To increase public understanding of cannabis and to better inform future laws impacting the state’s industry, the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is soliciting research proposals from California public universities.

Up to $30 million in grant funding is available to support cannabis-related academic research that address critical gaps in scientific knowledge and guide future policy decisions.

With this round of funding, California will have invested $80 million to support cannabis related research, with topics ranging from the industry’s economic health to preventing cannabis related harm. This latest round reinforces California’s commitment to supporting rigorous, independent research in an area of growing national importance, especially as more states move towards legalization and more Americans use cannabinoid products.
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The Texas Hemp Business Council has announced that its petition to stop a statewide ban on hemp-derived THC has reached 147,979 signatures. =

Earlier this month, the THBC and advocates delivered 5,000 handwritten letters and more than 118,000 petition signatures to Governor Abbott’s office. The increase since then reflects persistent public alarm as the June 22 deadline for gubernatorial action approaches.

“There have been well over 200,000 Texans who have voiced their opposition to SB 3 via email, letter, petition, social media and text,” said Mark Bordas, executive director of the THBC. “It didn’t work for alcohol in the 1920s and it won’t work for hemp in 2025. Texans do not want SB 3. Even among Republican primary voters, the very voters who shape the future of Texas politics, this bill is deeply unpopular. We respectfully urge Governor Abbott to listen to the people and veto this dangerous legislation.”
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Governor Jim Pillen has chosen former Judge J. Michael Coffey to join the board tasked with regulating medical marijuana under the law voters approved last November.

Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of J. Michael Coffey to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, representing the 2nd Congressional District. His appointment, while immediate, is subject to confirmation next year by the Nebraska Legislature.

Coffey is a former district court judge in the 4th Judicial District, which consists of Omaha. He retired in June 2023 after nearly 25 years on the bench. Prior to his appointment to the court, Coffey was a practicing attorney in Omaha.  He earned his juris doctor from the Creighton University School of Law.
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The Texas Hemp Business Council is urging Governor Greg Abbott to veto a bill that could ban many popular hemp-derived products, arguing that hemp is a vital wellness tool for thousands of residents across the state.

In a social media post, the group cited more than 7,000 handwritten letters sent to the governor’s office, outlining why Texans rely on hemp. The letters listed over 20 medical conditions and ailments, including stress, anxiety, cancer symptoms, fibromyalgia, arthritis, OCD, PTSD, muscle pain, sleep issues, muscle recovery, migraines, neuropathic pain, seizures, appetite support, withdrawal, autoimmune disorders, inflammation, menopause, focus, depression, and nausea.

“For many Texans, hemp isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline,” the council said.
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Senate objections have delayed a long-negotiated plan to alter Ohio’s voter-approved recreational cannabis law, derailing a House vote that had been scheduled for Wednesday.

Issue 2, approved by 57% of voters in November 2023, allows those 21 and older to buy, possess and grow cannabis. Republican leaders, however, have spent months arguing over how much to change those voter‑approved rules, even before the adult-use market officially launched.

Initially, Republican leaders argued for changes that would have rolled back many aspects of the law. State Representative Jamie Callender (R), a longtime cannabis supporter who led negotiations for the House, said lawmakers believed they had reached a deal that preserved home‑grow limits, kept product taxes flowing to municipalities that host dispensaries, and added safeguards to keep marijuana out of children’s hands. That agreement unraveled late Tuesday when Senate leaders delivered a list of 16 fresh demands.
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The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), in partnership with Empire State Development (ESD), has awarded the first round of funding through the $5 million Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) Grant Program to 52 licensed dispensary owners across the state.

This grant initiative helps cover essential startup and operational costs such as commercial rent, renovations, security systems, inventory tracking, and retail technology as well as reimbursement for expenses already paid during the startup process. —providing up to $30,000 in reimbursement support per awardee. 

“These grants are about more than dollars and cents, they are about investing in the people and communities who are helping to build New York’s cannabis market the right way,” said Felicia A.B. Reid, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. “OCM is proud to support the development of cannabusinesses led by formerly justice-involved entrepreneurs. Their work speaks to the incredible promise of business inclusivity and demonstrates what’s possible when equity is more than just a word—it’s a foundation.” 

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Colorado Governor Jared Polis has issued a sweeping round of pardons for individuals with past psilocybin-related convictions, marking the state’s first-ever move of this kind for psychedelics.

The announcement came Wednesday during the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference, just two weeks after Governor Polis signed legislation granting himself and future governors the authority to issue clemency for offenses involving substances that have since been legalized. The new law, backed by State Senator Matt Ball and Representative Lisa Feret, allows pardons for low-level possession convictions involving psilocybin, psilocyn, DMT, and ibogaine.

Under the executive order, anyone convicted at the state level for possession of psilocybin or psilocyn is now eligible for a pardon. Governor Polis called the measure part of Colorado’s ongoing shift “towards a fairer future,” echoing his support for reform since the state approved natural medicine legalization in 2022.
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Today, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced that it has issued the first cannabis business license in the state of Minnesota.

(Photo credit: Getty Images).

The first licensee, Herb Quest, LLC, is a microbusiness located in Brook Park in Pine County, Minnesota, whose initial primary business activity will be outdoor cultivation of cannabis plants.

“Issuing the first business license is a major milestone for the office,” said OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel. “With our first licensed cultivator now able to begin growing plants, and more than 600 businesses within the final steps of completing their applications and securing approvals from local governments, we are now seeing the first pieces of Minnesota’s adult-use market fall into place.”
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Colorado brought in $20,143,978 in marijuana taxes and fees in May, bringing the state’s year-to-date total for 2025 to $95,461,601. That’s according to new data published by the Colorado Department of Revenue.

(Photo credit: USA Today).

Of the revenue collected in May, $19,284,989 came from marijuana-related taxes, while $858,990 was generated through licensing and other regulatory fees. The single largest contributor was the state’s 15% retail marijuana sales tax, which brought in just under $15 million. An additional $3.96 million came from the 15% excise tax imposed on wholesale marijuana transfers.

Other revenue sources included the 2.9% state sales tax on medical and retail marijuana, public school funds, local government distributions, and licensing charges for marijuana businesses.
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