Feds spotlight cannabis industry workers’ risks from allergens (Newsletter: January 17, 2025)

New marijuana industry coalition; Rescheduling hearing debate; OH House speaker dials down cannabis opposition; MA social consumption

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Department of Justice told a federal court that it should pause a lawsuit challenging the Drug Enforcement Administration’s marijuana rescheduling process after the agency’s own judge cancelled upcoming administrative hearings that were set to start next week.

Federal officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health spoke on a webinar about cannabis industry workers’ exposure to allergens, part of a regional program to reduce the risk of occupational injury, illness and death at marijuana businesses.

The U.S. Cannabis Roundtable is a new advocacy coalition formed from a merger of the U.S. Cannabis Council and the National Cannabis Roundtable, positioning itself as “a singular voice representing the cannabis industry to the newly sworn in 119th Congress and the incoming Trump Administration.”

Ohio’s Republican House speaker appears to be scaling back his push to undermine provisions of the voter-approved cannabis law such as home cultivation rights, saying he doesn’t believe anyone in the legislature “realistically is suggesting that we’re going to repeal the legalization of marijuana.”

Two members of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission write in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that a proposed framework for on-site social cannabis consumption businesses can position the state to be an East Coast industry leader.

Michael DeGiglio of Village Farms and Robert Head of Hemp for Victory explain in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed why they pushed to pause federal cannabis rescheduling hearings, saying it was necessary to stop the Drug Enforcement Administration from “openly tipping the scales” against reform.

The Idaho Idaho House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee approved a bill to implement a $300 mandatory minimum fine for possession of three ounces or less of marijuana—though the sponsor noted “extremely compelling arguments” about medical cannabis.

The Colorado Springs, Colorado City Council passed a measure to allow the voter-approved legalization of recreational marijuana sales to proceed, but members also suggested they may put the issue on the ballot again in April.

/ FEDERAL

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) asked during a House floor speech, “Why is anyone still incarcerated for cannabis?”

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) included the shuttering of a Green Dragon facility in Colorado in a Twitter thread about Americans’ livelihoods “being devastated and uprooted by nationwide plant closures.”

/ STATES

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) is proposing to increase marijuana taxes.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed the state attorney general who unsuccessfully tried to block marijuana legalization from the ballot as a U.S. senator, and named his chief of staff who helped lead efforts to oppose legalizing cannabis, as her replacement.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) spoke during her State of the State speech about supporting police “efforts to get illicit drugs off of our streets and hold drug dealers accountable.”

New York’s Assembly majority leader said she plans to introduce legislation to reverse changes to responsibilities of cannabis regulators’ chief equity officer.

The Washington State House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee held a hearing on a bill to grant collective bargaining rights to agricultural cannabis workers.

Mississippi regulators are proposing changes to medical cannabis tax rules.

Maine’s top marijuana regulator acknowledged that his office has been issuing licenses to people associated with transnational organized crime.

Pennsylvania regulators posted guidance about a new policy allowing medical cannabis businesses to deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses under state law.

Utah regulators sent updates about the medical cannabis program.

—
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.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—

/ LOCAL

A Houston, Texas police evidence vault is being infested by rats who are eating evidence in drug cases.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study concluded that “CBD could be effective” for colorectal cancer.

A study found that “seven days of sleep recovery and treatment with CBD alleviated the detrimental effects of chronic sleep deprivation on the kidneys and liver of the Wistar rats.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The American Medical Association launched a podcast series about what physicians need to know about cannabis.

The Miami Herald editorial board said a newly filed proposed Florida marijuana legalization initiative is an improvement over a version that failed in 2024.

/ BUSINESS

Leafly Holdings, Inc. is being suspended from trading on the Nasdaq.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke about how the company’s algorithms flag drug-related content.

Colorado retailers sold $109.3 million worth of legal marijuana products in November.

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