VA marijuana commission to shape legal sales; FL gov signs cannabis patient punishments; PA cannabis bill filed; DE legal sales launch date
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going.
Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Marijuana Moment that the group still hasn’t held a meeting during the current legislative session—with one-quarter of the 119th Congress now already elapsed.
The new Virginia Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Retail Cannabis Market will hold its first meeting next week to begin work preparing the state to legalize recreational marijuana sales after this year’s gubernatorial election.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill to revoke medical cannabis patient and caregiver registrations from anyone convicted of certain drug crimes.
Bipartisan Pennsylvania senators filed a new bill to create a Cannabis Control Board to oversee the existing medical marijuana program and that could also oversee the adult-use market if broader legalization is enacted.
The Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner announced that recreational cannabis sales will begin on August 1, with Gov. Matt Meyer (D) saying the “new industry will generate critical revenue to strengthen our schools, infrastructure and public health systems, while creating real opportunities for entrepreneurs.”
Americans for Safe Access’s Steph Sherer argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that President Donald Trump’s proposal to delete a federal medical cannabis rider from spending legislation “reveals not only the fragility of patient protections but also exposes Congress’s failure to fulfill its promise” to patients.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) approved emergency medical cannabis rules allowing regulators to begin accepting license applications but blocking patients from accessing marijuana flower, infused food or drinks and any products administered by smoking or vaping.
The New Mexico legislature’s Interim Courts and Criminal Justice Committee held a hearing on cannabis regulators’ efforts to step up enforcement against illicit operations.
/ FEDERAL
Former Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Derek Maltz tweeted about the “dangerous truth about marijuana advocates don’t want you to know,” pointing to research about its alleged harms and saying that “Chinese criminal networks that are running grow operations all over the country and spraying Chinese pesticides on the plants.”
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) said that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s support for psychedelics therapy is “helping to mainstream what could be a groundbreaking shift in mental health.”
Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) published a blog post about legislation to increase military veterans’ access to medical cannabis.
Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI) tweeted, “Great news! → The House passed legislation this week to support our military and veteran community, including critical funding I fought and secure for:… ✅ Breakthrough PTSD psychedelic treatment… We stand with those who served. 🇺🇸”
The House bill to designate psychedelic innovative therapies centers of excellence got one new cosponsor for a total of nine.
/ STATES
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) used a line-item veto to reject budget provisions to change the marijuana tax structure.
Colorado’s attorney general announced a settlement that permanently bars a company that allegedly marketed marijuana products as federally legal industrial hemp from participating in the state’s cannabis industry.
The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a man who was carrying both marijuana and a pistol in his car.
An Alabama judge rejected a request for a temporary restraining order against certain parts of the state’s hemp product restriction law.
A new Idaho mandatory minimum fine for marijuana possession took effect this week.
A California marijuana tax increase took effect on Tuesday.
A Minnesota law to increase in marijuana taxes took effect on Tuesday.
Utah regulators are accepting applications for a new medical cannabis pharmacy license.
Massachusetts regulators issued an order shutting down a cannabis testing lab over alleged violations.
Vermont regulators said errors with a cannabis inventory tracking form have been fixed.
—
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.
—
/ LOCAL
A judge declined Waterbury, Connecticut officials’ request to issue a contempt citation against a former firefighter who is contesting his firing over medical cannabis use.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The UK solicitor general said in response to a lawmaker’s question that the government has no plans to pursue opening safe drug consumption facilities.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “CBD promotes antitumor activity by modulating tumor immune microenvironment in HPV associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.”
A review concluded that “the evidence supports psychedelic-assisted therapy as a viable option for PTSD treatment, particularly MDMA.”
/ BUSINESS
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. filed a shelf registration statement to register a base shelf prospectus, but said it has no immediate plans to offer or sell any securities under this shelf registration.
TerrAscend Corp. is exiting the Michigan market.
atai Life Sciences and Beckley Psytech Limited announced positive topline results from a Phase 2b clinical trial on efficacy and safety of a single dose of 5-MeO-DMT benzoate in patients with treatment-resistant depression.
/ CULTURE
Mike Tyson discussed his push to get the Trump administration to embrace marijuana reform.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
