Virginia cannabis commission begins planning legal sales bill (Newsletter: July 10, 2025)

*OK legalization ballot measure clears key hurdle; HI gov signs hemp bill;
CA marijuana decrim 50th anniv; PA medical cannabis & anxiety*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

The Virginia Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth
into a Retail Cannabis Market held its first meeting, with the chairman
saying the goal is to “craft the best bill possible to reintroduce the next
session.”

Oklahoma marijuana activists cleared a challenge period for their
legalization initiative without incident and expect to begin collecting
signatures by early next month to place the measure on the 2026 ballot.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) signed a bill to require hemp product
distributors and retailers to register with the state, and to limit the
sale of hemp-derived tinctures to adults over 21.

California NORML activists celebrated the 50th anniversary of the state’s
marijuana decriminalization law on Wednesday, which they say “resulted in
an 80% reduction in felony marijuana arrests, saving the state an estimated
$100 million per year in enforcement costs, and saving well over a million
users from a criminal record over the years.”

A new study of Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis program found that adding
anxiety disorders as a qualifying condition led to “an overall increase in
certifications,” with anxiety “rapidly becoming the most common qualifying
condition, comprising 60.26% of certifications since it was added.”

The director of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission said he is “kind of
coming around to being very hopeful” that patients could finally get access
to legal medical marijuana by the end of this year amid the state’s stalled
licensing process.

The North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives have passed
differing versions of legislation to address the state’s hemp product
market.

*/ FEDERAL*

Customs and Border Protection defended its agents blocking a man who has
lived in the U.S. since he was three years old from returning to the
country after a visit to Canada due to misdemeanor marijuana and suspended
license offenses.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) cited “legalized Industrial Hemp in the Farm
Bill” in response to a question about policy reforms he has championed that
were actually enacted.

*/ STATES*

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced the allocation of marijuana
revenue to combat impaired driving, saying that “as the legal cannabis
market continues to grow, so do the state’s efforts to ensure Californians
are recreating responsibly.”

Florida’s agriculture commissioner announced that more than 85,000 packages
of illegal hemp products have been removed for violations of
child-protection standards for packaging, labeling and marketing.

Ohio Republican representatives discussed their opposition to their party
leaders’ moves to undermine the state’s voter-approved marijuana
legalization law.

Colorado regulators sent a bulletin about people with revoked marijuana
licenses who are attempting to engage in business dealings with licensed
businesses.

Minnesota regulators sent a newsletter with updates on various cannabis
issues.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Executive Advisory Council will
meet on Friday.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board will meet on Monday.


*— 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*

A Canadian senator joined the board of Australian drug policy reform
organization the Penington Institute.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A review concluded that “despite clinical and regulatory obstacles,
nano-CBD platforms provide a safe, focused, and efficient approach to
improving dermatological care.”

A study of military veterans found that “psilocybin can elicit sustained
reductions in depression up to 12 months.”

*/ BUSINESS*

Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. closed two debt reduction transactions.

Canopy Growth Corporation has a new interim chief financial officer.

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The post Virginia cannabis commission begins planning legal sales bill
(Newsletter: July 10, 2025) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.