Trump budget director: marijuana a “gateway drug”; HI legalization stalls; Rescheduling hearing participant withdraws; IL gov touts $2B cannabis sales

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Free to read (but not free to produce)! We’re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we’re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen. If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOWNewly confirmed White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said marijuana is a “gateway drug” and has pushed to roll back state legalization laws. His office would play a key role in vetting any cannabis rescheduling rule under the Trump administration.Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) filed a bill to continue blocking marijuana businesses from taking federal tax deductions under the 280E penalty—even if cannabis is rescheduled.The Connecticut Office of the Cannabis Ombudsman has withdrawn from participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s federal cannabis rescheduling hearings, with the official telling Marijuana Moment that “behind-the-scenes shenanigans between the DEA and only certain parties caused us to lose faith in the process.”Sen. Pete Ricketts (R) said he met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discuss the “importance” of “preventing the expansion of marijuana” if he is confirmed as President Donald Trump’s health and human services secretary.The Hawaii House of Representatives voted to delay consideration of a marijuana legalization bill until next year, though companion legislation is still technically alive in the Senate.The Arkansas Senate passed a bill to set aside revenue from medical marijuana taxes to pay for free breakfast for students—a plan that Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) endorsed during her State of the State address.Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) is touting the state’s “record-setting” $2 billion in legal marijuana sales in 2024, saying it shows the “economic impact of a thriving cannabis industry.”A Florida Republican senator has refiled a bill to legalize home cultivation of medical cannabis after withdrawing an earlier version that had also included separate provisions to enact new restrictions on certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products.A new study conducted in part by a federal official at the National Cancer Institute and funded by the state of Pennsylvania found that “medical marijuana was comparatively more effective than prescription medications for the treatment of chronic pain.”

• “While we cannot conclude that medicinal cannabis is opioid sparing,” the study continues, “our results do point to possible use as an adjunct in trying to wean opioids successfully.”

Tennessee Democratic lawmakers filed legislation to legalize marijuana, with one saying the state is “potentially leaving more than $155 million dollars annually on the table by ignoring what poll after poll shows Tennesseans overwhelmingly support.”Missouri House and Senate committees approved legislation to ban intoxicating hemp edibles and vapes from being sold outside of marijuana dispensaries while allowing low-dose intoxicating hemp drinks to continue to be sold in grocery and liquor stores.The South Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to defelonize the ingestion of illegal drugs on first and second offenses.A Florida Republican representative asked a witness during a hearing whether the state’s medical cannabis program is “causing more harm than good.”/ FEDERALRep. Summer Lee (D-PA) tweeted, “Decades of harsh sentences didn’t stop overdoses. Locking people up didn’t end addiction. The War on Drugs only accomplished mass incarceration & broken communities. We have the tools to save lives—if Republicans stop clinging to failed policies that target Black & Brown folks.”/ STATESSouth Dakota’s attorney general sent a warning about marijuana allegedly laced with opioids.A Pennsylvania Republican senator expressed concerns about marijuana-impaired driving after legalization.Colorado regulators published a bulletin on cannabis business reduced testing allowance attestations and certification fees.Minnesota regulators published guidance on cannabis business license types.Oregon regulators published a report saying that the state is continuing to see an oversupply of marijuana.California cannabis regulators touted their efforts to “improve consumer protection.”West Virginia regulators posted a list of registered hemp products.Georgia regulators will consider issuing medical cannabis dispensary licenses on Wednesday.
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/ LOCALBaltimore, Maryland’s mayor is supporting state legislation to decriminalize drug paraphernalia.A judge is expected to rule on a challenge to the Colorado Springs, Colorado City Council’s effort to place a question to repeal the voter-approved legalization of recreational marijuana sales on the April ballot on Monday.The Coconino County, Arizona attorney is launching a process to simplify and expedite that marijuana record sealing petition process./ INTERNATIONALMalta’s Authority Responsible for the Use of Cannabis signed an agreement with the University of Malta to carry out marijuana research./ SCIENCE & HEALTHA study found that “no significant effects were found in cannabis-, alcohol-, or opioid-related [emergency department] visits following the allocation of cannabis retailers.”A review concluded that “the global academic panorama shows the growing recognition of psilocybin as a promising alternative in psychiatric treatment.”/ BUSINESSCanopy Growth Corporation reported quarterly net revenue of C$74.8 million and a net loss of C$121.9 million.Cresco Labs is being sued by a former worker who claims she was wrongfully fired after a workplace injury.iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. subsidiaries are selling three dispensaries and two processing/cultivation facilities in Arizona to Pitchfork Enterprises, LLC d/b/a Sonoran Roots and its affiliates.Aurora Cannabis Inc. entered into a strategic supply agreement with SNDL Inc.

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