Feb 05 2025

Tennessee: “Pot for Potholes” Act to Legalize Marijuana Filed in Senate, Two Days After Being Filed in House of Representatives

Senator Heidi Campbell (D) filed the “Pot for Potholes Act” in the Tennessee Senate today.

Senate Bill 921 was “filed for introduction today”, two days after State Representative Aftyn Behn (D) introduced House Bill 703, a companion measure.

The “Pot for Potholes Act” would legalize recreational marijuana, including establishing a regulatory framework for the cultivation, processing, and retail sale of marijuana and marijuana products in Tennessee, with oversight by the state’s Department of Agriculture.
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Feb 05 2025

Washington Committee Holds Public Hearing on Psilocybin Bill

Today, Washington’s House Health Care & Wellness Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1433, a measure to legalize medical psilocybin in a highly regulated manner.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms (photo credit: Shutterstock).

Filed by State Representative Nicole Macri (D) with 29 sponsors, HB 1433 would allow those with a physician recommendation to use psilocybin. The bill would create a structured framework allowing licensed facilitators to administer psilocybin in supervised settings. The Washington State Department of Health and Liquor and Cannabis Board would oversee the program, with input from a newly formed Psychedelic Substances Board responsible for developing licensing requirements and safety protocols.

Senate Bill 5201, a companion bill to HB 1433, is scheduled for a public hearing at 8am February 6 in the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee.
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Feb 05 2025

Arkansas: $24 Million in December Medical Marijuana Sales, $275 Million in 2024, Over 75,000 Pounds Sold

Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas reached $275.9 million in 2024, with December contributing $24 million to the total.

According to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, the state’s 37 dispensaries sold 75,598 pounds of medical marijuana throughout the year, marking a significant increase from the 62,227 pounds sold in 2023. However, despite higher product sales, total revenue fell short of the record $283 million set in the previous year, largely due to lower prices.

In December alone, patients purchased 6,721 pounds of medical marijuana, maintaining a consistent monthly sales trend seen throughout the year. November also saw $24 million in sales, with 6,759 pounds sold. The Hot Springs dispensary Suite 443 led in sales for the month, surpassing 746 pounds.
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Feb 05 2025

Arkansas Lawmakers File Bill to Allow Medical Marijuana Purchases With Health Savings Accounts

Legislation to allow qualifying patients and designated caregivers to purchase medical marijuana using a flexible spending account (FSA) or a health savings account (HSA) has been filed in the Arkansas Legislature.

(Photo credit: IStockphoto).

House Bill 1408 was filed today by State Representatives Aaron Pilkington (R) and Joshua Bryant (R). The measure would amend state law to explicitly permit the use of these accounts for medical marijuana purchases under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016 (Amendment 98).

The bill defines an FSA as a medical expense account established within an employer-sponsored cafeteria plan and an HSA as a tax-advantaged account linked to a high-deductible health plan, consistent with federal tax law.
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Feb 05 2025

US Senators Discuss Marijuana Banking Access at Committee Hearing

Today, lawmakers in the Senate addressed the financial struggles of marijuana businesses, with bipartisan remarks underscoring the industry’s banking challenges and a need for reform.

While some senators framed the issue within a broader federal policy discussion, others focused on the immediate need for financial access.

During the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing, Chairman Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) repeatedly insisted the discussion should focus on financial barriers for “federally legal” businesses. Despite this, several members from both parties raised concerns about the challenges faced by state-licensed marijuana businesses.
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Feb 05 2025

Illinois: December Breaks Monthly Marijuana Sales Record With $176 Million, Bringing 2024 Total to $2 Billion

There was more than $176 million in legal marijuana sold in Illinois in December, bringing the total for 2024 to $2 billion.

Data released today by the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer shows that there was $153.2 million in recreational marijuana sold in December. When you combine this with the $23.5 million in medical marijuana sales, December’s total rises to a record-breaking $176.7 million, breaking the previous record of $172 million set in November.

Of the $176 million in marijuana sold in November, $120.8 million was purchased by those living in Illinois, with $32.5 million purchased by those living outside of the state.
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Feb 05 2025

California: $327 Million in Marijuana Sold Legally in January

In California, there was $327 million in licensed marijuana sales in January.

These sales mark a slight decrease from the $332 million sold in December, and the roughly $340 million sold in January 2024. In 2024, sales reached $4.2 billion.

According to the research firm Headset, dried marijuana flower remained the top-selling category in January, accounting for 31% of sales, followed by vape pens, prerolls, edibles, and concentrates.
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Feb 05 2025

The Most Popular Cannabis Strains in the U.S. As of February 2025

The landscape of popular marijuana strains continues to evolve throughout the United States, with some classics holding strong while new contenders gain traction.

Blue Dream (photo credit: Ry Prichard, The Cannabist).

Using data supplied by state cannabis commissions and Leafly, here are the ten most popular strains in the U.S. as of February 2025.
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Feb 05 2025

U.S. Congress: Republican Lawmaker Files First Marijuana Bill of 2025

Congressmember Greg Steube (R-Florida) has introduced the first marijuana-related bill of the 119th Congress, a measure to safeguard military veterans who use medical marijuana in compliance with state laws from losing their federal benefits.

The proposed legislation, titled the Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act, would also ensure that doctors within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can openly discuss the potential benefits and risks of marijuana with their patients. While VA physicians are currently allowed to have these conversations and document marijuana use in medical records, this policy is not enshrined in federal law. Steube’s bill would solidify these protections, preventing future administrative reversals.

This marks yet another attempt by Steube to pass this reform, as he has introduced identical legislation in previous congressional sessions.
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Feb 05 2025

Lockhart, Texas City Council Overturns Voter-Approved Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinance

The city council for Lockhart, a Texas city with a population of around 15,000, has voted to overturn a voter-approved ordinance that would have decriminalized marijuana possession.

In November, voters in Lockhart approved an ordinance to decriminalize marijuana with 68% support. The proposal would have prevented arrests and criminal charges for possessing up to four ounces of marijuana. Instead, individuals caught with small amounts would have faced a civil infraction similar to a traffic ticket.

Yesterday, the Lockhart City Council voted to reject the marijuana ordinance, effectively preventing it from becoming law. The city council for Bastrop, Texas, made a similar move last week.
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