Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed by the United States to be secretary of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and activist, has expressed support for marijuana legalization on numerous occasions, in addition to moving marijuana away from its current status as a Schedule I drug.

As Secretary of HHS, Kennedy will oversee agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), both of which play crucial roles in shaping federal cannabis policy. He could have an even larger impact if marijuana is rescheduled, given the FDA would decide which cannabis-based medicines could be prescribed nationwide.

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Senate Bill 307, introduced today by State Senator T. McGillvray, proposes a significant shift in how Montana distributes its marijuana tax revenue.

The bill would allocate a larger share of funds to law enforcement efforts targeting illicit marijuana activities and expand substance misuse prevention programs.

Currently, Montana’s marijuana tax revenue is distributed across various state programs, with major allocations including 20% for wildlife habitat conservation, 4% for state parks, 4% for recreational trails, 3% (or up to $200,000) for veterans’ services, and a sizable portion directed to the Healing and Ending Addiction Through Recovery and Treatment (HEART) Fund. The remaining revenue is transferred to the state’s general fund.

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A South Dakota House committee has rejected a proposal that would have eliminated medical marijuana as a legal defense in cannabis-related prosecutions.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 8 to 4 to defer House Bill 1123 to the 41st legislative day, effectively killing the measure for this session. The bill, introduced by Representative Fitzgerald with seven cosponsors (all Republican), would have repealed the ability of medical marijuana patients to use their status as a defense in court when charged with cannabis-related offenses.

If passed, the bill would have eliminated sections of the state’s medical marijuana law that allow patients to assert a medical purpose for using cannabis when facing prosecution. Under current law, individuals with a bona fide doctor-patient relationship who meet certain conditions—such as possessing only legally allowed amounts—can use their medical status as a defense. The bill aimed to repeal this protection, even for registered patients.
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A new proposal in West Virginia could eliminate criminal penalties for the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

State Senator Mike Woelfel (D) has introduced Senate Bill 219, which would decriminalize the possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana. The measure has been referred to the Senate’s Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Committee. If advanced, it would then be considered by the Judiciary Committee before reaching the full Senate.

Under the bill, individuals found with 15 grams or less of marijuana would no longer face criminal charges. Instead, possession would be treated as a civil offense, subject to a fine rather than jail time. West Virginia currently treats simple possession as a misdemeanor, carrying potential penalties of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
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Virginia’s Senate Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee has given approval to bipartisan legislation that would allow sentence modifications for individuals convicted of certain marijuana-related felonies before the state legalized cannabis.

The committee voted 10 to 5 today to approve House Bill 2555, a measure that has already been given approval by the full House of Delegates by a vote of 51 to 44.

If enacted into law, HB 2555 would establish a process for individuals still incarcerated or under community supervision for felony marijuana offenses committed before July 1, 2021, to receive an automatic hearing to reconsider their sentences. If the measure is approved by the Senate, it will be sent to Governor Glenn Youngkin, who has not yet given a position on the bill.
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Michigan’s legal marijuana market generated nearly $250 million in total sales.

According to data released today by the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), there was $247,325,681 in total marijuana sales in January, a modest increase over the $242 million sold in January 2024. This bring all-time sales to $12,087,986,053, including $10,465,670,100 in recreational marijuana sales and $1,622,315,953 in medical marijuana purchases.

In January, the average price for an ounce of cannabis dropped from the already all-time low of $69.20 in December, to a new low of $66.50 as of January 31.
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Colorado garnered over $20 million in marijuana taxes in January.

According to data released today by the Colorado Department of Revenue, the state brought in exactly $20,474,865 in tax revenue from the roughly $110 million in licensed marijuana sales in January. This brings the all-time tax revenue for the state to $2,893,997,549.

The $20.4 million in marijuana taxes made in January is an increase from the $19 million brought in in December, but a slight decrease from the $21 million garnered in January 2024.
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The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has led the psychedelic movement since 1986, today announced a search for its next executive director.

MAPS’ mission is to “create safe, legal, and equitable psychedelic access.” MAPS’ impact strategy focuses on driving policy reform, expanding global access to psychedelic therapies, and combating stigma, all while strengthening the psychedelic ecosystem through collective action.

The application deadline for the Executive Director position is March 21, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, according to a press release sent today. More information on the job description and application process can be found at maps.org/careers.
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A bill that would legalize the licensed distribution of recreational marijuana in Virginia has been approved by the state’s full legislature and sent to Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Senate Bill 970, filed by State Senators Aaron Rouse (D), Jennifer Carroll Foy (D), and Lashrecse Aird (D), has been given final approval by both the House of Representatives and Senate, allowing the measure to be officially sent to the desk of Governor Youngkin.

The bill would establish a regulatory framework for legal cannabis sales, to be overseen by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. Under the legislation, the authority could begin issuing licenses for marijuana-related businesses starting September 1, 2025, with sales beginning by May 1, 2026.
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