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State-licensed medical marijuana businesses can now apply for federal protections in line with the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s “Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Portal” went live on Wednesday morning. The move follows last week’s announcement by the Department of Justice that marijuana is being moved from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), in phases. Under an order signed by Acting Attorney General Blanche, marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license immediately moved to Schedule III, as did any marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Medical cannabis dispensaries with state licenses that want to take advantage of new legal protections and tax benefits that come with Schedule III status will first have to fill out an application with DEA that asks for information about their processes for storage, ordering, dispensing, inventory, maintenance of records and other aspects of their businesses. “For each activity below, indicate whether the firm has a standard operating procedure (SOP): Ordering Receiving Inventories Storage of Marijuana Security Dispensing (including delivery services) Distributing Destruction/Disposal Theft/Loss Reporting Due Diligence (including supplier/patient/practitioner verification) Corresponding Responsibility Maintenance of Records” The application asks about specific details about security measures such as vaults, safes, secure storage rooms, access controls, alarm systems and on-site security personnel. Applicants can choose whether they are requesting to handle marijuana, marijuana extracts or naturally derived delta-9 THC. While only medical marijuana is currently being moved to Schedule III, the application also asks potential registrants whether their firms handle or dispense recreational marijuana. Under last week’s DOJ order there will be an expedited administrative hearing process to consider the broader rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, beginning on June 29. The DEA application, meanwhile, also asks businesses to submit information about their state cannabis licenses and to answer questions about criminal and disciplinary histories. It also asks: “Has anyone who will be involved in the ownership or operation of the firm previously manufactured, distributed, and/or dispensed any controlled substance without a DEA registration authorizing such activity?” Presumably, every currently operational state-legal cannabis business has key personnel who have done so, since medical marijuana was, until just days ago, a Schedule I controlled substance that DEA did not broadly authorize manufacturing, distribution and dispensation of. Applicants must additionally list suppliers from which they intend to procure marijuana, and to disclose whether they anticipate repackaging or relabeling cannabis products. If you are applying for registration as a medical marijuana dispensary, please use the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Portal at: https://t.co/b5QozQhhpr#DEADiversion@TheJusticeDept pic.twitter.com/9HtbSMynq3 — DEA HQ (@DEAHQ) April 29, 2026 They also need to provide lists of individuals with the business that are anticipated to have “access to controlled substances,” including their dates of birth, social security numbers, criminal histories related to drugs. “Provide the following for each individual you anticipate having access to controlled substances: Name Title(s) Date of birth Social Security number DEA registration numbers, if applicable State/territorial authorizations to manufacture, distribute, dispense or otherwise handle controlled substances Has this person been the subject of one or more federal, state, territorial, or tribal disciplinary actions? Has this person been convicted of any federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local offenses related to controlled substances?” There is also an annual $794 application fee, currently only payable via PayPal, though DEA says “we anticipate having additional forms of payment in the coming weeks.” Application fees are not refundable. Separately, DEA has launched a new webpage on its site that houses key information about the new federal cannabis rescheduling move, including copies of Federal Register orders that detail the change and the process for the upcoming hearing on the issue. Blanche’s rescheduling order last week said that to align with an international drug control treaty “requirement that a government agency serve as the exclusive purchaser of cannabis production,” DOJ is rolling out a process by which the federal government will technically purchase marijuana from producers and then sell it back to them or related entities. “Registered manufacturers must store crops in a facility to which DEA maintains access until that transaction is complete, and each manufacturer registration must specify the areas in which cultivation is permitted,” it said. “All manufacturers registered under this subsection shall establish a nominal price for the purchase of their marijuana crops. The Administration shall then purchase the entity’s crops at that price and sell the crops back to the entity, or a related or subsidiary entity, at the same price with the addition of the administrative fee as calculated under Part 1318.06(a).” Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said they plan to issue new tax guidance for the marijuana industry following the rescheduling announcement. Rescheduling will benefit state-licensed marijuana businesses by allowing them to take federal tax deductions they’re currently barred from under an IRS code known as 280E that doesn’t apply to Schedule III substances. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the administration is moving forward with marijuana rescheduling because cannabis reform is “overwhelmingly popular” with voters and because doing so will help people who need access to the drug for medical purposes. During a press event in the Oval Office last week, President Donald Trump spoke about the medical benefits of marijuana. “A lot of people are suffering from big problems, which this seems to be the best answer,” he said. “They’re very happy about it. So the rescheduling is starting, and that’s a big thing, rescheduling.” The president noted that his administration’s actions on cannabis rescheduling came after his friend Howard Kessler told him about how he used medical marijuana. “He had some medical difficulties, and he came upon this by accident, in a way,” he said. “He had to go through a lot of different medications, and he said this was the one that was much better than anything else. And so he experienced that. He didn’t benefit by it, other than from the standpoint that he lives a much better life now.” “So hopefully you don’t need it,” Trump said. “But if you do need it, I hear it’s the best of all the alternatives.” Separately, the president called on Congress to take action to amend a law that threatens to federally recriminalize hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD products later this year. “We must get this done RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who saw that CBD helps them,” he said in a social media post. “Plus, I am told it will also help our GREAT FARMERS, who we love, and will always be there for.” Days earlier, Trump had complained that federal officials were “slow-walking” following through on his cannabis order. The post State-Licensed Marijuana Businesses Can Now Apply For Federal Protections Using New DEA Form appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Republican leaders of a powerful congressional committee are advancing legislation aimed at blocking the federal rescheduling of marijuana—even though the Trump administration announced last week that it is moving ahead with the reform. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on Wednesday released the text of a funding bill containing a provision that, if enacted, would prevent federal officials from taking further steps to carry out cannabis rescheduling. “SEC. 591. None of the funds appropriated under this Act or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to reschedule marijuana (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)) or to remove marijuana from the schedules established under section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812).” The committee, which is set to take up the legislation on Thursday, has advanced similar language in the past years as the federal government has weighed marijuana rescheduling, but those provisions were never passed into law. The Department of Justice announced last week that marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license immediately moved to Schedule III, as did any marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An administrative hearing scheduled for this summer will consider broader cannabis rescheduling. Meanwhile, the current funding bill being considered this week also contains an updated version of a longstanding rider that since 2014 has protected state medical cannabis programs from federal interference. “SEC. 531. (a) 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, Nebraska, 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. (b) Funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used to enforce violations of 21 U.S.C. 860.” This year’s provision for the first time includes Nebraska, after advocates pointed out the state was omitted from previously enacted appropriations legislation even though voters there approved medical cannabis legalization in 2024. The latter subsection of the medical cannabis rider has never been enacted before, and it seeks to stipulate that the Justice Department can still enforce a section of U.S. code that calls for increased penalties for distributing cannabis within 1,000 feet of an elementary school, vocational school, college, playground or public housing unit. Separately, the bill also includes another longstanding rider that protects state hemp research programs from federal interference. “SEC. 530. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used in contravention of section 7606 (‘‘Legitimacy of Industrial Hemp Research’’) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–79) by the Department of Justice or the Drug Enforcement Administration.” The release of the spending bill’s text comes amid several pending efforts on Capitol Hill to delay or alter the implementation of a law that stands to federally recriminalize hemp THC products later this year. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told Marijuana Moment this week that she supports the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling move—even if it “doesn’t quite make all the wrongs right” by leaving behind people who “had their lives destroyed by the war on drugs.” The post Republicans In Congress Are Still Trying To Block Marijuana Rescheduling Even As Trump Moves Forward appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) supports the Trump administration’s move to reschedule marijuana under federal law—but she also worries that enacting incremental cannabis reforms without equity and social justice measures will leave behind many people who have been harmed by criminalization. “This has always been an issue kind of at the heart of decriminalization,” the congresswoman told Marijuana Moment in an interview on the Capitol Steps on Wednesday. “Many of the people who profited from the war on drugs will then profit also—double down on that profit—from legalization,” she said. “And then the folks who were criminalized and had their lives destroyed by the war on drugs never get to see justice or have that made right. So I think that is a fundamental difference that we have here in the approach to that.” The Department of Justice announced last week that marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license immediately moved to Schedule III, as did any marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An administrative hearing scheduled for this summer will consider broader cannabis rescheduling. “Of course, I will always welcome a descheduling of marijuana from Schedule I,” Ocasio-Cortez told Marijuana Moment on Wednesday. “I will be supportive of that, because it reduces that harm, but it doesn’t quite make all the wrongs right.” .@AOC to Marijuana Moment: "I will always welcome a descheduling of marijuana from Schedule I. I will be supportive of that, because it reduces that harm, but it doesn't quite make all the wrongs right."https://t.co/rpy45AUIJM pic.twitter.com/uPoFI2uFQc — Marijuana Moment (@MarijuanaMoment) April 29, 2026 The congresswoman has previously voted for and cosponsored legislation to federally legalize and tax marijuana while creating a new federal Office of Cannabis Justice to oversee social equity programs for the cannabis industry. She has also been a lead sponsor of legislation to facilitate expungement of past cannabis convictions. Ocasio-Cortez has additionally discussed her support for decriminalizing psychedelics. The LCB contributed reporting from Washington, D.C. The post AOC Supports Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Move, Even If It ‘Doesn’t Quite Make All The Wrongs Right’ appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Trump administration’s move to reschedule marijuana is popular, but most people support even broader cannabis reforms, according to a new federally funded study that examines public comments received during the government’s official consideration of the proposal. The analysis of the 42,913 marijuana rescheduling comments submitted to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) shows that 28.9 percent supported moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as proposed and that 63.5 percent wanted further rescheduling or even complete descheduling. Only 6.7 percent of commenters opposed any reform and wanted to keep marijuana in Schedule I, the most restrictive CSA category that is supposed to be reserved for substances with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The Department of Justice announced last week that marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license immediately moved to Schedule III, as did any marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An administrative hearing scheduled for his summer will consider broader cannabis rescheduling. “Public sentiment on Regulations.gov supports the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s proposal for cannabis rescheduling, though the majority views the proposed Schedule III classification as inadequate and supports further rescheduling or complete de-scheduling of cannabis,” the new study, authored by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of California San Diego and published in the journal Addiction, says. “The analysis of 42,913 public comments on cannabis rescheduling reveals strong public demand for broader reforms than the proposed Schedule III reclassification.” The research team used artificial intelligence to analyze the tens of thousands of comments, and then they manually reviewed and coded 200 of the submissions. Among those that were directly looked at by researchers, the most commonly stated reasons for supporting the move to Schedule III were therapeutic benefits and economic impacts, with those who wanted further reform citing criminal justice issues. “Comments also frequently highlighted social justice implications, emphasizing the need to address historical inequities from cannabis regulations, such as disproportionate incarceration rates in marginalized communities,” the authors wrote. “Most public comments on the proposed DEA rule-making to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III supported removing cannabis from Schedule I, but believed that Schedule III was insufficient and favored a lower schedule or removal from the list of controlled substances. Moreover, our analysis reveals clear public priorities: addressing therapeutic needs, promoting social equity and implementing evidence-based safety measures. These insights suggest that effective cannabis policy reform must balance public health protections with broader societal goals of accessibility and justice.” Study coauthor John W. Ayers said in a press release that “rescheduling is a meaningful first step, but the public record shows Americans want federal policy to go even further.” The fact that such a strong majority of commenters want to go further than federal officials are currently willing to “suggests a disconnect between federal policy proposals and public expectations, potentially shaped by state-level legalization experiences,” the study, which received federal funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, says. “Many commenters have lived under state legalization for medical or adult use for years already,” study coauthor Johannes Thrul said in the press release. “Their expectation of federal policy reflects that reality.” Opponents of any change, meanwhile, frequently noted concerns about public health risks, addiction and underage use in their comments, the study found. While rescheduling doesn’t broadly legalize marijuana under federal law, it does have tax benefits for state-legal cannabis businesses and removes some barriers to conducting research. “Public enthusiasm for cannabis as medicine needs to be matched by federal and state investment in rigorous cannabis research,” paper coauthor Ryan Vandrey said in the press release. Vijay M. Tiyyala, another coauthor of the study, said that “Americans showed up with their personal stories about therapy that helped them, businesses they built, consequences of cannabis use, and more.” It appears that the Trump administration recognizes broad public support for marijuana reform. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that “if you do look at the public polling on this issue, it is overwhelmingly popular with the vast majority of Americans.” “And so the president was willing to take this step to do that at the behest of the American public, who largely support it, and many of his health advisors on his team who he spoke with about it,” she said. During a press event in the Oval Office last week, Trump himself spoke about the medical benefits of marijuana. “A lot of people are suffering from big problems, which this seems to be the best answer,” he said. “They’re very happy about it. So the rescheduling is starting, and that’s a big thing, rescheduling.” The president noted that his administration’s actions on cannabis rescheduling came after his friend Howard Kessler told him about how he used medical marijuana. “He had some medical difficulties, and he came upon this by accident, in a way,” he said. “He had to go through a lot of different medications, and he said this was the one that was much better than anything else. And so he experienced that. He didn’t benefit by it, other than from the standpoint that he lives a much better life now.” “So hopefully you don’t need it,” Trump said. “But if you do need it, I hear it’s the best of all the alternatives.” Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen. The post There’s ‘Strong Public Demand’ For Bigger Marijuana Reform Than Trump’s Rescheduling Move, Federally Funded Study Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

South Carolina patients could get legal access to medical marijuana under a little-known state law that could be triggered by the Trump administration’s federal cannabis rescheduling move. State Sen. Tom Davis (R), who has sponsored bills to legalize medical cannabis over a number of sessions, told The Post and Courier that the federal action kicks off “a chain of legal consequences in South Carolina that the General Assembly can no longer ignore.” Specifically, an existing South Carolina law says that “if a substance is added, deleted, or rescheduled as a controlled substance pursuant to federal law or regulation,” officials then have 30 days to reschedule the drug in the “appropriate schedule” under state law. A separate law, the South Carolina Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act, passed in 1980, sets up a program through with cancer and glaucoma patients could obtain medical cannabis “through whatever means” the state health commissioner “deems most appropriate consistent with federal law.” Under the legislation, a Review Advisory Board could “include other disease groups for participation in the controlled substances therapeutic research program after pertinent medical data have been presented by a practitioner to both the Commissioner and the board and after necessary approval is received by the appropriate federal agencies.” Gov. Henry McMaster’s (R) office confirmed to The Post and Courier that South Carolina law will “require the State to mirror the new federal order” on marijuana rescheduling. Separately, the South Carolina Department of Public Health told the newspaper that officials are “aware of the proposed rescheduling of medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act” and are “assessing the impacts to DPH and the state of South Carolina.” Davis, the senator who has sponsored medical cannabis legalization legislation, said his bill “provides exactly the model we need: physician authorization on the front end, licensed cultivation and processing in the middle, and pharmacist dispensing on the back end—a patient-centered framework that protects patients, ensures product safety, and provides the regulatory clarity that both the public and the healthcare community deserve.” .@postandcourier: “The South Carolina Compassionate Care Act provides the medical-cannabis model we need: physician authorization on the front end and pharmacist dispensing on the back end to protect patients and ensure product safety,” said Sen. Tom Davis.https://t.co/NcIkekO7rk — Tom Davis (@SenTomDavisSC) April 25, 2026 Last year, South Carolina’s governor said there’s a “compelling” case to be made for legalizing medical marijuana in the state, despite reservations from law enforcement. McMaster said at the time that he thinks supporters of the reform have a “very compelling situation,” despite the fact that “law enforcement, almost end-to-end, still have grave concerns.” “I think what we need to do is study it very carefully, get as much information as we can and try to do the right thing,” he said. The office of House Speaker Murrell Smith (R) tempered expectations, however, referencing what he viewed as insufficient support within the GOP caucus to advance the reform through his chamber. An earlier version of Davis’s cannabis measure passed the Senate in the 2024 session but was never taken up in the House. He filed a new version for the 2025 session, but it did not advance. “It requires doctors in patient authorization, doctor supervision,” Davis said at the time. “It requires pharmacists to dispense it. It is a very conservative bill, because that’s what South Carolinians want.” As introduced, the legislation would allow patients to access medical marijuana from “therapeutic cannabis pharmacies,” which would be licensed by the state Board of Pharmacy. Individuals would need to receive a doctor’s recommendation for the treatment of certain qualifying conditions, which include several specific ailments as well as terminal illnesses and chronic diseases where opioids are the standard of care. Among the public, medical marijuana legalization enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support in the state, with a 2024 poll finding that 93 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of Republicans and 84 percent of independents back the reform. The state Senate passed an earlier version of the legislation in 2022, but it stalled in the opposite body over a procedural hiccup. — 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. — When senators began debating the medical marijuana legislation in 2024, the body adopted an amendment that clarifies the bill does not require landlords or people who control property to allow vaporization of cannabis products. As debate on the legislation continued, members clashed over whether the current version of the legislation contains major differences from an earlier iteration that the body passed in 2022. Certain lawmakers have also raised concerns that medical cannabis legalization would lead to broader reform to allow adult-use marijuana, that it could put pharmacists with roles in dispensing cannabis in jeopardy and that federal law could preempt the state’s program, among other worries. After Davis’s Senate-passed medical cannabis bill was blocked in the House in 2022, he tried another avenue for the reform proposal, but that similarly failed on procedural grounds. The lawmaker has called the stance of his own party, particularly as it concerns medical marijuana, “an intellectually lazy position that doesn’t even try to present medical facts as they currently exist.” The post South Carolina Patients Could Get Medical Marijuana Access Under State Laws Triggered By Federal Rescheduling appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a bill that threatens to send people to jail for up to one year if they smoke marijuana within 2,000 feet of a school property—including a college campus. The legislation from Rep. Gabe Firment (R) was passed by the House of Representatives in a 59-34 vote last week. HB 568, which now heads to the Senate for consideration, applies to people who violate drug laws “while smoking, vaping, or otherwise abusing such controlled dangerous substance while on any property used for school purposes by any school, within two thousand feet of any such property, or while on a school bus.” The pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) said the “incredibly draconian penalties” in the legislation threaten to reverse cannabis reform progress made in the state in recent years. In 2021, then-Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed a bill decriminalizing marijuana by removing the threat of jail time for possessing up to 14 grams. “HB 568 would make cannabis use a felony in huge swaths of urban and suburban areas. Two thousand feet is a little over ⅓ of a mile,” Kevin Caldwell, MPP”s Southeast legislative manager, said in an action alert to supporters. “In addition to mandatory incarceration of up to a year, the bill includes a fine of up to $1,000.” “This is an attempt to bring back the draconian penalties that Louisiana was infamous for in decades past. This bill seeks to undo years of hard work by advocates for ending jail time for minor cannabis offenses,” he said. “Under this legislation, a student could be incarcerated for a year for consuming in a college dorm room.” — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile, the Louisiana Senate also recently passed a bill to let patients with terminal and irreversible conditions use medical marijuana in hospitals. The Senate separately approved legislation to create a psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program, using opioid settlement dollars to fund clinical trials aimed at developing alternative treatments such as psilocybin and ibogaine. Another lawmaker also recently introduced a bill to create an adult-use marijuana legalization pilot program in the state to determine whether the reform should eventually be expanded and permanently codified. Rep. Candace Newell (D)—who has long championed legislation to end cannabis criminalization and filed a similar legal marijuana pilot program measure last session—is sponsoring what’s titled the “Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Regulation and Enforcement Act.” Getting the bill across the finish line could prove complicated in the conservative legislature, however. Newell’s earlier version of the pilot program legislation didn’t advance to enactment last year, and lawmakers that session also rejected other marijuana reform proposals such as one that would have established a tax system to prepare the eventual legalization of adult-use cannabis. The post Louisiana Lawmakers Pass Bill To Send People To Jail For Smoking Marijuana Near College Campuses appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“You’ve got to take what’s evolved over time. [If you] stick your head in the sand, you’re generally going to make the wrong decision.” By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) has signaled a growing willingness to legalize marijuana, noting the Hoosier State is “surrounded” by states that have legalized the drug to some degree. Illinois, Michigan and Ohio allow recreational use, while Kentucky has authorized medicinal. “I’m going to do what makes sense,” Braun told reporters Tuesday. “I’ve said law enforcement will be important. I’ve been talking to them, and now, the amount of traffic that crosses the border, you know, it’s noticeable. So, all of that will be taken into consideration.” President Donald Trump’s administration this week rescheduled medical marijuana—subject to a state license—to a less restrictive category, but kept recreational use in the list of drugs with the highest potential for abuse. But the administration has also kicked off an expedited administrative hearing process to consider reconsider that classification. “I think the fact that the feds made that move, that makes it more likely,” Braun said. “You’re going to need to ask the legislators and the leaders in those two chambers to see what they’re thinking, because I’m clear in terms of where I’m at,” he continued. “You’ve got to take what’s evolved over time. [If you] stick your head in the sand, you’re generally going to make the wrong decision.” As a gubernatorial candidate in 2024, Braun said he was possibly willing to consider allowing medical-use sales, but not recreational, Fox59 reported. The governor’s comments on Tuesday came shortly before the release of a study on the current status of marijuana and other intoxicating cannabinoids in Indiana, and another study on considerations for marijuana regulations if the state did decide to ease up on the drug. The pair of reports were conducted by RAND on behalf of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, which seeks to advance health, education and more in the city of Indianapolis. Emi Whitesell, the vice president of impact and evaluation, said Fairbanks commissioned the research in 2024 to fill a gap in reliable data centered on Indiana. “We don’t have a position,” Whitesell said of marijuana legalization. “This is purely informative. We know there have been so many conversations…about potentially changing our marijuana policies… It’s so complex and it’s sometimes hard to get really good data and really good information about it.” Much of the research on legalization focuses on states that already have already authorized the drug for medicinal use, unlike Indiana, the foundation found. The Hoosier State is one of 10 states that hasn’t legalized medical marijuana, let alone recreational. Despite that, residents can access intoxicating cannabinoids and marijuana itself relatively easily, according to Fairbanks. That’s because Indiana hasn’t banned or regulated the sale of products with delta-8 THC, THCA or other intoxicating cannabinoids. State legislative efforts have failed repeatedly. Now, such products are “ubiquitous,” researchers wrote. A federal ban will go into effect in November, although several bills have been filed to delay that. Additionally, researchers found that 44 percent of Hoosiers, or nearly 3 million people, live within a 50-mile drive of at least one licensed dispensary in another state. A whopping 96 percent, or 5.6 million people, live within a 100-mile drive. “In practical terms, almost all Hoosiers who wish to purchase cannabis from a retail store can do so with a roundtrip drive of fewer than four hours,” they wrote. Researchers estimated that residents spend about $1.8 million on marijuana annually, and that Indiana’s criminal justice system spends $10 million-$20 million on enforcement annually. They also explored a range of policy routes Indiana could pursue. The first, in which the state maintains its prohibition, involves no change. The state could also reduce criminal penalties for marijuana possession by directing law enforcement to treat it as low priority, reduce fines or jail time, or eliminate criminal penalties for small amounts in favor of civil citations. The state could make it easier to expunge or seal past convictions for possession, or even automatically perform those actions for convictions after a set period. Indiana could also join the 24 states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Researchers laid out 14 major policy decisions leaders would have to make, including: who could grow, refine and sell marijuana; at what level to tax marijuana and more. All of those policy levels would figure into a medical marijuana system, according to Fairbanks, along with four more considerations: what conditions qualify for use, what medical professionals could recommend someone obtain a license, the cost of a license and who could procure the marijuana for patients who can’t travel to buy it or grow it at home themselves. The state and local governments would still spend money on enforcement even if marijuana is legalized in some form, researchers noted. Driving under the influence and possessing the drug underage would likely remain banned, for instance. New costs could include licensing, inspections, testing and more. But legalization could bring in $180 million in tax revenue annually by the fifth year, researchers estimated — or 1 percent of the state’s $18 billion General Fund. Revenue depends on a variety of factors, however, and could range from $100 million at the low end to $270 million at the high end. Reporter Mackenzi Klemann contributed. This story was first published by Indiana Capital Chronicle. The post Indiana Is ‘More Likely’ To Legalize Marijuana Now That It’s Been Federally Rescheduled, Governor Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

MD gov signs marijuana workplace rights bill; NC medical cannabis momentum; Study: Cannabis as ancient “core crop” Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. Have you thought about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming months and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count on. Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Competing congressional amendments to either delay or speed up the scheduled federal recriminalization of hemp THC products won’t get House floor votes this week after one was withdrawn and the other was blocked by the House Rules Committee. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed a bill to let firefighters and rescue workers use medical cannabis off duty without being punished for it. North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) said members of his caucus will discuss whether to advance legislation to legalize medical cannabis in light of federal marijuana rescheduling moving forward. A new archaeological study found evidence that “by the Late Neolithic, cannabis became a core crop in northern China”—with processing and consumption “deeply integrated into daily life.” “Cannabis processing and consumption were deeply integrated into the daily lives of the inhabitants, making it an indispensable component of their agricultural subsistence.” Leah Kollross of 23rd State argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that most cannabis beverage companies “cannot prove their products do what they claim” because they do not “invest in any form of independent product validation.” “The industry cannot ask for nuanced, evidence-informed regulation while simultaneously declining to produce the evidence that would make that possible.” Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) and U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) largely dodged questions about how federal marijuana rescheduling impacts their state, while Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said “I support this move by the administration.” The Virginia delegate who sponsored a recreational marijuana sales legalization bill said he hopes the governor doesn’t veto the proposal after the legislature rejected her proposed amendments, and said lawmakers will work with her next year to address her concerns. / FEDERAL Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said during oral arguments in a case on law enforcement use of geofence warrants that phone data can “follow you to a cannabis shop.” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted, “Recently I stopped in Bedford, KY to visit Pharm CBD to talk about the future of the hemp industry in Kentucky. Joined by @RepThomasMassie, hemp industry leaders, and community members, we discussed next steps, like my bipartisan Hemp Safety Enforcement Act.” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) tweeted, “I ended yesterday afternoon with @SenRandPaul at @PHARMCBD in Bedford. We toured the facility, held a roundtable discussion with local officials & hemp producers, and heard first-hand testimony from families & veterans who have benefitted medically from hemp-derived products.” Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) tweeted that marijuana rescheduling is a “win for veterans: Coming home from combat means facing the unseen challenges. For veterans with PTSD, every tool, resource, and treatment should be an option. This includes medical cannabis.” The House bill to allow marijuana businesses to list on stock exchanges got one new cosponsor for a total of two. / STATES Minnesota representatives posted a video about their psilocybin bill. An Oklahoma judge lifted a suspension on a medical cannabis business’s operations. Colorado regulators published guidance on cryptocurrency ATM scams targeting marijuana businesses. A Delaware marijuana appeals official resigned. New York regulators are taking action against unlicensed marijuana businesses. New Jersey regulators published a post about identifying legal marijuana businesses. Arkansas regulators posted a directory of consumable hemp products. Vermont regulators published a brochure about the medical cannabis program. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / INTERNATIONAL A UK lawmaker spoke about the benefits of legalizing marijuana. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A case report “illustrates the potential of cannabis oil as a promising therapeutic option for drug-resistant migraine.” A review concluded that “available studies demonstrate DMT’s potentially substantial post-treatment efficacy for substance misuse, particularly with psychotherapy.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Cannabis Regulators Association published an overview of federal marijuana rescheduling. Republican political operative Roger Stone authored a post about the implications of federal marijuana rescheduling. / BUSINESS Rubicon Organics Inc. entered into an agreement to temporarily increase its line of credit. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Hemp amendments stall in Congress, for now (Newsletter: April 29, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Congressional amendments to either delay the scheduled federal recriminalization of hemp THC products for another year or to speed up its implementation will not be considered on the House floor this week. Rep. James Comer (R-KY) filed the delay proposal as an amendment to the Farm Bill, while Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) introduced the accelerated approach. Neither will advance, however, after Comer withdrew his measure and the House Rules Committee did not make Miller’s in order for a floor vote. Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, Trump signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal after November 12. Comer’s amendment, which is cosponsored by Reps. Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA), sought to delay the ban until November 2027. Under Miller’s proposal, in contrast, the ban would kick in on the date the new Farm Bill is enacted. It’s not clear based on current progress in Congress when the large-scale agriculture legislation will actually become law, however, and the legislation could potentially not end up passing until after the current recriminalization date. Comer told the panel during a meeting on Monday that his amendment would “protect American farmers” and “support the thousands of jobs in the hemp industry and people who use and rely on these products.” “It is clear Congress needs more time to pass legislation that protects jobs, eliminates bad actors, standardizes labeling and requires third-party testing,” he said. “My amendment would provide Congress another year, until November 2027, to develop this solution.” It’s not clear why he decided to withdraw the proposal from consideration for attachment to the Farm Bill, formally known as the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, or H.R. 7567. Griffith, a member of the Rules Committee who cosponsored Comer’s amendment, noted that there are a lot of hemp products “from overseas that has no third-party testing” on the market, saying that “there’s all kinds of, frankly, garbage.” He said that the real solution is to have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate the products, citing a standalone bill he has introduced on the issue, but argued that “we’ve got to we have to have time to adjust,” which he said the delay amendment would provide. Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) also filed an amendment to the bill that, according to the sponsor’s summary, “amends the definition of ‘Hemp’ to preserve the lawful hemp market while creating a regulatory framework that protects children, bans synthetics, and ensures that any products on the market place are of American origin.” The congressman later withdrew the proposal from consideration for reasons that he did not announce. He did, however, recently receive a letter from White House officials who provided feedback on pending legislation to create a regulatory framework for hemp. Last week, Vince Haley, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and James Braid, assistant to the president for legislative affairs, sent hemp policy suggestions to Barr, who has been helping to lead efforts to enact regulations for the plant as an alternative to prohibition. “We appreciate your work to advance the policy of” an executive order Trump signed in December that included provisions seeking to protect Americans’ access to CBD products, the staffers wrote in a letter to the congressman. “We are transmitting for your consideration draft legislative text and comments to address the statutory definition of final hemp-derived cannabinoid products in order to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products while preserving the Congress’s intent to restrict the sale of products that pose serious health risks,” the White House officials said, according to a social media post containing a screenshot of the letter. “We are available for discussion and further technical assistance.” The attachment with the administration’s proposed legislative text has not been publicly released, and the White House and Barr’s office did not immediately respond to Marijuana Moment’s request for further details. It’s not clear from the letter’s text whether the White House was proactively sending legislative proposals to the lawmaker or if they were replying to something his office submitted—though two cannabis industry sources suggested to Marijuana Moment that Barr first sent language to the administration, which then provided technical feedback. Trump this week pushed congressional lawmakers to take action to amend the currently scheduled hemp ban, which he suggested threatens to federally recriminalize full-spectrum CBD products. “I am calling on Congress to update the Law to ensure that Americans can continue to access the full-spectrum CBD products they have come to rely on, and that help them, while preserving Congress’s intent to restrict the sale of products that pose Health risks,” the president said in a Truth Social post on Thursday, the same day his administration announced it is moving forward to reschedule marijuana. “We must get this done RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who saw that CBD helps them,” he said. “Plus, I am told it will also help our GREAT FARMERS, who we love, and will always be there for.” Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) had filed a hemp ban delay amendment before the House Agriculture Committee when it took up the Farm Bill last month, but that panel’s chairman determined that the proposal was not germane to the legislation. The Farm Bill as approved by the prior committee does contain some provisions aimed at aiding the hemp industry and farmers who grow cannabis for industrial purposes such as fiber and grain. For example, the legislation would amend existing statute related to the development of industrial hemp production regulatory plans by states and tribes—including surrounding polices for testing, sampling, background checks and record-keeping. A number of other bipartisan hemp reform bills are pending in Congress. This month, for example, Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) filed the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, which would effectively let states opt out of the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that is set to be enacted later this year. Ernst later withdrew her name as a cosponsor of the legislation, however. Her office did not reply to Marijuana Moment’s request for clarification on the move. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — A U.S. Department of Agriculture report published this month shows that farmers in the U.S. grew three-quarters of a billion dollars worth of hemp crops in 2025—a 64 percent increase from the prior year. Meanwhile, the Trump administration this month launched a new initiative to cover up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products each year for eligible Medicare 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. Anti-marijuana organizations filed a lawsuit suit against the Medicare hemp coverage policy, and lawyers for Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Director Mehmet Oz recently filed a brief asking that the case be dismissed. Meanwhile, the White House Office of Management and Budget has been holding a series of meetings about a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) CBD products enforcement policy. FDA also issued guidance making clear that it does not intend to interfere with implementation of the Medicare hemp-derived products coverage plan. CMS separately finalized a rule that will allow coverage of some hemp products as specialized, non-primarily health-related benefits through Medicare Advantage plans. As hemp products have become more popular with consumers, some large brands are attempting to get in on action. Major retailer Target, for example, is expanding its participation in the hemp-derived THC beverage market. Last year, the company began a pilot program involving sales of cannabis drinks at 10 select stores in Minnesota. That apparently went well, and now the company has obtained licenses from Minnesota regulators to sell lower-potency hemp edible products—including THC drinks—at all 72 of its stores in the state. The post Congressional Amendments To Delay Or Speed Up Federal Hemp THC Product Ban Won’t Get Votes appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“My stance on this issue has been clear. I remain committed to combatting the growing public health and safety threat marijuana poses.” By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner After the Trump administration federally downgraded medical marijuana to a less dangerous classification of drug on Thursday, Nebraska federal and state representatives remained largely noncommittal. Advocates, meanwhile, said the move means the “last prohibitionist talking point has collapsed.” “Nebraska officials can still oppose medical cannabis out of stubbornness, but they can no longer hide behind the claim that the federal government says cannabis has no accepted medical use. That excuse is gone,” said John Cartier, attorney general for the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, which is moving forward with its own medical cannabis program, separate from the State of Nebraska. On Thursday, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche immediately downgraded state-licensed and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved marijuana products to Schedule III. Schedule I drugs, such as heroin, LSD, ecstasy and peyote, are drugs the federal government has classified with a high likelihood of abuse and no currently accepted medical value. Schedule III drugs are defined as those with moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, such as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine and testosterone. “This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,” Blanche said in a Thursday statement. The DOJ said Thursday’s move recognized the “longstanding regulation of medical marijuana by state governments and the need for a commonsense approach to this reality.” Ricketts, Pillen, Bacon respond U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who decided not to seek reelection this year, told the Nebraska Examiner he supports the reclassification, “as it is necessary to allow for further research.” “Schedule I classification restricts the ability of scientists and doctors to conduct proper research into marijuana in a way that is counterproductive,” Bacon said. “As long as individual state laws regarding legality are not preempted, I support this move by the administration.” Some Nebraska leaders have long opposed marijuana and steps under former President Joe Biden or President Donald Trump to move the drug from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act. For instance, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., made national headlines in 2021 when the former Nebraska governor said: “If you legalize marijuana, you’re gonna kill your kids.” The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration states that no deaths from overdoses of marijuana have ever been reported. In response to Thursday’s changes, Ricketts told the Examiner: “From the time I was governor, my stance on this issue has been clear. I remain committed to combatting the growing public health and safety threat marijuana poses.” He did not specify how he might respond. Ricketts and U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., in separate congressional letters in mid-December, urged Trump not to move forward with the change. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) and Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) have also spoken against rescheduling marijuana on the state side. Pillen said the federal change “does not alter the ongoing regulatory process to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska” and that the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission would continue its work. “My goal is to honor Nebraska’s vote, while putting safeguards into place to prevent unregulated or unintended marijuana production,” Pillen said in a statement. “We will continue to engage with our federal partners as the process evolves.” Trump has endorsed Pillen, Ricketts, Hilgers and Flood, as well as U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., for reelection this fall. Nebraska AG’s Office ‘currently reviewing’ Hilgers led 10 other states in 2024 in a letter opposing similar marijuana rescheduling that had started under Biden but hadn’t finished before Trump returned in 2025. Other state attorneys general joining Hilgers were from Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina and South Dakota. Trump has made clear he hopes to finish the rescheduling process this time, with the DEA moving forward with a new public comment period to move marijuana generally from Schedule I to Schedule III, beginning June 29. “DEA is expeditiously moving forward with the administrative hearing process—bringing consistency and oversight to an area that has lacked both,” DEA Administrator Terry Cole said Thursday. “Our men and women in law enforcement remain committed to fighting drug cartels, the fentanyl epidemic and protecting American lives.” In response to Thursday’s changes, Suzanne Gage, a spokesperson for Hilgers, told the Nebraska Examiner: “Our office is currently reviewing.” In a December 19 interview with the Examiner, one day after Trump signed an executive order to expedite and move forward with rescheduling, Pillen said he disagreed with Trump’s decision. Pillen said keeping marijuana Schedule I “is really important in my view of the world.” “That stuff is a Schedule I drug, and it’s a Schedule I drug in my mind until the whole legislative process changes,” Pillen said at the time. Pillen has couched his position on marijuana as a former veterinarian, a profession he says has more pharmacological studies than any other health care provider. He said marijuana is a Schedule I drug “for a reason” and would always oppose recreational marijuana. “We’re following the law, but it’s not going to come in a way that there can be any abuse and have any opening of a black market for recreational marijuana,” Pillen said in December. “Long as I’m your governor, that’s where it’s going to be.” Congressional reaction Besides Ricketts and Bacon, spokespersons for Flood, Smith and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., did not immediately respond Thursday when asked for their reaction to the latest Trump administrative move on rescheduling. Fischer has still not answered why, as a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Nebraska was not added to a congressional list prohibiting the federal government, such as the DOJ or DEA, from interfering with state medical cannabis laws. Since 2014, states have been added to the list each year largely without issue. Today, 47 states are protected. No member of Nebraska’s federal delegation has explained why Nebraska’s voter-approved law was not included. Ricketts and Bacon said they didn’t find out Nebraska was left off in the January update until reporters reached out. “I am for states having the lead when it comes to cannabis policies and prefer the federal government stay away,” Bacon said in February. Ricketts has said he wasn’t a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a nod to Fischer. When asked whether he would support adding Nebraska, Ricketts sidestepped a reporter’s question. “Whatever we’re doing needs to be following within the law,” said Ricketts, who, as a U.S. senator, can seek to change federal laws, in a March 4 press call. “I’ll note at the federal level that marijuana is still a controlled substance.” State regulations moving forward In November 2024, an overwhelming majority of Nebraska voters legalized the possession of up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis with a health care practitioner’s recommendation. Voters also created the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, a governor-appointed regulatory board, to oversee the state supply chain. The four state medical cannabis commissioners did not respond when asked for comment Thursday on the rescheduling changes. To date, there are no licensed state dispensaries to sell products that would be downgraded under the Trump-Blanche decision, but the commission has crafted regulations toward that goal. Some Nebraskans have gone to surrounding states in the meantime. State regulations for the drug are now sitting in Hilgers’s office. Gage said last week that the “standard process” for reviewing and signing off on regulations would be followed. She did not respond to a follow-up question about whether Hilgers’s continued opposition to the drug and questions around the 2024 petition drive might impact his review. Hilgers’s office has suggested it could challenge Nebraska’s laws on preemption grounds, basically arguing that Nebraska can’t legalize marijuana because of federal law on the drug. Those actions have not yet materialized. A former state senator tried to make similar arguments in district court, but the trial judge dismissed the case last year. Hilgers’s office defended state officials while the Medical Cannabis Commission obtained outside legal counsel, with those attorneys asking for the case to be dropped. The former senator’s case has been appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court and heads to oral arguments Monday. It’s unclear what Thursday’s changes might mean for Hilgers’s opposition. Multiple national groups supportive of marijuana said they expect the DOJ changes might be challenged. Marijuana is also shaping up as an election issue in Nebraska, with cross-partisan opponents to Ricketts, Flood, Hilgers, Pillen and others leaning into medical cannabis as an election issue. Former State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, the Democratic frontrunner challenging Pillen’s reelection, praised the Trump administration’s announcement Thursday: “I’ve heard it in every community I’ve visited across the state. The will of the voters should be upheld and listened to. This is a step in the right direction, especially for patients that are waiting for access.” ‘A personal and political choice’ Cartier said state leaders shouldn’t treat the Omaha Tribe’s lawful program as a threat or question tribal sovereignty. The Omaha Tribe is now reviewing prospective proposals received under a national request and seeking to vet the “right partner.” The Omaha Tribe, Cartier said, aims to be a “regional leader in providing safe, lawful access and meaningful relief to thousands of patients.” Hilgers previously called medical cannabis “poison” and told Nebraskans that if they went to the Omaha Tribe to buy marijuana, as many have said they would, they do so “at their own peril.” Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the organization that led the successful 2024 campaign, said opponents had long “hidden” behind the federal classification as “political cover” to justify delay, obstruction and inaction as patients suffered and families waited.” Most Nebraska legislative efforts around medical cannabis have stalled, including one Eggers and other supporters said was critical this month to protecting health care providers who recommend the drug to patients. “From this point forward, any continued delay, obstruction, or attack on medical cannabis is exactly what it is: a personal and a political choice. A deliberate decision to stand in the way of patients and the will of the voters,” Eggers said Thursday. She continued: “If Nebraska officials continue standing in the way, they should at least be honest enough to admit they are doing it because they want to, not because they have to.” This story was first published by Nebraska Examiner. The post Nebraska Officials React To Federal Marijuana Rescheduling As State Slowly Implements Voter-Approved Legalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“I am a little bit frustrated, but she is the governor, I’m not the governor. It’s a long process, but good legislation sometimes takes time.” By Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury Five years after Virginia legalized simple adult possession of marijuana, lawmakers are at an impasse over how to finally stand up a legal retail market, after the General Assembly last week rejected more than 40 changes proposed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) and sent the legislation back to her desk. The move leaves Spanberger with a binary choice: sign a long-debated proposal to launch retail sales or veto it and prolong a yearslong stalemate that has left Virginia in a legal gray area, where cannabis is allowed to be possessed, but not legally purchased. The governor’s substitute, which frustrated many lawmakers and stakeholders, would delay the start of retail sales to July 1, 2027, while restructuring much of the framework lawmakers had negotiated during the session. “Five years ago, the commonwealth took the first steps to legalize marijuana—and for five years, the work sat unfinished,” Spanberger said in a statement. “We are working to set up a marketplace that is controlled, regulated, and responsible—because legal markets only succeed when there are clear guardrails and enforcement to back it up.” Under her proposal, regulators would begin accepting license applications by September 1, 2026, with various licenses issued in early 2027 ahead of the planned launch. Lawmakers reject extensive rewrite At the heart of the dispute is the governor’s attempt to rewrite large portions of House Bill 642 and Senate Bill 542, the companion measures aimed at establishing an adult-use cannabis market in Virginia. Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, who sponsored the House bill, said the modifications went too far. “Some of the changes in there were fine, but most of them were contrary to where we had arrived through the legislative process,” Krizek said. Legislators and the governor “want a well-regulated, adult-use cannabis retail market in Virginia, and we’re going to get there. It’s just a process right now.” Krizek said he hopes Spanberger ultimately signs the bill but acknowledged the uncertainty ahead. “Whether it takes another session, or if she doesn’t veto it, then we’ll work with her on some of the changes that maybe she needs to see,” he said. Pressed on whether the process has been challenging, Krizek did not hesitate. “I can’t lie and say I’m not frustrated. I am a little bit frustrated, but she is the governor, I’m not the governor,” he said. “It’s a long process, but good legislation sometimes takes time.” Spanberger, in a separate statement, said she intends to keep negotiating with lawmakers. “I will continue to work with the patrons of the bills that are coming back to my desk to make sure that when these bills become law, we get it right,” she said. Shift to regulatory framework, tighter controls The governor’s proposed changes would fundamentally shift how the legislation that lawmakers sent to her desk structures Virginia’s cannabis market. Rather than embedding detailed licensing rules in state law, Spanberger’s substitute would remove large portions of the statutory framework and instead direct the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to establish those rules through regulations. The proposal also reduces the number of retail licenses from 350 to 200 and extends that cap through January 1, 2029, after which regulators would determine future limits. It further restructures oversight of the Cannabis Control Authority by eliminating legislative appointments to its board and making all members gubernatorial appointees, while reducing required agricultural representation. Other provisions of the enrolled bill would be stripped entirely. Those include the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund, authority for the governor to negotiate cannabis-related agreements with tribal governments—federally recognized Native American tribes that can operate with a degree of sovereign authority—and a requirement for the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to operate a tip line for reporting illegal activity. The substitute would also change how cannabis tax revenue is distributed, eliminating fixed percentage allocations and instead directing lawmakers to allocate funds through the state budget for priorities such as public health, education and workforce development. The state tax rate would be set at 6 percent until July 2029, rising to 8 percent thereafter. Spanberger framed the changes as necessary to strengthen enforcement and public safety, particularly as the state grapples with an illicit market offering unregulated products. “To keep our next generation safe, we must also ensure real consequences for vape shops that have spent years targeting Virginia’s kids,” she said. “We need to rein in these shady businesses and make sure a legal marijuana market does not make the problem worse.” Penalties, timelines and market uncertainty The substitute also proposes tougher penalties in several areas. Public consumption would increase from a civil penalty to a Class 4 misdemeanor, while underage possession would be treated as a Class 1 misdemeanor, with potential fines, community service and license suspension. The personal possession limit would be reduced from 2.5 ounces to 2 ounces. Additional changes target advertising restrictions, medical cannabis delivery requirements and hemp regulations, including delaying the elimination of the state’s 25:1 hemp ratio—a standard used to distinguish legal hemp products from marijuana based on THC concentration—until November 2026. Beyond the retail legislation, lawmakers also rejected the governor’s proposed amendments to HB 26 and SB 62, which would allow reconsideration of sentences for certain marijuana-related convictions. Her changes would have clarified that individuals convicted of violent offenses or serious drug crimes would not be eligible for reconsideration. At the same time, Spanberger signed separate legislation targeting vape retailers, including HB 308 and SB 620, which establish enforcement mechanisms to shut down shops that repeatedly sell to minors. The measures require the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to conduct periodic compliance checks. Stakeholders warn of continued delays Advocates and industry stakeholders offered different reactions to the legislature’s rejection of the governor’s substitute. Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of Marijuana Justice, called the move a victory for equity-focused organizers. “Virginia’s General Assembly rejecting the governor’s substitute is a testament to the work of equity, racial and criminal justice organizers,” she said. “Not only would the governor’s substitute be worse for Black, brown and low income communities than the status quo, her language ignored the reform, repair and redress required to acknowledge the decades of racist enforcement.” She urged Spanberger to allow the legislation to become law without further changes. “The leader Virginia needs right now would listen to her constituents and allow the marijuana bills to become law this year,” Wise said. Industry leaders, however, warned that continued delays risk prolonging an unregulated market. “While we are disappointed by delays in establishing an adult-use cannabis market, we remain hopeful that the governor and lawmakers can come together to chart a clear, workable path forward for Virginia,” said Rodney Holcombe, vice president of public policy at LeafLink. “Unfortunately, every day without a regulated market is a day the illicit market continues to operate unchecked, undermining public safety, consumer protections, and, ultimately, legitimate businesses,” he added. “Virginia has done the hard work to get to this point, now it’s time to finish the job.” Spanberger must take action on the cannabis retail bill—approve it without her tweaks or reject it completely—within 30 days. This story was first published by Virginia Mercury. The post Virginia Marijuana Bill Sponsor Hopes Governor Doesn’t Veto After Lawmakers Rejected Her Changes appeared first on Marijuana Moment. 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Maryland’s governor has signed a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job. Gov. Wes Moore (D) gave final approval to the measure on Tuesday, weeks after it cleared the Senate and House of Delegates. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Carl Jackson (D), amends 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 will not face employment discrimination or retaliation for testing positive for cannabis metabolites if they’re a registered patient. As of October 1, employers cannot “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 cannot “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 prohibits 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 will be reported to the State Emergency Medical Services Board. The enactment of SB 439 comes after years of attempts over recent sessions to enact the reform aimed at giving emergency service professionals the option to use cannabis as an alternative treatment for health conditions that commonly afflict the first responder community. Del. Adrian Boafo (D) sponsored an identical bill, HB 797, that passed the House this session. The change is “so critically important to our firefighters” and other rescue professionals who “work long shifts in tense emergencies and high-stress situations every day,” Boafo said at a committee hearing. “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.” The enactment 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. — Earlier this month, the governor signed separate legislation to provide legal protections for veterinarians who recommend medical cannabis for animals. Another proposal that passed extends a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027 to develop updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel drugs and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. Legislators also took up a bill this session to protect the gun rights of medical marijuana patients in the state, but it did not pass. Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Maryland Governor Signs Bill To Let Firefighters And Rescue Workers Use Medical Marijuana Off Duty Without Being Punished For It appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“The industry cannot ask for nuanced, evidence-informed regulation while simultaneously declining to produce the evidence that would make that possible.” By Leah Kollross, 23rd State Cannabis beverages are one of the fastest-growing segments in the hemp and cannabis marketplace, and one of the most structurally vulnerable to regulatory backlash. The reason has less to do with the products themselves, and has everything to do with the fact that most operators in this space cannot prove their products do what they claim. That’s not an indictment of any single brand. It’s a category-wide failure of accountability, and with federal hemp policy still unsettled and state-level frameworks actively being written, it’s a failure the industry can no longer afford to ignore. The Problem Isn’t That The Products Don’t Work. It’s That We Can’t Prove They Do. Look at any cannabis or hemp beverage brand’s marketing and you’ll find the same vocabulary: fast onset, consistent effects, a cleaner alternative to alcohol, harm reduction benefits, mood support. These are real attributes for well-formulated products. They are also almost universally unsubstantiated. Industry estimates suggest fewer than 5 percent of cannabis beverage manufacturers invest in any form of independent product validation. The rest are operating on anecdotes, internal testing and consumer feedback loops that tell you what people want to hear, not necessarily what’s true. This matters more than most operators realize. Retailers making shelf allocation decisions don’t have evidence to distinguish between products. Legislators drafting hemp THC regulations don’t have data to calibrate between well-formulated and poorly-made products. And consumers, particularly those who are new to the category, those reducing alcohol consumption or those managing chronic conditions, are making real decisions based on claims that no one has independently verified. The regulatory risk here is direct: an industry that cannot produce evidence of its own performance invites blunt regulation built on the absence of data rather than the presence of it. Real-World Research Is Starting To Close That Gap Marijuana Moment covered the MoreBetter Real-World Infused Beverage Study when results from the first cohort became available, and the headline findings were significant: measurable reductions in daily alcohol use among participants, a strong majority reporting infused beverages felt safer for their health than alcohol and nearly half of participants trying an infused beverage for the first time. These are not trivial numbers for a category trying to make the case that it belongs in serious regulatory conversation. But what the coverage of that study may have underemphasized is what the data looked like at the product level. Across more than 5,000 participants, 20 brands and multiple cohorts, the MoreBetter dataset has begun to reveal something that operators should find both clarifying and uncomfortable: not all THC beverages perform the same. Onset time, taste, duration and consistency vary measurably between products and, for the first time, there is a dataset large enough to document those differences rather than simply assert them. For operators who have invested in formulation quality and bioavailability, this is good news. For operators who have relied on marketing claims without the science to back them up, it is a problem that is about to become much harder to ignore. The Policy Argument For Participation I serve on the National Cannabis Industry Association’s (NCIA) Human Resources Committee. I watch policy conversations develop in real time at both the state and federal level. And the consistent challenge facing hemp-derived beverage operators is that regulators are being asked to make decisions about a category for which meaningful independent evidence is scarce. That is not a neutral condition. In the absence of industry-generated data, regulators default to precautionary frameworks, and precautionary frameworks applied to hemp THC products tend to look like the kind of blunt restrictions that treat a well-dosed, research-validated beverage the same as an unlabeled, unverified product manufactured with no quality controls. The industry cannot ask for nuanced, evidence-informed regulation while simultaneously declining to produce the evidence that would make that possible. This is the argument I’ve been making to operators who are weighing whether to participate in research studies like MoreBetter’s: this is not primarily a marketing expense. It is an investment in the regulatory environment your business will operate in over the next five to ten years. Every brand that participates in legitimate independent research contributes to a shared evidentiary base. Every brand that doesn’t is free-riding on the credibility built by the ones that do, all the while leaving the category’s overall data picture thinner than it needs to be. What This Looks Like In Practice At 23rd State, we enrolled our products in the MoreBetter study not just because we were certain the data would be flattering, but because we believed the category needed operators willing to subject their formulations to independent scrutiny. That’s what responsible product development looks like. It’s also what the cannabis beverage category will need to demonstrate systematically if it wants a durable seat at the regulatory table. The brands that will define this category long-term are not necessarily the ones with the best branding or the largest distribution footprints. They are the ones that can demonstrate their products perform consistently, and in ways that are measurable and independently verified. That standard is achievable. It requires investment, transparency and a willingness to let the data tell the story rather than the marketing copy. The window to build that foundation before regulatory frameworks harden is open. It will not stay open indefinitely. Leah Kollross is the founder of 23rd State, a Minnesota-based cannabis beverage brand, and a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Human Resources Committee. The post The Cannabis Beverage Industry Has An Evidence Problem, With Too Few Companies Submitting Products For Independent Scrutiny (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

China’s agricultural history with cannabis is deeper than previously believed, with a new study placing the staple crop among “the five grains” (alongside rice and barely, for example) that were foundational to the ancient Eurasian economy and “deeply integrated into the daily lives of the inhabitants.” For the study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, researchers at Shandong University conducted phytolith extraction and analysis of 132 samples found in Beitaishang and Qianzhongzitou settlements dating back to the Late Neolithic era. The results showed that, by that point, cannabis had become a “core crop in northern China, primarily used for food or fiber.” The study authors—who also listed affiliations with the Chinese Ministry of Education, the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Shandong Province and other institutions in China—said the samples they analyzed “suggest that cannabis had been systematically integrated into the local agricultural economy, becoming a key component of the core crop assemblage in northern China by at least the Late Neolithic.” “By the Late Neolithic, cannabis became a core crop in northern China, primarily used for food or fiber.” Part of the reason the discovery seems to reflect a broader agricultural integration of the crop is because samples were collected from archaeological features such as ash pits, floors and foundations in small- to medium-sized settlements in the Shandong region, which provides “valuable insights into the role of cannabis in the local agricultural economy.” Finding cannabis in these specific types of ancient features reflects “daily seed processing and consumption activities at the household level,” the study says. “At the Beitaishang site, cannabis phytoliths were found in 22 out of 32 samples (68.8 percent) in the Longshan period. At the Qianzhongzitou site, cannabis phytoliths were identified in 47 out of 65 samples (72.3 percent) from the Longshan period, and in 16 out of 31 samples (51.6 percent) from the Yueshi period,” it says. “Our study demonstrates that cannabis had already become one of the ‘five grains’ (rice, millet, barley, soybean, and cannabis) since the Longshan period in Shandong, as evidenced by systematic phytolith analysis. The analysis of the archaeological context further reveals that cannabis processing and consumption were deeply integrated into the daily lives of the inhabitants, making it an indispensable component of their agricultural subsistence. This finding fundamentally challenges the previous underestimation of cannabis’s status based on limited organic remains and reaffirms its significant role in the agricultural economy of prehistoric northern China.” The study—funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China, which is part of the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology—suggests that “cannabis processing and consumption were deeply integrated into daily life,” the researchers said. Unlike in other archaeological records indicating that psychoactive cannabis was “typically associated with burial and ritual contexts across Eurasia,” including “psychoactive shoots, infructescences and Teaves of cannabis found in Bronze Age Xinjiang tombs,” these latest findings “reflect clear differences in both unearthed contexts and plant parts, emphasizing the more daily and subsistence-oriented use of cannabis in Shandong.” “This study focuses on the fibre-type cannabis for experimentation and analysis, as the drug-type cannabis is strictly regulated in most countries due to its psychoactive compounds,” the study concludes. And to that point, one of the study authors, Yong Ge, told Marijuana Moment in an email that the researchers “stand against the abusive use of cannabis as a drug.” “In this regard, we are fully aligned with China’s stance on drug control,” she said. China’s strict anti-drug policies have also extended to low-THC hemp and its derivatives like CBD. In 2024, for example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advised stakeholders about a policy change in China that imposed tighter regulations on cannabidiol, though it said at the time that the rules were expected to benefit the industry. Meanwhile, with respect to the evolution of human relationships with the cannabis plant, a 2023 paper in the European Journal for Chemistry traced the history of the crop through “thousands of years of contact with mankind,” noting the plant’s legacy as a source of fiber, nutrition, medicine, spirituality and pleasure. An ancient biblical tribe in Israel also likely used marijuana to produce hallucinogenic effects as part of cultic rituals, according to a 2020 study that identified cannabis resin on an alter in a shrine built around 750 BCE. Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post Chinese Researchers Reveal Ancient Use Of Cannabis As ‘Indispensable’ Crop That Was ‘Deeply Integrated’ Into Daily Life appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

North Carolina lawmakers will take a more serious look at legalizing medical marijuana in the state following the Trump administration’s move to reschedule cannabis at the federal level, the state’s top senator says. The North Carolina Senate has passed medical cannabis bills in a number of past sessions that have later stalled out in the House of Representatives. But now that federal marijuana rescheduling is moving forward under a process announced by the U.S. Department of Justice last week, North Carolina’s Senate leader says his members will discuss plans to potentially try to advance the issue again. “We’ll have a conversation within our caucus as to whether or not we do something, if they’re interested in continuing to pursue that,” Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) said, WRAL-TV reported. If the Senate does pass a medical cannabis bill again, it’s not yet clear how House leadership would react this time. The federal marijuana reform action and comments by the state Senate leader come weeks after a governor-appointed cannabis commission in North Carolina issued a report recommending that the state move away from a criminalization-based approach to the plant 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 earlier this month 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. “Compared to regulated marijuana frameworks in other states, this environment presents identifiable risks,” the interim 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 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.” The group’s report notes that “ultimately, the authority to bring order to the unregulated, unsafe cannabis market rests with the General Assembly.” 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. 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. 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. The post North Carolina Could Legalize Medical Marijuana Now That It’s Been Federally Rescheduled, Senate Leader Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

What an inspiring transformation, Andrea! Your journey from Wine Mom to Canna Mom highlights the power of making intentional choices for our health and well-being. It reminds me of the dummies world cup, where individuals come together to celebrate their passions and support each other in their journeys.

WH press secretary: Marijuana reform “overwhelmingly popular”; TN gov signs bill blocking medical cannabis review; IN gov directs marijuana meetings 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… Your good deed for the day: donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there. Support our work at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration is moving forward with marijuana rescheduling because it is “overwhelmingly popular with the vast majority of Americans” and will help people “who need it for medical treatment.” “The president was willing to take this step to do that at the behest of the American public, who largely support it, and many of his health advisors on his team who he spoke with about it.” The Drug Enforcement Administration announced it will begin accepting applications this week for medical marijuana businesses to apply for federal protections being granted under the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a bill to block an automatic review that could have legalized medical cannabis under state law following federal marijuana rescheduling. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) has directed state agencies to meet with medical cannabis advocates as federal marijuana rescheduling takes effect. Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that federal cannabis rescheduling will upend policies discriminating against patients in housing, employment and healthcare. “The recognition of cannabis as a legitimate medicine means that patients and their caregivers are no longer considered criminals under federal law. They have federal rights. Those rights now protect patients in housing, employment, healthcare and in their military careers.” The Nebraska Supreme Court held a hearing in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn voter-approved medical cannabis legalization because, as the former state senator who filed it argues, the policy is preempted by federal law. / FEDERAL The Food and Drug Administration’s annual congressional budget justification touts the agency’s work on “exploring efforts to accelerate treatment development for post-traumatic stress disorder, including psychedelic drug development.” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) asked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about psychedelics during a hearing. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted, “Good work by @POTUS protecting continued research and access to alternative treatments with hemp-derived CBD. My bipartisan solution, the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, would keep hemp products accessible to Americans who rely on their medical benefits while keeping consumer safety in mind.” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) tweeted, “Deregulate Hemp completely.” Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) hosted Trulieve’s CEO on his show for a segment about marijuana rescheduling. Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) appeared on the podcast of prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana. / STATES Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is proposing changes to cannabis tax laws. Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (R), who is running for governor, tweeted, “I’ve been clear from day one. I am completely against legalizing marijuana. We’ve seen the impact in other states, and that’s not where Florida is headed. I stand with Governor DeSantis on this. No compromises, and no money from the marijuana industry. That can’t be said for all of my opponents.” New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland, a former U.S. interior secretary, tweeted, “The cannabis industry is an essential part of New Mexico’s economy. As your next governor, I will bring stability to the cannabis industry and improve quality testing so that this industry can thrive.” Washington State regulators are moving to amend rules on cannabis business licensing fees. Michigan regulators are refusing to release an unredacted version of a memo about the implications of a new wholesale marijuana tax. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics director is celebrating federal marijuana rescheduling. The Vermont Cannabis Control Board’s general counsel said federal marijuana rescheduling could “turbocharge” the state’s medical marijuana industry. The Maryland Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances is accepting applications for special advisors. Oregon regulators sent a newsletter about the psilocybin services program. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / INTERNATIONAL Canadian officials released data about medical cannabis registrations. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “patients with chronic health conditions prescribed [medicinal cannabis] had significant and clinically meaningful improvements in [health-related quality of life] and reduced their dependence on conventional medicines.” A study found that “CBD inhibits infection of all HIV-1 cellular targets, and commercial CBD products might be repositioned as novel HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis, namely ‘CBD PrEP’.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS A poll of Pennsylvania adults found that they support legalizing marijuana, 47 percent to 25 percent. The Wall Street Journal editorial board said “too many Americans still think pot is harmless, and the Trump Administration is contributing to that delusion.” / BUSINESS TerrAscend Corp. announced preliminary expected quarterly net revenue of $65.5 million, Canadian retailers sold C$440.5 million worth of legal cannabis products in February. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post Cannabis businesses can apply for federal protections with DEA this week (Newsletter: April 28, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Chiara's dedication to cannabis law and now her focus on psychedelic justice is truly inspiring! It's great to see experienced legal professionals like her advocating for these communities. Her work with The Psychedelic Justice League sounds incredibly important. It reminds me of the precision and control needed in something like Drift Hunters, where every small adjustment makes a huge difference in the final outcome. Kudos to Chiara for her commitment!

Indiana state officials are holding a series of meetings with medical marijuana advocates at the direction of the Republican governor. One day after the Trump administration announced that federal cannabis rescheduling is moving forward, officials from the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Health and other state agencies sat down with Hoosier Veterans for Medical Cannabis and Indiana NORML to discuss potential next steps at the state level. The meetings, activists said, came at the request of Gov. Mike Braun (R). “The governor has reached out to us to meet with other heads within his department to get their intake on this move,” military veteran Jeff Staker, one of the advocates, told Fox 59. “Our next step, hopefully, will be in the governor’s office.” Lucy Luman, who is also a veteran and serves as chair of Indiana NORML, said that federal reform “does address the major challenges that our legislators have put forward previously.” The advocates previously met with Indiana Secretary of Business Affairs Mike Speedy, they told WHTR-TV. “It tells you that the governor’s really taken a close look at this, and I’m hoping that our organization and others can get in the governor’s office and have that discussion with him and brainstorm further,” Staker said. “You got to realize that a lot of our state legislators have been waiting for exactly this to happen.” “The feds have made their move, and now it’s time for Indiana to make ours,” he said. “And of course, we want to do it right.” State Rep. Jim Lucas (R) said that federal marijuana rescheduling “takes away the arguments that the opposition had in our state.” State Sen. Rodney Pol (D) agreed, saying the Trump administration’s action “has helped move the ball.” Last month, the governor said the “crescendo will rise” in the call to legalize marijuana, with regional dynamics and even law enforcement buy-in favoring reform down the line. But for now, he said GOP legislative leadership is “not interested in doing anything soon,” even if “over half of Hoosiers probably smoke it illegally.” Braun said at the time that he thinks lawmakers should take “an additional look at” medical cannabis and that, while he’s personally “agnostic” on legalization, the reality is that Indiana is “surrounded now by four states” that allow either medical or adult-use cannabis. “Over half of Hoosiers probably smoke it illegally,” he said, noting that neighboring Kentucky permits patients to access medical cannabis, while Illinois, Michigan and Ohio have recreational marijuana laws on the books. “I’m going to listen to law enforcement. Even they have changed their opinion in terms of legalizing it and regulating it,” Braun said, adding that he’d compare cannabis to gambling. The state was late in the game to adopt laws allowing adults to gamble, he said, but now it ranks in the top three states nationwide in terms of revenue per capita from the vice. “Some people aren’t going to want it, just out of principle. A lot of our state police and sheriffs are tolerating people going across the border [to buy cannabis]. It’ll be an increasing issue that, so far, our state legislature has kind of dug in against it,” he said. “I’ve been more agnostic about it. I can see points of view, and I’ve seen law enforcement move on it somewhat.” “So that would give you the best description of where the dynamic is in our state,” the governor told WOWO. “I think the leader of the Senate especially, and the Speaker of the House, are pretty—and they control the legislative agenda—not interested in doing anything soon. But I think the crescendo will rise, and that describes in a snapshot where we’re at.” Braun similarly talked about the issue in another recent interview, saying the state is “probably going to have to address” the issue and likening cannabis reform to sports betting. Lawmakers in the state had already signaled that marijuana legalization isn’t in the cards in the 2026 session, meaning another year where Indiana will be an outlier as one of the few remaining states without effective medical or adult-use cannabis laws. The governor separately said in January that he’s “amenable” to the idea of legalizing medical cannabis in the state. Instead, Indiana legislators this session have been focused on efforts to ban hemp THC products—though it seems that fight is over for 2026 after a last-minute push failed late last month. Braun has previously said that federal marijuana rescheduling could add “a little bit of fire” to the local push for cannabis legalization in his state. Among Indiana residents, a survey released in January found that nearly three in five back legalizing cannabis for medical and recreational use. Specifically, the annual Hoosier Survey from the Bowen Center at Ball State University (BSU) found that 59 percent of residents are in favor of legalizing cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes. An additional 25 percent back only allowing patients to access medical marijuana, raising the total support for that reform to 84 percent. — 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. — Braun, for his part, previously said that “it’s probably time” to allow access to therapeutic cannabis among patients in the state. Those comments came alongside a separate poll indicating that nearly 9 in 10 Indiana adults (87 percent) support marijuana legalization. Top Republicans in the legislature, however, have openly opposed marijuana reform. “It’s no secret that I am not for this,” Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R) said in late 2024. “I don’t have people coming to me with really compelling medical cases as to why it’s so beneficial. And any state that I’ve seen pass medical marijuana is essentially passing recreational marijuana.” House Speaker Todd Huston (R) doubted any medical benefits associated with marijuana, calling the substance “a deterrent to mental health.” He and others suggested that lawmakers supportive of the reform merely want to boost state revenue. The post Indiana GOP Governor Directs State Agencies To Meet With Medical Marijuana Advocates As Federal Rescheduling Takes Effect appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net