Newsletter
Federal hemp THC ban would be delayed for two years under new bill (Newsletter: January 14, 2026)
Fed official: Teen marijuana access down as more states legalize; NJ psilocybin bill to gov; IN legalization poll; Cannabis existential threat op-ed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) and four bipartisan cosponsors filed a bill to delay implementation of the impending federal recriminalization of hemp THC products for another two years.
A federal official with the National Institute on Drug Abuse spoke about how an annual survey shows that teens are finding it harder to access marijuana and are more disapproving of use even as legalization spreads—contrary to fears voiced by prohibitionists.
New Jersey lawmakers sent Gov. Phil Murphy (D) a bill to create a psilocybin therapy pilot program and allocate $6 million in funding to support the psychedelic treatment and research effort.
A new poll of Indiana residents shows that 84 percent support legalizing medical cannabis and that 59 percent also want to legalize recreational marijuana.
Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Adam Smith argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that ballot initiatives to roll back legalization in Arizona, Maine and Massachusetts are the “first-ever large-scale coordinated attack on adult-use markets” and that the cannabis industry needs to fight back.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) told lawmakers that her office would inform a campaign seeking to roll back marijuana legalization that it has received a significant number of complaints about misleading petitioning tactics.
/ FEDERAL
Former Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes said marijuana is “five times more lethal” than when he was growing up and “can do immense damage.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture clarified that cannabis that does not meet the definition of hemp is not eligible to be covered by the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs.
The House bill to create a pathway for patients to access Schedule I drugs got one new cosponsor for a total of 13.
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed legislation to restrict hemp products, adding sickle cell anemia as a medical cannabis qualifying condition and extending labor rights to marijuana industry workers.
Separately, lawmakers sent the governor legislation to revise Cannabis Regulatory Commission rules and crack down on unlicensed marijuana sales.
New York Gov. Kath Hochul (D) proposed cannabis-related initiatives in her State of the State address, including to create a certified business incubator hub network, a workforce development partnership, a pro bono legal aid initiative and a Center of Excellence for Medical Cannabis and Health Equity.
The Pennsylvania Center for Rural Pennsylvania will hold a hearing about hemp issues on Thursday.
Florida’s secretary of state is urging a judge to reject a marijuana legalization campaign’s lawsuit challenging moves to throw out more than 70,000 petition signatures over alleged violations.
Kansas’s House minority leader said legalizing marijuana could be a way to raise revenue to pay for other Democratic agenda items.
The Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission held a pre-hearing conference about complaints of fraudulent signature gathering for a proposed ballot initiative to roll back marijuana legalization.
Oregon regulators sent guidance about new hemp rules that took effect on January 1.
Connecticut officials reached a settlement with marijuana companies to resolve allegations they violated merger laws.
Maryland regulators published a list of certified cannabis testing laboratories.
Montana regulators sent updates on various cannabis issues.
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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
British Columbia, Canada officials are expected to reveal soon whether they plan to apply for an extension of federal permission for a local drug decriminalization trial.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “besides epilepsy, preclinical data suggest that CBD alone may be potentially beneficial in treating chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, or stroke.”
A study “provides a crucial first step toward understanding the evolutionary role of psilocybin-producing fungi.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial board criticized a proposal to put marijuana legalization on Hawaii’s ballot as a constitutional amendment.
/ BUSINESS
Mind Medicine is rebranding as Definium Therapeutics, Inc.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
