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Legalizing marijuana is a “no-brainer” move to help ward off a “fiscal time bomb” in Iowa that could otherwise lead to cuts in funding for education and public safety in the state, the Democratic candidate for governor says. “I think we should treat it the way we treat alcohol. That seems like a no-brainer to me, right?” Rob Sand, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, said at a town hall event in Dallas County on Wednesday in response to a question from a voter who said Iowa is “losing money” to other states that have legalized cannabis. “Alcohol is a dangerous drug. You shouldn’t abuse it. Also, we’re not going to throw you in prison for having a beer,” Sand said. “Why is it any different for marijuana? It is a dangerous drug. You shouldn’t abuse it. We shouldn’t be throwing people in prison just for using it.” The Democratic candidate said that “when I say treat it like alcohol, I literally mean treat it like alcohol.” He then went through a list of common objections to cannabis legalization and explained how he would respond to them. “So when I hear people say, ‘Well, I don’t want to smell it.’ Same. You shouldn’t be allowed to smoke it in public. Simple rule: you can’t drink alcohol in public, right? People say, ‘Well, I’m worried about kids. I’ve heard cases in Colorado where they got colorful gummies, and the kids find them, and then the kids get sick.’ I agree. You shouldn’t be able to market it to children. You shouldn’t be able to use colorful designs on your packages. And if you’re doing gummies, they can look like an eraser, right? They don’t need to be red and blue and green and look like gummy bears. People say, ‘Well, I don’t know, Rob. It’s a lot stronger than the stuff that I was smoking in the 70s.’ To which I say, ‘I wasn’t there. Whatever you say, I believe you.’ I don’t have a basis for comparison then or now. I actually haven’t used it. But how do we handle that with alcohol? When you buy a beer, you can see what the alcohol content is on the beer, right? We treat hard liquor differently, but you can see when you buy hard liquor what the content is on that, and that way you know what you’re getting into. We can do that with marijuana as well.” Sand, who is currently Iowa’s state auditor, said the state currently has a budget surplus, but that annual spending is overtaking revenue. “I call this a fiscal time bomb. Our budget is nine and a half billion,” he said. “Imagine the cuts to public education and to public safety if we don’t take action to fix this.” “So we need to do something now,” he said, arguing that legalizing marijuana is “one of the things that we should do.” “We would have hundreds of millions of dollars every single year if we just treat marijuana the way we treat alcohol,” Sand said, adding that the thinks the state should also put an income limit on school vouchers and make data centers pay fair taxes. “All three of those would save us hundreds of millions of dollars a year alone,” he said. “So if we do all three of them, we do them right away, all of a sudden, our time horizon on how long that surplus is going to last gets a lot longer, and we can think about other ways to help address that and get back to having a balanced budget.” Sand also spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana at an earlier event last month, saying that he thinks cannabis should be legalized and treated like alcohol, even if he thinks it’s “dangerous.” “Marijuana is a dangerous drug,” he said at the time. “You shouldn’t abuse it, but we also shouldn’t throw people in prison just for using it. We should treat it the way we treat alcohol. Alcohol is a dangerous drug. You shouldn’t abuse it, but we don’t throw you in prison just for having a beer when you get home.” The Democratic gubernatorial candidate said that Iowa is “spending perfectly good tax dollars to lock people up” for marijuana while people who want to use it are driving across the border to purchase it in other states. “They’re spending their money in Illinois, or they’re spending it in Missouri. And then they’re driving back without their money,” Sand said. “The money stays there, and the tax dollars stay there.” Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn reportedly opposes legalizing cannabis but doesn’t appear to have spoken extensively about the issue. Josh Turek, the Democratic nominee in a U.S. Senate race, said this month that cannabis’s longtime restrictive Schedule I status is “ridiculous.” Marijuana “should be legalized and regulated, and let’s tax it,” he said. Meanwhile, Iowa regulators are circulating proposed rules changes to remove the residency requirement for patients in the state’s medical cannabis program while also ensuring that military veterans qualify for reduced registration fees. The residency-focused part of the regulatory change from the state Department of Health and Human Services is meant to comply with provisions of a bill that Reynolds signed into law in June. In addition to allowing out-of-state residents to register in the medical cannabis program if they have a certification from an Iowa healthcare provider legislation, that legislation also doubles the number of medical cannabis dispensaries that are allowed to operate in the state. Regulators said in the new rule filing that removing the residency requirement is expected to “primarily impact qualified Nebraska residents since Nebraska is the only bordering state that does not currently have an operational medical or adult-use cannabis program.” “Although Nebraska has taken steps to establish a medical cannabidiol program, implementation has experienced significant delays and setbacks,” the regulatory explanation says. Beyond the residency change that is part of the bill the governor signed this year, the new rule change also restores regulatory language that was “inadvertently removed during the 2023 Red Tape Review process” that allowed proof of military veteran status to be used to qualify for a reduced patient application fee of $25 instead of the standard $100. Under prior law, Iowa’s limited medical marijuana program allowed only five dispensaries. That has doubled to 10 under HF 990, which the governor signed. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — The Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board, which oversees the state’s medical marijuana program, recommended in a 2023 report that the state allow more licenses “in an effort to provide Iowans with greater geographical access to medical cannabis products.” Under the program, patients with certain conditions can obtain cannabis products containing no more than at 4.5 grams of THC every 90 days. Flower and smoking are not allowed. Healthcare practitioners can allow greater amounts of THC for patients who are terminally ill or who have experience with the program and for whom the provider believes 4.5 grams is not enough. Separately this session, Iowa lawmakers considered a bill to create a state-regulated therapeutic psilocybin program for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Last year, the governor vetoed earlier legislation that would have allowed doctors in the state to immediately prescribe a synthetic form of psilocybin in the event of federal approval of the psychedelic substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), arguing that it “surrenders state authority to make an informed determination about classification to federal officials.” The post Legalizing Marijuana In Iowa Is A ‘No-Brainer’ Move To Help Raise Revenue, Democratic Candidate For Governor Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have introduced a bill to protect people from being denied federal employment or security clearances due to past marijuana use—and to provide relief for people who have already lost opportunities due to cannabis. Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Zachary Nunn (R-IA) introduced the legislation—titled the “Cannabis Users’ Restoration of Eligibility (CURE) Act”—on Thursday. The bill says that “past use of marihuana by a covered person may not be used in any determination with respect to whether such person” is eligible for a security clearance or otherwise suitable for federal employment under existing code. Within one year of enactment, all federal agencies would be required to create a process to review each past decision to deny security clearances or job opportunities over cannabis use going back to January 1, 2008, the bill says. They would need to maintain a website that details the process of reviewing such prior marijuana penalties. “Upon receiving a request from any individual who was so denied a security clearance or employment (as the case may be), not later than 90 days after the date such request is so received, the Federal agency that denied such clearance or employment shall review the decision and determine if such decision was based solely on past marihuana use,” the legislation says. The text of the newly introduced bill, which has not yet been posted on Congress’s website but which was obtained by Marijuana Moment, is nearly identical to a version of the CURE Act was approved by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee Committee in 2023. The previously introduced version of the legislation was scaled back by that panel from its original broader scope, which would have also protected federal workers from being punished for current marijuana use, and not just that which occurred in the past. An amendment from Chairman James Comer (R-KY), however, limited the protections to prior marijuana use alone, so federal workers and holders of security clearances would continue to be penalized for active consumption. The amendment additionally removed additional language related to agencies’ responsibility to review whether past security clearance or employment denials were based on marijuana use alone. The CURE Act represents an expansion of an amendment that Raskin filed as part of a House-passed cannabis legalization bill in 2022. That measure would have only covered security clearances instead of also including overall employment decisions as is the case under the new legislation. However, the retroactivity would have required a review of denials going back further, to 1971. The amendment was narrowly defeated on the House floor. — Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,000 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. — In the Senate, a similar bill, the Dismantling Outdated Obstacles and Barriers to Individual Employment, or DOOBIE, Act, from Sen. Gary Peter (D-MI), was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in 2024. That bill stated that covered agencies “may not base a suitability determination with respect to an individual solely on the past use of marijuana by the individual.” The White House Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would also need to adopt that policy. The bill further said that “the head of a Federal agency may not base a determination that a covered person is ineligible for a security clearance solely on the past use of marijuana by the covered person.” They additionally could not use prior cannabis use to deny a personal identity verification credential, which enables federal workers to access various facilities and information. Also under the proposal, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) would be required to enact regulations that update its own cannabis policies and assist other federal agencies in implementing the employment and security clearance changes. Read the full text of the new bill on marijuana and security clearances and federal employment below: The post People Couldn’t Be Denied Federal Jobs Or Security Clearances Due To Past Marijuana Use Under New Bipartisan Bill In Congress appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Using medical marijuana helps people who suffer from lower pain significantly reduce their opioid use as well as experience lower pain intensity and functional disability, according to a new study that involved hundreds of patients. Researchers with Tel Aviv University, Rabin Medical Center and Clalit Health Services in Israel enrolled 1,000 patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) who had previously never used cannabis and tracked their pain, disability status and medication usage annually for a period of 10 years at a specialized orthopedic pain clinic. After a decade, opioid use, measured in morphine milligram equivalents, “decreased substantially” by 90 percent. “Opioid reduction was rapid in the first year and remained stable through Year 10,” the researchers wrote. Pain intensity also dropped by 84 percent, and functional disability was reduced by 30 percent. The study, published in the European Spine Journal, also looked at how many patients achieved significant pre-specified thresholds for the outcome measures. For reduced opioid use, 91 percent of patients met the target of at least 50 percent reduction in opioid use. The goal of 30 percent of greater reduction on a pain intensity scale was achieved by 62 percent of participants. Sixty-two percent of patients reached the targeted decrease in functional disability scores of 10 points or more on a standardized scale. “Medical cannabis therapy was associated with reductions in opioid use, pain intensity, and functional disability over 10 years, accompanied by polypharmacy reduction and acceptable tolerability.” There was also a “substantial” reduction in use of other non-opioid medications among patients who completed the study. “Tramadol/tapentadol use decreased from 89.7% to 5.6% (−84.0% points), benzodiazepines from 78.8% to 5.3% (−73.5 pp), SSRIs from 77.7% to 5.8% (−71.9 pp), and gabapentinoids from 31.3% to 0.6% (−30.7 pp),” the study said. “These reductions were clinically driven rather than protocol-mandated, reflecting individual physician-patient decisions based on symptom response. The pattern of polypharmacy reduction paralleled opioid reduction, occurring primarily in the first 2 years.” The reduction in use of several different kinds of medications suggests that “medical cannabis may address multiple symptom domains simultaneously,” the researchers wrote. “Chronic pain patients frequently require polypharmacy to manage pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression, each of which carries risks of adverse effects and drug interactions,” the said. Participants in the study used marijuana products that included dried flower for vaporization and cannabis oils for oral/sublingual administration. There was some patient drop off as the study went on, and 638 of the 1,000 who enrolled ended up completing the final follow-up observation. The researchers cautioned that the single-arm observational nature of the study means that causality cannot be inferred. They also noted that the size of the reductions in the outcome measures in the study “substantially exceeded” those from previously published randomized controlled trials, suggesting that “observational biases contribute to these findings.” Nonetheless, they said their study is the “longest follow-up of medical cannabis therapy specifically in CLBP patients and demonstrates sustained, clinically meaningful improvements exceeding pre-specified [minimal clinically important difference] thresholds for opioid reduction, pain relief, and functional disability.” “In this 10-year single-arm observational study, medical cannabis therapy was associated with reductions in opioid use (−89.8%), pain intensity (−84.2%), and functional disability (−30.4%), with high proportions of patients achieving pre-specified MCID thresholds,” the study concluded. “Substantial polypharmacy reductions and acceptable tolerability were observed.” This is far from the only study supporting the efficacy of marijuana in the treatment of pain—nor is it the first to suggest cannabis can serve as a substitute for conventional therapies such as opioids. A study published earlier this year found that medical cannabis use by people with chronic lower back pain leads to “large, sustained, and statistically robust improvements.” In April, a study found that using medical marijuana appears to help people reduce the use of other medications, including opioids, sleeping aids and antidepressants. They also experience far fewer negative side effects after switching to cannabis from prescription drugs, the study involving more than 3,500 patients determined. About one in three Americans who use CBD say they take it as an alternative or supplement to at least one medication—particularly painkillers—according to a federally funded study published in February. Similarly, another recent federally funded study, published by the American Medical Association (AMA), added more evidence that marijuana can serve as an effective substitute for opioids in chronic pain treatment. Other AMA-published research has found that legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational purposes is “significantly associated with reduced opioid use among patients diagnosed with cancer.” A separate paper published last year similarly found that medical marijuana legalization is “associated with significant reductions in opioid prescribing.” In August, meanwhile, Australian researchers published a study showing that marijuana can serve as an effective substitute for opioids in pain management treatment. Another study published last year in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review found that, among drug users who experience chronic pain, daily cannabis use was linked to a higher likelihood of quitting the use of opioids—especially among men. Other research also found that legalizing medical cannabis appeared to significantly reduce monetary payments from opioid manufacturers to doctors who specialize in pain, with authors finding “evidence that this decrease is due to medical marijuana becoming available as a substitute” for prescription painkillers. Further research also showed a decline in fatal opioid overdoses in jurisdictions where marijuana was legalized for adults. That study found a “consistent negative relationship” between legalization and fatal overdoses, with more significant effects in states that legalized cannabis earlier in the opioid crisis. Authors estimated that recreational marijuana legalization “is associated with a decrease of approximately 3.5 deaths per 100,000 individuals.” “Our findings suggest that broadening recreational marijuana access could help address the opioid epidemic,” that report said. “Previous research largely indicates that marijuana (primarily for medical use) can reduce opioid prescriptions, and we find it may also successfully reduce overdose deaths.” Another recently published report into prescription opioid use in Utah following the state’s legalization of medical marijuana found that the availability of legal cannabis both reduced opioid use by patients with chronic pain and helped drive down prescription overdose deaths statewide. Overall, results of the study indicated that “cannabis has a substantial role to play in pain management and the reduction of opioid use,” it said. The post Medical Marijuana Improves Lower Back Back Pain And Reduces Opioid Use, New 10-Year Study Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

American Legion backs psychedelics bill for veterans; Poll: NC support for marijuana & hemp reform; Analysis of Reddit cannabinoid posts 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 Reps. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Warren Davidson (R-OH) filed a bill to protect insurance companies from being punished for covering marijuana businesses. The American Legion, which represents more than 1.2 million military veteran members, is endorsing a congressional bill to promote research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics by creating a new office focused on the issue in the Department of Veterans Affairs. A new poll shows that North Carolina adults support legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical purposes—and that a majority also wants to keep hemp THC seltzers and gummies legal, but with new age limits. Data scientist and public health researcher Sunehera Hasib explains in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that an analysis she did of nearly 18,000 Reddit posts shows that “the minor cannabinoids that receive far less attention in the mainstream market are often the same compounds patients repeatedly describe as helpful.” / FEDERAL President Donald Trump designated an annual list of major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy issued a drug threat notice about increasing prevalence and potency of fentanyl analogues such as carfentanil, fluorofentanyl and methylfentanyl. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) tweeted, “The SAFE Banking Act is about making it easier for legal cannabis businesses to access banking and other financial services that will help them protect their workers and customers. This legislation is key for small businesses in Nevada, and I will continue working until we pass it into law.” / STATES Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) signed a bill to rename the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement as the Division of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana Enforcement. Florida independent gubernatorial candidate Frank Russo revealed that he is a registered medical cannabis patient and discussed broad public support for recreational marijuana legalization. A New Jersey assemblymember filed legislation aimed at preventing consumption of cannabis and psilocybin by underage kids. Missouri regulators announced a recall of marijuana products did not pass testing for aspergillus. Massachusetts regulators launched an overhaul of marijuana rules. Alaska regulators are proposing changes to rules on deadlines for marijuana businesses to file a notice of defense following violation accusations. Michigan regulators announced penalties against a marijuana business over alleged violations. Virginia regulators touted the opening of the first medical cannabis dispensary in an area of the state. California regulators sent updates on various cannabis issues. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / INTERNATIONAL Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made his first appearance before an International Criminal Court trial chamber where he is facing charges related to the country’s bloody “war on drugs.” / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that CBG “prevents behavioral changes induced by psychotomimetic drugs.” A study found that “psilocybin prevents chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy through mitochondrial trafficking preservation.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp is lobbying lawmakers to ensure the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products. / BUSINESS Lawyers for Curaleaf reportedly sent a journalist 32 pages of demands related to his reporting, including article rewrites, tweet deletions and identification of his readers in the UK. A former Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. executive is suing the company for alleged contract breach. Cresco Labs Inc. has a new board of directors member. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Cannabis company insurance bill filed in Congress (Newsletter: September 18, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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North Carolinians strongly support legalizing medical marijuana, and a majority wants to go even further by legalizing cannabis for recreational use, according to a new poll. The survey published on Thursday by Elon University also found that North Carolina adults support keeping THC-infused hemp products like seltzers and gummies legal in the state, although with age limits. Medical cannabis legalization is supported by 75 percent of respondents, with only 11 percent in opposition. While there is bipartisan support for the patient-focused reform, Democrats are much more likely to support it, at 89 percent, as compared to Republicans, only 57 percent of whom are on board. Broader recreational marijuana legalization comes in at 55 percent in support overall and 30 percent opposed. While 74 percent of Democrats favor the reform, just 33 percent of Republicans do. Meanwhile, as North Carolina lawmakers continue to debate how to handle the issue of hemp-derived THC products, the poll shows that most state residents want to keep them legal. When asked whether North Carolina should “allow or prohibit the sale of hemp-derived products like seltzers and gummies with THC levels that can cause intoxication or a ‘high,'” 53 percent said they back keeping them legal, while 28 percent said they should be banned. As with broader cannabis legalization, a majority of Democrats (62 percent) were on board with legal hemp THC products, and only a minority (35 percent) of Republicans were. In a separate question, 82 percent of all respondents said they back banning sales of hemp-derived consumable products to people under the age of 21, including majorities across party lines. Jason Husser, director of the Elon University Poll and professor of political science and public policy, noted that support for marijuana legalization has remained stable in the state in recent years. “We found a significant increase in support for legalization between 2017 and 2021 as North Carolinians saw legalization occurring in other states,” he said in a press release. “Over the last five years, support for legalization has largely been stable with a large majority supporting medical legalization and a small majority favoring recreational legalization.” “In turn, support for allowing hemp-based THC has similar levels of support and high correlation with support for recreational marijuana,” he said. “However, North Carolinians are largely unified in wanting hemp consumables restricted to those 21 or older.” The poll involved interviews with 1,121 North Carolina adults between August 21-31 and has a margin of error of +/-5.09 percentage points. The results come as Gov. Josh Stein (D) is continuing to pressure the GOP-controlled legislature for marijuana reform. Last month, the governor called on lawmakers to legalize and regulate cannabis in a way that “protects kids” while lawmakers this week are considering a bill to restrict hemp THC products. In a social media post he noted that lawmakers are considering legislation that “aims to eliminate the Wild West that is North Carolina’s THC market.” The governor has repeatedly called on lawmakers to broadly legalize and regulate cannabis, though GOP legislative leaders have been more interested in focusing on the narrower hemp issue. A bill to restrict hemp and kratom products that was recently approved by the Senate now awaits potential action in the House. Meanwhile, lawmakers in North Carolina have been considering legislation to legalize medical cannabis for the last several sessions—with the Senate approving several proposals and the House refusing to follow suit. North Carolina’s Senate president pro tempore recently said that lawmakers will take a more serious look at legalizing medical marijuana following the Trump administration’s move to reschedule cannabis at the federal level. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — The governor-appointed cannabis commission in North Carolina issued a report in April recommending that the state move away from a criminalization-based approach to the plant and toward a system of “robust” regulations that provide for adults’ legal access to THC products. The North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis, which Stein convened last year, says in the new document approved in April that the current “absence of regulation for North Carolina’s intoxicating cannabis market raises numerous concerns,” noting that hemp products are readily available yet largely unregulated and that marijuana remains prohibited altogether in the state, even for medical use. “Compared to regulated marijuana frameworks in other states, this environment presents identifiable risks,” the interim report says. “While some operators voluntarily implement consumer protection protocols, these safeguards are not required under state law.” Stein, for his part, thanked the group for its “expertise, hard work, and thoughtful deliberation” in a press release and reiterated his support for legalizing marijuana. Members are tasked with developing and submitting initial recommendations on a “comprehensive cannabis policy, including any proposed legislation,” with a final report due by December 31 of this year. During his time as the state’s attorney general, Stein led a separate task force under then-Gov. Roy Cooper (D) that examined racial injustice issues and ultimately recommended decriminalizing marijuana and studying broader legalization in response to racially disparate enforcement trends. A tribe in North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, launched the state’s first marijuana dispensary in 2024—despite the protests of certain Republican congressional lawmakers. Democratic lawmakers recently filed legislation to allow voters to decide whether to legalize marijuana for personal or medical use at the ballot box this November—though Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R) said the bill is unlikely to advance. Meanwhile, bipartisan North Carolina lawmakers have been stepping up the push for psychedelics reform legislation. Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post North Carolina Residents Support Legalizing Marijuana And Keeping Hemp THC Products Legal For Adults Over 21, Poll Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“The minor cannabinoids that receive far less attention in the mainstream market are often the same compounds patients repeatedly describe as helpful.” By Sunehera Hasib The cannabis industry spends millions pushing specific products. But patients are having a very different conversation among themselves. In a recent analysis of nearly 18,000 posts and comments across major cannabis and medical marijuana communities on Reddit, an unfiltered picture of patient-led experimentation emerges. Unlike a clinical trial or industry survey, these were everyday conversations between people trying to figure out what works for them. And what emerged was a striking landcape of patients experimenting beyond the cannabinoids that dominate dispensary shelves and marketing campaigns. In some cases, the compounds receiving the least attention were the ones patients repeatedly mentioned when describing relief. To capture these patterns, I compiled posts from the subreddits r/MMJ, r/hempflowers, r/trees, r/MedicalMarijuana, r/marijuana, r/MedicalCannabis_NI and r/CBD. Of the posts noting a clear outcome, 84.6 percent described positive results. These self-reported experiences cannot replace clinical trials or prove medical efficacy, but they do reveal something vital. They give us a direct look at patient behavior, showing what people are experimenting with at home and which cannabinoids consistently earn a mention when patients talk about real-life relief. It is worth saying up front that this is self-reported, unverified and not something anyone should read as a clinical finding. Minor Cannabinoids Are The Focus Of Some Of The The Highest Rates Of Positive Experiences THC and CBD together still dominate the conversation; they’re mentioned far more often than CBG, CBN or CBC combined. But among patients who said whether a cannabinoid worked for them, CBG and CBN show up with some of the highest shares of positive reports in the dataset, particularly around pain, inflammation and sleep. CBG, posts about inflammation: 40 of 40 outcome-reporting posts described a positive experience. CBG, posts about pain: 97.1 percent of firsthand reports were positive (67 of 69) CBN, posts about sleep: 95.3 percent positive (122 of 128 firsthand reports) CBG, posts about anxiety: 90.1 percent positive firsthand (73 of 81) For comparison, CBD alone for pain came in at 94.4 percent positive and THC alone at 90.1 percent, both strong numbers in their own right. CBG’s share was a bit higher, though the sample sizes for CBG are smaller, and this isn’t a controlled comparison of any kind, so it’s more of a pattern worth watching than a verdict. Patients Are Working Things Out For Themselves What stood out most was how detailed these posts got. Instead of a one-line “it helped,” people described actual routines: stacking CBG in the morning with CBD in the evening and CBN before bed, choosing CBG because they felt it didn’t carry the sedation some associate with high-dose CBD, using CBG topically alongside THC during flares. Whether or not that reflects anything pharmacological, it’s the kind of granular, self-taught trial-and-error that hasn’t shown up much in mainstream product marketing yet. Terpenes Are Also A Focus Of Conversation Terpenes are mentioned far less often than cannabinoids in casual posts, so these patterns are more suggestive than conclusive. Patients frequently associated myrcene with muscle relaxation and pain relief, caryophyllene with reduced inflammation and limonene with improved mood. Posts naming those terpenes skewed positive. Pinene stood out, though for less reassuring reasons. In 29 posts specifically discussing anxiety, pinene skewed noticeably negative compared to other terpenes, with firsthand reports highlighting heightened anxiety rather than relief. A couple of patients noted this pattern themselves: one mentioned avoiding sativa strains because of their pinene content, pointing to it as a trigger for worsened PTSD symptoms; another described pinene as energizing but warned that “for you it might be anxiety.” With a sample this small, it is not something to draw a firm conclusion from, but it is a distinct enough pattern that it seemed worth flagging. Anxiety Is The Most-Discussed Condition, But Results Are The Least Consistent Anxiety was the single most-discussed condition in the dataset, and it’s also where results looked the most mixed: CBD-heavy anxiety posts ran 88.1 percent positive firsthand, while THC-heavy posts dropped to 58.1 percent, with a real cluster of reports describing heightened panic or paranoia instead of relief. That doesn’t mean cannabis “doesn’t work” for anxiety. It may say more about cannabinoid choice, and possibly delivery method, mattering more for anxiety than they seem to for pain or sleep. Several people described switching from smoking to CBD-only or low-THC formats after noticing their own reactions, through their own trial and error rather than any guidance. This contrast also raises questions about how cannabinoid dose and individual differences in the endocannabinoid system may influence responses to THC. Without accessible guidance on cannabinoid dosing, product selection and individual responses, many people appear to be navigating these threshold effects largely through trial and error. Patients are essentially running a massive, decentralized process of personalized experimentation on their own. They test products, track outcomes and share insights publicly without relying on brand marketing or formal medical guidance. Structuring this organic community data will never replace clinical research, but it points to a gap the industry should acknowledge: the minor cannabinoids that receive far less attention in the mainstream market are often the same compounds patients repeatedly describe as helpful. Finally, a note about methodology: This analysis used keyword and pattern-based sentiment classification across publicly available Reddit posts. With any large-scale natural language processing workflow, minor classification noise or misassigned edge cases can occur. However, the overarching patterns across these 17,789 posts remain remarkably consistent, and these findings are hypothesis-generating and could help identify questions for future clinical research. The full dataset filtered by symptom and cannabinoid is available on my interactive dashboard. Sunehera Hasib is a data scientist and public health researcher with interests in behavioral health, clinical research and digital health. Her work focuses on using health data to better understand patient experiences, identify unmet needs and translate research into practical insights. The post Medical Marijuana Patients Are Turning To Lesser-Known Cannabinoids Like CBG And CBN, Analysis Of Reddit Posts Shows (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The largest veterans organization in the U.S. is calling on Congress to pass a bill to promote research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics by creating a new office focused on the issue in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The American Legion, which represents more than 1.2 million members, adopted a resolution at its national convention earlier this month endorsing the Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act, which it said would “establish a dedicated VA Office of Novel Therapeutics and Centers of Excellence in each VA regional district to build the governance, workforce and clinical infrastructure required to responsibly deliver these therapies to eligible veterans.” “Rapid-acting novel therapeutics” such as psychedelics like psilocybin “have demonstrated clinically significant results for treatment-resistant PTSD, anxiety, depression and co-occurring mental health conditions in peer-reviewed clinical trials, including U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) studies showing PTSD remission in two-thirds of participants—findings of a magnitude not previously achieved with any existing VA-approved treatment,” the resolution says. The measure notes high suicide rates among veterans and says that “existing VA-approved treatments, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and trauma-focused therapies, fail to achieve sustained remission in the majority of veterans with combat-related PTSD and carry dropout rates of up to 40% in military populations, leaving a critical unmet clinical need.” “The American Legion urges Congress to enact legislation establishing a dedicated federal coordinating framework to eliminate the bureaucratic barriers preventing timely veteran access to rapid-acting novel therapeutics with demonstrated clinical efficacy for mental health conditions and traumatic brain injury, including the establishment of a Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Office of Novel Therapeutics and Centers of Excellence at VA medical facilities, full funding for implementation and a directive to the secretary of Veterans Affairs to report within 90 days on the specific barriers causing the documented latency between U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization and VA clinical implementation and the steps being taken to eliminate them; and further urges the Department of Veterans Affairs to immediately accelerate access to these therapies without waiting for the conclusion of full FDA licensure processes where interim pathways exist.” Juliana Mercer, a Marine Corps veteran and past commander of the Montana American Legion Post 426, which initiated the resolution, told Military.com that passage of the measure “sends a powerful message from one of the nation’s largest and most influential veterans service organizations.” “Veterans want continued research, responsible implementation and access to novel therapeutics that could fundamentally change how we treat some of the most difficult mental health conditions and traumatic brain injuries affecting our community,” she said. “The alignment we’re seeing between veterans, Congress and VA matters. Now we have an opportunity to turn that momentum into lasting change, continuing the research while building the workforce, infrastructure and systems necessary so that, if these treatments are approved, veterans can actually access them.” The new VA Office of Novel Therapeutics contemplated by the bill that the American Legion is now backing would help to advance the development innovative treatments for serious mental health conditions and assist in reviewing the scheduling status of drugs like psilocybin, ibogaine and MDMA. The legislation’s findings section says that “emerging therapeutic interventions, including certain psychedelic-assisted therapies under evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration as of the date of the enactment of this Act, may significantly alter the treatment landscape for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other mental health conditions affecting veterans.” “The administration of certain emerging therapies may require intensive clinical engagement, interdisciplinary teams, dedicated clinical space, structured preparation, and post-treatment integration that differ substantially from traditional outpatient mental health services,” it continues, adding that VA is “uniquely positioned to deliver integrated, veteran-centered care that combines medical, mental health, and peer support services within a single system of care.” That’s the only explicit mention of “psychedelics” in the bill, and it doesn’t list specific psychedelic substances that would be prioritized for research, but that’s a common feature of recently filed proposals touching on the issue, with various other examples using catchall terminology like innovative or novel treatments or therapies effectively serving as a stand-in for “psychedelics.” Under the measure, a new Office of Novel Therapeutics would be established under the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to facilitate the research initiatives. Studies exploring the alternative treatments would focus on substances such as psychedelics that are under review for potential approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Absent centralized governance and implementation planning, the Department may face delays, safety risks, or inconsistent access following regulatory approval of such therapies,” the bill’s findings section says. “Establishing a dedicated Office of Novel Therapeutics will ensure that the Department is prepared to responsibly evaluate, research, and implement emerging treatment modalities consistent with patient safety and evidence-based practice.” There would be at least one “Center of Excellence” to facilitate the program in each VA regional district to help develop a national model for the initiative. A Veteran Advisory Committee would be established, comprised of veterans, experts and health professionals, to advise on matters such as access barriers and safety protocols. VA would also need to coordinate with other federal agencies—including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), FDA, Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), the Department of Defense (DOD) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)—to consider regulatory issues, possible rescheduling action for novel therapies and means of providing health care coverage for psychedelics access and treatment. VA would need to furnish annual reports to Congress updating lawmakers on its progress. Within 180 days of the bill’s enactment, the department would need to report on practical considerations such as staffing needs and regulatory barriers. The American Legion, for its part, cheered a psychedelics executive order that President Donald Trump signed earlier this year. The veterans group has also regularly called for the federal rescheduling of marijuana, and its national commander appeared in the Oval Office last year when Trump signed a separate cannabis-focused executive order. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Workman. The post American Legion Endorses Psychedelics Bill In Congress, Highlighting Potential Benefits For Military Veterans appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have filed a bill to provide a safe harbor to insurance companies that work with state-legal marijuana businesses. The Clarifying Law Around Insurance of Marijuana (CLAIM) Act was filed by Reps. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Warren Davidson (R-OH) on Wednesday. The legislation would protect insurers, brokers and agents from being penalized by federal regulators for providing insurance services to state-licensed marijuana companies. “Because of the conflict between federal and state law, insurers are still hesitant to write policies for cannabis businesses,” Velázquez said in a press release. “That means thousands of legal small businesses are operating without a safety net. One fire or one storm could wipe out everything an owner has built, with no way to recover. The CLAIM Act fixes this by giving these entrepreneurs access to the same basic insurance protections every other legal business takes for granted.” Davidson said that “businesses operating legally under state law should be free to purchase insurance, and insurers should be free to serve them.” “The federal government should not use regulation to interfere with lawful commerce or override decisions made by the states,” he said. “The CLAIM Act removes that federal interference and protects the freedom of insurers and their customers to do business.” Earlier this year, Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) filed similar legislation in the Senate. This is the fourth Congress in a row that the cannabis business insurance measure has been introduced, and the text of the current bill, H.R.10471, remains largely the same as prior versions. Earlier this year, bipartisan House and Senate lawmakers filed related legislation to provide safeguards for banks that work with the cannabis industry. As it stands, cannabis firms are limited in their ability to gain property, casualty and title insurance coverage. The CLAIM Act would prohibit federal agencies from penalizing insurance providers for simply covering those businesses, and it would bar insurers from terminating or limiting policies for marijuana companies or ancillary businesses due to the nature of their enterprise. The legislation also includes a requirement that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study and issue a report on “barriers to marketplace entry, including in the licensing process, and the access to financial services for potential and existing minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related legitimate businesses.” It additionally provides protections for employees of insurers, affirming that they could not be held liable just because they work with a cannabis company. Supporters of the legislation have argued that providing insurance access to these businesses would mitigate safety risks and prevent the companies from being denied bank financing, which can occur when the businesses lack insurance coverage. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Meanwhile, the Trump administration is moving forward with the process of rescheduling marijuana under federal law. Attorney General Todd Blanche in April issued an order that immediately reclassified state-licensed medical cannabis, as well as marijuana products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to Schedule III. Under a separate order the attorney general signed, a hearing is considering more comprehensively moving marijuana to Schedule III. The post Insurance Companies That Provide Coverage For Marijuana Businesses Would Be Shielded From Federal Punishment Under New Congressional Bill appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

House passes bill on marijuana, fentanyl & drug testing; MI cannabis industry backs GOP governor candidate; Alabama marijuana arrests 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… Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The House of Representatives passed a bill to require the Department of Health and Human Services to study how prevalent drug testing for marijuana, fentanyl and other drugs is in hospital emergency departments. The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether state marijuana business licensing laws that discriminate against out-of-state residents violate the Dormant Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association is endorsing Republican gubernatorial candidate John James due to his pledge to repeal or significantly roll back a recently enacted wholesale tax on marijuana. Alabama writer Tiffany McElrath argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that her state should “stop treating responsible adults like criminals” and arresting so many people for cannabis. “Cannabis is not for everyone. Adults should still have the freedom to decide whether it is right for them—just as they may decide whether to drink alcohol, take a prescribed medication or use neither.” / FEDERAL The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System said that traditional community banking organizations that serve marijuana-related businesses may require Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering and financial crime platform providers with “more advanced capabilities.” The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation hosted a panel about cannabis equity and unregulated marketplaces at its conference. The Senate bill to federally legalize marijuana got one new cosponsor for a total of 17. The House bill to codify provisions of President Donald Trump’s psychedelics executive order got one new cosponsor for a total of five. / STATES Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) cited the “threat to our hemp industry” in answering a question about Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) returning to work in the Senate. Oklahoma lawmakers spoke about potential medical cannabis legislation that could be considered in 2027. California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products produced under unsanitary conditions and with the methods, facilities or controls that did not conform with pesticide rules. Colorado regulators issued a health and safety advisory about marijuana products with butane above acceptable limits. Alaska regulators filed proposed changes to rules on total THC limits for cannabis edibles. Hawaii regulators published guidance about hemp business registration. Oregon regulators will consider changes to marijuana and hemp rules on Thursday. Minnesota regulators will host a cannabis listening event on October 1. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / LOCAL A judge delayed a ruling on a challenge to a Menominee, Michigan referendum concerning the number marijuana retail licenses. / INTERNATIONAL India’s Supreme Court said it is “very liberal” in bail cases involving marijuana. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that CBG and a full-spectrum cannabis extract “exert analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, with [the full-spectrum extract] providing faster acute relief and CBG produced a more prolonged antinociceptive effect.” A study of rats found that “CBD showed no effect on locomotor activity but increased center time, suggesting anxiolytic-like effects.” / BUSINESS Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. said it received a second offer to be acquired. 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 SCOTUS asked to take up cannabis licensing dispute (Newsletter: September 17, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“Cannabis is not for everyone. Adults should still have the freedom to decide whether it is right for them—just as they may decide whether to drink alcohol, take a prescribed medication or use neither.” By Tiffany McElrath Cannabis is not for everyone. Neither is alcohol. Neither are antidepressants, benzodiazepines or opioids. Every one of them can carry risks, cause side effects or be used irresponsibly. Only one of them can still get me arrested simply for choosing it. I live in Alabama, where adults may legally buy enough alcohol to drink themselves into oblivion. They may drink in front of their children, keep a fully stocked liquor cabinet at home and joke publicly about needing wine to survive parenthood. Unless their behavior becomes dangerous, the law generally treats their alcohol use as a personal decision. To be clear, alcohol and prescription medications can also lead to arrest. A person can be charged with DUI, public intoxication or disorderly conduct when alcohol use results in dangerous or unlawful behavior. Possessing prescription medication without a valid prescription can also be illegal. But that is not the comparison I am making. Those laws address dangerous conduct or unauthorized possession. Cannabis prohibition allows an otherwise responsible adult to be arrested for possession itself—even when that person is at home, harms no one and creates no threat to public safety. An adult who discreetly uses cannabis at home after putting the children to bed is treated differently. That person may face arrest, a criminal record and potentially devastating consequences for employment, housing or child custody—not because anyone was harmed, but because the substance they chose remains illegal. I am not defending becoming dangerously impaired while responsible for children. I am asking why responsible alcohol use is socially acceptable while responsible cannabis use is treated as evidence of criminality or parental unfitness. This is personal for me. I have struggled with clinical depression and severe anxiety. At one point, I was prescribed Xanax and antidepressants. My experience was not pleasant. The medications made me extremely sleepy. I was knocked out early and unable to be present for my family. The antidepressants also destroyed my libido, which could have created serious intimacy problems in my marriage had I continued taking them. Cannabis affected me differently. It helped ease some of my symptoms without leaving me completely sedated and disconnected from my life. That is my experience, not a universal medical claim. Cannabis can impair judgment and coordination. Frequent or high-potency use can lead to dependence, and it may worsen anxiety or other mental-health symptoms in some people. It should be accurately labeled, kept away from children and treated like any other adult substance: responsibly. But acknowledging those risks does not justify prohibition. It strengthens the case for legalization and regulation. People deserve honest, evidence-based information about both the benefits and risks of cannabis so they can make informed decisions. That means leaving “Reefer Madness” exaggerations in the past, but it also means refusing to pretend cannabis is harmless. Adults should be able to discuss every reasonable treatment option with their healthcare providers. They should also be allowed to decide what they put into their own bodies without being jailed for conduct that harms no one else. Our laws do not reflect a rational comparison of risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol use is responsible for approximately 178,000 deaths in the United States each year. Yet alcohol remains legal, regulated and widely available. Meanwhile, police made at least 218,152 marijuana-related arrests nationwide in 2025, according to FBI data. That number is an undercount because approximately 13 percent of law-enforcement agencies did not report arrest data. Alabama reported 8,583 marijuana-possession arrests in 2025, the tenth-highest raw total in the country. But raw numbers do not account for the size of each state, so I looked at the same information on a per-capita basis—and the picture became even more striking. FBI age data show that 8,242 of Alabama’s possession arrests involved adults. Compared with Alabama’s adult population of 4,075,161 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates, that equals approximately 202 possession arrests for every 100,000 adults. After applying the same calculation to all 50 states, Alabama had the nation’s ninth-highest reported adult marijuana-possession arrest rate. The consequences of prohibition now depend largely on geography. The same behavior that can saddle someone with an arrest and criminal record in Alabama is legal for adults in nearly half the country. Changing the state line does not make the conduct more dangerous. It merely changes who the government has chosen to punish. Alabama’s medical-cannabis experience makes the contradiction even more obvious. State lawmakers approved a medical program in 2021, but patients waited more than five years for the first dispensary to open. Alabama’s first medical-cannabis dispensary opened on June 4 of this year, followed by a second location in August. Access remains extremely limited, and state law prohibits raw cannabis, smoking, vaping and conventional edible products. During those five years, patients legally recognized as deserving access were still waiting while Alabama continued arresting people for cannabis possession. That is not a coherent public-health policy. It is prohibition surviving long after its original justifications stopped making sense. Legalization does not have to mean encouraging everyone to use cannabis. We do not need to pretend that every product is therapeutic or that every pattern of use is safe. We can establish age limits, require testing and accurate labels, restrict advertising to children, punish impaired driving and hold adults accountable when their behavior genuinely endangers someone. What we should stop doing is destroying people’s lives merely because they chose cannabis. Cannabis is not for everyone. Adults should still have the freedom to decide whether it is right for them—just as they may decide whether to drink alcohol, take a prescribed medication or use neither. Regulate it. Educate people honestly about it. Keep it away from children. Punish genuinely dangerous behavior. But stop treating responsible adults like criminals. Tiffany McElrath is an Alabama writer, entrepreneur and former family caregiver who writes about personal freedom, mental health and the everyday consequences of public policy. The post Cannabis Isn’t for Everyone, And Neither Is Alcohol—But Only One Can Still Get Me Arrested (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A trade association that represents marijuana businesses in Michigan is endorsing the Republican candidate in the state’s gubernatorial election in November, calling him “the clear choice” due to his support for repealing or significantly rolling back a recently enacted tax hike on the industry. “John James is the clear choice for the cannabis industry,” Michigan Cannabis Industry Association (MiCIA) Executive Director Robin Schneider said in a press release on Wednesday, referring to the GOP candidate. Last year, lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), who is term-limited and cannot run again this year, enacted a new 24 percent wholesale cannabis tax. Industry advocates have argued that the levy—which is added on top of an existing 10 percent excise tax and 6 percent sales tax on marijuana purchases—increases the cost of doing business for legal operators and makes it harder for them to compete with the illicit market. James, the Republican Party’s nominee for governor, agrees, saying in a plank of his “Freedom Agenda” unveiled last month that the cannabis tax “drives up prices, gives illegal operators a competitive edge, and has already fallen far short of revenue projections.” “As Governor, I will work to repeal or sharply reduce it,” he said. Schneider, from the Michigan cannabis trade association, said on Wednesday that “John has taken the time to meet with MiCIA members to better understand the serious financial challenges we face due to the unconstitutional 24 percent cannabis tax established last year.” “He has released clear statements about this stance on cannabis, and he has been fully transparent,” he said. “We welcome his vocal and committed support of our industry.” James’s Democratic opponent for governor, Jocelyn Benson, has not taken a clear stance on the cannabis tax. It’s a “new and emerging issue,” she said this month. “There’s a lot of data yet to be determined on that particular tax… We need to know where the money is going and also the impact that it’s had on the industry,” she said. “At the same time, I want to make sure that any changes we are making to our tax code do not come at the expense of driving up costs for Michiganders.” Schneider, from MiCIA, said that the cannabis industry, “which has been an economic driver for Michigan, now faces a devastating financial reality.” “We need a leader who will boldly support the cannabis industry and fight for our workers and our businesses,” he said. “John understands that the unlawful 24 percent tax pushes customers to the illicit market, and he has vowed to repeal or sharply reduce the tax. He pledges to work to eliminate rules that burden compliant businesses while promoting workplace and community safety, keeping intoxicating products out of the hands of children and protecting consumers.” James, for his part, has also said he wants to crack down on sales of unregulated hemp THC products. “Michigan voters approved a legal, regulated cannabis market in 2018,” his campaign website says. “State government has a responsibility to respect that decision while promoting workplace and community safety, keeping intoxicating products out of the hands of children, protecting consumers, and enforcing the law against those who refuse to follow it.” To that end, the Republican candidate also says he wants to stop sales of hemp THC products that are widely available. “Delta-8, THCA, and synthetic cannabinoids must not be sold at gas stations or smoke shops without the same age limits, testing, and labeling required of licensed cannabis,” his plan says. “Intoxicating products belong in the regulated market—not next to the candy bars.” Additionally the GOP gubernatorial contender wants to “aggressively target illegal trafficking, unlicensed operators, sales to minors, tax evasion, and product diversion—while letting law-abiding businesses operate without unnecessary interference.” He cited Chinese-linked illegal cannabis grows that he said operate in the state. “As Governor, we will end these illicit grow operations and cut off the CCP’s foothold in Michigan,” James said. Meanwhile, a Republican state representative recently filed legislation that would reverse the cannabis wholesale tax. The tax was projected by state officials to raise $420 million, with the revenue aimed at funding road repairs and construction, though Rep. James DeSana (R) says it is generating in less than half of what its supporters anticipated. The levy has been challenged in court through lawsuits filed by the cannabis industry. Meanwhile, earlier this year, the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency announced it is distributing nearly $100 million in marijuana tax revenue to over 300 local governments and tribes across the state. The money is intended to support various local infrastructure, education and other programs and services in 313 municipalities, counties and tribal areas. The post Michigan Marijuana Industry Group Endorses GOP Governor Candidate Who Pledged To Cut New Wholesale Tax appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to resolve a split among lower courts about whether state marijuana business licensing systems can discriminate against out-of-state residents. The operator of companies that sought and were denied cannabis business licenses in Washington State and Sacramento, California due to his residency status filed a petition last week asking the justices to overturn an appeals court ruling that found that the Constitution’s Dormant Commerce Clause does not apply to federally illegal activities. The Supreme Court has interpreted that clause to bar protectionist state laws that unduly restrict interstate commerce even in areas where Congress has not directly weighed in. Federal appeals courts have disagreed on its application to the marijuana industry, however. Now, Michigan resident Kenneth Gay wants the Supreme Court to step in and reverse a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that upheld Washington and Sacramento officials’ denial of licenses to his companies, Peridot Tree WA, Inc. and Peridot Tree, Inc., because “the Dormant Commerce Clause need not be extended to facilitate interstate commerce that is illegal under federal law.” The petition for a writ of certiorari notes that two other federal appeals courts—the First Circuit and the Second Circuit—have reached differing conclusions, finding that cannabis licensing schemes in Maine and New York, respectively, likely violate the Dormant Commerce Clause by favoring in-state residents. “These consolidated cases present a circuit split on an important question of constitutional law: whether the dormant Commerce Clause’s nondiscrimination principle applies to state and municipal cannabis-licensing schemes. This Court should resolve that question now,” it says. “The issue has arisen frequently in courts across the country and will continue to do so. States continue to enact discriminatory licensing laws that will spur future lawsuits. This petition is the ideal vehicle to resolve this circuit split because the consolidated cases raise a pure question of law, and no facts can resolve or moot it.” The filing calls the Ninth Circuit’s opinion “wrong at its foundation,” arguing that the Dormant Commerce Clause is a self-executing limitation on state power to burden interstate commerce. “Federal illegality does not authorize discrimination,” it says. It also argues that the circuit court’s determination that applying the nondiscrimination principle to cannabis-licensing schemes encourages states to create markets for something that Congress has deemed to be illegal is “backwards.” “When considering whether to legalize cannabis—or other vices—lawmakers must weigh the costs and benefits of such markets,” the petition says. “Immunizing cannabis markets from the nondiscrimination principle tilts that balance in favor of legalization because the State’s constituents will reap all the profits.” The Ninth Circuit’s ruling against opening up state markets is also “at odds with the federal government’s own regulatory actions” on cannabis, it says, citing a recent Supreme Court opinion in case on marijuana consumers’ gun rights that noted the federal government “has not just tolerated [state cannabis markets]; it helped fuel them.” The Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule marijuana is no reason to allow the Dormant Commerce Clause issue in cannabis licensing to continue to percolate in lower courts, the petition argues. “The Department of Justice’s recent order rescheduling medical cannabis under the [Controlled Substances Act] does not warrant further percolation. The DOJ’s order moves cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III only for sellers who hold a state medical-marijuana license and register with the DEA. Cannabis otherwise remains illegal under federal law. Thus, the rescheduling order does not alter the question presented here. Likewise, any future broader rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III will not resolve the circuit split. A Schedule III drug may be sold only under a prescription. Recreational cannabis is not sold under a prescription. Thus, recreational cannabis will remain nominally illegal under federal law even if the DOJ more broadly reschedules cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III.” The petition also argues that the Ninth Circuit ruling contradicts Supreme Court precedents on alcohol following the end of prohibition, citing case law that found that while the 21st Amendment grants states “virtually complete control” over alcohol sales within their borders, it does not “displace the rule that States may not give a discriminatory preference to their own” residents. “If the nondiscrimination principle does not wane in the face of the Constitution’s delegation of primacy over liquor regulation to the States, the CSA’s prohibition of cannabis—which confers no power to the States—cannot implicitly displace it,” it says. “The Twenty-first Amendment cases thus embody the principle that the States decide whether and under what system alcohol is sold within their borders. But the nondiscrimination principle governs who may compete in any market a State creates.” The petition, which was first noted by Law360, tells the justices that the issue at the center of the case is not an “academic or infrequent issue” and is instead a “live controversy unfolding across numerous states that has been addressed by numerous lower courts.” “Irreparable damage to the burgeoning cannabis market will occur if the Court allows this question to percolate longer,” it says. “Nearly all States with legal cannabis markets limit the number of licenses they issue.” “Additional decisions would add nothing but delay while protectionist schemes multiply. Allowing the question to percolate further will cause permanent damage because cannabis licenses are finite. If States issue licenses under the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, they will ‘bake in advantages for their residents’ that will plague the market even if the federal government later legalizes cannabis.” A report published this month by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said that the split among lower courts on the Dormant Commerce Clause’s application to marijuana business licensing “likely increases the odds” that the Supreme Court will take up and resolve the issue. “The fact that all the cases discussed above were decided when all relevant state marijuana activities remained illegal under federal law, however, might make the Court less likely to grant certiorari,” the report said. The justices may instead “wait to see how future lower court Dormant Commerce Clause analysis in this space evolves” in light of the Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule marijuana, CRS reasoned. Attorney General Todd Blanche in April issued an order that immediately reclassified state-licensed medical cannabis, as well as marijuana products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to Schedule III. Under a separate order he signed, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearing was held to consider more comprehensively moving marijuana to Schedule III. In any case, CRS said, lawmakers don’t need to wait for courts to weigh in. — 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. — “Congress has the power to address the issue itself,” the report said. “As the Supreme Court has explained, ‘Congress has undoubted power to…either permit the states to regulate the commerce in a manner which would otherwise not be permissible or exclude state regulation.'” “Congress could thus pass legislation providing states and localities an ‘unmistakably clear’ authorization to implement protectionist marijuana policies,” CRS said. It could also “do the opposite and expressly bar states and localities from implementing marijuana-related laws that favor in-state residents over nonresidents,” the report noted. “Similarly, Congress could establish a federal regulatory system applicable to marijuana activities that fits more closely within the Supreme Court’s existing Dormant Commerce Clause jurisprudence, as opposed to the current status where the Court has never weighed in on how the Clause applies to activities that are illegal under federal law,” CRS concluded. The Marijuana Policy Project, a pro-legalization advocacy group, recently said that it believes there could soon be a “successful” federal lawsuit concerning the Dormant Commerce Clause’s applicability to interstate cannabis commerce in light of rescheduling. “DCC protection would bar states with legal markets from discriminating against legal products from other states,” MPP said. “The federal decisions finding no DCC protection have leaned on cannabis’s federal illegality.” The move to reschedule cannabis “almost certainly changes that for licensed medical operators,” the group said. “We expect stakeholders to sue states in multiple federal circuits (hoping to consolidate those into one suit), seeking to force open state markets on constitutional grounds,” MPP said.” Interstate commerce in Schedule III drugs between DEA-approved entities is clearly covered by the DCC. A federal case will take time, but assuming rescheduling stands, we expect federal litigation to be ultimately successful.” The post Supreme Court Asked To Overturn Marijuana Business Licensing Laws That Favor In-State Residents appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study how prevalent drug testing for marijuana, fentanyl and other drugs is in hospital emergency departments. The legislation from Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) was approved in a voice vote on the floor on Tuesday. The measure was considered under a procedure known as suspension of the rules, which does not allow for amendments and requires a two-thirds supermajority for passage. The Senate approved similar legislation with differing provisions earlier this year, and now the two versions must be reconciled before potentially being sent to President Donald Trump. The bill is known as “Tyler’s Law,” after Tyler Shamash, a 19-year-old who died following a fentanyl ingestion in 2018 and was not tested for the drug when brought to the hospital for a suspected overdose. While the legislation, H.R. 2004, is largely focused on fentanyl, it says that within a year of passage the HHS secretary would need to complete a study to determine “how frequently hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl (in addition to testing for other substances such as amphetamines, phencyclidine, cocaine, opiates, and marijuana) when a patient is experiencing an overdose.” The study would also need to look at costs associated with fentanyl testing, the potential benefits and risks of such testing and how it may impact patients’ experiences—including with respect to confidentiality and privacy protections and the patient-physician relationship. The bill, which has 65 House cosponsors, says that within six months of completing the study, HHS would also need to issue guidance covering: “(1) Whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose. (2) How hospitals can ensure that clinicians in their hospital emergency departments are aware of which substances are being tested for in their routinely-administered drug tests, regardless of whether those tests screen for fentanyl. (3) How the administration of fentanyl testing in hospital emergency departments may affect the future risk of overdose and general health outcomes.” “I am so pleased that Tyler’s Law passed the House,” Lieu said in a press release after the floor vote. “No family should have to endure the devastating loss that Tyler’s family experienced, especially when a simple fentanyl test could save a life.” — 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. — Companion legislation from Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) was approved by the Senate in March—but not before being amended to remove the language that specifically lists marijuana and other drugs besides fentanyl. Instead, it directs HHS to study “how frequently hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances when a patient is experiencing an overdose, and test for other controlled substances related to such an overdose.” Unlike the House bill, the HHS secretary would have three years to complete the study on hospital drug testing under the amended Senate proposal. In April, a pair of Republican senators filed a separate bill that would require the federal government to track the cost of hospitalization due to marijuana use. The Marijuana Impact on Medicaid Act of 2026 from Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) would require the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to compile data on “Federal and State expenditures under the Medicaid program…that are attributable to costs incurred for providing medical assistance for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, and for services received at a hospital emergency room…related to marijuana use.” The bill’s language is similar to two amendments Budd previously filed on the cannabis and hospitalization issue that didn’t end up being considered on the Senate floor. The post House Passes Bill Requiring Feds To Track Testing For Marijuana And Other Drugs In Hospital Emergency Rooms appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

FDA psychedelics hearing; Union opposes MA anti-marijuana measure; MN cannabis sales totals; DEA as marijuana regulator; Federal botanical drugs bill Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. Have you thought about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming months and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count on. Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The Food and Drug Administration hosted a hearing on how to boost development of psychedelic therapies while adhering to scientific standards, with the agency and its federal partners taking testimony from 80 witnesses. A new poll found that only about a third of Americans think marijuana is dangerous, and less than half still believe the “gateway theory” that using cannabis makes people significantly more likely to try more dangerous drugs. The Service Employees International Union Massachusetts State Council is urging voters to reject an initiative to roll back cannabis legalization that’s on the November ballot, saying that “the fight to protect legal marijuana is about protecting progress.” The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management announced that retailers in the state have sold more than a quarter of a billion dollars’ worth in legal marijuana products since the state’s legal recreational cannabis market launched one year ago. Mandelbaum Barrett PC’s Joshua S. Bauchner and Marky Suazo highlight in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that the Drug Enforcement Administration is shifting more into the role of a cannabis regulator under the Trump administration’s rescheduling move. “For most of the modern cannabis industry’s existence, operators focused primarily on state licensing agencies, cannabis control boards and state compliance requirements. Understandably, DEA was generally viewed as an enforcement agency, not as a day-to-day industry regulator. That dynamic might change.” Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) filed a new bill in Congress that advocates say could boost development of medicines derived from cannabis, psychedelics and other plants by offering a 12-year market exclusivity period for newly approved botanical drugs. / FEDERAL The National Institute of Justice will host a webinar about seized drugs and forensic toxicology on Wednesday. / STATES Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) is expected to sign a bill to rename the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement as the Division of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana Enforcement on Wednesday. Texas Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Vikki Goodwin discussed her support for legalizing cannabis. California regulators announced recalls of marijuana products due to packaging and labeling that is attractive to children, and due to unsanitary conditions and methods, facilities or controls that did not conform with pesticide rules. Pennsylvania’s health secretary adopted a recommendation that medical cannabis solvent-based extraction methods and processes on microbial contamination remain limited to topical form. Nebraska regulators said updated medical cannabis rules won’t be finalized until next year. Colorado regulators published guidance about cannabis product residual solvents testing. Vermont regulators sent guidance about cannabis business owner eligibility for property tax credits. Washington, D.C. regulators sent a warning about a fraudulent phishing campaign targeting medical cannabis and alcohol businesses. Oregon regulators are holding hearings on proposed changes to psilocybin services rules this week. Massachusetts regulators will host a cannabis social equity business application clinic on Wednesday. — 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 Harris County, Texas district attorney’s office will host a clinic to help people expunge marijuana records on September 26. / INTERNATIONAL A Maltese lawmaker is calling for an independent evaluation of the country’s cannabis laws. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study highlighted the “effectiveness of [cold-pressed industrial hemp seed oil] in wound healing.” A review concluded that “psilocybin was reported to produce psychosomatic symptom reduction lasting week [sic] to years after use.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Parabola Center for Law and Policy published a report recommending tools to help policymakers and advocates design global cannabis markets equitably. / BUSINESS Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. sent a letter urging Aurora Cannabis Inc. to accept its offer to acquire the company. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $1.90 per share. / CULTURE Woody Harrelson joked about smoking marijuana with Matthew McConaughey’s mom. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post Americans don’t think cannabis is dangerous, new poll shows (Newsletter: September 16, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Only about a third of Americans think marijuana is dangerous, and less than half still believe the “gateway theory” that using cannabis makes people significantly more likely to try more dangerous drugs, according to a new poll. The survey, released by Rasmussen Reports on Tuesday, asked U.S. adults how dangerous they think cannabis is. Just over one out of three indicated they think marijuana is either somewhat (24 percent) or very dangerous (13 percent). In contrast, a majority of respondents said cannabis is either not dangerous at all (27 percent) or not very dangerous (28 percent). When asked how likely they believe it is that “marijuana use leads to the use of more dangerous drugs,” just 18 percent said it is very likely and 27 percent believe it is somewhat likely. Nineteen percent said it is not at all likely and 27 percent think it is not very likely, while 9 percent said they aren’t sure. When broken down by party, Republicans are more likely to believe that marijuana is either somewhat or very dangerous (50 percent) than Democrats are (33 percent). GOP voters are also more likely to buy the gateway theory about marijuana being very or somewhat likely to be true (60 percent) than Democrats are (42 percent). The poll involved interviews with 1,234 American adults between September 8-10 and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — The results comport with other recent surveys showing that American attitudes and behaviors around cannabis are shifting. A Gallup poll released last month, for example, found that a record-high number of U.S. adults now smoke marijuana, while cigarette smoking is at an all-time low. Similarly, an analysis of federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data published last year showed that more Americans now use marijuana than smoke cigarettes amid shifting perceptions of harm of the two substances. A study released last month found that people who consume cannabis-infused THC beverages end up drinking less alcohol. Last year, a separate Gallup poll found that a majority of Americans remain in favor of legalizing marijuana but that support saw a slight dip from 2024—a trend that’s been “driven by Republicans” who are turning against the reform. The post Most Americans Don’t Think Marijuana Is Very Dangerous Or That It Leads To Use Of Other Drugs, New Poll Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“The cannabis industry spent years pursuing federal legitimacy. What operators are now discovering is that legitimacy often comes with regulation.” By Joshua S. Bauchner and Marky Suazo, Mandelbaum Barrett PC For many years, marijuana businesses primarily answered to state regulators. Now, under changes to federal policy being rolled out by the Trump administration, they will answer to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). That change began when the Department of Justice reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I, the federal classification reserved for substances deemed to have no accepted medical use, to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule III consists of substances recognized as having accepted medical uses and usually carries fewer restrictions than Schedule I. There are also parallel, but separate, proceedings regarding the broader federal treatment of marijuana. Nearly all the attention regarding these developments has focused on the potential benefits of rescheduling, including tax relief and greater institutional acceptance. But another important consequence has escaped the limelight: the federal government’s increasing involvement in the day-to-day regulation of the cannabis industry. The industry’s challenge is not just whether federal reform will occur; it is already underway. The challenge is determining how to operate, how to invest and how to grow while the rules governing that reform are still being developed. Indeed, we recently spoke with a marijuana licensed client who is considering pulling up stakes in the in the face of competition across the street: a liquor store selling intoxicating hemp beverages. Rescheduling Was Only The Beginning DOJ’s decision to move state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III could have meaningful implications for operators. Most notably, it might provide relief from Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which generally prohibits businesses trafficking in Schedule I or Schedule II substances from deducting ordinary business expenses. Rescheduling could also improve the industry’s standing with investors, lenders, insurers and other institutions that have remained cautious because of marijuana’s federal status. For businesses navigating tight margins and limited access to capital, those developments could be significant. But rescheduling is not legalization. Marijuana remains a federally controlled substance, and broader questions regarding federal cannabis policy remain unresolved. DOJ’s recent action specifically addressed state-licensed medical marijuana, while broader proceedings concerning marijuana’s federal classification continue. More importantly, rescheduling appears to be ushering in a new era of federal oversight. DEA Is Becoming A Cannabis Regulator For most of the modern cannabis industry’s existence, operators focused primarily on state licensing agencies, cannabis control boards and state compliance requirements. Understandably, DEA was generally viewed as an enforcement agency, not as a day-to-day industry regulator. That dynamic might change. For the most part, cannabis operators largely played on a field governed by state regulators. DEA was there, but mostly on the sidelines. As federal reform evolves, the referees will change, and businesses should expect the rules and expectations to evolve along with them. As part of the emerging federal framework, the government has begun incorporating state-licensed medical marijuana businesses into a DEA registration system intended to bring operators within a formal federal regulatory structure. Businesses seeking DEA registration are required to provide detailed information concerning ownership, operations, inventory controls and related compliance matters. Many operators already provide similar information to state regulators. Nevertheless, submitting information to the federal government and preparing for ongoing federal oversight represents a different compliance relationship. The cannabis industry spent years pursuing federal legitimacy. What operators are now discovering is that legitimacy often comes with regulation. That does not necessarily mean increased DEA involvement will result in increased enforcement. It does mean that cannabis businesses may increasingly be evaluated on whether their systems can withstand both state and federal scrutiny. Recordkeeping, ownership disclosures, inventory controls and operating procedures may affect not only regulatory compliance but also financing opportunities, investor diligence, acquisition activity and enterprise value. Businesses Are Being Asked To Plan Before The Rules Are Clear A few important questions remain unanswered. Now, many cannabis businesses are building a plane while flying it. Companies must continue operating, expanding, raising capital, hiring employees and serving customers even as regulators are actively developing the framework that may govern the industry’s next phase. Does every state-licensed medical marijuana business need to register with the DEA? Will registration become relevant to how federal agencies administer the benefits associated with Schedule III treatment? How will regulators address businesses that operate in both medical and adult-use markets? Will registration and inspection standards be applied consistently across DEA regional offices? For operators, these are not academic questions. Clients call all the time asking these questions noting it’s nearly impossible to plan—never mind operate on a daily basis—in the face of all this uncertainty. Whether expanding into a new market, raising capital, pursuing acquisitions or restructuring operations, cannabis businesses face the same challenge: assessing risk when federal expectations remain unclear. The unpredictability is especially significant for multi-state operators. Medical and adult-use activities often share facilities, personnel, inventory systems and compliance infrastructure. If federal regulators ultimately require greater separation between those activities, businesses will face difficult operational decisions and significant compliance costs. Cannabis businesses have never feared regulation. The industry has been regulated for years. The difficulty stems from stems from the attempt to plan for the future when critical questions remain unanswered. The Industry Needs Clarity Additional guidance from DEA would provide much needed clarity across the industry. Most businesses do not expect regulatory perfection. They simply need a reliable map. At the moment, many cannabis operators know the industry is headed toward greater federal involvement, but they still lack a clear roadmap for getting there. Many operators are less concerned about whether federal oversight is coming than they are about what it will look like. Clear direction regarding things like registration requirements, inspection standards and the treatment of businesses operating across both medical and adult-use markets would allow operators to make informed decisions and develop compliance programs around identifiable expectations. Additionally, greater consistency among regional offices would further reduce uncertainty. Federal-state coordination is equally important. State regulators have spent years developing systems governing ownership, security, inventory tracking, testing and distribution. Federal policy should build upon those frameworks wherever possible instead of creating duplicative or conflicting requirements. For example, imagine a multi-state operator deciding whether to acquire a medical cannabis business, expand into a new market or invest in additional compliance infrastructure. Those decisions require large capital raises and long-term planning. If federal regulators decide to adopt standards that differ from current state requirements, the entire analysis may need to be revisited. In the meantime, businesses cannot afford to wait for complete certainty. Operators should review ownership structures, evaluate governance and compliance systems, assess recordkeeping practices and determine whether their existing operations are prepared for increased federal scrutiny. The question cannabis businesses will face is not whether the federal government will become involved in the industry. It already has. The more important question is whether operators will treat that reality as a future concern or begin preparing for it today. Federal reform presents meaningful opportunities for the cannabis industry. Realizing those opportunities, however, will require something every business depends on: enough regulatory clarity to invest, operate and grow with confidence. Joshua S. Bauchner is Chair of the Cannabis, Hemp, and Psychedelics Practice Group at Mandelbaum Barrett PC in New York and New Jersey. Marky Suazo is Counsel in the Firm’s Cannabis, Hemp, and Psychedelics Practice Group. The post DEA Is Taking On The Role Of Marijuana Regulator Under Trump’s Rescheduling Move (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“The purpose is to turn up the heat and get resources to develop these more natural options that could be very important.” By Jack Gorsline, Psychedelic State(s) of America As cannabis rescheduling efforts under the Trump administration draw closer to finalization and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the first wave of synthetic psychedelic drugs looms large in the near future, a new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to stimulate private investment in plant-based medicines by offering a 12-year market exclusivity period for newly approved botanical drugs. Introduced on August 27 by Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), the Advancing Botanical Drug Development Act of 2026, or H.R. 10150, seeks to amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Under the proposed legislation, FDA would be prohibited from approving generic or hybrid applications that reference a newly approved botanical drug during its 12-year exclusivity window. Supporters of the bill argue this extended period is necessary to overcome the unique scientific, manufacturing and regulatory challenges that currently discourage private investment under standard intellectual property laws. Joel Stanley, CEO of AJNA Biosciences noted in an interview with Psychedelic State(s) of America that while the FDA created a regulatory pathway for botanical drugs in 2004, patient demand for evidence-based natural treatments remains unmet due to a stagnation in approvals. “Before biologics really got their deep funding and became a major category, it was so hard to raise money for them,” said Stanley. “When they were given an extended indication exclusivity, that brought money to the space and now there’s some good drugs there… The purpose is to turn up the heat and get resources to develop these more natural options that could be very important.” Stanley is also the co-founder and former CEO of Charlotte’s Web, who alongside his brothers famously created the company’s eponymous, then-first-of-its-kind high CBD, low THC cannabis strain credited with revolutionizing epilepsy treatments. Stanley’s new venture AJNA Biosciences is currently developing a novel cannabinoid treatment for autism spectrum disorder, along with a full spectrum psilocybin compound that is entering phase I clinical trials. Involvement in the bill’s development was not confined solely to the pharmaceutical sector, either. In an exclusive statement provided to Psychedelic State(s) of America via email, Robert Houton, founder of Mobilizing Accountability in Congress, highlighted his role in spearheading the legislative push. “I have been a patient advocate [for] ten years [on Capitol Hill],” Houton said, pointing to his previous work mitigating fentanyl poisonings and expanding epinephrine access. “[I helped] initiate the successful effort, leadership, and work in Congress to have the H.R. 10150 legislation introduced, [and] continue to work with congressional leaders to introduce a companion bill in the U.S. Senate”. The botanical-derived focus of the new legislation comes at a prescient time, given multiple patented synthetic psychedelic compounds are well-positioned for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As first reported by Psychedelic Alpha, last month news broke that Resilient Pharmaceuticals (formerly known as Lykos Therapeutics) had officially resubmitted a previously-rejected New Drug Application for the company’s MDMA-assisted therapy treatment, complete with updated safety and clinical trial data. More recently, on September 8, Definium Therapeutics’s patented LSD compound was granted a second breakthrough therapy designation by the following the release of “promising” Phase III clinical trial data evaluating the drug for treating general anxiety disorder. H.R. 10150 emphasizes a shift away from standard single-molecule pharmaceuticals, noting that botanical drugs can contain multiple naturally occurring active constituents capable of safely acting on several biological pathways simultaneously. Recent advances in computational biology and artificial intelligence are cited in the bill as modern tools capable of identifying these multi-pathway botanical formulations. “We started Western medicine right at the same time that we started being able to synthesize and isolate molecules,” said Stanley. “But with as many great advancements as we’ve made, we completely left behind the fact that we come from nature, we evolved alongside the natural pairings of molecules found in nature.” Stanley added that standardizing these historical medicines will ultimately bring greater and safer tools to physicians, noting that recent data “marked the first time that we saw in modern days a plant extract surpass the efficacy of multiple FDA-approved drugs.” The push for updated regulatory frameworks extends into the realm of complex botanical and fungal formulations, including ongoing discussions surrounding psychedelic therapies. While praising recent FDA industry guidance for providing regulatory clarity, advocates are pressing for distinct frameworks for sub-perceptual microdosing. “We need to also look at the sub-perceptual dosing and recognize that it doesn’t have a placebo problem at all,” Stanley concluded. “It needs to be based on its own data for chronic dosing and not lumped into some of the issues and hurdles that assisted therapy acute high level dosing has.” While the bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on August 27, as of publication a hearing has not been scheduled. This article was produced in partnership with Psychedelic State(s) of America—a nonprofit-sponsored news organization dedicated to rigorous independent psychedelic journalism. Subscribe to PSA online and Follow PSA on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X and Facebook. Learn more about PSA and donate to the PSA Media Fund here. Image element courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos. The post New Congressional Bill Could Boost Development Of Plant-Based Medicines, Including Those Derived From Cannabis Or Psychedelics appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Minnesota officials are touting the fact that retailers in the state have sold more than a quarter of a billion dollars’ worth in legal marijuana products since the state’s legal recreational cannabis market launched one year ago. The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on Tuesday announced that adult consumers and patients have purchased a combined more than $250 million in medical and recreational marijuana products since last September—saying the milestone “comes at a time of significant growth for Minnesota’s emerging cannabis market as the state works to foster an equitable cannabis industry that prioritizes public health and safety, consumer confidence and market integrity.” The cannabis sales haul over the past 12 months includes about $150 million in recreational products and $100 million worth of medical cannabis. “After visiting with business owners, local officials and community members around the state this year, I am more enthusiastic than ever about how Minnesota’s cannabis market is taking shape,” OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel said in a press release. “More than 300 new cannabis businesses have launched in the last year bringing with them new jobs and opportunities for Minnesotans. Doing something right takes time, and we are building a market that is sustainable and supports the opportunity for success for businesses all along the supply chain.” Adding in sales through the state’s separate system of legal lower-potency hemp edibles and drinks, Minnesota has garnered $45.6 million in cannabis-related tax revenue during the 10-month period from September 2025 to July 2026, OCM said, citing data from the state Department of Revenue. Last week, OCM published a study finding that medical marijuana appears to help cancer patients by decreasing pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety and depression while also improving sleep. A previous study published by state officials in Minnesota found that medical marijuana use by chronic pain patients is associated with significant improvements in life enjoyment, general activity and physical wellbeing. OCM also conducted a study showing that medical cannabis provides significant benefits for people struggling with sleep apnea. Data released by the state Department of Health earlier this year showed that cannabis consumption by middle and high school students in Minnesota is lower now than it was prior to the state enacted legalization. The post Minnesota Dispensaries Have Sold Over A Quarter Of A Billion Dollars Worth Of Marijuana Since Legal Sales Launched A Year Ago appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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A top labor union is urging Massachusetts voters to reject an initiative on the November ballot that would roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Massachusetts State Council on Tuesday endorsed the No on 8: Stop the Repeal Campaign. “With more than 400 adult-use marijuana retail locations across Massachusetts, this campaign is about protecting our communities, supporting local businesses, protecting worker rights and not turning away economic opportunity,” SEIU Massachusetts State Council and Local 509 President Dave Foley said in a press release. “The fight to protect legal marijuana is about protecting progress,” he said. “We look forward to working with allies across the state to educate voters about the dangers of returning to an underground market where there are fewer workplace protections, less oversight and no opportunities to organize.” The state labor group represents more than 23,000 human service workers and educators throughout Massachusetts, according to its website. Stop the Repeal Chairperson Ryan Dominguez said that “since legalization, the marijuana industry has brought in close to $2 billion in state and local revenue, supporting thousands of jobs and generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually in support of schools, public health, community investments and public safety.” “We are grateful to have the support of the SEIU State Council in helping us to defeat this damaging ballot question and to make sure we stop this ill-advised repeal,” he said. “Massachusetts voters made their voices clear when they chose to legalize marijuana a decade ago, and we cannot allow out-of-state groups to come into the Commonwealth and repeal this law.” The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, which regulates the legal industry, announced this month that the state has surpassed $10 billion in adult-use cannabis purchases since the market launched in 2018. CCC Chair Chris Harding told Marijuana Moment that he can’t comment directly on the initiative and that the commission does not take positions on pending ballot questions or legislation, but he said that, in general, “repeal of the adult-use industry could eliminate thousands of jobs, hundreds of businesses and billions in tax revenue.” A poll released last month found that Massachusetts voters oppose the marijuana legalization repeal measure, 55 percent to 33 percent. In July, state officials issued a final determination that the initiative—which would repeal laws allowing the regulated commercial sales of recreational cannabis and home cultivation while maintaining legal possession and continuing the medical marijuana system—will appear on ballot this fall. While the latest survey results provide some comfort to cannabis reform supporters, advocates are not resting. A coalition of Massachusetts marijuana business leaders, healthcare professionals and other advocates have launched a campaign to defeat the measure. The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) recently issued a warning that passage of the legalization rollback measure would have “disastrous political and economic consequences for legal cannabis markets everywhere.” “Even a too-close victory would spook markets and incentivize a rash of similar initiatives in states around the country, each costing millions to try and defeat,” the group said. After the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office determined that organizers for the anti-cannabis proposal had turned in enough valid signatures to put the measure before voters, a marijuana reform advocate filed an objection with the State Ballot Law Commission claiming that various signatures were not genuine, obtained through fraudulent means or were not “signed substantially as registered.” The body rejected the challenge to the legal marijuana rollback measure, however, clearing it to go before voters to decide. In June, the campaign behind the anti-legalization ballot measure fired a signature gatherer it says was shown appearing to engage in “wholly unacceptable” conduct in a recent video. As Marijuana Moment reported, a man petitioning for the Massachusetts initiative as well as a similar anti-cannabis proposal in Maine was depicted in recent social media posts seeming to argue that voters who support legal marijuana access should sign the petitions in order to advance or protect reform. The campaign later said it has “zero tolerance for any circulation tactics that would mislead petition signers.” “The identified canvasser was immediately terminated, in coordination with our vendor, upon being made aware of the alleged conduct,” the group said. “The conduct apparent in the video would be wholly unacceptable and does not reflect how this campaign operates. We demand honesty, transparency and professionalism from everyone associated with our effort.” A video posted to Reddit of the signature gatherer shows the man collecting signatures outside a retail store in Massachusetts next to a sign that says “keep cannabis legal.” When confronted by a marijuana reform supporter who recorded the petitioner’s interactions with voters, he appeared to be trying to convince them that it is important to qualify the anti-cannabis measure for the ballot in order to then defeat it. “This is what we’re fighting against right here. That’s why we vote no,” he said. “If we can get this to the ballot right here, we vote no.” The person who captured the video pointed out that Massachusetts voters already approved marijuana legalization years ago, and that the only way it could be imminently repealed is if the new ballot measure qualified for the November election. If the initiative does not get enough signatures to go before voters, the state’s laws will remain the same. “It’s my job,” the petitioner insisted, however. “I know what I’m talking about.” “It’s a group of rich folks from out of state that want to basically take marijuana to when it was a medical marijuana card,” he said. “We don’t want that to happen.” The same man also appeared to also be gathering signatures for a separate measure in Maine that would similarly repeal laws allowing regulated adult-use marijuana sales and home cultivation rights for adults while keeping possession legal and adding new testing requirements for medical cannabis. A staffer for the prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), whose affiliated group SAM Action is largely funding the anti-cannabis ballot campaigns in both states, declined to comment about the petitioner’s conduct when reached by Marijuana Moment. The campaigns have previously been accused of misleading petitioning tactics. In Massachusetts, some voters reported that the campaign used fake cover letters for other ballot measures on unrelated issues like affordable housing and same-day voter registration during the first round of petitioning. Legal cannabis supporters filed an earlier formal complaint about the prohibitionist effort’s tactics, but the State Ballot Law Commission rejected the challenge. The measure also faced a legal challenge from cannabis industry operatives who argued it contains “impermissibly unrelated subjects,” and that the state attorney general’s official summary is “misleading and deficient.” The state Supreme Judicial Court heard oral arguments on the litigation challenging the anti-marijuana initiative but it ultimately ruled against the lawsuit. Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Major Labor Union Urges Massachusetts Voters To Reject Ballot Measure To Roll Back Marijuana Legalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a hearing on psychedelic therapy on Monday, with the agency and other federal partners that participated taking testimony from dozens of advocates, researchers and industry participants. Eighty invited witnesses were given two minutes each to briefly summarize their stances and flag issues for federal officials. Prior to the start of testimony, Marta Sokolowska, deputy director for substance use and behavioral health at FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said that the hearing is “part of a whole of government effort to better understand the opportunities, challenges and public health considerations associated with this evolving area of psychedelic drug treatment.” “There have been growing interest and active research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs, in particular for treatment of serious mental health conditions,” she said, noting that as of this weekend, more than 1,800 people had registered for the hearing. Sokolowska said that FDA has taken “a number of steps to advance psychedelic drug development” in recent years, including publishing guidance for researchers, partnering with other agencies and taking regulatory actions. Its most recent actions, she said, are intended to support an executive order that President Donald Trump signed earlier this year to streamline research and access into psychedelic medicine. “This executive order establishes a policy of accelerating innovative research models and appropriate drug approvals to help increase access to psychedelic drugs for serious mental illness,” she said. “FDA remains committed to supporting innovation while maintaining rigorous scientific and regulatory standards, and for the evaluation of drug safety, effectiveness and quality.” The FDA official also noted that the agency in April issued national priority vouchers to three companies studying psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as methylone (MDMC) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and additionally allowed an early phase clinical study of an ibogaine derivative to proceed with an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission. Sokolowska also touted a memorandum of understanding that FDA signed with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) concerning a partnership to collaborate on research and development of psychedelic medicines to treat people struggling with serious mental health conditions. Finally, she noted that last week, FDA officials authored a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine that lays out the agency’s “new framework” for psychedelic medicines, including steps they are taking to “make psychedelic therapies available to patients more quickly, as warranted by the nation’s mental health crisis.” Dayle Cristinzio, director of public engagement at FDA, cautioned that the hearing was “not intended for the promotion of any specific drug or commercial product” and was instead focused on gathering information and perspectives “that may help inform continued work in this area for FDA and our federal partners.” “Over the course of the afternoon, we heard perspectives addressing provider training and credentialing, promotion of patient safety, considerations for access, best practices for data collection and standardization, as well as a range of related considerations,” she said. “We appreciate the time and the preparation that went into the remarks shared today.” Cristinzio noted that people can submit comments to an FDA docket about psychedelics through October 5. Other agencies that participated in Monday’s hearing include the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Veterans Health Administration and Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a podcast released last week that he believes there will be an “enormous demand” for psychedelic therapies as they become legally available, and he thinks Trump is unique among his predecessors in championing the issue. FDA and HHS in April announced steps that they say will help with “accelerating” therapeutic access to psychedelics for patients dealing with serious mental health conditions. Last month, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration issued a report on recent advances in psychedelic medicine, along with recommendations for state policymakers on how to prepare for formal approval of drugs like psilocybin and MDMA. It also noted how the Schedule I status of many psychedelics has hampered scientific studies on their effects for decades. In May, a bipartisan coalition of 32 members of Congress sent a letter urging FDA to expedite ongoing reviews of psychedelic therapies. Lawmakers recently filed a new bill that would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to evaluate how ongoing research on the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin could help members of the military. A separate recently introduced bipartisan measure is intended to codify Trump’s psychedelics executive order into law. An amendment adopted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act would extend a psychedelics research effort at DOD for an additional six years. The post FDA Psychedelics Hearing Focuses On Boosting Therapeutic Innovations While Adhering To Scientific Standards appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net