More Trump DEA head anti-marijuana comments; Poll: Cannabis consumers don’t trust DEA; CA & VA psychedelics votes; PA gov on legalization
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Derek Maltz, the Trump administration’s acting Drug Enforcement Administration head, claimed that marijuana is a “gateway drug” that’s “actually causing psychosis, schizophrenia, depression [and] anxiety,” and he argued that consumers will continue buying cannabis from cartels even after legalization.
A new poll from NuggMD shows that 96 percent of marijuana consumers do not trust the Drug Enforcement Administration to serve as an “unbiased proponent” of the cannabis rescheduling rule it is supposed to defend.
Leaders from several major cannabis reform advocacy groups spoke to Marijuana Moment about what they see as the states most likely to enact legalization for recreational or medical use in 2025—with Pennsylvania, Hawaii and the Carolinas at the top of the list.
The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill to let doctors prescribe a form of psilocybin if the psychedelic is federally approved by the Food and Drug Administration, sending it to the Senate for consideration.
The Virginia Senate Education and Health Committee approved a bill to fund clinical trials involving veterans and “breakthrough therapies”—including psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and MDMA.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said the state should legalize marijuana so it can be more “competitive” with neighbors that already allow it and to protect “liberty, rights and freedom”—but lawmakers are divided on details for a legal cannabis market, with some pushing for state-run dispensaries.
Oklahoma’s House speaker pro tempore filed a bill to criminalize the use of medical cannabis during pregnancy, a response to a court ruling that women can’t be prosecuted for such activity because medical marijuana is legal.
Nebraska lawmakers filed several bills to amend rules for the voter-approved medical cannabis program—with one proposal seeking to limit patients to only accessing pills or liquid tinctures and another prioritizing social equity in the industry.
The Missouri Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee held a hearing on legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp-derived products, with a trade association representing the marijuana industry agreeing to a compromise to allow grocery and liquor stores to continue selling cannabinoid-infused drinks.
/ FEDERAL
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a memo giving agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies immigration enforcement powers.
Department of Government Efficiency Chair Elon Musk suggested that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives should be merged into the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) hosted a meeting with hemp industry stakeholders.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) spoke about her plans for leading the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.
/ STATES
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) is supporting legislation to expand marijuana regulators’ enforcement authority.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and the attorney general announced the recipients of a violence intervention grants program that’s funded by cannabis revenue.
The Kansas legislature’s Special Committee on Medical Marijuana issued a report.
A Tennessee senator said she will be filing a medical cannabis bill, arguing that the treatment “has been pushed down by Big Pharma…because it’s not addictive, there’s never been an overdose, and we have thousands of people dying yearly with overdoses of the pain medication.”
Virginia lawmakers are considering legislation to create a work group focused on the issue of illegal cannabis sales.
Ohio regulators launched a new centralized system designed to efficiently handle marijuana-related inquiries.
Minnesota regulators published a brochure for medical cannabis caregivers.
New York’s Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday.
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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
A Colorado Springs, Colorado City Council member spoke out against colleagues’ plans to put another measure to ban recreational marijuana sales back on the ballot.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Philippine justice secretary expressed new openness to cooperating with an International Criminal Court investigation of the nation’s bloody “war on drugs.”
German officials have so far approved only 83 of 444 cannabis club applications.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study indicated that “hemp extract is a potential source of sustainable and safe biopesticides against…major plant pathogens.”
A study of mice found that “CBD may be beneficial for therapeutic purposes in treating kidney disease, and its effects should be further analyzed in clinical trials.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Marijuana Industry Group is winding down operations.
/ BUSINESS
An explosion at a PharmaCann facility in Maryland injured two workers, state officials said.
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The post Which states are the most likely to legalize cannabis in 2025? (Newsletter: January 24, 2025) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.
