Newsletter
FDA head says psychedelics are a “top priority” for Trump administration (Newsletter: May 20, 2025)
TX medical marijuana expansion; NH psilocybin amendment; CA cannabis-funded grants; US’s legalization lessons for Europe; Veterans & marijuana poll
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics—especially for military veterans—is “a top priority” for the Trump administration.
The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee held a hearing on a House-passed bill to significantly expand medical cannabis access, though a key senator indicated the legislation is still a “work in process” and will be amended.
A New Hampshire Republican representative who is sponsoring a psilocybin decriminalization bill told Marijuana Moment that a Senate committee’s amendment to add mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl is a “fair trade” to get the psychedelics reform enacted.
The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development awarded $52.4 million in marijuana revenue-funded grants to organizations serving communities disproportionately affected by “drug policies [that] led to the mass incarceration of people of color.”
A new poll of military veterans and their family members shows that 57 percent would support medical cannabis treatment being provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, with a smaller proportion also saying VA should provide psychedelic treatment as well.
Johnny Green of the International Cannabis Business Conference authored a new Marijuana Moment op-ed about the legalization lessons Europe can learn from the U.S. as more countries there consider enacting the reform.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed a bill to allocate marijuana tax revenue toward wildlife habitat improvement and restoration projects, including on private land.
The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission will lack necessary funds to develop rules and issue licenses under a plan from Gov. Jim Pillen (R), unless lawmakers take additional action.
Washington State lawmakers deleted budget funding for organizations that are working to help vacate drug convictions on people’s records after the Supreme Court ruled the state’s prior possession law was unconstitutional.
/ FEDERAL
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) refused to answer a reporter’s question about budget legislation, instead repeatedly saying, “Just say no to drugs.”
/ STATES
The New Jersey Assembly Agriculture Committee held a hearing on hemp regulation legislation.
The Oregon Senate Early Childhood and Behavioral Health Committee held a hearing on youth cannabis use prevention strategies.
A Washington State senator spoke about the challenges of passing psychedelics legislation.
New York regulators posted guidance about digital cannabis inventory tags.
Maryland regulators published guidance on hemp product rules.
Minnesota regulators published guidance about hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
Ohio regulators published guidance on hemp products.
Massachusetts regulators posted a video about the next steps for the state’s cannabis industry.
The Colorado Department of Transportation posted an article about how “movies and TV shows may reinforce misconceptions about driving high.”
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/ LOCAL
New York City’s mayor invited people to visit a pizza shop “when you get the munchies from that good cannabis that you smoked.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
Rwandan officials said construction of the country’s first medical cannabis production facility is nearly complete.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “current cannabis use was not appreciably associated with semen quality.”
A review concluded that “although some evidence suggests potential benefits of cannabinoids, particularly CBD, in oral health contexts, findings are derived from heterogeneous studies—many with high risk of bias.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The board chair of Save Our Society from Drugs resigned, saying he and other members were not notified that the group accepted and spent funds to oppose a Florida marijuana legalization ballot initiative.
/ BUSINESS
Fresh workers in New Jersey voted to unionize.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
