West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has signed into law a bill that bans the sale of foods containing certain artificial dyes as well as the food additives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben.

House Bill 2354, which officially takes effect on August 1, prohibits the sale of food products containing Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3. These dyes are commonly used in a variety of processed foods, candies, and beverages. The measure also bans the sale of foods containing butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben.

HB 2354, which also explicitly prohibit these substances from being used in school nutrition programs, was given overwhelming approval in both the House (93 to 5) and Senate (31 to 2), indicating strong bipartisan support.
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Oklahoma’s full Senate has given approval to legislation that would establish gun right protections for medical cannabis patients.

Oklahoma’s Senate voted 45 to 0 last week to pass Senate Bill 39, sending it to the House of Representatives for consideration. The measure received its first reading in the House today.

Filed by Senator Julie Daniels, the proposal would prohibit individuals from being automatically disqualified from obtaining a handgun license solely based on their status as a medical cannabis patient.
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A group of eight Minnesota lawmakers has introduced House Bill 2699, which would decriminalize the personal use, cultivation, and possession of psilocybin.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

The bill, filed today, has been referred to the House Health Finance and Policy Committee for further review.

Under House File 2699, those 21 and older would be allowed to cultivate psilocybin mushrooms for personal use, possess up to a one-year supply, and share small amounts with other adults without financial exchange. The bill also includes provisions to establish a Psychedelic Medicine Board, which would oversee the implementation of new policies, determine possession limits, and ensure harm reduction practices.

The legislation explicitly prohibits psilocybin use in public places, schools, or while operating a motor vehicle. It also includes employment and housing protections for users, preventing discrimination based on lawful psilocybin use.
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Legislation to allow licensed marijuana retailers to provide free samples at cannabis-related events was filed today in the House of Representatives, a day after an identical bill was filed in the Senate.

House Bill 2716 was filed today by State Representative Andrew Smith (D), with cosponsors Reps. Pete Johnson (D), Ethan Cha (D), and Nolan West (R). The measure has been referred to Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.

Senate Bill 2890 was filed yesterday with bipartisan support by Senator Zach Duckworth (R) and Senator David Dibble (D). The bill has been referred to the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.
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A legislative proposal that would legalize recreational marijuana in North Carolina gained three new sponsors today, bringing the total number of lawmakers backing the effort to 24.

Senators Sophia Chitlik (D), Kandie Smith (D), and Caleb Theodros (D) have joined as sponsors of Senate Bill 350, known as the Marijuana Justice and Reinvestment Act, bringing the total number of Senate sponsors to seven. The House version, House Bill 413, was introduced last week by six Democratic lawmakers and has since gained 11 additional sponsors, bringing its total to 17.

The legislation would legalize marijuana possession for adults 21 and older, making North Carolina the 25th state to do so. The proposal would allow for possession of up to two ounces of marijuana, 15 grams of concentrates, and products containing up to 2,000 milligrams of THC. It also includes provisions for home cultivation of up to six plants.
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Qualla Enterprises, LLC, and Great Smoky Cannabis Company announced today “a historic collaboration with the Cherokee Indian Police Department (CIPD) to establish a new K-9 program”.

“Aimed at addressing critical needs in drug detection while aligning with modern cannabis policies, this initiative underscores our commitment to supporting community safety and innovation”, states a press release sent today. “Recognizing the challenges faced by law enforcement in the region, including limited funding for K-9 programs and the evolving landscape of cannabis legalization, Qualla Enterprises is funding the purchase of a specially trained K-9 for the CIPD.”

Unlike traditional police dogs, this new K-9 will be trained to detect hard drugs, such as opioids and methamphetamines, while deliberately excluding cannabis detection from its repertoire.
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Connecticut cannabis regulators launched a surprise inspection on a marijuana cultivator just a day after its president called out flaws in the state’s testing system, in a move that many are calling retaliatory.

(Photo credit: GETTY Images).

Following the inspection, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) has since issued a rare public apology, admitting the compliance check “should not have happened.”

Rino Ferrarese, president of licensed cultivator Affinity Grow, testified before lawmakers last Wednesday in support of a proposed bill aimed at tightening regulations on the state’s two cannabis testing labs. During his testimony, Ferrarese criticized the industry’s “inconsistent testing, inflated costs, and regulatory inefficiencies” that fail to benefit public health.
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Florida’s medical marijuana program continues its expansion, with new data from the Florida Department of Health revealing that the state now has 905,006 registered patients.

The latest numbers, provided date by the Florida Department of Health, show a steady rise in patient enrollment in recent months. Since December, the state has garnered an addition 14,000 patients. Compared to March 2024, Florida has added nearly 30,000 new medical marijuana patients, reinforcing the state’s position as one of the largest medical cannabis markets in the country.

Florida voters legalized medical cannabis in 2016, allowing those with a physician recommendation to possess and use dried marijuana flower and a variety of marijuana products, purchasable at licensed dispensaries. In February, the state’s medical marijuana market generated $165,177,271 in total sales, bringing 2025’s total to well above $300 million.
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