Jan 18 2025

Virginia Delegate Files Marijuana Resentencing Bill

House Bill 2555, introduced by Delegate Rozia Henson, would allow sentence modifications for individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses in Virginia prior to the state’s legalization of marijuana.

The proposed legislation would establish a legal process for reviewing and potentially modifying sentences for individuals who remain incarcerated or under community supervision for felony convictions involving marijuana offenses committed before July 1, 2021. Courts would be required to schedule hearings to consider reducing, vacating, or modifying these sentences, with deadlines of January 1, 2026, and April 1, 2026, depending on the specifics of the case.

The bill mandates that courts consider the fact that marijuana is now legal when reviewing sentences and that modifications should be granted unless the Commonwealth can demonstrate that such actions would not serve the public interest. Possible modifications include reductions to time served, sentence vacatur, or removal from community supervision.
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Jan 18 2025

Maryland Bill Would Protect Gun Rights for Medical Marijuana Patients, Hearing Set for February 5

Maryland lawmakers are set to discuss a proposal that would safeguard gun rights for medical marijuana patients.

House Bill 336, introduced by Delegate Robin Grammer (R) on January 13, is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on February 5 at 1 p.m. The bill would ensure that individuals authorized to use medical marijuana under state law are not disqualified from purchasing, owning, or carrying firearms. It would amend Maryland’s public safety laws to explicitly prohibit denying firearm rights solely due to medical cannabis use.

The proposed text states that “A person may not be denied the right to purchase, own, possess, or carry a firearm under this title solely on the basis that the person is authorized to use medical cannabis under Title 36, Subtitle 3 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article.”
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Jan 18 2025

Legislation Filed in Hawaii Would Protect Medical Marijuana Patients From Workplace Discrimination

A group of eight Hawaii State Representatives, led by Jeanne Kapela (D), filed House Bill 325 this week to address employment discrimination against medical marijuana patients.

The bill seeks to establish explicit workplace protections for registered medical marijuana patients while maintaining safety standards for specific occupations.

Since legalizing medical marijuana in 2000 and launching a dispensary program in 2015, Hawaii has seen the program grow to include 30,708 registered patients as of August 2024, according to the Department of Health. However, proponents of the new bill argue that existing laws fall short of protecting these patients from workplace discrimination.
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Jan 18 2025

Minnesota Bill Seeks to Protect Gun Rights of Medical Marijuana Patients

A new bill filed in the Minnesota Senate would safeguard the firearm rights of medical marijuana patients.

Senate Bill 313, introduced by Senator Mark Koran (R), has been referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee for further consideration.

The proposed legislation would ensure that individuals who qualify as medical marijuana patients are not denied their Second Amendment rights solely because of their patient status. Specifically, the bill includes several key provisions:
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Jan 18 2025

Hawaii Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Put Recreational Marijuana Legalization to a Public Vote

Hawaii Representatives Gene Ward (R) and Kim Iwamoto (D) have introduced House Bill 519, a measure proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and over.

If approved, the bill would allow voters to decide the issue, potentially aligning Hawaii with the 24 states that have already legalized recreational marijuana.

Last year, a legislative effort to legalize marijuana advanced further than ever before in Hawaii’s history. The Senate passed the measure with a 19 to 6 vote, and it gained approval from three House committees. However, the proposal was ultimately blocked by the chair of the House Finance Committee, preventing it from reaching the House floor for a full vote. Supporters expressed strong confidence that the measure would have passed had it been given the chance.
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Jan 17 2025

Kratom Bills Filed in Seven States So Far in 2025

Kratom legislation has been introduced in seven states so far in 2025.

Kratom has been used for thousands of years, beginning in Southeast Asia, where it has been valued for its medicinal properties. The leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa plant are often consumed as tea or in powdered form, providing effects that range from mild stimulation to pain relief. Proponents argue it can help manage chronic pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal symptoms.

However, kratom remains controversial, with some states implementing bans due to safety concerns. Currently, it is prohibited in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, six states have filed kratom-related bills in 2025, reflecting the ongoing debate over its use and regulation.
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Jan 17 2025

New York Bill Mandates Annual Independent Audits of Office of Cannabis Management

A new measure introduced in the New York State Assembly seeks to enhance oversight of the state’s cannabis regulatory body.

Assembly Bill 2580, filed by Assemblymember Keith Brown (R), was referred to the Governmental Operations Committee today, the day it was introduced.

The legislation proposes annual audits of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to ensure the agency’s internal controls are functioning effectively. Under the bill, the state comptroller, attorney general, and independent certified public accountants would be tasked with conducting these reviews, using established government auditing standards.
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Jan 17 2025

Study Finds 79% of Adults Struggle With Sleep; 16% Use Cannabis, Surpassing Prescription Aids

A recent Harris Poll survey conducted for Green Thumb Industries’ incredibles brand reveals that sleep difficulties impact nearly 79% of adults age 21 and older.

The survey highlights a growing trend of using cannabis as a sleep aid, with 16% of adults turning to marijuana—more than those who use prescription sleep aids (12%) or alcohol (11%). Among cannabis consumers, edibles are particularly popular for improving sleep quality.
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Jan 17 2025

Connecticut Lawmakers File Bill to Legalize Medicinal Psilocybin Use

House Bill 5456, introduced today by State Representatives Laurie Sweet and Michael “MJ” Shannon, seeks to legalize the use of psilocybin for medicinal and therapeutic purposes in Connecticut.

Dried psilocybin.

The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health for further consideration. If enacted, the proposed legislation would amend state statutes to permit the use of psilocybin in providing physical, mental, or behavioral health care. Psilocybin, the active compound found in certain species of mushrooms, has gained attention in recent years for its potential therapeutic benefits in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The bill’s statement of purpose emphasizes the broad scope of its intent, covering various aspects of health care. This aligns with emerging research that highlights the compound’s ability to support individuals with mental health challenges when administered in controlled settings.
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Jan 17 2025

Nebraska Senator Files Bill to Make Kratom Illegal

Nebraska State Senator Loren Lippincott filed Legislative Bill 431 today, aiming to classify kratom as an illegal controlled substance under the state’s Controlled Substances Act.

Kratom products.

The bill defines kratom as any product or ingredient derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant that contains the active alkaloids mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine, as well as any synthetic materials containing these compounds.

If passed, LB431 would align Nebraska with a handful of states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, where kratom is currently illegal. Schedule I classification is reserved for substances considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
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