A congressional committee will take testimony about three bills concerning military veterans’ access to medical marijuana on Tuesday. Legislation being heard by the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health would allow Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical cannabis, require the VA to study the medical potential of marijuana and shield veterans from […]| Marijuana Moment
Officials at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have come out against a series of bills that are designed to protect VA benefits for veterans who use marijuana, allow the department’s doctors to recommend medical cannabis and expand research into the plant’s therapeutic potential. Lawmakers and advocates representing veterans discussed the proposals during a congressional […]| Marijuana Moment
House committee votes on two bills concerning medical marijuana and military veterans that were scheduled for Wednesday have been cancelled, with the chair of the panel planning to hold a later hearing on the legislation instead. The reasoning behind the cancellation isn’t entirely clear, nor is it known at this point when the hearing will […]| Marijuana Moment
A group representing state treasurers and finance officials is formally calling on Congress to pass legislation allowing marijuana businesses to more readily store their profits in banks. The National Association of State Treasurers adopted a resolution on Friday announcing that the organization “supports common sense federal laws and regulations to provide essential banking services to […]| Marijuana Moment
The federal government would save money if a bipartisan bill to give marijuana businesses access to banks is approved, according to a report released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Friday. The legislation, which cleared the House Financial Services Committee in a bipartisan vote of 45 to 15 in March, would change federal law […]| Marijuana Moment
Some Republican senators say there is a chance that Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), who chairs the Senate Banking Committee, will schedule legislation aimed at increasing marijuana businesses’ access to financial services for a hearing in his panel if it passes the House of Representatives. Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Rand Paul (R-KY) both told Marijuana […]| Marijuana Moment
A congressional committee voted on Thursday to approve legislation aimed at increasing marijuana businesses’ access to banks. Following multiple days of lengthy debate and consideration of several amendments, the House Financial Services Committee voted 45 to 15 to advance the legislation to the full body. Floor action has not yet been scheduled, but cannabis reform advocates are hopeful […]| Marijuana Moment
The top law enforcement officials from 38 U.S. states and territories are calling on Congress to pass legislation to increase marijuana businesses’ access to banks. The move comes just days after the treasurers of 17 states issued a separate call in support of the pending cannabis financial services bill. Even as a growing number of […]| Marijuana Moment
Advocates of expanding marijuana businesses’ access to banks are pursuing two new strategies: amending pending standalone legislation to broaden its GOP appeal as well as supporting a separate a rider on the issue that was recently attached to a large-scale appropriations bill. While lawmakers have primarily focused on the bipartisan standalone bill, which would provide […]| Marijuana Moment
The Republican chairman of the Senate Banking Committee said on Tuesday that he couldn’t promise that his panel will take up a bipartisan bill to shield banks that service marijuana businesses from being penalized by federal financial regulators. The legislation—called the Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act—was approved by the House Financial Services Committee last […]| Marijuana Moment
A top official with the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that the department would clarify to banks that hemp is a legal crop and that they are allowed to provide hemp businesses with financial services without violating the law. During her confirmation hearing for a renewed term, one of the Fed’s board members was pressed […]| Marijuana Moment
Twitter appears to have ended a federal partnership that had presented users who searched the site for certain drug-related keywords, including “marijuana,” with a suggestion they consider entering drug treatment. No such suggestion had appeared for “alcohol” searches. Launched in 2020, the feature has been a source of contention for advocates, who’ve criticized the social […]| Marijuana Moment
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says that two top Republican senators re ultimately to blame for keeping marijuana banking out of a large-scale spending package that was released on Tuesday—but he pledged to “go back at it next year.” At a Democratic Senate leadership briefing on Tuesday, the majority leader was pressed on the […]| Marijuana Moment
Marijuana banking reform has been excluded from a large-scale spending bill that’s expected to be released as soon as Monday, Senate and House staffers familiar with negotiations told Marijuana Moment. A Republican senator who has been pushing to include the cannabis reform later confirmed the development. It’s not currently known whether the omnibus appropriations legislation […]| Marijuana Moment
As the Biden administration works to conduct a review into the marijuana’s federal scheduling, a bipartisan coalition of congressional lawmakers is asking the president to officially get on board with outright legalization. In a letter obtained by Marijuana Moment on Friday that’s expected to be sent to President Joe Biden and top cabinet officials next […]| Marijuana Moment
A key House committee on Thursday approved a bill to federally legalize marijuana and promote social equity. The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act cleared the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by the legislation’s sponsor, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), on a 26-15 vote. The tally fell largely along party lines, with all Democrats […]| Marijuana Moment
Wednesday is the deadline to submit comments on a draft Senate bill to federally legalize marijuana, and feedback has flooded in from a broad array of advocates and industry stakeholders. While legalization proponents have widely celebrated the introduction of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), they have some suggestions for improvement—principally as it concerns […]| Marijuana Moment
A former U.S. attorney general says that the country is “clearly on the path to decriminalizing marijuana” at the federal level as more states continue to advance reform. Eric Holder, who served as the nation’s top law enforcement official under President Barack Obama, spoke on a drug policy panel hosted by Ohio State University’s Moritz […]| Marijuana Moment
A much-anticipated bipartisan Senate bill to legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania that has been months in the making was formally introduced on Friday. It’s the latest in a string of reform measures that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have been promoting in recent days. Sens. Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) unveiled the […]| Marijuana Moment
Minutes after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and colleagues unveiled a much-anticipated draft marijuana legalization bill on Wednesday, the White House press secretary reiterated that President Joe Biden remains opposed to the reform. However, she notably said the president would be “encouraged” by efforts to advance more incremental reform such as decriminalizing possession, as he […]| Marijuana Moment
A top staffer for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on Thursday about the path forward for a federal marijuana legalization bill and the prospects of passing incremental measures like cannabis banking reform in the interim. At an event hosted by the Council for Federal Cannabis Regulation (CFCR), Schumer’s chief counsel Reginald Babin said that […]| Marijuana Moment
A senator is asking colleagues on the powerful Appropriations Committee to include provisions in an upcoming spending bill to give small marijuana businesses fair access to federal Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs and entrepreneurial development resources that are available to companies in any other industry. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) has been a longstanding advocate […]| Marijuana Moment
A Senate committee has scheduled a meeting for next week that will focus on marijuana issues in Indian communities. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), posted a notice of the listening session, titled “Cannabis in Indian Country,” which is set to take place on June 17. The notice, posted on […]| Marijuana Moment
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has held recent talks with a key GOP House lawmaker about possible interim, bipartisan cannabis reform steps that can be taken as he continues to finalize a comprehensive legalization bill, staffers from both offices told Marijuana Moment on Thursday. The discussions touched on a broad range of cannabis reform […]| Marijuana Moment
The House sponsor of a bipartisan marijuana banking bill revealed on Friday that conversations have been happening behind the scenes with Senate leadership about amending his legislation in a way that more specifically addresses equity issues to win their support. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) made the comments to Marijuana Moment just hours before the House […]| Marijuana Moment
As congressional lawmakers work to advance federal marijuana legalization, a bipartisan duo on Thursday filed a bill that would incentivize states and local governments to expunge cannabis records in their jurisdictions. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are sponsoring the legislation, titled the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act. It would encourage […]| Marijuana Moment
A key congressman involved in bicameral negotiations on a large-scale manufacturing bill says he’s optimistic about the prospects of including marijuana banking reform in the final version of the legislation that gets signed into law. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a longstanding champion of cannabis legalization who is serving as a conferee on the America COMPETES […]| Marijuana Moment
A bicameral congressional conference committee tasked with settling differences on a large-scale manufacturing bill kicked off negotiations on Thursday—and several appointed conferees from the House and Senate took the opportunity to push for marijuana banking reform as part of the package. At least seven members made a point to raise the cannabis issue as part […]| Marijuana Moment
Vice President Kamala Harris will be meeting with cannabis pardon recipients at the White House on Friday to discuss their experiences under the president’s clemency proclamations, and Marijuana Moment has spoken exclusively to one of the invited participants. Staff with the VP’s office started reaching out to people who were pardoned under President Joe Biden’s […]| Marijuana Moment
The head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says his agency has “communicated” the agency’s “position” on marijuana rescheduling to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and has continued to offer additional information to assist with the final determination. HHS for the first time confirmed that it had recommended moving cannabis from […]| Marijuana Moment
As the sponsor of a bill to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire that has already won initial House approval works to tailor her proposal to better fit the demands of a skeptical Gov. Chris Sununu (R), a senator who led an ill-fated study commission on cannabis legalization last year is offering an alternative legalization plan. […]| Marijuana Moment
A coalition of 36 members of Congress are calling on President Joe Biden to grant clemency to all Americans currently in federal prison over non-violent cannabis convictions by commuting their sentences, pointing out that the pardons he’s issued to date for simple possession cases did not release a single person from incarceration. In a letter […]| Marijuana Moment
The White House and key officials touted policies and accomplishments of the Biden administration—including marijuana pardons, drug sentencing reform, harm reduction and enhanced drug war enforcement for fentanyl—ahead of the president’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. President Joe Biden did not end up explicitly discussing cannabis when he appeared before the joint session […]| Marijuana Moment
The Florida Supreme Court has announced that justices will be rendering “out-of-calendar opinions” on Monday, likely including a decision in a case that will decide whether a marijuana legalization initiative will appear on the state ballot this November. There were strong expectations that the court would release its opinion on Thursday given its routine policy […]| Marijuana Moment
A bipartisan marijuana banking bill remains a “very high priority” for the Senate, and members are having “very productive” bicameral talks to reach a final agreement, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tells Marijuana Moment. The Democratic Senate sponsor of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), also tells […]| Marijuana Moment
Former U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) didn’t waste much time after retiring from Congress to revive his push for a bipartisan marijuana banking bill he championed for a decade—this time from the private sector, as a policy advisor now lobbying for the reform on behalf of a national cannabis group. Just over a year after […]| Marijuana Moment
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) says it’s a “mistake” that President Joe Biden’s marijuana pardons don’t cover possession offenses under military code, arguing that cannabis should be broadly treated the same as alcohol under federal law. The senator said during an interview with Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo this week that cannabis reform is one area […]| Marijuana Moment
Rescheduling marijuana could set the country back “another 50 years” on the path to federal legalization, a Democratic lawmaker who leads the Congressional Cannabis Caucus says. At a National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) summit in Sacramento on Thursday, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) told Marijuana Moment that she’s “opposed” to moving marijuana from Schedule I to […]| Marijuana Moment
President Joe Biden stands to make significant political gains if marijuana is rescheduled under his administrative directive, according to a new survey that reveals majority support for the reform. It also found that marijuana enjoys greater favorability with voters compared to Biden and former President Donald Trump. The poll conducted by Lake Research Partners and […]| Marijuana Moment
The Biden administration is being pressed to reschedule marijuana by two coalitions representing military veterans and law enforcement—including a group that counts Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram among its members. In a pair of recent letters sent to DEA and President Joe Biden, Law Enforcement Leaders To Reduce Crime & Incarceration (LEL) and […]| Marijuana Moment
MO marijuana ballot measure; PA gov candidate dodges legalization question; CO gov promotes psychedelics listening session; Cannabis petition to Trump 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. Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Your good […]| Marijuana Moment
“If Trump makes the move to reschedule cannabis…he will be bringing Washington in line with the American people.” By Roger Stone In America today, no issue better demonstrates the yawning gulf between the will of the people and the paralysis of their government than cannabis policy. Overwhelming majorities of Americans believe cannabis should be legal […] The post Trump Should Reschedule Cannabis On The Way To Fully Descheduling It, Roger Stone Says (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana...| Marijuana Moment
CBD has shown “promising” results to reduce inflammation and cognitive decline associated with aging, according to a recent government-funded study. Researchers at University of Lethbridge and McGill University investigated the effects of non-intoxicating cannabidiol on aging mice, testing to see how long-term administration of CBD would impact memory, motor control functions and coordination that are […] The post CBD ‘Improves Cognitive Decline Associated With Aging,’ Study Shows a...| Marijuana Moment
A federal appeals court has ruled that the government must prove that people who use marijuana “pose a risk of future danger” if it wants to justify applying a law banning cannabis consumers from owning firearms. In its opinion on Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit sided with a federal district […] The post Federal Appeals Court Says Government Must Prove Marijuana Users ‘Pose A Risk’ Of Danger To Justify Gun Ban appeared first on Marijuana Moment.| Marijuana Moment
VA senator: Legalize marijuana sales to offset fed cuts; Colombian legalization vote; Gun rights win for cannabis consumers; Congressional hemp report 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. Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… *Rattling […] The post Pennsylvania governor not giving up cannabis legalization push (Newsletter: August 28, 2025) app...| Marijuana Moment
Colombian lawmakers have given initial approval to a bill that would nationally legalize marijuana—with a House committee taking the first step in an extensive legislative process to enact the reform. The First Committee of the House of Representatives passed the legislation from Rep. Alejandro Ocampo last week, clearing it for consideration in the full chamber. […] The post Colombian Lawmakers Advance New Marijuana Legalization Bill As President Criticizes Ongoing Prohibition appeared fi...| Marijuana Moment
Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) extolled the therapeutic promise of ibogaine on a recent episode of his podcast, drawing attention to a Stanford University study that found the psychedelic showed potential to treat PTSD, anxiety and depression in military veterans with traumatic brain injury. “This could be one of the great breakthroughs of […] The post Former U.S. House Speaker Says Psychedelic Drug Could Be ‘Future Of Healing,’ Highlighting Study On Military Veterans ...| Marijuana Moment
A top Democratic Virginia senator says the state should move forward with legalizing recreational marijuana sales—in part to offset the Trump administration’s cuts to federal spending in support of states. While the legislature has twice passed bills to create a regulated commercial cannabis market after the state legalized possession and use by adults in 2022, […] The post Top Virginia Senator Wants To Legalize Marijuana Sales To Offset Trump’s Federal Spending Cuts appeared first on...| Marijuana Moment
Amid a contentious debate over federal laws on intoxicating hemp products, congressional researchers have published a report outlining current policies and options for lawmakers to resolve outstanding issues related to a proposed THC ban. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report explains how, following the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill during President Donald Trump’s first […] The post Congressional Researchers Detail ‘Divergent’ Opinions On Hemp As Lawmakers Debate THC Ban a...| Marijuana Moment
The governor of Pennsylvania says he hasn’t given up on his push to legalize adult-use marijuana through the budget. Despite resistance from Republican leaders, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said on Monday that cannabis legalization—as well as taxing skill games—remains part of his plan to offset the state’s budget deficit. Pressed on the seeming unwillingness of […] The post Pennsylvania Governor Says He Won’t ‘Concede’ On Marijuana Legalization Push Despite GOP Resistance appeared f...| Marijuana Moment
A multinational investment bank says that marijuana has become a “formidable competitor” to alcohol, projecting that nearly 20 million more people will regularly consume cannabis over the next five years as booze loses a couple million drinkers. It also says marijuana sales are estimated to reach $37 billion in 2027 as more state markets come […]| Marijuana Moment
The Washington State Senate has approved a bill to create a task force promoting research into psilocybin and developing a pathway for legal access to the psychedelic. The legislation from Sen. Jesse Salomon (D)—which was effectively gutted in an earlier Senate committee to exclude original regulated access provisions—cleared the full chamber in a 41-7 vote […]| Marijuana Moment
A top Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official said on Thursday that the agency is exploring “what flexibilities we might have” when it comes the federal government’s marijuana scheduling review directed by President Joe Biden, which she described as a “very high priority.” But she said that while FDA will lead the scientific and medical […]| Marijuana Moment
A Rhode Island House committee held a hearing on Thursday on a bill that would remove penalties for the use and possession of psilocybin and allow the home cultivation of psychedelic mushrooms for personal use. The legislation, introduced last week by Rep. Brandon Potter (D) and Sen. Megan Kallman (D), would also require the state […]| Marijuana Moment
House lawmakers have delayed committee consideration of a large-scale defense bill—which advocates had hoped to see advance with marijuana reform provisions attached—amid disagreements over several key issues that have not been resolved. Meanwhile, the offices of several Republican senators met with the Department of Justice to discuss their concerns with pending cannabis banking reforms. Advocates […]| Marijuana Moment
“The president was very clear—he wants this done as quickly as possible.” By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra said in Tampa Friday that he intends for his agency to move “as quickly as we can” to comply with President Joe Biden’s directive to review the decades-old policy […]| Marijuana Moment
President Joe Biden is cheering the Oregon governor’s move to grant tens of thousands of marijuana pardons this week, which followed his own federal clemency action last month. And he says other states should “follow Oregon’s example.” Gov. Kate Brown (D) announced on Monday that she was issuing pardons for more than 47,000 cannabis possession […]| Marijuana Moment
“This is the Judgment Day that we all predicted while sharing a conspiratorial joint in the dark days of prohibition. It’s surreal to see our fears manifesting in real time.” By Deb Tharp, NuggMD Politico recently published an extensive Q&A with Howard Sklamberg, a former top Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official who currently works […]| Marijuana Moment
A new study is offering more evidence that marijuana can serve as an effective substitute for opioids in pain management treatment. Researchers in Australia at Murdoch University and the Perth Pain Management Centre set out to investigate how the integration of cannabinoids into treatment for people with chronic non-cancer pain would impact opioid use. The […]| Marijuana Moment
“It over-regulates small businesses, making it harder for them to operate, while failing to put real protections in place to keep hemp products away from minors.” By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector A Senate committee Wednesday rejected a bill aimed at regulating hemp beverages and products following a tense public hearing. SB 237, sponsored by Sen. […]| Marijuana Moment
“Today, we have hope for those patients—hope that we can proceed with our hearing process and get those products into their hands.” By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals on Friday overturned a temporary restraining order (TRO) that had blocked the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) from issuing business licenses for […]| Marijuana Moment
More than half of marijuana consumers say they drink less alcohol, or none at all, after using cannabis, according to a new poll. The survey from the cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD that was shared exclusively with Marijuana Moment is one of the latest pieces of evidence supporting the idea of a substitution effect, with people […]| Marijuana Moment
Sweeping new marijuana legalization legislation landed in Hawaii last week that aims to comprehensively regulate not only adult-use cannabis but also the medical marijuana and hemp industries. Sponsored by House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Chair David Tarnas (D) and Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Joy San Buenaventura (D), the 311-page companion proposals would […]| Marijuana Moment
Hawaii’s Senate has passed legislation to legalize and regulate adult-use marijuana in the state, sending the proposal next to the House of Representatives. The legislation, SB 3335, would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and up to five grams of cannabis concentrates and would establish a framework for […]| Marijuana Moment
Hawaii officials are seeking proposals to assess the state’s current medical marijuana program—and also estimate demand for recreational cannabis sales if the state eventually moves forward with adult-use legalization. The Hawaii Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation (OMCCR) has put out a request for proposals (RFPs), soliciting input from existing vendors to “conduct an […]| Marijuana Moment
“Plaintiffs also bring this petition in their individual capacities because they have suffered specific injuries as a result of the Commissioner’s failure to establish the patient and caregiver registry and seek to vindicate their own private rights.” By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector A judge will hold a hearing later this month in a lawsuit filed […]| Marijuana Moment
“Petitioners…do not have standing to bring a claim individually related to the patient registry.” By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector A state judge Monday dismissed a lawsuit from parents of children who are potentially eligible to receive medical cannabis who wanted to force the state to create a patient registry. Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson […]| Marijuana Moment
A congressional committee approved two bills focused on marijuana and military veterans on Thursday. The action is the first markup of cannabis-related legislation on Capitol Hill this year. The bills approved by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee are geared toward expanding access to medical cannabis for the veteran population and increasing research into the plant’s […]| Marijuana Moment
A coalition of more than 20 veterans service organizations (VSOs) sent a letter to congressional leaders on Thursday to urge the passage of a marijuana and veterans research bill before the end of the current Congress. The groups—which include Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and AMVETS—specifically want to see […]| Marijuana Moment
A Republican congresswoman has reintroduced a bill meant to promote research into the medical potential of marijuana for military veterans. The Veterans Cannabis Analysis, Research, and Effectiveness (CARE) Act, filed last week by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), identical to an earlier measure she sponsored last session. That bill would require the U.S. Department of Veterans […]| Marijuana Moment
A U.S. Senate committee approved a bipartisan bill on Thursday to promote marijuana research for military veterans—becoming the first piece of standalone cannabis legislation ever to advance through a committee in the chamber. Because the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee did not have a quorum present to act on the bill and either other veterans measures […]| Marijuana Moment
Senate Republicans have blocked a procedural vote to advance a bill to the floor that would promote research into the therapeutic effects of marijuana for military veterans with certain conditions. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) filed cloture on a motion to proceed for the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act last week, and that was […]| Marijuana Moment
Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have refiled a bill to provide military veterans with access to medical marijuana. Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, are the chief sponsors of the Veterans Equal Access Act. The measure has been introduced several times in recent years with bipartisan support but has […]| Marijuana Moment
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) is calling on lawmakers to take steps allowing him to issue mass pardons for people with prior psychedelics convictions as the state prepares to implement regulations for legal use of substances like psilocybin and ibogaine. At a the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference in Denver on Wednesday, the governor—as well […]| Marijuana Moment
Bipartisan House and Senate lawmakers are refiling bills to legalize medical marijuana for military veterans—the latest in a series of cannabis measures that have been introduced in the week leading up to the 4/20 holiday. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, introduced the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act on Tuesday […]| Marijuana Moment
A bipartisan bill to provide military veterans with access to medical marijuana was reintroduced in Congress on Thursday. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Brian Mast (R-FL), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, are the chief sponsors of the Veterans Equal Access Act. The measure has been introduced several times in recent years with bipartisan support […]| Marijuana Moment
“We see this as a resource not only to reduce harm, but to also bring in resources to help our people recover.” Buy Max Nesterak, Minnesota Reformer The Red Lake Nation’s tribal council voted on Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana and begin selling it—to both tribal and non-tribal members—on August 1. The move could make […]| Marijuana Moment
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is clarifying that military veterans can still be certified as eligible to receive home loan benefits even if they derive income from a state-legal marijuana business. However, the department said, some prospective lenders may not want to run the risk of issuing loans to those veterans and then […]| Marijuana Moment
A National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) committee focused on promoting health and wellness for student athletes is proposing to remove marijuana from the organization’s banned substances list. The NCAA’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) said the association will be soliciting input from members over the summer before potentially taking action […]| Marijuana Moment
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that it will not be creating rules to allow the marketing of CBD as dietary supplements or food items, leaving the massive industry without regulations despite repeated calls for administrative action from lawmakers, advocates and stakeholders. Following a “careful review” of the non-intoxicating cannabinoid, FDA said it reached […]| Marijuana Moment
A Republican congressional committee chairman is demanding that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) turn over documents relating to the agency’s decision not to regulate CBD products. Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf on Monday, announcing an investigation into the agency’s […]| Marijuana Moment
Congressional leaders have released another set of spending bills and reports, with lawmakers pushing multiagency coordination to create guidance on hemp manufacturing, better guidance on the marketing of CBD, updates on research into medical marijuana for veterans and investigations into “alternative treatments” for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) such as psychedelics. The new legislation and documents […]| Marijuana Moment
Passing a marijuana banking bill is a priority during the upcoming summer work session in the Senate, but it “will not be easy” and needs GOP support to advance, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a letter to colleagues that notably omitted his typical call for attaching criminal justice provisions like expungements. The letter […]| Marijuana Moment
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bipartisan pair of psychedelics research amendments, as well as another measure requiring a military study into marijuana-related enforcement discrimination in the armed services. The day after nine drug policy amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) were made in order for floor consideration by the […]| Marijuana Moment
Bipartisan congressional lawmakers are looking to use a must-pass defense bill as a vehicle to advance a number of drug policy reform proposals, including provisions to expand access to medical marijuana for military veterans, facilitate the rescheduling of certain psychedelics, protect people from being denied security clearances over marijuana and allow servicemembers to use CBD […]| Marijuana Moment
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says it’s cracked the code to identify what kind of emojis young people are using to talk about buying and selling illicit drugs. But in classic “how do you do fellow kids” fashion, the federal agency doesn’t appear to have the firmest grasp on the lingo—omitting from a new guide […]| Marijuana Moment
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) celebrated its 50th anniversary this week—marking a half century of enforcing criminalization laws that have failed to fulfill the mission to eradicate drugs at the same time that nearly half of the country has legalized marijuana and psychedelics reform is also booming. Since its founding on July 1, 1973 through […]| Marijuana Moment
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is acknowledging the fact that racially discriminatory drug laws are partly responsible for the agency’s own founding. During the latest edition of its “Stories from the Collection” video series, DEA Museum officials talked about the origins of federal drug prohibition and explained how the agency was ultimately created in conjunction […]| Marijuana Moment
The Oregon Senate passed a landmark bill on Wednesday that would let the governor make agreements with other states to provide for the exportation and importation of marijuana products across state lines—but it will only go into effect if the federal government changes its own policies to allow such activity. Oregon senators approved the legislation […]| Marijuana Moment
Illinois is officially the 11th state to legalize marijuana for adult use, with Gov. J. B. Pritzker (D) signing the bill into law on Tuesday. It’s the first state in the country to pass tax-and-regulate marijuana legislation through an act of the legislature as opposed to via a voter-approved ballot initiative. The bill, which allows […]| Marijuana Moment
A novel bill that would allow Oregon to export and import marijuana to other legal states is heading to the governor’s desk after the House approved in on Tuesday. The legislation, which passed the Senate last month, would permit the governor to enter into agreements with other states under certain circumstances in order to engage […]| Marijuana Moment
The Senate will vote to pass a bill to federally legalize marijuana within the next two years. That’s according to the top Democratic lawmaker who is expected to be installed as majority leader following his party’s projected clean sweep in this week’s two Georgia runoff elections that will give them control of the chamber. Coupled […]| Marijuana Moment
The firebrand lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania—a longtime advocate for marijuana legalization—announced on Friday that he is formally exploring a run for the U.S. Senate in 2022. In a phone interview prior to the Senate announcement this week, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) spoke to Marijuana Moment about his push to legalize cannabis in the state, […]| Marijuana Moment
Kentucky legislative leaders said in a recent joint interview that they’re open to considering legalizing medical marijuana during the state’s 30-day lawmaking session that kicked off this week, but legislators from both parties pushed back against a plan by Gov. Andy Beshear (D) that would impose a tax on the drug. “If you’re taking that […]| Marijuana Moment
Nine out of 10 Kentucky residents support legalizing medical marijuana, and almost 60 percent say cannabis should be legal under “any circumstances,” according to a survey released on Wednesday. The Kentucky Health Issues Poll, which involved phone interviews with 1,559 residents from October to December 2019, shows a significant increase in support for reform over […]| Marijuana Moment
A bill to legalize the personal use, cultivation and gifting of marijuana in New Hampshire is one step closer to becoming law. The state House of Representatives on Thursday approved the legislation on a 236-112 vote, advancing the measure to the Senate. The proposal would not legalize commercial production or sales of cannabis. Instead, adults […]| Marijuana Moment
Mississippi’s governor said on Wednesday that he’s opposed to a medical marijuana legalization initiative that’s qualified for the state’s November ballot—but he also hinted at the possibility of the legislature introducing a revised, alternative reform measure. While the secretary of state certified this week that the proposal to establish a medical cannabis system received enough […]| Marijuana Moment
The Kentucky House Judiciary Committee voted on Wednesday afternoon to advance a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in the state. House Bill 136, which has 43 cosponsors out of the chamber’s 100 total members, would establish a medical cannabis program under a newly named Department for Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control. The state agency […]| Marijuana Moment
A measure to legalize marijuana for adult use has officially qualified for South Dakota’s November ballot, the secretary of state’s office announced on Monday. The proposed constitutional amendment, which was submitted by a former federal prosecutor in September, would allow adults 21 and older to possess and distribute up to one ounce of marijuana. Individuals […]| Marijuana Moment
