Virginia cannabis sales legalization bills advance (Newsletter: January 26, 2026)

*New hemp regulation bill in Congress; MA anti-marijuana campaign challenge
fails; Bipartisan lawmakers talk psychedelics; SD cannabis in hospitals*

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*/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW*

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Chairman Morgan Griffith
(R-VA) and Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) filed a bill to federally regulate
consumable hemp products—offering a potential alternative to the THC ban
that President Donald Trump recently signed into law.

The Virginia Senate Rehabilitation & Social Services Committee and a House
General Laws subcommittee both approved bills to legalize recreational
marijuana sales, building on the state’s current law that allows personal
cannabis possession and home cultivation.

The Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission rejected a challenge claiming
that a campaign seeking to roll back marijuana legalization used misleading
tactics when convincing voters to sign its initiative petitions.

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers spoke about the therapeutic promise of
psychedelics—but warned about the importance of strategic advocacy, saying
that even just one misstep could threaten to upend the movement.

The South Dakota House Health and Human Services Committee rejected a bill
that would have allowed terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in
hospitals and hospices.

Ohio municipalities are beginning to receive marijuana tax revenue
disbursements to support local programs and services.

The South Dakota Senate voted against taking up bills to ban intoxicating
hemp and kratom products that had advanced out of a committee without a
recommendation for passage.

The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation fined at least seven marijuana
businesses for bringing clones, seeds and tissue cultures in from other
states in violation of tracking rules.

*/ FEDERAL*

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon tweeted,
“Hotels ought to have to disclose if they are going to be hosting certain
types of events while you are visiting. E.g.—more than one Beverly Hills
sweet 16 or bat mitzvah; or any OnlyFans/porn producers/marijuana
convention. To add a ‘resort fee’ to the above should be a felony!”

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted, “Big Booze hates herb.”

The House bill to allow Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to recommend
medical cannabis got one new cosponsor for a total of three.

*/ STATES*

Florida’s attorney general announced the arrest of a petitioner for a
marijuana legalization ballot initiative on charges of alleged voter fraud
and identity theft. Separately, the First District Court of Appeal ruled
that officials can reject 42,000 signatures from “inactive” voters. The
state now says the campaign has 714,888 valid signatures, short of the
total needed by February 1.

Nebraska senators filed legislation to revise medical cannabis rules.

A Kentucky representative discussed his bill to add new medical cannabis
qualifying conditions.

An Illinois representative filed a bill to change various cannabis rules.

Maine regulators sent an alert about cannabis products with unsafe levels
of pesticides.

Oregon regulators adopted rules concerning psilocybin services provider
hours of operation.

Maryland regulators published guidance on cannabis agent registration and
criminal history checks.

Rhode Island regulators received applications from 98 businesses seeking a
marijuana dispensary license.

Washington, D.C. officials shuttered an additional unlicensed marijuana
business.

New Jersey regulators sent updates about various cannabis issues.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Executive Advisory Council met.


*— 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*

Attorneys have reportedly reached an agreement about combining lawsuits
challenging Killeen, Texas’s voter-approved marijuana decriminalization law.

*/ INTERNATIONAL*

The United Nations International Narcotics Control Board responded to
President Donald Trump’s marijuana rescheduling order.

A deputy leader of Thailand’s ruling party said it would push for
legislation to allow only for medical cannabis use without instituting
broad marijuana recriminalization if it wins next month’s elections.

*/ SCIENCE & HEALTH*

A study “confirms the antibacterial activity of CBD on Enterococcus spp.”

A study found that “cannabidiol alleviates cognitive impairment after traumatic
brain injury in mice.”

A study found that ultrasound-assisted extraction “efficiently recovered antioxidant
and selectively antimicrobial compounds from Cannabis sativa resins under
mild, eco-friendly conditions, supporting their potential use as bioactive
ingredients in pharmaceuticals.”

*/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS*

The chair of the Florida Democratic Party cheered a move by the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to loosen rules that bar people
who consume marijuana and other illegal drugs from being able to lawfully
purchase and possess guns.

*/ BUSINESS*

Cresco Labs LLC is being sued for allegedly withholding a revenue share
from a partner.

Tilray Brands, Inc. launched Tilray Medical Italia.

Canadian retailers sold C$477.9 million worth of legal marijuana products
in November.

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The post Virginia cannabis sales legalization bills advance (Newsletter:
January 26, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.