GOP senator on marijuana banking; PA cannabis regulatory vote; SC medical marijuana access; NC cannabis ballot bill; Groups push VA gov on legal sales
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana and the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association filed a lawsuit seeking to reverse the Department of Justice’s cannabis rescheduling move—and they are represented by a firm at which former Trump administration Attorney General William Barr is a partner.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) said the marijuana industry’s financial services access issues are a “quandary” that he thinks “we’ll get to a solution” on.
- “Congress is going to have to make it legal, because today even though the president has declassified it or reduced its impact, the truth is it is still illegal.”
The Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee again approved a bill to create a Cannabis Control Board to oversee medical marijuana, hemp and potentially recreational cannabis if it is legalized—with new amendments.
A South Carolina Republican senator said that “medical marijuana is now legal” in the state following federal rescheduling—but U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), who is running for governor, says he has a “problem with marijuana,” calling it a “gateway drug.”
North Carolina senators filed a bill that would put two marijuana questions on the November ballot, allowing voters to decide whether to legalize cannabis for personal or medical use.
A coalition of marijuana reform advocacy groups sent a letter urging Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) not to veto legislation to legalize recreational cannabis sales, even after lawmakers rejected her proposed amendments.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted an article about a study purporting to show a connection between marijuana use and slower development of memory, focus and thinking speed in teenagers.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted, “Washington wants to ban hemp overnight and wipe out a $28 billion American industry. My Hemp Safety Enforcement Act stops that by giving states full authority to regulate hemp-derived THC, banning synthetic cannabinoids, and keeping this market away from cartels and black markets.”
Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) tweeted, “DOJ’s reclassification of cannabis is some good news for veterans & VA doctors. Next step: let’s get the Veterans Equal Access Act passed to create better access to healing and recovery.”
Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) discussed what he sees as the differences between American and foreign cannabis products.
/ STATES
Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Esteves tweeted, “Cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform must go hand-in-hand. One without the other falls short. The people who have been negatively impacted by Georgia’s outdated cannabis laws deserve justice and to have their records expunged. As governor, I’ll put this issue before the voters.”
Connecticut lawmakers sent Gov. Ned Lamont (D) a bill to increase THC caps for cannabis beverages.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held a hearing on a lawsuit seeking to keep an initiative to roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law from appearing on the November ballot.
Nevada regulators filed proposed changes to cannabis rules.
Colorado regulators published guidance on federal marijuana rescheduling.
Illinois regulators are extending the deadline for cannabis craft grower businesses to become operational.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
The top Bahamian cannabis regulator said the country’s marijuana business licensing platform is ready to launch.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “prenatal exposure to cannabis, alone or with tobacco, was not associated with disrupted cognitive or language development during the first three years of life in this sample of high-risk children.”
A study of chickens found that “CBD represents a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention against [infectious bronchitis virus] infection.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson compared being subjected to President Donald Trump’s “spellbinding” powers of influence to “smoking hash or something”—saying there “there may be a supernatural component to it.”
The Marijuana Policy Project published an FAQ about cannabis rescheduling.
/ BUSINESS
Cresco Labs, Green Thumb Industries, Verano Holdings and Curaleaf are facing class action litigation that alleges they made false medical claims about their products.
Nabis is acquiring Hudson Distribution Services, LLC’s New Jersey cannabis distribution license and warehouse lease.
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $324.2 million.
Rhode Island retailers sold $29.5 million worth of legal marijuana products in the first quarter of 2026.
/ CULTURE
John Oliver did a segment on “gas station drugs.”
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