Ohio’s potential ban on intoxicating hemp products, Trump’s attorney general picks and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s secretive rescheduling process were among the top storylines readers did not want to miss out on this month.
In Ohio, one of 21 states where products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids are legal and completely unregulated, state Sen. Steve Huffman introduced legislation on Nov. 6 that would define an “intoxicating hemp product” and criminalize violations of the measure. This article took the No. 1 spot in Cannabis Business Times’ most-read articles in November.
Meanwhile, the second and third most popular articles in November followed President-elect Donald Trump’s presumable nominations for attorney general, first with former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a pro-cannabis lawmaker who later withdrew his name from consideration. Trump replaced Gaetz with former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who opposed medical cannabis reform under former Gov. Rick Scott in the Sunshine State.
Tallahassee-based Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers indicated to cannabis reform advocates that they need not worry about that latter pick: “I have always known her to be straightforward and very fair,” Rivers said on X. “She is an advocate for safe, regulated markets.”
Also landing in the top 10 most-read articles this month were a trio of pieces about the DEA’s upcoming administrative law judge hearings for the Department of Justice’s proposed rule to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
The DEA’s naming of 25 participants for the hearing took the No. 4 spot. Cannabis rescheduling advocates’ legal motion accusing the DEA of stacking the participation deck in favor of and colluding with prohibitionists to manipulate the hearing took the No. 5 spot. And the DEA’s response denying those allegations took the No. 9 spot.
Florida’s failed adult-use legalization measure, Eaze’s reopening of 70 locations and a pair of columns on plant diseases and photon conversion efficiency also landed in the top 10.
