Senate report warns DC about marijuana; Dem lawmakers’ hemp plan; Top FL Dem says state will legalize in 2026; SCOTUS cannabis brief
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is preparing to provide coverage for CBD in line with a proposed rule change set to be published in the Federal Register on Friday—and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently discussed the policy with the head of an organization that President Donald Trump promoted a cannabis video from.
Senate Appropriations Committee Republicans released a bill that would continue blocking Washington, D.C. from legalizing recreational cannabis sales and a report warning the District that “marijuana remains illegal under Federal law, which includes enhanced penalties” for sales near schools.
Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), alongside Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), discussed plans to reverse the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products before it takes effect—with Omar saying House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) is “amenable” to the idea.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried told Marijuana Moment that a new federal ban on hemp THC products is why people “hate government”—and predicted that voters in her state will legalize cannabis on the ballot next year.
The Cato Institute filed a brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a lawsuit from marijuana businesses that are challenging the constitutionality of federal prohibition—saying it touches on whether “Congress may wield a near-boundless commerce power to criminalize activity that is lawful under state law and confined within a state’s borders.”
FundCanna CEO Adam Stettner argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that recriminalizing hemp THC products was an “incredibly shortsighted” move that will “put consumers at risk, rob municipalities and states from taxable revenue and ultimately hurt farmers nationwide.”
The Michigan Court of Claims held a hearing on a marijuana industry lawsuit challenging the state’s newly approved cannabis tax increase.
/ FEDERAL
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. again spoke about wanting to see dinosaurs while taking LSD as a teenager.
The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted a podcast about culturally tailored drug prevention programs.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) defended his effort to recriminalize hemp THC products, saying it is aimed at “rooting out the bad actors and protecting the growing hemp industry.”
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted, “Reschedule Marijuana = Win the Midterms.”
/ STATES
A Missouri court ruled that counties can collect taxes from marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas but not from those within municipal boundaries.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit revived lawsuits challenging Rhode Island regulators’ marijuana social equity business licensing system.
California announced a recall of marijuana products due to packaging and labeling that is attractive to children.
Colorado regulators announced a recall of marijuana products with pesticides above acceptable limits.
Oklahoma regulators announced a recall of medical cannabis products that failed microbial testing.
Oregon regulators filed changes to rules about communications with marijuana businesses.
A former Massachusetts marijuana regulator coauthored a journal article titled, “Same Story, Different Seller: Teaching the Public How Cannabis Models Driven by Profit Create the Same Injustices as Prohibition.”
Washington, D.C. officials shut down more unlicensed marijuana businesses.
The Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy heard a report on cannabis issues.
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/ LOCAL
New York City’s mayor-elect joked about looking like he ate a cannabis edible on his flight to meet President Donald Trump at the White House.
Evanston, Illinois officials are seeing fewer cannabis revenues to support the city’s reparations program than expected.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian federal government and provinces have generated more than C$5.4 billion in marijuana tax since legalization in late 2018.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study “confirms the effectiveness and good tolerability of CBD in a real-world [developmental and epileptic encephalopathies] population, including off-label use.”
A review concluded that “psilocybin seems to reset Default Mode Network (DMN) activity, thereby reducing depressive symptoms with long-term and sustainable antidepressant efficacy.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Journal Gazette editorial board is calling on Indiana lawmakers to take up medical cannabis legislation in 2026.
/ BUSINESS
Tilray Brands, Inc. implemented a one-for-ten reverse stock split.
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