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Former White House officials talk cannabis rescheduling & pardons process (Newsletter: November 5, 2025)

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SCOTUS delays marijuana & guns case; OK legalization effort fails; MA cannabis bill advances; Alcohol groups push Congress on hemp

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Former top White House staffers shed new light on the federal marijuana rescheduling and mass cannabis pardons process as part of a congressional inquiry into then-President Joe Biden’s decision making.

The U.S. Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request for a delay in the deadline to file briefs in a case on marijuana consumers’ gun rights that the justices recently agreed to take up.

Oklahoma marijuana activists have withdrawn a proposed legalization initiative they sought to place on the 2026 ballot after failing to collect a sufficient number of signatures.

The Massachusetts legislature’s Joint Cannabis Policy Committee approved a bill to require state officials to study legal barriers to using marijuana for police and other first responders.

Alcohol industry groups—including American Distilled Spirits Alliance, Beer Institute and Wine America—sent a letter urging Congress to ban intoxicating hemp products on at least a temporary basis before the federal government creates a “robust regulatory framework” for the marketplace.

Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Adam Smith said resisting efforts to roll back legalization in Maine and Massachusetts “needs to be a priority for the entire industry.”

  • “It would be a boon to organized crime, would reverse the progress we’ve made in reducing youth access, would kill jobs and businesses, and would cost the state much-needed revenues.”

/ FEDERAL

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted, “Reschedule Cannabis. Help solve Dementia?”

/ STATES

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) responded to a lawmaker’s concern about medical cannabis products resembling candy.

West Virginia’s House minority leader said the state should use medical cannabis revenue to support food aid programs.

The chair of the Ohio Senate Health Committee said he hopes lawmakers can resolve differences on legislation to amend the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law and add new restrictions on intoxicating hemp products by Thanksgiving.

The Colorado legislature’s Joint Budget Committee will hold a hearing on marijuana tax policy on November 12.

A Wisconsin senator discussed his support for legalizing medical cannabis.

A Missouri representative spoke about his support for restricting unregulated intoxicating cannabis products.

A Pennsylvania senator tweeted about meeting with student activists working for marijuana legalization.

Nebraska regulators declined to make changes to medical cannabis rules in response to public comments.

Vermont regulators published updated marijuana advertising guidance.

Michigan regulators posted guidance on a new marijuana wholesale tax.

Texas regulators published data on hemp enforcement actions.

/ LOCAL

Los Angeles, California regulators sent updates on various cannabis issues.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that “CBD has potential as an alternative choice for anxiety.”

A study found that “single-dose psilocybin rapidly and sustainably relieves allodynia and anxiodepressive-like behaviors in mouse models of chronic pain.”

/ BUSINESS

SNDL Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$244.2 million and an operating loss of C$11.1 million.

Jushi Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $65.7 million and a net loss of $23.7 million.

Compass Pathways plc reported a quarterly net loss of $137.7 million and announced it is accelerating the planned launch of its psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression by 9-12 months.

Rise workers ratified a Teamsters contract after the longest successful strike in the history of the U.S. cannabis industry.

Verano Holdings Corp. completed its redomicile from British Columbia, Canada to Nevada.

Jones Soda Co. its hemp-derived THC beverages nationwide.

/ CULTURE

Stephen Colbert spoke about smoking a lot of marijuana when he was younger, saying he “passed through and moved on” from it.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 25-year veteran in the cannabis and drug law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana, psychedelics and other substances. He previously reported for Forbes, Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and was given the Hunter S. Thompson Media Award by NORML and has been named Journalist of the Year by Americans for Safe Access. As an activist, Tom founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority and handled media relations, campaigns and lobbying for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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