Bipartisan lawmakers: Blocking rescheduling won’t work; Marijuana reformers rally outside DEA; SCOTUS on cannabis & gun rights; VA legalization
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Lawyers for the Drug Enforcement Administration and a Food and Drug Administration official highlighted testimony on marijuana’s medical benefits and its relative safety compared to other substances such as alcohol and opioids on the first day of a hearing on cannabis rescheduling.
Bipartisan lawmakers told Marijuana Moment that they don’t think efforts in Congress to block the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling proposal will succeed as a Drug Enforcement Administration hearing on the reform begins.
- Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who is running for Florida governor, however, said “we’re not going to do recreational” marijuana legalization in the state.
Marijuana reform activists held a press conference outside the Drug Enforcement Administration’s hearing on cannabis rescheduling to highlight how supporters are being “shut out” of the process.
- Meanwhile, DEA is sticking to its refusal to livestream the proceedings despite requests for public access from Marijuana Moment, a congressman and others—yet it is maintaining that it has a “commitment to transparency.”
The Supreme Court is applying its ruling on marijuana consumers’ gun rights to other pending cases by rejecting the government’s previously filed appeals of lower court decisions and sending a case from a cannabis user back to a lower court “for further consideration in light of United States v. Hemani.”
The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates accepted Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D) amendments to a budget bill containing provisions to legalize recreational marijuana sales—meaning that the legislation has now been formally enacted into law without requiring any additional action from the governor.
National Cannabis Industry Association Policy Chair Michael Cooper authored a new Marijuana Moment op-ed calling out Republican lawmakers who want to maintain the 280E tax penalty on cannabis businesses even after rescheduling.
- “These Republican members of Congress appear to be hoping to undermine President Donald Trump’s position…by preserving punitive tax treatment for licensed cannabis businesses, regardless of their classification under federal law.”
An Idaho campaign working to qualify a medical cannabis legalization initiative for the November ballot has hit setbacks as a judge ruled signatures in one county were turned in late—while others are at risk of being thrown out due to the possibility they may have been collected by out-of-state petitioners.
/ FEDERAL
The head of the National Guard Counterdrug Program spoke about how “what once focused primarily on local and state marijuana eradication missions has expanded into disrupting activities and dismantling drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations.”
Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) tweeted, “I am also grateful that the Trump Administration is calling for fair treatment of our hemp farmers. The hemp provision included in the Continuing Resolution and Appropriations bills passed in November 2025 disrupted planting decisions that had already been made. I appreciate the Trump Administration’s advocacy for greater predictability for farmers in Indiana and across the country.”
/ STATES
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee’s (D) reelection campaign is facing a complaint over allegedly improper activity related to fundraising from the cannabis industry.
Texas regulators adopted changes to rules on medical cannabis registration.
Maryland regulators sent a notice about Drug Enforcement Administration inspections at marijuana dispensaries.
New York regulators are accepting abstracts for a medical cannabis symposium in November.
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board will meet on Wednesday.
The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency will hold a public meeting on Thursday.
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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.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
Several Mexican elected officials are reportedly offering themselves as informants to U.S. authorities investigating drug cartels.
Irish government officials are reportedly not keen to adopt a legislative committee’s recommendation to decriminalize drugs.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that cannabis extracellular vesicle-like nanoparticles “offer a promising natural approach to protect the skin from UVB-induced damage, supporting their potential as bioactive candidates for future skincare or cosmeceutical applications for preventing photoaging and inflammation.”
A study of mice found that “cannabidiol reduces atypical absence seizures and epileptic spasms.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The International Cannabis Bar Association joined the call for the Drug Enforcement Administration to livestream an ongoing marijuana rescheduling hearing.
/ BUSINESS
TerrAscend Corp. shareholders are being asked to approve a proposal to consolidate shares in preparation for uplisting to a major U.S. exchange.
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. shareholders elected board of directors members.
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