Marijuana Moment: Virginia cannabis sales legalization bills advance (Newsletter: January 26, 2026)

[Tokeativity]

New hemp regulation bill in Congress; MA anti-marijuana campaign challenge fails; Bipartisan lawmakers talk psychedelics; SD cannabis in hospitals

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Chairman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) filed a bill to federally regulate consumable hemp products—offering a potential alternative to the THC ban that President Donald Trump recently signed into law.

The Virginia Senate Rehabilitation & Social Services Committee and a House General Laws subcommittee both approved bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales, building on the state’s current law that allows personal cannabis possession and home cultivation.

The Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission rejected a challenge claiming that a campaign seeking to roll back marijuana legalization used misleading tactics when convincing voters to sign its initiative petitions.

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers spoke about the therapeutic promise of psychedelics—but warned about the importance of strategic advocacy, saying that even just one misstep could threaten to upend the movement.

The South Dakota House Health and Human Services Committee rejected a bill that would have allowed terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and hospices.

Ohio municipalities are beginning to receive marijuana tax revenue disbursements to support local programs and services.

The South Dakota Senate voted against taking up bills to ban intoxicating hemp and kratom products that had advanced out of a committee without a recommendation for passage.

The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation fined at least seven marijuana businesses for bringing clones, seeds and tissue cultures in from other states in violation of tracking rules.

/ FEDERAL

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon tweeted, “Hotels ought to have to disclose if they are going to be hosting certain types of events while you are visiting. E.g.—more than one Beverly Hills sweet 16 or bat mitzvah; or any OnlyFans/porn producers/marijuana convention.  To add a ‘resort fee’ to the above should be a felony!”

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted, “Big Booze hates herb.”

The House bill to allow Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to recommend medical cannabis got one new cosponsor for a total of three.

/ STATES

Florida’s attorney general announced the arrest of a petitioner for a marijuana legalization ballot initiative on charges of alleged voter fraud and identity theft. Separately, the First District Court of Appeal ruled that officials can reject 42,000 signatures from “inactive” voters. The state now says the campaign has 714,888 valid signatures, short of the total needed by February 1.

Nebraska senators filed legislation to revise medical cannabis rules.

A Kentucky representative discussed his bill to add new medical cannabis qualifying conditions.

An Illinois representative filed a bill to change various cannabis rules.

Maine regulators sent an alert about cannabis products with unsafe levels of pesticides.

Oregon regulators adopted rules concerning psilocybin services provider hours of operation.

Maryland regulators published guidance on cannabis agent registration and criminal history checks.

Rhode Island regulators received applications from 98 businesses seeking a marijuana dispensary license.

Washington, D.C. officials shuttered an additional unlicensed marijuana business.

New Jersey regulators sent updates about various cannabis issues.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Executive Advisory Council met.

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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.
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/ LOCAL

Attorneys have reportedly reached an agreement about combining lawsuits challenging Killeen, Texas’s voter-approved marijuana decriminalization law.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The United Nations International Narcotics Control Board responded to President Donald Trump’s marijuana rescheduling order.

A deputy leader of Thailand’s ruling party said it would push for legislation to allow only for medical cannabis use without instituting broad marijuana recriminalization if it wins next month’s elections.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study “confirms the antibacterial activity of CBD on Enterococcus spp.”

A study found that “cannabidiol alleviates cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury in mice.”

A study found that ultrasound-assisted extraction “efficiently recovered antioxidant and selectively antimicrobial compounds from Cannabis sativa resins under mild, eco-friendly conditions, supporting their potential use as bioactive ingredients in pharmaceuticals.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The chair of the Florida Democratic Party cheered a move by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to loosen rules that bar people who consume marijuana and other illegal drugs from being able to lawfully purchase and possess guns.

/ BUSINESS

Cresco Labs LLC is being sued for allegedly withholding a revenue share from a partner.

Tilray Brands, Inc. launched Tilray Medical Italia.

Canadian retailers sold C$477.9 million worth of legal marijuana products in November.

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