Legislation that would prohibit employers in Massachusetts from discriminating against workers or applicants based solely on their legal marijuana use is scheduled for a public hearing on June 10 in the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.

House Bill 2179 was introduced in February by State Representative Chynah Tyler (D). It would amend state law to make it illegal for employers to take adverse action against individuals for testing positive for marijuana if there’s no evidence of on-the-job impairment. The bill also restricts pre-employment marijuana testing unless a conditional job offer has been made, with exceptions for safety-sensitive positions or federally regulated roles.

Under the legislation, qualifying medical marijuana patients could not be denied employment or penalized at work simply for their patient status. Employers would still be allowed to maintain drug-free workplace policies, but they would not be able to penalize workers solely for a failed marijuana drug test unless there was reasonable suspicion of impairment during work hours.
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The New Hampshire Senate has scheduled a vote on legislation to decriminalize psilocybin for June 5.

If House Bill 528 is given approval by the full Senate, it will first return to the House for a concurrence vote on Senate amendments before being sent to Governor Kelly Ayotte.

Sponsored by State Representative Kevin Verville (R), HB 528 received strong bipartisan support in the House last month. Initially written to fully legalize the personal use and possession of psilocybin, the bill was amended in committee to instead focus on decriminalization. Under the current language, a first offense for adult possession of psilocybin would be considered a civil violation with a fine of up to $100. A second or third offense would be treated as a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 without any risk of jail time.
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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.

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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