The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee recently heard from a representative of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. The testimony focused on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) inability to approve products and take necessary enforcement actions. This failure has led to a surge of illicit and counterfeit products in the market.
In Germany, the new governing coalition has agreed to evaluate the country’s marijuana legalization law. This decision comes in response to calls from conservative lawmakers, who had suggested repealing the law after their recent electoral success.
In Maryland, lawmakers have sent a bill to Governor Wes Moore (D) aimed at protecting records of low-level marijuana convictions that have been pardoned. The legislation also seeks to broaden expungement eligibility for certain other offenses related to cannabis.
The Hawaii House of Representatives has approved an amended bill that supports clinical research into psychedelic-assisted therapies, including substances like psilocybin and MDMA. This bill follows a growing interest in the therapeutic potential of these substances.
In North Dakota, the Senate has rejected a House-passed bill designed to significantly expand the state’s marijuana decriminalization law. This proposal aimed to reduce possession offenses to a civil citation, carrying a fine of $150.
Oregon activists are moving forward with a second initiative to legalize social consumption areas for marijuana. They hope to place this proposal on the 2026 ballot, just over a month after submitting a similar initiative for cannabis cafes.
In Alabama, the House Health Committee has approved a bill that seeks to regulate consumable hemp products under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, indicating a move toward stricter oversight of hemp-derived goods.
Finally, New Mexico’s Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) has signed a bill that establishes a cannabis enforcement division. This new agency will oversee the regulation of the state’s cannabis industry, ensuring compliance with the law and protecting public health.
Other states, including Maryland, Arkansas, and New Jersey, have also seen significant legislative actions related to cannabis, marking a continued trend toward reform and regulation in the industry.
