VA legal marijuana sales & resentencing; VA & WA cannabis in hospitals; SD anti-marijuana bills defeated; HI legalization stalls; WI decrim
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A federal judge dismissed marijuana businesses’ lawsuit challenging Customs and Border Protection’s seizures of state-legal cannabis products in New Mexico.
The Virginia House Appropriations Committee approved bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales and provide resentencing relief for people with prior cannabis convictions—while the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee also advanced resentencing legislation.
The Virginia Senate passed a bill to allow patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals, and the House Health and Human Services Health Subcommittee advanced similar legislation on medical marijuana access in healthcare facilities.
The Washington State House of Representatives passed a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and hospices.
The South Dakota Senate Health and Human Services Committee rejected bills that would have repealed the state’s medical cannabis program following federal rescheduling and instituted THC potency limits on medical marijuana products.
Hawaii’s House speaker and the chair of the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee say marijuana legalization bills are effectively dead for the 2026 session, upending advocates’ hopes that lawmakers would at least refer the issue to the ballot for voters to decide.
Bipartisan Wisconsin lawmakers are circulating a bill to decriminalize marijuana by replacing the threat of jail time for first-time possession of up to 28 grams of cannabis with a $100 fine.
Ohioans for Cannabis Choice launched a signature drive to collect more than 248,000 signatures ahead of a March 19 deadline for a referendum to block new marijuana and hemp restrictions from taking effect.
The Oregon Senate Early Childhood and Behavioral Health Committee is expected to vote on a bill to ban marijuana edibles containing more than 10 milligrams of THC on Thursday.
/ FEDERAL
National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow coauthored a blog post on how scientists are using a large health dataset to support research, including a study that found that “people who used multiple substances or stimulants tended to report poorer overall health, had more disrupted sleep, and were less physically active, while people who only used cannabis looked similar to non-users on many of these measures.”
Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) tweeted, “The growing use of bioengineered marijuana products is harming millions of Americans. Some scoffed at the idea that marijuana use was linked to deteriorating mental health. But new data is confirming the link between psychotic disorders and marijuana use.”
The Senate bill to continue applying the 280E tax penalty on marijuana businesses after rescheduling got one new cosponsor for a total of two.
/ STATES
Missouri’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against a business for allegedly selling unregulated THC products without a license.
Nebraska Democratic attorney general candidate Jocelyn Brasher discussed her support for medical cannabis.
Florida elections officials posted lower signature counts for a proposed marijuana legalization ballot initiative than were reported by county officials.
Arizona regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to possible contamination with aspergillus.
Oklahoma regulators suspended the operations of several medical cannabis businesses over alleged violations.
Michigan regulators filed a complaint against a marijuana business over alleged violations.
Alabama officials have so far approved five physicians to recommend medical cannabis.
California regulators sent updates on various cannabis issues.
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/ LOCAL
The Los Angeles, California City Council voted to place a measure on the ballot to enact a tax on unlicensed cannabis businesses.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The European Food Safety Authority set a provisional safe intake level for CBD.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “THC inhibits S mutans growth and biofilm formation while also reducing bacterial viability, [extracellular polysaccharides] production, and acid production,” suggesting that “THC may reduce the cariogenic capacity of S mutans.”
A study found that “licensed mental health clinicians feel comfortable and knowledgeable in working with a client disclosing cannabis use and were neutral when asked about clinical judgments” and that there were “neutral to positive attitudes towards recreational and medical cannabis use in general.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The County Road Association of Michigan filed an amicus brief opposing a lawsuit challenging a new marijuana tax.
/ BUSINESS
UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals reached a settlement with a former employee who sued over allegedly being unlawfully fired after he tested positive for cannabis while using CBD gummies to manage chronic spinal pain.
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