Massachusetts lawmakers urge voters to keep cannabis sales legal (Newsletter: October 19, 2026)

KY gov touts medical marijuana growth; NC poll: Bipartisan legal cannabis support; FL hemp drinks op-ed; Secret DEA agreement with psychedelic church

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Dozens of Massachusetts lawmakers—including the House speaker and Senate president—are urging voters to reject an initiative to roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law on the November ballot.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced that medical cannabis dispensaries are now open and operating in every geographic region of the state.

A new poll of North Carolina adults shows that 63 percent support legalizing recreational marijuana and 74 percent back medical cannabis—including majority support for both reforms from Republicans, Democrats and independents.

The Florida Hemp Beverage Coalition’s Dani Baranowski argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that Florida lawmakers should enact effective regulations for hemp THC drinks and set an example for the rest of the country.

• “Florida doesn’t need to wait for Washington to show what responsible regulation looks like.”

Tree House Craft Cannabis’s Wes Ritchie—who has operated both marijuana and alcohol businesses—argues in a new op-ed that “cannabis is safer than alcohol yet still regulated more strictly.”

• “Before a cannabis product ever reaches a store shelf, from seed to sale, there is a statewide inventory system that follows every plant on its journey with continuous state oversight… None of that exists in the alcohol industry.”

An Iowa psychedelic church reached a secret agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration and got approval from the Iowa Board of Pharmacy to import and manufacture ayahuasca.

/ FEDERAL

The Congressional Research Service published a report on classwide scheduling of controlled substances.

Nebraska congressional candidates discussed their support for medical cannabis during a debate.

The House bill to let Department of Veterans Affairs doctors issue medical cannabis recommendations got one new cosponsor for a total of five.

/ STATES

Texas Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Vikki Goodwin criticized incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), tweeting, “Books. THC. DEI. Lt. Dan seems to have forgotten the meaning of freedom.”

The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to allow the sale of hemp THC drinks until December and to crack down on unlicensed marijuana sales.

North Carolina representatives discussed their views on marijuana and hemp policy.

Nebraska regulators held a hearing on proposed changes to medical cannabis rules.

Colorado regulators published guidance about recent changes to marijuana rules.

Missouri regulators published a study of the state’s legal cannabis market.

Vermont’s top marijuana regulator said he hopes the roll out of a new cannabis event permit program is done “responsibly and safely.”

New Oklahoma medical cannabis packaging rules take effect on November 1.

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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.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL

Virginia Beach, Virginia officials are conducting a survey about local cannabis regulations.

The Boston, Massachusetts Cannabis Board will meet on Wednesday.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Jersey’s health minister previewed a forthcoming tightening of medical cannabis regulations.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that photodynamic therapy and CBD “combination therapy emerges as a promising next-generation immunogenic anticancer approach that warrants further investigation.”

A study found that “therapists considered psilocybin treatment beneficial for psychotherapy and described the psychedelic experience as facilitating therapeutic processes.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Marijuana Policy Project published a voter guide about New Hampshire’s upcoming elections.

/ BUSINESS

Decibel Cannabis Company Inc.’s chief revenue officer resigned.

Trulieve is pursuing a defamation lawsuit over social media posts that made claims the company denies.

Colorado retailers sold $11.2 million worth of legal marijuana products in July.

/ CULTURE

Judd Apatow discussed  his use of psilocybin.

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