Massachusetts lawmakers urge voters to keep cannabis sales legal (Newsletter: October 19, 2026)

Industry Dozens Of Massachusetts Lawmakers Urge Voters To Keep Marijuana Sales Legal By Rejecting Measure On November Ballot

More than 50 Massachusetts state lawmakers are joining together to oppose an initiative on the November ballot to roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law. House Speaker Ronald Mariano (D) and Senate President Karen Spilka (D) are among the 62 Democrats and Republicans who announced their support for keeping recreational cannabis sales legal in the […] The post Dozens Of Massachusetts Lawm…

Industry Marijuana Businesses Fighting To Ban Hemp THC Products Are Being Short-Sighted (Op-Ed)

“If the industry we created now argues that THC is safe in a dispensary but dangerous in a liquor store, voters and policymakers will reasonably conclude we were never serious.” By Aaron Smith, Third Rail Advisory Chris Lindsey and I both spent years at the Marijuana Policy Project before going on to help build the […] The post Marijuana Businesses Fighting To Ban Hemp THC Products Are Being Short…

Industry Marijuana Is A Popular Tool For People Trying To Quit Smoking Cigarettes, Rivaling Prescription Nicotine Cessation Medications, Study Shows

Almost as many people are using marijuana to help them quit smoking cigarettes as are using prescription nicotine cessation aids, according to a new study conducted by officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other institutions. The research, however, raises questions about potential side effects experienced by people who are using cannabis […] The post Marijuana Is A Popula…

Industry South Dakota Lawmakers Accused Of Rigging Marijuana Committee Meeting With Opponent Testimony

“You’ve done quite the job once again in stacking the committee with anti-cannabis individuals from out of state.” By Meghan O’Brien, South Dakota Searchlight Supporters of South Dakota’s medical marijuana industry clashed with a state oversight committee Tuesday about speakers invited to address the group. The Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee is led by state lawmakers and also […] The post S…

Industry GOP Senator Attacked Over Push To Keep Hemp THC Products Legal In New Ad From Dark Money Group

A Republican senator’s efforts to craft regulations to keep hemp THC products federally legal is being called out in a new 30-second ad from a dark money group that doesn’t disclose its donors. Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) “wants to keep THC drinks on our shelves—not in the dispensary—at the convenience store, next to soft drinks,” […] The post GOP Senator Attacked Over Push To Keep Hemp THC Products Le…

Industry Nebraska Officials Consider Changes To Medical Marijuana Rules

One amendment would remove a requirement for product labels to list medical cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance in light of federal rescheduling. By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner People wishing to weigh in on the latest regulations for the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission can do so in person Thursday or by sending in written […] The post Nebraska Officials Consider Changes T…

Industry Proposed New Mexico Psilocybin Rules Get Pushback From Lawmakers And Advocates

“By virtue of our law, the Medical Psilocybin Act, we have given people the legal right to access this plant medicine.” By Jack Gorsline, Psychedelic State(s) of America Medical providers, military veterans, legal experts and the primary legislative author of New Mexico’s Medical Psilocybin Act delivered a unified rebuke to the New Mexico Department of […] The post Proposed New M…

Industry DEA Judge Orders Agency To Address Marijuana Rescheduling Opponents’ Request For New Testimony And Document Discovery

A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge overseeing a hearing on the Trump administration’s marijuana rescheduling proposal is ordering the agency to respond to opponents’ request for a new round of testimony and discovery in the proceedings. The dispute concerns a recently released federal watchdog report that found there are “gaps” in the government’s process f…

Industry Boston Mayor Opposes Massachusetts Ballot Measure To Roll Back Marijuana Legalization

The mayor of the largest city in Massachusetts says she is voting against an initiative on the November ballot that seeks to roll back the state’s cannabis legalization law. “A decade ago, I was proud to be among the few elected officials who supported the ballot question to legalize cannabis and end decades of criminalization […] The post Boston Mayor Opposes Massachusetts Ballot Meas…

Industry Oklahoma Should Stop Changing Medical Marijuana Rules So Frequently, Lawmaker Says

“Let’s see what shakes out from the things that we’ve done the first six years. Give the industry a break and give it time to show us if the changes we made are beneficial.” By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice The Oklahoma Legislature should hit pause on further regulating the state’s medical marijuana industry to allow […] The post Oklahoma Should Stop Changing Medical Marijuana Rules So Frequen…

Industry Talarico Says He’ll Work To Federally Legalize Marijuana If Elected To The Senate

The Democratic candidate running to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate in next month’s elections says he will work to federally legalize marijuana if he wins the race. “Like prohibition, bans don’t work,” James Talarico, who currently serves as a state representative, said in response to a question from The Texas Tribune about how Congress […] The post Talarico Says He&#821…

Industry Former Staffer At Top Marijuana Policy Group Criticizes Its Push To Keep Hemp THC Products Legal (Op-Ed)

“The charade of hemp intoxicants must end. Sneaking in the back door with synthetic drugs nobody asked for is not the path to legalization.” By Chris Lindsey, American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp Last week, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) asked its supporters to urge Congress to keep intoxicating hemp products on the market. […] The post Former Staffer At Top Marijuana Policy Group …