Newsletter
Trump signs bill that could ease cannabis & psychedelics research (Newsletter: July 18, 2025)
Senators approve veterans medical marijuana amendment; Cannabis consumers’ gun rights ruling; PA legalization momentum
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
President Donald Trump signed a bill to permanently ban fentanyl analogues that also contains provisions some lawmakers say would remove barriers to research on marijuana, psychedelics and other Schedule I drugs.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to allow Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to recommend medical cannabis to their military veteran patients.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld the federal ban on gun possession by marijuana consumers, but said district courts must make “individualized judgments” to determine whether defendants “pose a physical danger to others.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said he chose not to appoint a GOP senator as chief financial officer of the state because he “sided with the mega-weed company Trulieve” in supporting a marijuana legalization initiative on last year’s ballot.
A Pennsylvania senator said marijuana legalization supporters are “picking up votes” in the legislature because the reform can generate revenue in lieu of a tax increase as part of a budget deal that lawmakers are crafting.
/ FEDERAL
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network noted that marijuana banking “continues to be a topic of legislative discussion.”
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) authored an op-ed in support of federally recriminalizing many consumable hemp products.
/ STATES
Texas’s lieutenant governor tweeted about a move in Congress to federally recriminalize many hemp products, saying, “This is a massive course correction and should send a strong message to everyone who supports legalizing marijuana in Texas and allowing THC to be sold to anyone of any age.”
Vermont regulators posted updated guidance on various cannabis issues.
Missouri courts have yet to expunge potentially hundreds of thousands of marijuana cases.
The California State Fair is hosting a cannabis seed giveaway.
New York regulators hosted an event aimed at educating parents and kids about marijuana.
Utah regulators sent newsletters with several updates about the medical cannabis program.
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/ LOCAL
The Newark, Delaware City Council approved a measure allowing the Alderman’s Court to prosecute some marijuana-related violations.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The European Parliament Agriculture Committee adopted a report urging a European Union-wide classification for industrial hemp with a THC limit of 0.5 percent.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “although most [cancer] patients consider [medical cannabis] to be a valuable addition to conventional therapies for managing refractory symptoms, a subset believed it had potential as an anticancer therapy.”
A study found that LSD “extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans.”
/ BUSINESS
High Tide Inc. closed a loan agreement with a subsidiary of Cronos Group Inc. to secure convertible debt with a principal amount of C$30 million.
Glass House Brands Inc. announced a preferred equity refinancing.
Würk launched a new 401(k) retirement plan partnership that’s partially tailored for marijuana and hemp businesses.
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