Federal hemp debate; FL legalization campaign sues officials; Marijuana & guns brief in SCOTUS; Poll: Cannabis consumers like Target’s THC drinks move
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and John Hoeven (R-ND) spoke to Marijuana Moment about the status of negotiations over hemp policy in federal spending legislation—while Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is pushing recriminalization of THC products, ignored questions and kept walking.
The Massachusetts attorney general’s office confirmed to Marijuana Moment that it has received complaints alleging that petitioners for an initiative to roll back cannabis legalization are making misleading claims about its provisions when asking voters to sign it.
A Florida marijuana campaign is suing the secretary of state and Division of Elections director for failing to advance their 2026 legalization ballot initiative toward a financial and legal review despite having collected enough signatures to trigger the move.
The Second Amendment Foundation and other gun rights groups are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to expand its review of the constitutionality of a federal ban on firearm ownership by marijuana consumers by taking up an additional case they believe would better settle the issue than one the justices have already accepted.
A new poll shows that marijuana consumers are more likely to shop at Target following its decision to start selling hemp-derived THC beverages at some of its stores.
/ FEDERAL
Senate Democrats say they were left out of a briefing about the Trump administration’s military strikes on suspected drug boats.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said, “I sponsored bills in Congress to reschedule cannabis, and if the Trump administration indeed does this, I think there are cures that we’re not even talking about right now that could be unlocked.”
/ STATES
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed a cannabis compact with another tribe.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) tweeted, “Each day, we’re getting closer to delivering on our promise of safe medical cannabis. Now more than 15,000 medical cannabis cards have been approved for Kentuckians with qualifying conditions. There are also over 500 authorized, registered medical cannabis practitioners.”
North Carolina’s attorney general sent a warning about THC-infused candies ahead of Halloween.
Ohio’s Senate president and minority leader discussed efforts to negotiate marijuana legislation with the House.
The Nebraska legislature’s General Affairs Committee held a hearing on regulators’ implementation of voter-approved medical cannabis legalization measures.
A New Jersey senator filed a bill to abolish the state’s cannabis regulator and give State Police additional authority to arrest and investigate unlicensed marijuana shops.
An Illinois senator filed a bill to ban caffeinated hemp beverages.
An Oklahoma senator hosted a meeting on Chinese-backed marijuana grow operations.
A Pennsylvania senator tweeted a photo of himself discussing marijuana with Mike Tyson.
The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that officials must return delta-8 THC products seized from a gas station.
California’s top marijuana regulator is stepping down.
Virginia’s acting top medical cannabis regulator said new sales data shows that the program is “definitely bigger than we anticipated.”
Michigan regulators are accepting applications for the cannabis Social Equity Grant Program.
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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.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL
The Humboldt County, California Board of Supervisors voted to repeal a cannabis excise tax.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Canada saw a decline in drug crime over the past decade, with much of it attributed to marijuana legalization.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “cannabinoids, particularly non-CBD formulations, improve sleep quality.”
A study found there are “beneficial effects of CBD in laboratory models of untreated HIV.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Marijuana Party of Canada was deregistered by the country’s chief electoral officer.
/ BUSINESS
Mindbloom, Inc. is facing a lawsuit from a man who says the death of his son was a “direct and proximate result of a for-profit telehealth scheme” related to its ketamine services.
New Mexico marijuana sales figures are approaching the $2 billion mark.
/ CULTURE
Former football player Robert Gallery discussed his therapeutic use of psychedelics.
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