New Jersey Assemblymember Michael Venezia (D) has introduced Assembly Resolution 153, which urges the U.S. Congress to deschedule marijuana, removing it as a controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

(Photo credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg).

The resolution, co-sponsored by Representatives Gabriel Rodriguez (D), Carmen Morales (D), Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D), and Annette Quijano (D), reflects growing support in New Jersey for federal cannabis reform.

Under the CSA, established in 1970, Schedule I substances are deemed to have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and lack safety for medical supervision. Marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug, despite its legalization for both medical and recreational use in New Jersey, and the growing body of research supporting its therapeutic benefits.
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Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg appointed Bruce Stebbins as acting chair of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) on Thursday, following the dismissal of former chair Shannon O’Brien earlier in the week.

Bruce Stebbins.

State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg appointed Bruce Stebbins to serve as Acting Chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) until a permanent Chair is selected.

“I am honored to accept the role of Acting Chair and look forward to working together with my colleagues and Commission staff on important policy initiatives in the coming months,” Stebbins said. “This is a crucial time for the state’s cannabis industry, which has grown in my four years as a Commissioner into a multi-billion-dollar, increasingly equitable marketplace. I take seriously our mission to oversee safe, accessible cannabis businesses and will continue supporting Massachusetts’ growth as a regional and national regulatory leader in this space.”
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An official with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the agency has the power to remove cannabis-infused foods and beverages from the market.

FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods James Jones.

During a House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee hearing, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods James Jones was questioned about the agency’s ability to address intoxicating cannabis products, including hemp derivatives that are legal under federal law (due to the passage of the 2018 farm bill that legalized hemp).

Jones explained that marijuana falls largely under the jurisdiction of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), but under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, the FDA can intervene when food or drink contains an unapproved “adulterant” like THC.
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Today, Pennsylvania State Representatives Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) and Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny), along with 15 cosponsors, introduced a comprehensive, bipartisan marijuana legalization bill in the House of Representatives.

Under the proposed law, those 21 and older would be allowed to possess and use up to 30 grams of marijuana for any use. Although medical marijuana patients would be allowed to grow up to five marijuana plants for personal use, recreational home grows would not be allowed.

The bipartisan measure would establish a system of licensed and regulated marijuana businesses, overseen by the Department of Agriculture.
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A lawsuit has been filed in Lancaster County challenging two medical marijuana petitions set to appear on the November 5 ballot in Nebraska.

The suit, submitted just before the deadline for certifying the measures for the November ballot, claims the petitions are insufficient for several reasons.

John Kuehn, the plaintiff, stated in the lawsuit that he sought to review petition signatures from Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen. While Evnen granted access to signatures from Douglas, Sarpy, and Lancaster counties, the lawsuit alleges that he excluded 20 other counties from review.
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As the November 5 election day draws near, the Yes on 29 campaign held a press conference today to rally support for their initiative, which would legalize recreational marijuana in South Dakota if approved by voters.

Measure 29 marks the third attempt over the past four years by the group South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws to secure legalization in the state. The new measure, Measure 29, seeks to legalize the possession, use, and distribution of up to one ounce of marijuana for adults aged 21 and over, while also allowing them to grow up to three plants for personal use. The measure also proposes a regulatory framework for commercial sales, including licensing and taxation provisions aimed at generating revenue for the state.

In 2020, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws successfully passed Amendment A, which similarly sought to legalize recreational marijuana. However, the amendment was later overturned by the state’s Supreme Court, which ruled that it violated the state’s single-subject rule. The court found that the measure’s provisions were too broad, encompassing multiple unrelated issues within a single proposal.
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Legal marijuana sales in Colorado garnered the state over $23 million in tax revenue in August alone.

Data compiled and released by the Colorado Department of Revenue shows that the state made $21,653,062.79 in taxes from marijuana sales in August, in addition to $1,428,958.52 in licenses and fees. Combined, the state made $23,082,021.31.

The year-to-date tax revenue made from marijuana sales in Colorado is now $173,986,426. All-time marijuana tax revenue (since January 2014) is $2,792,144,158 .
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