Today, Chief Administrative Law Judge John J. Mulrooney II issued a scathing order criticizing the U.S. government for failing to comply with procedural directives in its submission of evidence.

The order, tied to the potential rescheduling of marijuana, was filed under DEA Docket No. 1362 and stems from the government’s submission of a compact disc (CD) containing public comments instead of providing the required hard copies, as mandated by a prehearing ruling. Judge Mulrooney emphasized that the government’s actions were “not a mistake borne of misunderstanding or inadvertence” but a deliberate defiance of clear instructions. The tribunal had explicitly denied the government’s earlier request to file electronic copies, citing a lack of good cause.
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Legislation to establish collective bargaining rights for marijuana workers is moving forward in the Washington State House of Representatives, with House Bill 1141 scheduled for a public hearing.

The hearing is set for January 15 at 8 a.m. in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards, a necessary step before the committee can vote on the measure.

Introduced by State Representatives Lillian Ortiz-Self and Mary Fossee on December 30, HB 1141 seeks to extend collective bargaining rights to workers involved in marijuana cultivation and processing. The bill outlines guidelines for organizing labor unions, resolving disputes, and safeguarding employees’ rights to collective bargaining.
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Legislation in Washington State that would shift marijuana licensing responsibilities to the Department of Agriculture has been scheduled for a public hearing.

House Bill 1067 will be discussed by the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business and members of the public on January 17 at 8 am. The bill proposes transferring licensing and regulatory authority for marijuana production, processing, and testing from the Liquor and Cannabis Board to the Department of Agriculture. This follows a previous legislative change in 2024, which moved oversight of marijuana testing labs to the Department of Agriculture, effective July 1 of that year.

The legislation outlines a comprehensive plan to shift all duties, records, and resources related to marijuana licensing to the Department of Agriculture by July 1, 2026. It ensures that existing rules, contracts, and obligations will remain valid throughout the transition.
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The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced today it has published a notice of intent to adopt expedited rules and has opened a 30-day public comment period.

Members of the public can submit formal comment starting today, January 13, on draft rules that will complete the regulatory framework for Minnesota’s new cannabis industry. A copy of the proposed rules has been published in the State Register and may be viewed by clicking here.

The public can submit comments through the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) website until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Instructions on how to use the system are available on the OAH website.
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A resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 5) encouraging the federal government to approve the SAFER Banking Act has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Montana.

The hearing will take place on Thursday, January 16, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 422 of the Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee. The resolution, if passed, would officially express Montana’s support for approving the SAFER Banking Act, which would allow banks and other financial institutions to provide financial services to state-legal marijuana businesses. This would allow state-licensed marijuana stores to move away from a dangerous cash-only model, while also giving them access to other traditional banking services such as loans and lines of credit.

Montana’s U.S. Senators, Steve Daines and Jon Tester, have both sponsored the SAFER Banking Act. The proposal was given bipartisan support by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in September 2023, but failed to receive a vote of the full Senate.
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A group of Washington State lawmakers, led by Senator Jesse Salomon, has introduced Senate Bill 5201, which would legalize the use of psilocybin for therapeutic purposes.

The bill, backed by eight cosponsors, has been referred to the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee for further consideration.

If enacted, the legislation would establish a regulated framework allowing licensed facilitators to administer psilocybin in controlled, supervised settings. The proposed program is modeled after Oregon’s pioneering psilocybin therapy law and aims to provide a pathway for individuals seeking treatment for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
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Cannabis Bioscience International Holdings (CBIH) announced today that Brian Cuban, Esq., a distinguished attorney, best-selling author, and mental health advocate, has officially joined the Reclassification Team and will play a crucial role in representing CBIH at the upcoming DEA hearings on marijuana rescheduling.

Brian Cuban, the younger brother of entrepreneur Mark Cuban, “brings a unique combination of personal recovery experience and professional advocacy to the effort”, according to a CBIH press release. A graduate of Penn State University and The University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Mr. Cuban has been a vocal champion for individuals battling addiction, mental health challenges, and societal stigma.

According to CBUH, Mr. Cuban has established himself as a thought leader in the mental health space, authoring the best-selling book The Addicted Lawyer: Tales of The Bar, Booze, Blow & Redemption and captivating audiences across North America as a keynote speaker. His work has been featured in esteemed publications such as The New York Times, CNN.com, and The Huffington Post. His most recent release, Body Brokers, sheds light on the dark and exploitative practices within the addiction recovery industry, exposing unethical behaviors that prey on vulnerable individuals seeking treatment.
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In 2024, states that allow licensed recreational marijuana sales combined to sell over $20 billion in product.

According to an analysis by The Marijuana Herald, which utilized data from state regulatory agencies and the research firm Headset, legal marijuana states sold $23.2 billion in product throughout 2024, with California and Michigan leading in sales.

The combined total for 2024 includes data from 20 of the 24 legal marijuana states. Delaware and Minnesota were excluded because their legal marijuana markets are not set to launch until later this year. Data for Virginia was also excluded, as it is the only legal marijuana state without licensed sales. Additionally, Alaska’s sales data was not included because the state has yet to release its 2024 figures, nor has Headset or any other research firm deemed reliable enough for inclusion.

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