Author: News Room

A Republican congressman says he’s concerned that if the federal government doesn’t “go further” than simply moving marijuana to a lower drug schedule—as the top health agency has recommended—large pharmaceutical companies might be able to overtake the cannabis industry. On Monday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filled in for a Newsmax host and led a segment that featured attorney John Morgan, who spent millions to put a successful medical cannabis initiative on the ballot in Florida. The two discussed recent reporting that the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) is advising the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to move marijuana from Schedule…

“We are getting almost a third, nearly 30 percent of the revenue that we get from the cannabis industry comes from people coming to Illinois and spending money at dispensaries.” By Andrew Hensel, The Center Square Numbers show Illinois residents are paying 89 percent more than the rest of the country when looking at cannabis prices. However, Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) says the state is doing it the right way. Recreational marijuana became legal for Illinoisans at the start of 2020. Since then, Illinoisans have been paying more for their cannabis than the majority of states where the drug has…

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is reiterating his commitment to advancing marijuana banking reform as the chamber comes back into session from the August recess. In a floor speech on Tuesday, Schumer discussed various legislative priorities for the coming weeks and months. That includes “making progress on cannabis” through the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, he said. However, he stressed that “we are under no illusion that we can make progress on the Senate floor unless we get bipartisan cooperation” on marijuana reform and other priorities such as curbing the price of insulin and competing against China…

The governor of Colorado is applauding President Joe Biden after his administration’s top health agency recommended rescheduling marijuana—but he says the initial move must be followed with more action to address cannabis banking, immigration, criminal justice reform and federal enforcement concerns. That should include developing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance clarifying that it will not interfere in state-legal marijuana activities, he said. In a letter sent to Biden on Tuesday, Gov. Jared Polis (D) commended the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for advising the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule…

Certain federal employers could not test most job applicants for marijuana under a series of new amendments being proposed for large-scale spending bills. And other congressional lawmakers are pushing to promote access to psychedelics for military service members with certain mental health conditions and to expand waivers for Army recruits who test positive for cannabis. As amendments to several pieces of appropriations legislation are posted by the House Rules Committee, one theme that’s developed concerns marijuana drug testing, with multiple bipartisan lawmakers aiming to loosen restrictions so that cannabis use does not jeopardize a person’s federal employment prospects or prevent…

As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works to rebuild a government seed bank for hemp that was destroyed during prohibition, the agency is issuing updated guidance on how to identify, describe and evaluate different varieties of the plant. USDA’s latest version of its Hemp Descriptor and Phenotyping Handbook, released earlier this summer, is the agency’s deepest dive yet into the different forms and qualities of hemp. Intended to help researchers better differentiate between hemp varieties, the new document includes all sorts of details on the morphology, yield, cannabinoid content, oil production, seed viability, fiber quality, pathogen resistance and various…

For the better part of the last decade, Chicago-bred rapper Mick Jenkins has proved himself to be one of the best pure lyricists in the game. With a vicious pen that’s truly mightier than any sword, a dedicated cult-like following that spans across the globe, respect from his peers on both sides of the mainstream and underground market, he’s had a longer and more sustainable career than most rappers do. Despite all of this, like similar independent artists before him, Mick’s brand of smooth laid-back raps over jazzy instrumentals has been largely underappreciated by major music media outlets and mainstream…

Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) are set to vote Thursday on a referendum that would legalize marijuana for people over 21—not just tribal members, but any adult who wants to make a purchase. The proposal is making waves in North Carolina, where marijuana remains illegal for both medical and recreational uses. If the measure passes, EBCI would become the first and only legal producer and retailer of adult-use cannabis within the state or any surrounding state. That’s raised concerns among local officials in North Carolina as well as one of the state’s congressional representatives, who late…

California marijuana regulators are doubling the amount of money they’re offering to localities to open up cannabis retailers in their jurisdictions as part of a grant program that aims to mitigate the illicit market. The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) also announced on Thursday that they’re expanding eligibility for the Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant (LJRAG) program, allowing cities that participated in the first phase to apply for funding again this round. DCC unveiled the first-of-its-kind program in February, and it awarded $4.1 million in grants to 18 jurisdiction in June. For the second phase, regulators said that they are…

Maryland officials are unveiling a new portal that will allow people to check their eligibility for a social equity marijuana business license before regulators begin to accept applications later this year. The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) announced on Friday that the Social Equity Verification Portal will open on September 8. It’s one of the latest ways regulators are working to promote policies built into the state’s legalization law that support communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana criminalization. “Our goal with establishing this verification tool is to ensure that every person who may be interested in a cannabis business license knows before…