ME anti-marijuana campaign accused of “lying” to voters; New states could legalize in 2026; Study on rap music videos and cannabis
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
House and Senate leaders released a funding bill that will continue to block Washington, D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana sales and warning local officials about approving cannabis dispensaries near schools.
A Maine Republican representative and cannabis industry advocates are accusing signature gatherers for a proposed ballot initiative to roll back recreational marijuana legalization of “lying” to voters and using “deceptive” tactics to get them to sign petitions.
Several new states could legalize recreational or medical marijuana in 2026—including ones where Republican lawmakers may be emboldened by President Donald Trump’s federal rescheduling order—but prohibitionists are also pursuing measures to roll back legalization in several states.
A new study shows that more than a third of popular rap music videos in the U.S. depict marijuana, with the researchers saying “cannabis has been firmly anchored in the US hip-hop scene since the 1990s.”
- “Rappers such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and The Game in particular are inextricably associated with cannabis and convey a ‘chilled’ lifestyle.”
A Nebraska senator filed legislation to let voters elect Medical Cannabis Commission members instead of having them appointed by the governor and to provide legal protections to doctors who recommend medical marijuana.
The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that the number of registered medical cannabis patients grew by about 32 percent last year amid officials’ move to license new dispensaries across the state where people can buy legal THC products.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. Sentencing Commission published a data briefing video on proposed amendments to drug sentencing guidelines.
Rep., Lou Correa (D-CA) coauthored an op-ed arguing that moving marijuana to Schedule III isn’t a “political breakthrough” and is “better understood as an enforcement concession—a plea bargain with reality.”
/ STATES
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) appointed a new Cannabis Compliance Board member.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) tweeted, “Team Kentucky has approved the state’s first medical cannabis processer with Bison Infused in Dayton. Now, more products will be available for eligible Kentuckians at open dispensaries, with more opening up in the coming weeks.”
The chair of the Hawaii House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee discussed his plan to put marijuana legalization on the ballot for voters to decide.
An Ohio senator announced that marijuana revenue has been distributed to municipalities.
California regulators published guidance about cannabis products intended for use on or consumption by animals.
Mississippi generated more than $11 million in medical cannabis tax revenue in 2025.
Oklahoma regulators sent a reminder about medical cannabis education and registration requirements for physicians.
Massachusetts regulators authored an op-ed about the benefits of establishing a proposed Center for Cannabis Research and Policy.
Virginia’s top cannabis regulator spoke about the need to train police officers to detect impaired driving.
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/ LOCAL
A judge granted motions to intervene in litigation concerning Menominee, Michigan’s marijuana business licensing policies.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Canadian officials removed a proposal to regulate CBD products that wouldn’t require practitioner oversight from a regulatory plan.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that medical cannabis “may be associated with improvements in subjective sleep quality, though its impact did not vary as a function of administration route or primary referring condition.”
A review concluded that “psilocybin-assisted therapy consistently demonstrated efficacy and safety in the reduction of depressive and anxiety symptoms.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of Canadians found that 65 percent support cannabis being legal.
/ BUSINESS
Sunderstorm is acquiring Lime.
Compass Pathways plc announced that the Food and Drug Administration accepted its investigational new drug application for its synthetic psilocybin treatment for late-stage clinical trials in patients with PTSD.
Missouri retailers sold $132.6 million worth of legal marijuana products in December.
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