The Missouri House Emerging Issues Committee has unanimously approved the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (HB 1037), 13 to 0.

Kratom.

The bill, if passed into law, would implement strict guidelines on the sale, labeling, and contents of kratom products to ensure consumer safety.

Kratom, derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant native to Southeast Asia, is widely used for its stimulant and opioid-like effects. Many consumers take kratom for pain relief, anxiety management, or as an alternative to opioids, though its legal status has been an issue of debate in numerous states this year. Without federal regulation, kratom products vary in potency and purity, leading some states to enact their own oversight measures.
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The Montana Senate has approved a bill that would prohibit the sale of edible hemp products containing THC, advancing it through its second reading in a 45 to 5 vote.

Hemp.

The measure, Senate Bill 375, now requires one more vote in the chamber before heading to the House for further consideration.

Sponsored by State Senator M. Noland, the bill would ban the sale of any edible hemp product containing total delta-9 THC unless authorized as a food or drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It defines “hemp products” as any postharvest hemp intended for consumption, smoking, vaping, or other forms of administration. The legislation explicitly excludes synthetic cannabinoids from its definition of hemp.
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The cost per gram of dried marijuana has reached its lowest point ever in Massachusetts.

According to data released today by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), the average price for a gram of dried marijuana as of February is $4.40, a new all-time low. This marks a 17% decrease from the average price in February 2024, and a 28% decrease from February 2023.

Even more eye-opening is the fact that prices are down 70% since February 2020, when the average cost was $14.57
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Senate Bill 255, a measure that would have required adults to obtain a state-issued identification card before purchasing recreational marijuana, has been killed in the Montana Senate following the cancellation of a scheduled public hearing and vote.

The bill, sponsored by State Senator Greg Hertz (R), would have mandated that individuals 21 and older apply for and receive a marijuana identification card from the state Department of Revenue before being allowed to purchase recreational marijuana. The process would have involved submitting an application, paying a $200 fee, and providing proof of Montana residency along with personal information.

The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee had scheduled a public hearing on the bill for February 27, but the hearing and subsequent vote were canceled. The chair of the committee now says that there is no plans to reschedule the hearing, effectively ending the measure’s chances of advancing this session.
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The New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 9 to 7 today to advance House Bill 198, legislation that would legalize the possession of marijuana for those 21 and older.

The bill, introduced in January by State Representatives Jared Sullivan, Jonah Wheeler, and Heath Howard, now moves to the full House for consideration.

If enacted, House Bill 198 would allow adults to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, 10 grams of concentrated marijuana, and marijuana products containing up to 2,000 milligrams of THC. However, the legislation does not establish a regulated market for marijuana sales, nor does it allow home cultivation. Public consumption would also remain prohibited.
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Legislation to protect fire and rescue workers from employment penalties for medical marijuana use in Maryland has been scheduled for a public hearing on March 11 in the Senate Finance Committee.

Filed in February by Senator Carl Jackson (D), Senate Bill 1023 would prohibit employers from taking adverse employment actions against fire and rescue public safety employees who are certified medical marijuana patients.

If passed, SB 1023 would protect firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other fire and rescue personnel from discrimination based on their legal use of medical marijuana.
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The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development has awarded $18.4 million in grants to support equitable access to California’s regulated marijuana industry.

The funding, distributed among 18 local jurisdictions, is intended to lower entry barriers and assist local applicants and licensees.

The latest round of funding includes:

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