The New York Senate has advanced legislation that would expand the state’s medical marijuana program by allowing out-of-state patients to access dispensaries and by allowing the sale of pre-rolled marijuana products.

Senate Bill 3105, sponsored by State Senator Jeremy Cooney, received passage today through its second reading in the full Senate. The measure amends the state’s cannabis law to recognize out-of-state medical marijuana authorizations as valid, provided the individual presents legitimate documentation and complies with New York’s medical cannabis rules. It also authorizes the state Cannabis Control Board to develop reciprocal agreements with other states.

Although recreational marijuana is legal in New York, the state’s medical program offers broader allowances that many patients rely on. Medical marijuana patients can possess a 60-day supply based on their prescribed needs, which can exceed the recreational limit of three ounces of flower and 24 grams of concentrate. Medical products can also have higher THC potency and come in formulations not available in adult-use stores, such as lozenges, inhalers, and high-dose capsules.
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A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Virology finds that cannabidiol (CBD) and a green tea-derived compound may work together to inhibit the virus responsible for COVID-19.

Photo: CDC.gov

Conducted by researchers at Harbin Medical University in China and the University of Calgary in Canada, the study examined the effects of several natural polyphenolic compounds—CBD, green tea polyphenols, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and theaflavin—on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in vitro. The results showed that CBD and tea polyphenols had the strongest impact on preventing viral entry, with their effects comparable to chloroquine, which served as the study’s positive control.

CBD was also found to significantly reduce expression of ACE2, the receptor that allows the virus to enter cells. Meanwhile, EGCG produced the greatest reduction in the virus’s spike protein, a key element in its infectivity.
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A measure to tighten Oklahoma’s medical marijuana packaging and labeling rules has become law without the signature of Governor Kevin Stitt.

Senate Bill 518 passed the Senate in March with a 36 to 7 vote, followed by overwhelming approval in the House in April by a vote of 81 to 2. After being sent to the governor’s desk, the bill was neither signed nor vetoed within the constitutionally required timeframe, allowing it to automatically become law.

The new law, which takes effect November 1, 2025, makes several significant changes to the way medical marijuana products must be packaged and labeled. It requires containers to include prominent warnings, including statements such as “For use by licensed medical marijuana patients only,” “Keep out of reach of children,” and “It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana or marijuana products.”

The law also mandates that labels warn against use during pregnancy and confirm that the product has been tested for contaminants. All packaging must be child-resistant and avoid imagery that appeals to minors, such as cartoon characters. Any health claims are explicitly prohibited.

Additionally, the law prohibits branding that may cause confusion with federally trademarked products and authorizes the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority’s executive director to establish minimum standards for labeling, including cannabinoid potency and terpenoid content.

Dispensaries will be required to return or dispose of any products that do not comply with the new requirements and must place purchased items in an “exit package” at the point of sale.

SB 518 marks another step in Oklahoma’s ongoing effort to tighten oversight of its expansive medical marijuana system, which has faced criticism over lax regulation since the program was approved by voters in 2018.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has voted 12 to 10 to advance the nomination of Terrance Cole as the next administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), approving a nominee who has pledged to prioritize the agency’s ongoing review of marijuana’s federal status.

Cole, a former high-ranking DEA official with more than two decades of experience at the agency, was nominated by President Donald Trump earlier this year. His approval through committee comes as the DEA weighs whether to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act. The full Senate is expected to vote on Cole’s confirmation as soon as early June.

Speaking during his confirmation hearing, Cole told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that the rescheduling review would be “one of my first priorities” once in office. Responding to a question from Senator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, Cole said, “I know the process has been delayed numerous times, and it’s time to move forward.”
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The Texas House of Representatives has passed an amended version of Senate Bill 3, reversing course from a committee-approved proposal to regulate hemp-derived THC products, instead reinstating a near-total ban similar to the version that passed the Senate in March.

As passed by the House, the legislation would outlaw nearly all consumable products containing THC derived from hemp, including edibles, beverages, tinctures, and vapes. The bill carves out limited exceptions for products containing only trace amounts of THC, effectively removing most items currently sold in the state’s multi-billion dollar hemp market.

The Senate approved a slightly different version of the bill in March, which would also ban all hemp-derived THC products. However, it was amended in the House State Affairs Committee to instead be a THC regulation bill. Despite the committee’s change, the full House approved an amendment to again ban, rather than regulate, hemp-based THC products.
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Recreational marijuana sales in Ohio have officially surpassed half a billion dollars, according to the latest figures released by the state’s Division of Cannabis Control (DCC).

As of May 10, the state recorded over $509 million in adult-use marijuana sales. This milestone comes just nine months after recreational sales began, marking a major moment for Ohio’s expanding cannabis industry. The DCC data also shows that these sales were driven by more than 7 million receipts, with over 76,000 pounds of marijuana flower and more than 8.5 million units of manufactured products sold for adult use.

When combined with Ohio’s longstanding medical marijuana program, total cannabis sales in the state is now $2,665,979,601. Of that total, around $2.15 billion comes from medical marijuana, with nearly 30 million manufactured products sold and more than 317,000 pounds of plant material distributed to registered patients.
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The New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has given approval to 50 new adult-use licenses, bringing the total to 1,726.

The approvals were given at the Board’s monthly meeting yesterday. During the meeting, the Board also relayed pivotal information regarding its emerging Seed-to-Sale (STS) program and the soft launch of a consumer-focused Buy Legal mapping system.

“New York’s Seed-to-Sale tracking system will be a critical part of OCM’s compliance and enforcement work as the agency continues to build the cannabis market. The transparency and accountability the system will provide allows OCM to trace every cannabis product from cultivation to consumer, ensuring that only legally grown and tested products reach the marketplace,” said Felicia A.B. Reid, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management.  “This implementation is a win for consumers, operators, and the future of fair and well-regulated cannabis in New York. STS brings meaningful structure and support to licensed operators. This system is a critical advancement for operators navigating a regulated market and it’s an important tool in our efforts to prevent inversion and maintain integrity across the supply chain. The Office will work with licensees to meet key integration deadlines over the next few months as Seed-to-Sale comes online.”

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Governor Tim Walz has confirmed he will sign Senate File 2370 into law, finalizing a wide-ranging overhaul of Minnesota’s marijuana and hemp regulations.

Governor Tim Walz (photo credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke).

Senate File 2370 received final passage last week after both the House and Senate adopted a conference committee report and held final votes—80 to 50 in the House and 34 to 33 in the Senate. The measure now awaits a decision by Governor Walz, with a spokesperson saying he plans to sign it into law soon.

The proposed law allows for the creation of cannabis delivery services, establishes protections for attorneys and public employees involved in the cannabis system, and it allows on-site consumption of infused cannabis products under certain conditions.
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