Dr. Oz warns about cannabis as alcohol alternative (Newsletter: February 24, 2026)

*FL legalization signatures zeroed out; MD & HI psychedelics votes; CT
medical marijuana in hospitals bill; Study: Cannabis munchies are real*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz warned
“there are going to be consequences” as more Americans choose marijuana
over alcohol—including problems caused by “high-dose hemp and CBD,” even as
his agency is preparing to roll out a plan to cover cannabidiol through
Medicare.

The Florida Department of State’s Elections Division has reset the valid
signature count for a marijuana legalization ballot initiative to 0 under a
new law that doesn’t allow the hundreds of thousands of petitions the
campaign collected for 2026 to be carried over into the 2028 cycle.

The Maryland House of Delegates and Senate Finance Committee approved bills
to extend the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic
Substances for a year and require a new report with recommendations to
ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances.”

The Hawaii Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill to
create a psychedelics task force to study and make recommendations on
providing access to breakthrough therapies such as psilocybin and MDMA.

The Connecticut legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health held a
hearing on a bill to let terminally ill patients use medical cannabis in
healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and hospices.

A new study confirms that marijuana really does give you the “munchies”—and
reveals which types of food people desire the most after consuming cannabis.

*/ FEDERAL*

Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) posted a video praising prohibitionist
organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

*/ STATES*

The South Dakota House of Representatives passed a bill to eliminate the
Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee.

The Michigan Supreme Court will hold oral arguments in two
marijuana-related cases next month.

Washington, D.C. regulators finalized medical cannabis advertising and
signage rules.

Vermont regulators sent a warning about scams targeting cannabis businesses.

Missouri regulators are working to launch a media campaign warning young
people about the risks of using marijuana.

Colorado generated $236.4 million worth of marijuana tax revenue in 2025.

California regulators sent updates about 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. —*

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

The German Bundestag Petitions Committee held a hearing on a petition to
stop planned changes to the medical cannabis program.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A study found “improvements in subjective sleep quality and other captured
[patient-reported outcome measures] in insomnia patients treated with
cannabis-based medicinal products.”

A review’s results “support the potential application of psilocybin for
treating major depressive disorder.”

*/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS*

The Christian Democratic Union of Germany adopted a resolution calling for
a repeal of the country’s marijuana legalization law.

*/ BUSINESS*

MTL Cannabis Corp. received court approval for its acquisition by Canopy
Growth Corporation.

Canadian retailers sold C$503.7 million worth of legal marijuana products
in December.

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

The post Dr. Oz warns about cannabis as alcohol alternative (Newsletter:
February 24, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.