Category: Politics

President Donald Trump has fulfilled a campaign promise by commuting the life sentence of Ross Ulbricht, a man who was convicted of running a dark web illicit drug market. Despite his repeated pledges to take extreme, punitive actions—including capital punishment—against people who sell drugs, Trump granted a full pardon to Ulbricht on Tuesday, effectuating his […]
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“Successful reform requires both divestment from criminalization and reinvestment in harm reduction, opportunities and public good.” By Jack Gorsline, HorizonMass Psychedelic advocates across the Bay State scored some short-term wins last week—a dozen, to be exact—as commonwealth lawmakers submitted 12 psychedelics-related bills prior to the legislative filing deadline last Friday. This surge in activity follows […]
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“These draft rule revisions should mitigate the ongoing efforts of ineligible entities to acquire licenses by taking advantage of eligible individuals.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Missouri cannabis consultant John Payne appeared on 329 social-equity license applications last year as the designated contact—the person who handles all communications with state regulators. Amanda Kilroe, an attorney […]
The post New Missouri Rules Target Marijuana Business License Middlemen In Effort To Limit ‘Predatory’ Practices appeared first on Marijuana Moment.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is offering clarification for marijuana businesses amid a rule change related to reporting requirements for certain transactions in an effort to curb tax evasion. In a notice published in the Federal Register last week, IRS announced that it has finalized a rule concerning micro-captive insurers, which are small insurance companies […]
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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has a new interim leader—and he’s no fan of marijuana, previously linking cannabis use to school shootings and repeatedly insisting that the Biden administration”hijacked” the rescheduling process from the agency for political purposes. DEA announced on Monday that Derek Maltz, who retired from the agency in 2014 after 28 years […]
The post Trump’s New DEA Head Blamed Marijuana For School Shootings And Claimed Rescheduling Push Was Politically Motivated appeared first on Marijuana Moment.

As lawmakers prepare to once again take up large-scale agriculture legislation in the new session, congressional researchers are providing an overview of the policy landscape around hemp—emphasizing the divides around various cannabis-related proposals among legislators, stakeholders and advocates. In a report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) that was published this month, analysts discussed the […]
The post Congressional Researchers Outline ‘Diverging’ Priorities For Federal Hemp Laws Under Trump Administration appeared first on Marijuana Moment.

“Nobody representing those most harmed by marijuana arrests and over-incarceration was designated to participate.” By Kat Murti, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and Chelsea Higgs Wise, Marijuana Justice Tuesday was supposed to be the start of the much anticipated Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearing on potentially rescheduling marijuana under federal law. But now, months after […]
The post Canceled Marijuana Rescheduling Hearings Would Have Shut Out People Impacted By Criminalization (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.

President Donald Trump’s choice for U.S. attorney general is declining to say how she plans to navigate key marijuana policy issues—including the ongoing rescheduling process and renewing federal enforcement guidance—if she’s ultimately confirmed. Following her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) responded to a series […]
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