Cannabis banking not an urgent priority, GOP Senate sponsor says (Newsletter: June 23, 2025)

*TX gov signs medical cannabis bill; Dems slam Trump for freeing drug war
prisoner; NJ cannabis training; Study: LSD & depression*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), set to be the lead sponsor of cannabis banking
legislation this session, told Marijuana Moment that he doesn’t expect to
have conversations about the bill until the fall—saying he’s focused on
other priorities right now and that SAFER Banking is “a tomorrow thing.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill to expand the state’s limited
medical cannabis law with new qualifying conditions, additional product
forms and more dispensary locations.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) vetoed a bill to ban consumable hemp products
with any amount of THC following major pushback from industry, military
veterans and more.

Ross Ulbricht, whose prison sentence for operating the online Silk Road
drug marketplace was pardoned by President Donald Trump, said more than
half the people he served time with also deserve to be freed—as House
Judiciary Committee Democrats criticized Trump for Ulbricht’s clemency.

The New Jersey Department of State’s Business Action Center announced it
completed the curriculum of a no-cost Cannabis Training Academy meant to
support entrepreneurs interested in entering the marijuana industry.

A review by the Last Prisoner Project of state cannabis legislation in 2025
concludes that “legalization is advancing, but justice is still being
denied”—with several bills to seal conviction records and provide
sentencing relief for incarcerated people stalling without being enacted.

A new study found that “high-dose-LSD-assisted therapy reduced depressive
symptoms more than low-dose therapy” and that “improvements in depression
scores persisted up to 12 weeks after treatment”—highlighting the “promise”
of the psychedelic “as a novel approach to treating depression.”

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) sent cease and desist letters to
82 retailers over alleged sales of illegal THC-containing products, saying
that “nearly every one of these products were mislabeled.”

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission plans to vote on proposed
rules for marijuana social consumption business licenses next month, with
the aim of having final regulations in place by October.

The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation is reviewing policies on
medical marijuana purchase limits following pushback from industry and
patient representatives.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission approved a license for a testing lab
after a different company that was previously awarded a license decided not
to renew.

*/ FEDERAL*

A Drug Enforcement Administration judge ruled against MMJ BioPharma
Cultivation’s effort to obtain a cannabis bulk manufacturing license.

Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) sent a letter urging the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy to coordinate with other federal agencies to
clarify rules for the use of drug overdose reversal medications by first
responders.

*/ STATES*

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) tweeted that the state “has been a national
leader in finally ending outdated laws around cannabis, and now we are
doing the same for natural medicine,” saying that his recent psilocybin
pardons are part of “fulfilling the will of Colorado voters, moving away
from ineffective drug policy, opening the door to exciting new research
opportunities into promising treatments, and encouraging local
municipalities to follow suit.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) discussed his expanded pardons for people with
marijuana possession convictions.

The North Carolina Senate passed a bill to regulate and restrict
hemp-derived products.

Ohio’s House minority leader said the legislature should not take marijuana
tax revenue away from local governments, as some Republican-led bills would
do.

An Arizona judge is expected to rule on a request for a preliminary
injunction against the attorney general’s crackdown on hemp products this
week.

California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to the
presence of aspergillus.

Washington State regulators approved rules concerning the presence of
minors at non-retail cannabis premises.

Minnesota regulators published guidance on cannabis events and licensing.

Florida regulators granted a waiver of certain requirements for a hemp
testing lab.

Massachusetts cannabis regulators are now accepting registrations for their
EquityWorks Career Hub.


*— 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 cannabis activist with Sativa Cross won the Democratic nomination for a Dover,
New Jersey Town Council seat.

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

A former Canadian senator is working with Membertou First Nation to develop
cannabis regulations.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A study found that “the association of [medical cannabis legalization] with lower
frequency of [non-medical prescription opioid] use was driven by
individuals with cannabis use disorder, highlighting the importance of
identifying tradeoffs of cannabis legalization as an intervention to reduce
opioid-related harms.”

A study found that “CBD 20% was effective to significantly reduce [intraocular
pressure] in healthy adult Italian Saddle horses and may be an effective
hypotensive agent to be implemented in case of primary or secondary
glaucoma.”

*/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS*

The Association of American Railroads’s president and CEO testified at a
Senate hearing that as a federal cannabis rescheduling proposal moves
forward, “Congress should ensure that employers whose employees conduct
safety-sensitive activities each day, like the railroads, maintain the
ability to drug test employees for marijuana usage and treat positive tests
as proof of unacceptable employee conduct.”

The Boston Herald editorial board is concerned that Massachusetts’s move to
allow social cannabis consumption businesses could increase impaired
driving.

*/ BUSINESS*

Frontier Risk launched an on-premise insurance program for venues and live
events offering hemp-derived THC beverages.

Canadian retailers sold C$466.7 million worth of legal marijuana products
in April.

*/ CULTURE*

Sabrina Carpenter said marijuana is “just not for me” and that she doesn’t
“like the smell of it on clothing.”

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The post Cannabis banking not an urgent priority, GOP Senate sponsor says
(Newsletter: June 23, 2025) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.