Congress will consider hemp THC product ban delay next week (Newsletter: February 25, 2026)

*VA marijuana sales bill; OR medical cannabis in hospices; FL medical
marijuana for vets; Psychedelic legalization poll; Op-ed calling out NYT’s
stance*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

The House Agriculture Committee is set to consider an amendment to delay
the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products by one year during a
markup of the Farm Bill next week.

The Virginia House General Laws Committee amended a Senate-passed bill to
legalize recreational marijuana sales to be closer to the version approved
in their chamber, with additional changes—setting the stage for bicameral
negotiations.

Virginia Republican lawmakers discussed their decisions to vote for
legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales in contrast with most
other members of their party.

The Oregon House of Representatives passed a bill to allow patients to use
medical cannabis in hospices and other healthcare facilities.

The Florida House Health & Human Services Committee approved a bill to
slash medical cannabis registration fees for military veterans—with the
sponsor saying that marijuana helps with “reducing the dependency on
opioids.”

A new poll shows that about a quarter of Americans support legalizing
psilocybin, which is “similar to what it was for cannabis in the mid-1990s—just
before state medical cannabis laws started to be implemented.”

Jill Simonian and Codi Peterson of the Pharmacists’ Cannabis Coalition of
California argue in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that The New York Times
editorial board is wrong to claim the U.S. has a “marijuana problem” when
the real issue is actually a “regulatory deficit layered on top of decades
of stigma.”

- “We have normalized widespread use without building the clinical and
institutional structures needed to manage it responsibly, and then express
surprise when problems emerge. This is not a failure of legalization. It is
a failure of integration.”

The South Dakota House of Representatives passed a bill to eliminate the
Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee, with the sponsor saying the body has
become an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.

*/ FEDERAL*

The Drug Enforcement Administration is promoting a podcast episode about
drug use in LGBTQ+ youth communities.

The House bill to provide a pathway for patients to access Schedule I drugs
got one new cosponsor for a total of 16.

*/ STATES*

Ohio’s Senate president defended the legislature’s decision to enact
restrictions on hemp products.

The Nebraska legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee approved a
bill to provide protections for doctors who recommend medical cannabis.

The West Virginia House Finance Committee held a hearing on a bill to
reallocate medical cannabis revenue.

A Minnesota senator discussed her bill to require testing of recreational
marijuana products.

Florida’s health care administration secretary said the state reimbursed
the federal government for Medicaid settlement funds that were spent to
oppose a marijuana legalization ballot initiative.

Rhode Island regulators are asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit
challenging the state’s marijuana social equity business licensing system.

Colorado regulators published guidance about the marijuana business license
application process.

The California State Fair is again hosting a cannabis awards competition
this year—with a new home grow category.

Washington, D.C. regulators suspended a medical cannabis business’s license
over alleged violations.

The Oregon Psilocybin Product Potency Workgroup will meet on March 3 and 17.


*— 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*

New York City’s mayor said officials worked to keep drug overdose
prevention centers open overnight during recent cold weather to save lives.

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

The Philippine House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and House Committee on
Health approved a medical cannabis legalization bill, drawing concerns from
the Department of Health.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A study found that packaging films based on polysaccharides with cannabis
flower extract “reduced the degradation of bioactive compounds during the storage
of packaged fruit.”

A study found that “chronic use of ayahuasca or cannabis is not associated
with detectable lasting neuropsychological impairments in the executive and
working memory tasks assessed in this study, and that personality
characteristics—rather than cognition or psychopathology—most clearly
distinguish chronic users from non-users.”

*/ BUSINESS*

Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $66.7
million.

Village Farms International, Inc. amended and extended its Canadian credit
facility by upsizing loan commitments with existing lenders.

Glass House Brands Inc.’s board of directors established a special
committee to explore new products and business expansion.

Green Flower launched a cannabis employer network.

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(Newsletter: February 25, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.