Marijuana Moment: New Virginia legal cannabis sales plan heads to governor’s desk (Newsletter: June 23, 2026)

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Military recruit marijuana amendment in Congress; NORML challenges rescheduling non-invite; CA GOP governor candidate on cannabis; Study: CBD for acne

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Virginia lawmakers sent Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) budget legislation that includes provisions to legalize recreational marijuana sales that the governor negotiated with lawmakers after she vetoed a previous plan to enact the reform.

Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) filed a National Defense Authorization Act amendment to expand marijuana waivers for military recruits by directing the Department of Defense to “develop a program” for people who were not permitted to enlist following a positive THC test “so that such potential enlistees are permitted to reapply.”

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is asking the Drug Enforcement Administration to reconsider its decision to exclude the group from participating in the federal cannabis rescheduling hearing starting next week—saying the “public interest will be substantially harmed if the record omits the consumer perspective.”

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton told Marijuana Moment that there is a “regulatory burden and a tax burden that is too high” on the cannabis industry—saying it undermines the “goals of legalization, which is a thriving industry that provides a product safely that people want to consume.”

A new scientific review concludes that “CBD-containing hemp extracts show biologically plausible and clinically promising adjunctive potential for mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne.”

• “The current evidence positions CBD-containing hemp extracts as promising adjunctive cosmeceuticals for inflammatory acne.”

A Maine Republican representative is launching a campaign to defeat a proposed initiative to roll back marijuana legalization that could appear on the ballot next year.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Sentencing Commission published updated fact sheets on cases concerning marijuana and other drugs.

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted, “Every American should be able to enjoy a reasonable amount of weed and guns. Perhaps not together for safety reasons, but definitely individually.”

/ STATES

Florida’s attorney general signed an emergency rule classifying 7-OH compounds under Schedule I.

Arkansas’s attorney general praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on gun rights for marijuana consumers, without directly mentioning cannabis.

A Pennsylvania senator tweeted, “Medical marijuana patients shouldn’t automatically lose their Second Amendment rights just for participating in a state-legal program. I’ve worked to try and end that blanket prohibition since 2024, and now the high court agrees it’s too broad.”

A New York Senate candidate is pushing to give localities more authority to regulate public marijuana consumption.

A lawsuit challenging Oregon’s restrictions on interstate marijuana commerce was dropped by the plaintiffs.

Colorado regulators published average market rates for retail marijuana.

The Guam Cannabis Control Board will meet on Wednesday.

Colorado regulators will hold a hemp rulemaking hearing on June 30.

—
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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/ INTERNATIONAL

Thailand’s government posted an update about enforcement of stricter medical cannabis rules.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “using data reported by college campuses, we observe that arrests and disciplinary incidents for drug law violations decreased following the legalization of recreational marijuana.”

Results of a study of rats “highlight the therapeutic potential of CBD- and THC-containing [cannabis oil] in mitigating early liver damage associated with” metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

/ BUSINESS

Maryland retailers sold $105 million worth of legal marijuana products in May.

/ CULTURE

Bill Maher cheered the Supreme Court’s decision on marijuana consumers’ gun rights.

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