HI gov signs medical marijuana expansion bill; NJ cannabis lounge apps; Poll: Consumers use marijuana as Rx substitute
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…
BREAKING: Journalism is often consumed for free, but costs money to produce! While this newsletter is proudly sent without cost to you, our ability to send it each day depends on the financial support of readers who can afford to give it. So if you’ve got a few dollars to spare each month and believe in the work we do, please consider joining us on Patreon today.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) signed a bill to expand medical cannabis access by letting some doctors recommend it for any condition and via telehealth despite previously suggesting he might veto it over concerns that “provisions authorizing the inspection of patients’ medical records without warrant constitute a grave violation of privacy.”
New Florida Division of Elections data show that a marijuana campaign has now collected nearly 70 percent of the valid voter signatures it needs to put a legalization initiative on the 2026 ballot.
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is now accepting marijuana consumption lounge applications from all licensed dispensaries—building on initial rounds that only included social equity operators, diversely owned businesses and microbusinesses.
Eight in ten marijuana consumers use cannabis as a replacement for prescription medication, according to a new poll from NuggMD.
The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation awarded a contract to conduct a marijuana market and economic impact study that will help determine whether regulators issue additional business licenses.
/ FEDERAL
Former Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Derek Maltz tweeted that his recent posts are about “CHINESE ILLICIT MARIJUANA AND RELATED NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS TO AMERICA,” saying that there’s “no need to twist the conversation about rescheduling etc.”
The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Thailand posted an alert about changes to that country’s marijuana laws.
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) tweeted about former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) support for increasing access to ibogaine therapy, saying, “.@GovernorPerry gets it.Psychedelic therapy saves our veterans’ lives — and provides a great alternative to risky opioid prescriptions.”
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed legislation changing various cannabis rules.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced a search for a new cannabis incubator project site following community pushback to the initial selection.
Missouri regulators announced a recall of marijuana products that contain an ingredient not listed on the compliance label.
The University of Colorado Board of Regents censured a member who owns a cannabis business and who was accused of using her influence to try to take down a public education campaign about marijuana that she said used “racist and harmful images.”
California regulators are seeking to hire a PR firm to run a cannabis consumer awareness and education campaign.
Michigan regulators declined to renew a marijuana company’s license over alleged violations.
New York regulators are urging people who consume cannabis around the Fourth of July to do so safely.
—
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.
—
/ INTERNATIONAL
Georgian lawmakers approved legislation to increase marijuana penalties.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of cannabis rescheduling public comments found that “despite a larger number of negative attitudes towards the DEA’s proposed rule of rescheduling marijuana from schedule I to III, a majority of comments supported taking a step further to deschedule marijuana all together.
A case study suggested that “MDMA-[assisted therapy] incorporating exposure techniques may be a promising treatment for [social anxiety disorder], warranting further research.”
/ BUSINESS
Columbia Care workers in Vineland, New Jersey ratified their first union contract.
Apothecarium workers in Cumberland and Salisbury, Maryland are accusing parent company TerrAscend of using union-busting tactics.
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.
