schedule III substance still enables the unfair and unequal incarceration of recreational users and… https://t.co/wx4J2X3q6F — Dina Titus (@repdinatitus) December 12, 2025 “Although it would ease restrictions on medical cannabis research and alleviate certain tax burdens on state-legal cannabis businesses, classifying marijuana as a Schedule III substance still enables the unfair and unequal incarceration of recreational users and limits cannabis businesses’ access to banking services,” she said. “We must continue to address the systemic inequity associated with the scheduling of cannabis as a dangerous drug.” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), for his part, didn’t weigh in on the substance of the rescheduling proposal, but he told Marijuana Moment he was with president on Thursday evening and “did not hear that” he was planning to complete the reform process. One of the chamber’s most vocal anti-marijuana lawmakers, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), stressed that he doesn’t “agree with everything the president does, and this is one where I disagree.” He also seemed to question the veracity of recent reports about the imminence of a rescheduling action, noting that he was told “with certainty” that it’d happen on Thursday, which didn’t materialize. There’s been mixed reporting about the timing of a possible rescheduling action, with some sources still holding out hope it will happen on Friday, CNBC reporting that the executive order would be issued as early as Monday of next week and Axios reporting that the reform is expected to come early next year. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), told Marijuana Moment that rescheduling is a “terrible idea” and noted that he’s never discussed the issue with the House speaker. In a statement on Friday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), said she was “encouraged to see the Drug Enforcement Administration first move to reschedule marijuana under President Biden, and I urge President Trump to follow through on this effort.” “Common sense tells us marijuana should not be in the same category as deadly drugs like heroin, and reclassifying it is a long overdue and small step forward to create economic opportunity, support research into marijuana’s medical benefits, and increase public safety,” she said. “However, there is still far more work that must be done. I will continue to advocate for the full descheduling of marijuana and for expunging the records of Americans convicted of marijuana possession.” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) reacted to the news by criticizing the Biden administration after it “failed” to finish the job to get marijuana rescheduled, and he said it’s his hope the Trump administration doesn’t “make the same mistake.” The Biden Administration failed to reclassify marijuana. I urge the Trump Administration not to make the same mistake. https://t.co/nNIZbdHUxd — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 12, 2025 Meanwhile, Trump’s former White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, spoke about the news development in an episode of his podcast “The Huddle” on Friday and said Trump’s possible rescheduling action, like other policy issues, “comes back to power and money.” ‘There’s a lot of people who instinctively think that this is a good play with with young voters,” he said. “The bottom line—all this reclassification–really all goes to the financial piece of this.” Spicer added that there’s a “banking piece to this” because cannabis businesses have long faced challenging accessing banking services under federal prohibition, regardless of state laws. However, he inflated the impact of rescheduling on that issue because placing marijuana in Schedule III of the CSA would not federally legalize it, so some banks would likely continue to avoid servicing the marijuana industry even if that modest reform is enacted. “This is a big business with a lot of money, and I’ve got to believe that that’s what this really comes down to,” he said. “The president is not running for reelection…there’s a lot of people who will not be happy about this. I’m one of them.” “You walk from downtown [Washington, D.C.] or any city right no–it smells like pot and pee,” he added. “I think, considering where we are as a society, the last thing we need to do is to make drugs more available. I don’t think this is a good idea, but I will tell you, I think where people are missing the story is it’s: Follow the money.” Trump said in mid-August that he’d be making a decision on rescheduling within weeks. But despite that timeline and the escalating rumors, a White House spokesperson told Marijuana Moment on Thursday that “no final decisions have been made on rescheduling of marijuana.” The Washington Post reported on Thursday evening that Trump was planning to issue an executive order directing federal agencies to move ahead with cannabis rescheduling. The outlet also said the president met earlier this week in the Oval Office with marijuana industry executives, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz. During that meeting, Trump phoned Johnson, the House speaker, who expressed his opposition to rescheduling cannabis, If the administration does ultimately enact rescheduling, it would mark one of the most significant developments in federal marijuana policy since its prohibition a half a century ago, with a Schedule III reclassification recognizing that marijuana has medical value and a lower abuse potential compared to other Schedule I drugs like heroin. — 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. — Trump endorsed rescheduling—as well as industry banking access and a Florida adult-use legalization initiative—on the campaign trail last year. The president had been largely silent on the issue since taking office during his second term, until a briefing in August where in response to a reporter’s question he announced the administration would decide on rescheduling within weeks. The possibility of an imminent rescheduling announcement comes weeks after the president signed a key spending bill that would effectively ban most consumable hemp products, drawing criticism from stakeholders in the hemp industry who argue the policy change would eradicate the market. The LCB contributed reporting from Washington, D.C. The post Bipartisan Congressional Lawmakers Give Mixed Reactions To Marijuana Rescheduling News From Trump Administration appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Wanda James, a marijuana dispensary owner and advocate in Colorado who’s running for Congress, is applauding news about a potentially imminent move by the Trump administration to federally reschedule cannabis. But that reform doesn’t go far enough, she said, pledging to introduce a bill to end prohibition altogether on her “first day” on Capitol Hill if she’s elected. To help her accomplish that goal, James has hired Neal Levine—a decades-long veteran of the cannabis reform movement—to manage her campaign, Marijuana Moment has exclusively learned. As one of the first Black dispensary owners in the country, the candidate said in a statement on Thursday that she welcomes reports that President Donald Trump would be making a final decision on moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Whether or when that happens remains unclear, and a White House spokesperson told Marijuana Moment that “no final decisions have been made” at this point. In any case, James said that any incremental reform that “reduces barriers for research, protects patients, or eases access for workers and businesses is welcome.” However, “Coloradans and all Americans, deserve more than halfway measures that leave core issues of justice, equity, and economic opportunity unresolved.” “As the representative from the epicenter of the cannabis industry in America, I will introduce legislation on my first day in Congress to fully legalize cannabis nationwide,” she said. “And until we get there, I will support every incremental reform that reduces criminalization, expands research, strengthens equity, and makes life better for the people who built this industry and those who rely on it.” The candidate’s statement follows a recent speech she made at a marijuana industry conference, where she argued that only complete legalization will address the cannabis business community’s needs such as allowing them to access the banking system like other traditional markets. “Our communities deserve leaders who do not simply react to Washington’s dysfunction but who know how to fix it. I intend to be one of those leaders,” she said in her latest remarks, adding that the incumbent Democrat she’s aiming to unseat, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), has “proven for 30 years she is not.” DeGette is also supportive of marijuana reform, but over her tenure in Congress, her record as a champion of the issue is relatively limited. She has sponsored legislation—as well as an appropriation rider—to prevent federal interference in state cannabis laws, though. James, for her part, said she will “support any action, from any administration, that moves this industry and this movement forward” and “always vote in favor of any cannabis legislation that moves the needle, protects people, reduces harm, or expands opportunity.” “But let me be equally clear: Rescheduling is not enough. But it is welcome.” While James’s industry involvement gives her a unique perspective on cannabis policy issues that she’d bring to Congress if elected, she’s also recruited a leader in the advocacy movement to serve as her campaign manager and help her get there. Levine, who got to know James through the marijuana reform community and previously worked to advance legalization with the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and Cannabis Trade Federation (CTF), told Marijuana Moment on Wednesday that “the reason [James] asked me to run her campaign is because I have a really solid track record running and winning.” Although the incumbent, DeGette, has been “friendly towards the industry,” particularly later in her career, James would be a more proactive force for reform on Capitol Hill, Levine said. “Wanda is one of us, so we don’t have to worry about how she feels or how she’s going to vote or what she’s going to do in regards to cannabis in Congress,” he said. “What we need in Congress to advocate for us with the log jam that we’re facing, we need people who are actually going to fight for us.” “Wanda James is a is a trailblazing dispensary owner advocate who is going to go to Congress and fight to end prohibition once and for all,” Levine said. Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post As Trump Nears Marijuana Announcement, Dispensary Owner Running For Congress Pledges To File Full Legalization Bill On First Day In Office appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

An Alaska campaign says it failed to collect enough signatures to put an initiative to legalize certain psychedelics such as psilocybin and DMT on the state’s 2026 ballot—but activists are emphasizing that the “work is far from over” as they shift focus to placing the reform measure before voters in 2028. About three months after state officials cleared Natural Medicine Alaska to collect signatures for the initiative, the campaign announced on Wednesday that, “despite months of tireless work,” they were “unable to gather enough signatures to place the Alaska Natural Medicine Act on the 2026 ballot.” “Throughout this effort, we submitted initial signatures, mobilized volunteers across Anchorage, the Valley, the Kenai Peninsula, Haines, Juneau, and communities statewide, and built strong grassroots momentum,” it said. “Even with these tremendous efforts, we have determined that we will not reach the full signature threshold to qualify the Alaska Natural Medicine Act for the 2026 ballot.” A spokesperson for the campaign told Marijuana Moment on Wednesday that organizers collected more than 10,000 signatures during the relatively short window to qualify the initiative for next year. But they won’t have to start over again to make the ballot in 2028, as those petitions will still be good toward the roughly 35,000 needed to qualify. “We are profoundly grateful to everyone who gathered signatures, donated, volunteered, or helped spread the word,” the campaign said. “Your dedication and passion have meant more than we can express. And we want to be clear: we are not giving up. Alaskans deserve safe, legal access to natural medicines for therapeutic and traditional use, and the freedom to make choices about their health with dignity, safety, and respect. Therefore, we are formally announcing that we are shifting focus to the 2028 ballot cycle.” “While we won’t appear on the 2026 ballot, we remain fully on track for 2028, and we will continue moving forward with determination, focus, and the support of our community,” Natural Medicine Alaska said. “This movement is gaining momentum every day. In fact, over 65 percent of Alaskans support this initiative–and that number continues to grow.” An earlier policy outline from the campaign explained that the proposal is “building off of” Colorado’s voter-approved 2022 Natural Medicine Health Act, under which facilitators recently administered the state’s first legal dose of psilocybin. In addition to establishing a licensed psychedelics industry in the state, the Alaska measure would legalize non-commercial use, cultivation and sharing of DMT, non-peyote mescaline, psilocybin and psilocin among adults 21 and older under a so-called “grow, gather, gift” model popular among psychedelic reform proponents. The measure “shifts away from a restrictive healing center model, allowing individual practitioners to provide [natural medicine] in their offices and at-home facilitation, increasing accessibility in rural communities” that are common in Alaska, the organizers’ policy outline said. Cultivation would need to take place in a space no larger that 12 feet by 12 feet and remain out of public view, and growers would be required to take reasonable steps to prevent access by minors. Transfers of psychedelics between adults, meanwhile, would need to occur without any form of payment. Public consumption of the substances would be forbidden, subject to a civil fine of up to $100. On the commercial side, Alaska would license healing centers—where certified facilitators would supervise psychedelic administration—as well as testing labs, cultivation facilities, product manufacturers, handlers and other related businesses. Traditional healers would also be protected under the proposed initiative for “ceremonial, spiritual, or cultural use of plant medicines” through legal exemptions to state drug laws. They would not need to hold a state license, the proposal said, “but must be certified or credentialed as a traditional practitioner.” The system would be overseen by a Natural Medicine Control Board a “regulatory and quasi-judicial agency” that would be housed within the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. It would include members from the public safety and public health sectors, as well as someone from a rural area, a representative of the natural medicine industry, an Alaska Native traditional healer, a professional practitioner of psychedelic-assisted therapy and someone either from the general public or the natural medicine industry. A separate Natural Medicine Advisory Committee consisting of 15 members would make recommendations around the program. That body would include mental heath professionals, natural medicine therapists or researchers, tribal representatives, a physician, a military veteran, a first responder, healthcare experts and others. As for traditional use, the measure would also create a Traditional Use Council to develop best practices and educational materials around Indigenous-based psychedelic use and harm reduction principles. That would include a separate credentialing or certification process that “may include consideration of lineage, apprenticeship, community recognition, and cultural practice, rather than formal clinical or academic training.” — 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 poll last year found that nearly half (49.4 percent) of Alaska adults would support a ballot measure to more broadly remove criminal penalties for using substances such as psilocybin mushrooms. That support rose markedly—to nearly two thirds (65 percent)—when participants were told that Alaska has high rates of mental illnesses that could potentially be treated with psychedelics. Last year, Alaska lawmakers passed legislation to create a state task force to study how to license and regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy. The measure took effect without the signature of Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R). So far two other states have facilitated psychedelics programs that are fully operational. Oregon voters legalized therapeutic psilocybin in 2020, and Colorado’s program was passed at the ballot box in 2022, with the state’s governor signing legislation a year later to create the regulatory framework for the program. Separately in Alaska, a federal judge ruled in June that state officials did not violate the constitution when restricting intoxicating hemp products in 2023. Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype and Apollo. The post Alaska Psychedelics Campaign Ends Push To Put Legalization On 2026 Ballot, Shifting Focus To 2028 appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

States that opened recreational marijuana dispensaries saw suicide rates decline among older adults, according to a new scientific analysis of more than two decades of nationwide data. Correlating state legalization to the decline, the researchers note a “modest yet statistically significant reduction” in states with legal access to cannabis. The research, conducted by a team of public health economists, examined monthly suicide counts from U.S. states between 2000 and 2022. Their aim was to better understand whether easier access to marijuana, specifically through licensed retail stores, might have any measurable effect on mental health outcomes. Their working paper, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, shows that may be the case. The study found that in states where recreational cannabis dispensaries began operating, suicide rates among adults ages 45 and older declined. The effect was strongest among men, who historically have had significantly higher suicide rates and are more likely to use cannabis to manage chronic pain, a health challenge that increases the risk of suicide. “Given that older adults are more prone to chronic pain and various physical and mental health issues, it is not surprising that this demographic is increasingly turning to marijuana for its medicinal properties,” the paper noted. The researchers found no similar pattern among younger adults or in states that legalized recreational cannabis but had not yet opened retail stores. That distinction, they say, suggests that actual access to marijuana, rather than legalization via state law changes alone, may be the more influential factor. “We find that suicide rates among older age groups decline following the opening of recreational marijuana dispensaries.” The researchers did not find evidence that cannabis availability increased suicides, a concern raised by opponents who have claimed that legalization leads to rising rates of cannabis use and worsening mental health trends among young people. The authors also address the risk factors for suicide and the therapeutic benefits of cannabis in addressing those underlying factors. “The focus on pain as an underlying cause of suicide is under recognized in the literature and adds an important dimension to the policy discussion,” they wrote. The study also arrives at a time when suicide rates in the U.S. remain near historic highs, especially among middle-aged and older adults. Though the decline associated with dispensary openings was modest, the authors argue that even small improvements deserve attention. The paper, which was not peer reviewed, was authored by Dr. Sara Markowitz of Emory University and Katie E. Leinenbach of Demand Side Analytics. “Although further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms driving these effects, these results point to one potential benefit of legalized recreational marijuana,” they wrote. “These findings contribute to the growing body of literature on the public health impacts of marijuana legalization, offering evidence that recreational dispensary openings may play a role in reducing suicides among older adults, particularly in vulnerable subgroups,” the paper concludes. To account for variables aside from state marijuana legalization, the authors also explored—and dismissed—other potential causes. Their models factored in “the real beer tax, real cigarette tax and three opioid-centric policies: initial prescription limits, pill mill laws and prescription drug monitoring programs,” they wrote. The study comes as more robust research is being conducted related to cannabis legalization and older adults. Earlier this year, scientists found that marijuana users have “superior performance across multiple cognitive domains,” according to a new large-scale study funded by the U.S. federal government, with the effects of cannabis on cognition “presented concurrently across a range of brain systems” and was based on data from 37,929 participants in the United Kingdom aged between 44 and 81 years old. The team found that cannabis consumers consistently outperformed non-users on a range of cognitive tests—suggesting that marijuana use may be linked to brain network patterns typically observed in younger individuals. This new study also comes on the heels of a study of more than 5,000 men whom researchers evaluated over the course of 44 years, finding that “no significant harmful effects of cannabis use on age-related cognitive decline.” In fact, the report says, “Men with a history of cannabis use had less cognitive decline from early adulthood to midlife compared to men without a history of cannabis use.” Photo courtesy of Max Jackson. The post Legal Marijuana Access Reduces Suicide Rates For Older Adults, New Study Suggests appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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