Texas medical cannabis expansion bill advances to final passage (Newsletter: May 29, 2025)

OH legalization amendments; London mayor backs marijuana decrim; OK ballot push; Top advocate steps down; Cannabis joint rolling competition

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Texas Senate passed a bill to expand the state’s limited medical cannabis program by adding new qualifying conditions, including chronic pain, and authorizing additional dispensary locations—sending it back to the House of Representatives for consideration of recent amendments.

The Ohio House Judiciary Committee amended a Senate-passed bill to revise the voter-approved marijuana legalization law by taking out a proposed criminal penalty for sharing cannabis between adults, among other changes.

Nevada lawmakers sent Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) a bill to stop automatically disqualifying people from becoming foster parents due to past marijuana convictions.

London, England Mayor Sadiq Khan is calling for marijuana decriminalization after a commission he established found that criminalizing people over simple cannabis possession does more harm than good and disproportionately impacts minority communities.

Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action says a new ballot initiative restriction law signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) won’t deter their push to put a marijuana legalization measure before voters in 2026.

Top Marijuana Policy Project staffer Matthew Schweich is leaving the organization—where he spearheaded several state legalization ballot campaigns—to run a new project focused on protecting the citizen initiative process more broadly.

Rolling Derby is billing itself as the first-ever professional marijuana joint rolling competition, vowing to turn cannabis culture into a “spectator sport that celebrates real craftsmanship.”

The Nebraska legislature advanced a bill to ban most consumable hemp products, with a “consumer safe harbor period” through the end of the year to give people time to discard any “illegal hemp.”

/ FEDERAL

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is “reviewing” lawmakers’ request to investigate an organization with ties to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over the “potentially unlawful diversion” of Medicaid funds to campaign against a marijuana legalization ballot initiative.

The Drug Enforcement Administration launched a new “Faces of Fentanyl” digital exhibit.

/ STATES

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) attended the groundbreaking for the state’s first medical cannabis safety compliance facility.

Texas’s lieutenant governor held a press conference to tout legislation to ban consumable hemp products with any amount of THC.

Louisiana lawmakers sent Gov. Jeff Landry (R) a bill to criminalize kratom.

The Connecticut legislature’s Regulation Review Committee rejected regulators’ proposed changes to marijuana rules.

The Massachusetts legislature’s Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy is considering legislation to restructure the Cannabis Control Commission.

The chair of the Hawaii House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce discussed cannabis bills approved by lawmakers this session.

Colorado regulators sent guidance about psychedelics testing requirements.

Minnesota regulators sent a reminder that the deadline to submit proposals for two cannabis grants programs is on Tuesday.

Oregon regulators will host listening sessions about the psilocybin services program next week.

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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

New York City’s mayor suggested that some reporters who cover him “do cannabis,” saying that “I can smell it.”

San Bernardino County, California officials are being sued by a branch of the Native American Church for allegedly improperly seizing cannabis and other plant medicines.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Moroccan officials are moving to adopt rules on medical cannabis cultivation.

New South Wales, Australia lawmakers filed a bill to protect medical cannabis patients from driving under the influence charges.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that although hempseed byproduct and spent hemp biomass “can be promising feed ingredients for ruminants, their present use as feed ingredients is limited by the residuals of THC and CBD.

A study of rats found that “Lebanese cannabis oil possesses important kidney protective effects against sodium orthovanadate-induced renal injury.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Cannabis Association for Unified Retail Development is a new organization representing New York marijuana social equity businesses.

/ BUSINESS

IM Cannabis Corp. applied for a voluntary delisting of its shares from the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Heavy Seas Beer’s CEO attributed a shrinking alcohol market in part to the legalization of marijuana.

All American Hemp Co.’s owner is facing federal charges of alleged wire fraud and money laundering in connection with COVID relief loans.

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