DEA recruiting new agents as other agencies face DOGE downsizing (Newsletter: April 8, 2025)

CO, CT & VA psilocybin; ND marijuana decrim expansion fails; NC medical cannabis chances; PA bill to aid small farmers after legalization; TX decrim

Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.

Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…

Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. Have you thought about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming months and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count on.

Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today:
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Drug Enforcement Administration is actively recruiting new agents to help “fight the war on drugs” at a time when the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is more broadly making big cuts to the federal workforce.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill to let doctors prescribe a form of psilocybin if the psychedelic is federally approved by the Food and Drug Administration—while Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed similar legislation.

The Connecticut legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee approved a bill to decriminalize psilocybin by making possession of up to half an ounce of the psychedelic punishable by a $150 fine, without the threat of jail time.

The North Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee rejected a House-passed bill to significantly expand the state’s existing marijuana decriminalization law by reducing the offense for possession to a civil citation punishable by a fine of $150.

North Carolina’s Republican Senate president said there “continues to be discussion about medical marijuana” but that rather than pass legislation through his chamber again as in past sessions, he wants to “wait and see” what the House of Representatives will do on the issue.

Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced a bill to help ensure that small farmers have a role in the marijuana industry if the state enacts recreational legalization.

Activists in Kyle, Texas are launching a campaign to place a marijuana decriminalization initiative on the local ballot.

The Alabama House Health Committee held a hearing on a bill to regulate consumable hemp products under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

/ FEDERAL

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) discussed his support for cannabis banking legislation.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted about PharmaCann laying  off 19 workers in Holliston, Massachusetts.

/ STATES

Pennsylvania’s Senate president pro tempore tweeted about meeting Marc Fogel, who was recently freed from incarceration in Russia due to possessing medical cannabis.

An Idaho representative said during a debate on a bill to allow ivermectin to be sold as an over-the-counter medicine that “it’s the same argument” for medical cannabis, which is that “there are people who believe that it works, that it is a better way of dealing with pain.”

New York regulators are reportedly investigating alleged illegal inversion into the state’s marijuana market.

Minnesota regulators said they expect to begin issuing marijuana business licenses to social equity applicants “in a matter of weeks” following a judge’s ruling.

Rhode Island regulators are seeking a vendor to create a portal to assess marijuana business license applicant qualifications.

Oregon regulators will hold a hearing on draft rules concerning artificially derived cannabinoids on Wednesday.

Montana regulators sent a newsletter with various cannabis policy updates.

—
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.
—

/ INTERNATIONAL

Ireland’s minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science said the government should “treat cannabis in the same way as we treat alcohol, as we treat cigarettes.”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study suggested “the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in neuroinflammation.”

A study found that “CBD appears effective in treating oral mucosa lesions.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America tweeted, “Veterans deserve access to cannabis to treat physical and mental health, period.”

/ BUSINESS

Jimmy John’s launched a Toasted Hot Combo, or ” T.H.C. Box” promotion around 4/20.

Illinois dispensaries sold $22.1 million worth of medical cannabis in March.

/ CULTURE

The Pittsburgh Pirates had Marc Fogel, who was recently released from Russian incarceration for possessing medical cannabis, throw out the first pitch at their first home game of the season.

Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.