Newsletter
Bill on Trump’s desk could ease cannabis research, congressman says (Newsletter: June 16, 2025)
Congressional committee clarifies hemp ban; Warren presses Trump to end marijuana arrests; AGs group’s hemp meeting; IA psilocybin veto
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Congress sent President Donald Trump a bill to permanently ban fentanyl analogues—including additional provisions that Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) says would remove barriers to research on marijuana and other Schedule I drugs.
The House Appropriations Committee adopted amended report language to clarify that a spending bill provision to ban most consumable hemp-derived products is not meant to affect “industrial or nonintoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products with trace or insignificant amounts of THC.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) sent a letter urging President Donald Trump to end “costly marijuana arrests” to help address the “failures” of the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to “identify and eliminate waste.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) vetoed a bill to let doctors prescribe a form of psilocybin following federal approval, saying it “moves ahead of where our public health systems, regulatory frameworks, and law enforcement infrastructure are prepared to go at this time” and “surrenders state authority to make an informed determination about classification to federal officials.”
Facebook and Instagram appear to have stopped censoring searches for marijuana-related content—ending a practice that had blocked users from easily accessing pages for not only cannabis businesses, media outlets and advocacy organizations, but also state regulatory agencies.
The Attorney General Alliance hosted an event on state-level regulation of intoxicating hemp products—with participation by current and former officials from Oregon, Florida, California and Nevada as well as representatives of business and advocacy groups.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) played a key role in convincing lawmakers to pass legislation positioning the state as a leader in psychedelics with a $50 million investment to establish an ibogaine therapy research consortium.
Delaware lawmakers are considering a bill to require hemp-derived THC drinks to move through the state’s three-tier alcohol system and be sold exclusively in liquor stores.
An Alabama judge will hold a hearing this month on a lawsuit seeking to force the Medical Cannabis Commission to establish a patient registry after long delays in the process.
The American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp’s Chris Lindsey argues in a new op-ed that Ohio lawmakers should address the “public health crisis” of unregulated hemp products by requiring they only be sold in licensed marijuana dispensaries, subject to “appropriate age restrictions, testing requirements and consumer safeguards.”
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration Museum posted a video about an underwater smuggling tube it has in its collection.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) posted a video highlighting alleged drug crimes committed by undocumented immigrants despite himself having been arrested for marijuana.
/ STATES
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed a bill to amend various cannabis rules.
The Maine legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee voted to increase the recreational marijuana sales tax from 10 percent to 14 percent while reducing the cannabis excise tax rate by one-third. Separately, the Senate approved a bill to create a Cannabis Advisory Council.
Florida House lawmakers are pushing to end regulators’ emergency medical cannabis rulemaking powers.
California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to incomplete and incorrect regulatory compliance testing, as well as false and misleading labeling. Separately, regulators are moving to permanently ban hemp-derived THC products.
Delaware’s new top marijuana regulator said officials will soon announce when recreational marijuana sales can launch.
New York regulators published guidance on marijuana track and trace issues.
New Jersey regulators threatened to suspend a marijuana business’s license over alleged labor violations.
The University of Colorado Board of Regents is moving forward with the process of censuring a member who owns a cannabis dispensary over alleged attempts to influence Gov. Jared Polis (D) to defund an anti-marijuana campaign that she felt showed Black people in a negative light.
Kentucky officials are facing questions about how medical cannabis use will affect child custody issues.
Minnesota regulators sent a newsletter with several cannabis updates.
The Utah Medical Cannabis Policy Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday.
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/ LOCAL
New York City mayoral candidates were asked whether they think legal cannabis dispensaries are “good for the city on balance.”
The San Diego, California City Council Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee approved a proposal to extend opening hours for marijuana dispensaries.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking interim release from his detention at the International Criminal Court amid a trial for alleged crimes against humanity during the nation’s bloody ‘war on drugs.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study underscored “the potential of CBD-enriched cannabis oil and ω-3 as a novel therapeutic approach for neuropathic pain management, offering promising implications for future research and clinical practice.”
A study found that a 3D-printed cannabidiol stent for local treatment of urinary tract infections “exhibited prolonged antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Americans for Ibogaine is a new organization “dedicated to advancing public education and awareness about ibogaine as a potential therapeutic option for brain injuries, substance use disorders, and co-occurring mental health conditions.”
/ BUSINESS
A Canadian court dismissed a dissident proceeding against MediPharm Labs Corp.
AYR Wellness Inc. announced that it failed to complete the filing of its interim financial statements.
TerrAscend Corp. is being sued for allegedly spamming customers with unsolicited text messages.
Metrc announced that its Retail ID product tracked more than 1 million unique cannabis products in a single week across 21 markets.
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $1.90 per share.
/ CULTURE
Rosario Dawson narrates “Kiss My Grass,” a new documentary film about racial injustice and inequity in the cannabis space.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
