North Carolina Senate President Phil Berger says full legalization of marijuana is off the table this session, but medical marijuana legislation could still gain traction—if the House takes the lead.

In a recent interview with WXII 12 News, Berger said he sees no realistic chance of North Carolina passing a law to legalize marijuana for recreational use during the current legislation session. However, he acknowledged there is continued support for allowing marijuana for medical purposes.

“I don’t see that there is any chance of full legalization of recreational marijuana,” said Berger. “I do think there continues to be discussion about medical marijuana. The Senate has, on a couple of occasions, passed medical marijuana legislation. And I think there remain majorities within the Senate for legislation of that sort.”
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In a unanimous 16 to 0 vote, Florida’s House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee today approved a bill that would make medical marijuana cards free for veterans and extend the validity of all cards from one year to two.

(Photo credit: GETTY Images).

House Bill 555 is designed to ease access to medical marijuana for veterans, and make the process more affordable for them. The proposal would waive the state’s fee for issuing, replacing, or renewing medical marijuana identification cards for honorably discharged veterans. Applicants would be required to submit a DD-214 form as proof of status.

HB 555 also proposes extending the validity of medical marijuana identification cards from one year to two years, reducing the frequency and cost of renewals for all qualified patients and caregivers (this would apply to all patients, not just veterans).
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Michigan marijuana sales reached $267.7 million in March, pushing the state’s total for 2025 past $750 million in just three months.

According to data released by the research firm Headset, the March total marks a 10% increase from February’s $242 million and an 8% rise from January’s $247 million. Adult-use marijuana continues to account for the vast majority of sales, with medical marijuana making up just 2% of the market.

In total, Michigan’s marijuana industry has generated $756 million in sales, resulting in around $120 million in tax revenue.
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Minnesota’s Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee gave approval today to the Omnibus Cannabis Policy Bill (Senate File 2370), a detailed proposal that would make several alterations to the state’s legal marijuana industry.

Introduced earlier this month by Senator David Dibble (D), this comprehensive legislation would address various aspects of the state’s evolving cannabis industry, with the recreational market expected to launch later this year​

Among its many provisions, the bill formalizes the Office of Cannabis Management as a recognized state agency for government-to-government relations with Tribal nations. This change allows the agency to directly engage with Tribal governments on matters involving marijuana and hemp, strengthening collaboration and ensuring regulatory alignment where appropriate.
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Tariffs imposed worldwide by President Donald Trump on Wednesday are likely to increase the cost of cannabis products in the U.S., as many firms rely on products from Asia for manufacturing.

The latest tariffs, which are immediate, stack up on any duties imposed earlier on countries like China, Canada, Mexico and the EU. Items such as tins, vape hardware and specialized glass remain difficult to source domestically, and companies remain largely dependent on Asia particularly China, analysts and executives said.

“Those relying on exports from nations with tariffs, such as China, will need to take a serious look at how they might absorb the extra costs or alter partnerships,” said Bryan Gerber, CEO of Hara Supply, the world’s largest manufacturer of cones and combustibles, according to a recent report by Reuters.
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New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has until April 11 to either sign or veto legislation that would legalize medical psilocybin, or allow it to become law without her signature.

The Medical Psilocybin Act, Senate Bill 219, cleared the House in a 56 to 8 vote after previously passing the Senate 33 to 4. Sponsored by Senator Jeff Steinborn (D), the measure has received strong bipartisan support—enough to override a potential veto if necessary. When asked for comment, Governor Grisham’s Communication Director Michael Coleman simply told us “We’re still considering this one”.

If enacted, the bill would allow psilocybin-assisted therapy for individuals with certain behavioral health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and end-of-life distress. It would also remove psilocybin from the state’s Controlled Substances Act, shielding patients, providers, and producers from criminal penalties.
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In Florida, medical cannabis patients purchased over $162 million worth of product in March, bringing the state’s 2025 total to around $450 million.

According to data released today by the research firm Headset, Florida’s medical cannabis industry generated $162,994,063 in total sales in March, a slight decrease from the $172 million sold in March. The drop is attributed to a notable decrease in average prices.

Dried marijuana flower once again dominated the market in March, accounting for the largest share of purchases at around 44%. That was followed by vapor pens, edibles, concentrates, pre-rolls, capsules, and tinctures/topicals, maintaining similar sales patterns seen in prior months.
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Rhode Island’s legal marijuana industry brought in over $28 million in sales during the first quarter of 2025, according to data released by the state Department of Business Regulation.

(Photo credit: Sasha Beck/Leafly).

In March alone, licensed retailers recorded $9.75 million in total marijuana sales. Of that amount, $8.07 million came from adult-use purchases, while $1.68 million was attributed to medical marijuana sales. That follows $8.98 million in total sales in February and $9.57 million in January, bringing the year-to-date total to $28,300,438.

Altogether, more than 937,000 marijuana transactions were processed in the first three months of the year, with the average transaction amount in March calculated at $34.96.
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The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that the smell of marijuana, by itself, no longer provides probable cause for law enforcement to search a vehicle, effectively overturning a 25-year-old precedent.

In a 5-1 decision issued Wednesday, the court sided with defendant Jeffery Armstrong, who was charged in 2020 after Detroit police searched a Jeep Cherokee based solely on the odor of burnt marijuana. The search led to three criminal charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm. However, the court determined the search violated constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.

“We agree… that in light of the voters’ intent to legalize marijuana usage and possession, the smell of marijuana, standing alone, no longer constitutes probable cause,” wrote Justice Megan Cavanagh in the majority opinion. She was joined by three other Democratic-nominated justices and Republican-nominated Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement.

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