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Diversely owned Mister Jones dispensary in Little Falls opens Dec. 19. < Back Ascend Wellness Partners With Mister Jones in New Jersey Dec 10, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The diversely owned Mister Jones dispensary in Little Falls will open on Dec. 19. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

The company launched Black Jelly, a new proprietary cultivar, for Polish patients. < Back Aurora Expands Leading Portfolio of High-Potency Medical Flower Products in Poland Dec 11, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The company’s latest innovation brings Black Jelly, a new proprietary cultivar, to Polish patients. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

A cannabis company uses a licensing agreement with Harvest Grows to operate a dispensary under the Trulieve brand. < Back Trulieve-Branded Dispensary Opening in Findlay, Ohio Dec 15, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The cannabis company has a licensing agreement with Harvest Grows, allowing it to operate the dispensary under the Trulieve brand. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

Ohio's Senate Bill 56 (SB 56) is expected to pass, imposing minor criminal penalties for people who improperly transport or possess legal marijuana—such as failing to use the original container or buying it out-of-state—and simultaneously removing civil protections for users in areas like child custody and professional licensing. NORML is opposing the bill, arguing it recriminalizes behavior that voters legalized in 2023. < Back Ohio Senate Expected To Vote On Bill Recriminalizing Some Marijuana Activity That Voters Legalized Dec 7, 2025 Marijuana Moment Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link *“You can be charged with a crime for having legal weed in a different package than what you bought. You can be charged with a crime for buying legal weed in Michigan.”* *By Jake Zuckerman, Signal Cleveland* *This story was originally published by Signal Cleveland. Sign up for their free newsletters at SignalCleveland.org/subscribe.* A new law that’s likely to pass at the Statehouse next week would establish a series of minor criminal penalties for people who improperly transport or possess marijuana in Ohio, while rolling back legal protections for users in venues like child custody or professional licensing disputes. For that reason, NORML, the oldest marijuana advocacy organization in the U.S., is leading a quixotic effort to ask the Ohio Senate to reject Senate Bill 56 before a final vote next week. With the Senate’s approval, the bill would go to Gov. Mike DeWine (R) for a signature or veto. The marijuana changes come within a larger package that also imposes a comprehensive, new regulatory system on intoxicating hemp, a product that’s functionally similar to legal marijuana but sold without the age restrictions, taxes or quality controls. DeWine, a Republican who opposed relaxing Ohio’s marijuana laws, has made a public cause of the intoxicating hemp issue for more than a year now. But perhaps out of a political compromise, marijuana users have found themselves caught in the crosshairs within the hemp crackdown, according to Morgan Fox, NORML’s political director. “A lot of these things are completely nonsensical,” he said in an interview. “This is recriminalizing a lot of behavior that is relatively innocuous and has been legal for some time.” House and Senate lawmakers negotiated a final version of the legislation in a conference committee, which means the bill can no longer be changed. The House passed it last month, with a late-night 52-34 vote, where a handful of Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. Committee members described the final version as a compromise between a list of scrambled voting blocs: Democrats who don’t want new criminal penalties for run-of-the-mill users, libertarian-minded Republicans protective of the right to grow one’s own marijuana, religious conservatives who disapprove expanding the legal use of intoxicants, local governments who want their tax money, a governor seeking a crackdown on the gas station hemp retailers, and both the hemp and marijuana industries seeking market advantage. (All told, 153 lobbyists registered to work on the bill as of August, state records show.) In 2023, Ohio voters passed Issue 2 by a 57 percent to 43 percent vote, allowing for adults to lawfully use, buy, sell and possess cannabis. Those rights remain broadly intact under the bill. However, SB 56 imposes legal penalties for things like possessing marijuana in anything but its original container or buying legal marijuana in Michigan where it tends to be much cheaper. What follows is a closer look at some of those rules. *Out-of-state marijuana* SB 56 reclassifies what counts within the “scope of legalization” of marijuana. And by its rules, any marijuana that’s not either grown in one’s home or purchased at an in-state dispensary is illegal. Prices are far lower in the more mature cannabis market of Michigan, and SB 56 would make it illegal to bring that same substance back into Ohio. Violators could be convicted of a minor misdemeanor, which entails a maximum fine of $150 but no jail time. Fox, who lobbies on a national basis for NORML, said he’s not aware of any adult-use state that makes simple possession of cannabis that originated in a different state illegal. *Driving with marijuana in the car* Under the bill, drivers can transport legal marijuana by car. However, it must be stored in the trunk or, for cars without trunks, behind the last upright seat of the car. Marijuana and any paraphernalia also must be stored in its “original, unopened packaging.” Similarly, edibles must be stored in their original packaging to comply with the bill. Violations are a minor misdemeanor. “You can be charged with a crime for having legal weed in a different package than what you bought,” said Bride Rose Sweeney, one of the House Democrats’ top negotiators on the bill, during a floor speech. “You can be charged with a crime for buying legal weed in Michigan.” *Lost legal protections* Besides legalizing marijuana, the 2023 law approved by voters created legal protections for adults who use marijuana in a spread of civil and administrative contexts. For instance, state licensing boards can’t punish licensees solely for use of marijuana. A judge can’t strip a parent of parenting time or responsibilities solely based on marijuana use and barring clear and convincing evidence of the child’s lack of safety. Similar protections exist regarding access to medical care like an organ donation, rejections to a person as a tenant, or disqualifying them from public benefits. The bill removes almost all these protections, though users could still access public benefits (with the exception of unemployment compensation). The post Ohio Senate Expected To Vote On Bill Recriminalizing Some Marijuana Activity That Voters Legalized appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

An Alaska campaign for the Alaska Natural Medicine Act, which seeks to legalize certain psychedelics like psilocybin and DMT, failed to collect the required signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot, but they are shifting their focus to the 2028 election cycle. The campaign collected over 10,000 signatures, which will carry over toward the roughly 35,000 needed, emphasizing that the proposal—which includes establishing a licensed industry and non-commercial use—has growing support in the state. < Back Alaska Psychedelics Campaign Ends Push To Put Legalization On 2026 Ballot, Shifting Focus To 2028 Dec 12, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link An Alaska campaign says it failed to collect enough signatures to put an initiative to legalize certain psychedelics such as psilocybin and DMT on the state’s 2026 ballot—but activists are emphasizing that the “work is far from over” as they shift focus to placing the reform measure before voters in 2028. About three months after state officials cleared Natural Medicine Alaska to collect signatures for the initiative, the campaign announced on Wednesday that, “despite months of tireless work,” they were “unable to gather enough signatures to place the Alaska Natural Medicine Act on the 2026 ballot.” “Throughout this effort, we submitted initial signatures, mobilized volunteers across Anchorage, the Valley, the Kenai Peninsula, Haines, Juneau, and communities statewide, and built strong grassroots momentum,” it said. “Even with these tremendous efforts, we have determined that we will not reach the full signature threshold to qualify the Alaska Natural Medicine Act for the 2026 ballot.” A spokesperson for the campaign told Marijuana Moment on Wednesday that organizers collected more than 10,000 signatures during the relatively short window to qualify the initiative for next year. But they won’t have to start over again to make the ballot in 2028, as those petitions will still be good toward the roughly 35,000 needed to qualify. “We are profoundly grateful to everyone who gathered signatures, donated, volunteered, or helped spread the word,” the campaign said. “Your dedication and passion have meant more than we can express. And we want to be clear: we are not giving up. Alaskans deserve safe, legal access to natural medicines for therapeutic and traditional use, and the freedom to make choices about their health with dignity, safety, and respect. Therefore, we are formally announcing that we are shifting focus to the 2028 ballot cycle.” “While we won’t appear on the 2026 ballot, we remain fully on track for 2028, and we will continue moving forward with determination, focus, and the support of our community,” Natural Medicine Alaska said. “This movement is gaining momentum every day. In fact, over 65 percent of Alaskans support this initiative–and that number continues to grow.” An earlier policy outline from the campaign explained that the proposal is “building off of” Colorado’s voter-approved 2022 Natural Medicine Health Act, under which facilitators recently administered the state’s first legal dose of psilocybin. In addition to establishing a licensed psychedelics industry in the state, the Alaska measure would legalize non-commercial use, cultivation and sharing of DMT, non-peyote mescaline, psilocybin and psilocin among adults 21 and older under a so-called “grow, gather, gift” model popular among psychedelic reform proponents. The measure “shifts away from a restrictive healing center model, allowing individual practitioners to provide [natural medicine] in their offices and at-home facilitation, increasing accessibility in rural communities” that are common in Alaska, the organizers’ policy outline said. Cultivation would need to take place in a space no larger that 12 feet by 12 feet and remain out of public view, and growers would be required to take reasonable steps to prevent access by minors. Transfers of psychedelics between adults, meanwhile, would need to occur without any form of payment. Public consumption of the substances would be forbidden, subject to a civil fine of up to $100. On the commercial side, Alaska would license healing centers—where certified facilitators would supervise psychedelic administration—as well as testing labs, cultivation facilities, product manufacturers, handlers and other related businesses. Traditional healers would also be protected under the proposed initiative for “ceremonial, spiritual, or cultural use of plant medicines” through legal exemptions to state drug laws. They would not need to hold a state license, the proposal said, “but must be certified or credentialed as a traditional practitioner.” The system would be overseen by a Natural Medicine Control Board a “regulatory and quasi-judicial agency” that would be housed within the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. It would include members from the public safety and public health sectors, as well as someone from a rural area, a representative of the natural medicine industry, an Alaska Native traditional healer, a professional practitioner of psychedelic-assisted therapy and someone either from the general public or the natural medicine industry. A separate Natural Medicine Advisory Committee consisting of 15 members would make recommendations around the program. That body would include mental heath professionals, natural medicine therapists or researchers, tribal representatives, a physician, a military veteran, a first responder, healthcare experts and others. As for traditional use, the measure would also create a Traditional Use Council to develop best practices and educational materials around Indigenous-based psychedelic use and harm reduction principles. That would include a separate credentialing or certification process that “may include consideration of lineage, apprenticeship, community recognition, and cultural practice, rather than formal clinical or academic training.” *— 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. —* A poll last year found that nearly half (49.4 percent) of Alaska adults would support a ballot measure to more broadly remove criminal penalties for using substances such as psilocybin mushrooms. That support rose markedly—to nearly two thirds (65 percent)—when participants were told that Alaska has high rates of mental illnesses that could potentially be treated with psychedelics. Last year, Alaska lawmakers passed legislation to create a state task force to study how to license and regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy. The measure took effect without the signature of Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R). So far two other states have facilitated psychedelics programs that are fully operational. Oregon voters legalized therapeutic psilocybin in 2020, and Colorado’s program was passed at the ballot box in 2022, with the state’s governor signing legislation a year later to create the regulatory framework for the program. Separately in Alaska, a federal judge ruled in June that state officials did not violate the constitution when restricting intoxicating hemp products in 2023. *Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype and Apollo.* The post Alaska Psychedelics Campaign Ends Push To Put Legalization On 2026 Ballot, Shifting Focus To 2028 appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

A new 75,000-square-foot facility in Bastrop expands the company's production capacity and accelerates access for patients under a new law. < Back Texas Original Opens Largest Medical Cannabis Facility in State Dec 11, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The 75,000-square-foot facility in Bastrop expands the company’s production capacity and accelerates access for patients under a new law. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

Virginia's Senate president pro tempore, Sen. Louise Lucas (D), filed a bill to mandate automatic resentencing hearings and punishment adjustments for people convicted of specific past cannabis crimes that occurred prior to July 1, 2021. This measure, which was previously vetoed by Gov. Youngkin, is now expected to move forward under the incoming administration of Gov.-elect Spanberger (D) and is seen by advocates as critical for securing justice as the state plans to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana sales. < Back Top Virginia Senator Files Bill To Provide Sentencing Relief For People With Marijuana Convictions Dec 18, 2025 Tom Angell Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Virginia’s Senate president pro tempore has filed a bill to provide relief for people convicted of past cannabis crimes, mandating that individuals with certain offenses automatically receive resentencing hearings and have their punishments adjusted. The legislation is similar to proposals passed by lawmakers in recent sessions that were vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). The incumbent governor, however, will be leaving office next month and will be replaced by Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D), who supports marijuana reform. The current proposal, filed on Monday by Sen. Louise Lucas (D), would create a process by which people who are incarcerated or on community supervision for certain felony offenses involving the possession, manufacture, selling or distribution of marijuana could receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of their sentences. The measure applies to people whose convictions are for conduct that occurred prior to July 1, 2021, when a state law legalizing personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana went into effect. “During his term, Governor Youngkin repeatedly rejected efforts to review and modify marijuana-related sentences,” JM Pedini, development director for the advocacy group NORML and executive director for Virginia NORML, told Marijuana Moment. “We’re ready to move this issue forward under the Spanberger administration and secure justice for those impacted.” The new sentencing relief bill comes as lawmakers are planning to pass legislation to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana sales to build on the state’s current noncommercial legalization law. Youngkin has also vetoed such proposals in the past, but Spanberger has pledged her support. “With all the excitement around a new market this is still one our most important bills that offers relief to the most harmed during Virginia’s full prohibition of marijuana,” Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of the advocacy group Marijuana Justice, told Marijuana Moment. “The resentencing bill is critical to show that Virginia is serious about providing repair along with building an equitable market,” she said. “Black Virginians were four times more likely to be arrested and convicted and there are still people serving sentences inside and on probation who deserve this relief while the commonwealth goes on to generate millions in revenue.” *— 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. —* Sheba Williams, executive director of Nolef Turns said that “the time to address sentence modification for cannabis related offenses was at the moment that legalization became reality in Virginia.” “We had multiple opportunities to do what was right and necessary each year under the Youngkin administration but failed to address the most significant harm of prohibition—the people who have been impacted,” Williams, who is also a Virginia NORML board member and serves on the Virginia Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board, said. “We hope that common sense and justice will apply to those impacted by the failed war on drugs as a new administration ushers in.” Earlier this month, the legislature’s Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market unveiled a much-anticipated proposal to legalize recreational marijuana sales that it is recommending lawmakers pass during the 2026 session. Lucas recently said the state should move forward with legalizing recreational marijuana sales—in part to offset the Trump administration’s cuts to federal spending in support of states. Separately, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry published a new document this month outlining workplace protections for cannabis consumers. The post Top Virginia Senator Files Bill To Provide Sentencing Relief For People With Marijuana Convictions appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

Missouri cannabis regulators are filing proposed rules to halt the frequent revocation of microbusiness licenses—intended for social equity applicants—caused by what they characterize as "predatory" contracts that limit the eligible applicants' control and profit. The proposed changes will require the state to review all agreements affecting ownership before issuing licenses, redefine "majority owned and operated" to require genuine operational control, and mandate that the designated contact be a majority owner. < Back Missouri Marijuana Officials File Proposed Rules Targeting ‘Predatory’ Contracts For Equity Businesses Dec 16, 2025 Marijuana Moment Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link *Under the new rules, business will have to reveal any agreements “that affect ownership, control or financial interests in cannabis operations.”* *By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent* Missouri cannabis regulators have routinely revoked microbusiness licenses for relying on contracts they’ve publicly characterized as “predatory.” The state is hoping to put a stop to the turnover through proposed rules that will be open for public comment starting Monday through January 14. Regulators first introduced the rules last December and have since held two opportunities for public input, before submitting them to the Missouri Secretary of State in November. The microbusiness program—sometimes called the social-equity cannabis program—was designed to boost opportunities in the industry for people in disadvantaged communities that have been most impacted by the war on drugs. It began in 2023, after passing as part of the constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in 2022. For the last two years, The Independent has documented a pattern of well-connected groups and individuals flooding the microbusiness lottery by recruiting people to submit applications and then offering them contracts that limit their profit and control of the business. Of the 105 microbusiness licenses issued so far, 35 have been revoked, including 22 that involved contracts drafted by St. Louis-based Armstrong Teasdale law firm. In order to prevent the continued cascade of revocations, the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation is proposing to adjust when its extensive application-review period occurs. The point when regulators would review questionable contracts would take place before the license is issued, instead of afterwards as it is now. The rules would also be changed to clarify that “owners, agents or representatives” of a microbusiness application or license that regulators have denied or revoked would be prohibited from holding a voting or financial interest in any other microbusiness license. The designated-contact role was envisioned as a way to ensure clear communication between the state and licensees. However, regulators found in their investigations that designated contacts have kept the actual eligible applicants in the dark about business and license dealings. The new rules would require the designated contact for a microbusiness applicant to be a majority owner of the microbusiness license. According to court documents, some applicants of the revoked licenses told regulators they were going to be “one of three managers,” leaving them without majority voting power in the business. And they did not demonstrate they had “a credible intent or ability to be the majority owner and operator” of the business, regulators found. Under the new rules, “majority owned and operated” would be defined as the eligible individuals who are listed as having majority ownership must have a level of operational control that would be expected of an owner. Eligible individuals must have the power to order or direct the management, managers and policies of the license, enter into agreements on behalf of the license and otherwise make decisions for the business. “A purported owner with little to no knowledge, control, agency or decision-making authority in an application or license does not meet the intent or meaning of the” constitutional amendment that created the microbusiness program, according to the press release the division issued when it introduced the rules last year. Applicants would also be required to take an online training course that addresses predatory practices and funding opportunities. The division expects to file the final version of rule amendments for formal rulemaking in early 2026, prior to the third round of microbusiness licensing. *The contracts* An investigation by The Independent in October revealed that the attorney who crafted most contracts at the heart of the recent license revocations also represents the marijuana industry trade group. Eric Walter is a St. Louis-based attorney who represents the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association and a significant percentage of the state’s cannabis licensees. He wrote 22 agreements the state believes would take the microbusiness licenses out of the hands of eligible applicants and put them into the hands of well-connected or out-of-state cannabis investors, according to the administrative appeal case documents obtained by The Independent. Each of those agreements largely led to the state revoking a microbusiness license issued last year for not meeting the constitutional mandate that the licenses be “majority owned and operated” by eligible applicants. All but one of the license revocations is being appealed to the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission. To be eligible for a microbusiness license, applicants must meet certain criteria, including income below certain thresholds, having past marijuana offenses or being a disabled veteran. The contracts written by Walter gave applicants two years to pay back loans that can total up to $2 million. If they couldn’t, they’d have to pay a “break-up fee” of up to $2.5 million or give up ownership of the license transfers to the loan holder, according to the state’s response in several of the appeals. “Therefore, the business would likely be unable to generate revenue to pay back the loan,” the state argues in one of the legal filing responding to a revocation appeal. “This leaves them no option but to convert the debt into ownership.” In most cases, the same people involved in the consulting company that hired Armstrong Teasdale to draw up the contract are also involved in lending the money. Walter’s law firm and the consulting companies who hired the firm to draw up the agreements have vehemently denied the contracts are predatory, arguing the applicants voluntarily signed them. “Those documents are all transparent, fair and compliant with Missouri law, including the Department of Health and Senior Services’ rules,” Jamie Moss, spokeswoman for Walter’s law firm, Armstrong Teasdale, said in an email to The Independent in October. Under the new rules, regulators will specifically ask for any business agreements related to the license “that affect ownership, control or financial interests in cannabis operations,” including all management agreements, consulting agreements, partnership agreements, loans, “or other agreements whereby any entities stand to gain financially from the business.” *This story was first published by Missouri Independent.* The post Missouri Marijuana Officials File Proposed Rules Targeting ‘Predatory’ Contracts For Equity Businesses appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

A Republican gubernatorial candidate in Maine, David Jones, is urging voters not to sign a petition for a "really dumb" initiative that would repeal the state's adult-use marijuana legalization law, arguing it would cost jobs and revenue in an industry that generates over half a billion dollars annually. If approved, the measure would eliminate recreational marijuana sales and adult-use home cultivation, while revising the medical cannabis program to impose mandatory product testing and a seed-to-sale tracking system. < Back Maine Initiative To Roll Back Marijuana Legalization Is ‘Really Dumb,’ GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Says Dec 17, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A Republican gubernatorial candidate in Maine is imploring voters not to sign a petition to put a “really dumb” initiative on next year’s ballot that would roll back the state’s adult-use marijuana legalization law. The measure, if approved, would also revise the regulatory structure of the medical cannabis program by imposing product testing requirements. “It’s dumb. It’s a dumb idea. Let’s focus on the things that really matter—the things that are going to make Maine a better place,” David Jones, a real estate executive who previously ran for governor in 2006, said. “Give law enforcement the opportunity to enforce the laws. Get rid of these illegal Chinese grows,” he said. “There’s tens of thousands of people who use cannabis. There’s people who invest their life savings [to enter the market]. This is an industry that generates over a half a billion dollars a year.” ‘I think we just have to focus on the things that make sense. And this, I’m sorry, just does not make sense,” Jones said. “So please do not sign that petition. It doesn’t make any sense. Stand with me on this, and let’s do what we can to make Maine great again.” The proposal that officials cleared for signature gathering earlier this month—“An Act to Amend the Cannabis Legalization Act and the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act”—is a revised version of a marijuana initiative filed in September that was backed by a Republican state senator and a former top staffer to then-Gov. Paul LePage (R), a staunch prohibitionist. If the latest measure makes the ballot and gets approved, it would remove and amend multiple sections of current state statute—aimed at effectively repealing the legalization of recreational marijuana sales that voters passed in 2016. Possession of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis by adults 21 and older would remain legal under the proposal, but a section of the law permitting home cultivation would be repealed. Medical marijuana sales and home cultivation would remain legal. Madison Carey, who was listed as the chief petitioner of the original version of the repeal initiative and remains involved in the current campaign, told Marijuana Moment last week that “there needs to be regulations on marijuana,” arguing that her experience recovering from an opioid misuse disorder speaks to the insufficiency of current law. “My hope is to just bring awareness to the reality of the potential dangers of not having regulations,” she said. “I think people are fed up with the constant use—the constant [retail businesses] coming up where people can now legally purchase marijuana.” Of course, repealing the voter-approved law that enacted a system of licensed adult-use sales would eliminate the current regulatory infrastructure that’s in place, which reform advocates argue helps mitigate the public health and safety risks associated with the illicit market. Rep. David Boyer (R), who led the fight to pass the cannabis legalization initiative on Maine’s ballot in 2016 when he was a staffer for the Marijuana Policy Project, said voters should refuse to sign petitions for the new initiative. “Don’t sign away Maine’s progress—decline to sign this misguided repeal initiative,” he told Marijuana Moment last week. “Repealing cannabis legalization would shutter an industry bigger than lobsters, potatoes and blueberries put together, costing jobs, revenue and economic growth for our state.” Under the new measure, the director of the Office of Cannabis Policy would face a mandate to “promote the health and well-being of the people of the state and advance policies that protect public health and safety, emphasizing the health and well-being of minors, as priority considerations in performing all duties.” They would also have to “ensure that qualifying patients maintain access to high-quality, effective and affordable cannabis for medical use under this Act.” Under the proposal, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services would be required to create a testing program for cannabis products, requiring dispensaries and caregivers to submit such products to a licensed facility for a safety assessment before they’re distributed to qualified patients. The testing facility would need to “ensure that the cannabis or cannabis product does not exceed the maximum level of allowable contamination for any contaminant that is injurious to health and for which testing is required and to ensure correct labeling.” “The department shall adopt rules establishing a testing program pursuant to this section, rules identifying the types of contaminants that are injurious to health for which cannabis and cannabis products must be tested under this chapter and rules regarding the maximum level of allowable contamination for each contaminant,” the ballot initiative text states. Further, regulators would need to administer a system for tracking cannabis plants from seedings to the point of retail sale or disposal. That system would have to “allow for cannabis plants at the stage of cultivation and upon transfer from the stage of cultivation to another registrant to be tracked by group.” Activists must submit at least 67,682 valid voter signatures by February 2, 2026 in order to qualify for next year’s ballot. If approved by voters, the initiative would take effect beginning on January 1, 2028. *— 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. —* Maine legislators in June rejected a bill to legalize possession of up to one ounce of psilocybin by adults 21 and older. That followed a separate effort in the state last year to legalize psilocybin and allow adults to access the psychedelic at state-licensed facilities. But lawmakers watered down that bill—amending it to create a commission to further explore the reform instead—and it ultimately did not pass. Meanwhile, Maine lawmakers in February voted to investigate possible conflicts of interest by a top marijuana official. And last year, a law took effect allowing people to apply to have records of now-legal marijuana crimes sealed. *Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.* The post Maine Initiative To Roll Back Marijuana Legalization Is ‘Really Dumb,’ GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

The World Health Organization maintained the strict global ban on the coca leaf, keeping it in the most restrictive Schedule I category, citing the ease of cocaine extraction and rising global cocaine production, despite its own review confirming the plant's cultural and medical benefits, the lack of harm from traditional use, and evidence that prohibition causes substantial public health harms. < Back World Health Organization Won’t Ease Coca Leaf Ban, Even As Review Found Prohibition Is More Dangerous Than The Plant Dec 6, 2025 Marijuana Moment Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link *“It’s unacceptable for humanity to demonize a sacred medicinal plant. It was more of a political decision than a scientific one.”* *By Mattha Busby, Filter* The World Health Organization had a historic opportunity to ease a strict global ban on the coca leaf—a prohibition, campaigners said, with “racist and colonial” roots. But the agency has chosen not to do so. The WHO’s own expert review had detailed in September how millions of people across the Andes consume the coca leaf daily as part of a longstanding cultural practice without any significant negative effects—and that, conversely, coca control strategies are associated with substantial public health harms. And yet on December 2, the WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) recommended that the plant be kept in Schedule I of United Nations drug treaties—the most restrictive category of control—because coca leaves can relatively easily be converted into cocaine. “The simplicity of extracting cocaine from coca leaf and its high yield and profitability are well known,” the ECDD wrote. “The Committee also reviewed evidence of a marked increase in coca leaf cultivation and in the production of cocaine-related substances, in the context of significant, increasing public health concern about cocaine use. In that context, the Committee considered that reducing or removing existing international controls on coca leaf could pose an especially serious risk to public health.” The committee noted that a 34 percent year-on-year increase in cocaine production was reported in 2023, with some countries reporting historically high levels. But reform advocates emphasize that coca is not cocaine. They insist that the WHO’s review acknowledged both the plant’s medical potential and the lack of evidence of problematic coca leaf use anywhere in the world—two key criteria a drug must satisfy to be placed in a less restrictive schedule. “It’s unacceptable for humanity to demonize a sacred medicinal plant,” Jaison Perez Villafaña, a wisdom keeper or *mamo* from Colombia’s Arhuaco community, told *Filter*. “It was more of a political decision than a scientific one. The coca leaf (*el ayu*) is not itself to blame for being converted into cocaine by humans with economic interests.” The ECDD said it recognized that “coca leaf has an important cultural and therapeutic significance for Indigenous peoples and other communities and that there are exemptions for traditional use of coca leaf in certain national frameworks.” A coalition of Indigenous coca leaf producers and consumers wrote to the WHO in October urging the UN body to “clearly differentiate” between traditional coca use and issues associated with cocaine. Steve Rolles, senior policy analyst at Transform Drug Policy Foundation, called the WHO’s suggestion that keeping coca in Schedule 1 would restrict cocaine production “ridiculous,” saying the decision exposed “the moral and scientific bankruptcy pervading the entire system” of global drug control. “Whilst we may expect decisions like this to emerge from political bodies subsumed within entrenched ‘war on drugs’ narratives, there was a hope that the more objective, scientific, and nominally independent corners of the UN would maintain a degree of pragmatism and principle—even if their recommendations were later rejected by UN political entities,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “The risks of cocaine powder or smoked crack cocaine, creations of the global North, which is also by far the biggest market for both, are demonstrably of a different order to traditional coca use, chewed or in tea, which occurs exclusively in the global South,” Rolles added. “It is the global South where the burden of both the failed war on cocaine, and the criminalization of entire cultures is most acutely felt.” In 2020, following a WHO recommendation, the UN’s Commission on Narcotic Drugs voted narrowly to relax international controls on cannabis, acknowledging its medical value after decades of “reefer madness.” For reform advocates, that decision appeared to signal a slow and overdue shift toward evidence-based scheduling. Therefore there were hopes that the UN system could also distinguish between the coca leaf—containing less than 1 percent cocaine alkaloid—and the refined powder that fuels global demand. Yet coca will continue to be treated as though it has the same risk profile as cocaine—even after the WHO review affirmed that traditional coca chewing has caused no documented fatalities, is not associated with significant dependence or “abuse” potential, and has possible therapeutic applications ranging from anti-inflammatory effects to modest improvements in post-meal glucose. “The WHO’s decision is deeply disappointing and profoundly troubling,” Ann Fordham, executive director of the International Drug Policy Council, said in a press release. “This was not a routine review—it was a critical test of the UN drug control system. The Committee has shown it cannot objectively assess evidence or consider the human rights consequences of prohibition. Instead, it has chosen to reinforce the racist and colonial foundations of international drug control. This decision makes clear that the system is broken and resistant to meaningful reform.” Experts have long argued that the logic behind the coca ban is selective and ignores existing treaty precedents. Plants such as ephedra, which is used to manufacture methamphetamine, psilocybin-containing mushrooms and mescaline-producing cacti all remain unscheduled at the plant level, despite being used to produce controlled substances. While open persecution of coca-chewers in the Andes has waned, prohibition still shapes daily life in parts of the region—from farmers who lose crops to stop-start aerial fumigation campaigns, to communities caught between eradication forces and the networks that dominate the illegal cocaine trade. In the September review, the independent group of experts contracted by the WHO noted research that showed exposure to harmful glyphosate-based pesticides like Roundup, found to be a probable carcinogen, from authorities’ aerial spraying of coca crops “increased the number of miscarriages and the number of medical consultations related to dermatological and respiratory illnesses in targeted communities.” The review added that another study showed that forced coca eradication incentivized coca farmers to intensify production through increased use of toxic agro-chemicals “in remaining or subsequent coca plots, increasing their exposure to those chemicals.” Villafaña and other Indigenous leaders have warned that these pressures amount to a form of cultural violence. Coca is central to Andean communities’ spiritual practice, conflict resolution, work, ceremony and community health—yet its use outside narrow “traditional” exemptions places people at risk of criminal sanctions. “It would be a relief for us as a culture,” Villafaña said, “if the world recognized it as a sacred plant and didn’t demonize it.” But, he added, the decision would not otherwise affect his community, whose members will continue chewing coca as they always have done. *This article was originally published by Filter, an online magazine covering drug use, drug policy and human rights through a harm reduction lens. Follow Filter on Bluesky, X or Facebook, and sign up for its newsletter.* The post World Health Organization Won’t Ease Coca Leaf Ban, Even As Review Found Prohibition Is More Dangerous Than The Plant appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows accepted an initiative petition aimed at abolishing regulated cultivation and dispensary operations for adults. < Back Maine SOS Approves Ballot Petition to End $250M Adult-Use Cannabis Market Dec 15, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Secretary of State Shenna Bellows accepted an initiative petition that aims to abolish regulated cultivation and dispensary operations for adults. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5

Marijuana legalization has stalled in the Pennsylvania legislature, primarily due to GOP-controlled Senate opposition and concerns about building a robust regulatory framework, public safety, and the drug's current federal Schedule I classification. Despite high public support and arguments from Democrats about losing critical revenue to neighboring states, proponents, including House and Senate lawmakers, are now pivoting to target passage during the fast-approaching 2026 legislative session. < Back Marijuana’s Federally Banned Status Is One Reason Pennsylvania Hasn’t Legalized It, Top GOP Senator Says Dec 9, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Pennsylvania is losing out on critical revenue by not legalizing marijuana, a key Democratic lawmaker says, but it’s up to the GOP-controlled Senate to make the next move. And one top Republican senator says there are “some significant concerns” to address before that happens—including the current federal classification of cannabis that’s under review by the Trump administration. In interviews with PoliticsPA last week, the bicameral and bipartisan legislators were each asked about the prospects of adult-use legalization in the Commonwealth. Rep. Jordan Harris (D), who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, pointed out that his chamber has previously passed a version of the reform, consistent with what the governor has proposed as part of his recent budget requests. “For me, I think we should have done it a while ago. I think most Pennsylvanians agree—most Americans agree that we should legalize cannabis—and many of the states around us have already done so,” he said, adding that he has friends in neighboring New Jersey who are “very happy that Pennsylvania has not legalized adult-use cannabis because they get to literally reap the benefits.” “They get to reap the benefits of us not passing adult-use cannabis when so many people from the southeastern part of the state cross right over the border into New Jersey get legalized cannabis, and so we need to do it,” he said. “We’re literally leaving money on the table by not legalizing adult-use cannabis.” Harris said the House continues to support the reform, which is among “many of these things have been priorities for us for a while,” but in order to enact legalization, “we’re waiting the Senate to either move on our bill or send us their own bill or something around it. I think we definitely need to talk about revenue.” On the Senate side, Sen. Scott Martin (R), who chairs the chamber’s Appropriations Committee, gave a decidedly pessimistic overview of the cannabis issue, saying he “didn’t see [legalization legislation] going much of anywhere” this session because “there’s some significant concern over learning lessons of some other states.” “Like, how about you build a regulatory framework first and tout the protections? Like, how are you going to keep it out of the youth hands? How are you going to get the technology that when someone’s pulled over on the side of the road, that you can test for it right away? Or for insurance purposes—for businesses and others—how much does the THC period of time need to be out of your system before you drive that school bus full of little kids, or before you operate a forklift in a warehouse?” “Unfortunately, often in life, you see governments that want to jump in right away, fully into the pool, and then deal with the consequences after,” he said. “There’s Second Amendment considerations that come to this as well. There’s other things that people need. How about we sort this out?” “Does the federal government change the classification from being a Schedule I narcotic to one that’s Schedule II that can be researched?” Martin said. “There’s so many things in the pipeline now.” Despite those apparent outstanding concern—and despite the omission of legalization from a final budget deal the chambers agreed to last month—several House and Senate lawmakers separately told Marijuana Moment that they do see a path forward to end criminalization in the fast-approaching 2026 session. For example, House Health Committee Chairman Dan Frankel (D) said that it “would’ve been a welcome surprise to see recreational cannabis legalization pass as part of the budget, but we weren’t counting on it.” “So far, there’s no sign the Pennsylvania Senate has the votes to end prohibition—and there’s unfortunately no path forward without support from both GOP leadership and a majority of Senate members,” the chairman, who championed legalization legislation that passed the House earlier this year, said. Rep. Rick Krajewski (D), who joined Frankel in leading the push to advance cannabis reform, said that it’s while it’s “disappointing that the Senate was unable to come to an agreement on legalization for this budget, we continue to be eager to work on a bipartisan path to adult-use cannabis.” That could be achieved through the legislation he’s sponsored such as HB 1200, the House-passed bill that would have legalized marijuana for sale through state-run-stores, or an “alternative proposal sent forward by the Senate,” he told Marijuana Moment. Another lawmaker who’s helped lead the push for legalization in the Commonwealth, Rep. Emily Kinkead (D), told Marijuana Moment that she wasn’t especially surprised that legalization didn’t make it in the budget. That train seemed to leave the station months ago, she said, adding that those she’s worked with on the issue have been “pivoting to trying to target passage in 2026.” Sen. Sharif Street (D), who has also sponsored adult-use legalization legislation, emphasized public support for the reform. “I fully expect that cannabis legalization will be at the top of the discussion for next year,” he told Marijuana Moment. ”There’s an outcry from members. And there’s an outcry from the public to get it done.” The budget deal came weeks after Pennsylvania senators approved a bipartisan bill that would create a new regulatory body to oversee the state’s existing medical cannabis program and intoxicating hemp products, while preparing to eventually handle the adult-use cannabis market as well. *— 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. —* A top aide to Pennsylvania’s governor said in September that lawmakers should stop introducing new competing legalization bills and instead focus on building consensus on the issue—while emphasizing that any measure that advances needs to contain equity provisions if the governor is going to sign it into law. Sen. Dan Laughlin (R), for his part, said in August that the House “needs to pass the language in my bill and send it to my committee” after which point he “can negotiate with the Senate and the governor.” Laughlin separately said recently that supporters are “picking up votes” to enact the reform this session. Meanwhile, bipartisan Pennsylvania senators in October introduced a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to use of medical marijuana in hospitals. Separately, the leading Republican candidate in the race to become the next governor of Pennsylvania dodged a question about her stance on legalizing marijuana—saying she doesn’t have a “policy position” on the issue and arguing that the sitting governor’s proposal for reform “way, way overstated” potential revenue. The candidate, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R), pointed to neighboring Ohio, which launched its own adult-use cannabis market this year, saying “they generated about $115 million in revenue.” And while the populations of both states are relatively comparable, Shapiro’s budget projected $536.5 million in cannabis revenue in the first fiscal year of implementation. She did, however, say that if Pennsylvania moves forward on enacting the reform, she’ll “make sure that it’s banked appropriately.” Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania Democratic senator recently said that federal marijuana rescheduling would be “very influential” in advancing legalization in his state, giving “political cover” to GOP members on the fence about reform. Polls have shown bipartisan support for legalization among voters, but the reform has consistently stalled in the legislature, due largely to GOP opposition. But not all Republican members are against the policy change—and one recently said she felt her party should seize the “opportunity to snatch” the issue from Democrats. *Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.* The post Marijuana’s Federally Banned Status Is One Reason Pennsylvania Hasn’t Legalized It, Top GOP Senator Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment . < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Tahiti Twist by Alt Sol - New Leaf Dispensary DC Tahiti Twist, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Wash Hydro in Washington DC, is a balanced hybrid strain that brings tropical flair... Gary Payton | Cookies x Alt Sol | Embers Dispensary DC Gary Payton, the cannabis strain, much like the legendary NBA player it's named after, is all about precision and impact. Just as the Hal... 1 2 3 4 5