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A Republican senator said he expects bipartisan legislation to be introduced in Congress this week to avert what he called the “disaster” of the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that is set to be enacted later this year. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said in an online town hall meeting he hosted on Tuesday that hemp has “become a multi-billion-dollar industry” since products with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a drug-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 in a way that advocates say stands to destroy the industry, making it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal. “I lament the government’s trying to destroy this industry now, but I’m doing everything I can and working across the aisle with a Democrat senator to try to say that if your state has decided to regulate hemp, then the state law would supersede the federal law, which is kind of really the way it’d be ought to be,” Paul said. The GOP senator said he and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) plan to file legislation “that I think is going to be introduced this week” to give states a way around the broad federal prohibition that’s scheduled to take effect in November. I’m working across the aisle to protect HEMP — a multi-billion dollar, legal industry supporting farmers in Kentucky and across America. Washington shouldn’t destroy what states are managing successfully. Let’s keep this industry strong. pic.twitter.com/hXgTRqHvmj — Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) April 16, 2026 “She’s on the Agricultural Committee, and they do the Farm Bill. Our hope is that she can get a vote in committee to try to attach this to the Farm Bill,” Paul said of the forthcoming standalone hemp relief bill. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed, but it’s difficult for those in business right now, because it’s a crop, it has to be planted, and if it’s going to be made illegal in November, farmers are wondering whether they should plant it this year.” The text of the Paul-Klobuchar hemp bill has not yet been made publicly available, but a source told Marijuana Moment on Thursday that its provisions would effectively allow states to opt out of the federal hemp THC recriminalization policy and conduct interstate commerce between themselves. Paul, for his part, said in the town hall meeting this week that “Kentucky has a successful hemp industry.” “There are new startup companies now. They’ve expanded to the tune of millions of dollars,” he said. “And it’s been good for Kentucky. It’s good for Kentucky farmers. It’s a cash crop, kind of like tobacco—not as big as tobacco, but kind of like tobacco as a cash crop—and I think we ought to expand it.” Watch Paul’s full hemp comments, beginning around 41:50 into the video below: Paul had previously said back in November of last year that his planned hemp reform bill could be filed within days, but that didn’t materialize. Other lawmakers have introduced legislation to delay the scheduled recriminalization of hemp THC products, but those efforts have not gained traction with congressional leadership. 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 Bipartisan Bill To Save Hemp Industry From Renewed Federal Criminalization Could Be Filed This Week, Rand Paul Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to issue an executive order as soon as this week signaling the administration’s willingness to explore the therapeutic benefits and safety of the psychedelic substance ibogaine. CBS News reported on Thursday that while the administration doesn’t plan to reschedule the psychedelic out of Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) at this time, the move is “meant to open the door to federal funding for further research on its effectiveness with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, especially among veterans.” The outlet said that while officials are still in the process of drafting the executive order’s provisions, the aim is to help determine whether ibogaine is what one source described as “snake oil” or is instead a legitimate treatment. Citing two sources, CBS reported that the president’s move could come within days. Early research and experience indicates that ibogaine can help people suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and drug addiction. Lawmakers in a number of states have passed legislation to support clinical trials with the aim of developing ibogaine into a legal medication with approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Texas officials, for example, recently announced that the state will move ahead with launching its own research program on the psychedelic after the they couldn’t find a company to lead a consortium on the issue under a bill enacted last year. The reportedly planned federal move on ibogaine comes nearly four months after Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Justice to completed the process of moving marijuana from Schedule I of the CSA to Schedule III “in the most expeditious manner”—though that still hasn’t happened. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said recently that the Trump administration is “very anxious” to create a pathway for access to psychedelics therapy and that top officials across federal agencies want to “get it out to the public as quickly as possible.” In an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience in February, Kennedy said he’s confident “we’re going to get it done,” with plans to develop and finalize rules that would enable patients with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression to access psychedelic substances like psilocybin and MDMA in a “very controlled setting.” “Everybody in my agency…is very anxious to get a rule out there that will allow these kind of studies and will allow access under therapeutic settings, particularly [for] the military soldiers who have suffered these injuries to get access to these products,” the HHS secretary said. “We’re working through that process now. We’re all working on it and trying to make it happen.” “I think that we’re going to get it done,” he said. Last June, Kennedy said his agency is “absolutely committed” to expanding research on the benefits of psychedelic therapy and, alongside of the head of FDA, is aiming to provide legal access to such substances for military veterans “within 12 months.” VA Secretary Doug Collins also disclosed in April that he had an “eye-opening” talk with Kennedy about the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine. And he said he’s open to the idea of having the government provide vouchers to cover the costs of psychedelic therapy for veterans who receive services outside of VA as Congress considers pathways for access. Bipartisan congressional lawmakers introduced legislation this session to provide $30 million in funding annually to establish psychedelic-focused “centers for excellence” at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, where veterans could receive novel treatment involving substances like psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) has said ibogaine represents an “astonishing breakthrough” in the nation’s current “sick care system” that’s left people with serious mental health conditions without access to promising alternative treatment options. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Scamperdale. The post Trump Plans To Sign Executive Order On The Psychedelic Ibogaine As Soon As This Week, Report Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“If the loophole persists, that trust erodes. Not because the hemp farmers are bad people. But because a system that applies rigorous standards to one channel and none to another will eventually produce a failure that damages everyone.” By Jason Leisey, Emerald Tea Supply Co. I spent years in institutional finance trading macro derivatives before I built a licensed cannabis dispensary in New Jersey. I understand how regulatory arbitrage works—how a legal category distinction, rather than any meaningful difference in the underlying asset, can create a two-tier market where one side bears all the cost and the other captures all the margin. That is exactly what the hemp loophole in federal and state laws has produced. A recent Marijuana Moment op-ed authored by hemp farmer John Grady, eloquent as it is, argues for keeping it that way. Let me be clear about where I stand: I am not anti-hemp. I am not lobbying for marijuana to win a market war. I am pro-regulation of THC—full stop—regardless of which plant it came from. That distinction is the foundation of everything that follows. First: Hemp And Cannabis Are The Same Plant Before we can talk policy, we need to talk biology—because the entire regulatory debate rests on a distinction that does not exist in nature. Hemp and cannabis are the same species: Cannabis sativa L. The difference between them isn’t visible in a field, detectable in a lab, or encoded in genetics. It exists exclusively in a law book. Since the 2018 Farm Bill, federal law has defined “hemp” as any cannabis plant containing 0.3 percent or less Delta-9 THC by dry weight. Everything above that threshold is legally “marijuana.” Same plant. Same molecule. Different regulatory universe depending on a number. Think of it like moonshine and bourbon. Both are distilled from grain. Both are chemically ethanol. Nobody argues that moonshine should be sold unregulated at a farmers market simply because it came from a different still—or because the distiller loves the craft. The intoxicating molecule is the same. The public safety obligation is the same. The source doesn’t change the standard. That is exactly what has happened with hemp and cannabis. And in 2026, the practical consequence of that category error has become impossible to ignore. The Molecule Doesn’t Care About The Label The central argument in Grady’s Marijuana Moment op-ed is that hemp and marijuana are the same plant, so they should be treated differently by regulators. Read that sentence again. He uses biological unity to argue for regulatory fragmentation. That is not a coherent position. A hemp-derived delta-9 THC gummy and a dispensary-sold THC gummy produce similar physiological effects in the person who consumes them. Grady’s “Hemporium” model asks consumers to trust that the unregulated version is just as safe as the one subject to mandatory third-party testing, seed-to-sale tracking and state-certified lab verification for heavy metals, pesticides and residual solvents. That is not consumer protection. That is a market positioning argument dressed in the language of one. If the plants are the same, the rules must be the same. The molecule doesn’t care about the label. Neither should the law. Regulation Is A Safety Floor, Not A Barrier Grady frames the licensed dispensary channel as a “market entry barrier.” He’s right that it is—in the same way that an Federal Aviation Administration license is a barrier to flying a commercial aircraft. A private pilot who loves the sky and has logged thousands of hours still cannot fly a 737 without certification, because the stakes of failure extend far beyond the cockpit. At Emerald Tea Supply Co., our “barriers” include state-mandated lab testing for every product on our shelves, strict age verification with no exceptions, zoning requirements that respect school buffers and community standards, seed-to-sale tracking that ensures zero diversion to minors and social equity contributions built into our licensing structure. These aren’t obstacles we resent. They are the infrastructure of trust that earned us the right to operate—and that protects the consumers who walk through our door. When Grady argues for selling intoxicating THC products outside that framework, he is not arguing for a level playing field. He is arguing for the right to benefit from the public trust that the regulated market built, without paying the price of building it. The True Cost Of The Loophole There is a real economic injury here that goes beyond competitive disadvantage, and it has a number attached to it. Because cannabis remains federally scheduled, licensed dispensaries are subject to IRS Section 280E—a tax provision that prohibits us from deducting ordinary business expenses. Rent, payroll, utilities: none of it deductible. The result is that cannabis operators routinely face effective federal tax rates of 70 percent or higher on gross profit, while filing like any other American business is simply unavailable to us. Meanwhile, hemp retailers selling chemically identical intoxicating products file as ordinary retail. Same molecule. Radically different tax treatment. Add state excise taxes that fund social equity programs and community reinvestment, compliance overhead, licensing fees and mandatory security infrastructure—and the gap becomes structural. When a hemp shop undercuts my prices on a product that produces the same effect as mine, they aren’t competing on craft or quality. They are competing on a government-granted exemption from the rules I built my business around. That is regulatory arbitrage. The consumers who pay the price when that system fails are the same veterans, patients and community members both Grady and I claim to serve. The “One Plant” Logic Cuts Against Grady’s Hemp Argument Grady invokes Steve DeAngelo and the One Plant Alliance approvingly. He agrees, philosophically, that the marijuana plant is the hemp plant. Then he argues for two separate regulatory tracks based on which side of an arbitrary federal definition a product falls on. The One Plant Alliance’s actual position—age verification, testing and labeling applied equally across every sector of the plant—is precisely what I am advocating. Grady has adopted the branding while rejecting the substance. If you believe in One Plant, you believe in One Rule. Everything else is marketing. What’s Actually At Stake I support federal legislation that creates a unified, source-agnostic regulatory standard for all intoxicating cannabinoid products. A per-serving THC limit, mandatory age-gating and third-party testing requirements—enforced equally whether the product comes from a hemp farm in Missouri or a licensed cultivator in New Jersey—would solve the problem Grady says he wants to solve. But I want to end with what Grady ended with: the human cost. He mourns what is being lost in the hemp industry. I understand that grief. I also know what is at stake on the other side of the ledger. Every veteran who walks into my dispensary looking for a tested, traceable product to manage pain or PTSD is making a trust decision. They are trusting that what is on the label is what is in the product. That trust was built by the regulated market—by operators who submitted to oversight, absorbed the tax burden and did the compliance work that nobody outside this industry ever sees. If the loophole persists, that trust erodes. Not because the hemp farmers are bad people. But because a system that applies rigorous standards to one channel and none to another will eventually produce a failure that damages everyone—and the patients and veterans who finally found something that works will be left wondering who to believe. One plant. One rule. That is not consolidation. That is integrity. And it is the only foundation this industry can build on. Jason Leisey is a combat veteran of the Iraq War, Columbia MBA and CEO of Emerald Tea Supply Co., a licensed cannabis dispensary and delivery operation in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Brendan Cleak. The post When It Comes To Marijuana And Hemp, If You Believe In One Plant You Need To Believe In One Rule (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

I initially thought LOWD was just an ordinary cannabis company, but it turns out they're actually connected to Escape Tsunami for Brainrots game? I saw this connection while browsing news on the subway, and I was a bit confused, but thinking about it carefully, it's actually quite interesting.

“It would effectively eliminate an entire industry in Missouri—the hemp industry—regardless of any federal change in legislation.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independenta Gov. Mike Kehoe’s (R) office received 10,000 handwritten letters Tuesday asking him to veto a Missouri bill that would impose a statewide ban on intoxicating hemp products. The letters, gathered in just 10 days, came from small-business owners, farmers and customers across Missouri who say the legislation could wipe out the state’s hemp industry—even if Congress ultimately pulls back from its own ban set to go into effect on November 12. Opponents’ main concern is the proposed hemp ban could make Missouri’s guidelines more restrictive than the provision Congress included in a federal spending package signed by the president. “These are voices of Missourians that want their voices to be heard,” Jay Patel, president of Missouri Hemp Trade Association, said during a press conference on the Missouri Capitol steps Tuesday. “The bill sits on the governor’s desk, and if signed, it would effectively eliminate an entire industry in Missouri—the hemp industry—regardless of any federal change in legislation or extensions that may occur.” The legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Dave Hinman (R) of O’Fallon, comes amidst uncertainty on where the federal government will finally land on regulations for intoxicating hemp products. There’s a possibility Congress could delay the implementation of the ban or set different regulations for certain products, such as beverages or CBD products with a small amount of THC. Under Missouri’s bill, all intoxicating hemp products would be taken off the shelves starting November 12—including THC seltzers currently sold in bars and grocery stores—just like they will nationwide. But if Congress reverses course and decides to allow the sale of these products, Missouri would only permit them to be sold in licensed marijuana dispensaries. And if Congress chooses to delay the ban, Missouri would still ban all products, except for intoxicating beverages. Kehoe’s office was expecting to receive the bill on Tuesday, his spokeswoman Gabrielle Picard said, and he’ll have 15 days from when it officially lands on his desk to sign or veto the bill. She said it’s the first time this year the governor’s received such a large amount of handwritten letters in opposition to a bill and is “somewhat unique” in general. The governor is still reviewing the bill and has not made a decision, Picard said. Kehoe has publicly expressed his support for aligning the state with the federal ban. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway (R) has also expressed support for the bill. Since November, she’s sent 33 cease and desist letters, demanding that businesses stop selling intoxicating hemp products. Intoxicating hemp products with as much as 1,000 mg of THC are being sold in smoke shops—outside of Missouri’s licensed marijuana dispensaries—and they aren’t regulated by any government agency. Missouri lawmakers have failed to pass legislation regulating these products since 2023. Adding to the complicated regulatory environment, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December ordering his administration to work with Congress to develop a framework that permits full-spectrum CBD products. Under Trump’s leadership, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rolled out an initiative on April 1 that could cover $500 per year worth of hemp-derived THC of 3mg per serving and CBD products for eligible users. The products under this program would be illegal nationwide if Congress doesn’t change the language in the upcoming ban. That’s why hemp association leaders feel the CBD program rollout gives a strong indication the language will change. But under the bill before Kehoe, Missouri would not allow patients to participate in this program, said Brian Riegel, owner of South Point Hemp, who is among the Missouri business owners developing products that would meet the requirements of the CBD program. “I feel like I’m getting left behind,” Riegel said. “There’s some other manufacturers in other states who aren’t doing this right now [of the veto letter campaign]. They’re working on this new Medicare initiative that’s launching fast. I feel like if you’re not first, you’re last.” Hinman told The Independent that wasn’t the bill he was hoping to pass this year. He was hoping to continue what he worked on for 10 months last year—bringing hemp business owners together to propose a regulatory framework outside of the marijuana rules. Restricting the products to only be sold in cannabis dispensaries was also not his preference, he said, but it’s the regulatory framework the state already has in place. His original language stated Missouri would delay its ban if the federal government did, but he said that would unintentionally leave the products unregulated in the state indefinitely. All the pending bill does is, he said, codify the federal language and allows Missouri to use local police and local prosecutors to enforce the federal ban. “If this bill passes or if the governor decides to veto it, it doesn’t matter,” Hinman said, “because their businesses are still going to be gone. The federal government is the one who has come out and said as of November 12, they aren’t going to be in business anymore.” This story was first published by Missouri Independent. The post Missouri Hemp Businesses Ask Governor To Veto Bill That Would ‘Eliminate’ The Industry appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

I stumbled upon the Tokeativity Workshop at Project Object, which is a quirky Portland spot. Elly Blue’s talk on book publishing and her work with pokepath really caught my eye-how does she balance all that?

As the unofficial marijuana holiday know as 4/20 approaches, a leading pro-legalization organization is asking people to share their personal stories about being arrested for cannabis, saying that doing so can help shine a spotlight on “the true impact of the ongoing scourge of prohibition.” The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) said in an email alert to its supporters that the organization is preparing to release a new report on cannabis arrests and that it is “vitally important” that the document not just compile raw data on enforcement but also “include the real human stories that illustrate the harmful impact that prohibition and criminalization have on individuals, families, and communities.” The group’s email directs supporters to an online form where they can enter details about their cannabis-related law enforcement encounters and specify whether or not they are comfortable having their full names associated with their stories in MPP’s report. “Consider including details on what happened during and after the arrest(s), and how prohibition and criminalization have impacted your life,” the form prompts. As 4/20 approaches, we’re asking supporters who have been arrested for cannabis to share your story and help illustrate the true impact of the ongoing scourge of prohibition. https://t.co/kbnL02d8mX — Marijuana Policy Project (@MarijuanaPolicy) April 9, 2026 MPP is also inviting people who haven’t been arrested themselves to share details about incidents involving their friends and loved ones. “While cannabis arrests have been in decline nationally in recent years, there are still more than 200,000 arrests every year, which result in trauma, disruption, and derailed lives,” the organization’s email to supporters says. Data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation late last year show that nearly 188,000 people were arrested over marijuana possession in the U.S. in 2024. Another 16,000 people were booked for allegedly selling or growing cannabis that year. Of all drug possession arrests in the country, 27 percent were for marijuana—more than for any other specifically listed substance. An analysis of the data by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) concluded that marijuana arrests are driving the overall war on drugs in states where cannabis remains illegal. The organization focused on 14 states in particular. In five of those states (Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin), marijuana accounted for more than 50 percent of total drug-related arrests last year. For the other nine states (Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming), cannabis constituted a plurality of more than 40 percent of drug-related arrests. Notably, the FBI data, which are compiled from submissions to the agency by local and state law enforcement, show that more than 97 percent of cannabis arrests in Alabama, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming were over possession, rather than trafficking or sales. NORML, meanwhile, is asking cannabis consumers to take a survey about the freedoms (or lack thereof) that they experience where they live. The survey is “designed to capture real-time sentiment from cannabis consumers across the United States and beyond, offering a snapshot of how individuals experience cannabis policy in their daily lives,” the group said. The post Marijuana Activist Group Asks People To Share Their Arrest Stories To Show The ‘True Impact’ Of Criminalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The governor of Virginia is responding to criticism of amendments she is proposing a bill to legalize recreational marijuana sales by saying the suggested changed came after she spoke to the leaders of other states that have already implemented adult-use cannabis markets. Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) told local news outlets on Tuesday that the message she got from governors of other states is that “across the board, the top priority that people continue to put forth is do it methodically—because you have to do it right the first time.” “I’ve spent a lot of time talking to governors and folks from other states about those who do have a legalized recreational cannabis market, retail market,” the governor said. “Every one of them said some version of, ‘Make sure you get it right the first time and don’t rush it because there will be things that come up.’” The local news reports did not say whether Spanberger specified which other governors she spoke to about cannabis, and a spokesperson in her office did respond to Marijuana Moment’s request for clarification. On Monday, Spanberger proposed amendments to the cannabis commerce legalization measure—including delaying the start date for sales by six months, increasing taxes and instituting new criminal penalties for cannabis consumers. The move sparked backlash not just from marijuana reform advocates but also from the sponsors of the legislation, who said the governor’s proposal “creates a less accessible legal marketplace” and “represents a significant departure from the framework passed by the General Assembly, raising serious concerns about fairness, access and public safety.” The governor, for her part, told WRIC-TV that “my goal is to make sure that there’s great clarity both in implementation and in the ending retail market that we end up with.” She also told Virginia Scope that her move was intended to “clearly define what a legal market is.” “It’s about making very clear that while we have a legal recreational marijuana market, or we are moving towards a retail recreational marijuana market, that it’s still clear that there are certain things that continue to be illegal,” she said. Gov. Spanberger told me she talked to leaders in other states where a retail market for weed already exists and the number one thing she heard is implement it methodically. Read more from my interview with the gov and the pushback from the bill’s sponsors. https://t.co/y30eMCQMgU — Brandon Jarvis (@Jaaavis) April 15, 2026 Here are the other key details of the cannabis bills—SB 542 and HB 642—as approved by lawmakers and with the governor’s suggested amendments: Lawmakers voted to allow adults to be able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in a single transaction, or up to an equivalent amount of other cannabis products as determined by regulators. That represents an increase from the limit in current law of 1 ounce. The governor, however, wants the amount increased to only 2 ounces. Under the legislature’s plan, legal sales could begin on January 1, 2027, but the governor is proposing to push that back to July 1, 2027. Lawmakers voted to impose an excise tax of 6 percent on cannabis sales as well as a 5.3 percent retail sales and use tax, while allowing municipalities to set an additional local tax of up to 3.5 percent. The governor’s plan is largely the same, though it would increase the excise tax to 8 percent starting on July 1, 2029. Under the legislation as approved by lawmakers, revenue would be distributed to the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund (30 percent), early childhood education (40 percent), the Department of Behavioral & Developmental Health Services (25 percent) and public health initiatives (5 percent). The governor, however, wants to put all revenue into the general fund while earmarking it “for purposes such as early childhood education, behavioral health, public health awareness, prevention, treatment, and recovery services, workforce development, reentry, indigent criminal defense, and targeted reinvestment in historically disadvantaged communities.” The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee licensing and regulation of the new industry, and would also take on oversight of hemp, which is currently under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Local governments could not opt out of allowing marijuana businesses to operate in their area. Delivery services would be allowed. Serving sizes would be capped at 10 milligrams THC, with no more than 100 mg THC per package. The governor is proposing to make public marijuana use a class 4 criminal misdemeanor instead of civil violation punishable by a $25 fine as under current law. She also wants to make possessing cannabis by people under the age of 21 a class 1 misdemeanor, punishable with a mandatory minimum fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service, as well as the suspension of drivers licenses for at least six months. Illegally selling or distributing 50 pounds or more of marijuana would be a class 2 felony punishable by life in prison. The governor is seeking to eliminate support for the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund. Existing medical cannabis operators could enter the adult-use market if they pay a licensing conversion fee that is set at $10 million. Cannabis businesses would have to establish labor peace agreements with workers. As passed by lawmakers, the bill would have directed a legislative commission to study adding on-site consumption licenses and microbusiness cannabis event permits that would allow licensees to conduct sales at venues like farmers markets or pop-up locations, but the governor is proposing to remove that language. The legislature is set to reconvene to address the governor’s proposal on April 22. Meanwhile, Spanberger also suggested significant amendments to separate legislation that would provide resentencing relief to people with prior marijuana convictions. Separately, the governor signed several other reform bills this week—including measures to protect the parental rights of marijuana consumers and allow patients to access medical cannabis in hospitals. The post Virginia Governor Says Marijuana Bill Amendments Came After Speaking To Colleagues In Other States That Have Legalized appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

With drive mad, frustration becomes motivation. The game teaches patience, precision, and persistence, making each completed level feel like a personal victory that rewards skill rather than luck.

The beauty of run 3 lies in its perfect balance of challenge and fun. As you run through endless space tunnels and dodge dangerous gaps, Run 3 constantly pushes you to improve while making every victory feel rewarding.

“These products have the potential to reshape how Americans approach wellness by offering accessible, plant-based alternatives that complement traditional care, but realizing that potential will require more than enforcement discretion.” By Thomas Winstanley, Edibles.com For years, the hemp-derived CBD market has operated in a paradox: federally legal, widely available and increasingly normalized—yet lacking a clear regulatory framework that gives consumers confidence and businesses stability. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) latest move to exercise enforcement discretion for certain CBD products is a meaningful step forward, underscoring how incomplete and fragile the current system remains. At its core, FDA’s posture acknowledges that hemp-derived cannabinoids are part of Americans’ daily wellness routines. By signaling that it does not intend to enforce certain provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act against qualifying orally administered CBD products, the agency is recognizing a practical path forward, and one that is rooted in a supplement-style framework with guardrails around safety, labeling and marketing. That matters. For the first time in decades, cannabinoids are being discussed in terms that resemble the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. The implication is a viable lane for CBD products that aligns with how consumers already engage with wellness through vitamins, nutraceuticals and other over-the-counter formats with established expectations around dosing, transparency and quality. But let’s be clear about what this is and what it is not. This is not full regulatory approval. It does not establish CBD as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS), nor does it create durable protections for the broader market. Instead, it reflects a policy of selective enforcement under narrow conditions. Products must meet supplement-style standards, avoid contamination, not appeal to children and be distributed within a physician-directed, Medicare-related framework. That last point is where the gap becomes most obvious. FDA’s position is confined to a highly specific use case tied to healthcare programs. It does little to address the far larger and more dynamic reality of a national consumer market spanning retail, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer platforms. This is where millions of Americans already access CBD and where businesses have built entire categories in the absence of federal clarity. The industry is no longer a fringe experiment. Since the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived products have grown into a multi-billion-dollar sector, expanding access to cannabinoids in ways that state-regulated cannabis markets cannot. In doing so, the category has helped normalize THC and reshape public perception, bringing new consumers into the fold and broadening acceptance of plant-based alternatives for wellness. Consumers are integrating these products into their daily lives. Sleep support, stress management, recovery and general well-being are now core use cases. From small businesses to national platforms, companies have also invested heavily in building responsible, compliant offerings to meet that demand. Yet the rules governing this market remain fragmented and, at times, contradictory. Federal agencies continue to send mixed signals. States have implemented a patchwork of inconsistent standards. Responsible operators like those investing in testing, labeling and compliance are forced to compete alongside bad actors exploiting regulatory gray areas. The result is a market that functions, but not efficiently and certainly not safely at scale. This is why FDA’s move, while encouraging, falls short of a comprehensive solution. Selective enforcement is not regulation. It offers temporary flexibility, not long-term certainty. It signals tolerance, not endorsement. Without congressional action, the entire category remains exposed to sudden policy shifts that can disrupt supply chains, deter investment and erode consumer trust. In fact, recent legislative developments risk moving the industry backward. The narrowing of the federal definition of hemp under the latest appropriations framework introduces new ambiguity around product eligibility, particularly for cannabinoids that fall outside traditional interpretations. Without a clear federal standard, we risk creating an outcome worse than the problem policymakers are trying to solve. Overly restrictive or unclear rules will not eliminate demand. They will simply redirect it, potentially toward unregulated or imported products that lack basic safety oversight. That is a genuine consumer protection risk. At the same time, the U.S. stands to dismantle a largely domestic supply chain just as it reaches meaningful scale, undermining farmers, manufacturers and retailers who have built this industry responsibly. None of this is to dismiss FDA’s progress. The agency deserves credit for taking a pragmatic step forward. Its emphasis on contamination-free products, responsible marketing and clear labeling reflects principles the entire industry should support. These are not controversial standards. They are baseline expectations. However, they must be applied broadly, not selectively. FDA’s latest action signals growing alignment within the executive branch and among lawmakers that a federal framework is needed. It reflects openness to integrating cannabinoids into established regulatory systems. It also reinforces the importance of safety and oversight. What it does not do is solve the problem. Only Congress can provide the clarity this market requires. A comprehensive federal framework that establishes consistent standards for manufacturing, labeling, distribution and access is needed. This step is essential to unlocking the full potential of hemp-derived cannabinoids. The opportunity is significant. These products have the potential to reshape how Americans approach wellness by offering accessible, plant-based alternatives that complement traditional care, but realizing that potential will require more than enforcement discretion. It will require policy. Until then, FDA’s shift is a step in the right direction. It is not the destination. Thomas Winstanley is the executive vice president and general manager of Edibles.com®, an innovative and trustworthy marketplace of high-quality THC products that offers convenient delivery direct to the consumer. Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney. The post FDA’s New Hemp CBD Enforcement Move Is Encouraging, But Congress Still Needs To Enact Real Regulations (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives has passed budget legislation proposed by the governor that relies on revenue that would be generated from recreational marijuana sales, which have not yet been legalized in the state. The Democratic-controlled House voted 107-94 on Tuesday to approve the spending plan from Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) who earlier this year included cannabis legalization and the resulting expected revenue in his budget request. The vote was largely along party lines, though five GOP lawmakers joined Democrats in supporting the bill. The $53.2 billion budget legislation, which doesn’t itself include provisions to actually legalize marijuana even as it contemplates allocating money that would result from it, now heads to the Senate for consideration. “This legislation reflects the proposal put forward by Governor Shapiro in February and builds on the work we have diligently done,” House Majority Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris (D) said. “This budget continues our investment in public education, support for law enforcement, and strengthening Pennsylvania’s economy, all while returning money to working families and not raising taxes.” The Senate’s Republican majority leadership has continually criticized cannabis legalization, including a bill that the House passed last year that would put marijuana sales in state-owned stores. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-) and Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R) said in a joint statement on Tuesday that they “continue to have profound concerns about the level of spending in the budget proposed by Governor Shapiro and passed by the House today.” “Moving a budget plan forward is an important step in the process, but much work remains to reach a final agreement which respects taxpayers both now and in the future,” they said. “We will continue to fight for a more fiscally responsible spending plan that better positions our Commonwealth to grow and prosper, without placing unreasonable financial burdens on Pennsylvania families and taxpayers.” Shapiro, for his part, said the budget legislation “builds on the progress we’ve made and continues Pennsylvania’s rise—putting money back in folks’ pockets, investing in schools, expanding our workforce, keeping our communities safe, and growing our economy.” “The ball is now in the State Senate’s court. It’s time to get to work to deliver for Pennsylvanians,” he said. BREAKING: The Pennsylvania House just passed my budget proposal with bipartisan support — a 107-94 vote. This budget builds on the progress we've made and continues Pennsylvania's rise — putting money back in folks' pockets, investing in schools, expanding our workforce, keeping… — Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 14, 2026 Also on Tuesday, the House Health Committee approved a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and other healthcare facilities The legislative developments come as a new poll shows that seven out of ten Pennsylvania likely voters support legalizing adult-use marijuana—including majority backing for the reform across party lines. When asked whether they “support or oppose the regulation and taxation of legal cannabis for use by adults 21 and older in Pennsylvania,” 69 percent of respondents said yes. Support was strongest from Democrats, at 72 percent, but also includes 67 percent of Republicans and 64 percent of independents. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s governor is increasing pressure on lawmakers to send him a bill to legalize marijuana in the state, saying that doing so would generate new revenue that could be invested in key programs. “While some in Harrisburg claim we can’t afford to make bigger investments in our kids, public safety, and our economy, know this: If we legalized and regulated adult-use cannabis, we’d bring in $1.3 BILLION in revenue for our Commonwealth over the first five years,” Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said in a recent social media post. “Those are dollars that can be invested back into our people and our communities,” he said. “Stop with the excuses. Let’s get this done.” The state’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) reported in February that legalizing cannabis in Pennsylvania would generate nearly half a billion dollars in annual revenue by 2028, an estimate that is a significantly larger cash windfall compared to projections from Shapiro’s own office. With a proposed 20 percent wholesale cannabis excise tax, 6 percent state sales tax for retail and licensing fees, IFO said the governor’s legalization plan would generate $140 million in tax revenue in the first year of implementation from 2027-2028 and increase to $432 million by 2030-2031. That’s a much higher revenue estimate than what the governor’s office put forward in the latest executive budget. According to his office’s analysis, legalization would generate about $36.9 million in tax dollars in its first year from a 20 percent wholesale tax on marijuana—rising gradually to $223.8 million by 2030-2031. In February, a coalition of drug policy and civil liberties organizations urged Shapiro to play a leadership role in convening legislative leaders to get the job done on cannabis legalization this session. Last month, the Senate Law and Justice Committee amended and approved a bill to create a Cannabis Control Board (CCB) to oversee the state’s medical marijuana program and intoxicating hemp products and that could eventually regulate adult-use cannabis if it is legalized in the state. The post Pennsylvania House Passes Governor’s Budget Plan With Expected Revenue From Marijuana, Which Hasn’t Yet Been Legalized appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Cannabis law is constantly evolving—we’re just doing our best going forward with the Cannabis Act that we’ve been provided that we need to follow.” By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant The two-person Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission and staff met behind closed doors for around an hour Tuesday morning to discuss last week’s federal court order halting the process that was set to award 20 new retail licenses as soon as May. Three and half hours later, the commission filed an appeal against the April 8 ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa Dubose involving three federal lawsuits challenging the state’s requirement that all cannabis license holders must be majority owned by Rhode Island residents. No details of the commission’s conversation on the three federal lawsuits filed by out-of-state entrepreneurs, along with the commission’s next steps, were disclosed upon their return to open session. The only action taken during the special meeting was to seal the minutes of the executive session and adjourn at around 12:30 p.m. The state’s appeal was filed at 4:04 p.m. A public update will come Friday during the panel’s monthly open session at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) offices in Warwick, chief legal counsel Mariana Ormonde told Rhode Island Current after the meeting. “I know for a lot of people this looks like it came out of left field,” she said. “But we’ve been litigating these cases for years, and we actually got the cases dismissed at one point—now they’re back.” Commissioner Robert Jacquard issued a similar statement at the beginning of the meeting before making the motion to enter executive session. “We talk about litigation cases in every executive session of our regular monthly meeting,” he said. “This is not as if we have not talked about them in the last week. Due to the opinion that came out last week, we thought it was prudent that we meet as soon as possible to talk about this again because we know how important it is to so many people.” Plaintiffs in each case argued the residency requirement violated the dormant commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits states from engaging in protectionist practices against other states. DuBose had initially dismissed the complaints in February 2025 since two were filed before the state’s inaugural cannabis regulations were enacted in May 2025 by the commission. But the cases were revived in December by Boston’s federal appeals court, which demanded DuBose rule based on the merits of the cases. The recent injunction against the state means none of the 97 prospective applicants can get their applications reviewed by regulators. It also means would-be business owners will continue to bleed money as they wait to learn whether they can open up their stores. Lisa Ann Pontarelli, part-owner of a social equity applicant in Cranston, told Rhode Island Current that she and her partners have collectively put in “at least six figures” in their bid to open up a shop at a former Pizza Hut on Reservoir Avenue. “Everything’s in order, everything is waiting,” she said while the commission was meeting in closed session. “It’s all crazy that we’ve been waiting here because of a decision from a judge that doesn’t really make any sense.” The ruling does make sense to the ACLU of Rhode Island, whose executive director notes that federal law generally supersedes state law when there’s a conflict. “I don’t think a state law becomes immune from constitutional scrutiny because people would argue that they probably shouldn’t have the power to pass the law in the first place,” ACLU of Rhode Island Executive Director Steven Brown said in a phone interview Tuesday. Michael Yelnosky, a professor at Roger Williams University School of Law, said while cannabis is an unlawful market at the federal level, that does not mean states that allow its sales are exempt from judicial interpretation of the dormant commerce clause. “It’s not a legal market, but it’s a market,” he said. Legal challenges have been filed against states that tried to impose residency requirements, including Maine and New York. Both states then had to update their retail cannabis license rules. Washington’s residency requirement was upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier in the year. Because of the other legal challenges, applicant Jason Calederon, who hopes to open a shop in North Kingstown, says the commission should have tried to get Rhode Island’s law changed at any point throughout the lawsuit. “At any time, they could have called the House or Senate and said we need to amend this law,” Calderon said. “It’s their ball to run.” Two state lawmakers, both Providence Democrats, introduced legislation that would eliminate the residency requirement from Rhode Island’s cannabis law at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session. Rep. Scott Slater (D) introduced his bill on January 30. A companion bill by Sen. Jacob Bisaillon (D) was introduced February 6. Both bills were the subject of committee hearings by their respective chambers on March 12 and held for further study, as is standard procedure for an initial review by a legislative panel. But Brown warns the legislation as written may not fully resolve the state’s legal challenge. Both bills still include Rhode Island references in its requirements to apply for social equity licenses, which are reserved for those adversely affected by the war on drugs. The 2022 Rhode Island Cannabis Act requires social equity applicants to be from a “disproportionately impacted area.” Among the qualifiers are being from an area where 75 percent or more of the children participate in the federal free lunch program, according to reported statistics from the Rhode Island Board of Education. “Those Rhode Island references are just as problematic because they would have the same effect of automatically disqualifying any out-of-state applicants for these particular licenses,” Brown said. Ormonde says the commission’s role is to abide by the laws set by the General Assembly. “The statute is the province of the legislature,” she said. “Cannabis law is constantly evolving—we’re just doing our best going forward with the Cannabis Act that we’ve been provided that we need to follow.” Slater told Rhode Island Current Tuesday he’s still awaiting guidance from the Cannabis Control Commission’s attorneys on what language could be added to ensure the changes to Rhode Island’s cannabis law meet constitutional muster. “Maybe by Friday when they convene and release more details they’ll have some fixes,” he said in a phone interview. An agenda has not yet been posted for Friday’s meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. The Cannabis Control Commission has three members, but the chair has been vacant since October when former Chairperson Kim Ahern resigned to pursue a run for state attorney general. Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for Gov. Dan McKee’s (D) office said in an email Tuesday that the search process is underway and “remains a priority.” “We’ll share updates as they become available,” DaRocha said. This story was first published by Rhode Island Currant. The post Rhode Island Marijuana Officials Appeal Federal Court Ruling Blocking Licensing Lottery appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A Virginia lawmaker who sponsored a bill to provide resentencing relief for people with past marijuana convictions that the governor is proposing to significantly scale back says he will accept those changes, even if he is not happy about them. As approved by lawmakers, HB 26 from Rozia Henson, Jr. (D), along with companion bill SB 62 from Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas (D), would create a process by which people who are incarcerated or on community supervision for certain felony offenses involving the possession, manufacture, selling or distribution of marijuana could receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of their sentences. Under the amendments proposed to the cannabis legislation by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) on Monday, however, affected persons would have to proactively file petitions to get the relief instead of having the courts proceed automatically. Henson said on Tuesday that his legislation was “built for the people still paying the price for something Virginia has since made legal.” “If the commonwealth changed the law, it has an obligation to revisit the consequences still being borne by people convicted under the old one,” he said. The relief would apply to people whose convictions or adjudications are for conduct that occurred prior to July 1, 2021, when a state law legalizing personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana went into effect. Under the bill as approved by lawmakers, state and local corrections officials would have been required to identify and notify eligible people of their rights for resentencing relief and then work with courts to schedule hearings automatically “No one would fall through the cracks simply because they lacked a lawyer or did not know to ask,” Henson said. “The amendment shifts that entire burden onto individuals navigating incarceration or active supervision; often without the information or resources to file a petition on their own.” The governor’s office claimed in a press release that her amendments “clarify that under no circumstances would reconsideration be allowed for violent offenses that remain illegal in Virginia—from armed burglary to firearm possession to distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and other dangerous drugs.” Henson said he shares “the governor’s commitment to ensuring that violent offenders are not eligible for this relief; and that commitment is reflected in the bill itself, which already excluded individuals convicted of acts of violence under Virginia law.” “We are aligned on that principle,” he said. “What I continue to believe, however, is that this amendment changes something else entirely: whether the people who do qualify will have to find their own way to the courthouse door.” Spanberger’s release did not make any mention of her major actual change to the bill, which is to remove its provisions for automatic relief for people with cannabis convictions. Despite the disagreement, the lawmaker said he is willing to accept the governor’s amendment. “A petition pathway is a real pathway, and I am not willing to let the perfect be the enemy of the good when people’s freedom is at stake,” Henson said. “But acceptance is not the same as agreement.” “The communities most harmed by decades of marijuana enforcement deserve a process that meets them where they are; not one that requires them to navigate the legal system alone while still behind bars. I will be working to ensure that legal aid organizations, public defenders, and community groups have the resources they need to help eligible individuals access the relief this law provides. To every Virginian still carrying the weight of a marijuana conviction; and to every family that has watched a loved one remain incarcerated for something Virginia has since made legal; I want you to know that this moment is not the end of the fight, it is proof that the fight is working. Change is hard and it is rarely as fast or as complete as it should be, but we are moving forward.” pic.twitter.com/T2o4H8oAHh — Delegate Rozia A. Henson Jr (@Henson4Virginia) April 14, 2026 Spanberger’s amendment also removes deadlines for court hearings on resentencing relief. Similar legislation was approved by lawmakers last session but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). Meanwhile, Spanberger is also suggesting large-scale amendments to separate legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales in the Virginia—including by delaying the start date for sales by six months, increasing taxes and instituting new criminal penalties for cannabis consumers. The sponsors of those bills are also pushing back against Spanberger’s proposed cannabis amendments, though unlike Henson they have given no public indication that they are willing to accept them. Separately, Spanberger signed several other reform bills this week—including measures to protect the parental rights of marijuana consumers and allow patients to access medical cannabis in hospitals. The post Virginia Lawmaker Worries Governor’s Marijuana Resentencing Bill Amendment Will Let People ‘Fall Through The Cracks’ appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Maryland’s governor has signed legislation to provide legal protections for veterinarians who recommend medical marijuana for animals. Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Tuesday approved a pair of bills to make it so the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners cannot “suspend or revoke a license, reprimand or censure a licensee, or place a licensee on probation solely on the basis of the licensee discussing or recommending the use of cannabis…or a product that contains cannabidiol on an animal for potential therapeutic effect or health supplementation purposes.” SB 54 from Sen. Clarence Lam (D) and HB 452 from Del. Michele Guyton (D) had both cleared each chamber of the legislature in unanimous votes this session. The new law will take effect on October 1. At the Senate bill’s hearing before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in February, Lam said the proposal came about from conversations he had with veterinarians. “I’d heard from some vets who were concerned, because they had heard from animal owners or pet owners that some of their pets and animals were experiencing things like cancer,” he said, “and their veterinarians were not able to even discuss the options for cannabis use for those animals to be able to alleviate alleviate their pain and suffering for those animals, even if the animal owner requested it.” The lawmaker said a letter about the issue sent by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners a few years ago “has given a lot of caution to veterinarians to even talk about whether cannabis might be helpful for an animal.” The legislation now heading to the governor’s desk, Lam argued, will help by “setting a baseline level of protection to ensure that veterinarians are able to answer their clients’ or customers’ questions and provide evidence-based information about the use of cannabis and CBD products for pets who may need them.” Matthew Weeman of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association told the committee that the bill will “reinforce the veterinary client patient relationship and allow us to have a discussion with our clientele.” “This is a topic that comes up frequently, and in small animal medicine, in particular…CBD products are available over the counter,” he said. “Consumers are taking those in. They’re giving them to their pets, and they come to us with questions, and most of us feel a little bit hamstrung and that we try to keep up on this, but we can’t discuss it with them, knowing that [state officials] could take punitive action against our license if we do that.” The legislation, Weeman said, “removes a layer of ambiguity at the state level and helps us to just reinforce that communication so that we can keep pets safe and clients informed of the questions that they’re bringing to us every day.” — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile, Maryland lawmakers are also recently sent the governor legislation to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job. They also passed bills to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027, charging it with developing updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel substances and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization. The post Maryland Governor Signs Bills To Protect Veterinarians Who Recommend Medical Marijuana For Animals appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says that while marijuana industry workers are not currently eligible under the “No Tax on Tips” law signed by President Donald Trump last year to write off any gratuities they receive, that could change in the event of federal legalization. The agency discussed the issue in a final rule for implementing the policy that was published in the Federal Register on Monday. One person who submitted a public comment in response to an earlier draft rule that was circulated in September “noted that State-legal cannabis industry workers operate in regulated, State-compliant industries and should not be excluded merely because their employers engage in commerce that involves a federally classified controlled substance,” IRS said in the new filing. It is not uncommon for so-called budtenders to receive tips from customers at the point of purchase in marijuana dispensaries, similar to bartenders who serve alcohol or baristas who pour coffee. However, the new IRS rule says that “qualified tips” do not include those “received while performing services that are misdemeanors or felonies under applicable law”—and cannabis remains federally illegal. “Workers in the cannabis industry must meet statutory and regulatory requirements like any other employee to be eligible for the deduction for qualified tips,” IRS said in response to the public comment. “Tips received by these workers must be received in an occupation that is included on the List of Occupations that Receive Tips and must not be received for a service the performance of which is a felony or misdemeanor under applicable law, including under Federal law, to be qualified tips eligible for the deduction under section 224.” While current federal law and some state laws consider marijuana to be illegal, “if Federal law changes, making certain marijuana-related transactions legal, and those same transactions are legal under State law, then tip amounts received in such transactions may be qualified tips if all other requirements for qualified tips are met. No change was made in the final regulations in response to this comment,” the agency said. Meanwhile, IRS told the U.S. Tax Court in a filing that while marijuana may soon be rescheduled under federal law, that doesn’t currently exempt state-legal cannabis businesses from a law known as 280E that bars them from taking federal tax deductions. In response to a petition to the court filed by the New Mexico marijuana business Ultra Health—which challenged the conventional interpretation of the IRS code, which applies to tax deduction claims connected to the sale of Schedule I and Schedule II drugs under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)—IRS said the issue has already been soundly settled by Congress and various federal courts. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has separately discussed prior attempts to challenge 28oE as it applies to state-legal marijuana businesses. In a report published in February, CRS pointed out that judges in the Tax Court issued a majority opinion upholding 280E and determining that the statute doesn’t violate the U.S. Constitution “because the disallowance of deductions does not constitute a ‘penalty’ for the purposes of the Eighth Amendment.” Meanwhile, IRS in 2024 warned the marijuana industry that some companies have, without a “reasonable basis,” filled out a supplementary form in an attempt to take federal tax deductions that they’re prohibited from receiving under a provision known as 280E. The federal tax issue may ultimately be resolved if the Justice Department follows through on an executive order Trump issued in December directing officials to move cannabis to Schedule III “in the most expeditious manner,” but there haven’t been any updates on the status of that process in the months since the president signed the order. The post Marijuana Budtenders Could Qualify For ‘No Tax On Tips,’ IRS Says, But Only After Federal Legalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Fed 4/20 DUI campaign; MD 1st responder medical marijuana bill passes; TN anti-cannabis bill to gov; PA medical cannabis in hospitals; Vape study Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is rolling out a 4/20-themed public education campaign aimed at deterring marijuana-impaired driving around the unofficial cannabis holiday. The sponsors of Virginia legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales are forcefully pushing back against Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D) suggested amendments—saying they raise “serious concerns about fairness, access and public safety.” Maryland lawmakers sent Gov. Wes Moore (D) a bill to let firefighters and rescue workers use medical cannabis off duty, with the sponsor saying first responders “should not be punished for seeking legal, medically prescribed relief.” Tennessee lawmakers sent Gov. Bill Lee (R) legislation to block an automatic review that could have legalized medical cannabis under state law following federal marijuana rescheduling. The Pennsylvania House Health Committee approved a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals, long-term care nursing facilities, assisted living residences and other healthcare facilities. A new marijuana study found that “vaporization reduced harmful byproducts by up to 99% compared to joint smoke.” “These results demonstrate that combustion—not cannabis itself—is the primary driver of harmful inhalation byproducts, and that controlled vaporization can significantly reduce exposure to these compounds.” Idaho medical cannabis activists say they have collected more than 100,000 signatures for a legalization initiative they want to place on the November ballot as the petition deadline at the end of this month approaches. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission signed off on rules for licensing, businesses and products—sending them to Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) and Gov. Jim Pillen (R) for final approval. / FEDERAL The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted a podcast about the “growing dangers of vaping and high-potency cannabis among youth.” The Government Accountability Office published a report about Department of Justice enforcement of laws related to unauthorized e-cigarettes. / STATES Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) vetoed legislation to protect people from being charged for possessing illegal drug residue. The Maine House of Representatives rejected a bill to require testing and tracking of medical cannabis. A New Jersey law restricting hemp products took effect. California regulators filed proposed changes to cannabis pesticide testing rules. Colorado regulators published guidance on marijuana business compliance issues. Michigan regulators posted guidance about marijuana taxes. Washington, D.C. regulators are asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging their medical cannabis business licensing framework. Oregon regulators adopted a new state health improvement plan that includes a strategy to “destigmatize psilocybin as a culturally responsive option for healing and wellness.” The Maryland Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council will meet on Wednesday. The Nevada Cannabis Advisory Commission’s Scheduling Hemp Subcommittee will meet on Friday. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / INTERNATIONAL British Columbia, Canada’s health minister said it is “disappointing” that the province rolled back its drug decriminalization trial. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “CBD is well tolerated in individuals with [anorexia nervosa]” and that “indication of better weight recovery and improvement of eating disorder specific symptoms in the CBD group suggest treatment effects of CBD.” A study found that “adolescent cannabis [criminal legal system]-referred treatment rates decreased overall by 81.6% from 2010 to 2022.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Albany Times-Union editorial board is urging New York officials to address health issues related to marijuana use. / BUSINESS Verano is being sued for allegedly mishandling medical cannabis patients’ private data. Michigan retailers sold $255.5 million worth of legal marijuana products in March. 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 Virginia lawmakers push back on governor’s cannabis amendments (Newsletter: April 15, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“We are collecting thousands of signatures a day at this point to make sure that we get over that threshold in each legislative district.” By Clark Corbin, Idaho Capital Sun Supporters of a proposed medical cannabis ballot initiative in Idaho said they have gathered more than 100,000 signatures and are making a final push in hopes of qualifying the proposal for November’s general election ballot by the April 30 deadline. A group called the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho is hoping to legalize medical cannabis as a treatment option for Idahoans with debilitating medical conditions like cancer, post traumatic stress disorder, AIDS, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. Under Idaho law, cannabis means the same thing as marijuana, and the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Currently, all forms of cannabis are illegal in Idaho but recreational marijuana or medical cannabis are available in all of Idaho’s bordering states other than Wyoming. Supporters said they want to legalize medical cannabis to give people with serious medical conditions and chronic pain an alternative to opioid medications. “We’ve had hundreds of people email us about how they’re suffering with PTSD or they’re suffering with epilepsy and they’re driving across the border and illegally buying gummies because they would like some dignity in their care, in their state, but they can’t get it, and they’re still accessing these things because they’re right there and available,” said Amanda Watson, a Boise-based spokeswoman for the initiative. “This framework would allow for really strong regulation, restricted access and it’s a medical program.” Opposition is being led by the Republican-controlled Idaho Legislature, which is pushing a competing marijuana measure on November’s ballot and is calling for voters to reject the medical cannabis ballot initiative. “The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act lacks safeguards to such an extent that it would effectively legalize widespread recreational use of marijuana,” Idaho legislators warned in a resolution adopted earlier this month. Who is behind the Idaho medical cannabis ballot initiative? Rob Cronin, a Sun Valley businessman who has opened several restaurants in Idaho and across the country, serves as the chairperson and treasurer for the Natural Medicine Alliance PAC. In an interview last week, Cronin said his experience as a cancer survivor and his friendship with the late Dr. Dori Tunney, a physician and philanthropist, inspired him to help push the medical cannabis ballot initiative. Tunnery was diagnosed with glioblastoma and treated her pain with opioids that brought on severe side effects, curbed her appetite and led to a severe physical decline, Cronin and Watson said. During treatment in California, where cannabis is legal, Tunney tried a medical cannabis gummy and Cronin and Watson said her appetite and sleep returned to normal and her pain decreased. Cronin and Watson said Tunney began advocating for legalizing medical cannabis in Idaho in 2022, a push that continued until her death in 2024. Cronin said he also had severe side effects when he used opioid medications after surgery from his cancer treatment. Cronin said he weighs 175 pounds today, but his weight dropped to 119 pounds due to nausea, loss of appetite and loss of sleep caused by opioids. “The pain was just outrageous and I was hammering Vicodin like it was going out of style,” Cronin said. “I can tell you firsthand that I would have chosen a cannabis alternative to opioids all day long, because the opioid puts you on that funky roller coaster of, ‘Oh, I feel better. Oh, I’m depressed, and my life sucks. Oww, now I’m in pain. another opioid. Oh, I’m depressed again and my life sucks.’ It really messes with your head.” Cronin and Watson said they met each other while volunteering with Tunney to support cancer patients in Idaho. Cronin and Watson said they are supporting the measure in order to try to finish the job for Tunney before the Idaho Legislature can attempt to further restrict voters’ ability to legalize medical cannabis in Idaho. Watson said most of the funding for the initiative comes from an investment from Double Springs Ranch, which Tunney and her husband owned. The ranch is located in central Idaho and produces hemp and hemp fiber and raises Black Angus cattle. What is a ballot initiative and what will it take to get medical cannabis on the November ballot? In Idaho, a ballot initiative is a form of direct democracy where the voters of Idaho—not the Idaho Legislature—vote on whether to pass a proposed law. Organizers say they are bringing the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act to voters as a ballot initiative because the Idaho Legislature has not taken action to legalize medical cannabis. All of Idaho’s neighboring states other than Wyoming offer either medical cannabis, like Utah, or recreational marijuana, like Washington, Oregon, Montana and Nevada. In order to qualify for the November general election, organizers need to collect signatures from 6 percent of registered voters statewide, which is 70,725 valid signatures. On top of that raw total, organizers also need to collect signatures from 6 percent of registered voters in at least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts. The deadline to submit signatures to the state for verification is April 30. “I would say we are cautiously optimistic,” Watson said Friday. “We are collecting thousands of signatures a day at this point to make sure that we get over that threshold in each legislative district. There’s some rural parts of Idaho that we’re working really hard to hit that 6 percent in. Right now, we’ve collected over 100,000 raw signatures.” The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho is using paid signature-gatherers in an effort to meet the requirements to qualify the initiative for the election. The alliance pays $25 per hour plus incentives, Watson said. If the initiative qualifies for November’s general election, it would take a simple majority of votes to approve it. Why does the Idaho Legislature oppose cannabis? If the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act qualifies for the ballot, there would be competing marijuana-related questions on the November ballot. The Idaho Legislature has already come out in opposition to medical cannabis and placed a proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution known as House Joint Resolution 4 on the November ballot. If approved by a majority of voters, House Joint Resolution 4 would make it so that only the Idaho Legislature, not voters, could legalize marijuana or other narcotics. “Too many legislatures across this nation have sat back and just waited as initiative after initiative would come after them, until they finally overwhelm it and overwhelm the legislature,” state Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, said last year. “We are acting because that’s our responsibility.” During the 2025 legislative session, the Idaho Legislature and Gov. Brad Little (R) passed a law that creates a mandatory minimum fine of $300 for anyone convicted of simple marijuana possession, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. This year, the Idaho Legislature also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 127, which encourages Idaho voters to reject the medical cannabis ballot initiative. In the resolution, legislators warn that legalization of marijuana and medical cannabis has created problems for other states and would increase the budget and costs for the Idaho Department of Health Welfare at a time when state revenues are uncertain. Idaho legislators also allege that the requirements to obtain a medical cannabis card would be so loose that almost anyone would be able to get one. “The 18 medical conditions that qualify one to obtain a medical cannabis card, including insomnia, anxiety, and acute pain, are so broad that almost anyone could qualify,” Idaho legislators wrote. On Thursday, officials with the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office said 10,232 signatures have been submitted so far, and the office has marked 4,698 of those signatures as valid. How would the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act work? Here are the basics of how the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act would work if it qualifies for the November election and a majority of Idaho voters pass the act. Idahoans would be able to apply for a renewable medical cannabis card by presenting medical records showing a substantial or terminal health condition, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, MS, post traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain. Meanwhile, the state would initially issue three medical cannabis production licenses across the state that would allow a licensee to grow, produce, distribute and sell medical cannabis to individuals with a valid Idaho medical cannabis card. When Idaho’s population increases by 650,000, additional production licenses could be issued – up to a total of six in the state. The application process for a production license requires a valid Idaho hemp license in good standing, submission of an operational plan, background checks and the use of a pharmacist for oversight. The act would allow each license holder to operate up to six retail locations, two facility locations, fulfillment centers, warehouses and distribution centers. For individuals with an Idaho medical cannabis card, online ordering, delivery and pickup at distribution centers would be allowed. Using medical cannabis in public and sharing medical cannabis with someone who does not have an Idaho medical cannabis card would be prohibited in Idaho under the act. It would also be illegal to drive, operate a boat, operate aircraft, operate heavy machinery or drive a train under the influence of medical cannabis. This story was first published by Idaho Capital Sun. Photo courtesy of Carlos Gracia. The post Idaho Medical Marijuana Campaign Has More Than 100,000 Signatures For Legalization Ballot Measure As Deadline Nears appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Virginia lawmakers who sponsored bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales are pushing back forcefully against the governor’s suggested changes to their legislation. On Monday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) proposed amendments to the cannabis commerce legalization measure—including delaying the start date for sales by six months, increasing taxes and instituting new criminal penalties for cannabis consumers. Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D) said the governor’s substitute of her legislation “represents a significant departure from the framework passed by the General Assembly, raising serious concerns about fairness, access and public safety.” “By making the legal market harder to access, this proposal allows the illicit market to continue to thrive in every corner store in our Commonwealth. That undermines the core goals of legalization and increases the likelihood of untested products, inconsistent potency, and lacks consumer protections,” she said. “It also weakens safeguards designed to prevent youth access and ensure accountability ultimately posing a risk to public health and safety.” Del. Paul Krizek (D), who sponsored the cannabis bill in the House of Delegates, said Spanberger’s proposal “creates a less accessible legal marketplace.” “These changes reduce the number of available licenses, delay the launch of retail sales and impose high barriers to entry, resulting in revenue losses, delayed economic opportunity for market participants and the elimination of investment to small businesses,” he said. “These barriers do not eliminate demand, it simply redirects it back to the illicit market.” Delegate @KrizekForVA and I release the following statement as our historic legislation HB642/SB542 establishing a regulated adult-use cannabis retail market in Virginia was substantially rewritten: pic.twitter.com/58GY4nwVqh — Senator Lashrecse Aird (@lashrecseaird) April 14, 2026 Meanwhile, Spanberger signed several other cannabis bills on Monday—including measures to protect the parental rights of consumers and allow patients to access medical marijuana in hospitals. She also proposed amendments to legislation to provide resentencing relief for people with past convictions and to change rules for marijuana delivery services. Personal marijuana possession and home cultivation of marijuana has been legal in Virginia since 2021, but former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) twice vetoed bills to provide consumers with a way to legally purchase regulated adult-use cannabis. Aird said that the governor’s amendment “substantially introduces harsh escalating criminal penalties that risk repeating the very harm legalization was meant to correct, particularly in communities that have historically been harmed by prohibition, while simultaneously encouraging intoxicating hemp products to continue to be sold without any safeguards.” Krizek said “Virginians have not been waiting since 2021 for a legal retail marketplace that will expand criminal penalties, introduce new felony tiers for cannabis-related offenses and expose individuals to lifelong prison sentences while Virginia is actively correcting these wrongs from the past.” Here are the other key details of the cannabis bills— SB 542 and HB 642—as approved by lawmakers and with the governor’s suggested amendments: Lawmakers voted to allow adults to be able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in a single transaction, or up to an equivalent amount of other cannabis products as determined by regulators. That represents an increase from the limit in current law of 1 ounce. The governor, however, wants the amount increased to only 2 ounces. Under the legislature’s plan, legal sales could begin on January 1, 2027, but the governor is proposing to push that back to July 1, 2027. Lawmakers voted to impose an excise tax of 6 percent on cannabis sales as well as a 5.3 percent retail sales and use tax, while allowing municipalities to set an additional local tax of up to 3.5 percent. The governor’s plan is largely the same, though it would increase the excise tax to 8 percent starting on July 1, 2029. Under the legislation as approved by lawmakers, revenue would be distributed to the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund (30 percent), early childhood education (40 percent), the Department of Behavioral & Developmental Health Services (25 percent) and public health initiatives (5 percent). The governor, however, wants to put all revenue into the general fund while earmarking it “for purposes such as early childhood education, behavioral health, public health awareness, prevention, treatment, and recovery services, workforce development, reentry, indigent criminal defense, and targeted reinvestment in historically disadvantaged communities.” The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee licensing and regulation of the new industry, and would also take on oversight of hemp, which is currently under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Local governments could not opt out of allowing marijuana businesses to operate in their area. Delivery services would be allowed. Serving sizes would be capped at 10 milligrams THC, with no more than 100 mg THC per package. The governor is proposing to make public marijuana use a class 4 criminal misdemeanor instead of civil violation punishable by a $25 fine as under current law. She also wants to make possessing cannabis by people under the age of 21 a class 1 misdemeanor, punishable with a mandatory minimum fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service, as well as the suspension of drivers licenses for at least six months. Illegally selling or distributing 50 pounds or more of marijuana would be a class 2 felony punishable by life in prison. The governor is seeking to eliminate support for the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund. Existing medical cannabis operators could enter the adult-use market if they pay a licensing conversion fee that is set at $10 million. Cannabis businesses would have to establish labor peace agreements with workers. As passed by lawmakers, the bill would have directed a legislative commission to study adding on-site consumption licenses and microbusiness cannabis event permits that would allow licensees to conduct sales at venues like farmers markets or pop-up locations, but the governor is proposing to remove that language. The legislature is set to reconvene to address the governor’s proposal on April 22. The post Virginia Marijuana Bill Sponsors Push Back Against Governor’s Proposed Changes appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net