Newsletter
White House voices concerns about cannabis’s health impact & marketing (Newsletter: May 5, 2026)
Senators talk rescheduling with Marijuana Moment; PA GOP gov candidate would veto legalization; NY cannabis farmers’ markets
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is raising the alarm about marijuana’s alleged link to health problems such as psychosis and is claiming that the cannabis industry has “adopted strategies similar to Big Tobacco’s historical targeting of young audiences.”
- The new National Drug Control Strategy also discusses the pending federal recriminalization of hemp THC products.
Bipartisan U.S. senators spoke to Marijuana Moment about the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling move—with some saying it doesn’t go far enough, others expressing concerns and one saying her stance has softened as she hears from friends who use it for medical purposes.
Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity, currently the state’s treasurer, said she would veto a marijuana legalization bill if lawmakers approved one—though she thinks the legislature is “never going to pass it…not as long as Senate Republicans are in control.”
The New York Office of Cannabis Management is now accepting applications for approved marijuana farmers’ markets, pop-ups and other “Cannabis Showcase Events” under recently adopted rules.
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America called it a “missed opportunity” that the House of Representatives passed a Farm Bill without including provisions to delay or alter the ban on hemp THC products that’s set to take effect later this year.
Peter Grinspoon of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School notes in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that “seniors are increasingly turning to cannabis to find relief from the medical indignities of aging.”
- “The ultimate goal of medicine isn’t just to add years to a person’s life, but to add quality and vitality to those final years. Medical cannabis can be a profoundly helpful tool in this journey.”
/ FEDERAL
A White House spokesperson said that “a growing body of recent evidence suggests that psychedelics could have great potential to help veterans and patients” and that President Donald Trump’s executive order on the issue “did not endorse psychedelics, but recognized this evidence to open the door to more research.”
The Department of Defense published a post warning service members about use of delta-8 THC products.
The U.S Embassy and Consulates in Mexico sent a warning to Americans visiting the country for the world cup that “drug possession or importation of drugs, including medical marijuana, is illegal in Mexico.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration is promoting the winning submissions of a contest for videos about the harms of marijuana for young people.
Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) said the Farm Bill passed by the House of Representatives handles hemp “haphazardly” and that “this fall, the Republicans will essentially end the legalization of many of these new hemp products, threatening thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of jobs.”
/ STATES
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) took credit for the state legalizing marijuana.
Connecticut Gov. New Lamont (D) touted the inclusion of provisions to convert the state’s THC-based cannabis tax to a 10.75 percent excise tax in budget legislation.
New York’s acting top cannabis regulator discussed the implications of federal marijuana rescheduling.
Illinois regulators published guidance on changes to marijuana and hemp rules.
Colorado regulators published guidance about a prohibition on sales of psychedelics.
Massachusetts regulators posted a new form that people can use to request changes to cannabis rules.
New Hampshire’s registered medical cannabis patient count grew 14.5 percent last year.
Minnesota regulators sent a newsletter with updates on various cannabis issues.
Washington State regulators will consider changes to cannabis rules on Wednesday.
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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
The Harris County, Texas district attorney’s official said won’t accept charges for possessing vape pens suspected of containing THC because crime laboratories can’t determine “if the THC in vape pen oil is derived from marijuana, hemp, or produced synthetically, making these products materially different from smokeable hemp flower and pre-rolled joints.”
The Boston, Massachusetts Cannabis Board will meet on Wednesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Israel’s health ministry published recommendations to scale back medical cannabis access, including by phasing out smoking as an acceptable delivery method.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A case series concluded that “an oral THC:CBD formulation may be associated with improvements in pain intensity and selected [health-related quality of life] measures in patients with chronic neuropathic pain.”
A study suggested that “shared psilocybin experiences can amplify accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement (ARE interactions) between romantic partners.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson said, “I think one of the reasons that Trump is apparently going to make weed legal is just so we can lower testosterone levels even more, and just make people more passive.”
California NORML published a voter guide for the state’s upcoming primary elections.
/ BUSINESS
New Cannabis Ventures and 420 Investor are shutting down.
Legacy Therapeutics, LLC is acquiring Cansortium Texas, LLC.
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. has a new board of directors member.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
