The Texas Senate has approved Senate Bill 3 in a 24 to 7 vote, advancing legislation that would ban THC in all consumable hemp products.

Gummies made with hemp-derived Delta-8 THC.

Filed by Republican Senators Charles Perry, Donna Campbell, and Brent Hagenbuch, SB 3 would outlaw any hemp-derived product containing cannabinoids other than cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG). This prohibition would effectively eliminate the sale of delta-8, delta-9, and other THC variants that have gained popularity under Texas’ existing hemp laws.

The bill assigns regulatory authority to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), requiring all hemp manufacturers to obtain a state-issued license. It also mandates that consumable hemp products undergo rigorous testing to confirm their cannabinoid content and ensure they are free of harmful contaminants before reaching consumers.
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France has moved closer to allowing medical marijuana by sending two key proposals to the European Commission that would set rules for its production and distribution.

This notification, submitted on March 19 through the Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) procedure, is a required step before the country can fully incorporate medical marijuana into its legal system.

These decrees, finalized nearly two years ago, had been awaiting government approval for submission to Brussels. Now, a three-month standstill period allows the European Commission and member states to review and comment on the regulations. If a detailed opinion is issued, the review period could extend by another three months, requiring France to justify its proposed measures.
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A Connecticut legislative committee has approved a bill designed to strengthen labor protections for cannabis industry employees.

The House Labor and Public Employees Committee voted 9 to 4 yesterday in favor of a substitute version of House Bill 6842, which mandates that cannabis businesses enter into labor peace agreements and prohibits employers from factoring gratuities into wages to meet minimum pay requirements. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.

The measure proposes updating existing labor laws by requiring cannabis licensees to sign agreements with labor unions, preventing them from interfering with organizing efforts. It also clarifies that cannabis workers must be paid at least the state’s minimum fair wage, barring businesses from offsetting wages with tips.
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A new poll has found that a majority of Utah voters support legalizing recreational marijuana.

While Utah currently allows medical marijuana, recreational use remains illegal. The poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights and commissioned by Keep Utah Medical, found that 52% of Utah voters back legalization, 38% oppose it, and 9% are undecided. Keep Utah Medical, which led the state’s successful medical cannabis initiative in 2018, says it has no plans to push for recreational legalization, but is simply gauging support for this issue.

The poll found that 76% of Democrats and 61% of independents favor legalization, while Republicans are more divided, with 51% opposed and 41% in support.

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Legislation in North Carolina that would legalize adult-use cannabis for those 21 and older, including establishing a licensed and regulated system of marijuana businesses, now has 13 sponsors.

House Bill 413 was filed on Monday by a coalition of six Democratic lawmakers. In the two days since being filed, the measure has garnered seven additional sponsors.

Sponsors now include Representatives Jordan Lopez (D), Aisha Dew (D), Zack Forde-Hawkins (D), Mary Harrison (D), Eric Ager (D), Mary Belk (D), Tracy Clark (D), Sarah Crawford (D), Rodney Pierce (D), Lindsey Prather (D), Renee Price (D), James Roberson (D), and Brian Turner (D).
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The New Mexico House of Representatives has passed legislation to legalize medical psilocybin, sending the measure to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for consideration.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms in a bowl.

The House voted 56 to 8 today in favor of Senate Bill 219, the Medical Psilocybin Act, which previously cleared the Senate with a 33 to 4 vote. The proposal was filed by Senator Jeff Steinborn (D).

If signed into law, or allowed to become law without a signature, the legislation would allow individuals with specific behavioral health conditions—such as major treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and end-of-life distress—to receive psilocybin-assisted treatment. It would also create an advisory board, a treatment equity fund, and a research fund while removing psilocybin from the state’s Controlled Substances Act to protect patients, clinicians, and producers.
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Minnesota’s marijuana market is still taking shape, and state officials say a significant expansion in cultivation will be necessary to meet demand.

According to Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) interim director Eric Taubel, the state needs between 1.5 and 2 million square feet of canopy to supply the market, according to a demand study commissioned by the OCM. Currently, Minnesota has only about 60,000 square feet of active cultivation space—roughly 3% of what is required.

To bridge the gap, Taubel says the state will need to issue a large number of cultivation licenses, somewhere between 100 and 150. Some of the shortfall is expected to be covered by tribal growers, with the governor’s office negotiating agreements that would allow tribes to open cannabis businesses beyond reservation land.
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A bill to legalize and regulate marijuana in North Carolina has gained four new sponsors, bringing the total to 12.

House Bill 413, introduced yesterday by State Representative Jordan Lopez (D) along with five cosponsors, also cleared its first reading and was assigned to the House Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee today. The proposal is now cosponsored by State Representatives Aisha Dew (D), Zack Forde-Hawkins (D), Mary Harrison (D), Rodney Pierce (D), Lindsey Prather (D), Renee Price (D), James Roberson (D), Mary Belk (D), Tracy Clark (D), Sarah Crawford (D), and Brian Turner (D).

The Marijuana Legalization and Reinvestment Act would allow those 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of cannabis and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates. The personal cultivation of up to six plants would also be allowed, as would licensed marijuana retail outlets.
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The Arkansas Legislature has approved a bill to permanently extend the state’s medical marijuana special privilege tax, delivering it to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for consideration.

Senate Bill 219 passed the Senate unanimously on March 6 with a 31 to 0 vote and cleared the House yesterday by a vote of 74 to 7. It was officially delivered to the governor today.

SB 219 repeals the sunset provision of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Special Privilege Tax Act of 2017, which was set to expire on July 1, 2025.
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A bill introduced today by State Senator James Sanders (D) would increase penalties for those under 21 caught possessing cannabis in New York.

The measure, Senate Bill 6611, has been referred to the Senate Codes Committee for consideration.

Under current law, underage marijuana possession is punishable by a civil fine of up to $50, along with an informational warning about cannabis risks. If passed, SB 6611 would raise the maximum fine to $250 and allow for up to 30 hours of community service as an alternative or additional penalty. The bill also explicitly allows law enforcement to seize marijuana found in possession of individuals under 21.
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