DOJ cannabis enforcement guidance revealed (Newsletter: December 4, 2025)

*TX medical marijuana expansion; Cannabis biz owner runs for Congress;
Marijuana prisoner letter campaign; Study: Cannabis regs vs alcohol
agencies*

Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every
weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis
stories are shaping the day.
Get our daily newsletter.

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

*Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…*

*Before you dig into today’s cannabis news,* I wanted you to know you can
keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana
Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into
the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going.

Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

Marijuana Moment obtained previously unpublished Biden-era cannabis
enforcement guidance that was recently rescinded by the Trump administration—showing
that the former president’s pardons had more far-reaching criminal justice
impacts than was known, including a directive for prosecutors to be
“extremely cautious” about pursuing further marijuana cases.

- The document, surfaced via a Freedom of Information Act request, also
has implications for medical marijuana patient protections and the federal
law criminalizing gun possession by cannabis consumers.

Cannabis business owner Wanda James, who is running for Congress, said full
federal legalization is the “only way to move forward with federal safety
standards, interstate commerce, banking access, and national market
stability.”

The Texas Department of State Health Services posted a new form for doctors
to recommend adding medical marijuana qualifying conditions and for
dispensaries to propose authorization of specific inhalation devices for
low-THC cannabis.

The Last Prisoner Project is leading a holiday letter drive encouraging
people to send messages of hope and support to those still behind bars for
marijuana offenses—with one formerly incarcerated person saying that “the
hardest moments were the ones when I felt cut off from the world.”

- “A single letter could break through that isolation. It reminded me
that I still had value, that people on the outside hadn’t forgotten me.”

A new study funded by the California Department of Cannabis Control found
that “cannabis regulatory agencies largely outperform alcohol regulatory
agencies in terms of their articulated public health goals, activities, and
policies.”

Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), who is running for a Senate seat, argues in a new
op-ed that the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products pushed by
congressional Republicans is a “step backward” and that “farmers and small
businesses need more guidance and regulatory certainty—not blanket bans.”

*/ FEDERAL*

The Drug Enforcement Administration posted an op-ed written by a mom who
says her son’s suicide “was caused by” marijuana dabbing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and
Agriculture awarded grant funding to a research project on powdery mildew
resistance in hemp.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted, “Labeling people ‘narco-terrorists’ without
proof just to justify killing them is not the law. It’s lunacy. This policy
risks dragging America into another foreign war. We need transparency,
oversight, and respect for the Constitution.” He also posted a document he
said indicates that “Coast Guard records show that prior to the reign of
‘blow-them-to-smithereens’ 21 percent of boats stopped off the coast of
Venezuela possessed NO drugs!”

Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) sent a letter that urged President Donald Trump
not to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández for drug
trafficking charges.

*/ STATES*

Wisconsin lawmakers are considering several bills to regulate intoxicating
hemp products.

The Nebraska Supreme Court heard oral arguments on a lawsuit seeking to
invalidate the voter-approved medical cannabis law. Separately, regulators
voted to extend emergency medical marijuana rules for another 90 days.

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office is projecting the state will
generate $631 million in cannabis tax revenues for fiscal year 2025-26.

A Massachusetts appeals court is allowing evidence to be dismissed from a
case on alleged illegal marijuana sales, ruling that police conducted an
unconstitutional search.

Oklahoma regulators filed proposed changes to medical cannabis rules.

New Jersey regulators published a pamphlet about medical cannabis patient
rights and protections.

The Maryland Department of Legislative Services published a briefing on
cannabis and hemp issues for the 2026 session..

Arizona regulators published a list of certified medical cannabis testing
laboratories.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on December 11.


*— 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. —*

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

Victoria, Australia lawmakers discussed ongoing efforts to legalize
cannabis.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A study found that “all C. sativa extracts showed protective biological
activity against toxicity caused by alpha-synuclein production, both in
yeast cells and H4 cells.”

A study found that “microdosing psilocybin increased quality of original
ideas.”

*/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS*

Young Republicans of Texas adopted a resolution calling on officials to
“classify all substances containing THC as illegal with appropriate
exceptions for medical purposes.”

*/ BUSINESS*

Eaze laid off dozens of workers.

High Times is partnering with Hoodie Analytics on a cannabis e-commerce
platform.

Washington, D.C. businesses sold $9 million worth of medical cannabis
products in October.

*Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your
inbox.*
Get our daily newsletter.

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

The post DOJ cannabis enforcement guidance revealed (Newsletter: December
4, 2025) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.