Senator blasts GOP leaders for blocking medical cannabis access for veterans (Newsletter: November 17, 2025)

*MA marijuana bill advances; KY & IL govs on hemp; NY’s 500th dispensary;
Roger Stone slams hemp ban; TX lawmakers divided over THC ban*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) told Marijuana Moment that Senate Republican
leadership’s decision to not allow a vote on his amendment to let military
veterans get medical cannabis recommendations from their Department of
Veterans Affairs doctors is “just plain cruel.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) criticized a new federal prohibition on hemp
THC products—saying that “we should make those regulations here in
Kentucky” and that “we can do the right thing to protect all of our people
while not handicapping an industry that supports a lot of people.”

The Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved a
bill to double the amount of marijuana a person can legally possess and to
overhaul the Cannabis Control Commission.

The New York Office of Cannabis Management celebrated the opening of the
state’s 500th licensed marijuana dispensary and touted that there have been
$2.3 billion in adult-use sales since the market launched—supporting an
estimated 25,000 jobs across the legal supply chain.

Republican political operative Roger Stone is blasting Congress for passing
a bill to federally recriminalize hemp THC products with a “cheap cop-out”
move of slipping the far-reaching ban, rather than regulations, into a
large bill without much public debate.

- “Farmers, manufacturers, retailers and yes, patients who have come to
rely on hemp-derived relief are all collateral damage.”

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said the state is “going to have to look at
how we might regulate” hemp in light of a newly approved federal ban on
hemp-derived THC products.

Texas Republican elected officials are sharply divided over a new federal
law that will recriminalize hemp THC products, with some saying the issue
should be decided at the state level and one claiming the prohibition will
“save a generation from getting hooked on dangerous drugs.”

Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) defended their votes
to federally recriminalize hemp products from concerns it will decimate a
growing industry in Rhode Island, with their offices saying they did so “at
the urging of the vast majority of the state attorneys general.”

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission approved a new dispensary
license to meet increased demand as the state’s registered patient count
grows—but regulators heard testimony saying that the program is far too
restrictive.

The new Netflix documentary “In Waves And War” highlights the stories of
military veterans who used psychedelics to deal with PTSD and other
conditions stemming from their service.

*/ FEDERAL*

The Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel published a memo justifying
the Trump administration’s military attacks on suspected drug boats.

Department of Health and Human Services Deputy General Counsel Matt Zorn
spoke on a psychedelics panel at a “Make America Healthy Again” event
attended by top Trump administration officials.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) tweeted, “Minnesota has one of the strongest, most
carefully regulated systems in the country to allow the sale of hemp
products like THC beverages, and the Republican bill that just passed
screws all of that up. We have a lot of MN breweries and distilleries that
will be hurt by this.”

U.S. House Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) will speak at a
cannabis event on Monday.

*/ STATES*

South Dakota’s attorney general warned the hemp industry to focus on
agricultural and industrial uses of the crop, rather than “dangerous
chemicals marketed to minors.”

Missouri’s attorney general discussed efforts to crack down on sales of
unregulated cannabis products.

New Jersey’s Senate president is signaling he does not support legislation
to abolish the Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

Wisconsin lawmakers celebrated a new federal law to recriminalize hemp THC
products.

An Alabama representative cheered the passage of federal legislation to
recriminalize hemp products.

Ohio lawmakers discussed pending marijuana expungements legislation.

A New York court is giving regulators more time to respond to a lawsuit
accusing them of arbitrarily denying a waiver for a cannabis dispensary
within 1,000 feet of another dispensary.

California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to the
distributor operating without a license and incomplete and incorrect
regulatory compliance testing.

Maine regulators expanded a recall of cannabis vape cartridges over unsafe
levels of a pesticide.

A spokesperson for Texas regulators said they will “need time to evaluate”
a newly passed federal ban on hemp THC products “and determine what the
implications are for the rulemaking process” in the state.

Illinois regulators changed the methodology for reporting marijuana sales
data— resulting in lower totals, as the previous method “collected some
pre-discount prices.”


*— 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 Rapid City, South Dakota City Council Legal and Finance Committee
rejected a proposal to limit medical cannabis business licenses.

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

The Western Australia government’s Mental Health Commission is conducting a
survey about support for marijuana legalization and other drug policy
reform measures.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A review concluded that “CBD demonstrates potential as an adjuvant therapy
for [type 1 diabetes] due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory
actions.”

A study found that “CBA/CBDA paste effectively reduced pain in cats, but
the high drop-out rate is concerning.”

A review concluded that “extant data suggests that MDMA-assisted
psychotherapy for PTSD demonstrates significant symptom reduction, with
sustained efficacy up to 12 months post-treatment.”

*/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS*

Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana launched a
campaign to raise awareness in New York about what it says are the harms of
cannabis.

*/ BUSINESS*

Uber disclosed that it has been lobbying Alberta, Canada’s government on
issues “relating to the provision of smartphone applications with respect
to regulated items such as alcohol and cannabis.”

Rubicon Organics Inc. has a new chief financial officer.

*/ CULTURE*

YouTuber Jack Doherty was arrested for marijuana possession.

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The post Senator blasts GOP leaders for blocking medical cannabis access
for veterans (Newsletter: November 17, 2025) appeared first on Marijuana
Moment.