Congress discusses hemp and FDA’s failure to regulate (Newsletter: April 10, 2025)

German legalization protected under new gov’t; MD marijuana records bill to gov; HI psychedelics; ND decrim expansion fails; OR cannabis cafes

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee took testimony from a U.S. Hemp Roundtable representative at a hearing on how the Food and Drug Administration “failed to approve products and take necessary enforcement actions resulting in a flood of illicit and counterfeit products.”

Parties in Germany’s new governing coalition reached an agreement to “conduct an open-ended evaluation” of  the country’s marijuana legalization law, rather than repeal it as was called for by conservative lawmakers who won the most votes in recent elections.

Maryland lawmakers sent Gov. Wes Moore (D) a bill to shield records for low-level marijuana convictions that have been pardoned from public access, and to more broadly expand expungement eligibility for certain other offenses.

The Hawaii House of Representatives approved an amended version of a Senate-passed bill to support clinical research on psychedelic-assisted therapies using substances such as psilocybin and MDMA.

The North Dakota Senate 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.

Oregon activists filed a second proposed initiative to legalize social consumption areas for marijuana that they hope to place on the 2026 ballot, introducing it little more than a month after submitting a similar proposal to allow cannabis cafes.

The Montana Senate and House of Representatives have each passed competing bills to shift how marijuana tax revenue is allocated while preserving funding for conservation programs that are currently supported by cannabis money.

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

Connecticut lawmakers are considering legislation to give social equity marijuana licensees flexibility to sell their businesses sooner than is allowed under current law, which requires them to wait seven years.

/ FEDERAL

The State Department published its 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) tweeted, “foreign purchases of US farmland are a serious threat. In Oklahoma alone, 2,000 of the over 7,000 licensed marijuana farms have ties to China. My SOIL Act would bring much-needed oversight to these land deals.”

/ STATES

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed a bill to create a cannabis enforcement division.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed legislation authorizing regulators to take enforcement action against businesses that sell cannabis products that don’t comply with state rules.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed a bill to require testing of certain medical cannabis products.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) pardoned several people with drug convictions.

Michigan regulators published a bulletin about compliant packaging for marijuana products containing multiple flavors, colors and strains of infused-edibles and vape cartridges.

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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

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that claimed Portage County, Ohio police illegally searched the car of a man who grew cannabis to produce CBD products because it smelled like marijuana.

An Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council member said a state Supreme Court ruling that police can’t search vehicles based on the smell of marijuana can help rebuild trust in law enforcement.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The leader of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines New Democratic Party discussed his support for legalizing marijuana.

Hungary’s National Assembly is debating legislation to increase drug penalties and enforcement.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study of military veterans found that “higher cannabis use was associated with lower stress and better sleep quality that same night.”

A review concluded that “medicinal cannabis may provide short-term relief for certain [mental health] symptoms but is not a cure or without mental health risks.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll of U.S. adult cannabis consumers found that 63 percent say they “always” or “sometimes” try to choose healthier snacks when they have the munchies.

/ BUSINESS

SNDL Inc. is acquiring 32 cannabis retail stores operating under the Cost Cannabis and T Cannabis names in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada.

Glass House Brands Inc. is collaborating with the University of California, Berkeley on hemp research.

/ CULTURE

Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart are teaming up with BIC on a cannabis dining experience in Los Angeles, California around 4/20.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.