Virginia cannabis sales legalization deal reached (Newsletter: June 15, 2026)

Marijuana rescheduling & interstate commerce; Drug scheduling bill in Congress; IL gov signs cannabis overhaul; Ukraine medical marijuana sales begin

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) and legislative leaders “have a deal” to legalize recreational marijuana sales through the budget this month, a key lawmaker has announced.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed a large-scale cannabis omnibus bill into law that doubles the amount of marijuana that adults can legally possess, significantly restricts hemp THC products and makes other changes to rules for how licensed businesses can operate.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) filed a bill to overhaul how drugs like marijuana, psychedelics and others are evaluated for scheduling under the Controlled Substances Act—for example by effectively letting states force federal reclassification by changing their own laws.

The Marijuana Policy Project published an analysis of how “interstate commerce between licensed businesses would…be presumably federally legal” under the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling move.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Health announced that the country’s medical cannabis program is officially operational, with the first THC products being dispensed to two military veterans and a woman with multiple sclerosis.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rejected a lawsuit challenging a proposed ballot measure to roll back marijuana legalization—ruling that it does not violate the state Constitution.

New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) vetoed a bill to allow medical cannabis businesses to cultivate in greenhouses, a reform intended to increase supply and lower prices for patients.

The North Carolina House Agriculture and Environment Committee approved an amended bill to restrict hemp and kratom products to people over the age of 21.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission reported that more than 100 patients purchased marijuana products during the first week of legal sales in the state.

/ FEDERAL

The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted an article claiming that marijuana use is linked to a 50 percent lower chance of graduating high school.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said in a Senate floor speech that “we have seen how outdated mandatory minimum policies stemming from  the failed ‘War on Drugs’ continue to impose lengthy, one-size-fits- all sentences for many nonviolent drug offenses. They don’t deter  crime; instead, they overcrowd prisons and strain budgets.”

/ STATES

Kansas Democratic gubernatorial candidates discussed medical cannabis during a debate.

The Oklahoma attorney general’s Organized Crime Task Force touted enforcement actions against allegedly illegal marijuana manufacturing operations.

Pennsylvania’s Senate minority leader said the state’s medical cannabis program “should be used as a steppingstone to expand to adult and recreational use.”

A Virginia senator criticized marijuana penalties that Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) proposed adding to a recreational cannabis sales legalization bill.

The Ohio Supreme Court is taking up conflicting cases on whether police can search vehicles based on the smell of marijuana.

A federal judge rejected a request to block New York regulators from prioritizing marijuana business licenses for people with cannabis convictions within the state over those with convictions from elsewhere.

California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to incomplete and incorrect regulatory compliance testing.

Montana regulators sent guidance about updating marijuana exit packaging requirements.

Washington, D.C. regulators are moving to deny a medical cannabis retailer license application due to the owner’s alleged involvement in illegal marijuana operations.

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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 Missoula, Montana City Council’s Housing, Redevelopment and Community Programs Committee approved a proposal to extend a moratorium on new recreational marijuana dispensaries.

The Sacramento, California City Council is expected to vote on a proposal to change marijuana business zoning rules this week.

/ INTERNATIONAL

New Zealand officials adopted new rules increasing THC limits for hemp.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that cannabis-based medicinal products “treatment was associated with sustained improvements in outcomes for individuals with hypermobility-associated chronic pain.”

A study found that “close to one-quarter of US adults (23.0%) are estimated to either disagree or not know that addiction is a health condition.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Kentucky Democratic Party tweeted, “Governor Beshear knows that medical cannabis provides safe relief from pain and he delivered it for Kentuckians.”

The president and CEO of American Trucking Associations testified at a Senate hearing that “full rescheduling of all marijuana products raises safety concerns by weakening employers’ zero-tolerance policies, compromising the current federal drug testing program for safety-sensitive professions, complicating enforcement, and potentially increasing marijuana use among all drivers.”

/ BUSINESS

Trulieve Cannabis Corp.’s president resigned.

Illinois dispensaries sold $13.8 million worth of medical cannabis products in May.

/ CULTURE

Zac Efron is building a house in Australia that’s made mostly from hemp.

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