Newsletter
GOP senators try to stop Trump’s cannabis rescheduling (Newsletter: January 16, 2026)
House votes to keep blocking DC marijuana sales; Key congressional committee chair: Delay hemp ban; VA cannabis sales bill filed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC) and James Lankford (R-OK) filed an amendment that would block the Department of Justice from rescheduling marijuana in line with President Donald Trump’s executive order to complete the process expeditiously.
The House of Representatives passed a bill containing a provision to continue blocking Washington, D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana sales—though the rider may become moot if cannabis is federally rescheduled.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is supporting a bill to delay enactment of a federal law to recriminalize hemp-derived THC products—saying it will hurt farmers, erase jobs and deprive states of tax revenue.
A Virginia delegate filed a bill to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana sales while also increasing the amount of cannabis that adults can possess under the state’s current noncommercial legalization law.
/ FEDERAL
The Trump administration canceled and then restored federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants to support drug prevention, treatment and recovery services.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) tweeted, “President Trump’s war on drugs will take more than a new President in Venezuela. Last night’s termination of addiction treatment is a step backwards that will cost lives. Other cuts to mental health treatment and EMS services show this Admin is more interested in building White House ballrooms than life-saving clinics.”
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) tweeted, “Trump is committing war crimes in the name of a “war on drugs” abroad, while at home, he guts lifesaving mental health and drug addiction programs. The HYPOCRISY! With the decision to cut $2B in SAMHSA funding, Trump is weakening the safety net and the critical organizations that provide essential care to people experiencing addiction, homelessness, and mental illness.”
The House bill to delay enactment of the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products got 11 new cosponsors for a total of 15.
/ STATES
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) cut the ribbon to open two new medical cannabis businesses and gave an update on the broader rollout of the program.
New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, currently the Nassau County executive, criticized Gov. Kathy Hochlul’s (D) proposal to create a Center for Excellence for Cannabis Care and Health Equity.
Ohio’s attorney general tweeted that it was “petitioners’ sloppy work, not my policy preferences, that led to a rejection” of a petition for a referendum to block marijuana and hemp restrictions from going into effect.
Georgia’s Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said lawmakers are considering expanding the medical cannabis program but are not likely to legalize marijuana.
A Missouri representative filed a proposed constitutional amendment to simplify the state’s cannabis rules.
Illinois lawmakers filed bills to make various changes to marijuana laws.
The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging regulators’ delta-8 THC ban rulemaking process.
Massachusetts regulators are proposing to extend exclusive access to cannabis delivery license types for social equity and economic empowerment applications for three more years. Separately, the state’s top marijuana regulator spoke about ongoing efforts to oversee and expand the industry.
Michigan regulators published guidance on marijuana taxes and reporting requirements.
Minnesota regulators launched a new cannabis market dashboard.
Oklahoma regulators suspended operations of medical cannabis businesses over alleged violations.
Pennsylvania regulators published a list of positions considered to be a “public official” for the purposes of determining conflicts of interest regarding medical cannabis businesses.
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/ LOCAL
The San Diego County, California Board of Supervisors approved changes to cannabis business land use, consumption lounge and community benefits rules.
/ INTERNATIONAL
British Columbia, Canada’s health minister announced that the province will not seek federal approval to continue its drug decriminalization trial.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review’s findings “position hemp seeds as a functional food capable of supporting [endocannabinoid system] integrity through multiple, convergent biochemical pathways.”
A review concluded there is “a promising role for medical cannabis in [chronic musculoskeletal pain] management.”
A study of mice found that “psilocybin treatment can maintain better brain function in an Alzheimer’s disease model.
/ BUSINESS
SHF Holdings, Inc., d/b/a Safe Harbor is offering cannabis-specific insurance solutions through partnerships with Frontier Risk and AlphaRoot.
Michigan retailers sold $269.7 million worth of legal marijuana products in December.
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