Virginia cannabis bills passed by House and Senate (Newsletter: February 18, 2026)

*Former White House drug czar bashes rescheduling; OK GOP divided on
medical marijuana; MD psychedelics vote; MA cannabis sales milestone*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

Former White House Drug Czar William Bennett said President Donald Trump is
wrong about rescheduling marijuana, calling it a “gateway drug” that is
“massively destructive.”

- “I love Donald Trump. I love almost everything he does, but I don’t
love this.”

Virginia lawmakers passed bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales,
provide resentencing relief for past convictions and allow medical cannabis
access in hospitals for seriously ill patients—setting up negotiations on
the reforms between the Senate and House of Delegates.

Oklahoma’s GOP House speaker and Senate president pro tem are rejecting
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s (R) push to put medical cannabis back on the ballot and
roll back legalization—saying that voters have already decided they support
legal access.

The Hawaii Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Commerce and
Consumer Protections Committee held a joint hearing on bills to legalize
marijuana, allow hemp-derived cannabinoid product sales and expedite
medical cannabis access.

The Maryland House Health Committee approved a bill to extend the Task
Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for a year and
require a new report with recommendations to ensure “broad, equitable &
affordable access to psychedelic substances.”

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission reported that retailers have
now sold more than $9 billion worth of recreational marijuana products
since legalization—including a huge surge in purchases ahead of a recent
big snowstorm.

*/ FEDERAL*

The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse will meet on March 9.

*/ STATES*

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) touted his mass marijuana pardon action.

Texas’s attorney general is suing kratom retailers.

The Oklahoma Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill to allow
counties and municipalities to add a local tax on medical cannabis.

A Missouri senator discussed her bill to criminalize public marijuana
smoking.

Illinois regulators published guidance on cannabis labeling, stability
testing and retention samples.

Virginia regulators launched a new medical cannabis program dashboard.

Massachusetts regulators published a guide on how marijuana revenue is
allocated.

The California Board of State and Community Corrections released $125
million in grant funding to support local governments’ efforts to address
public health and safety impacts associated with marijuana legalization.


*— 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*

The Amsterdam, Netherlands City Council is expected to consider banning
tourists from accessing cannabis cafes after next month’s elections.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A German study found that “eight months after legalisation, no significant
short-term effects on cannabis use or [driving under the influence of
cannabis] were observed.”

A study found that people who inject drugs “in states with recreational
cannabis laws were less likely to use opioids daily” and that “cannabis
legalization may potentially reduce opioid-related harms.”

*/ BUSINESS*

Compass Pathways plc announced it achieved its primary endpoint in an
ongoing Phase 3 trial of its synthetic psilocybin formulation for
treatment-resistant depression.

Rhode Island retailers sold $10.2 million worth of legal marijuana products
in January.

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

The post Virginia cannabis bills passed by House and Senate (Newsletter:
February 18, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.