HI gov signs marijuana expungements bill; KS gov: legalize medical cannabis; Study on THC drinks vs. alcohol; DE bill to fix FBI marijuana dispute
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BREAKING: Journalism is often consumed for free, but costs money to produce! While this newsletter is proudly sent without cost to you, our ability to send it each day depends on the financial support of readers who can afford to give it. So if you’ve got a few dollars to spare each month and believe in the work we do, please consider joining us on Patreon today.https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment/ TOP THINGS TO KNOWHawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) signed a bill to speed the process of expunging marijuana records under a pilot program that was enacted last year.Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) said it’s “finally time” for lawmakers to send her legislation to legalize medical cannabis, which she said will give patients with PTSD and children with epilepsy “the choice of the treatment they and their doctors determine best suits their needs.”The Delaware House of Representatives unanimously passed a marijuana bill to address a fingerprint background check dispute with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that has threatened to delay the launch of the state’s recreational cannabis market.American Beverage Licensees, a trade group that represents liquor stores and bars, published a memo arguing that sales of marijuana products should be limited to only businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol.A group of cannabis-infused beverage companies are partnering on a research study that will send free THC seltzers to as many as 2,000 people who will complete questionnaires on how the products can serve as a “wellness alternative to alcohol.”Caro Freinberg and Soren Shade of Top Tree Herbs argue in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that the Food and Drug Administration is unnecessarily putting kratom consumers at risk amid global market disruption after Indonesia imposed critical export restrictions.The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission approved a first set of regulations for the state’s marijuana industry, detailing rules for licensing, social equity, product packaging and more.The Massachusetts legislature’s Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy held a hearing on several competing bills to increase marijuana dispensary ownership caps, with the state’s top cannabis regulator testifying in favor of the current policy.New Mexico’s secretary of health is expected to name members to a new Medical Psilocybin Advisory Board soon, but patients aren’t likely to start getting legal access to the psychedelic until 2028.North Carolina lawmakers are considering at least nine bills to regulate intoxicating hemp-derived products this session./ FEDERALCustoms and Border Protection included a reminder that “marijuana remains illegal in the United States federally” and warned people to “not cross the border with any marijuana or marijuana products” in a list of travel tips for the spring holiday season.Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) tweeted, “Hemp-derived intoxicants like Delta-8 THC pose serious public health risks.”The House bill to continue the 280E tax penalty on marijuana businesses after rescheduling got one new cosponsor for a total of 10./ STATESRecords show that after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) steered $10 million from a legal Medicaid settlement to Hope Florida Foundation, which is led by his wife, the organization gave $5 million each to two separate organizations that then contributed millions of dollars to a political committee that was campaigning against a marijuana legalization initiative on the state’s ballot. Separately, a cannabis campaign working to place a legalization measure on the 2026 ballot received another $19.6 million from Trulieve.The Montana Senate approved a bill to enact potency restrictions on marijuana edibles.The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to restrict intoxicating hemp products.The Oregon House Judiciary Committee rejected a bill to give judges discretion to treat drug possession cases as violations punishable by fines and no jail time.South Dakota lawmakers are seeking applicants to serve on the Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee.The North Carolina Supreme Court is being asked to take up the case of a man who says officials failed to show he wasn’t possessing legal hemp while facing marijuana trafficking charges.California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to incomplete and incorrect regulatory compliance testing.Missouri regulators updated a recall of marijuana products.Minnesota regulators published guidance on cannabis products sampling and testing.Illinois regulators are extending the operational deadline for cannabis craft growers.
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/ LOCALDenver, Colorado regulators sent guidance about local psychedelics rules.Colorado Springs, Colorado recreational marijuana sales will launch on Tuesday./ INTERNATIONALIsrael’s minister for economy and industry announced that the country will impose tariffs on Canadian cannabis at rates as high as 165 percent for the next four years./ SCIENCE & HEALTHA study found that “recreational cannabis legalization in Canada appears to be achieving one of its primary goals by displacing the illegal cannabis market, and medical users also appear to be transitioning to the recreational market.”A review concluded that “high-dose psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms in patients with major
depressive disorder.”/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSISThe National Association of Attorneys General hosted a panel about cannabis issues at its conference./ BUSINESSThe Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is transferring its cannabis-focused subsidiary The Hawthorne Collective, Inc. to an independent strategic partner.SNDL Inc. began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange.Dialpad shut down Flowhub’s account “because we are a tech company associated with the state-legal cannabis industry,” according to that company’s CEO.
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HI gov signs marijuana expungements bill; KS gov: legalize medical cannabis; Study on THC drinks vs. alcohol; DE bill to fix FBI marijuana dispute 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 Read More
