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The Hawaii Senate has passed a pair of resolutions calling on Congress to federally legalize marijuana, support state efforts to clear people’s conviction records and take steps to facilitate access to banking services for companies in the cannabis industry. “Even though states have made significant policy changes with respect to cannabis, the federal Controlled Substances Act still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance,” the measures that were approved in 20-5 votes by the Senate on Thursday say, “which means that medical cannabis dispensaries and other cannabis-related businesses continue to face the prospect of federal seizures, forfeitures, arrests, and other enforcement and prosecution actions.” The legal recreational cannabis industry could generate more than $1 billion in sales in Hawaii by its fifth year of operation, according to a recent state-commissioned study, the resolutions point out. Current medical marijuana businesses in the state “are hampered by their inability to obtain the full spectrum of private banking services under federal law,” the measures sponsored by Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D) say, adding that “arrests and convictions for cannabis possession remain on record and often impact the ability of a person to obtain housing and employment.” SR58 and SCR64 call on Congress to: (1) Remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act; (2) Provide support to states that are in the process of clearing defendants’ records of cannabis offenses; and (3) Facilitate access to the full spectrum of banking services for cannabis-related businesses. The resolutions were approved last week by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which had amended them from their originally introduced form to remove provisions that had noted that alcohol and tobacco don’t fall under the Controlled Substances Act, “even though the regular use of those substances often leads to physical injuries, psychological and social harm, the onset of chronic and fatal illnesses, and other negative impacts on individual and public health.” Sen. Karl Rhoads (D), the chair of the committee, said that the arguments about other substances “seem irrelevant” to the marijuana resolutions. The concurrent resolution now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The separate Senate resolution simply expresses the sense of that body and requires no further action. It will now be transmitted to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, as well as the top Democratic and Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and each member of Hawaii’s congressional delegation. The concurrent resolution will take the same path if approved by the House. Last week, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee adopted separate resolutions calling on the state attorney general and health department to request an exemption from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stipulating that Hawaii is permitted to run its medical cannabis program without federal interference. — 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. — Although Hawaii senators recently approved a bill to legalize low-dose and low-potency marijuana, the legislation didn’t advance through required steps before a key deadline, and so it is dead for the year. A separate marijuana legalization bill that contained provisions making the reform contingent on changes to federal law or the state Constitution, SB 2421, was deferred for action. Both Senate and House panels additionally deferred action on a measure to allow for the sale of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Those actions comes after key House lawmakers signaled that cannabis legalization proposals would not be advancing in the 2026 session, citing a lack of sufficient support in their chamber. Last month, a Hawaii Senate committee separately passed legislation to allow patients to immediately access medical cannabis once their registrations are submitted, instead of having to wait until their cards are delivered as is the case under current law. Meanwhile, another Hawaii House committee last week approved a Senate-passed bill that would create a psychedelics task force responsible for studying and making policy recommendations on providing access to breakthrough therapies such as psilocybin and MDMA. Legislation to allow qualifying patients to access medical marijuana at health facilities also advanced this session. The post Hawaii Senate Votes To Ask Congress To Federally Legalize Marijuana appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Oregon’s governor has signed a bill to allow patients with debilitating medical conditions to access medical marijuana in certain health facilities such as hospices. Gov. Tina Kotek (D) approved the legislation from Rep. Farrah Chaichi (D) on Tuesday after it cleared the Senate in a 20-8 vote last month and was passed by the House of Representatives in a 39-3 vote in February. Chaichi said in testimony to the Senate Health Care Committee that the bill is “an important tool to facilitate cannabis use as an alternative or addition to opioid use in end of life care.” “While sometimes necessary, opiates are often overly sedative, preventing quality family interaction in someone’s final days,” she said. “As someone who lost my mother while she was intubated, I know how meaningful it is for patients to be present and in the moments of their last days and weeks with their loved ones. This is a quality of life and a quality of care issue. The bill’s goal is to ensure patients who desire this important and valid medical treatment have access across the board.” As enacted, HB 4142 will require hospice, palliative and home care organizations, as well as residential facilities, to develop rules permitting registered patients with debilitating conditions to use medical cannabis. The reform is similar to—albeit somewhat more limited than—multiple “Ryan’s law” measures that have advanced in state legislatures across the country. Ryan’s law, which is named after a young cannabis patient in California who passed away, generally refers to a policy broadly permitting medical marijuana use in health facilities such as hospitals. The Oregon bill doesn’t extend to hospitals, but it builds upon the state’s medical cannabis program in a way that advocates say will meaningfully improve quality of life for seriously ill patients. Under the proposal, the Oregon State Board of Nursing will further be prohibited “from disciplining a nurse who discusses the medical use of marijuana with a patient,” according to a legislative summary. It will additionally make it so eligible health facilities can act as medical marijuana caregivers if authorized by regulators. The legislation “exempts residential facilities that provide a patient with medical marijuana from criminal laws related to the possession, delivery, or manufacture of marijuana” and “allows a conditionally designated residential facility to develop a written policy and train staff before the operative date,” the summary says. Now that the governor has signed the measure, it is set to become operative on January 1, 2027. The post Oregon Governor Signs Bill To Allow Medical Marijuana Use In Hospices And Other Health Facilities appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“No outside force killed the hemp industry. The hemp industry killed itself—and dragged the legitimate full-spectrum wellness market down with it on the way out.” By Max Jackson, Cannabis Wise Guys Open any cannabis news site this week and the contradiction stares back at you from the same screen: Missouri’s Senate passes a bill to ban intoxicating hemp products. Texas enforces its smokable hemp ban. And right between them, hemp operators in Virginia are publicly pleading with the governor to save the industry. The obituary and the plea for resuscitation, side by side. Hemp operators across the country are petitioning governors, flooding legislative inboxes and declaring war on the regulations closing in from every direction—state by state, with a federal law to recriminalize hemp THC product set to take effect on November 12. They are not wrong that the industry is ending. But they are wrong about who ended it. No outside force killed the hemp industry. The hemp industry killed itself—and dragged the legitimate full-spectrum wellness market down with it on the way out. The Math Was Always The Tell As of this writing, some hemp retailers in Virginia are selling jars of THC gummies containing 500 milligrams of THC per container, marketed as “VA Legal.” The labels proudly advertise the 25:1 CBD-to-THC ratio that made them technically compliant under the old framework. Pack 12,500 mg of CBD into the jar alongside the THC, and the arithmetic checks out. The CBD was not there for therapeutic value. It was there to satisfy a ratio. Five hundred milligrams of THC in a single retail container. For context, the most common adult-use edible limit in the country is 100mg per package. Michigan, the most permissive adult-use state, caps solid edibles at 200mg. Virginia’s own adult-use bill that’s now on the governor’s desk, HB 642, sets its limit at 100mg. The 500 mg jars on sale in Virginia hold two and a half times what the most lenient regulated market in America would allow—and nobody needed a license to sell it. The state is set to replace that framework with a 2 mg THC cap per package. Hemp operators call it a death sentence. What they will not say publicly is that the 500 mg jar is precisely why every state capitol in the country is moving in this direction. The 2 mg cap does not just eliminate the gummy. It hurts the low THC sleep tincture, the CBD pet product, the full-spectrum wellness line that was never the problem. Collateral damage—created entirely by an industry that optimized for the loophole. The 500 mg “Compromise” The proposed fix circulating among Virginia hemp advocates—and directed at Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D)—asks for a 500 mg total THC cap as the reasonable middle ground. The industry’s proposed compromise is identical to what was already sitting on the shelf. The “middle ground” is the product that already exists. That is not a negotiating position. That is a request to keep selling exactly what they were selling—and it tells you everything about what the old rules actually produced. New Jersey: The Fix That Got Deleted New Jersey tried to thread the needle. Starting on April 13, 2026, intoxicating hemp beverages will move out of less-regulated retail and into licensed Class 5 cannabis dispensaries. Limits: 5 mg per serving, 10 mg per container. Sounds like progress. It is not. The original bill language in S3235 required hemp products to be stored or displayed in a location not accessible to customers without employee assistance. Behind the counter. Like cannabis. That provision was deleted by amendment before the final version passed. What replaced it: hemp THC on the open shelf, where customers can pick it up without asking anyone for help. On March 31, Matha Figaro—co-founder of CannPowerment, a Class 2 cannabis manufacturer operating in New Jersey since December 2023—testified before the Cannabis Regulatory Commission about what this means in practice. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority invested in her company through a state-supported program. With that funding, she invested in equipment, research and formulation to bring canned THC beverages to market—the first in the state’s regulated system. “Two products with similar intoxicating effects are being sold in the same stores,” Figaro told the commission. “One category operates with broader commercial flexibility. The other carries the full regulatory burden of the CRC framework.” She was not speaking abstractly. Her company carries testing, packaging, seed-to-sale tracking, taxes, social equity contributions, municipal fees and licensing costs that hemp operators do not. The product she built to open an entirely new category in the state’s regulated market now competes on the same dispensary shelf against a product that sits in the impulse-purchase position while hers stays behind the counter. As Figaro put it: “The state is asking the fully regulated cannabis market to compete with one hand tied behind its back.” The Pattern What is happening in Virginia and New Jersey are not two separate policy failures. It is the same structural collapse repeating across the country: regulated operators absorb the full compliance cost while unregulated competitors absorb the retail advantage, and the legislative fix gets amended out before it can work. North Carolina’s governor-appointed Advisory Council on Cannabis just documented the same failures in its Interim report: “North Carolinians—including our youth—can legally purchase intoxicating hemp-derived products devoid of any potency limits, standardized laboratory testing, or clear labeling requirements.” This is not an argument for protectionism. It is an argument for a single regulatory standard—the same testing, the same age-gating, the same shelf rules—applied to every intoxicating cannabinoid product regardless of what the label calls it. States did not start banning hemp products because they hate farmers or CBD or the idea of accessible cannabis. They started banning them because billboards on highways advertised THC at liquor stores in illegal cannabis states, smoke shops sold mystery-formulation vapes, online retailers shipped intoxicating products across state lines where 62.5 percent of CBD websites and 30 percent of Delta-8 websites required no age verification at all—and not a single product out of twenty in a peer-reviewed study required verification at delivery—and the industry that most loudly objected to being called illegal was functionally operating like it was. When you move pounds across state lines outside a regulated framework, the word you are looking for is not “hemp operator.” The full-spectrum wellness market—tinctures, topicals, non-intoxicating formulations that genuinely serve people—is now collateral damage. A war the 500 mg jar started and could not finish. What Comes Next Virginia is set to open applications for adult-use marijuana businesses in September. New Jersey’s dispensary shelf resets April 13. The federal clock runs out November 12—and the new federal standard caps finished hemp products at 0.4 mg of total THC per container. Every operator entering these markets over the next six months inherits a regulatory environment shaped partly by an industry that spent its political capital protecting a loophole instead of building a market. The licensing frameworks, the canopy limits, the equity provisions—those conversations happened while the loudest voices in the room were focused on something else entirely. Max Jackson is the founder of Cannabis Wise Guys and specializes in translating between cannabis operations, investment and public policy. He provides operational and policy consulting to cannabis markets in Virginia, New Jersey and beyond. The post The Hemp Industry Didn’t Get Killed By Regulators, It Killed Itself (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Three out of five Americans say it should be legal for people to grow their own marijuana plants at home, according to a new poll that also shows cannabis consumers are broadly concerned about harmful pesticides in the products they consume. The survey, which was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Royal Queen Seeds (RQS), found that 61 percent of U.S. adults back legalizing marijuana home cultivation, which the company points out is greater than 43 percent of Americans who say they have consumed cannabis—showing that support for the freedom extends beyond those who want to exercise it for themselves. At the same time, however, 72 percent of consumers are very concerned about pesticides in their cannabis products, while 65 percent say that media coverage of tainted marijuana has made them more likely to want to grow their own instead of buying it. The poll also found that two-thirds of cannabis consumers (67 percent) would choose cannabis grown without pesticides even if it had lower THC than products that did use agrochemicals. “Consumers today are more informed and more intentional about what they put into their bodies,” Shai Ramsahai, president of RQS, said in a press release. “Blindly buying products just because of a high THC percentage is a fading trend. People want cannabis they can trust, and many are turning to home cultivation to take control over quality and safety.” Other findings of the new poll include: More than 3 in 4 cannabis consumers (76 percent) say they prefer the “high” of marijuana over the “buzz” of alcohol. 39 percent of Americans (and 68 percent of cannabis users) would be more impressed if someone brought home-grown marijuana to a dinner party than a bottle of expensive wine. 80 percent of cannabis consumers say their use of marijuana has a broader wellness connection in their habits. The poll involved interviews from March 17-19 with 2,017 U.S. adults aged 21 and older, among whom 851 have consumed cannabis, and has a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The survey is the latest in a series of polls commissioned by RQS. Last year, the company found that half of U.S. marijuana consumers said they expected to consume more cannabis under the Trump administration than they have before. In 2024, the RQS survey showed that 37 percent of respondents also said that they would consider buying marijuana seeds as a gift for someone else on 4/20. Separately, a Gallup poll published late last year found that 64 percent of Americans now support legalizing marijuana. Regardless of public opinion on the policy of legalization, Gallup also released data in 2024 showing that 15 percent of U.S. adults reported that they smoke cannabis, which is more than the 11 percent of who told the polling firm that they have smoked any cigarettes in the past week. Rates of marijuana use are nearly the same in states that have legalized versus those that maintain prohibition, which suggests that “criminalization does little to curtail its use,” another Gallup survey found that year. The post Americans Support Legalizing Marijuana Home Cultivation Amid Concerns About Pesticide-Tainted Products, Poll Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

MA marijuana bill to governor; MD veterinarians medical cannabis vote; LA medical marijuana in hospitals; CT psychedelics; VA legalization op-ed Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Free to read (but not free to produce)! We’re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we’re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen. If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Longtime Trump advisor Roger Stone says someone in the administration is “holding up” the cannabis rescheduling proposal the president ordered to be completed—telling Marijuana Moment that it’s “vitally important to get this done before the next election.” Massachusetts lawmakers sent Gov. Maura Healey (D) a bill to double the legal marijuana possession limit, overhaul the Cannabis Control Commission and change business licensing and ownership rules. Maryland lawmakers sent Gov. Wes Moore (D) legislation to provide legal protections for veterinarians who recommend medical cannabis for animals, making it so they can’t be punished for it by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. The Louisiana Senate passed a bill to allow patients with terminal and irreversible conditions to use medical cannabis in hospitals, subject to certain limitations. The Connecticut Senate passed a bill to expand the state’s psychedelics pilot program to let all adults who meet clinical eligibility criteria participate—instead of just veterans, retired first responders and health care workers—in anticipation of federal approval of psilocybin or MDMA. The Hawaii House Finance Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to create a psychedelics task force responsible for studying and making policy recommendations on providing access to breakthrough therapies such as psilocybin and MDMA. NORML’s JM Pedini argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) should sign a bill to legalize recreational cannabis sales without recommending amendments to delay the launch of the legal market. / FEDERAL Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel tweeted about speaking at the Annual Rx and Illicit Drug Summit. The Congressional Research Service published a report on the history of a federal law barring consumers of marijuana and other illegal drugs from purchasing or possessing guns. / STATES Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) tweeted, “I made history when I pardoned 175,000 misdemeanor cannabis convictions, but the real goal was justice. We gave thousands of Marylanders a second chance. Now we have to build a system that delivers that kind of fairness from the start.” Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Esteves said the state should legalize marijuana and urged people to register to vote for the primary election by the 4/20 deadline. The Pennsylvania House Majority Policy Committee tweeted, “PA Senate Republicans continue to block the legalization of marijuana – watching money that could help Pennsylvania end up in Ohio, New York, New Jersey – or with organized criminal groups.” Hawaii legislation to defelonize drug possession is advancing in the legislature. A federal judge halted Rhode Island marijuana business licensing amid a legal challenge. Nebraska regulators filed proposed rules to restrict hemp-derived edibles. Minnesota regulators announced the recipients of grants to help farmers enter or expand into the cannabis industry. — 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 Denver, Colorado regulators sent a reminder about rules for marijuana advertising and events ahead of 4/20. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study of mice found that “rectal administration of a CBD and [sodium propionate] enema exerts potential synergistic therapeutic effects in experimental [ulcerative colitis], effectively reducing disease severity, preserving colon morphology, and mitigating histopathological damage.” A review concluded that “standard-dose psilocybin may represent a promising therapeutic option for [major depressive disorder] treatment.” / BUSINESS Vireo Growth Inc. completed its acquisition of The Hawthorne Gardening Company LLC from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. Edibles.com opened its first hemp product retail store in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Trump advisor says someone is “holding up” cannabis rescheduling (Newsletter: April 10, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Every time you wacky flip through the air, try to hold back your joy.

You should start by trying out tap tap shots

Another Hawaii House committee has approved a Senate-passed bill that would create a psychedelics task force responsible for studying and making policy recommendations on providing access to breakthrough therapies such as psilocybin and MDMA. The House Finance Committee advanced the legislation from Sen. Chris Lee (D) in a 15-0 vote on Tuesday. The measure, which had cleared the Senate in a unanimous vote of 24-0 last month, next heads to the House floor before potentially going back to the Senate for that chamber to consider recent amendments. The bill would create a Mental Health Emerging Therapies Task Force that would be tasked with spending two years reviewing the current scientific literature, supporting additional clinical research and “developing policy recommendations for safe, ethical, and culturally-informed implementation” of a psychedelics therapy program. “The legislature finds that addressing the mental health crisis affecting the residents of the State, particularly among veterans, first responders, and trauma survivors, is urgent,” the bill, SB 3199, states. “Suicide continues to be a leading cause of preventable death, and the State must explore all safe and effective treatment options supported by scientific evidence.” Noting that the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already designated psilocybin and MDMA as breakthrough therapies in the treatment of serious mental health conditions, which could lend to future rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Hawaii legislation says the state “must proactively prepare public health, clinical, and research systems for safe and equitable implementation.” The state Department of Health said in testimony to the House committee that it supports the bill, noting that in light of FDA’s action on psychedelics, “it is prudent for Hawaii to evaluate research readiness, regulatory implications, workforce development, and culturally informed implementation pathways” in advance of any federal rescheduling of the substances. The governor’s Office of Wellness and Resilience said the bill “resents an important opportunity to begin to prepare a planful pathway for individuals in need of access to potentially life-saving treatments for trauma and other longstanding mental health challenges.” “A growing body of research demonstrates that breakthrough therapies (such as MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapies) show significant efficacy and positive clinical outcomes in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, end-of-life anxiety in terminally ill patients, eating disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and additional conditions,” it said. Members of the task force would have to include representatives of the state Department of Health (DOH), the attorney general’s office, the Office of Wellness and Resilience (OWR), the University of Hawaii’s medical school and more. As drafted, DOH would have overseen the task force, an amendment adopted last month by the House Health Committee makes the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) at the University of Hawaii the responsible entity, and designates JABSOM’s appointee as chair of the panel. The committee additionally adopted amendments suggested by Department of Law Enforcement, to state that its Narcotics Enforcement Division—and not the Board of Pharmacy—would be responsible for changing state scheduling of psychedelics following any federal reclassification, and changing deadline for such action from 90 days to 30 days. Members also moved to note in the bill report that the State Health Planning & Development Agency has expressed concerns that psychedelics are illegal under federal law and that task force should proceed cautiously. Finally, the panel made technical amendments for clarity, consistency and style. If enacted, it appears the bill would build upon prior work conducted by a separate psychedelics task force that convened for the first time in 2023, with a similar goal of exploring pathways for therapeutic access into FDA-approved breakthrough drugs like psilocybin. — 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, although Hawaii senators recently approved a bill to legalize low-dose and low-potency marijuana, the legislation didn’t advance through required steps before a key deadline, and so is dead for the year. A separate marijuana legalization bill that contained provisions making the reform contingent on changes to federal law or the state Constitution, SB 2421, was deferred for action. Both Senate and House panels additionally deferred action on a measure to allow for the sale of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Those actions comes after key House lawmakers signaled that cannabis legalization proposals would not be advancing in the 2026 session, citing a lack of sufficient support in their chamber. Earlier this month, a Hawaii Senate committee separately passed legislation to allow patients to immediately access medical cannabis once their registrations are submitted, instead of having to wait until their cards are delivered as is the case under current law. A Senate committee also approved resolutions calling on Congress to federally legalize marijuana, support state efforts to clear people’s conviction records and take steps to facilitate access to banking services for companies in the cannabis industry. Another Senate panel advanced separate resolutions calling on the state attorney general and health department to request an exemption from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stipulating that Hawaii is permitted to run its medical cannabis program without federal interference. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer. The post Hawaii Lawmakers Approve Bill To Create Psychedelics Task Force Charged With Studying Psilocybin And MDMA appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Any delay in implementation continues to drive consumers to the illicit market, jeopardizes public safety and delays the tools needed by law enforcement and regulators to address these concerns.” By JM Pedini, NORML Virginia lawmakers did their part by passing a bill this session to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis sales. Now, it is up to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) to finish the job by signing it into law without proposing any amendments to delay the launch of the legal market. Virginia made history in 2021 when it became the first state in the South to legalize marijuana for adults. But elections have consequences, and the election of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2022 meant four years of stonewalling progress on cannabis policy and an explosion in illicit market activity. Let’s be clear: legalization didn’t create Virginians’ demand for marijuana. But Youngkin’s failure to create a regulated cannabis market emboldened unregulated operators to meet their demand. Unlike licensed dispensaries, the unregulated market is not subject to consumer safety standards or age verification requirements. Products are not consistently tested or accurately labeled, and there are no meaningful safeguards to keep them out of the hands of minors. Jurisdictions that have enacted regulated cannabis sales have seen the illicit market decline as consumers transition to the legal marketplace. When adults have access to licensed retailers that provide accurately tested, clearly labeled products in a regulated environment, they overwhelmingly choose that option over unregulated sellers. Legal access does not eliminate the illicit market overnight, but it significantly reduces its reach by bringing consumers into a system that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and safety. Now, five years after Virginia lawmakers first approved legalization, there still exists no regulated cannabis sales system outside of the medical program. Sen. Lashrecse Aird’s (D) SB 542 and Del. Paul Krizek’s (D) HB 642 would fix that. Adults 21 and older could begin purchasing legal, accurately tested and clearly labeled cannabis products at licensed dispensaries beginning January 1, 2027. Just as importantly, lawmakers got the details right. The General Assembly was smart to keep the tax rate in line with neighboring states like Maryland. If legal cannabis isn’t affordable, Virginians won’t leave the illicit market. Aird also included a companion enforcement bill, SB 543, to provide additional resources and consumer and industry protections that take effect once retail sales begin. Any delay in implementation continues to drive consumers to the illicit market, jeopardizes public safety and delays the tools needed by law enforcement and regulators to address these concerns. Virginians deserve a system that protects consumers and prevents access by those under age. That is why the governor should sign SB 542 | HB 642 as written and without further delay. JM Pedini is the development director at NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and serves as the executive director of the state chapter, Virginia NORML. The post Virginia Governor Should Sign Marijuana Bill Without Delaying Launch Of Legal Sales (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Someone in the Trump administration is “holding up” the completion of a marijuana rescheduling proposal, according to a longtime advisor to the president. It’s been more than three months since President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Justice to finalize a rule to move cannabis from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III “in the most expeditious manner”—but that hasn’t happened. Now, GOP operative Roger Stone is calling out the inaction. “Who is holding up President Trump’s order to reschedule marijuana?” he said in a social media post on Thursday. Who is holding up President Trump's order to reschedule marijuana? — Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) April 9, 2026 In a follow-up phone interview, Stone told Marijuana Moment that it’s “vitally important to get this done before the next election,” citing the significance of the cannabis issue to younger and libertarian-leaning voters that his party needs to win over and turn out in order to maintain a congressional majority. Also on Thursday, Washington Examiner reporter Kaelan Deese asked around about Stone’s post and said that “both the White House and the DOJ tell me they’re working on this but have offered no timeline.” “A DOJ spokesperson said this morning the department ‘is working to implement the President’s executive order on rescheduling, and that work will continue,'” he said. Both the White House and the DOJ tell me they're working on this but have offered no timeline. A DOJ spokesperson said this morning the department "is working to implement the President’s executive order on rescheduling, and that work will continue." https://t.co/kVt4QHbVg1 — Kaelan Deese (@KaelanDC) April 9, 2026 Trump last week fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, who opposed marijuana reform in Florida when she was that state’s attorney general, although there is no indication that cannabis was at the center of the president’s frustration with her performance in his administration. Todd Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney and as deputy attorney general, is serving as acting attorney general until Bondi’s replacement is confirmed for the position. During his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation process, Blanche said in response to a written question about marijuana rescheduling that he would “give the matter careful consideration after conferring with all relevant stakeholders, including [Drug Enforcement Administration] personnel.” When asked about aligning federal and state marijuana laws, he said that “coordination between federal and state authorities is critically important” but that he had “not had the opportunity to study this particular issue.” “If confirmed, I will consult with the necessary stakeholders and give this matter careful consideration,” he said. Stone, for his part, argued in an op-ed for Marijuana Moment last year that if Trump ends up rescheduling cannabis, “he won’t just be adjusting federal drug policy—he will be correcting one of the greatest disconnects in American political life.” “He will be bringing Washington in line with the American people,” Stone wrote. He separately suggested on his radio show that Trump can outdo Democrats on marijuana by enacting reforms that they failed to achieve when they controlled the White House and Congress. Stone also said last year that the president effectively “forced” by Republican lawmakers to sign a spending bill that included a ban on hemp products containing THC. The post Someone In The Trump Administration Is ‘Holding Up’ Marijuana Rescheduling, Advisor To President Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Massachusetts lawmakers have passed a bill to double the legal marijuana possession limit for adults and revise the regulatory framework for the state’s adult-use cannabis market, sending it to the governor’s desk. The Senate approved the legislation in a voice vote on Thursday, one day after it cleared the House of Representatives by a unanimous tally of 155-0. The proposal now heads to Gov. Maura Healey (D), who can sign or veto it, allow it to become law without her signature or propose amendments for lawmakers to consider. A bicameral conference committee had spent months working out provisions of the legislation after both chambers passed differing versions last year, and the panel approved a compromise approach on Monday. “This conference committee moved quickly, but also thoughtfully and collaboratively, and the result before you today represents careful reconciliation between the two bodies and the shared priorities that guided our work from the very beginning,” Sen. Adam Gómez (D), who co-chaired the bicameral panel, said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote on Thursday. “Our industry has matured, and our regulatory system has not always kept pace. What we present today strengthens oversight, it clarifies governance, it supports economic stability for operators,” he said. “It improves public health reporting and expands equitable participation and brings consistency to consumer access. It reflects months of testimony, years of lived industry experience and the voices of the municipalities, the public health experts, small businesses, workers, patients and community advocates across the commonwealth.” “This bill is both an evolution and a course correction.” Gómez said. “It improves governance, strengthens integrity, modernizes economic rules and centers equity in real, measurable ways.” Gómez (D) and Rep. Daniel M. Donahue (D), who co-chaired the conference committee, said in a joint statement earlier this week that the agreement “charts a more promising path forward for cannabis regulation in our commonwealth.” “The bill creates new opportunities for small businesses to grow, while providing those historically harmed by marijuana laws with temporary, exclusive access to those opportunities,” the lawmakers, who also serve as co-chairs of the legislature’s Joint Cannabis Policy Committee, said. “This bill will allow them to realize their capital and pursue innovative models such as employee-owned businesses.” Among the proposed revisions to the state’s cannabis law is a section that would increase the personal possession limit for marijuana from one to two ounces. Colorado enacted the same reform in 2021 after that state’s cannabis market matured. H.5350 would also reduce the size and revise the organization of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), while also updating limits on marijuana business licensing. Under both chambers’ versions of the bill, CCC would be comprised of three members rather than the current five. The conference committee report adopts provisions from the House measure that would allow the governor to make all appointments, rather than the Senate approach to give one of the appointments to the attorney general. Under current law, the treasurer also plays a role in appointing commission members, but that will no longer be the case if the legislation is enacted. The proposal requires that one member of CCC to have a background in social justice, while the other two commissioners need to have backgrounds in public health, public safety, social justice, consumer regulations or the production and distribution of cannabis. The bill will also increase the amount of licenses that a single entity can possess from three to six, while additionally raising from 10 percent to 20 percent the threshold of much equity in a business is considered ownership for the purpose of counting toward the cap on licenses. It also removes a current requirement that medical cannabis operators be vertically integrated to simultaneously cultivate, manufacture and sell marijuana. It additionally gives regulators the ability to allow dispensaries to advertise sales, discounts and customer loyalty programs inside of retail locations and by opt-in email, and it specifies that marijuana delivery operators can deliver to any municipality unless local officials proactively prohibit cannabis businesses and opt out of delivery. The measure also creates a new portal for reporting illegal conduct and directs regulators to create a list of “delinquent” cannabis businesses that have not paid their debts to other operators for more than 60 days and prevents others from doing business with those on the delinquent list until debts are paid off. The legislation additionally requires regulators to study and report on hemp-derived products, the public health impacts of cannabis, tax policy and workplace safety standards. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — The cannabis regulation bill’s passage comes as marijuana businesses in the state have filed a lawsuit aiming to block an initiative to roll back the state’s voter-approved legalization law from reaching the November ballot. If passed, the state wouldn’t revert back to blanket prohibition; rather, it would repeal the commercial recreational sales and personal home cultivation components of the law while still allowing adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of cannabis for personal use. Possession of more than one ounce but less than two ounces would be effectively decriminalized, with violators subject to a $100 fine. Adults could also continue to gift cannabis between each other without remuneration. Medical marijuana sales would remain legal. The measure is currently before the legislature after supporters turned in an initial batch of signatures last year, and lawmakers have until May 5 to act on the proposal. If they choose not to enact it legislatively, the campaign would need to go through another round of petitioning and get at least 12,429 certified signatures by July 1 to make the November ballot. Proponents faced skeptical questioning from lawmakers at a hearing of the Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions last month, with several raising concerns about the motivations behind the anti-marijuana measure and its implications for consumers and businesses. A recent Bay State Poll from the University of Hampshire’s States of Opinion Project found that a majority of Massachusetts adults oppose the marijuana sales and cultivation repeal initiative. Meanwhile, in November, the legislature’s Joint Cannabis Policy Committee advanced a bill that would require a study into legal barriers facing first responders who wish to use marijuana in compliance with state law. Regulators would also need to look into the efficacy of marijuana in the treatment of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They would additionally examine laws and policies for cannabis use by police officers and first responders in other jurisdictions and “any other topics the commission deems relevant.” The bill was reported out as lawmakers in a different committee approved separate legislation to provide employment protections for people who use marijuana. Another panel advanced a similar cannabis employment protections bill in September. Meanwhile, the head of Massachusetts’s marijuana regulatory agency recently suggested that the measure to effectively recriminalize recreational cannabis sales could imperil tax revenue that’s being used to support substance misuse treatment efforts and other public programs. To that point, Massachusetts recently reached another marijuana milestone, with officials announcing in February that the state has surpassed $9 billion in adult-use cannabis purchases since the market launched in 2018. A report from the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) found that legalization is achieving one of its primary goals: disrupting illicit cannabis sales as adults transition to the regulated market. It shows that among adults who reported past-year marijuana use, an overwhelming 84 percent said they obtained their cannabis from a licensed source. Massachusetts lawmakers also recently assembled a bicameral conference committee to reach a deal on a bill that would double the legal marijuana possession limit for adults and revise the regulatory framework for the state’s adult-use cannabis market. In December, state regulators also finalized rules for marijuana social consumption lounges. CCC recently launched an online platform aimed at helping people find jobs, workplace training and networking opportunities in the state’s legal cannabis industry. Separately, lawmakers are also advancing legislation to establish pilot programs for the regulated therapeutic use of psychedelics. The post Massachusetts Bill Letting People Possess Twice As Much Legal Marijuana And Revising Industry Rules Heads To Governor appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Connecticut Senate has passed a bill to expand a pilot program that’s meant to explore the therapeutic potential of psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA. The legislation sponsored by the Joint Committee on Public Health cleared the full Senate in a unanimous 35-0 vote on Wednesday. It now heads to the House of Representatives. If enacted into law, the proposal would build upon an existing psychedelic-assisted therapy program involving military veterans and first responders who elect to participate in clinical trials. The new legislation would repeal and replace the current statute to make it so any adults 18 or older who meet clinical eligibility criteria established by the institutional review board of the medical school selected to administer the pilot program could be eligible to receive psychedelics treatment in a clinical setting, with researchers tasked with studying the efficacy of the novel therapeutics. It would also remove existing language stipulating that the pilot program must end upon federal approval of psilocybin or MDMA by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) or a successor agency. Additionally, the bill would strike dated language requiring the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to create and facilitate the program by January 2023. Under the proposal, SB 191, the department is mandated to “establish, within available appropriations, a psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program, to be administered by a medical school in the state.” That program “shall provide qualified patients with MDMA-assisted or psilocybin-assisted therapy as part of a research program approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration,” or FDA. “For far too long, the people in our state who are going through refractory depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, they have tried various treatments to be able to help them,” Sen. Saud Anwar (D), chair of the Public Health Committee, said on the floor ahead of the vote. “Unfortunately, there are not a lot of options that are available in those situations, and we have seen a lot of individuals hurt themselves and then commit suicide.” “This is not legalization of psychedelics,” he said. “These medicines are only used under specific controlled environment under the guidance of experienced individuals at an institution which has experience in dealing with it. This is going to save lives and help individuals.” Sen. Heather Somers (R) said psilocybin can help people “break out of the rigid trauma loops and the negative thoughts that they have when they are in severe PTSD and severe depression.” “I think that we owe it to those living with trauma—especially those who have served our country, who are first responders, who have served us in many different ways—that we explore every safe and effective option,” she said. “Not just the ones that we’re comfortable with, but ones that show potential that we may not necessarily be comfortable with.” “This isn’t about changing who people are,” Somers said. “It’s about reclaiming who they were before they experienced the trauma, and I think that we owe that to especially the individuals that have served our nation and serve us every day.” — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile, last year, the full House of Representatives approved a bill to decriminalize psilocybin for adults—despite questions about whether the state’s Democratic governor would support it after he rejected an earlier version of the reform measure. That marked the third session in a row that Connecticut lawmakers worked to advance psilocybin decriminalization. In 2023, the reform measure cleared the House but did not move through the Senate. The Judiciary Committee also approved a version in 2024. Gov. Ned Lamont (D) also signed a large-scale budget bill in 2022 that included provisions to set the state up to provide certain patients with access to psychedelic-assisted treatment using substances like MDMA and psilocybin. Separately, Connecticut lawmakers are considering legislation this session to allow medical marijuana use by certain qualifying patients at health facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and hospices. Photo courtesy of Mark Groeneveld. The post Connecticut Senate Votes To Expand Psychedelics Pilot Program In Anticipation Of FDA Approval appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Louisiana Senate has passed a bill to let patients with terminal and irreversible conditions use medical marijuana in hospitals. The body approved the legislation, SB 270 from Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D), in a vote of 33-2 on Wednesday. It now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. “This bill does exactly what the title says,” Jackson-Andrews said on the floor ahead of the vote. “When a patient is in pain and they believe that therapeutic marijuana will work and have a prescription for it, it allows them to have that prescription delivered to the hospital and administered by one of their family members or themselves.” Under the proposal, hospitals would have to create written guidelines allowing covered patients to consume medical cannabis on-site in forms other than smoking or vaping. Under an amendment adopted by a Senate committee earlier this month, emergency or outpatient departments would be exempted from the policy. The revised legislation also clarifies that patients and primary caregivers are responsible for acquiring and administering medical marijuana, which must be “stored securely at all times in a locked container provided by the patient.” Health care professionals and staff would be prohibited from “administering, storing, retrieving, or assisting the patient with the medical marijuana,” the text says. The amendment, which the sponsor worked on with help from the Louisiana Hospital Association, also allows hospitals to opt out of the policy if federal officials take action against any healthcare facility in the state over medical cannabis use, rather than only allowing those that were specifically targeted to stop complying. “This bill was brought at the request of constituents who believe that therapeutic medical marijuana, which is already legal in this state, should be offered in hospitals when patients are terminally ill or otherwise in need the comfort of this medicine,” Jackson-Andrews told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee when the panel took up the legislation. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile in Louisiana, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee recently approved a bill to create a psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program, using opioid settlement dollars to fund clinical trials aimed at developing alternative treatments such as psilocybin and ibogaine. Lawmakers are also considering legislation to create an adult-use marijuana legalization pilot program in the state to determine whether the reform should eventually be expanded and permanently codified. The post Louisiana Senate Passes Bill To Let Terminally Ill Patients Use Medical Marijuana In Hospitals appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Maryland lawmakers have passed legislation to provide legal protections for veterinarians who recommend medical marijuana to animals, sending the legislation to the governor’s desk. The House of Delegates approved one version of the measure in a unanimous 137-0 vote on Tuesday, weeks after the Senate cleared it by a tally of 45-0. And on Wednesday, the Senate adopted the companion measure 43-0 after it passed the House 136-0 in February. SB 54 from Sen. Clarence Lam (D) and HB 452 from Del. Michele Guyton (D) will now go before Gov. Wes Moore (D), who can sign or veto the bills or allow them to take effect without his signature. The legislation would make it so the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners could not “suspend or revoke a license, reprimand or censure a licensee, or place a licensee on probation solely on the basis of the licensee discussing or recommending the use of cannabis…or a product that contains cannabidiol on an animal for potential therapeutic effect or health supplementation purposes.” If enacted into law, the reform would take effect on October 1. At the Senate bill’s hearing before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in February, Lam said the proposal came about from conversations he had with veterinarians. “I’d heard from some vets who were concerned, because they had heard from animal owners or pet owners that some of their pets and animals were experiencing things like cancer,” he said, “and their veterinarians were not able to even discuss the options for cannabis use for those animals to be able to alleviate alleviate their pain and suffering for those animals, even if the animal owner requested it.” The lawmaker said a letter about the issue sent by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners a few years ago “has given a lot of caution to veterinarians to even talk about whether cannabis might be helpful for an animal.” The legislation now heading to the governor’s desk, Lam argued, will help by “setting a baseline level of protection to ensure that veterinarians are able to answer their clients’ or customers’ questions and provide evidence-based information about the use of cannabis and CBD products for pets who may need them.” Matthew Weeman of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association told the committee that the bill will “reinforce the veterinary client patient relationship and allow us to have a discussion with our clientele.” “This is a topic that comes up frequently, and in small animal medicine, in particular…CBD products are available over the counter,” he said. “Consumers are taking those in. They’re giving them to their pets, and they come to us with questions, and most of us feel a little bit hamstrung and that we try to keep up on this, but we can’t discuss it with them, knowing that [state officials] could take punitive action against our license if we do that.” The legislation, Weeman said, “removes a layer of ambiguity at the state level and helps us to just reinforce that communication so that we can keep pets safe and clients informed of the questions that they’re bringing to us every day.” Meanwhile, Maryland lawmakers are also advancing legislation this session to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job. They also recently sent the governor a bill to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027, charging it with developing updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel substances and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. The post Maryland Bill To Protect Veterinarians Who Recommend Medical Marijuana For Pets Heads To Governor’s Desk appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

DOJ funds marijuana breathalyzer research; MA cannabis restructuring vote; TX hemp lawsuit; VA gov signs psilocybin bill; MD psychedelics bill to gov Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The Department of Justice published a federally funded study about the development of a “portable, low cost” marijuana breathalyzer device built with 3-D printed material that can detect delta-9 THC without secondary lab analysis. The Massachusetts House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to double the amount of marijuana a person can legally possess and to overhaul the Cannabis Control Commission. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed legislation to automatically legalize a form of psilocybin under state law if and when the psychedelic is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Maryland lawmakers sent Gov. Wes Moore (D) a bill to extend the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for a year and require a new report with recommendations to ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances.” A coalition of Texas hemp industry leaders and advocacy organizations are suing state officials over recently enacted rules restricting access to hemp-derived products such as smokable THCA flower and significantly increasing business fees. A new report from the Canadian federal government shows that marijuana sales are increasing as alcohol purchases are on the decline—signaling an ongoing shift in consumer preferences. “The decline in alcohol earnings in 2024/2025 was the largest annual decrease since Statistics Canada began tracking this series in 2004/2005.” / FEDERAL The Department of Justice is declining to prosecute 45 percent more drug cases than the average of the prior three administrations as the Trump administration prioritizes immigration cases. / STATES Pennsylvania’s Senate majority leader said that when it comes to marijuana legalization, “the federal government needs to provide consistent policy on, rather than states engaging in piecemeal approaches that do not comport with current federal law.” The Oklahoma House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee approved a Senate-passed bill aimed at addressing abandoned medical cannabis grow sites. A Nebraska withdrew his bill to provide protections for doctors who recommend medical cannabis after he said it was “hijacked” by other lawmakers who added amendments including one to prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender minors. North Carolina lawmakers criticized a state commission’s recommendation to legalize marijuana. New York regulators will host a listening session on marijuana rules on Tuesday. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / SCIENCE & HEALTH A review concluded that “cannabinoid-based interventions hold promise for preserving neural circuits and modulating cognitive function in” Parkinson’s disease. A study of Colombian medicine, nursing and physiotherapy students found that “attitudes toward the medical use of cannabis were predominantly favorable: 75% supported expanded legalization and 89% endorsed academic training.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Boston Globe editorial board is cheering the advancement of Massachusetts legislation to overhaul the state’s cannabis regulations. / BUSINESS Grown Rogue International Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $8.8 million and a net loss of $2.1 million. WM Technology, Inc. is voluntarily delisting from the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. and NuProject are partnering on a business readiness program designed to support small businesses within the cannabis industry. / CULTURE Snoop Dogg’s Death Row Records is partnering with Sensi Seeds to bring new strains to the U.S. market. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Cannabis sales are rising as alcohol declines (Newsletter: April 9, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Massachusetts House lawmakers have unanimously passed a bill to double the legal marijuana possession limit for adults and revise the regulatory framework for the state’s adult-use cannabis market. The House of Representatives approved the legislation in a vote of 155-0 on Wednesday. If the Senate follows suit, which is expected this week, the proposal would head to the desk of Gov. Maura Healey (D), who could then sign or veto it, allow it to become law without her signature or propose amendments for lawmakers to consider. A bicameral conference committee had spent months working out provisions of the legislation after both chambers passed differing versions last year, and the panel approved a compromise approach on Monday. “The conference committee report before you lays out a great roadmap for cannabis regulatory structure in the commonwealth into the future,” Rep. Daniel M. Donahue (D), who co-chaired the bicameral panel, said on the House floor ahead of the vote. The changes to the state’s cannabis regulatory structure will “create better accountability, better transparency and greater efficiencies in overseeing our cannabis industry,” he said. “We also worked on some massive regulatory changes to the industry. I think some of these regulatory changes have been a long time coming, and that’s something that we should be proud of that we’re undertaking to support our businesses.” Donahue and Sen. Adam Gómez (D), who co-chaired the conference committee, said in a joint statement earlier this week that the agreement “charts a more promising path forward for cannabis regulation in our commonwealth.” “The bill creates new opportunities for small businesses to grow, while providing those historically harmed by marijuana laws with temporary, exclusive access to those opportunities,” the lawmakers, who also serve as co-chairs of the legislature’s Joint Cannabis Policy Committee, said. “This bill will allow them to realize their capital and pursue innovative models such as employee-owned businesses.” Among the proposed revisions to the state’s cannabis law is a section that would increase the personal possession limit for marijuana from one to two ounces. Colorado enacted the same reform in 2021 after that state’s cannabis market matured. H.5350 would also reduce the size and revise the organization of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), while also updating limits on marijuana business licensing. Under both chambers’ versions of the bill, CCC would be comprised of three members rather than the current five. The conference committee report adopts provisions from the House measure that would allow the governor to make all appointments, rather than the Senate approach to give one of the appointments to the attorney general. Under current law, the treasurer also plays a role in appointing commission members, but that will no longer be the case if the legislation is enacted. The proposal requires that one member of CCC to have a background in social justice, while the other two commissioners need to have backgrounds in public health, public safety, social justice, consumer regulations or the production and distribution of cannabis. The bill will also increase the amount of licenses that a single entity can possess from three to six, while additionally raising from 10 percent to 20 percent the threshold of much equity in a business is considered ownership for the purpose of counting toward the cap on licenses. It also removes a current requirement that medical cannabis operators be vertically integrated to simultaneously cultivate, manufacture and sell marijuana. It additionally gives regulators the ability to allow dispensaries to advertise sales, discounts and customer loyalty programs inside of retail locations and by opt-in email, and it specifies that marijuana delivery operators can deliver to any municipality unless local officials proactively prohibit cannabis businesses and opt out of delivery. The measure also creates a new portal for reporting illegal conduct and directs regulators to create a list of “delinquent” cannabis businesses that have not paid their debts to other operators for more than 60 days and prevents others from doing business with those on the delinquent list until debts are paid off. The legislation additionally requires regulators to study and report on hemp-derived products, the public health impacts of cannabis, tax policy and workplace safety standards. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — The cannabis regulation bill’s passage comes as marijuana businesses in the state have filed a lawsuit aiming to block an initiative to roll back the state’s voter-approved legalization law from reaching the November ballot. If passed, the state wouldn’t revert back to blanket prohibition; rather, it would repeal the commercial recreational sales and personal home cultivation components of the law while still allowing adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of cannabis for personal use. Possession of more than one ounce but less than two ounces would be effectively decriminalized, with violators subject to a $100 fine. Adults could also continue to gift cannabis between each other without remuneration. Medical marijuana sales would remain legal. The measure is currently before the legislature after supporters turned in an initial batch of signatures last year, and lawmakers have until May 5 to act on the proposal. If they choose not to enact it legislatively, the campaign would need to go through another round of petitioning and get at least 12,429 certified signatures by July 1 to make the November ballot. Proponents faced skeptical questioning from lawmakers at a hearing of the Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions last month, with several raising concerns about the motivations behind the anti-marijuana measure and its implications for consumers and businesses. A recent Bay State Poll from the University of Hampshire’s States of Opinion Project found that a majority of Massachusetts adults oppose the marijuana sales and cultivation repeal initiative. Meanwhile, in November, the legislature’s Joint Cannabis Policy Committee advanced a bill that would require a study into legal barriers facing first responders who wish to use marijuana in compliance with state law. Regulators would also need to look into the efficacy of marijuana in the treatment of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They would additionally examine laws and policies for cannabis use by police officers and first responders in other jurisdictions and “any other topics the commission deems relevant.” The bill was reported out as lawmakers in a different committee approved separate legislation to provide employment protections for people who use marijuana. Another panel advanced a similar cannabis employment protections bill in September. Meanwhile, the head of Massachusetts’s marijuana regulatory agency recently suggested that the measure to effectively recriminalize recreational cannabis sales could imperil tax revenue that’s being used to support substance misuse treatment efforts and other public programs. To that point, Massachusetts recently reached another marijuana milestone, with officials announcing in February that the state has surpassed $9 billion in adult-use cannabis purchases since the market launched in 2018. A report from the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) found that legalization is achieving one of its primary goals: disrupting illicit cannabis sales as adults transition to the regulated market. It shows that among adults who reported past-year marijuana use, an overwhelming 84 percent said they obtained their cannabis from a licensed source. Massachusetts lawmakers also recently assembled a bicameral conference committee to reach a deal on a bill that would double the legal marijuana possession limit for adults and revise the regulatory framework for the state’s adult-use cannabis market. In December, state regulators also finalized rules for marijuana social consumption lounges. CCC recently launched an online platform aimed at helping people find jobs, workplace training and networking opportunities in the state’s legal cannabis industry. Separately, lawmakers are also advancing legislation to establish pilot programs for the regulated therapeutic use of psychedelics. The post Massachusetts Lawmakers Unanimously Pass Bill To Double Marijuana Possession Limit And Restructure Cannabis Commission appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Virginia’s governor has signed a pair of bills that will legalize a form of psilocybin under state law if and when the psychedelic is approved by federal officials. “Upon approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a formulation of psilocybin designed to be administered by a health care professional in a health care setting, the Board of Pharmacy shall reschedule such formulation of psilocybin consistent with federal scheduling changes and procedures” under state law, the legislation signed on Monday by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) says. Under HB 1347 from Del. Laura Jane Cohen (D) and SB 379 from Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D), the state action would need to occur at the board’s “next quarterly meeting following the expiration of 30 days from publication in the Federal Register of a final or interim final order or rule designating any formulation of psilocybin that has been approved by the FDA as a controlled substance.” At the federal level, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said recently that the Trump administration is “very anxious” to create a pathway for access to psychedelics therapy and that top officials across federal agencies want to “get it out to the public as quickly as possible.” In an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience in February, Kennedy said he’s confident “we’re going to get it done,” with plans to develop and finalize rules that would enable patients with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression to access psychedelic substances like psilocybin and MDMA in a “very controlled setting.” “Everybody in my agency…is very anxious to get a rule out there that will allow these kind of studies and will allow access under therapeutic settings, particularly [for] the military soldiers who have suffered these injuries to get access to these products,” the HHS secretary said. “We’re working through that process now. We’re all working on it and trying to make it happen.” “I think that we’re going to get it done,” he said. Last June, Kennedy said his agency is “absolutely committed” to expanding research on the benefits of psychedelic therapy and, alongside of the head of FDA, is aiming to provide legal access to such substances for military veterans “within 12 months.” In Virginia, meanwhile, Spanberger’s approval of the psychedelics reform comes as she faces a Monday deadline to take action on a number of cannabis-related bills. Those include measures to legalize recreational cannabis sales, provide resentencing relief for people with past convictions, protect the parental rights of consumers, allow patients to access medical marijuana in hospitals, change delivery and labeling rules and provide for enforcement against illegal sales of cannabis products. In anticipation of the launch of recreational marijuana sales, which Spanberger endorsed during her election campaign last year, Virginia’s government jobs site was recently updated with a list featuring nearly a dozen openings for cannabis regulatory positions. Image courtesy of CostaPPR. The post Virginia Governor Signs Bills To Automatically Legalize Psilocybin Following Federal Approval Of The Psychedelic appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Marijuana sales are increasing as purchases of alcohol are declining, according to a new federal report from the Canadian government. Retailers in the country sold C$5.5 billion worth of legal recreational cannabis products in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Statistics Canada reported, representing a 6.1 percent increase from the previous annual period. Meanwhile, alcohol purchases were down 1.6 percent year over year, a dip that occurred despite a 1.6 increase in retail alcohol prices. The resulting decline in government revenue “was the largest annual decrease since Statistics Canada began tracking this series in 2004/2005,” the federal agency said. While the C$25.8 billion worth of alcoholic beverages sold in the fiscal year still outpaces marijuana’s total, the two data points represent a trend where consumers are switching away from beer, wine and liquor toward cannabis, which is increasingly viewed as a safer alternative. Even as marijuana sales in Canada increased in the last fiscal year, growth slowed, however, from the 11.6 percent increase in 2023-2024 and the 15.8 percent bump from 2022-2023. Still, the overall rise in cannabis purchase totals came even as prices dropped 1.1 percent over the last year. New data on the control and sale of alcoholic beverages and cannabis in Canada are now available for the period of April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025: https://t.co/EQgVJ7Cdx6 pic.twitter.com/2MaSY1DWjG — Statistics Canada (@StatCan_eng) March 5, 2026 Within the cannabis sector, inhaled extracts were the fastest growing product category in the most recent year, the government report, which was noted earlier by ICBC, said. “The market share of inhaled extracts continued to increase in 2024/2025, up to almost one-third of total sales (31.1%),” it said. “Solid cannabis edibles (-2.2%) was the lone cannabis category with a sales decline in 2024/2025.” Overall, cannabis sales during the fiscal year were equivalent to C$167 per person of legal age to consume marijuana. A separate recent study funded by the Canadian government found that alcohol and tobacco cause far more harms to people who consume them, and to society overall, than marijuana does. The findings about relative harms of different substances may help explain why alcohol consumption has been gradually declining over recent years, and why multiple surveys and studies have indicated that more adults are opting for marijuana. For example, recent polling shows that younger Americans are increasingly using cannabis-infused beverages as a substitute for alcohol—with one in three millennials and Gen Z workers choosing THC drinks over booze for after-work activities like happy hours. Another survey released last October found that a majority of Americans believe marijuana represents a “healthier option” than alcohol. And most also expect cannabis to be legal in all 50 states within the next five years. Smoking marijuana is also associated with “significantly” reduced rates of alcohol consumption, according to a recent federally funded study that involved adults smoking joints in a makeshift bar. A study published in 2024 that looked at adults who drink cannabis-infused beverages found more evidence of a “substitution effect,” with a significant majority of participants reporting reduced alcohol use after incorporating cannabinoid drinks into their routines. Meanwhile, as the Trump administration considers moving marijuana out of Schedule I, the most restrictive category under U.S. federal law, another recent study concluded that cannabis isn’t as dangerous as its current classification would suggest. The post Marijuana Sales Are Rising And Alcohol Is On The Decline As Consumer Preferences Evolve, Government Data In Canada Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A coalition of Texas hemp industry leaders and advocacy organizations are suing state officials over recently enacted rules restricting access to hemp-derived products such as smokable THCA flower. The lawsuit, brought by the Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC), Hemp Industry & Farmers of America (HIFA) and several businesses, alleges that the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) illegally bypassed lawmakers to restrict the sale and manufacture of consumable hemp products. The dispute centers on how hemp is defined. Under state law as approved by the legislature and governor in 2019, the suit says, cannabis products are legal if they contain a delta-9 THC concentration of not more than 0.3 percent. But regulators at DSHS and HHSC recently adopted a “total delta-9 THC” limit using a post-decarboxylation formula that includes tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) in the calculation. “These Texas officials and state agencies are clearly attempting to create new law in direct contradiction to what the Texas legislature intended,” David Sergi, a lawyer leading the case, said in a press release. “The Texas hemp business community is not challenging rules related to age verification or consumer protections. They wholeheartedly support those regulations, as they fall within the agency’s authority,” he said. “We are seeking to halt rules that would effectively end the in-state production of hemp and the sale of hemp products—items the Legislature chose not to ban during recent legislative and special sessions.” THBC has filed a lawsuit to challenge rules that threaten compliant businesses and overstep legal authority. These rules don’t just tighten regulation–they rewrite the law. This is about more than hemp. It’s about accountability, fair regulation & protecting Texas business. pic.twitter.com/yxP9jNhTXO — Texas Hemp Business Council (@TexasHempBiz) April 8, 2026 Texas lawmakers did pass legislation to severely restrict hemp products in the 2025 legislation, but it was vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and not enacted into law. The hemp industry lawsuit, which also lists Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) as a defendant, additionally challenges large increases in business licensing fees that regulators adopted. Under the new rules, the cost for a manufacturer license increased from $250 to $10,000 per facility, while the fee for retailer registration jumped from $150 to $5,000 per location. “These measures do not implement the Legislature’s policy choices; they replace them,” the complaint says. “And they do so against the backdrop of a constitutional lawmaking process that ran its full course—from legislative passage of Senate Bill 3 through gubernatorial veto, through two failed special sessions—and produced an unambiguous result: no new law. Texas law does not permit agencies to override that result through rulemaking.” “Texas has long promoted itself as a national leader in economic growth and regulatory stability. It is a state committed to fostering innovation, supporting lawful enterprise, and maintaining a predictable legal environment in which businesses can operate and invest,” it says. “Consistent with that approach, Texas has chosen to permit and regulate the manufacture, distribution, and sale of consumable hemp products (“CHPs”) through a comprehensive statutory framework enacted by the Legislature in 2019. “Plaintiffs support that framework and the State’s interest in ensuring that CHPs are produced and sold safely, responsibly, and in compliance with law,” the suit says. The plaintiffs are asking the District Court of Travis County to grant an immediate temporary restraining order to block enforcement of the news rules, as well as temporary and permanent injunctive relief. Separately, Texas officials recently conditionally approved more new medical marijuana business licenses as part of a law that’s being implemented to significantly expand the state’s cannabis program. Last month, Texas voters approved a marijuana legalization question that appeared on the state’s Democratic primary ballot. A statewide poll released in February found that Texas voters don’t like how state leaders and lawmakers have handled marijuana and THC policy issues. In the survey, a plurality of voters (40 percent) said they disapprove of how their elected officials have approached the issue, according to the survey. Just 29 percent said they approve of how cannabis issues have been handled, while 31 percent said they didn’t have an opinion one way or another. A separate poll released last year found that a plurality of Texas voters want the state’s marijuana laws to be made “less strict.” And among the legislative items lawmakers considered during recent special sessions, voters say a proposal to address hemp regulations was among the least important. Meanwhile, the lieutenant governor and House speaker announced recently that the state will proceed with its own ibogaine research program after no drug companies submitted proposals meeting requirements and standards to receive state funds to begin clinical trials with the psychedelic under a recently enacted law. Read the new Texas hemp lawsuit below: The post Texas Hemp Businesses Sue State Officials Over New Rules Banning Products Like Smokable THCA Flower appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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There’s been a new breakthrough in the development of a marijuana breathalyzer, with a study partly funded by the Justice Department showing a potential pathway for a “portable, low cost” device that looks like an inhaler for asthma, built with 3-D printed material that can detect delta-9 THC without secondary lab analysis. The study, led by Emanuele Alves at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), detailed the results of experiments meant to address the current lack of a roadside impairment test for THC similar to those utilized by law enforcement for people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. With more states legalizing cannabis, there’s particular “need for rapid, reliable and low-cost roadside tools,” it says. By using 3-D printed cartridges with a “Fast Blue” dye and gelatin system, the colorimetric experiments established “foundational data” that the device can be used to detect delta-9 THC, CBD and CBN “across multiple matrix systems.” The tool was able to detect 10-100 nanograms of the cannabinoids, which could be differentiated using color-space modeling. Specifically, the tests revealed “two primary clusters,” with evidence that delta-9 THC and CBN analytes can be distinguished from CBD analytes based on color hue. “Overall, this project established foundational data supporting the feasibility of a portable, low-cost, colorimetric tool for detecting cannabinoids using 3D-printed cartridges and readily accessible reagents,” the study says. “While additional validation and field-oriented development are needed, these findings provide a proof-of-concept framework for future roadside or point-of-collection testing technologies.” The Justice Department provided funding for the study and posted the results on the Office of Justice Programs’s National Criminal Justice Reference Service website last month, but the author’s findings “do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies” of the agency, it says. “The development of a breathalyzer for the early detection of marijuana’s recent use is an important matter considering the current legal status of marijuana-based products around the country,” VCU’s Alves said. “To achieve this goal, our initial approach was to develop a portable cartridge that would be able to react with cannabinoids selectively to detect THC use, but not CBD.” “Most THC breathalyzers in the market are merely collection devices that will need further laboratory analysis,” he continued. “Considering the working system of an alcohol breathalyzer, using a redox reaction would be risky for the THC approach as it would not be selective for the specific cannabinoids and it would give a positive result to any molecule capable of oxidizing the reagent.” Because of the “excellent results” of the experiment in the “establishment of the foundational chemical profile needed for the development of a THC breathalyzer,” the study says, a patent application has been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with a proposed design for a future prototype. There are three main components to the device, which the author said looks similar to inhalers for people with asthma. There’s a mouthpiece for exhaled air to be collected, a cartridge fixed to the end of the instrument where delta-9 THC particles “collide and react” and a detection system where the colorimetric reaction occurs and forms a dark red color if it’s positive for the intoxicating cannabinoid. “The consequences and legal penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol are well publicized,” the study concludes. “However, what the general population ignores is the illegality of DUI of marijuana, in combination or not with other drugs.” “With the legalization of cannabis consumption in many parts of the USA, this lack of information from the general population has increased the risk of accidents and deaths caused by drivers intoxicated with marijuana. Due to the difficult and costly current methods available for the detection of marijuana in samples, it is vital to create and improve technologies for its detection in a fast, reliable, and in situ method for public safety and awareness.” “The outcome of this project is the fundamental chemical foundation and the initial prototype for the development of a ∆9-THC breathalyzer,” the author said. “The device developed in this project is a portable tool to increase safety on the roads and for ∆9-THC use monitoring.” Federal agencies outside of DOJ have also recognized the need for the THC detection technology. For example, last year the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the U.S. Department of Commerce planned a workshop aimed at facilitating “an open and candid discussion” about the development and implementation of device to test a person’s breath for marijuana impairment. In 2023, a federally funded report by researchers at NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder concluded that evidence does “not support the idea that detecting THC in breath as a single measurement could reliably indicate recent cannabis use.” A DOJ researcher in 2024, meanwhile, cast doubt on whether a person’s THC levels are even a reliable indicator of impairment, saying states may need to “get away from that idea.” Scott questioned the efficacy of setting “per se” THC limits for driving that some states have enacted, making it so a person can be charged with driving while impaired based on the concentration of cannabis components in their system. Ultimately, there may not be a way to assess impairment from THC like we do for alcohol, she said. One complication is that “if you have chronic users versus infrequent users, they have very different concentrations correlated to different effects,” Scott said. “So the same effect level, if you will, will be correlated with a very different concentration of THC in the blood of a chronic user versus an infrequent user.” That issue was also examined in a federally funded study in 2024 that identified two different methods of more accurately testing for recent THC use that accounts for the fact that metabolites of the cannabinoid can stay present in a person’s system for weeks or months after consumption. Also that year, researchers behind a federally funded study said they’d developed new procedures to enhance the selectivity of a popular forensic testing method, allowing better detection of delta-9 THC and its metabolites in blood. A 2023 congressional report for a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) bill said that the House Appropriations Committee “continues to support the development of an objective standard to measure marijuana impairment and a related field sobriety test to ensure highway safety.” A study published in 2019 concluded that those who drive at the legal THC limit—which is typically between two to five nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood—were not statistically more likely to be involved in an accident compared to people who haven’t used marijuana. Separately, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in 2019 determined that while “marijuana consumption can affect a person’s response times and motor performance … studies of the impact of marijuana consumption on a driver’s risk of being involved in a crash have produced conflicting results, with some studies finding little or no increased risk of a crash from marijuana usage.” Another study from 2022 found that smoking CBD-rich marijuana had “no significant impact” on driving ability, despite the fact that all study participants exceeded the per se limit for THC in their blood. In a separate report last year, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said there’s “relatively little research” backing the idea that THC concentration in the blood can be used to determine impairment, again calling into question laws in several states that set “per se” limits for cannabinoid metabolites. “Several states have determined legal per se definitions of cannabis impairment, but relatively little research supports their relationship to crash risk,” that report said. “Unlike the research consensus that establishes a clear correlation between [blood alcohol content] and crash risk, drug concentration in blood does not correlate to driving impairment.” Congressional lawmakers at hearings last year also heard from representatives of the trucking industry, who called for wider use of hair-follicle testing in the industry. The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), meanwhile, recommended better education for drivers. “At time when conversations lean towards the potential reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III narcotic, demonstrating that this problem is likely to only grow,” said a representative for Truckload Carriers Association, “our industry in its entirety is unable to properly employ the proper test to identify habitual users and enter them into a substance abuse program and begin the return-of-duty procedures.” The transportation industry also advised Congress in January that if marijuana is federally rescheduled, businesses want assurances that they won’t have to forgo zero-tolerance drug policies for drivers—while stressing that a key problem for the sector is a lack of technology to detect impaired driving. The issue of marijuana-impaired driving also arose at another recent congressional hearing, with a representative of the Governors Highway Safety Association emphasizing the importance of roadside drug testing as a tool to help combat deadly car crashes. Last year, meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a trucker who sued a cannabis company after he was fired over a positive THC test that he said was caused by consuming a hemp-derived CBD product. Separately, a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) official recently downplayed criticism from the CEO of a drug-testing company that more widespread use of saliva-based drug testing “means truckers who use cannabis will be able to do so with near impunity, as long as they avoid a drug test for a couple of days.” “When a donor receives a request for collection, the donor will not know if the test will be an oral fluid or urine collection until they arrive at the collection facility for a federal agency,” the unidentified SAMHSA official said in response. Not knowing whether to expect a saliva or urine test, in other words, would prevent drivers simply stopping marijuana use a few days before a saliva-based test. The post Federally Funded Study Reveals Marijuana Breathalyzer Breakthrough With 3-D Printed Roadside Tool Able To Detect THC appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Maryland lawmakers have sent the governor a bill to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027, charging it with developing updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel substances and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. The House of Delegates on Thursday voted 109-24 to approve a Senate-passed version of the legislation from Sen. Brian Feldman (D). The bill next heads to the desk of Gov. Wes Moore (D) as companion House psychedelics legislation from Del. Pam Guzzone (D) awaits final action in the Senate. Both chambers’ proposals are aimed at building upon a current law that created the Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances. The Senate version of the bill was amended in that chamber to add a representative of a historically black college or university (HBCU) to the task force. Guzzone recently said that she wants senators to amend her bill to also add the HBCU representative so that both versions are identical, which the Senate Finance Committee did on Tuesday. The psychedelics panel released an initial final report to state lawmakers last year, with recommendations for the phased implementation of a wide range of reforms to provide legal therapeutic access to substances such as psilocybin. Members of the task force have already advised that it was ultimately recommending a “multi-pathway framework for safe, broad, and equitable access to natural psychedelic substances, with an initial focus on psilocybin.” The psychedelics task force was formed following the governor’s signing of a pair of bills into law in 2024. The 17-person body, overseen by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), was charged with studying how to ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances” in the state. SB 336 and HB 427 would continue that work, maintaining the panel through December 31, 2027. In the interim, the task force would be required to submit an updated report to legislators with additional findings and recommendations by October 31 of this year. Beyond the extended timeline for the task force to study and develop the new report, the current law would not change under the legislation. The multi-step regulatory framework that members recommended last year “involves phased implementation of complementary elements from medical/therapeutic use and supervised adult use, to deprioritization, and to commercial sales,” the earlier report said. “This model broadly and inclusively serves the needs of Maryland’s diverse population while enabling unified safety standards, accountability, and viable economic pathways for small businesses.” The first phase of the plan would be to create an advisory board to establish safety parameters, data monitoring, practice guidelines, licensing protections, public education campaigns, training for facilitators, law enforcement and testing facilities, as well as “immediate restorative justice measures,” the report states. Under phase two, the state would implement “deprioritization measures” to mitigate the harms of criminalization, provide for supervised medical and adult-use consumption facilities, allow personal cultivation for “permitted individuals” and promote research processes. Finally, phase three would be contingent on the “demonstrated safety outcomes and provider confidence” based on the prior steps. Should those factors be satisfied, the last phase would lead to a commercial sales program for adults “who maintain an active license to use natural psychedelic substances,” coupled with an evaluation of the state’s “readiness for expanding to additional natural psychedelic substances.” “Safety and oversight measures ensure responsible and gradual expansion of access while maintaining capacity to identify and respond to emerging issues swiftly,” the report said. “This approach plans for long-term learning and improvement: starting small, utilizing built-in evaluation and accountability mechanisms from the outset, gathering real-world data, and committing to an iterative approach to policymaking.” Notably, the task force said it did not support “delaying state action pending future federal [Food and Drug Administration] approval.” “The Task Force recognizes that implementing such a comprehensive framework requires careful sequencing and coordination, with particular attention to scope of practice issues that may significantly affect the viability and safety of different pathways. However, the order of implementation must carefully consider professional regulatory frameworks and safety concerns raised by medical organizations and health care providers. The Task Force’s recommendation for simultaneous implementation of multiple pathways does not mean that all components must activate on the exact same day, but rather that Maryland should avoid the sequential approach seen in other jurisdictions where implementing one pathway causes others to ‘languish,’and/or bolster black and gray markets.” Rather, the task force said, the multi-phase approach to psychedelics reform “establishes foundational systems that support all pathways equally, followed by a coordinated launch of medical, supervised adult use, and deprioritization pathways, with commercial sales following once product safety systems are operational.” Members also said that the model envisioned could be used by other states to develop their own laws that “adapt to their own circumstances and values.”At this point, the task force is only looking at psilocybin, mescaline and DMT. While the legislature empowered members to investigate potential regulations for other psychedelic substances, they decided to take a more conservative approach in their initial work. As originally introduced, the House version of the task force legislation contained more prescriptive requirements to explore and issue recommendations on aspects of psychedelics policy such as “systems to support statewide online sales of natural psychedelic substances with home delivery” and “testing and packaging requirements for products containing natural psychedelic substances with clear and accurate labeling of potency.” That language was ultimately removed, however. The task force legislation advanced about two years after a different law took effect creating a state fund to provide “cost-free” access to psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile Maryland lawmakers are also advancing legislation to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job after hearing testimony on the unique need to give emergency service professionals the option to use cannabis as an alternative treatment for health conditions that commonly afflict the first responder community. Legislators are also considered a bill to protect the gun rights of medical marijuana patients in the state. Members of the House Judiciary Committee discussed the legislation from Del. Robin Grammer (R), who has sponsored multiple versions of the cannabis and gun rights measure over recent sessions, but they have not yet advanced to enactment. Image courtesy of CostaPPR. The post Maryland Bill To Extend Psychedelics Task Force Through 2027 Heads To Governor’s Desk appeared first on Marijuana Moment. 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