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The legislation also has provisions to protect marijuana consumers’ privacy and cannabis workers’ right to unionize. By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent A bill now heading to Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe’s (R) desk would take all intoxicating hemp products off the shelves starting November 12—including THC seltzers currently sold in bars and grocery stores—aligning state law with an upcoming federal ban. If Congress reverses course and decides to allow the sale of these products, Missouri would only permit them to be sold in licensed marijuana dispensaries. And if Congress chooses to delay the ban for a couple years, Missouri would still ban all products, except for the sale of intoxicating beverages in dispensaries. The House passed a bill sponsored by Republican state Rep. Dave Hinman of O’Fallon with a vote of 126 to 23. It passed the Senate Tuesday night and now heads to the governor for his signature or veto. The bill also includes provisions to protect marijuana consumer privacy and cannabis workers’ right to organize, which were amendments state senators added late Tuesday evening. Hinman’s legislation was one of the first bills to get House approval this year. He previously told The Independent the legislation was a priority for the state’s leadership, including the governor, attorney general and House speaker. Intoxicating hemp products with as much as 1,000 mg of THC are being sold in smoke shops—outside of Missouri’s licensed marijuana dispensaries—and they aren’t regulated by any government agency. Missouri lawmakers have failed to pass legislation regulating these products since 2023. The bill comes amidst uncertainty on where the federal government will finally land on regulations for these products. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December ordering his administration to work with Congress to develop a framework that permits full-spectrum CBD products, which have a trace amount of THC. On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rolled out an initiative that could cover $500 per year worth of hemp-derived THC of 3mg per serving and CBD products for eligible users. The products under this program would be illegal in Missouri under the bill approved Thursday. This story was first published by Missouri Independent. The post Missouri Lawmakers Pass Bill To Ban Intoxicating Hemp THC Products, Sending It To Governor appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Hawaii senators have approved 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 advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 5-0 vote 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 legislation as introduced 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.” But the panel removed that language, with Sen. Karl Rhoads (D), the chair of the committee, saying that the arguments about other substances “seem irrelevant” to the marijuana resolutions. If passed by the legislature, the resolutions will 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. Earlier this 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, a 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 is also advancing this session. The post Hawaii Senators Push Congress To Federally Legalize Marijuana And Clear Past Convictions appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

President Donald Trump is requesting that Congress continue to protect state medical marijuana programs from federal interference while also maintaining a policy that has blocked local officials in Washington, D.C. from legalizing recreational cannabis sales. In his Fiscal Year 2027 budget request sent to lawmakers on Friday, the president proposed for the first time to maintain the rider that prevents the Department of Justice from spending any money to “prevent [states] from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.” Last year and each year during his first term in office, Trump had requested that Congress delete the medical marijuana provision from annual appropriations legislation. As it appears in the president’s new budget proposal, the medical cannabis rider reads: “SEC. 528. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.” As is the case with the version most recently enacted into law, the proposed provision would continue to omit Nebraska, which has a medical cannabis law, for reasons that are unknown. President Joe Biden had consistently proposed to continue the medical cannabis rider in his budget requests—though President Barack Obama, like Trump, had sought to delete it. Congress has the final say on appropriations legislation language, however, and has not followed through on any president’s request to delete the medical marijuana protection since it was first enacted in 2014—though lawmakers have also declined to expand the protections to cover state recreational marijuana programs. After signing prior appropriations bills into law that included the medical cannabis protection in contravention of his request to delete it, Trump on three occasions during his first term issued statements that specifically said his administration “will treat this provision consistent with the President’s constitutional responsibility to faithfully execute the laws of the United States”— implying he was reserving his right to ignore the rider. Now, however, he is requesting that Congress continue the state medical cannabis protection policy, a move that comes months after the president issued an executive order directing the attorney general to complete the process of moving marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III. Meanwhile, Trump is also proposing to continue a separate provision that prevents District of Columbia officials from legalizing and regulating adult-use marijuana sales in the nation’s capital. The policy, which has been championed by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), appears in Trump’s budget request as follows: “SEC. 809. (a) None of the Federal funds contained in this Act may be used to enact or carry out any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative. (b) No funds available for obligation or expenditure by the District of Columbia government under any authority may be used to enact any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative for recreational purposes.” While Congress has continually blocked D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana sales with the annually approved rider, local officials have worked to expand access through the existing medical cannabis market by, for example, by allowing residents and even visiting tourists to self-certify without the need for doctors’ recommendations. This week, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) proposed local legislation to allow medical marijuana companies to partner with local breweries and distilleries to produce cannabis-infused, alcohol-free drinks. It is possible that moving marijuana out of Schedule I, as the administration is still considering doing, would give D.C. a workaround to the provision as it is drafted, but some observers have raised questions about the implications of the rider’s use of the term “tetrahydrocannabinols derivative,” which is not defined in federal law. The president’s budget additionally proposes to continue a rider protecting state hemp programs from federal interference. The hemp provision reads: “SEC. [737]724. None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act may be used— (1) in contravention of section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940), subtitle G of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, or section 10114 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018; or (2) to prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or use of hemp, or seeds of such plant, that is grown or cultivated in accordance with section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 or subtitle G of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, within or outside the State in which the hemp is grown or cultivated.” Finally, due to the way that presidents’ budget requests are formatted depicting proposed changes to previously enacted spending legislation, Trump’s new proposal also contains language showing the removal of provisions to redefine and recriminalize certain hemp THC products that he signed into law last year and that are set to take effect this November. Because that legislation changed federal law on an ongoing basis, it does not need to be reenacted annually in the way that the policy riders do—so Trump’s budget deletes the provisions from being duplicatively included in FY2027 appropriations legislation. The president’s budget request now heads to Congress, where lawmakers will craft a series of spending bills to actually fund the government with provisions that may differ from the president’s proposals. The post Trump Proposes To Keep Protecting State Medical Marijuana Laws From Federal Interference While Blocking DC From Legalizing Recreational Sales appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Federal officials have finalized a rule that will allow coverage of some hemp products as specialized, non-primarily health-related benefits through Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. In a filing set to be published in the Federal Register on Monday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is clarifying that certain cannabis products that are legal under both state and federal laws are eligible to be reimbursed under the Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) program. Under a previous update to the program adopted in April 2025, CMS determined that all cannabis products are not eligible for coverage under certain health plans for chronically ill patients. But the new rule only prohibits coverage of “cannabis products that are illegal under applicable State or Federal law.” The development is separate from a program CMS launched this week to allow Medicare coverage of hemp-derived CBD and THC products that meet certain requirements, with this one instead focusing on allowing MA organizations to offer hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder and hemp seed oil as covered benefits. Coverage under new policy is contingent on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) determination that the products are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and that they meet a standard on there being a “reasonable expectation of improving or maintaining the health or overall function” for SSBCI benefits. “For example, there is evidence that hemp seed protein powder may offer nutritional benefits,” CMS said. The agency’s filing notes that under the 2018 Farm Bill signed by President Donald Trump during his first term, hemp products with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis are legal under federal law but that a more recently approved change that’s set to take effect this November will recriminalize any products with more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. “Therefore, this regulation will allow MA organizations to offer hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil, consistent with FDA’s review of the GRAS notices, as SSBCI to qualifying enrollees, to the extent otherwise appropriate as SSBCI and under federal and applicable state law. Additionally, at the time of this rulemaking, any cannabis product with a delta-9 THC content above the 0.3 percent threshold is still considered marijuana, remains a Schedule I controlled substance, and therefore is illegal under federal law and would be subject to CMS’s prohibition. Barring subsequent legal changes, any product that does not comply with the amended definition of hemp after the November 12th, 2026 effective date will be a Schedule I controlled substance and therefore will be illegal under federal law and subject to CMS’s prohibition.” The new rule, which was first proposed in November and is now being finalized, also clarifies that state laws that are more strict than federal law could narrow what types of products are eligible for coverage by MA organizations in their jurisdictions. “The amended language also clarifies that MA organizations remain prohibited from covering any cannabis product, including any hemp-derived cannabis product, that is illegal under state law within their service area regardless of the product’s federal legal status,” it says. The filing also contemplates the possible expansion of the types of products that could be able to be covered in the future. “At the time of this rulemaking, there are only three products that are permissible under applicable state and federal law and therefore may be covered as SSBCI. Those products are hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil,” it says. “However, should additional products become allowable as the law continues to evolve, this regulation would allow MA plans in a subsequent plan year the option to increase their offerings without requiring additional rulemaking from CMS.” “Therefore, should other cannabis-derived products become allowable as SSBCI due to changes in state or federal law, MA plans must wait until their next bid submission for the following plan year to add these items to their list of covered SSBCI,” the agency noted. CMS also responded to a public comment about the potential impact of federal marijuana rescheduling under a still-ongoing process that Trump directed to be completed “in the most expeditious manner” in December. “Should cannabis be rescheduled to Schedule III, this would change its status under the Controlled Substance Act,” CMS said. “However, rescheduling alone would not automatically make cannabis products allowable SSBCI unless the relevant products also meet other applicable State and Federal laws, including the” Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The separate CMS hemp product coverage initiative rolled out this week is being challenged in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of anti-marijuana organizations. A federal judge denied their motion for a temporary restraining order to halt it from launching, but scheduled a hearing for April 20 on their separate request for a preliminary injunction. Meanwhile, the White House Office of Management and Budget is holding a series of meetings this week and next week about an FDA CBD products enforcement policy. Also this week, FDA issued guidance making clear that it does not intend to interfere with implementation of the Medicare hemp-derived products coverage plan. The post Feds Finalize New Rule Allowing Some Hemp Products As Medicare Advantage Benefits appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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A governor-appointed cannabis commission in North Carolina has issued an interim report after holding months of meetings focused on the issue. The group is recommending that the state move away from a criminalization-based approach to cannabis and toward a system of “robust” regulations that provide for adults’ legal access to THC products. The North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis, which Gov. Josh Stein (D) convened last year, says in the new document approved on Thursday that the current “absence of regulation for North Carolina’s intoxicating cannabis market raises numerous concerns,” noting that hemp products are readily available yet largely unregulated and that marijuana remains prohibited altogether in the state, even for medical use. “North Carolina’s intoxicating cannabis market currently exists in a dangerous policy gap that is neither true prohibition nor meaningful regulation.” “Compared to regulated marijuana frameworks in other states, this environment presents identifiable risks,” the report says. “While some operators voluntarily implement consumer protection protocols, these safeguards are not required under state law.” Stein, for his part, thanked the group for its “expertise, hard work, and thoughtful deliberation” in a press release and reiterated his support for legalizing marijuana. “Last year, I charged this group with developing a comprehensive solution to the unregulated sale of cannabis that is grounded in public health and public safety, with a special focus on keeping young people safe,” the governor said. “This report provides the General Assembly with guidance and makes clear that a well-regulated market, including both oversight and enforcement authority, is a safer market for our state.” “Our state’s unregulated cannabis market today is the Wild West and is crying for order,” he said. “Let’s get this right. Let’s protect our kids and create a safe, legal, and well-regulated market for adults.” The council’s report notes that North Carolina is “at a pivotal moment,” given that the state is one of only 10 that does not allow legal and regulated marijuana access for either recreational or medical use. “In the absence of a recognized, regulated marijuana market, North Carolina has one of the largest illicit marijuana markets in the United States, with an estimated $3 billion spent on illegal marijuana in 2022, ranking second in the nation. Additionally, North Carolina’s current market for intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products is robust. These products have proliferated across the state through retail storefronts, vape shops, convenience stores, and online vendors. Intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products, often marketed as legal alternatives to marijuana, are being sold in an environment without any uniform standards for manufacturing, testing, labeling, packaging, or age verification, and absent any enforcement or oversight authority.” Under the prohibition approach that the state currently has, the report notes that there is an absence of age restrictions, packaging rules, purchase limits, licensing requirements, zoning guidelines and supply chain oversight. There is also a lack of tax revenue that can be used to address any health and safety concerns associated with marijuana use and commerce. Looking ahead, the interim report recommends that rather than construct separate frameworks for hemp and marijuana, the state should enact molecule-based regulation focused on THC itself, saying that “the plant source is irrelevant and should not drive different treatment when the intoxicating compound is the same.” It also suggests that when choosing how to regulate THC and cannabis, North Carolina should enact “an adult access market with protections for medical consumers.” The panel, however, “does not view a medical-only program as an effective interim step or compromise solution,” and the state should proceed to adult-use access immediately while considering the “availability of medical-consumer protections” as “an important component of a broader regulatory structure.” “Under this framework, adults would be permitted to legally purchase, possess, and use cannabis through state-licensed retail outlets. An adult-use market provides the state with a full regulatory framework and the tools necessary to manage it responsibly. The recommended system also incorporates rigorous medical-grade safeguards, including low-THC product options, comprehensive testing standards, expanded product warnings, recall authority, and access to qualified medical consultation, among others. Importantly, this model would provide the most robust regulatory framework for the state, providing the oversight tools necessary to manage the industry responsibly while generating state revenue. It allows for structured licensing fees and tax revenue to support oversight, the development of clear and enforceable rules, sustained public health messaging grounded in prevention and education, and dedicated resources for compliance and enforcement. This recommendation provides a structure to reign in the rampant hemp market that exists today, while providing necessary guardrails for both public safety and public health.” “Of all possible regulation models, an adult access model would bring the most revenue to the state, which could support public health education campaigns and enforcement efforts,” the advisory council recommended. The report also noted problems that could be caused by the fact that the state is lagging behind its neighbors that are moving ahead with enacting marijuana policy reforms. “If surrounding states adopt regulated cannabis programs while North Carolina does not, the state could effectively become a prohibition jurisdiction situated among regulated markets, a dynamic that may complicate enforcement and influence the flow of products and consumers across state lines,” the report said. Because the council only has the ability to recommend policies and not to actually enact them, members put the onus on state lawmakers to do so. “Ultimately, the authority to bring order to the unregulated, unsafe cannabis market rests with the General Assembly,” the report notes. “The question before policymakers—and this Council—is not whether intoxicating cannabinoid products will exist in the marketplace in North Carolina. They already do. Rather, the question is whether the General Assembly will allow intoxicating products to continue to be sold without enforceable state standards, or whether it will establish a regulatory system designed to protect public health and public safety.” The advisory council was formed after Stein issued an executive order last year, and is comprised of legislators, law enforcement officials, agriculture industry stakeholders, health experts, tribal representatives, advocates and others charged with exploring possible regulatory models for adult-use marijuana and hemp. The governor’s order said there’s a need for reform because the “current lack of regulation, including age, potency, and purity limitations, poses a threat to all North Carolinians, particularly our youth.” And “rather than allowing this unsafe and unregulated market to continue, smart and balanced regulation presents an opportunity not only to protect the health and well-being of our people, but also to generate revenue that can benefit our state.” Members are tasked with developing and submitting initial recommendations on a “comprehensive cannabis policy, including any proposed legislation,” with a final report due by December 31 of this year. The interim report approved this week says that the final document “will incorporate continued stakeholder engagement, data analysis, and policy development and will present a research-based and data-driven comprehensive framework intended to bring structure, accountability, and public confidence to a future North Carolina cannabis marketplace.” In the meantime, the council is continuing its work with new subcommittees focused on regulatory structure, enforcement and criminal justice reform and revenue and federal compliance. During his time as the state’s attorney general, Stein led a separate task force under then-Gov. Roy Cooper (D) that examined racial injustice issues and ultimately recommended decriminalizing marijuana and studying broader legalization in response to racially disparate enforcement trends. In recent legislative sessions, multiple limited medical marijuana legalization bills advanced through the Senate, only to stall out in the House. Meanwhile, a tribe in North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, launched the state’s first marijuana dispensary in 2024—despite the protests of certain Republican congressional lawmakers. Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post North Carolina Governor Steps Up Push For Marijuana Legalization As State Commission Issues New Report appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

FBI agents received specific guidance prohibiting them investing in marijuana companies—but not necessarily those that make hemp or CBD products—according to a 2022 memo that the agency released last week for reasons that are unclear. The allowance for hemp investments and work contains an exception blocking involvement with companies whose packaging “promotes marijuana”—including any depiction of a cannabis leaf, however. The now-unclassified policy directive also details restrictions for agents who work or volunteer outside their roles at FBI, stipulating that they could not take employment opportunities “with any company cultivating, processing, or distributing marijuana, regardless of the legal status of marijuana under local, state, tribal or foreign law.” For both the investment and employment guidance, there are carve-outs—with certain caveats—for products and businesses that deal with hemp or the non-intoxicating cannabinoid CBD, which were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill during President Donald Trump’s first term. The document states that FBI workers can “invest, without restriction, in companies that maintain a financial interest in the CBD industry” unless that interest involves CBD products containing more than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight, which is how federal law currently distinguishes between illegal marijuana and legal hemp. Agents also can’t invest in CBD businesses or products that promote marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. “The determination of whether or not a product promotes marijuana depends on various circumstances, but may be indicated by the product (or advertising for the product) displaying words, images, or associations with marijuana. For example, a product depicting a marijuana leaf on its label is considered promotion of marijuana, and would therefore be impermissible. Employees must consult their [chief division counsel] or the [Office of Integrity and Compliance] to determine whether the company is promoting marijuana.” Under the policy directive, FBI workers are also “prohibited from engaging in outside employment (or any other outside activity [such as volunteering]) with any company cultivating, processing, or distributing marijuana, regardless of the legal status of marijuana under local, state, tribal, or foreign law.” FBI treats marijuana differently from hemp-derived CBD given its legalization under federal law. Workers who make a request to work or volunteer at a business associated with the manufacturing or distribution of cannabidiol products would need to use a specific reporting tool to obtain approval. “Approving authorities must consider such requests on a case-by-case basis and must deny any request to engage in outside employment (or an outside activity) that could create an appearance of violating the law or violating ethical standards, or is otherwise incompatible with maintaining a security clearance. For example, an FBI employee’s request to work for or volunteer with a company producing a drink that contains 0.3 percent or less CBD, but depicts a marijuana leaf on the label, must be denied due to the appearance of promoting illegal drug use.” That component of the directive appears to include a key error by referencing drinks containing up to 0.3 percent of CBD. That trace percentage is typically associated with THC, not CBD, when talking about federal hemp and marijuana policy. Hemp drinks with more than 0.3 percent CBD would typically be considered federally legal, unless they also happened to contain more than 0.3 percent THC. Marijuana Moment reached out to FBI for comment, but a representative was not immediately available. FBI also said in the guidance that workers’ requests to “work at a grocery store that sells products containing CBD (amongst other unrelated products) may be approved if all other applicable criteria” are met. Workers who violate the policy “may be subject to disciplinary or administrative action, including suspension or revocation of security clearance,” the agency said. Again, it’s unclear why FBI declassified this guidance at this point in time, or whether it remains in effect as written. But it’s possible it may need to be revisited in the near future given that the federal definition of hemp and its derivatives are set to become significantly more restrictive, effectively banning all consumable cannabinoid products, under a law Trump signed last year that takes effect in November. Also in 2022, meanwhile, FBI announced that the recent use of marijuana—and even CBD—automatically disqualified people from working at the federal agency. People interested in joining FBI must have abstained from consuming cannabinoids, including the non-intoxicating kind, for at least a year before submitting an application. That guidance didn’t include mention of another marijuana employment rule that FBI previously instituted that rendered applicants ineligible for a job at the agency if they’ve used marijuana more than 24 times after turning 18. In general, FBI’s gradual loosening of its marijuana employment policies has been interpreted as a more practical decision, rather one that necessarily reflects shifting opinions on cannabis within the agency. Then-FBI Director James Comey suggested in 2014 that he wanted to loosen the agency’s employment policies as it concerns marijuana, as potential skilled workers were being passed over due to the requirement. The post FBI Says Agents Can Invest And Work In Hemp Companies But Not Marijuana Industry, Newly Declassified Memo Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

FDA CBD memo; MA anti-marijuana initiative faces lawsuit; DC mayor’s cannabis drinks plan; TX medical marijuana licenses; VA prepares for legal sales 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 Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary issued a guidance memo saying the agency “does not intend to enforce” certain federal laws against hemp-derived CBD products covered under a new Medicare initiative if they meet specific requirements. If President Donald Trump replaces outgoing Attorney General Pam Bondi with Lee Zeldin, as he is reportedly considering, it could impact the marijuana rescheduling process—as Zeldin has a mixed record on cannabis as a former lawmaker. A coalition of Massachusetts marijuana businesses filed a lawsuit to keep a measure to roll back recreational cannabis legalization off the November ballot, claiming it violates the state Constitution. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) proposed new legislation to allow medical marijuana companies to partner with local breweries and distilleries to produce cannabis-infused drinks for sale in the nation’s capital. The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority opened applications for about a dozen new regulatory and compliance roles that will help oversee recreational marijuana sales under a legalization bill that Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) is set to act on this month. The Maryland House of Delegates passed a bill to let firefighters and rescue workers use medical cannabis off duty, with the sponsor saying first responders “should not be punished for seeking legal, medically prescribed relief.” The Texas Department of Public Safety conditionally approved three new medical cannabis business licenses as part of an expansion of patient access to marijuana under a new law passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor last year. / FEDERAL The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted a video about “using AI to combat the opioid crisis.” / STATES New York regulators approved changes to rules on cannabis showcase events as well as additional marijuana business licenses. Colorado regulators posted updated draft psychedelics rules. Pennsylvania regulators published a list of approved hemp compliance testing laboratories. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission published a post touting the fifth anniversary of the agency. Minnesota regulators sent a newsletter with updates on various cannabis issues. Utah regulators sent an update on the medical cannabis program. The Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board will meet on Friday. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / LOCAL The Minneapolis, Minnesota City Council will consider a proposal to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia on Tuesday. / INTERNATIONAL Tasmania, Australia lawmakers launched a petition calling for a formal inquiry into the state’s cannabis laws. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study’s findings “support the use of oral full-spectrum Cannabis oil as a safe and effective complementary therapy for improving pain and quality of life in dogs with” chronic osteoarthritis. A study found that “administration of up to eight doses of psilocybin in a clinical research setting appears to be safe and potentially effective for patients with” obsessive-compulsive disorder. / BUSINESS Vireo Growth Inc. enacted a management services agreement with PharmaCann Inc. allowing it to manage certain Colorado assets through the closing of an acquisition. RYTHM, Inc. announced amendments to its existing trademark and recipe license agreements with a subsidiary of Green Thumb Industries Inc. 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 How could new attorney general impact cannabis rescheduling? (Newsletter: April 3, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The mayor of Washington, D.C. is proposing to allow medical marijuana companies to partner with local breweries and distilleries to produce cannabis-infused, alcohol-free drinks for sale in the nation’s capital. Under the partnership contemplated by the Medical Cannabis Beverage Product Amendment Act of 2026 proposed by Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), alcohol companies could apply for a medical cannabis production endorsement at a cost of $500 a year to manufacture cannabis beverages, and medical marijuana companies could apply for a $1,000 annual endorsement to import cannabinoids for production. All beverages would have to be tested by a locally licensed laboratory, and there would be a six percent sales tax on the drinks. “This is an opportunity to support two local industries and to keep business in D.C.,” Bowser said in a press release. “We have fantastic local brewers and distillers in our city, we have a robust medical cannabis market, and this is a new opportunity for those two markets to collaborate and create a safe and smoke-free alternative for patients in D.C.” Breweries and distilleries would not be able to sell the cannabis beverages directly to consumers, and finished products would instead go to partnering medical marijuana manufacturers for testing and distribution. Sales would be limited to registered medical cannabis patients via dispensaries, and the drinks would not be available for purchase in bars, restaurants, liquor stores and grocery stores. “It makes sense to allow partnerships between the District’s medical cannabis and alcohol manufacturing industries to produce medical cannabis beverages,” Fred Moosally, Director of the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, said. “Providing a legal pathway for our local breweries and distilleries to utilize their expertise in beverage production is the logical next step in maturing D.C.’s medical cannabis marketplace and supporting our local business ecosystem.” A press release from the mayor’s office said that the proposal “works to solve manufacturing challenges for the medical cannabis industry while providing an additional revenue stream for D.C.’s local craft beverage producers.” “By utilizing the existing local bottling infrastructure, D.C. will expand the available smoke-free therapeutic options for medical cannabis patients, provide an additional revenue stream for local industry, and continue growing the District’s economy,” it said. The legislation is now before the Council of the District of Columbia for consideration. While Congress has continually blocked D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana sales with an annually approved rider, local officials have worked to expand access through the existing medical cannabis market by, for example, by allowing residents and even visiting tourists to self-certify without the need for doctors’ recommendations. The post DC Mayor Proposes To Let Medical Marijuana And Alcohol Companies Partner On THC Drinks appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Massachusetts marijuana businesses have filed a lawsuit aiming to block an initiative to roll back the state’s voter-approved legalization law from reaching the November ballot. The proposal to repeal laws allowing legal recreational cannabis sales violates the state Constitution by containing “impermissibly unrelated subjects,” and the state attorney general’s official summary is “misleading and deficient,” according to the complaint filed on Tuesday before the state’s Supreme Judicial Court. The measure also proposes “an unconstitutional regulatory taking” by “destroy[ing] the reasonable, investment-backed expectations of affected businesses and individuals and would eliminate the livelihoods of thousands of Massachusetts residents,” the suit, brought by participants in the state’s Cannabis Social Equity Program, says. The plaintiffs—Stem Haverhill owner Caroline Pineau, Treevit LLC CEO Gyasi Sellers and Paper 4 Crane Provisions majority owners Lisa Mauriello and Boey Bertold—want the court to declare the initiative invalid, hold that Attorney General Andrea Campbell (D) erred in her summary and certification of the measure and enjoin Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin (D) from putting it on the ballot. The initiative violates the law by combining “several unrelated and independent subjects, including criminal justice changes, elimination of the Social Equity Program, removal of local control over marijuana establishments by municipalities, elimination of professional discipline protections, elimination of public consumption and open container protections, and the dismantling of regulatory safeguards applicable to the medical marijuana industry,” the suit says. “Because of the multiple unrelated provisions contained in the Petition, Massachusetts voters will be placed in the untenable position of being unable to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on it as a unified statement of public policy. For example, a voter who wishes to repeal adult-use marijuana but retain the Social Equity Program or preserve access to legal services for the medical marijuana industry cannot reasonably cast a vote that reflects those preferences. Likewise, a voter who wishes to repeal adult-use marijuana but does not want to eliminate the statewide ban on public consumption of marijuana is forced to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the entire package.” “These scenarios, among others, would force voters to accept provisions they oppose in order to secure provisions they support,” the plaintiffs, who are represented by Vicente LLP, argue, calling the ballot measure “a classic example of logrolling.” While the proponents of the initiative titled it “An Act to Restore Sensible Marijuana Policy,” it amounts to “an incoherent combination of repeal of adult-use marijuana, elimination of protections for professionals, dismantling of social equity initiatives, elimination of public safety protections, and purported measures relating to youth, among other things,” the filing says. That claim is bolstered, the plaintiffs say, by numerous reports of voters who say they were misled by petitioners while being asked to sign ballot petitions. “The Petition at issue proposes a measure entitled ‘An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,’ which, if approved, would impose a hodgepodge of changes to Massachusetts law that are related to one another only by the proponents’ vague and highly subjective assertion that, together, they constitute a ‘sensible marijuana policy.'” The suit also argues that the attorney general’s summary of the measure “fails to inform” voters about the true impact of the initiative, rendering it “neither fair nor concise” in violation of the law. “Massachusetts voters have consistently driven the advancement of marijuana policy in the Commonwealth, often acting in the face of legislative inaction,” the filing says, noting the passage of ballot measures to decriminalize marijuana possession and to legalize medical and recreational cannabis. Wendy Wakeman, a spokesperson for the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, which is behind the initiative, told The Boston Globe that she finds it “surprising that this group is so opposed to asking the voters what they think of legalized marijuana” by allowing the new measure to go to the 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. The survey came months after cannabis activists filed a complaint with the State Ballot Law Commission, alleging that petitioners with the anti-cannabis campaign used misleading tactics to convince voters to support its ballot placement. The commission rejected the complaint in January, however, and said advocates who challenged the ballot measure raised “unsupported allegations” about the propriety of the signature gathering process that they said warranted official scrutiny. In any case, separate polling has found that nearly half of those who signed the marijuana sales repeal petition felt misled, with many claiming that the measure was pitched to them as a proposal to address unrelated issues such as public education and expanded housing. The anti-marijuana coalition has denied any wrongdoing in the signature collection process and waved off the survey results. An association of state marijuana businesses had separately urged voters to report to local officials if they observe any instances of “fraudulent message” or other deceitful petitioning tactics. 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. — 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. — CCC recently launched an online platform aimed at helping people find jobs, workplace training and networking opportunities in the state’s legal cannabis industry. Massachusetts lawmakers additionally approved legislation to establish pilot programs for the regulated therapeutic use of psychedelics. Read the marijuana legalization rollback initiative lawsuit below: The post Massachusetts Marijuana Businesses File Lawsuit To Keep Legalization Rollback Measure Off Ballot appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Maryland lawmakers have approved a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job. The House of Delegates passed the legislation, HB 797 from Del. Adrian Boafo (D), on third reading by a vote of 100-31 on Thursday, days after it advanced through the Economic Matters Committee. A Senate companion version of the cannabis measure sponsored by Sen. Carl Jackson (D) advanced through that chamber last month. This marks the latest in a series of attempts over recent sessions to enact the reform aimed at giving emergency service professionals the option to use cannabis as an alternative treatment for health conditions that commonly afflict the first responder community, Boafo said at a earlier committee hearing on the bill. Lawmakers are “bringing it back because it’s so critically important to our firefighters” and other rescue professionals who “work long shifts in tense emergencies and high-stress situations every day,” he said. “Many experience chronic pain, injuries and anxiety as a direct result of serving our communities,” the lawmaker said. “Medical cannabis, when prescribed and used off duty, can help manage those conditions. But under current policies, firefighters who use medically prescribed cannabis can face retaliation or discipline from their employers, even when they’re following the law.” “That leaves many of these public servants with a difficult choice: Either continue doing their jobs in pain, or turn to stronger prescription drug drugs, often opiates, just to get through the day,” Boafo said, while emphasizing that “nothing in this bill allows for impairment on the job” and that those who come to work impaired “will still face serious consequences and will be reported” to state emergency medical services regulators. “Public safety remains a top priority here in Maryland, but our state must modernize its laws to protect employees who use medically certified cannabis responsibly and outside of the workplace,” he said. “Our firefighters and rescue professionals dedicate their lives to protecting us. They should not be punished for seeking legal, medically prescribed relief for the physical toll of that work.” HB 797 would amend the state’s medical marijuana law by stipulating that firefighters, emergency medical technicians, cardiac rescue technicians and paramedics employed by the state or local governments could not face employment discrimination or retaliation for testing positive for cannabis metabolites if they’re a registered medical marijuana patient. Specifically, employers could not “discipline, discharge, or otherwise discriminate against the fire and rescue public safety employee with respect to the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment” if they test positive while holding a medical cannabis registration. Further, employers could not “limit, segregate, or classify its employees in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive the fire and rescue public safety employee of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the fire and rescue public safety employee’s status as an employee.” Nothing in the legislation would prohibit employers from taking action against an employee for showing up to work while under the influence of cannabis, and any instances where a public safety worker is found to be impaired while on duty would be reported to the State Emergency Medical Services Board. The advancement of the House and Senate cannabis bills comes a year after officials in Maryland’s most populous county said they were moving to loosen marijuana policies for would-be police officers in an effort to boost recruitment amid a staffing shortage. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile in Maryland, lawmakers are also advancing legislation to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027 to develop updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel drugs and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. Legislators also took up a bill this session 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. The post Maryland Lawmakers Pass Bill To Protect Firefighters And Rescue Workers Who Use Medical Marijuana Off Duty appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Virginia officials are ramping up hiring for a variety of cannabis regulatory roles as the state’s pro-legalization governor prepares to take action on a bill to allow recreational sales, in addition to several other reform proposals that lawmakers have sent to her desk. In one of the latest indicators that the commonwealth is positioned to enact a system of regulated marijuana sales, Virginia’s government jobs site was recently updated with a list featuring nearly a dozen openings for cannabis regulatory positions. That includes a cannabis licensing director who would play a central role in standing up adult-use businesses, a compliance and enforcement director to ensure any commercial market is adhering to the law and various ancillary roles to support those positions. The licensing director under the state’s existing Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) would be tasked with providing “strategic and operational leadership for all cannabis licensing functions” and ensuring that “licensing processes are fair, transparent, timely, and compliant with statutory and regulatory requirements,” a job description says. The director of compliance and enforcement, meanwhile, would be responsible for overseeing the “monitoring, inspections, investigations, and enforcement actions within the state’s cannabis regulatory agency.” And they would be expected to create a “fair, consistent, and transparent compliance framework that supports responsible industry growth while safeguarding the public.” Other newly open roles at CCA include a cannabis equity business loan administrator, compliance and enforcement manager, compliance and enforcement inspector, senior licensing associate, impact business support specialist, chief licensing and compliance officer, talent and acquisition specialist and impact business support team manager. The application period for most of the jobs is open until this Sunday, while others close on April 12. While the job listings signal that the state is taking steps to prepare for the market’s expansion into adult-use commercial sales, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has not yet formally signed the legalization law into effect after a reform bill was delivered to her desk earlier this month. It’s also possible she could push for certain regulatory changes before approving the reform by sending amendments back to the legislature for lawmakers to consider later this month. The governor is also set to act on separate legislation that would 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. Spanberger has until April 13 to sign or veto each proposal, or return it to lawmakers with proposed amendments. She can also take no action and allow a bill to be enacted without her signature. During last year’s campaign for governor, Spanberger made clear that she supports legalizing adult-use marijuana sales, though it’s not clear if she will request any changes to the bill lawmakers passed on that topic, and she also not weighed in specifically on issues like cannabis consumers’ parental rights or patients’ medical access in hospitals. — 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. — Personal marijuana possession and home cultivation has been legal in Virginia since 2021, but former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) twice vetoed bills to provide consumers with a way to legally purchase regulated adult-use cannabis. Under the marijuana sales bills set for Spanberger’s action, SB 542 from Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D) and HB 642 from Del. Paul Krizek (D), the recreational market could launch on January 1, 2027. The current possession limit for cannabis would also increase. Here are the other key details: Adults would be able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in a single transaction, or up to an equivalent amount of other cannabis products as determined by regulators. Legal sales could begin on January 1, 2027. There would be an excise tax of 6 percent on cannabis sales as well as a 5.3 percent retail sales and use tax, and municipalities could set an additional local tax of up to 3.5 percent. CCA would oversee licensing and regulation of the new industry, and would also take on oversight of hemp, which is currently under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Revenue would be distributed to the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund (30 percent), early childhood education (40 percent), the Department of Behavioral & Developmental Health Services (25 percent) and public health initiatives (5 percent). Local governments could not opt out of allowing marijuana businesses to operate in their area. Delivery services would be allowed. Serving sizes would be capped at 10 milligrams THC, with no more than 100 mg THC per package. Existing medical cannabis operators could enter the adult-use market if they pay a licensing conversion fee that is set at $10 million. Cannabis businesses would have to establish labor peace agreements with workers. A legislative commission would be directed to study adding on-site consumption licenses and microbusiness cannabis event permits that would allow licensees to conduct sales at venues like farmers markets or pop-up locations. It would also investigate the possibility of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority becoming involved in marijuana regulations and enforcement. If Spanberger proposes any amendments to—or unexpectedly vetoes—any of the bills prior to her April 13 deadline, lawmakers will have the opportunity to address those actions when they reconvene on April 22. For now, however, advocates are celebrating the advancement of cannabis reform this year. The post Virginia Officials Post New Marijuana Regulatory And Compliance Job Openings As Governor Nears Deadline To Act On Adult-Use Sales Bill appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi will be transitioning out of the role. He is reportedly considering replacing her with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin—a move that could have major implications for marijuana reform as a proposal to federally reschedule cannabis remains pending at the Department of Justice. “Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year,” the president said in a post on his Truth Social platform. “Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900. We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future.” On Wednesday, The New York Times had reported that Trump has grown “frustrated” with Bondi’s leadership at DOJ, in particular her handling of the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. While the president told the paper in a statement that Bondi “is a wonderful person and she is doing a good job,” the report cited sources who said he has floated the idea of replacing her with Zeldin, who previously served in Congress and as a New York state senator and unsuccessfully ran for governor. While The Times did not mention marijuana as a reason for Trump’s reported dissatisfaction with Bondi, it has been more than three months since he issued an executive order directing her to complete the process of moving cannabis from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III “in the most expeditious manner,” and that has not happened. If Bondi, who opposed cannabis reform in Florida as that state’s attorney general, is replaced by Zeldin, who has a mixed record on cannabis reform, it could impact whether and how soon the rescheduling process is completed. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, he voted against a bill to federally legalize and tax marijuana in 2020 and was absent for a vote on a version of the legislation in 2022. He voted in favor of 2015 amendments to protect state medical cannabis programs and CBD policies from federal interference but opposed amendments that year and in 2019 and 2020 to extend the protections to state recreational marijuana laws. In 2015 and 2016, Zeldin voted for amendments to allow Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations. In 2022, Zeldin voted against an amendment to require federal agencies to review security clearance denials going back to 1971 and retroactively make it so cannabis could not be used “as a reason to deny or rescind a security clearance.” In 2019, he voted in favor of a bill to increase marijuana businesses’ access to banking services but missed a vote on a later version of the legislation in 2021. In 2019 and 2021, Zeldin voted against amendments aimed at removing restrictions on psychedelics research. In 2021 he voted for an anti-reform amendment to remove protections for universities that study marijuana. As a state senator in New York, he voted against the bill that legalized medical cannabis in 2014. In a 2022 gubernatorial debate with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), Zeldin complained about smelling cannabis in public and said he is opposed to opening drug overdose prevention centers. Also that year, he criticized state regulators’ move to give priority access to marijuana dispensary licenses for people with prior convictions in an interview with Tucker Carlson in which he also questioned New York City’s move to allow safe consumption sites for illegal drugs to operate. In a now-deleted tweet, Zeldin said that “the Criminals for Kathy coalition is growing.” “Cannabis dispensary licenses are going to start getting distributed in NY, & the Hochul admin will be giving FIRST PRIORITY to people previously convicted for marijuana offenses,” he said. “Hochul’s criminal first agenda is so wrong for NY.” NORML gave Zeldin a C- grade in its “Smoke The Vote” guide. Zeldin does not appear to have publicly weighed in on the idea of rescheduling marijuana, and his mixed record on legislation related to medical cannabis, easing the process of research on controlled substances and broader marijuana reform raises questions about where he personally stands on the issue. In any case, the president has made clear that he wants cannabis to be moved to Schedule III, regardless of who is leading DOJ. It remains to be seen just how quickly that could happen under a new attorney general. Trump said on Thursday that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will serve 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 from Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) 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. Welch also asked about Obama-era enforcement guidance that directed prosecutors to generally not interfere with state cannabis laws, which was rescinded during the first Trump administration. “I have not had occasion to study this particular issue,” Blanche replied. “If confirmed…I think it is important to empower our U.S. Attorneys, who we trust to follow the law and to follow Department rules.” The post Marijuana Rescheduling Could Be Impacted If Trump Replaces Bondi As Attorney General With Zeldin appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Texas officials have 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. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced on Wednesday that it initiated a second phase of the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) expansion selection process by picking three new businesses that can move forward in the process. This comes months after the agency selected an initial wave of nine businesses to advance in Texas’s expanded medical cannabis licensing and approval process. The new businesses that got approval this week “will be conditionally awarded TCUP licenses, subject to additional due diligence, such as disciplinary actions, financial suitability, litigation history and any other information as required by the department,” the announcement says. Among the successful applicants are two affiliates of major multi-state marijuana businesses, GTI Texas, LLC dba RISE Dispensaries and Cresco Labs Texas, LLC. Texas Medica Collective, LLC was also selected. Officials said the conditional approvals “do not grant the applicant permission to cultivate, manufacture, distribute or sell cannabis products until final approval by the department.” “As a holder of a conditional license, the licensee is subject to the department’s ongoing due diligence evaluation,” DPS said. “Each conditional licensee is expected to fully comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the medicinal license issued under TCUP.” UPDATE: The Texas Department of Public Safety has initiated Phase II of the Texas Compassionate Use Program expansion selection process. Three new businesses have been selected to move forward for further due diligence, adding to the nine announced in Phase I last year. 12 other… pic.twitter.com/zSUnkAkYJA — Texas DPS (@TxDPS) April 1, 2026 “DPS will request additional information from these businesses and will not invoice any dispensing organization license fees until the additional due diligence evaluations are completed and passed,” the department said. “The announcement of these three businesses today does not guarantee that these businesses will be issued final TCUP licenses to operate as dispensing organizations.” The law passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in June. DPS is required to issue a total of 12 new licenses under the legislation. In case any of the current selectees from the first and second phases fail to meet the requirement to become fully operational within 24 months of licensure, DPS on Wednesday also named 12 additional business “for possible future review.” They are: Sawtooth Texas LLC Bluebonnet Technologies, LLC Village Farms, LP Lone Star Life, LLC Texas Health Systems, Inc MSC Lone Star, LLC Bayou City Medical Dispensary Sua Vaping Inc dba Vape City Texas CMP, LLC dba Texas Apothecary JG Texas LLC dba Justice Cannabis Co Sage and Stone Holistics, LLC TheraTrue Virginia, LLC dba TheraTrue This represents a major expansion to the program, as there are currently only three medical cannabis dispensaries licensed to operate in Texas. In addition to increasing the number of dispensaries in the state, the law signed by the governor also expands the state’s list of medical marijuana qualifying conditions to include chronic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases, while also allowing end-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care to use marijuana. — 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 TCUP expansion comes as Texas officials are implementing new restrictions on hemp products, including a ban on THCA smokable hemp flowers that took effect this week. 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 this week 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. Image element courtesy of AnonMoos. The post Texas Officials Approve New Medical Marijuana Business Licenses Under Plan To Expand Patient Access appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued guidance making clear that it does not intend to interfere with implementation of a new Trump administration initiative to cover up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products each year for eligible Medicare patients. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary wrote in a two-page memo on Wednesday that the agency “does not intend to enforce” certain sections of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act “with respect to an orally administered, hemp-derived CBD product solely on the basis that it contains CBD,” provided that it meets certain requirements. In particular, in order to avoid enforcement of laws that deem a drug misbranded if its label lacks adequate directions for use and that require premarket approval for new drugs, CBD products under the new FDA guidance must meet the following conditions: be manufactured, marketed, and labeled in a manner that would be consistent with the dietary supplement framework, including bearing a supplement facts panel and structure/function claims, not be contaminated, not be packaged or labeled in a manner that would be attractive to or marketed for children, and be provided to a beneficiary through a program of medical items or services payable under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, under the direction of the patient’s treating physician, in a manner ancillary to the covered items or services furnished under such program. Makary’s memo, titled “Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol Products in Medical Research Models,” came on the same day the hemp product coverage program being administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched. That effort focuses largely on CBD but also allows a certain amount of THC in products. THC, however, was not mentioned in the new FDA guidance. More generally, Makary’s letter, which is addressed to FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods and the acting director of the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, says that “FDA-regulated products containing cannabidiol (CBD) are subject to the same legal and regulatory requirements as other FDA-regulated products.” “The applicable regulatory framework, and the relevant legal requirements, that apply to a given FDA-regulated CBD product will depend on the type of product at issue,” the commissioner wrote. “FDA has jurisdiction over a variety of product types, and an FDA-regulated product that contains CBD is subject to the framework and requirements that apply to that product type (food, drug, cosmetic, etc.).” Hemp industry advocates cheered the guidance. “It’s very encouraging that the FDA appears to be allowing the Medicare pilot program to proceed. This is a sign that the executive branch is becoming comfortable with hemp-derived products,” Jim Higdon, co-founder and chief communications officer for Cornbread Hemp, which is participating in the CMS effort as a product supplier, told Marijuana Moment. “Now, we just need Congress to agree.” “The historic implications of this moment are difficult to overstate,” Higdon said. “We could be entering a new era of cannabis legalization that has opened the door to insurance coverage and access for all.” The CMS initiative comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December calling on the attorney general to finalize a rule federally rescheduling marijuana that also contained components to “improve access” to full-spectrum CBD products. Under the program, inhalable preparations are not allowed, and products can contain no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight and can have up to 3 milligrams of total THC per serving. The THC limit could potentially change if a law the president signed late last year takes effect as scheduled this November. That policy would strictly limit the types of cannabis products that are currently permitted under the 2018 Farm Bill that Trump signed in his first term, expressly prohibiting hemp derivatives containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. The Medicare cannabis product plan is being challenged in a lawsuit filed this week by a coalition of anti-marijuana organizations. A federal judge denied their motion for a temporary restraining order to halt it from launching, but scheduled a hearing for April 20 on their separate request for a preliminary injunction. Meanwhile, the White House Office of Management and Budget is holding a series of meetings this week and next week about an FDA CBD products enforcement policy. Makary, for his part, said in February that while the Trump administration is taking the potential harms of marijuana use among youth “very seriously,” it’s also important to preserve access to cannabis for medical purposes—and that’s part of the thinking behind the push to federally reschedule it. Last year, the FDA commissioner said exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics such as psilocybin and ibogaine is a “top priority” for the Trump administration, especially when it comes to helping military veterans grapple with trauma from being sent to fight “unnecessary wars.” Meanwhile, asked about the widespread availability of intoxicating cannabinoid products, such as delta-8 THC, Makary warned last year that the use of cannabinoids can lead to cardiac problems and psychosis. The post New FDA Enforcement Memo Clears Way For Hemp CBD Product Coverage Under New Medicare Plan appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

White House cannabis meeting; CO gov signs medical marijuana in hospitals bill; MD psychedelics vote; VA hemp products op-ed; TX ibogaine 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 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz announced the launch of a new Trump administration initiative to cover hemp CBD and THC products, revealing that five Accountable Care Organizations have already submitted implementation plans. A federal judge denied anti-marijuana groups’ request to block the hemp CBD and THC products coverage pilot program from taking effect—though their overall lawsuit is still under consideration, with a hearing on their motion for a preliminary injunction scheduled for 4/20. David Heldreth of Panacea Plant Sciences spoke to Marijuana Moment shortly after participating in the White House Office of Management and Budget’s first meeting about a new CBD products enforcement policy from the Food and Drug Administration. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in healthcare facilities such as hospitals—but he criticized amendments that make participation by care centers optional rather than mandatory. The Maryland House of Delegates advanced a Senate-passed 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.” Ivory Ellis of 757 Smokes argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) should use her power to propose amendments to provisions in a cannabis sales legalization bill that threaten to “upend access to the popular hemp products.” Texas’s lieutenant governor and House speaker said 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 under a recently enacted law. The Missouri Senate approved a bill to ban intoxicating hemp products, protect marijuana consumers’ privacy and recognize cannabis industry workers’ right to unionize. The Nebraska legislature passed a medical cannabis regulation and funding bill that authorizes business application fees and requires license applicants to submit fingerprints for background checks. / FEDERAL Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) tweeted, “We were finally making real progress on marijuana reform — moving it out of Schedule I and opening the door to real research. But that progress has completely stalled under Trump. Deadlines missed, reforms delayed, and no answers given. That’s unacceptable. I’m demanding answers.” / STATES Colorado regulators issued a health and safety advisory about marijuana products with pesticides above acceptable limits. Florida regulators filed changes to rules on medical cannabis delivery devices, harvest failures and wholesale transfers. Massachusetts regulators adopted rules continuing to make marijuana delivery licenses exclusively available to equity program participants and improving the dispensary secret shopper program. New Jersey regulators approved additional marijuana business licenses and took disciplinary action for alleged violations. Minnesota regulators are now accepting applications for lower-potency hemp edible retailer, manufacturer and wholesaler business licenses. Montana regulators posted resources about what they are calling “4/20 Safety Awareness Month.” — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / LOCAL A Monroe County, Indiana prosecutor candidate pledged to refuse to pursue marijuana possession cases. / INTERNATIONAL Thailand’s public health minister discussed forthcoming stricter medical cannabis rules. Canadian officials sent a warning to travelers visiting the country for Easter to not bring cannabis in or leave with it. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “CBD demonstrates promising multi-target activity against critical signaling molecules in breast cancer and may serve as a safer, natural therapeutic candidate.” A study of men with prostate cancer found that “cannabinoid therapy, whether used independently or alongside chemotherapy, was associated with improved pain control and some indicators of tumour response, without evidence of harm.” / BUSINESS Vireo Growth Inc. closed its acquisition of Eaze Inc. Tilray Brands, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $206.7 million and a net loss of $25.2 million. Jushi Holdings Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $68.3 million and a net loss of $15.6 million. Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. announced an additional equity investment by a subsidiary of British American Tobacco plc. Village Farms International, Inc. favorably amended and extended a loan with a long-term lender. 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 Judge allows Medicare THC & CBD plan to launch amid lawsuit (Newsletter: April 2, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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The White House has held the first in a series of scheduled meetings with cannabis industry and research stakeholders to discuss a proposed new enforcement policy for CBD products. Representatives of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) under the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) spoke with David Heldreth, CEO of Panacea Plant Sciences, on Wednesday to gain insight on the pending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approach for cannabidiol. Marijuana Moment caught up with Heldreth shortly after he finished attending the remote meeting, which is one of several discussions on the issue that OIRA scheduled after publishing a notice about its review of the FDA policy last month. “Members of FDA were present but did not identify themselves besides the host. They opened the meeting with statements that they cannot reveal anything about the policy or when it will come out and essentially won’t provide any details,” he said. “Then they opened the floor for me.” Heldreth said he raised questions about the legality of a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative to cover certain hemp-derived CBD and THC products that launched on Wednesday. “Current FDA policy is that CBD can’t be a [generally recognized as safe], food additive or supplement, and as such technically all CBD products are illegal outside vaping and smoking,” he said he told the federal officials. “I told them they put the cart before the horse. This current CBD policy needed to be updated before they could legally begin any legal reimbursement program for CBD.” “I then went on to discuss that if policy changes then it should be more than just CBD isolate,” Heldreth said. “Recent federal legislation set a THC limit at 0.4 mg per container/serving for cannabinoid extracts, but created industrial hemp carve out that stays at a 0.3 percent THC level rather than the 0.4 mg THC limit for for stalk, seed and hemp microgreen or leaves for oral consumption. As such hemp leaves below 0.3 percent THC are industrial hemp and also defined as for oral consumption by Congress. I believe the FDA policy for CBD should acknowledge that and include a policy allowing hemp leaves and microgreens to be defined as food, gras and allowed as food additives.” He said that as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, he hopes officials follow federal laws to hold specific tribal consultation about the issue. “I’m glad the White House held the meeting, but I believe this whole process won’t amount to much,” Heldreth said, noting that he participated in similar meetings about CBD policy with FDA officials in 2020 and “nothing changed” at the time. “The reality is without congressional action to address the drug preclusion law it’s difficult to get CBD allowed,” he said. “However, I believe items like hemp leaf will fall outside of that and provide options.” OIRA will also be meeting with Trent Woloveck of the multi-state cannabis operator Jushi Holdings on Wednesday, as well as Mackie Barch of Story Cannabis and Iowa hemp farmer Earl Ramey on Thursday, and Brett Goldman of OCan Group, LLC next week. All of this comes months before changes to federal hemp laws are set to significantly shake up the industry, with a ban on most consumable cannabinoid products containing THC taking effect in November. As part of the underlying law, FDA was tasked with publishing a list of known cannabinoids, but it missed a congressionally imposed deadline to fulfill that obligation and it’s unclear when that list will ultimately be furnished. Some have speculated that the enforcement policy guidance that OIRA is reviewing concerns the executive order President Donald Trump signed in December to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which also included provisions directing CMS to create a pathway for CBD health care coverage. The CBD-focused plan—which a coalition of anti-cannabis groups led by Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is now seeking to block in federal court—will also allow a certain amount of THC in products, but the agency said the planned rules are subject to change if federal hemp policy changes, as is currently expected under the law set to take effect in November. Participants would be required to ensure that CBD is sourced from “a legally compliant source and high-quality farm,” prepared as an oral solution and tested for cannabinoid content so that available products contain no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight and up to 3 milligrams of total THC per serving. CMS said that centers participating in one of three models that receive substance access Beneficiary Engagement Incentives (BEI) will be able to “consult with eligible beneficiaries about the possible use of eligible hemp products to improve symptom control.” The details about the rules for the CBD pilot program came weeks after a co-founder of the hemp company Charlotte’s Web, which has been collaborating with CMS, said the agency had already finalized its plans for federal health insurance coverage of cannabidiol. — 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. — While CMS implemented an earlier final rule last April specifically stipulating that marijuana, as well as CBD that can be derived from federally legal hemp, are ineligible for coverage under its Medicare Advantage program and other services, the agency is now revising that policy. CMS had already announced certain changes as part of a rulemaking process that was unveiled late last year, affecting “marketing and communications, drug coverage, enrollment processes, special needs plans, and other programmatic areas” for insurance programs it oversees. One of those changes dealt with cannabidiol coverage. Meanwhile, with respect to the marijuana components of Trump’s December executive order, Attorney General Pam Bondi was directed to expeditiously finalize the proposal to reschedule cannabis, which would not federally legalize it but would remove certain research barriers and let state-licensed marijuana businesses take federal tax deductions they’re currently barred from under an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E. That rescheduling proposal remains pending, however. The post A Look Inside The White House’s First Cannabis Products Enforcement Policy Meeting appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Federal health officials on Wednesday announced the launch of a new Trump administration initiative to cover up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products each year for eligible patients. The program being implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) focuses largely on CBD but also allows a certain amount of THC in products. “CMS is committed to innovation that meets patients where they are while maintaining strong safeguards and clinical oversight,” CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said in a press release. “Under the president’s leadership, we’re expanding the tools available to improve patients’ health while generating important insights into how providers can use these tools safely and effectively in real-world care settings.” President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December calling on the attorney general to finalize a rule federally rescheduling marijuana that also contained components to “improve access” to full-spectrum CBD products. To that end, the new CMS hemp initiative “reflects the Administration’s broader efforts to expand access to innovative, patient-centered care,” the agency said. “It marks a meaningful step as CMS begins testing how emerging care tools can be integrated into coordinated care to improve outcomes and quality of life.” CMS’s new Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Incentive will expand the tools available to improve patients’ health, utilizing innovation while maintaining strong safeguards and clinical oversight. https://t.co/fpVtQQ0GVi — DrOzCMS (@DrOzCMS) April 1, 2026 The Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Incentive (BEI) is available to participants in CMS’s ACO REACH Model and Enhancing Oncology Model as of Wednesday, and under the Long-term Enhance ACO Design (LEAD) Model starting on January 1, 2027. “This new CMS initiative gives providers in certain models another tool—with necessary safeguards—to support their patients’ needs through consultation about whether possible use of hemp products could help improve symptoms,” CMS Innovation Center Director Abe Sutton said. The agency announced that five Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in the ACO REACH Model have already submitted implementation plans that CMS will review, with more expected soon. “Products must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and meet quality and safety standards, including third-party testing for potency and contaminants,” the agency said. Inhalable preparations are not allowed, and products can contain no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight and can have up to 3 milligrams of total THC per serving. The THC limit could potentially change if a law the president signed late last year takes effect as scheduled this November. That policy would strictly limit the types of cannabis products that are currently permitted under the 2018 Farm Bill that Trump signed in his first term, expressly prohibiting hemp derivatives containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. “CMS will not pay for or reimburse providers for these products under the Substance Access BEI,” the agency said in Wednesday’s announcement. “The incentive includes strong safeguards to protect patients and ensure appropriate use, including physician oversight, strict product standards, and program integrity requirements.” The Medicare cannabis product plan is being challenged in a lawsuit filed this week by a coalition of anti-marijuana organizations. A federal judge denied their motion for a temporary restraining order to halt it from launching, but scheduled a hearing for April 20 on their separate request for a preliminary injunction. In the meantime, CMS said it “will monitor implementation and evaluate outcomes as part of its ongoing work to test new approaches to appropriate and cost-effective care delivery and payment.” “CMS does not make claims regarding the therapeutic value of these products,” the agency said. The post Dr. Oz Announces Launch Of Program Covering Hemp THC And CBD Products Through Medicare appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Maryland House lawmakers have approved a Senate-passed bill to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027 to develop updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel drugs and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. About a month after unanimously advancing through the Senate, members of the House Health Committee on Tuesday approved the legislation from Sen. Brian Feldman (D) and the full House signed off on second reading on Wednesday, with third reading passage expected soon. The House of Delegates separately passed the chamber’s own version of the bill last month. 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 been amended in that chamber to add a representative of a historically black college or university (HBCU) to the task force. Del. Pam Guzzone (D) said on Tuesday that she wants senators to amend her bill, which is now in the other chamber, to also add the HBCU representative so that both versions will be identical. 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 Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) signing of a pair of bills into law in 2024. The 17-person body, overseen by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), was charged with studying how to ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances” in the state. SB 336 and HB 427 would continue that work, maintaining the panel through December 31, 2027. In the interim, the task force would be required to submit an updated report to legislators with additional findings and recommendations by October 31 of this year. 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, earlier this month, Maryland lawmakers took up a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job—taking 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 also considered a bill last month to protect the gun rights of medical marijuana patients in the state. Members of the House Judiciary Committee discussed the legislation from Del. Robin Grammer (R), who has sponsored multiple versions of the cannabis and gun rights measure over recent sessions, but they have not yet advanced to enactment. Separately, a Republican congressional lawmaker representing Maryland who has built a reputation as one of the staunchest opponents of marijuana reform on Capitol Hill—and whose record includes ensuring that Washington, D.C. officials are blocked from legalizing recreational cannabis sales—may be at risk of being unseated in November due to redistricting in his state. Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype and Apollo. The post Maryland Lawmakers Advance Bill To Extend Psychedelics Task Force Through 2027 appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net