TX gov signs medical cannabis bill; Dems slam Trump for freeing drug war prisoner; NJ cannabis training; Study: LSD & depression
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), set to be the lead sponsor of cannabis banking legislation this session, told Marijuana Moment that he doesn’t expect to have conversations about the bill until the fall—saying he’s focused on other priorities right now and that SAFER Banking is “a tomorrow thing.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill to expand the state’s limited medical cannabis law with new qualifying conditions, additional product forms and more dispensary locations.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) vetoed a bill to ban consumable hemp products with any amount of THC following major pushback from industry, military veterans and more.
Ross Ulbricht, whose prison sentence for operating the online Silk Road drug marketplace was pardoned by President Donald Trump, said more than half the people he served time with also deserve to be freed—as House Judiciary Committee Democrats criticized Trump for Ulbricht’s clemency.
The New Jersey Department of State’s Business Action Center announced it completed the curriculum of a no-cost Cannabis Training Academy meant to support entrepreneurs interested in entering the marijuana industry.
A review by the Last Prisoner Project of state cannabis legislation in 2025 concludes that “legalization is advancing, but justice is still being denied”—with several bills to seal conviction records and provide sentencing relief for incarcerated people stalling without being enacted.
A new study found that “high-dose-LSD-assisted therapy reduced depressive symptoms more than low-dose therapy” and that “improvements in depression scores persisted up to 12 weeks after treatment”—highlighting the “promise” of the psychedelic “as a novel approach to treating depression.”
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) sent cease and desist letters to 82 retailers over alleged sales of illegal THC-containing products, saying that “nearly every one of these products were mislabeled.”
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission plans to vote on proposed rules for marijuana social consumption business licenses next month, with the aim of having final regulations in place by October.
The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation is reviewing policies on medical marijuana purchase limits following pushback from industry and patient representatives.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission approved a license for a testing lab after a different company that was previously awarded a license decided not to renew.
/ FEDERAL
A Drug Enforcement Administration judge ruled against MMJ BioPharma Cultivation’s effort to obtain a cannabis bulk manufacturing license.
Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) sent a letter urging the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to coordinate with other federal agencies to clarify rules for the use of drug overdose reversal medications by first responders.
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) tweeted that the state “has been a national leader in finally ending outdated laws around cannabis, and now we are doing the same for natural medicine,” saying that his recent psilocybin pardons are part of “fulfilling the will of Colorado voters, moving away from ineffective drug policy, opening the door to exciting new research opportunities into promising treatments, and encouraging local municipalities to follow suit.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) discussed his expanded pardons for people with marijuana possession convictions.
The North Carolina Senate passed a bill to regulate and restrict hemp-derived products.
Ohio’s House minority leader said the legislature should not take marijuana tax revenue away from local governments, as some Republican-led bills would do.
An Arizona judge is expected to rule on a request for a preliminary injunction against the attorney general’s crackdown on hemp products this week.
California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to the presence of aspergillus.
Washington State regulators approved rules concerning the presence of minors at non-retail cannabis premises.
Minnesota regulators published guidance on cannabis events and licensing.
Florida regulators granted a waiver of certain requirements for a hemp testing lab.
Massachusetts cannabis regulators are now accepting registrations for their EquityWorks Career Hub.
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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.
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/ LOCAL
A cannabis activist with Sativa Cross won the Democratic nomination for a Dover, New Jersey Town Council seat.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A former Canadian senator is working with Membertou First Nation to develop cannabis regulations.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “the association of [medical cannabis legalization] with lower frequency of [non-medical prescription opioid] use was driven by individuals with cannabis use disorder, highlighting the importance of identifying tradeoffs of cannabis legalization as an intervention to reduce opioid-related harms.”
A study found that “CBD 20% was effective to significantly reduce [intraocular pressure] in healthy adult Italian Saddle horses and may be an effective hypotensive agent to be implemented in case of primary or secondary glaucoma.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Association of American Railroads’s president and CEO testified at a Senate hearing that as a federal cannabis rescheduling proposal moves forward, “Congress should ensure that employers whose employees conduct safety-sensitive activities each day, like the railroads, maintain the ability to drug test employees for marijuana usage and treat positive tests as proof of unacceptable employee conduct.”
The Boston Herald editorial board is concerned that Massachusetts’s move to allow social cannabis consumption businesses could increase impaired driving.
/ BUSINESS
Frontier Risk launched an on-premise insurance program for venues and live events offering hemp-derived THC beverages.
Canadian retailers sold C$466.7 million worth of legal marijuana products in April.
/ CULTURE
Sabrina Carpenter said marijuana is “just not for me” and that she doesn’t “like the smell of it on clothing.”
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
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