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Tuesday, Jan 14

21

Arkansas GOP Governor Announces Plan To Use ‘Medical Marijuana Money’ To Fund Free Breakfast And Lunch For Students

The Republican governor of Arkansas has announced a new plan to use tax revenue from medical marijuana sales to provide public school students in the state with free breakfast and lunch. During her State of the State address on Tuesday,…

20

Iowa GOP Lawmakers Resist Marijuana Legalization Despite Tax Revenue Potential

“Republicans have refused to give our bill a subcommittee hearing.” By Bob Sillick, Iowa Capital Dispatch Most Americans continue to support the legalization of cannabis, as the medical use of cannabis is legal in 40 states and the…

18

Top GOP Wisconsin Senator Says There’s Support For Medical Marijuana Legalization, But State-Run Dispensary Model Is A Red Line

Wisconsin’s Republican Senate majority leader says it’s possible that the legislature could pass a medical marijuana legalization bill in the 2025 session, though he’s cautioning that his chamber likely will not go along with a prior…

17

Top VA Official Says RFK’s Psychedelics Stance Is ‘Very Encouraging’ For Reform Under Trump Administration

A top U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official says it’s “very encouraging” that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s top health agency, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., supports psychedelics reform—and he hopes to work…

16

Former Nebraska Senator Expands Scope Of Lawsuit Claiming Medical Marijuana Law Is Federally Unconstitutional

“In November 2024, taxpayers paid for two statewide votes which together sought to obtain an objective that was unconstitutional, unlawful and impossible.” By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner The targets of a legal effort arguing that…

15

New Hampshire House Majority Leader Says State Won’t Legalize Marijuana ‘For Another Decade, Probably’

The majority leader of New Hampshire’s House of Representatives said that the “ship has sailed” on the issue of marijuana legalization and, in his view, it will be another ten years or so before the state has a good chance to join its…

More Pennsylvania Republicans Could Support Marijuana Legalization In 2025 Than In The Past, GOP Senate Committee Chair Says

The Republican chair of a key Senate committee in Pennsylvania says he’s expecting to take up legislation this year that would make the state the 25th in the U.S. to legalize adult-use marijuana. He also thinks that more of his GOP…

13

DEA cannabis rescheduling hearings canceled by judge (Newsletter: January 14, 2025)

VA gov slams legal marijuana sales push; USDA hemp appointments; KY bill on medical cannabis & gun rights; Dallas police end marijuana arrests Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the…

01

DEA Judge Cancels Marijuana Rescheduling Hearings Amid Legal Challenges, Pushing Back Reform For At Least Three Months

The first hearings on the Biden administration’s marijuana rescheduling proposal that were set for next week have now been canceled following a legal challenge from pro-reform witnesses, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge has…

Monday, Jan 13

23

DEA Judge Blasts Agency For ‘Unprecedented And Astonishing’ Defiance Of Ruling On Marijuana Rescheduling Evidence Procedures

A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge is condemning the agency over its “unprecedented and astonishing” defiance of a key directive related to evidence it is seeking to use in upcoming hearings on the Biden administration’s…

21

Virginia GOP Governor Claims Legalizing Marijuana Sales Would Harm Children And Increase Crime

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) emphasized during his State of the Commonwealth address that he’s not interested in cooperating with lawmakers to legalize marijuana sales in the state, claiming that doing so would hurt children, worsen…

DEA Declines To Say Where It Stands On Marijuana Rescheduling In New Legal Filing Reacting To Claims It Conspired With Opponents

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is asking an agency judge to reject a request to have it removed from upcoming marijuana rescheduling hearings over allegations it opposes the reform it is supposed to be defending during the…

19

Colorado Doctors Could Prescribe Psilocybin After Federal Approval Under New Bipartisan Bill

Bipartisan Colorado lawmakers have filed a bill that would allow a form of psilocybin to be prescribed as a medication if the federal government authorizes its use. Similar to legislation that Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed into law in 2022…

18

Legalizing Marijuana Leads To Decrease In Use Of Prescription Anxiety Medications, Study Shows

“We find consistent evidence that increased marijuana access is associated with reductions in benzodiazepine prescription fills.” By Ashley Bradford, Georgia Institute of Technology In states where both medical and recreational marijuana…

Dallas Police Instructed Not To Arrest People For Marijuana Following Voter Approval Of Decriminalization

The Dallas, Texas Police Department is instructing officers to stop arresting or citing people for possession of up to four ounces of marijuana, in accordance with a voter-approved ballot initiative. In an internal memo, Dallas Interim…

16

USDA Adds More Hemp Industry Stakeholders To Trade Committee Promoting The Crop Globally

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) have added more hemp industry stakeholders to key trade advisory committees to promote the crop globally. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and USTR…

15

Bipartisan Kentucky Lawmakers Push Congress To Protect Medical Marijuana Patients’ Gun Rights

Newly filed bipartisan legislation in Kentucky urges the state’s congressional representatives to amend federal law to clarify that users of medical marijuana may legally possess firearms. Senate Concurring Resolution 23, introduced…

13

Facebook keeps censoring cannabis content despite touting “free expression” (Newsletter: January 13, 2025)

Ohio marijuana-linked car crashes decreased with legalization; Indiana cannabis bills; New York psychedelics legalization; Jimmy Carter & cannabis Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s…

Sunday, Jan 12

16

Alabama Appeals Court Delays Hearing In Medical Marijuana Licensing Case

The state’s medical cannabis program has been stalled due to controversies surrounding the licensing process. By Ralph Chapoco, Alabama Reflector ​A​ court hearing over medical cannabis licensing originally scheduled for Monday has been…

Saturday, Jan 11

20

New York Marijuana Retailers Push Governor To Forgive Millions In ‘Predatory’ Social Equity Loans

“This moment represents an extraordinary opportunity for New York State to lead the nation by demonstrating how a restorative justice program can repair past harms and create meaningful change.” By Rosalind Adams, THE CITY A group of…

18

New Idaho Bill Would Set Mandatory Minimum Fine For Marijuana Possession

“We do not want this to become a marijuana state.” By Mia Maldonado, Idaho Capital Sun A Nampa legislator introduced a bill on Thursday to implement a $300 minimum fine for adults possessing three ounces or less of marijuana. Under Idaho…

Friday, Jan 10

19

Jimmy Carter’s Grandson Touts Late President’s ‘Prophetic’ Call For Marijuana Decriminalization

The grandson of Jimmy Carter eulogized the late president on Thursday, paying tribute to his “prophetic” early advocacy for policies like marijuana decriminalization. At the former president’s funeral service at the National Cathedral,…

17

Indiana Lawmakers File Bills To Legalize Marijuana And Fund Psilocybin Research In 2025

Indiana lawmakers are already making moves to enact drug policy reform in the 2025 session—with newly filed bills to legalize marijuana, allow medical cannabis and fund psilocybin research. While the prospects of the cannabis measures are…

Fatal Traffic Crashes Linked To Marijuana Fell By 30% In Ohio Last Year As Legalization Took Effect, Contrary To Opponents’ Fears

As marijuana legalization took effect in Ohio over the last year, the number of fatal traffic crashes in linked to cannabis fell by 30 percent—contrary to warnings from opponents of the policy change who feared it would lead to more deadly…

15

New York Bill Would Legalize Psychedelics Like Psilocybin, Mescaline And Ibogaine

Another psychedelics bill has been prefiled in New York for the 2025 session—this one calling for the legalization of certain entheogenic substances such as psilocybin and ibogaine for adults 21 and older. Sponsored by Assemblymember Linda…

14

Despite Sweeping Updates To Facebook Policies In Favor Of ‘Free Expression,’ Restrictions On Marijuana-Related Accounts Remain

Despite new changes to content moderation announced earlier this week, Meta—the owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads—appears not to be changing its practices around marijuana, continuing to block search results on the social media…

13

Feds publish cannabis industry standards in new handbook (Newsletter: January 10, 2025)

DoorDash hemp delivery; VA legal marijuana sales; KY gov touts medical cannabis; NY marijuana restrictions; Legalization doesn’t increase youth use Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning.…

Thursday, Jan 9

22

DoorDash Will Now Deliver Hemp CBD And THC Products In Response To ‘Growing Demand’ To Help Customers ‘Unwind And Recharge’

The delivery service DoorDash announced on Thursday that it’s expanding its offerings in select states to include hemp-derived THC and CBD products, including gummies and beverages. “Eligible customers can now order a variety of hemp…

21

New York Democrat Files Bills To Restrict THC Potency In Marijuana And Ban Consumption Within 30 Feet Of Children

A New York Democrat has introduced a pair of bills that would put new restrictions on marijuana in the state. One measure would limit the THC potency of cannabis products, while the other would prohibit cannabis consumption within 30 feet…

20

Youth Marijuana Use Hasn’t Increased In States That Legalize, And Most Actually See Significant Declines, Analysis Of Government Data Shows

Youth marijuana use declined in 19 out of 21 states that legalized adult-use marijuana—with teen cannabis consumption down an average of 35 percent in the first states to legalize a decade ago—according to government data compiled by a…