GOP senators try to stop Trump’s cannabis rescheduling (Newsletter: January 16, 2026)

*House votes to keep blocking DC marijuana sales; Key congressional
committee chair: Delay hemp ban; VA cannabis sales bill filed*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC) and James Lankford (R-OK) filed an amendment that
would block the Department of Justice from rescheduling marijuana in line
with President Donald Trump’s executive order to complete the process
expeditiously.

The House of Representatives passed a bill containing a provision to
continue blocking Washington, D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana
sales—though the rider may become moot if cannabis is federally rescheduled.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY)
is supporting a bill to delay enactment of a federal law to recriminalize
hemp-derived THC products—saying it will hurt farmers, erase jobs and
deprive states of tax revenue.

A Virginia delegate filed a bill to legalize and regulate recreational
marijuana sales while also increasing the amount of cannabis that adults
can possess under the state’s current noncommercial legalization law.

*/ FEDERAL*

The Trump administration canceled and then restored federal Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration grants to support drug
prevention, treatment and recovery services.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) tweeted, “President Trump’s war on drugs will take
more than a new President in Venezuela. Last night’s termination of
addiction treatment is a step backwards that will cost lives. Other cuts to
mental health treatment and EMS services show this Admin is more interested
in building White House ballrooms than life-saving clinics.”

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) tweeted, “Trump is committing war crimes in the
name of a “war on drugs” abroad, while at home, he guts lifesaving mental
health and drug addiction programs. The HYPOCRISY! With the decision to cut
$2B in SAMHSA funding, Trump is weakening the safety net and the critical
organizations that provide essential care to people experiencing addiction,
homelessness, and mental illness.”

The House bill to delay enactment of the federal recriminalization of hemp
THC products got 11 new cosponsors for a total of 15.

*/ STATES*

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) cut the ribbon to open two new medical
cannabis businesses and gave an update on the broader rollout of the
program.

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, currently the
Nassau County executive, criticized Gov. Kathy Hochlul’s (D) proposal to
create a Center for Excellence for Cannabis Care and Health Equity.

Ohio’s attorney general tweeted that it was “petitioners’ sloppy work, not
my policy preferences, that led to a rejection” of a petition for a
referendum to block marijuana and hemp restrictions from going into effect.

Georgia’s Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said lawmakers are
considering expanding the medical cannabis program but are not likely to
legalize marijuana.

A Missouri representative filed a proposed constitutional amendment to
simplify the state’s cannabis rules.

Illinois lawmakers filed bills to make various changes to marijuana laws.

The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging
regulators’ delta-8 THC ban rulemaking process.

Massachusetts regulators are proposing to extend exclusive access to
cannabis delivery license types for social equity and economic empowerment
applications for three more years. Separately, the state’s top marijuana
regulator spoke about ongoing efforts to oversee and expand the industry.

Michigan regulators published guidance on marijuana taxes and reporting
requirements.

Minnesota regulators launched a new cannabis market dashboard.

Oklahoma regulators suspended operations of medical cannabis businesses
over alleged violations.

Pennsylvania regulators published a list of positions considered to be a
“public official” for the purposes of determining conflicts of interest
regarding medical cannabis businesses.


*— 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*

The San Diego County, California Board of Supervisors approved changes to
cannabis business land use, consumption lounge and community benefits rules.

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

British Columbia, Canada’s health minister announced that the province will
not seek federal approval to continue its drug decriminalization trial.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A review’s findings “position hemp seeds as a functional food capable of
supporting [endocannabinoid system] integrity through multiple, convergent
biochemical pathways.”

A review concluded there is “a promising role for medical cannabis in [chronic
musculoskeletal pain] management.”

A study of mice found that “psilocybin treatment can maintain better brain
function in an Alzheimer’s disease model.

*/ BUSINESS*

SHF Holdings, Inc., d/b/a Safe Harbor is offering cannabis-specific
insurance solutions through partnerships with Frontier Risk and AlphaRoot.

Michigan retailers sold $269.7 million worth of legal marijuana products in
December.

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The post GOP senators try to stop Trump’s cannabis rescheduling
(Newsletter: January 16, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.