Federal hemp THC ban would be delayed for two years under new bill (Newsletter: January 14, 2026)

*Fed official: Teen marijuana access down as more states legalize; NJ
psilocybin bill to gov; IN legalization poll; Cannabis existential threat
op-ed*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) and four bipartisan cosponsors filed a bill to delay
implementation of the impending federal recriminalization of hemp THC
products for another two years.

A federal official with the National Institute on Drug Abuse spoke about
how an annual survey shows that teens are finding it harder to access
marijuana and are more disapproving of use even as legalization
spreads—contrary to fears voiced by prohibitionists.

New Jersey lawmakers sent Gov. Phil Murphy (D) a bill to create a
psilocybin therapy pilot program and allocate $6 million in funding to
support the psychedelic treatment and research effort.

A new poll of Indiana residents shows that 84 percent support legalizing
medical cannabis and that 59 percent also want to legalize recreational
marijuana.

Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Adam Smith argues in a new
Marijuana Moment op-ed that ballot initiatives to roll back legalization in
Arizona, Maine and Massachusetts are the “first-ever large-scale
coordinated attack on adult-use markets” and that the cannabis industry
needs to fight back.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) told lawmakers that her office
would inform a campaign seeking to roll back marijuana legalization that it
has received a significant number of complaints about misleading
petitioning tactics.

*/ FEDERAL*

Former Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes said marijuana is
“five times more lethal” than when he was growing up and “can do immense
damage.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture clarified that cannabis that does not
meet the definition of hemp is not eligible to be covered by the
Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs.

The House bill to create a pathway for patients to access Schedule I drugs
got one new cosponsor for a total of 13.

*/ STATES*

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed legislation to restrict hemp
products, adding sickle cell anemia as a medical cannabis qualifying
condition and extending labor rights to marijuana industry workers.
Separately, lawmakers sent the governor legislation to revise Cannabis
Regulatory Commission rules and crack down on unlicensed marijuana sales.

New York Gov. Kath Hochul (D) proposed cannabis-related initiatives in her
State of the State address, including to create a certified business
incubator hub network, a workforce development partnership, a pro bono
legal aid initiative and a Center of Excellence for Medical Cannabis and
Health Equity.

The Pennsylvania Center for Rural Pennsylvania will hold a hearing about
hemp issues on Thursday.

Florida’s secretary of state is urging a judge to reject a marijuana
legalization campaign’s lawsuit challenging moves to throw out more than
70,000 petition signatures over alleged violations.

Kansas’s House minority leader said legalizing marijuana could be a way to
raise revenue to pay for other Democratic agenda items.

The Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission held a pre-hearing conference about
complaints of fraudulent signature gathering for a proposed ballot
initiative to roll back marijuana legalization.

Oregon regulators sent guidance about new hemp rules that took effect on
January 1.

Connecticut officials reached a settlement with marijuana companies to
resolve allegations they violated merger laws.

Maryland regulators published a list of certified cannabis testing
laboratories.

Montana regulators sent 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. —*

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

British Columbia, Canada officials are expected to reveal soon whether they
plan to apply for an extension of federal permission for a local drug
decriminalization trial.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A review concluded that “besides epilepsy, preclinical data suggest that
CBD alone may be potentially beneficial in treating chronic pain, multiple
sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, or stroke.”

A study “provides a crucial first step toward understanding the evolutionary
role of psilocybin-producing fungi.”

*/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS*

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial board criticized a proposal to put
marijuana legalization on Hawaii’s ballot as a constitutional amendment.

*/ BUSINESS*

Mind Medicine is rebranding as Definium Therapeutics, Inc.

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

The post Federal hemp THC ban would be delayed for two years under new bill
(Newsletter: January 14, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.