US Cannabis Policy Updates

Washington regulators issued a policy statement this week clarifying that Delta-8 THC products are not legal under the state’s cannabis regulations.

The Texas House approved expansions to the state’s medical cannabis program that would raise the THC limit from 0.5% to 5% and legalize access for patients with chronic pain, PTSD, and cancer.

Philadelphia’s City Council has banned pre-employment drug screenings for cannabis by most businesses in the city.

Louisiana’s cannabis legalization proposal has cleared its final committee before heading to the House floor for consideration.

Vermont regulators have officially categorized hemp-based Delta-8 THC products as illegal under state law.

Minnesota’s adult-use cannabis legalization proposal advanced through another legislative committee this week — it is the bill’s ninth favorable committee vote.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is set to attend a fundraiser today hosted by medical cannabis licensees; the fundraiser has some concerned, however, due to the governor’s stated intention of retiring after the end of his term.

A House proposal introduced last week aims to protect the gun rights of cannabis consumers in states with legal cannabis access.

The Montana Senate approved a bill to implement the state’s voter-approved adult-use cannabis program; the proposal was already passed in the House but amendments by the Senate mean the bill must be reconsidered.

Nebraska’s Secretary of State gave final approval for Legal Marijuana Now to become an official political party in the state.

Florida’s conservative Supreme Court blocked the state’s cannabis legalization ballot initiative, claiming the initiative fails to properly inform voters that cannabis is federally illegal and would remain so even if the state legalizes it.

Multiple civil rights groups in Virginia skipped the governor’s cannabis legalization bill signing ceremony after the advocacy group Marijuana Justice was snubbed an invitation.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the SAFE Banking Act in an overwhelmingly bipartisan 321-101 vote. The bill moves next to the Senate.

Florida’s proposal to place a THC cap on medical cannabis products appears to be dead for the session after it was denied a hearing in the House Health and Human Services Committee on Monday.

Since Washington’s Supreme Court struck down the state’s minor drug possession laws in February, cities, state lawmakers, and the governor are re-envisioning what drug policy will look like in the Evergreen State.

Wisconsin’s top Senate Republican, Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, said he will not support medical or adult-use cannabis reforms without first seeing federal movement on the issue.

Lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate have proposed bipartisan legislation to federally legalize medical cannabis for combat veterans.

Alabama’s bill to legalize medical cannabis has been approved for consideration on the full House floor; a previous version of the bill already passed the state Senate.

The city councils in St. Louis and Maplewood, Missouri voted to decriminalize cannabis possession on Tuesday.

Washington state failed to pass key updates to its medical and adult-use cannabis systems this year, including the state’s long-awaited home grow bill.

New Mexico’s governor signed two bills this afternoon to legalize adult-use cannabis and expunge some cannabis-related criminal records.

North Carolina state Sen. Bill Rabon, one of the state’s top GOP lawmakers, has introduced a proposal to legalize medical cannabis.

The Alabama House Judiciary Committee advanced the medical cannabis bill approved by the state Senate in February.

Virginia lawmakers have approved changes to their legalization law to enact the reforms this July instead of in 2024.