Newsletter
Pennsylvania governor not giving up cannabis legalization push (Newsletter: August 28, 2025)
VA senator: Legalize marijuana sales to offset fed cuts; Colombian legalization vote; Gun rights win for cannabis consumers; Congressional hemp report
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Congressional Research Service published a report on hemp policy that looks at how federal officials and courts have reached “divergent conclusions” on which products are currently legal as lawmakers consider a broad ban on THC.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said he’s “not going to concede” in his push to legalize marijuana as part of budget legislation despite resistance from Republican lawmakers.
Colombia’s House of Representatives First Committee approved a marijuana legalization bill, and President Gustavo Petro is criticizing lawmakers for not enacting legislation to legalize cannabis that advanced to the final stage of the process last session.
Virginia Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas (D) said the state should legalize and tax recreational marijuana sales to offset the Trump administration’s cuts to federal funding in support of states.
- “We have an inescapable responsibility to generate and create a long-term and sustainable source of revenue to safeguard core programs and services.”
- “The future of healing may lie in an ancient plant… It really should be a national project to make sure how to use it, to make sure that it’s safe, but then to get it very widely available throughout the entire Veterans Administration program.”
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a contract on “testing the evidence of marijuana” to Oregon Health & Science University.
Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) tweeted photos of himself visiting a marijuana business, saying, “Had a great visit with @Trulieve in West Palm Beach where we discussed the benefits of medical marijuana, especially in the veteran community. I’ve always said greater access for doctors and patients can be a game changer as an alternative to opioids, giving them all options available for treatment.”
The House bill to allow Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to recommend medical cannabis got one new cosponsor for a total of one.
/ STATES
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) met with hemp industry stakeholders as lawmakers consider legislation to ban consumable products with any amount of THC.
Oklahoma’s attorney general led a letter with 20 other state attorneys general calling on the Drug Enforcement Administration to take emergency action to federally schedule bromazolam, saying it is “contributing to overdose deaths and posing a growing threat to public health and safety in our states.”
A Pennsylvania senator tweeted, “I will lay out the path to adult use cannabis as clearly as I can. The house needs to pass the language in my bill and send it to my committee, at that point I can negotiate with the senate and the governor. Rep Frankel needs to move Amen Brown’s bill. Give him a call.”
Michigan regulators issued a recall of cannabis vape carts that contained medium chain triglyceride oil.
Florida regulators filed a correction to proposed hemp rules.
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy cancelled a meeting at which officials were set to consider a ban on kratom.
Colorado regulators published guidance on third-party psychedelics educational resources.
Massachusetts regulators extended the deadline to submit papers for a special issue of the journal Clinical Therapeutics that they are collaborating on.
Washington, D.C. regulators shuttered more unlicensed cannabis shops.
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/ LOCAL
The Anchorage, Alaska Assembly indefinitely postponed consideration of a proposal to allow onsite marijuana smoking at dispensaries.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Germany’s commissioner for drug and addiction policy suggested that the amount of marijuana that people are allowed to grow should be reduced.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “CBD-Nem exhibited an in vitro antitumor effect, which supports its study in dogs with mammary carcinoma.”
A review concluded that “both macrodoses and microdoses of psilocybin provide pain relief for fibromyalgia.”
/ BUSINESS
Jushi Inc. subsidiaries are suing 10 hemp distributors over allegedly illegally selling marijuana outside the medical cannabis system.
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. has a new chief financial officer and board of directors member.
Canopy USA, LLC has a new vice president of brand sales.
Incannex Healthcare Inc. reported “positive data” from a Phase 2 clinical trial of its psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy treatment for generalised anxiety disorder.
Dutchie launched new commerce and partnership products for cannabis retailers.
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