White House CBD meetings; AOC slams marijuana & psychedelics scheduling; TX lawmakers’ hemp & ibogaine reviews; Cannabis taxes op-ed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The White House Office of Management and Budget has scheduled several additional meetings for this week about a CBD products compliance and enforcement policy that the Food and Drug Administration submitted for approval.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said the federal system for classifying marijuana and other drugs has “fallen short”—noting that “our law says that these drugs have zero medical application, but the science says something else.”
- “The wealth of medical research shows that these are potential treatments for treatment-resistant PTSD, traumatic brain injuries—but the schedule classification really prevents researchers from continuing to do work on this.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is celebrating the five-year anniversary of marijuana legalization—touting $3.3 billion in sales, more than 600 operational licensed cannabis shops and achievements in promoting social equity and criminal justice reform.
Texas’s lieutenant governor issued a mandate for the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to study the impact of cannabis and THC products during the legislative interim, while the House speaker directed the Public Health Committee to monitor implementation of legislation to establish a consortium to conduct ibogaine drug development clinical trials.
LeafLink’s Rodney Holcombe argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that calls to increase cannabis taxes from the New York Times editorial board and others “overlook how high effective tax burdens already are in many states.”
- “Higher taxes do not eliminate consumer demand. They simply change where consumers buy their cannabis.”
/ FEDERAL
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study finding that an “analysis of 2015–2025 National Poison Data System data found an increase of approximately 1,200% in kratom-related exposure reports (from 258 to 3,434), including a marked surge in 2025.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) discussed her push to delay the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products.
/ STATES
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is reportedly writing a book about psychedelics aimed at a Christian audience.
A Pennsylvania representative discussed his bill to strengthen medical cannabis testing protocols.
Florida officials accused a petitioner for a marijuana legalization initiative of submitting nearly 1,600 fraudulent signatures.
Michigan officials are facing another lawsuit challenging a new marijuana wholesale tax.
New York’s top marijuana regulator discussed the five-year anniversary of legalization.
Missouri regulators are seeking a new vendor to manage the state’s marijuana licensing and tracking program.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Thursday.
The Rhode Island Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Thursday.
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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.
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/ LOCAL
The Oakland, California Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Germany’s interior minister called the country’s marijuana legalization policy a “shitty law.”
South African officials gave lawmakers an update on efforts to develop a commercially viable cannabis and hemp industry.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “the adoption of [recreational cannabis legalization] in US states, beyond only [medical cannabis legalization], may help to reduce the size of illegal cannabis markets, or there may be shifting law enforcement seizure priorities in those states.”
A review concluded that “MDMA-[assisted therapy] was associated with reductions in PTSD symptom severity and improvements in dissociative symptoms and global functioning.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Latino Cannabis Alliance is a new advocacy organization that aims to represent Latinos in the marijuana reform movement and industry.
/ BUSINESS
Vireo Growth Inc. said its memorandum of understanding with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company to acquire The Hawthorne Gardening Company LLC could close within five business days, subject to certain conditions.
Illinois dispensaries sold $12.5 million worth of medical cannabis products in February.
/ CULTURE
The Daily Show’s Josh Johnson joked about the Army’s move to loosen marijuana restrictions for new recruits.
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