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The White House has held the first in a series of scheduled meetings with cannabis industry and research stakeholders to discuss a proposed new enforcement policy for CBD products. Representatives of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) under the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) spoke with David Heldreth, CEO of Panacea Plant Sciences, on Wednesday to gain insight on the pending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approach for cannabidiol. Marijuana Moment caught up with Heldreth shortly after he finished attending the remote meeting, which is one of several discussions on the issue that OIRA scheduled after publishing a notice about its review of the FDA policy last month. “Members of FDA were present but did not identify themselves besides the host. They opened the meeting with statements that they cannot reveal anything about the policy or when it will come out and essentially won’t provide any details,” he said. “Then they opened the floor for me.” Heldreth said he raised questions about the legality of a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative to cover certain hemp-derived CBD and THC products that launched on Wednesday. “Current FDA policy is that CBD can’t be a [generally recognized as safe], food additive or supplement, and as such technically all CBD products are illegal outside vaping and smoking,” he said he told the federal officials. “I told them they put the cart before the horse. This current CBD policy needed to be updated before they could legally begin any legal reimbursement program for CBD.” “I then went on to discuss that if policy changes then it should be more than just CBD isolate,” Heldreth said. “Recent federal legislation set a THC limit at 0.4 mg per container/serving for cannabinoid extracts, but created industrial hemp carve out that stays at a 0.3 percent THC level rather than the 0.4 mg THC limit for for stalk, seed and hemp microgreen or leaves for oral consumption. As such hemp leaves below 0.3 percent THC are industrial hemp and also defined as for oral consumption by Congress. I believe the FDA policy for CBD should acknowledge that and include a policy allowing hemp leaves and microgreens to be defined as food, gras and allowed as food additives.” He said that as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, he hopes officials follow federal laws to hold specific tribal consultation about the issue. “I’m glad the White House held the meeting, but I believe this whole process won’t amount to much,” Heldreth said, noting that he participated in similar meetings about CBD policy with FDA officials in 2020 and “nothing changed” at the time. “The reality is without congressional action to address the drug preclusion law it’s difficult to get CBD allowed,” he said. “However, I believe items like hemp leaf will fall outside of that and provide options.” OIRA will also be meeting with Trent Woloveck of the multi-state cannabis operator Jushi Holdings on Wednesday, as well as Mackie Barch of Story Cannabis and Iowa hemp farmer Earl Ramey on Thursday, and Brett Goldman of OCan Group, LLC next week. All of this comes months before changes to federal hemp laws are set to significantly shake up the industry, with a ban on most consumable cannabinoid products containing THC taking effect in November. As part of the underlying law, FDA was tasked with publishing a list of known cannabinoids, but it missed a congressionally imposed deadline to fulfill that obligation and it’s unclear when that list will ultimately be furnished. Some have speculated that the enforcement policy guidance that OIRA is reviewing concerns the executive order President Donald Trump signed in December to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which also included provisions directing CMS to create a pathway for CBD health care coverage. The CBD-focused plan—which a coalition of anti-cannabis groups led by Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is now seeking to block in federal court—will also allow a certain amount of THC in products, but the agency said the planned rules are subject to change if federal hemp policy changes, as is currently expected under the law set to take effect in November. Participants would be required to ensure that CBD is sourced from “a legally compliant source and high-quality farm,” prepared as an oral solution and tested for cannabinoid content so that available products contain no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight and up to 3 milligrams of total THC per serving. CMS said that centers participating in one of three models that receive substance access Beneficiary Engagement Incentives (BEI) will be able to “consult with eligible beneficiaries about the possible use of eligible hemp products to improve symptom control.” The details about the rules for the CBD pilot program came weeks after a co-founder of the hemp company Charlotte’s Web, which has been collaborating with CMS, said the agency had already finalized its plans for federal health insurance coverage of cannabidiol. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — While CMS implemented an earlier final rule last April specifically stipulating that marijuana, as well as CBD that can be derived from federally legal hemp, are ineligible for coverage under its Medicare Advantage program and other services, the agency is now revising that policy. CMS had already announced certain changes as part of a rulemaking process that was unveiled late last year, affecting “marketing and communications, drug coverage, enrollment processes, special needs plans, and other programmatic areas” for insurance programs it oversees. One of those changes dealt with cannabidiol coverage. Meanwhile, with respect to the marijuana components of Trump’s December executive order, Attorney General Pam Bondi was directed to expeditiously finalize the proposal to reschedule cannabis, which would not federally legalize it but would remove certain research barriers and let state-licensed marijuana businesses take federal tax deductions they’re currently barred from under an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E. That rescheduling proposal remains pending, however. The post A Look Inside The White House’s First Cannabis Products Enforcement Policy Meeting appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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

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

“Hemp farmers were there and were excluded from every negotiation over the very crops we grow. Let that sink in. The Constitution didn’t fail us… 25 senators did.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent After nine hours of debate over competing proposals to ban intoxicating hemp products, the Missouri Senate finally approved a House bill Tuesday night that would align state law with a federal ban set to take effect in November. It also includes provisions to protect marijuana consumer privacy and cannabis workers’ right to organize. It now heads back to the House, which can either ask for a conference to work out differences with the Senate or send it to the governor. The bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Dave Hinman of O’Fallon, would prohibit hemp products from containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container, which is among the limits included in a provision in the federal spending bill Congress approved last year. Even if Congress reverses course and decides to allow the sale of these products, Hinman’s bill would only permit them to be sold in Missouri’s licensed marijuana dispensaries. And if Congress chooses to delay the ban for a couple years, Missouri would still ban all products, except for intoxicating beverages. “I had just a good opportunity over in the Senate to work with several of the senators to get some of the things that they wanted to get on there that I think actually benefit the bill,” Hinman told The Independent Wednesday morning. “So I’m very happy with the things that were done last night and look forward to bringing that to the House tomorrow.” Resistance to the bill came from Republican senators who expressed concern that the hemp industry members weren’t included in the final negotiations that took place for more than 12 hours Tuesday. And Democratic state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis argued Missouri would be taking a more restrictive approach than the federal government because the proposals would deem the intoxicating hemp products as “marijuana.” “They claim they’re mirroring the federal regulation,” May said during the debate Tuesday. “There’s some things in there that’s going far beyond the federal regulation, such as…hemp-derived cannabinoids will be put under the marijuana umbrella and have to be sold in dispensaries.” May successfully led a nearly seven-hour filibuster on the first bill brought for discussion, sponsored by Republican state Sen. David Gregory, which would have made the ban effective as soon as the governor signed it. “We spent pretty much from 11 a.m. until really 9 p.m. trying to figure out where we wanted to go, trying different things,” Hinman said, regarding Gregory’s bill. “We couldn’t get everyone really to agree, and so the senator [Gregory] suggested, ‘Let’s just go back to Hinman’s bill and go with that.’” In an unusual move, the senators decided to reconvene the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee at about 10 p.m. The same committee had decided not to vote on Hinman’s bill earlier that day, saying Hinman needed to reach a resolution with the hemp industry. There was no public notice of the fiscal oversight committee’s evening meeting, which ended when senators voted to move the bill forward and allowed the full Senate to take it up for debate. An amendment was approved to keep dispensaries from collecting marijuana consumers’ information unless they “opted in,” Hinman said, and another ensured all cannabis workers can unionize and shouldn’t be considered “agricultural workers” who aren’t protected under federal law. A group of workers in St. Louis have been battling this point since 2023. May also offered an amendment to clarify the effective date of the bill, setting it for November 12. With its approval, she agreed to end her filibuster and let Hinman’s bill come to a vote. Her amendment, Hinman said, was a needed “fix” to the bill. However, Republican state Sen. Mike Moon was not appeased, arguing that the Missouri Hemp Trade Association should have been at the negotiating table, though Gregory said he’d met with them before. “If I’ve made that policy decision, and that’s a sticking point for me, that I’m not going to entertain allowing marijuana to be called hemp and to be sold on every street corner,” Gregory said, “there’s no point in continuing to flirt with it when I know that I’m not going to support it.” Moon delayed a vote on the bill by reading “The Law” by Frédéric Bastiat for an hour. Hemp business owner John Grady was present for Tuesday’s debate and said numerous marijuana lobbyists “owned that hallway.” “Hemp farmers were there and were excluded from every negotiation over the very crops we grow,” Grady said. “Let that sink in. The Constitution didn’t fail us… 25 senators did.” Hinman said this is not the bill he originally proposed or wanted. His original bill 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. If Congress decides to allow low-dose THC hemp products to be sold outside dispensaries, he said Missouri would have to come back and pass legislation allowing that. State officials estimated in 2024 that 40,000 food establishments and smoke shops and 1,800 food manufacturers were selling products that would be banned under the proposed federal regulations. Hinman’s legislation was one of the first bills to get House approval this year. He previously told The Independent the legislation was a priority for the state’s leadership, including the governor, attorney general and House speaker. Intoxicating hemp products with as much as 1,000 mg of THC are being sold in smoke shops—outside of Missouri’s licensed marijuana dispensaries—and they aren’t regulated by any government agency. Missouri lawmakers have failed to pass legislation regulating these products since 2023. Senators also added a provision that requires people to be 21 to purchase THC beverages. Hinman said there are other bills pending that include more detailed regulations regarding selling hemp-derived THC beverages, if the federal government ultimately allows it. “We had no regulatory framework in this bill,” he said. “We didn’t want to put a regulatory framework, but we thought that was an important one that everybody agreed needed to be in there.” This story was first published by Missouri Independent. The post Missouri Senate Passes Bill To Ban Intoxicating Hemp THC Products appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Appears there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Fingers crossed.” By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner The Nebraska Legislature approved its first-ever bill related to a state medical cannabis program Wednesday, which regulators say is key to getting the medicine to Nebraskans. Lawmakers voted 46-2 to pass Legislative Bill 1235, led by the General Affairs Committee. The bill would give the voter-created regulatory commission the ability to set fees and raise revenue. With other funding in LB 1071’s state budget adjustments, approved 35-13 Wednesday as well, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission could soon hire its first dedicated staff. The commission did not formally support or oppose LB 1235, but lawmakers made clear the measure was introduced on the commission’s behalf. The legislation would have initially expanded commission authority to regulate patients, caregivers and medical providers, authority not contemplated in the ballot measure creating the commission that 67 percent of voters passed in 2024. Those provisions were removed. In the same 2024 election, 71 percent of voters legalized possession of up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis for patients and their caregivers with a health care practitioner’s recommendation. Lawmakers have estimated getting medical cannabis to patients might still be at least a year out. When it does, the medicine would not be subject to sales taxes under current law. LB 1235 ultimately passed with four main components, as well as other provisions related to alcohol and liquor regulation: Paying medical cannabis commissioners a salary of $12,500 for their work. Creating a dedicated state cash fund to collect legislative funding, fees, gifts, grants and other monies collected by the commission, which can be used for medical cannabis regulation. Authorizing the commission to set application fees, such as for cultivators, manufacturers and dispensaries, of up to $50,000. Requiring applicants for registered medical cannabis establishment licenses to submit fingerprints for a background check, which the commission was already doing. The state budget changes, at the recommendation of Gov. Jim Pillen (R), would give the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, which houses the Medical Cannabis Commission, an additional $1.38 million this fiscal year ending June 30 and $1 million for the next fiscal year. Medical Cannabis Commissioner Lorelle Mueting of Gretna, interim commission chair, in mid-March described LB 1235 as a “first step.” Commissioner J. Michael Coffey of Omaha, a retired district judge, had said delays were not intentional but “more or less a practical hurdle we had to get over,” in part because of limitations on ballot measure campaigns. Authorizing spending, for instance, belongs to the Legislature. “Appears there may be a light at the end of the tunnel,” Coffey said in March. Added Mueting right after: “Fingers crossed.” This story was first published by Nebraska Examiner. Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen. The post Nebraska Legislature Passes Medical Marijuana Regulation And Funding Bill appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“As written, the law would render the overwhelming majority of products currently on shelves illegal as of July 1. That includes gummies, tinctures, vapes, pre-rolls, beverages and topicals.” By Ivory Ellis, 757 Smokes A bill now on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s (D) desk threatens to upend access to the popular hemp products that thousands of Virginians rely on daily, unless the governor takes action before April 13. The legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis sales—SB 542/HB 642—also contains a provision inserted at the last minute to imposes a 2 milligram THC cap on hemp products. If enacted as written, it will eliminate the overwhelming majority of compliant inventory from retail shelves starting in July of this year. The legal replacement market for cannabis doesn’t open until January 2027—leaving consumers, veterans, seniors and small business owners in a six-month gap with nowhere legal to turn. My business, 757 Smokes, opened its doors in April 2021 with a clear purpose: providing Hampton Roads with a clean, reputable place to access quality hemp products alongside real education about what customers are actually buying. Since then, our locations in Portsmouth and Newport News have served a wide range of customers, including veterans, seniors, working professionals and wellness-focused consumers, many of whom have made hemp a consistent, reliable part of their daily health routines. Those routines are now at risk of disappearing overnight. While a 2 milligram limit may sound minor on paper, the real-world impact on existing hemp retail inventory is severe. As written, the law would render the overwhelming majority of products currently on shelves illegal as of July 1. That includes gummies, tinctures, vapes, pre-rolls, beverages and topicals that are fully compliant under existing regulations today. Retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers across Virginia would be left holding tens of thousands of dollars in unsellable inventory overnight. This is not a gradual transition. It is an immediate shutdown of a functioning, regulated marketplace. Compounding the uncertainty, new federal hemp provisions tied to a spending bill signed into law late last year are also looming. Those proposals could further restrict allowable THC levels nationwide, creating additional instability for businesses already trying to navigate Virginia’s changes. Instead of clarity, the industry is facing overlapping regulatory pressures at both the state and federal levels, which is precisely why Virginia should pause major hemp regulatory changes until there is clear, consistent federal guidance to build on. Beyond the business impact, the consumer consequences are even more concerning. For years, many customers have relied on higher-dose products, often totaling 500 milligrams of THC, as part of consistent wellness regimens for sleep, anxiety and chronic discomfort. These are not recreational users chasing a high. They are people who specifically chose legal, lab-tested hemp products over alcohol, illicit cannabis or prescription alternatives because those products worked for them at doses that actually matched their needs. With a 2 milligram hemp cap, those same consumers are now asking a simple question: how can a 500 milligram routine realistically be maintained under the new limits? Right now, there is no clear answer. And that absence of an answer has consequences. Customers are not asking for loopholes. They are asking for continuity. Removing access to effective dosages does not eliminate demand—it simply redirects it. When regulated products no longer meet consumer needs, the unregulated market steps in to fill the gap. Limiting legal products to ineffective doses while eliminating higher-dose options creates the exact conditions for black-market sales to surge, undermining both public safety and the law’s intent. At the same time, the timeline offers no relief. Virginia’s adult-use retail cannabis market is not expected to launch until 2027. That leaves a multi-year gap in which compliant businesses are forced to remove products, while consumers are left without legal alternatives that match what they have safely used for years. A more balanced approach is available. Raising the hemp cap to 5 milligrams per serving while maintaining a 500 milligram total THC cap would preserve access for existing consumers, protect compliant businesses and significantly reduce the likelihood of black market expansion, all while still providing reasonable guardrails for the new market. Without that adjustment, the result is clear: legal shelves go empty, businesses absorb significant losses and consumers are pushed outside the regulated system. Virginia has an opportunity to get this right, but the window is closing. Gov. Spanberger has until April 13 to use her amendatory authority to fix the hemp provisions in SB 542/HB 642 before signing. A targeted adjustment to the hemp cap would protect consumers, preserve small businesses and maintain the integrity of Virginia’s regulated market. For customers who rely on these products today, waiting until 2027 is not a realistic option. Ivory Ellis is the founder of 757 Smokes, with retail locations in Portsmouth and Newport News, Virginia, and a member of the Cannabis Small Business Association. The post Virginia’s Governor Has The Power To Save Consumers’ Access To Hemp Products (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Colorado’s governor has signed a bill that will let terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in healthcare facilities such as hospitals —though he expressed concerns about an amendment that was made to the legislation that he said “differs from the original intent” of the proposal by making participation by care centers optional rather than mandatory. “Colorado has long been a national leader in recognizing the medical value of marijuana, and in respecting the dignity and autonomy of patients. Many terminally ill patients rely on medical marijuana to manage pain, nausea, anxiety, appetite loss and more,” Gov. Jared Polis (D) said when signing the bill on Monday. “For some families, it is the difference between a patient being alert and present with loved ones or heavily sedated during their final days.” But because of the amendments made to the legislation from Sen. Kyle Mullica (D) and Reps. Sheila Lieder (D) and Lisa Feret (D) before it reached his desk, the governor said he is “concerned that many hospitals may not utilize this option, but at least hospitals have a chance to demonstrate otherwise.” “Despite the changes, I am signing this bill today because even an incremental step can encourage health care facilities to develop policies that better respect patient choice,” he said. “However, I do want to be clear: more work does need to be done to deliver the protections that terminally ill Coloradans deserve.” Advocates have been critical about changes made throughout the legislative process, arguing, for example, that making it so hospitals would have the option—rather than a mandate—to allow medical cannabis use in their facilities fundamentally undermines the intent of the reform. Jim Bartell, the father of a young California patient who passed away and who inspired the policy that’s become known as Ryan’s Law in his home state and several others, urged members of a House committee to go back to original language of the bill and “use the original language of ‘shall’ and ‘must’” so that it doesn’t create a patchwork network of health facilities that permit or prohibit medical cannabis use. “For families like mine, this legislation is not theoretical,” he said. “It’s part of ethical and compassionate care.” The governor, for his part, said in a signing statement that he wants lawmakers to “continue working with patients, families, health care providers, and advocates to strengthen this policy in future sessions.” “Colorado should be leading the charge to ensure that no patient is forced to choose between receiving care in a health care facility and accessing the medicine that helps them live their final days with greater comfort and dignity,” Polis said. “Our state has always sought to lead with compassion, innovation, and respect for personal freedom. When it comes to end-of-life care, those values matter more than ever.” Under SB 26-007, health facilities would be permitted to develop guidelines for the use, storage and administration of medical marijuana. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) would be prohibited from requiring compliance with the policy as a condition of obtaining or renewing a license or certification under the bill. Health facilities would be allowed to suspend the policy change if they risked enforcement action by a federal agency. Other amendments adopted in the Senate add additional compliance language, clarify that health facilities wouldn’t be required to store or dispense medical cannabis and limit legal liability for health institutions that permit medical marijuana use. — 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. — Last month, a House committee rejected a separate bill that would put a measure on the state’s November ballot asking voters to increase marijuana and alcohol taxes to support mental health treatment. Meanwhile, Colorado saw over $1 billion in marijuana sales—a milestone the governor touted in December. Polis also said in February that his state should not have joined a lawsuit supporting the federal ban on gun ownership by people who use marijuana that recently went before the U.S. Supreme Court—and he personally opposes the state attorney general’s “legal position on this.” Colorado regulators recently touted another successful year of nearly perfect marijuana business compliance with state laws prohibiting the sale of cannabis to underage youth—with a report showing that 99 percent of retailers checking IDs to verify the age of covert investigators. The post Colorado Governor Signs Bill To Allow Medical Marijuana Use In Hospitals, But Criticizes Amendment Letting Facilities Opt Out appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“We intend to fully fund this program.” By Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune Texas is launching its own research program into a psychedelic called ibogaine after state officials couldn’t find a company to help develop it into a drug for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) and House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) announced on Tuesday that Texas will use $50 million the Legislature invested last year and partner with statewide medical researchers to proceed with its own ibogaine research program. The lawmakers said multiple proposals from drug companies failed to meet the standards for state funds. “We intend to fully fund this program,” the statement says. Katharine Neill Harris, a drug policy fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, said she isn’t surprised the state couldn’t woo any companies to join in on ibogaine research. Texas lawmakers set the bar too high that to even be eligible for the $50 million state investment, companies had to provide a plan to get FDA approval to develop ibogaine into a drug, create a corporate presence in Texas, match the $50 million and commit to Texas 20 percent of revenue from future sales of the drug after the FDA approves it, Harris said. Joint statement with Speaker @Burrows4TX on Ibogaine Program Progress.https://t.co/aA1MoJrASP#txlege pic.twitter.com/JhlaSFyLe6 — Office of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) March 31, 2026 “That may be seen as a demanding state of conditions in a research area that carries substantial risk, so it is believable that prospective applicants did not meet the requirements,” Harris said. For several years, people have silently traveled to clinics in Mexico to take ibogaine. The extract of an ancient African shrub, ibogaine has been used to alleviate addiction and brain trauma. Ibogaine is an illegal drug, but Republicans have championed it due to its positive impact on people suffering from PTSD. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed Senate Bill 2308 into law last year, creating a consortium of universities, hospitals, and drug developers to conduct clinical trials of an ibogaine drug and get it approved by the FDA for future sale. Lawmakers approved $50 million in taxpayer dollars to support this effort, making Texas a leader in psychedelic research investment. Getting drug companies on board was key to making this consortium work because they have the experience of developing a drug that gets FDA approval. The Texas Tribune asked Patrick, Burrows and the Texas Health and Human Services commission why companies didn’t qualify to partner with the state and what next steps will involve. They did not provide answers by the story’s deadline. Today, @LtGovTX Dan Patrick and I reaffirmed Texas’ commitment to advancing research into Ibogaine therapy. See our joint statement below. pic.twitter.com/mnbyLadiiq — Dustin Burrows (@Burrows4TX) March 31, 2026 Bryan Hubbard, chief executive officer of Americans for Ibogaine, said research institutions across the country are conducting hundreds of clinical trials everyday, but what sets Texas apart is its goal of developing ibogaine into an FDA-approved drug that can be sold. “As we speak we are seeing bills passed in Mississippi, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Missouri that would join these states together in researching ibogaine, something far more significant than one private developer,” he said. “Texas is what makes this joiner possible.” Under SB 2308, a public university will manage ibogaine clinical trials in partnership with a drug company and a hospital. Harris said if the state plans to move forward without a drug company, the state might need to make some legislative or legal fixes to meet the statutory requirements of SB 2308, especially since the bill involves state funding. “As SB 2308 is written, HHSC should not be able to release the $50 million in state funds to the consortium without the private match,” she said. Last year, Texas Health and Human Services selected UTHealth Houston, in collaboration with The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, to lead a statewide partnership with other universities to conduct a two-year research trial evaluating the effect of ibogaine on patients with addiction, traumatic brain injury, and other behavioral health conditions. “This landmark clinical trial reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing research that improves lives and delivers the highest standards of care,” said Melina Kibbe, MD, UTHealth Houston president, in a news release at the time. Harris said the state’s research institutions are capable of managing clinical trials. She said it’s less clear whether the state is willing and able to fully fund the path to FDA approval without private partners. “A drug development effort like this will likely require much more than $100 million overall, not just the initial $50 million in state funding,” she said. This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Scamperdale. The post Texas Will Launch Ibogaine Clinical Trials After Drug Companies Failed To Meet Requirements For Psychedelic Research Funds appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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A federal judge has denied a request from a coalition of anti-marijuana organizations that sought to immediately block the Trump administration’s initiative to cover hemp-derived CBD and THC products through Medicare from launching on Wednesday. The groups’ overall lawsuit challenging the policy is still under consideration, however, with a hearing on their separate motion for a preliminary injunction scheduled for April 20, which coincidentally is known as the unofficial cannabis cultural holiday 4/20. Judge Trevor N. McFadden on Tuesday rejected the request from Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and nine other drug prevention groups to issue a temporary restraining order to halt the federal cannabis initiative, which is being facilitated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), from taking effect. McFadden, in his one-page order, quoted case law holding that a temporary restraining order is an “extraordinary and drastic remedy” that can only be granted if a party makes a “clear showing that four factors, taken together, warrant relief: likely success on the merits, likely irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, a balance of the equities in its favor, and accord with the public interest.” “Having considered the arguments in Plaintiffs’ motion and at a motions hearing, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have not met this high standard,” the judge wrote. “The motion for a temporary restraining order is thus denied. The Court will consider Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction and motion to stay upon the completion of briefing.” Defendants in the lawsuit—CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.—now have until April 9 to file briefs responding to the prohibitionist groups’ motion for a preliminary injunction. The plaintiffs then have a reply brief due on April 13, a week ahead of the 4/20 hearing on the matter. The lawsuit comes as CMS is set to start covering CBD and THC products under select federal health insurance programs as a Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Incentive (BEI) beginning on Wednesday. Under the BEI, patients enrolled in specific federal health insurance programs could have up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products covered each year. The CBD-focused plan will also allow a certain amount of THC in products, but the agency said that the rules are subject to change if federal hemp policy changes, as is currently expected under a law set to take effect later this year. SAM and the other organizations—including the Cannabis Impact Prevention Coalition, Drug Free American Foundation and Save Our Society From Drugs—made several arguments in support of legal intervention to prevent the cannabidiol BEI from moving forward. Much of their complaint focused on alleged violations of administrative rules to provide the treatment, which they point out has not received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. CMS didn’t publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for the cannabis BEI that would have afforded the public with a comment period to weigh in, and the agency’s initiative runs counter to a separate final rule it issued last year that “declared cannabis products ineligible for supplemental Medicare coverage for chronically ill patients,” the prohibitionist plaintiffs said. Beyond those alleged violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the groups noted that CMS described a BEI for CBD containing a maximum THC concentration that exceeds what would constitute federally legal hemp under a policy that’s set to be implemented in November. The filing says the program would additionally violate the Social Security Act (SSA), which “does not allow CMS to sanction the possession and use of illegal and dangerous Schedule I substances by Medicare patients without clear congressional authorization.” “CMS’s action represents an unprecedented and unlawful assertion of binding decision-making authority that will profoundly affect the health of elderly Americans,” SAM and the other organizations said in their complaint. “CMS took this action without the guardrails imposed by the administrative process, without any reasoned explanation, in conflict with the agency’s own recent APA-compliant determination, and without statutory authority.” Therefore, the plaintiffs are asking the federal court to vacate the BEI, deem in unlawful and permanently enjoin the implementation of the policy. In the interim, they asked for a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and stay of agency action amid the judicial review. As far as legal standing is concerned, SAM said the BEI “provides marijuana products via a medical source,” so its expenses related to efforts opposing a separate cannabis rescheduling process “has been rendered essentially moot.” “SAM’s injury is not abstract policy disagreement but concrete impairment of specific programmatic activities with a consequent drain on organizational resources,” it said. The filing adds that one of the plaintiffs in the case—SAM donor and consultant David Evans—would also be personally injured by the CMS policy action because he’s a Medicare recipient who was deprived of the ability to submit a public comment on the BEI and whose “healthcare relationship” with CMS is altered by the initiative. The prayer for relief section of the lawsuit requests that the court 1) declare that the BEI was adopted in violation of APA notice-and-comment requirements, 2) declare the BEI is “arbitrary, capricious, and abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with the law,” 3) declare the BEI exceeds CMS’s statutory authority, 4) vacate the BEI, 5) permanently enjoin the implementation or enforcement of the initiative and 6) award legal fees to the defendants. The CBD initiative is being implemented in response to a directive President Donald Trump signed in December that also called on the attorney general to expeditiously complete the process of moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). That wouldn’t federally legalize it, but it would remove certain research barriers associated with Schedule I drugs and also allow state-licensed marijuana businesses to take federal tax deductions. For its part, CMS posted an update last month detailing how certain of its “Innovation Center” models will facilitate the pilot program providing coverage to regulated, hemp-derived cannabidiol. Participants would be required to ensure that CBD is sourced from “a legally compliant source and high-quality farm,” prepared as an oral solution and tested for cannabinoid content so that available products contain no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight and up to 3 milligrams of total THC per serving. CMS said that centers participating in one of three models that receive substance access BEI will be able to “consult with eligible beneficiaries about the possible use of eligible hemp products to improve symptom control.” “Participants implementing this BEI may elect to furnish such hemp products up to $500 a year, per eligible beneficiary, subject to model requirements and safeguards,” it said, while emphasizing that Medicare “does not pay the participant for the products, and beneficiaries should not be asked to submit a Medicare claim for the product.” The three eligible innovation center models are CMS’s ACO REACH Model, Enhancing Oncology Model and Long-term Enhance ACO Design (LEAD) Model. For the first two, participants can elect to utilize the BEI for CBD coverage starting on April 1. For LEAD participants, the start date is January 1, 2027. Participating organizations under those models must first elect the substance access BEI and then produce a CMS implementation plan that describes “the specific eligible hemp product(s) and dosing information, the amount/frequency of distribution, beneficiary eligibility criteria, safeguards/oversight, and other requirements outlined in participation agreements.” Those plans would need to receive CMS approval before participants could offer cannabidiol coverage. After initial details about the initiative were revealed last month, CMS faced questions about the potential impact of a law set to take effect in November that would redefine hemp in a way that would strictly limit the types of cannabis products that are currently permitted under the 2018 Farm Bill that Trump signed in his first term. That law expressly prohibits hemp derivatives containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container, which industry stakeholders say would effectively eradicate the consumable hemp market. Here’s how CMS is defining hemp products allowed through its substance access BEI: “Eligible hemp products are limited to federally legal hemp-derived products containing no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC and expressly excludes inhalable products, any products containing more than 3 mg per serving of tetrohydrocannabinols (such as delta-8-tetrahyrdocannabinol, delta-10-tetrahyrdocannabinol, and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) in an orally administered form, and any products containing cannabinoids not naturally produced or capable of being produced by or in the cannabis plant during its cultivation.” The agency acknowledged that its definition complies with the 2018 Farm Bill provisions and noted that its coverage plan “does not override the Controlled Substances Act or authorize Schedule I substances.” “To be eligible, hemp products must also comply with applicable state and local laws,” CMS said, raising additional questions about potential regulatory complications as multiple states have proactively moved to restrict hemp product availability in anticipation of the pending federal policy change. “If the legal limits on hemp-derived products changes…CMS will adjust its definition in accordance with the law.” CMS further explained that cannabinoid products “must be furnished and provided directly by a qualified physician affiliated with the participant organization, as specified by the model participation agreements,” and model participants “cannot instruct beneficiaries to purchase retail products and submit receipts for reimbursement under the BEI.” To be approved to provide CBD coverage, model participants must 1) meet federal, state and local “production, quality and safety laws and other mandated standards,” 2) be sourced from legally compliant farms “consistent with 2018 Farm Bill hemp requirements” and 3) be tested for cannabinoid content, as well as “contaminants and microbial hazards.” The details about the rules for the CBD pilot program came weeks after a co-founder of the hemp company Charolette’s Web, which has been collaborating with CMS, said the agency had already finalized its plans for federal health insurance coverage of cannabidiol. Bill Morachnick, CEO of Charlotte’s Web, said in a press release on Monday that they are “grateful for CMS’s thoughtful approach in expanding access and creating space for responsible, evidence‑based hemp wellness conversations in clinical settings.” “This program aligns with our mission to advance safe, high‑quality, science‑backed hemp options for consumers, and we remain committed to supporting sensible legislation that protects patients and strengthens the integrity of our industry,” he said. “The updated guidance from CMS represents an important step in strengthening how hemp-based options are considered within care settings,” Morachnick said in a separate statement. “By reinforcing a science-driven framework centered on safety, quality, and transparency, it creates a clearer path for responsible integration into patient care. We see this as meaningful progress toward expanding access to trusted, non-intoxicating hemp solutions in a way that aligns with both clinical standards and patient needs.” Oz, the CMS administrator, explained in December that the policy change will “allow millions of Americans on Medicare to become eligible to receive CBD as early as April of next year—and at no charge if their doctors recommend them.” He added that Medicare Advantage insurers CMS has contacted are “also agreeing to consider CBD to be used for the 34 million Americans that they cover.” As previously described by the administrator, the plan would involved those 65 and older who qualify for Medicare, but the specific qualifying conditions weren’t detailed. There were repeated mentions of chronic pain, specifically related to cancer, but it’s possible the CBD eligibility criteria includes additional conditions. In its latest update, CMS said patients with disqualifying conditions under the Innovation Center models, as well as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, could not receive CBD. They must also be at least 18 years old to participate. At the signing ceremony for the marijuana and hemp executive order Trump signed in December, Oz also gave kudos to Howard Kessler, founder of The Commonwealth Project, which produced a video about the benefits of cannabidiol for seniors that the president shared on Truth Social last year and who apparently has pressed Trump to enact reform to expand cannabis access. CMS had already announced certain changes as part of a rulemaking process that was unveiled late last year, affecting “marketing and communications, drug coverage, enrollment processes, special needs plans, and other programmatic areas” for insurance programs it oversees. One of those changes dealt with cannabidiol coverage. The rule as proposed would amend regulations, which currently state that any “cannabis products” cannot be covered. The policy would prevent coverage for only “cannabis products that are illegal under applicable state or federal law, including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” Since hemp and its derivatives like CBD are federally legal, the change suggests patients in states where such products are legal could make valid insurance claims to pay for the alternative treatment option, as long as the product is also federally legal. Meanwhile, following the White House announcement in December, Oz spoke with NewsNation about the policy change, responding to a question about how the broader marijuana rescheduling decision squares with the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to stymie the flow of other illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl. “We think they fit hand in hand,” he said. “This is really about researching—specifically CBD, which is hemp-derived endocannabinoids [sic]—are actually worthy of Americans using them,” he said. “It’s hard to do some of this work, especially with medical marijuana. And this is not about legalization of marijuana.” “There is no legalization language at all,” he added. “It’s about rescheduling this class of product so that it can be researched more readily.” The idea that marijuana has no medical value, as its currently defined as a Schedule I drug, is “just patently wrong for marijuana,” he said, noting that FDA has approved certain cannabis-based drugs for conditions such as epilepsy “that work quite nicely.” “That belief that it should be Schedule I is just an incorrect place to put it,” he said. “Schedule III seemed to make sense to the president. He argued that it allows us to do the research more readily.” “We’re finding a way to allow Medicare beneficiaries to get access to some of these products. And so, within Medicare, we have the ability, for the first time ever—and we delivered on this promise to the president today—to allow doctors to recommend hemp-derived CBD for patients who have cancer, for example, and have a lot of pain from that.” The administrator said surveys show a majority of seniors who take CBD for pain management find it beneficial, and the White House wants to “make it easier for patients to access this” and allow them to access the cannabinoid at “no charge” through the federal health insurance program. Oz took a different tone when he warned in February that “there are going to be consequences” as more Americans choose marijuana over alcohol—including problems caused by “high-dose hemp and CBD.” In the background, HHS and FDA recently submitted proposed regulations concerning CBD enforcement and compliance with the White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). Multiple cannabis industry stakeholders have been granted meetings with OIRA to discuss the proposal this week. Read the judges’s order denying the motion for a temporary restraining order on the federal cannabis initiative: Photo elements courtesy of rawpixel and Philip Steffan. The post Judge Rejects Anti-Marijuana Groups’ Motion To Block CBD And THC Medicare Coverage Plan, Setting Hearing For 4/20 appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

ID anti-medical-marijuana resolution; NH psilocybin & cannabis votes; HI lawmakers push federal marijuana exemption; New Latino advocacy org 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… By starting a $10 per month pledge on Patreon—or about 45 cents per issue of this newsletter—you can help us rely less on ads to cover our expenses, hire more journalists and bring you even more marijuana news. https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Smart Approaches to Marijuana and other prohibitionist organizations are suing federal health officials to stop a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pilot program covering hemp CBD and THC products from taking effect this week. The Idaho Senate passed a resolution urging voters not to sign petitions to put a medical cannabis initiative on the November ballot—claiming that legalization causes crime, health and safety problems. The New Hampshire House of Representatives amended a bill to legalize the regulated use of psilocybin for medical purposes by making it so it would only create an advisory board to study the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic—and members also rejected an attempt to revive legislation to protect medical cannabis patients’ gun rights. The Hawaii Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a pair of resolutions pushing state officials to seek federal exemptions and waivers for medical cannabis patients and dispensaries from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Leaders with the newly launched Latino Cannabis Alliance argue in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that “despite carrying the consequences of criminalization, and being key sustainers of the legal industry as workers and consumers, Latinos are underrepresented as business owners in the industry.” Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Swanson, currently the Genesee County sheriff, is pleading to repeal a recently enacted marijuana tax increase if he’s elected. / FEDERAL The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted a video questioning the effectiveness of fentanyl test strips. / STATES New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) signed a bill revising the timeline for implementation of hemp product restrictions. South Carolina’s attorney general touted indictments against distributorships and vape shops for allegedly illegally selling marijuana and THC products. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Maryland hemp product rules. Florida regulators withdrew rulemaking to amend the medical cannabis patient and caregiver registration process. Texas regulators are facing a likely lawsuit over newly enacted hemp THC product restrictions. California regulators sent updates on various cannabis issues. Colorado regulators will hold a hemp rulemaking session on Friday. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / LOCAL St. Charles County, Missouri’s police chief authored an op-ed calling on lawmakers to pass restrictions on intoxicating hemp products. / INTERNATIONAL The German Federal Court of Justice ruled that a medical cannabis company’s advertising violates the country’s law on advertising prescription drugs. Irish lawmakers held a hearing on Portugal’s drug decriminalization law. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “a novel cannabidiol-derived small molecule ameliorates lower urinary tract dysfunction in mice with spinal cord injury via suppressing neuroinflammation.” A study found that “CBD and CBG enhance hepatic energy buffering and lysosomal function, contributing to improved liver lipid handling and supporting phytocannabinoids as promising [metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease] therapeutics.” / BUSINESS Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. is being sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for allegedly subjecting female employees to unlawful sexual harassment. Organigram Global Inc. shareholders approved the acquisition of Sanity Group GmbH and private placement financing with a subsidiary of British American Tobacco. Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly consolidated net revenue of $13.3 million and a net loss of $11.5 million. SNDL Inc.’s president of cannabis left the company. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: The post Feds sued over Medicare cannabis product coverage (Newsletter: April 1, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“We cannot balance state budgets on the backs of one industry. Excessive taxation drives consumers back to the illicit market and shrinks the legal one.” By Katherine Dailey, Michigan Advance Genesee County Sheriff and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Swanson came out strongly in opposition to the 24 percent cannabis tax passed as a part of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to pay for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) plan to fund road repairs statewide. In a video posted to Facebook on Friday evening, Swanson promised that, if elected, he would work to repeal the tax saying that it is “not fair and equitable” to an industry that provides goods and services, as well as jobs, for the state of Michigan. Swanson’s campaign added in a press release that the tax “undermines both the legal market and the intent of voter-approved legalization,” citing the 2018 ballot initiative vote that legalized cannabis in the state of Michigan. “As Governor, I will work to roll back the 24 percent wholesale excise tax to ensure fairness and equity,” he continued in the press release. “We cannot balance state budgets on the backs of one industry. Excessive taxation drives consumers back to the illicit market and shrinks the legal one.” “I’ve never been a fan of solving budgetary problems by targeting one industry, and that’s what’s happened,” Swanson said in the video. “The people spoke. This is an industry that’s here to stay. and anything that tries to disrupt that is gonna be non-negotiable for this administration. And on top of that, we’re gonna keep this from spilling over to the black market, where these can lead into other, more dangerous situations. So we’re just gonna make sure this industry is taken care of.” The tax passed narrowly through the state Legislature in early October and went into effect at the start of 2026, and has been heavily criticized—and even taken to court—by cannabis industry leaders for what they see as harms to the industry and the small businesses that make it up. Swanson’s press release also quoted Michigan Cannabis Industry Association Executive Director Robin Schneider as praising his opposition to the tax, especially as a law enforcement officer focused on keeping the industry out of the black market. “Candidate Chris Swanson came out publicly against the 24 percent wholesale tax,” Schneider said. “It is now our responsibility to create the momentum behind the messaging that he is bold enough to carry for us.” Swanson also emphasized in the press release that he still intends to fund the types of infrastructure projects that the cannabis tax is currently set to fund. “This is about doing what’s right for Michigan. Even by rolling back this tax, I am 100 percent committed to funding all future road and bridge projects. That’s a priority too,” he said. “Supporting a fair system protects people, strengthens small businesses and respects the voters who made their voices heard.” Swanson has trailed in polling and campaign fundraising in the primary behind Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D), but has continued campaigning ahead of the August primary. This story was first published by Michigan Advance. The post Michigan Sheriff Running For Governor Pledges To Repeal Marijuana Tax Increase appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Hawaii senators are sending a message to the governor, state attorney general and health department to recognize their “clear legislative stance” in support of requesting an exemption from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stipulating that Hawaii is permitted to run its medical cannabis program without federal interference. Members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Monday approved a pair of resolutions that address the state-federal cannabis policy disconnect, with a push to have state officials exercise their authority to request a DEA exemption under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) with respect to its medical marijuana law. The “legal disharmony” resulting from the underlying policy conflict has “created a layered legal and economic gray area, in which patients and dispensaries must violate federal law to participate, with prosecution protection entirely dependent upon the non-enforcement of federal law,” the companion Senate resolution and Senate concurrent resolution say. This is not the first time that the legislature has advanced such resolutions—and the language of the latest versions reflects a sense of frustration that the Department of Health (DOH) failed to follow through on lawmakers’ 2021 directive to request the cannabis exemption. The governor and state attorney general also have the power to make that exemption request, the measures note. Under the current system, the “legal disparities between the state and federal regulation of cannabis threaten employment, firearms registration, inter-island transport, housing, hospice care, and safe and affordable access for tens of thousands of Hawaii’s medical cannabis patients,” the legislation says, adding that the conflicting policies further “discourage hundreds of thousands of potential medical cannabis patients from enrolling in Hawaii’s Medical Cannabis Program for fear of federal repercussions.” To effectively protect the state’s medical cannabis patient population, Hawaii could apply for the DEA exception “so that registered patients could participate in Hawaii’s Medical Cannabis Program without being exposed to federal prosecution or discrimination,” SR 141 and SCR 150 continue. Under the concurrent resolution adopted during the 2021 session, DOH received a request from lawmakers to apply for that exemption in hopes of receiving “formal written acknowledgement that the listing of marihuana, marihuana extract, and tetrahydrocannabinols as controlled substances in Federal Schedule I does not apply to the protected activities in Hawaii Revised Statutes.” However, “despite this clear legislative stance, the Department of Health, along with the Governor and Attorney General who also have the discretion to apply for the exemption, have yet to take any action,” the measures say. Notably, the resolutions that cleared the Senate committee on Monday also point out that President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December to “expedite the federal rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule III.” Therefore, there’s urgent need to “protect Hawaii’s medical cannabis program and the state’s authority over the intrastate medical use of cannabis.” The resolutions say the governor is “respectfully requested to act on House Concurrent Resolution 132, Regular Session of 2021 and pursue with the Drug Enforcement Administration an exemption from federal controlled substance regulation for registered medical cannabis patients in Hawaii.” Also, “it is also requested that registration waivers from the Drug Enforcement Administration for state-licensed dispensaries under Chapter 21 United States Code, section 822(d) are pursued for the intrastate production and distribution of medical cannabis,” and DOH is additionally “requested to provide updates to the Legislature as they become available.” Relatedly, in 2020, DEA rejected a petition to exempt Iowa from enforcement actions related to its medical cannabis program that was filed by an activist, Carl Olsen, who also filed a lawsuit against the governor, arguing that the state had unnecessarily delayed submitting that request as prescribed under legislation that passed that year. — 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. — Back in Hawaii, although senators recently approved a bill to legalize low-dose and low-potency marijuana, the legislation didn’t advance through required steps before a key deadline, and so it is dead for the year. A separate marijuana legalization bill that contained provisions making the reform contingent on changes to federal law or the state Constitution, SB 2421, was deferred for action. Both Senate and House panels additionally deferred action on a measure to allow for the sale of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Those actions comes after key House lawmakers signaled that cannabis legalization proposals would not be advancing in the 2026 session, citing a lack of sufficient support in their chamber. Earlier this month, a Hawaii Senate committee separately passed legislation to allow patients to immediately access medical cannabis once their registrations are submitted, instead of having to wait until their cards are delivered as is the case under current law. Meanwhile, a Hawaii House committee last week approved a Senate-passed bill that would create a psychedelics task force responsible for studying and making policy recommendations on providing access to breakthrough therapies such as psilocybin and MDMA. Legislation to allow qualifying patients to access medical marijuana at health facilities is also advancing this session. The post Hawaii Senators Pass Resolutions Seeking Federal Medical Marijuana Exemption From DEA appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A coalition of anti-marijuana organizations is suing the Trump administration over a novel initiative set to launch this week to widen the availability of CBD and THC for certain patients by covering hemp-derived products under select federal health insurance programs. Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and nine other drug prevention groups on Monday filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the legality of the cannabis program—which is being facilitated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—and seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately halt the process. The filing names CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as defendants in the lawsuit. The lawsuit comes as CMS is set to start covering CBD and THC products as a Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Incentive (BEI) beginning on Wednesday. Under the BEI, patients enrolled in specific federal health insurance programs could have up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products covered each year. The CBD-focused plan will also allow a certain amount of THC in products, but the agency said earlier this month the rules are subject to change if federal hemp policy changes, as is currently expected under a law set to take effect later this year. SAM and the other organizations—including the Cannabis Impact Prevention Coalition, Drug Free American Foundation and Save Our Society From Drugs—made several arguments in support of legal intervention to prevent the cannabidiol BEI from moving forward. Much of the complaint focuses on alleged violations of administrative rules to provide the treatment, which they point out has not received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. CMS didn’t publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for the cannabis BEI that would have afforded the public with a comment period to weigh in, and the agency’s initiative runs counter to a separate final rule it issued last year that “declared cannabis products ineligible for supplemental Medicare coverage for chronically ill patients,” the prohibitionist plaintiffs said. Beyond those alleged violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the groups noted that CMS described a BEI for CBD containing a maximum THC concentration that exceeds what would constitute federally legal hemp under a policy that’s set to be implemented in November. The filing says the program would additionally violate the Social Security Act (SSA), which “does not allow CMS to sanction the possession and use of illegal and dangerous Schedule I substances by Medicare patients without clear congressional authorization.” “CMS’s action represents an unprecedented and unlawful assertion of binding decision-making authority that will profoundly affect the health of elderly Americans,” SAM and the other organizations said in their complaint. “CMS took this action without the guardrails imposed by the administrative process, without any reasoned explanation, in conflict with the agency’s own recent APA-compliant determination, and without statutory authority.” The program is anti-science, likely in violation of federal law, and will seriously damage public health. Lose-lose-lose . . . except for the addiction industries who pushed for it. Marijuana is linked to heart disease, dementia, and mental illness. CBD is linked to liver… — Smart Approaches to Marijuana (@learnaboutsam) March 31, 2026 Therefore, the plaintiffs are asking the federal court to vacate the BEI, deem in unlawful and permanently enjoin the implementation of the policy. In the interim, they are seeking a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and stay of agency action amid the judicial review. As far as legal standing is concerned, SAM said the BEI “provides marijuana products via a medical source,” so its expenses related to efforts opposing a separate cannabis rescheduling process “has been rendered essentially moot.” “SAM’s injury is not abstract policy disagreement but concrete impairment of specific programmatic activities with a consequent drain on organizational resources,” it said. The filing adds that one of the plaintiffs in the case—SAM donor and consultant David Evans—would also be personally injured by the CMS policy action because he’s a Medicare recipient who was deprived of the ability to submit a public comment on the BEI and whose “healthcare relationship” with CMS is altered by the initiative. The prayer for relief section of the lawsuit requests that the court 1) declare that the BEI was adopted in violation of APA notice-and-comment requirements, 2) declare the BEI is “arbitrary, capricious, and abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with the law,” 3) declare the BEI exceeds CMS’s statutory authority, 4) vacate the BEI, 5) permanently enjoin the implementation or enforcement of the initiative and 6) award legal fees to the defendants. “Let’s be perfectly clear: raw marijuana—especially in the form of non-FDA approved products like tinctures and gummies—is not medicine,” SAM CEO Kevin A. Sabet said in a press release. “While there are some FDA-approved medical uses for CBD and THC, like Epidiolex, these prescription medications are already covered under insurance.” “What CMS will cover, if this is allowed to go through, are products sold at gas stations and convenience stores that are nothing more than snake oil. These are not regulated or tested by the FDA and do not fall under the [generally recognized as safe] standard,” he said. “It is unclear how they would be regulated, if at all, and how patients would be educated about potential side effects or medication interactions.” The CBD initiative is being implemented in response to a directive Trump signed in December that also called on the attorney general to expeditiously complete the process of moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). That wouldn’t federally legalize it, but it would remove certain research barriers associated with Schedule I drugs and also allow state-licensed marijuana businesses to take federal tax deductions. For its part, CMS posted an update earlier this month detailing how certain of its “Innovation Center” models will facilitate the pilot program providing coverage to regulated, hemp-derived cannabidiol. Participants would be required to ensure that CBD is sourced from “a legally compliant source and high-quality farm,” prepared as an oral solution and tested for cannabinoid content so that available products contain no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight and up to 3 milligrams of total THC per serving. CMS said that centers participating in one of three models that receive substance access BEI will be able to “consult with eligible beneficiaries about the possible use of eligible hemp products to improve symptom control.” “Participants implementing this BEI may elect to furnish such hemp products up to $500 a year, per eligible beneficiary, subject to model requirements and safeguards,” it said, while emphasizing that Medicare “does not pay the participant for the products, and beneficiaries should not be asked to submit a Medicare claim for the product.” The three eligible innovation center models are CMS’s ACO REACH Model, Enhancing Oncology Model and Long-term Enhance ACO Design (LEAD) Model. For the first two, participants can elect to utilize the BEI for CBD coverage starting on April 1. For LEAD participants, the start date is January 1, 2027. Participating organizations under those models must first elect the substance access BEI and then produce a CMS implementation plan that describes “the specific eligible hemp product(s) and dosing information, the amount/frequency of distribution, beneficiary eligibility criteria, safeguards/oversight, and other requirements outlined in participation agreements.” Those plans would need to receive CMS approval before participants could offer cannabidiol coverage. After initial details about the initiative were revealed this month, CMS faced questions about the potential impact of a law set to take effect in November that would redefine hemp in a way that would strictly limit the types of cannabis products that are currently permitted under the 2018 Farm Bill that Trump signed in his first term. That law expressly prohibits hemp derivatives containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container, which industry stakeholders say would effectively eradicate the consumable hemp market. Here’s how CMS is defining hemp products allowed through its substance access BEI: “Eligible hemp products are limited to federally legal hemp-derived products containing no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC and expressly excludes inhalable products, any products containing more than 3 mg per serving of tetrohydrocannabinols (such as delta-8-tetrahyrdocannabinol, delta-10-tetrahyrdocannabinol, and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) in an orally administered form, and any products containing cannabinoids not naturally produced or capable of being produced by or in the cannabis plant during its cultivation.” The agency acknowledged that its definition complies with the 2018 Farm Bill provisions and noted that its coverage plan “does not override the Controlled Substances Act or authorize Schedule I substances.” “To be eligible, hemp products must also comply with applicable state and local laws,” CMS said, raising additional questions about potential regulatory complications as multiple states have proactively moved to restrict hemp product availability in anticipation of the pending federal policy change. “If the legal limits on hemp-derived products changes…CMS will adjust its definition in accordance with the law.” CMS further explained that cannabinoid products “must be furnished and provided directly by a qualified physician affiliated with the participant organization, as specified by the model participation agreements,” and model participants “cannot instruct beneficiaries to purchase retail products and submit receipts for reimbursement under the BEI.” To be approved to provide CBD coverage, model participants must 1) meet federal, state and local “production, quality and safety laws and other mandated standards,” 2) be sourced from legally compliant farms “consistent with 2018 Farm Bill hemp requirements” and 3) be tested for cannabinoid content, as well as “contaminants and microbial hazards.” The details about the rules for the CBD pilot program came weeks after a co-founder of the hemp company Charolette’s Web, which has been collaborating with CMS, said the agency had already finalized its plans for federal health insurance coverage of cannabidiol. Bill Morachnick, CEO of Charlotte’s Web, said in a press release on Monday that they are “grateful for CMS’s thoughtful approach in expanding access and creating space for responsible, evidence‑based hemp wellness conversations in clinical settings.” “This program aligns with our mission to advance safe, high‑quality, science‑backed hemp options for consumers, and we remain committed to supporting sensible legislation that protects patients and strengthens the integrity of our industry,” he said. “The updated guidance from CMS represents an important step in strengthening how hemp-based options are considered within care settings,” Morachnick said in a separate statement. “By reinforcing a science-driven framework centered on safety, quality, and transparency, it creates a clearer path for responsible integration into patient care. We see this as meaningful progress toward expanding access to trusted, non-intoxicating hemp solutions in a way that aligns with both clinical standards and patient needs.” Oz, the CMS administrator, explained in December that the policy change will “allow millions of Americans on Medicare to become eligible to receive CBD as early as April of next year—and at no charge if their doctors recommend them.” He added that Medicare Advantage insurers CMS has contacted are “also agreeing to consider CBD to be used for the 34 million Americans that they cover.” As previously described by the administrator, the plan would involved those 65 and older who qualify for Medicare, but the specific qualifying conditions weren’t detailed. There were repeated mentions of chronic pain, specifically related to cancer, but it’s possible the CBD eligibility criteria includes additional conditions. In its latest update, CMS said patients with disqualifying conditions under the Innovation Center models, as well as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, could not receive CBD. They must also be at least 18 years old to participate. At the signing ceremony for the marijuana and hemp executive order Trump signed in December, Oz also gave kudos to Howard Kessler, founder of The Commonwealth Project, which produced a video about the benefits of cannabidiol for seniors that the president shared on Truth Social last year and who apparently has pressed Trump to enact reform to expand cannabis access. CMS had already announced certain changes as part of a rulemaking process that was unveiled late last year, affecting “marketing and communications, drug coverage, enrollment processes, special needs plans, and other programmatic areas” for insurance programs it oversees. One of those changes dealt with cannabidiol coverage. The rule as proposed would amend regulations, which currently state that any “cannabis products” cannot be covered. The policy would prevent coverage for only “cannabis products that are illegal under applicable state or federal law, including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” Since hemp and its derivatives like CBD are federally legal, the change suggests patients in states where such products are legal could make valid insurance claims to pay for the alternative treatment option, as long as the product is also federally legal. Meanwhile, following the White House announcement in December, Oz spoke with NewsNation about the policy change, responding to a question about how the broader marijuana rescheduling decision squares with the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to stymie the flow of other illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl. “We think they fit hand in hand,” he said. “This is really about researching—specifically CBD, which is hemp-derived endocannabinoids [sic]—are actually worthy of Americans using them,” he said. “It’s hard to do some of this work, especially with medical marijuana. And this is not about legalization of marijuana.” “There is no legalization language at all,” he added. “It’s about rescheduling this class of product so that it can be researched more readily.” The idea that marijuana has no medical value, as its currently defined as a Schedule I drug, is “just patently wrong for marijuana,” he said, noting that FDA has approved certain cannabis-based drugs for conditions such as epilepsy “that work quite nicely.” “That belief that it should be Schedule I is just an incorrect place to put it,” he said. “Schedule III seemed to make sense to the president. He argued that it allows us to do the research more readily.” “We’re finding a way to allow Medicare beneficiaries to get access to some of these products. And so, within Medicare, we have the ability, for the first time ever—and we delivered on this promise to the president today—to allow doctors to recommend hemp-derived CBD for patients who have cancer, for example, and have a lot of pain from that.” The administrator said surveys show a majority of seniors who take CBD for pain management find it beneficial, and the White House wants to “make it easier for patients to access this” and allow them to access the cannabinoid at “no charge” through the federal health insurance program. Oz took a different tone last month when he warned that “there are going to be consequences” as more Americans choose marijuana over alcohol—including problems caused by “high-dose hemp and CBD.” In the background, HHS and FDA recently submitted proposed regulations concerning CBD enforcement and compliance with the White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). Multiple cannabis industry stakeholders have been granted meetings with OIRA to discuss the proposal this week. Read the federal lawsuit concerning the CMS cannabidiol health coverage initiative below: Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney. The post Anti-Marijuana Groups File Lawsuit To Block Trump Administration’s Hemp CBD And THC Medicare Coverage Plan appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Idaho Senate has approved a resolution urging voters in the state to “reject” an ongoing effort to place an initiative to legalize medical marijuana on the November ballot. The measure, sponsored by the Senate State Affairs Committee, claims that cannabis legalization in other states has led to a host of harms, including “increased cartel activity, development of black market marijuana production, human trafficking, and increased crime rates” as well as “increased rates of serious health issues,” environmental harms and “safety concerns on job sites.” SCR 127, which was adopted on the Senate floor on Monday in a voice vote, further argues that the measure would not only increase costs to the state but that its list of approved medical conditions is “so broad that almost anyone could qualify.” “The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act lacks safeguards to such an extent that it would effectively legalize widespread recreational use of marijuana,” the resolution now headed for consideration in the House of Representatives claims. “The legalization of marijuana would have devastating impacts on Idaho children and their families… The Legislature urges the citizens of Idaho to reject any effort to bring the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act to the ballot.” A statement of purpose filed with the legislation says it “addresses the devastating impact that legalizing marijuana has had on other states” and “identifies the significant problems” with the ballot initiative. The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho (NMAI), which is leading the effort to place the legalization measure before voters this November, pushed back against the resolution. “Idahoans deserve to vote on this issue, and we are confident we will be able to get it in front of them this November to do just that,” Amanda Watson, a spokesperson for the group, said in a press release last week when the resolution was filed. “There are thousands of people across Idaho with stories like Dr. Tunney’s and they deserve dignified care and the option to choose an alternative to opioids. NMAI has operating field offices in every corner of the state and we are actively recruiting more team members in Coeur d’Alene, Meridian, Boise, Twin Falls, Pocatello and Idaho Falls. We are not taking our foot off the gas until the final bell rings.” Contrary to the claims made about marijuana reform in the legislative resolution, advocates often point to data showing that legalizing and regulating cannabis diminishes the size of the illegal market and has not led to increases in youth use. Sen. Ben Toews (R) said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote on Monday that “with good reason, Idaho is one of four states in which marijuana is fully illegal, and we should urge Idahoans to reject any effort to bring the medical cannabis act to the November 2026 ballot.” “Idaho sovereignty should not be compromised by an addiction for profit business dominated by secretive donors and out of state consultants and drug interests,” he said. In contrast, Sen. Melissa Wintrow (D) rose to share a personal story about the medical benefits of cannabis. “When my mom was dying of cancer and wasting away emaciated and wouldn’t eat because she was just didn’t have the appetite, she was in another state, and we talked about medical cannabis to get her appetite up and so she would gain weight and could withstand the cancer treatments,” she said. “And I can remember how desperate I was and my mother. So I think before we just throw out the use of medical marijuana, that we should really think about that.” NMAI recently released an analysis showing that Idaho could see more than $100 million worth of medical marijuana sold on an annual basis and up to $28 million in new yearly revenue for state coffers if voters approve the legalization initiative. The group also announced that it’s collected enough signatures for the cannabis measure to exceed the statewide threshold for ballot qualification. But because it’s unclear how many signatures the campaign has collected to far are valid and whether activists have met a separate requirement for regional distribution of petitions, NMAI is continuing to hold signature gathering events across the state to widen their coalition of supporters in the run-up to the May 1 submission deadline. Amanda Watson, NMAI’s communications lead, told Marijuana Moment last week that organizers “feel very confident we will qualify for the ballot in November.” As of Tuesday, NMAI has collected more than 77,000 signatures total—exceeding the 70,725 statewide requirement for valid petitions—according to the campaign’s website. To be certified for the ballot, the team also needs to submit signatures from 6 percent of registered voters from at least 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts. Meanwhile, teams of paid and volunteer petitioners are being deployed throughout the state to target high-traffic areas to gather signatures, and NMAI’s website features a map showing where registered voters can go to sign. The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, which NMAI unveiled last October, would provide patients with qualifying conditions access to marijuana from a limited number of dispensaries and provide a regulatory framework for the market. Here are the main provisions of the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act: Health practitioners would be able to recommend medical cannabis to patients with conditions that include, but are not limited to, cancer, anxiety and acute pain. Medical marijuana patients or their designated caregiver could purchase up to 113 grams of smokeable cannabis, or 20 grams of THC extract for vaping, per month. The state would be start by issuing three vertically integrated cannabis business licenses, after which point it could license up to six total. Marijuana would be reclassified under state law as a Schedule II, rather than Schedule I, controlled substance. State and local law enforcement would be barred from assisting in federal drug enforcement activities related to the state-legal cannabis program. There would be anti-discrimination protections for those who use or sell marijuana in compliance from state law, preventing adverse actions by employers, landlords and educational institutions. It does not appear that there would be any equity-centered reforms, nor would the initiative provide for a home grow option. “We believe Idahoans deserve access to legal, compassionate, natural care right here at home,” NMAI’s website says. “Our mission is to give patients a legal pathway to natural medicine that can ease suffering and restore dignity without the fear of addiction.” “The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act is our first step forward. It creates a safe, tightly regulated medical program that allows qualified Idahoans to seek medical cannabis treatment with a valid diagnosis from a healthcare provider,” it says. “It supports Idaho agriculture, generates tax revenue to reinvest locally, and ensures that patients can find natural relief.” The campaign last month also released the results of a statewide poll showing that 83 percent of likely voters back medical cannabis legalization, including 74 percent of Republicans, 95 percent of Democrats and 92 percent of independents. Asked how they would vote if the current medical cannabis legalization does appear on the November ballot, 76 percent of respondents said “yes.” Of that cohort, 50 percent said they would “definitively” vote yes, and just 21 percent said they’d vote “no.” After the medical cannabis initiative was unveiled last year, a separate campaign that launched in 2024, Kind Idaho, told supporters that it would be suspending its own signature gathering for a ballot initiative to legalize the personal possession and cultivation of marijuana by adults. Kind Idaho previously introduced medical marijuana ballot measures intended to go before voters in both the 2022 and 2024 elections, but the efforts proved unsuccessful. Meanwhile, voters this year will see a different kind of proposal on the ballot: A constitutional amendment that the legislature approved to make it so only lawmakers could legalize marijuana or other controlled substances. — 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. — Legislators separately held a hearing last March to discuss a bill to enact medical cannabis legalization legislatively, but there hasn’t been meaningful action on the issue in the months since. Separately, a bill from Rep. Bruce Skaug (R) last year would have set a $420 mandatory minimum fine for cannabis possession, removing judges’ discretion to apply lower penalties. Skaug said the bill, which ultimately stalled in committee, would send the message that Idaho is tough on marijuana. House lawmakers also passed a bill to ban marijuana advertisements, though the Senate later defeated the measure. Photo courtesy of Max Pixel. The post Idaho Senate Passes Resolution Urging Voters Not To Sign Medical Marijuana Ballot Petitions appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Despite carrying the consequences of criminalization, and being key sustainers of the legal industry as workers and consumers, Latinos are underrepresented as business owners in the industry.” By Jason Ortiz and Maritza Perez Medina, Latino Cannabis Alliance One of the first reported deaths resulting from the Trump administration’s renewed immigration raids in 2025 was that of Jaime Alanís Garcia—a beloved husband, father and provider. Jaime was a longtime farmworker, laboring at a state-legal cannabis farm in California on the fateful day he tragically fell from a building as federal immigration agents swarmed his workplace. The moment of Jaime’s death sent shock waves through the Latino community, particularly for those of us who work in the marijuana space. Yet, to our frustration, the greater cannabis community was largely silent. This tragic event forced many of us who work within the cannabis ecosystem to realize that we did not have an organized and credible Latino voice to express our anger and mobilize our people toward action—while our labor, our business, our language and our culture have helped to lay the foundation for the cannabis industry as we know it today. Despite our outsized impact on the industry and our disproportionate rates of arrest, incarceration and deportation, there have been few organized national efforts to educate, empower and mobilize the Latino community toward securing our place in the legal industry and to demand justice for the damage done to our communities from the war on drugs. To correct this and ensure that we have a powerful voice to express our demands for inclusion and justice, we formed the Latino Cannabis Alliance (LCA). With the Trump Administration ramping up harassment of Latino youth and bragging about marijuana-based deportations, our work is more important than ever. The LCA aims to serve as a central forum for analysis, commentary and guidance on cannabis issues from a Latino lens, creating a foundation for deeper representation across the industry and the broader policy landscape. From this foundation, we seek to build bridges across diverse Latino communities and cultivate meaningful relationships with Latino lawmakers. Recognizing the transnational identity of our communities, we aspire to strengthen international connections across Latin America and foster cross-border collaboration grounded in equity, justice, and cultural understanding. The Latino Cannabis Alliance is composed of community leaders with a diverse range of skills, countries of origin and roles within the cannabis ecosystem. We are policy advocates, academics, attorneys, community organizers and story tellers who aim to use our talents to enrich and serve our communities. Combined, we have decades of experience in the cannabis reform space. The launch of the LCA is long overdue. The first anti-marijuana laws in the U.S. were passed to target Mexican migrants and other people of color. Harry Anslinger, the initial architect of the U.S. war on drugs, relied on racism to help pass the first cannabis prohibition law in Congress—the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. In fact, Anslinger intentionally called cannabis “marijuana” to make it sound “Spanish” and “foreign,” and to associate the plant with Mexican migrants in the public view. To this day, cannabis is still referred to as marijuana in the U.S. federal code. The toll of decades-long marijuana prohibition in Latino communities has been devastating. Latinos are overrepresented in marijuana arrest and incarceration rates throughout the country. In 2023, the U.S. Sentencing Commission reported that Hispanics made up 70.8 percent of all people sentenced for federal marijuana possession in the previous five fiscal years. Arrest and conviction records block people from accessing jobs, housing, and benefits, among other consequences, detrimentally impacting families and communities. Moreover, marijuana criminalization has been a key driver of immigrant detention and deportation. Between 2002 and 2020,127,387 people were deported for marijuana-related offenses. At least 600 individuals were deported in 2025 for marijuana-related convictions, an estimate that is likely an undercount. Despite carrying the consequences of criminalization, and being key sustainers of the legal industry as workers and consumers, Latinos are underrepresented as business owners in the industry. This is due to many reasons, including: some people cannot participate in the industry due to previous convictions; their immigration status will not allow them to participate safely; or the cost of entry is too high and capital is unavailable. The LCA aspires to close these gaps so that people no longer suffer under the weight of criminal or immigration consequences, or unjust barriers to ownership in the industry. This work has always been necessary, but it is more urgent than ever in today’s political climate. The global war on drugs will only end once we unite in solidarity aqui y alla. We have started the process of building an organized, collective force ready to light a fire within all Latinos who care about cannabis or are impacted by cannabis policy. Together, we will bring the heat until our communities have the justice and opportunities we deserve. Jason Ortiz is vice president of the Latino Cannabis Alliance and is as director of strategic initiatives at Last Prisoner Project. Maritza Perez Medina is director of policy for the Latino Cannabis Alliance and is director of federal affairs at Drug Policy Alliance. The post Now Is The Time for Latinos In Cannabis To Flex Our Power (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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The New Hampshire House of Representatives has approved an amended bill to establish a psilocybin advisory board to study pathways to allow patients to access the novel therapy—though lawmakers separately rejected an effort to revive separate legislation aimed at protecting gun rights for medical marijuana patients. Members took up the psilocybin and cannabis measures on Thursday, significantly scaling back the bipartisan psychedelics bill from Rep. Buzz Scherr (D) that would have in its initial form given certain patients legal access to psilocybin-assisted therapy. The amended version to create an advisory group to explore the issue passed the full chamber and now heads to the Senate for consideration. The medical marijuana and firearms legislation from Rep. Tom Mannion (R), meanwhile, was briefly considered on the floor, but a motion to take the bill off the table failed in a 81-270 vote. That proposal would make it so a person’s status as a registered medical cannabis patient in the state would not infringe on their right to purchase or possess guns under state law. The revised psilocybin bill represents a setback for advocates, as the House passed the initial version last month that would have created a regulatory pathway for patients with certain conditions to access the psychedelic for therapeutic use through a program overseen by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS). Under House rules, the measure had to go back to the Finance Committee and then pass again in the full chamber in order to advance to the Senate. The committee deemed the bill inexpedient to legislate, and when it got the floor for the second time on Thursday, members overturned that recommendation and then adopted the major change that only contemplates a potential regulated access model instead, with an advisory board tasked with studying the issue. That dialed-back version ultimately passed. “The medical community has always recognized that patients exist with serious conditions that are very resistant to effective treatment,” a statement of purpose says. “Recently, research has begun to show that certain of those patients have had positive results with the closely supervised use of psilocybin for treatment.” “The purpose of this act is to study the feasibility of the creation of a carefully monitored and closely supervised setting in which an approved medical provider can treat a carefully chosen patient with appropriate doses of psilocybin which that same provider has produced for a medical intervention,” the bill, HB 1809, says. On marijuana reform, the legislation from Mannion and bipartisan cosponsors, HB 1446, would preserve gun rights for medical cannabis patients in the state, reaffirming their right under the state constitution even if they continue to face a federal ban on possession or buying firearms persists. The U.S. Supreme Court is actively reviewing a case that could lift that prohibition after hearing oral arguments last month. “This bill ensures that our therapeutic cannabis patients are no longer treated as second-class citizens or differently from other patients being treated with different medications,” Rep. Billie Butler (D) said before the vote on the motion. Also this month, New Hampshire lawmakers effectively killed bills to legalize marijuana and allow the therapeutic use of psilocybin by not bringing them up for floor votes ahead of a key deadline. One bill from Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D) would have put a constitutional amendment on the state ballot to let voters decide if they want to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older, allowing them to “possess a modest amount of cannabis for their personal use.” Members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee took up that legislation in January. It was ultimately deemed inexpedient to legislate by a majority of the panel, but in New Hampshire all bills still have the opportunity to advance to the floor even with negative committee recommendations. Another cannabis legalization bill that didn’t get a floor vote in the House by deadline was HB 1235-FN from Rep. Jared Sullivan (D) and five bipartisan cosponsors. The measure was also designated as inexpedient to legislate by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. Sullivan also filed separate legislation this session that would have legalized adult-use cannabis through a regulated sales model, with additional provisions to provide relief for those who’ve previously been criminalized over marijuana. That bill already passed the House this year, but it was then promptly killed in the Senate. The House this month further declined to take up a Republican-led bill from Rep. Michael Moffett (R) that would have permitted the regulated use of psilocybin in a medically supervised setting. To qualify for psilocybin treatment, a patient 21 or older would have needed to be diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance misuse disorder, a terminal illness requiring end-of-life care or any other condition authorized by DHHS. — 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, Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) has already threatened to veto any marijuana legalization bill that reaches her desk, though the constitutional amendment proposal would not require gubernatorial action. The governor said in August that her position on the reform would not change even if the federal government moved forward with rescheduling the plant. Since then, President Donald Trump has directed the attorney general to finalize the process of moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). At a committee meeting last year, Sullivan ultimately made a persuasive argument for advancing his legalization bill, pointing out that the House has repeatedly passed similar legislation and that the chamber should stand its ground, forcing the Senate and governor to again go on record with their opposition to a policy popular among voters. “We know where it’s going to go. Let’s send a virtue signal,” Sullivan said. “Let them be the ones that are pissing off voters who care about this.” In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee in January also took up a bill from Sen. Donovan Fenton (D) that would allow adults over the age of 21 to legally possess up to four ounces of cannabis in plant form and 20 grams of concentrated cannabis products, as well as other products containing no more than 2,000 milligrams of THC. Last June, the New Hampshire Senate voted to scrap compromise legislation that would have lowered the state’s criminal penalty for first-time psilocybin possession while also creating mandatory minimum sentences around fentanyl. As originally introduced, the legislation would have completely removed penalties around obtaining, purchasing, transporting, possessing or using psilocybin, effectively legalizing it on a noncommercial basis. However a House committee amended the bill before unanimously advancing it last March. Image element courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos. The post New Hampshire House Passes Scaled-Back Psilocybin Bill, While Rejecting Measure To Protect Medical Marijuana Patients’ Gun Rights appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

White House CBD meetings; AOC slams marijuana & psychedelics scheduling; TX lawmakers’ hemp & ibogaine reviews; Cannabis taxes op-ed Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… 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 The White House Office of Management and Budget has scheduled several additional meetings for this week about a CBD products compliance and enforcement policy that the Food and Drug Administration submitted for approval. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said the federal system for classifying marijuana and other drugs has “fallen short”—noting that “our law says that these drugs have zero medical application, but the science says something else.” “The wealth of medical research shows that these are potential treatments for treatment-resistant PTSD, traumatic brain injuries—but the schedule classification really prevents researchers from continuing to do work on this.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is celebrating the five-year anniversary of marijuana legalization—touting $3.3 billion in sales, more than 600 operational licensed cannabis shops and achievements in promoting social equity and criminal justice reform. Texas’s lieutenant governor issued a mandate for the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to study the impact of cannabis and THC products during the legislative interim, while the House speaker directed the Public Health Committee to monitor implementation of legislation to establish a consortium to conduct ibogaine drug development clinical trials. LeafLink’s Rodney Holcombe argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that calls to increase cannabis taxes from the New York Times editorial board and others “overlook how high effective tax burdens already are in many states.” “Higher taxes do not eliminate consumer demand. They simply change where consumers buy their cannabis.” / FEDERAL The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study finding that an “analysis of 2015–2025 National Poison Data System data found an increase of approximately 1,200% in kratom-related exposure reports (from 258 to 3,434), including a marked surge in 2025.” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) discussed her push to delay the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products. / STATES Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is reportedly writing a book about psychedelics aimed at a Christian audience. A Pennsylvania representative discussed his bill to strengthen medical cannabis testing protocols. Florida officials accused a petitioner for a marijuana legalization initiative of submitting nearly 1,600 fraudulent signatures. Michigan officials are facing another lawsuit challenging a new marijuana wholesale tax. New York’s top marijuana regulator discussed the five-year anniversary of legalization. Missouri regulators are seeking a new vendor to manage the state’s marijuana licensing and tracking program. The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Thursday. The Rhode Island Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Thursday. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / LOCAL The Oakland, California Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday. / INTERNATIONAL Germany’s interior minister called the country’s marijuana legalization policy a “shitty law.” South African officials gave lawmakers an update on efforts to develop a commercially viable cannabis and hemp industry. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “the adoption of [recreational cannabis legalization] in US states, beyond only [medical cannabis legalization], may help to reduce the size of illegal cannabis markets, or there may be shifting law enforcement seizure priorities in those states.” A review concluded that “MDMA-[assisted therapy] was associated with reductions in PTSD symptom severity and improvements in dissociative symptoms and global functioning.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Latino Cannabis Alliance is a new advocacy organization that aims to represent Latinos in the marijuana reform movement and industry. / BUSINESS Vireo Growth Inc. said its memorandum of understanding with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company to acquire The Hawthorne Gardening Company LLC could close within five business days, subject to certain conditions. Illinois dispensaries sold $12.5 million worth of medical cannabis products in February. / CULTURE The Daily Show’s Josh Johnson joked about the Army’s move to loosen marijuana restrictions for new recruits. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: The post Celebrating 5 years of legal cannabis in New York (Newsletter: March 31, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net