Lawmakers want exemption to new hemp ban for states with regs (Newsletter: November 20, 2025)

*Judge slams DEA for psychedelic petition delay; Joe Rogan blasts hemp ban;
Study: Cannabis reduces alcohol drinking; TX advances hemp rules*

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…*

*Your good deed for the day:* donate to an independent publisher like
Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to
the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.

- *Phyllis Schroeder: *“As a Texas resident and hemp industry supporter,
I was completely taken aback by the recent inclusion of hemp ban language
in the recent federal government funding bill. While searching for news
updates on the topic, I found Marijuana Moment and am so grateful to have a
comprehensive news source that is covering the impact of legislation
nationwide… Because knowledge is power, and misinformation is rampant, this
type of journalism gives readers the facts needed to act and protect the
freedom to grow businesses and protect access to plant healing for people
and pets.”

Support our work at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

A judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit grilled a Drug
Enforcement Administration lawyer over the agency’s delay in acting on a
psychedelic church’s petition for an exemption to use ayahuasca in its
religious ceremonies.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) told Marijuana Moment that lawmakers are preparing
to push the Trump administration to scale back a recently enacted ban on
hemp-derived THC by providing an exemption for states that want to regulate
cannabinoid products.

- Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), however, said that “federal law supersedes
state laws on scheduled substances” and pushed back on what he called
“desperate mistruths from an industry that stands to lose billions of
dollars.”

Joe Rogan said Congress needs to fix its “really bad” mistake of
recriminalizing hemp products—warning that restricting access to
cannabinoids like CBD will harm people who use them therapeutically, such
as his mother-in-law, and blaming the alcohol lobby for pushing the
prohibition.

- “It’s the same people that are trying to keep marijuana illegal in
Texas. It’s the alcohol lobby. The fact is, when people start smoking weed,
they drink less.”

A new federally funded study found that “participants consumed
significantly less alcohol after smoking cannabis.”

- “Our findings support the substitution model of cannabis and alcohol
co-use.”

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is moving forward with proposed age
restriction rules for hemp product sales despite a bill signed by President
Donald Trump that will broadly recriminalize hemp THC products under
federal law.

Former North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue (D) appeared in an ad for her son’s
hemp THC product company—with him saying, “my mom turns every errand into
an adventure.”

West Virginia officials say they aren’t considering utilizing a law to
institute medical cannabis price caps despite concerns from patients who
are traveling to neighboring states where recreational marijuana is more
affordable.

*/ FEDERAL*

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and other Democratic lawmakers filed a resolution
to block the Trump administration’s military attacks on suspected drug
boats without congressional authorization.

Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) said he thinks marijuana businesses should be taxed
just like other businesses.

*/ STATES*

Minnesota lawmakers criticized a newly approved law federally
recriminalizing hemp THC products.

The Vermont Supreme Court upheld the revocation of a cannabis cultivation
license over alleged use of a prohibited pesticide.

New York regulators are facing a lawsuit from an organization representing
medical cannabis businesses that seeks to force them to address illegal
inversion of marijuana products from outside the state.

Hawaii regulators filed changes to medical cannabis rules.

California regulators sent updates on various cannabis issues.

Oregon regulators will consider changes to marijuana and hemp rules on
Thursday.

Nebraska regulators will host a listening session on medical cannabis
manufacturing rules on Tuesday.

New Jersey regulators will host town hall meetings on cannabis social
equity revenue in January.


*— 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 Topeka, Kansas City Council is considering adding medical cannabis
legalization to its state legislative agenda.

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

Kenya’s High Court is giving the attorney general more time to file a
response in a case seeking to overturn marijuana criminalization.

A German Bundestag petition calling on officials to withdraw proposed
changes to medical cannabis laws has nearly 60.000 signatures.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A review “emphasizes the potential of hempseed as a dietary intervention
for [cardiovascular disease] prevention.”

A review concluded that “CBD holds promise as an adjunct in lung cancer
therapy, addressing key cancer hallmarks such as tumor growth, metastasis,
and treatment resistance.”

A study of rats suggested that “cannabinoid compounds may represent
effective alternatives for the treatment of episodic and chronic migraine.”

*/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS*

The Consumer Choice Center, Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, Students for
Sensible Drug Policy, Taxpayers Protection Alliance and other groups sent a
letter urging the House Judiciary Committee not to advance legislation to
ban kratom-derived 7-OH products.

*/ BUSINESS*

Decibel Cannabis Company Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$32.9
million and a net loss and comprehensive loss of C$1.3 million.

*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:

*Photo courtesy of Max Jackson.*

The post Lawmakers want exemption to new hemp ban for states with regs
(Newsletter: November 20, 2025) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.