A coalition of doctors and researchers advocating for marijuana rescheduling has petitioned a federal court to intervene in what they argue is a secretive and biased process led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The group, known as Doctors for Drug Policy Reform (DDPR), filed its petition Monday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, seeking to force the DEA to revise key steps in its handling of marijuana’s classification under federal law.

Led by Dr. Bryon Adinoff, a clinical researcher and professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, DDPR contends that the DEA’s decision-making has excluded key stakeholders without justification. The group was among 138 parties denied the opportunity to participate in an administrative hearing regarding the potential move of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.

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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has included a proposal to legalize marijuana in his 2025-2027 budget request, marking another push to regulate and tax cannabis similar to alcohol.

On the same day, bipartisan legislation—Assembly Bill 50 and Senate Bill 45—was introduced in the state legislature to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use.

“Legalize, regulate, and tax the sale of marijuana for recreational use, much like Wisconsin already does with alcohol,” said Governor Evers’ office The proposal estimates $58.1 million in revenue for fiscal year 2026-27, with increasing amounts expected in subsequent years.
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A Nebraska measure that would significantly restrict the allowable forms of medical cannabis has been scheduled for a public hearing in the General Affairs Committee.

Marijuana capsules.

Filed by Senator Storm last month, the proposal would limit medical marijuana products to pills and liquid tinctures, excluding other forms such as edibles, concentrates, and smokable products. The hearing has been scheduled for 1:30pm on March 3 in Room 1023.

This proposal comes in the wake of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act (Initiative 437) and the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act (Initiative 438), which both became law in December. These initiatives established legal protections for patients and healthcare providers, allowed patients to possess up to five ounces of marijuana with a physician’s recommendation, and set the framework for a regulated medical marijuana market.
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A proposed initiative in Oregon would legalize cannabis cafes, allowing licensed venues to serve food and drinks while permitting on-site marijuana consumption.

Backed by the Oregon Cannabis Cafe Coalition, the initiative would amend existing state law to introduce regulated smoking lounges and, eventually, cafes offering infused edibles.

“The Cannabis Cafe Coalition is dedicated to making amendments to bill 475C.097 (Cannabis Retail Sales & Licensing)”, states the group on their website. “The goal is to create a bill that will allow regulated smoking lounges and eventually infused edible cafes in the city of Portland.”
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The number of inactive marijuana business licenses in California has now surpassed active ones, highlighting ongoing struggles in the state’s legal industry.

An analysis by SFGate found that 10,828 marijuana business licenses in California are now inactive or surrendered, compared to 8,514 active licenses. Jonatan Cvetko, executive director of the United Cannabis Business Association, described the situation as a “complete failure.”

A 2023 rule change allowing cannabis cultivators to consolidate smaller licenses into larger ones accounted for 1,071 inactive licenses. The breakdown of inactive licenses includes over 1,100 distribution licenses, nearly 500 delivery licenses, and more than 300 retail licenses.
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State Representative Derek Lewis (R) filed House Resolution 48 in the Kentucky House yesterday, calling on Congress to protect the Second Amendment rights of medical marijuana patients.

The resolution, which has been assigned to the Committee on Committees for further consideration, highlights the conflict between federal firearms regulations and state medical marijuana laws. Under current federal law, individuals who use a controlled substance—including marijuana, which remains federally illegal—are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. HR 48 argues that this policy forces medical marijuana patients to choose between accessing treatment and exercising their constitutional rights.

Kentucky legalized medical marijuana in 2023 when lawmakers passed Senate Bill 47. The law, which took effect on January 1, 2025, allows qualifying patients to access marijuana for conditions such as chronic pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea. However, despite the state’s legalization efforts, patients remain subject to federal firearm restrictions.
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