Trump’s DEA pick confirmed as cannabis rescheduling awaits (Newsletter: July 23, 2025)

*DC marijuana sales ban advances in Congress; Fed event speaker:
Legalization doesn’t boost youth use; TX hemp bills; MA sales*

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…*

*Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. *Have you thought
about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would
be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming
months and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count
on.

Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today:
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

The U.S. Senate confirmed Terrance Cole as administrator of the Drug
Enforcement Administration, and the National Cannabis Industry Association
sent a letter urging him to complete the federal rescheduling process in a
“timely and transparent manner.”

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government approved a bill containing a rider to keep blocking Washington,
D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana sales, and leaving out cannabis
banking language that was included in past sessions.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) filed a bill to let small marijuana growers and
manufacturers ship products directly to consumers across state lines via
the U.S. Postal Service once federal cannabis prohibition ends.

A top marijuana researcher at a federal event hosted by the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Administration said legalization doesn’t increase youth
cannabis use and there’s even been a “decrease in rates of consumption” in
recent years.

- He also discussed issues like terpenes, impairment testing, CBD
products and the need for more nuanced regulation around cannabinoids
themselves.

The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee approved a bill to ban consumable
hemp products with any amount of THC as Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appeared to
shift his position on the issue after previously vetoing similar
legislation.

Pennsylvania senators filed a bill to clarify that a person’s status as a
medical cannabis patient cannot be used against them in parental custody
rulings in family court.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission announced that retailers in
the state have now sold more than $8 billion worth of recreational
marijuana products since legalization—in addition to nearly $1.5 billion in
medical cannabis sales.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that cities and counties cannot stack
local marijuana taxes.

A Missouri Cannabis Regulation Division official said its new process of
conducting unannounced visits to marijuana facilities to collect product
samples for testing shouldn’t disrupt business operations.

South Dakota farmers see hemp as a way to bring jobs to small towns and to
pull heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

*/ FEDERAL*

President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy, Sara Carter, tweeted that a bill he signed to
classify fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I is a “formidable weapon
against the cartels and their dealers.”

The Library of Congress published an article about a new Italian hemp
restriction law.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) tweeted that he’s “glad to see the EPA launching a
formal investigation into the toxic pesticides being used at illegal grow
sites in Siskiyou County. This isn’t just about illegal marijuana—it’s
about banned chemicals contaminating soil and water and organized crime
networks operating unchecked in rural California.”

*/ STATES*

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said psychedelic therapy “isn’t a red or a
blue issue. This is an American issue. This is a human being issue.”

The chair of the Pennsylvania House Health Committee said his panel will
not take up a version of bipartisan marijuana legalization legislation and
that the Senate should approve it first to “show us that there is a real
serious interest” in the issue.

Alabama regulators are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit
challenging their medical cannabis business licensing process.

Minnesota regulators held a lottery to award cannabis retailer business
licenses.

Kentucky regulators conducted their first inspection of a medical cannabis
dispensary.

California regulators held a workshop about the cannabis appellations
program.

Washington State regulators sent a newsletter with updates on various
cannabis issues.

Vermont regulators will host an event about cannabis rule amendments on
Thursday.


*— 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 Colorado Springs, Colorado City Council overrode the mayor’s veto of
marijuana revenue legislation.

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

The UK National Health Service will publish medical cannabis patient data
by the end of the year.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A study “supports Bedrocan® medical cannabis as an alternative treatment
for [fibromyalgia] with a potential effect on [functional dyspepsia] and
[irritable bowel syndrome] symptoms.”

A study found that “cannabis industry workers are at risk for [work-related
asthma], emphasizing the need for interventions to address workplace
respiratory hazards.”

*/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS*

The Ohio Cannabis Coalition is launching a campaign to encourage safe
marijuana use.

*/ BUSINESS*

Acreage and Verano are urging a federal judge to dismiss class action
lawsuits accusing them of selling products with unlawfully high levels of
THC.

Miss Grass launched a cinematic ad campaign for its hemp-derived gummies.

*/ CULTURE*

Former football player Ricky Williams discussed his cannabis meeting at the
White House.

*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 Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.*

The post Trump’s DEA pick confirmed as cannabis rescheduling awaits
(Newsletter: July 23, 2025) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.