Cannabis legalization could help GOP win young voters...

*Possible Gaetz & Trulieve contract; Mike Tyson & celebs push Trump on
marijuana; New Chicago police cannabis policy; Cannabis seeds in space*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was photographed reviewing a document that
appeared to be a draft contract to provide services to a firm affiliated
with the marijuana company Trulieve—including a lucrative bonus if a
certain “matter resolves,” with an “additional ‘Super Success Fee'” for
other “exclusive policy remedies.”

Gaetz, President Donald Trump’s first pick to serve as attorney general in
the current administration, separately suggested that embracing marijuana
reform could be “a way for the Republican party to secure more votes from
young voters.”

Celebrities including Mike Tyson, Kevin Durant, Allen Iverson, Wyclef Jean
and other athletes and entertainers sent a letter urging President Donald
Trump to reschedule marijuana, release cannabis prisoners and support
banking access for the industry.

- Tyson also suggested in an interview that marijuana rescheduling is
“more possible” under Trump “than during the last administration.”

The Chicago Police Department is enacting a policy change meant to
discourage searches based on the smell of raw, unburnt marijuana, according
to documents filed in an ongoing lawsuit seeking reform.

A science experiment intended to study how cannabis seeds fare in space—in
hopes of one day planting the crop on the moon or even Mars—failed when a
capsule carrying the payload launched by SpaceX crashed into the Pacific
Ocean.

A new government-funded study found that “naturalistic use of psychedelics
is associated with longitudinal improvements in anxiety and depression
during global crisis times” such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer’s (D) office won’t say if he plans to sign a bill
that lawmakers sent to his desk to limit the kinds of marijuana business
zoning restrictions that counties can enact.

The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission approved emergency rules that will
allow regulators to begin accepting business license applications but
prohibit patients from being able to access marijuana flower, infused food
or drinks and any products administered by smoking or vaping.

A Nebraska judge dismissed a former senator’s lawsuit seeking to overturn
the medical cannabis ballot measures approved by voters last year.

An Iowa Republican representative who supports legalizing psilocybin for
medical use cheered Gov. Kim Reynolds’s (R) veto of a bill that would have
allowed only a synthetic version of the psychedelic.

A new poll of Texas voters shows that 53 percent oppose outlawing hemp
products, in line with Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) veto of a bill that would
have banned hemp consumables with any amount of THC.

*/ FEDERAL*

President Donald Trump withdrew his initial nomination of Sara Carter—who
called medical cannabis a “fantastic” treatment option for seriously ill
patients—to serve as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
so that she could be renominated under her legal name of Sara Bailey.

The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted a video where members of the
comedy group Smosh were “transformed to look like hardcore drug users.”

Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) tweeted about a meeting of the Psychedelic Assisted
Therapy Caucus, saying, “To date, the psychedelic therapies promise to
revolutionize how we treat mental challenges not only for Vets, but others
in our society. We’ll continue to fight for our vets.”

*/ STATES*

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed budget legislation containing provisions
to increase marijuana taxes.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) would sign a bill to halt a planned
marijuana tax increase if one is sent to him, a spokesperson said.
Separately, regulators announced recalls of cannabis products due to the
presence of aspergillus.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said in an op-ed that he will “dedicate
the rest of my life” to advocating for access to the psychedelic ibogaine.

Ohio lawmakers sent Gov. Mike DeWine (R) budget legislation that allows
localities to keep marijuana revenue despite an earlier push to steer all
the funding to the state.

New York regulators expanded a recall of marijuana products found to be
produced with material from an unlicensed source. They also approved the
appointment of a new chief equity officer and approved new cannabis
business licenses.

Michigan’s top marijuana regulator urged the cannabis industry to lobby
lawmakers for policy changes they wish to see enacted.

A member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents who owns a cannabis
business authored an op-ed accusing colleagues of “trying to silence me
after I raised concerns about a racist marketing campaign” about the
alleged harms of marijuana use that she said was “rooted in centuries-old
racist tropes linking Black Americans to criminality and drug use.”

Washington State regulators sent a reminder about official sources of
communication for the Cannabis Social Equity Program.

Vermont regulators do not have a timeline for licensing for new cannabis
retailers, a spokesperson said.

New Jersey lawmakers sent a newsletter with updates on various cannabis
issues.


*— 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 St. Louis, Missouri alderman filed a proposal to allow sales of
intoxicating hemp products only at licensed marijuana dispensaries.

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime published its annual World
Drug Report.

New South Wales, Australia lawmakers discussed the prospects for
decriminalizing marijuana.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A study found that “medical grade CBD-enriched oil is effective and
tolerable for at least 12 months of adjunctive treatment in pediatric
drug-resistant epilepsy.”

A study found that “hair contamination could arise in vivo even after short
single exposures to cannabis and “light cannabis”, underlining the need for
a careful interpretation of results of hair analysis in forensic
toxicology.”

*/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS*

A poll of New York City voters from prohibitionist organization Smart
Approaches to Marijuana found that 20 percent support unrestricted public
marijuana use, 51 percent want to allow use in designated areas and 30
percent back a complete ban.

*/ BUSINESS*

4Front Ventures Corp. announced that a court appointed a receiver and that
two board members resigned.

Curaleaf Inc. is asking a federal court to reject conditional class
certification for a lawsuit over its practices surrounding budtender tips.

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*Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.*

The post Cannabis legalization could help GOP win young voters, former
congressman says (Newsletter: June 30, 2025) appeared first on Marijuana
Moment.