A Democratic senator is holding up nearly 90 of President Donald Trump’s administrative nominees—including the president’s pick for White House drug czar who he says is among many “unqualified” candidates who threaten to “undermine the rule of law and our national security.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee in October advanced the nomination of Sara Carter Bailey to join the administration as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). But when she was included in a en bloc confirmation package of 88 nominees for floor consideration, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) raised a procedural inquiry that led Republicans to stop the vote.

“I just blocked 88 Trump nominees from confirmation—including Sara Carter Bailey, a former Fox News contributor nominated to be our country’s drug czar,” Bennet said on the floor on Thursday. “Bailey was nominated by Trump, who just pardoned the former president of Honduras, as he served 45 years in prison for conspiring to distribute over 400 tons of cocaine.”

“I will not allow unqualified nominees, this White House, or the president to undermine the rule of law and our national security,” he said.

The procedural complaint Bennet raised has to do with the fact that ONDCP

The post Senator Blocks Confirmation Of Trump’s ‘Unqualified’ White House Drug Czar Pick Who Has Voiced Medical Marijuana Support appeared first on GrowCola.com.

Kentucky’s governor says the state is “very, very close” to launching its medical marijuana program, which he expects to happen “within the next couple of weeks”—a move he says will help thousands of patients find an alternative to opioids for pain management.

During a press briefing on Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) was asked by a reporter to provide a status update on the medical cannabis law. He said the first dispensary, based in Ohio County, is set have “product on its shelf” in weeks.

“But we believe it’s going to scale up very quickly from that first moment,” the governor said.

Beshear went through more granular details about the program’s progress, touting the fact that 23,757 patients have received their e-certifications to access cannabis, including 1,756 who qualified to treat symptoms of cancer and 15,412 with chronic pain who would have “otherwise been taking opioids, which is one of the reasons that we’ve pushed this program so hard.”

With respect to marijuana business licensing, the state has so far approved 16 cultivators, 48 dispensaries and six safety compliance facilities. Officials have additionally certified 506 doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations.

“Our Office of Medical Cannabis had staff in three

The post Kentucky’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Will Open In ‘Next Couple Of Weeks,’ Governor Says, Touting Cannabis As Opioid Alternative appeared first on GrowCola.com.

The Biden administration was evidently concerned about potential legal liability in federal cases for people convicted of violating gun laws simply by being a cannabis consumer who possessed a firearm, documents obtained by Marijuana Moment show.

The previously unpublished 2024 guidance from former President Joe Biden’s Justice Department generally cautioned U.S. attorneys to use discretion in prosecuting federal cannabis cases, particularly for offenses that qualified people for pardons during his term. But one section seems especially relevant as the U.S. Supreme Court takes on a case challenging the constitutionality of the current federal gun statute.

Justices in that case recently granted a request from the Trump administration to extend the deadline to submit initial briefs until December 12.

The newly disclosed guidance from the Biden administration that was rescinded in September under Trump states that prosecutors “may pursue charges under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) or 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(3) based on the unlawful use of, or addiction to, marijuana because the proclamation does not change the fact that marijuana use violates federal law,” referring to the statutes that make it a federal crime to possess a gun while being a cannabis consumer.

However, in order to “mitigate potential litigation risk,”

The post DOJ Knew Gun Ban For Marijuana Users Is Vulnerable To ‘Litigation Risk,’ Newly Revealed Memo Shows As Supreme Court Takes Up Issue appeared first on GrowCola.com.

Congressional researchers say it “remains unclear” how the federal government might enforce a newly enacted law that takes effect next year banning hemp THC products—flagging concerns about a potential lack of resources on the part of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

After President Donald Trump signed appropriations legislation late last month that included language that effectively “reimposes” hemp criminalization, the Congress Research Service (CRS) published an analysis about the policy change on Wednesday.

“While the change to the hemp definition will seemingly alter the legal status of many hemp products currently available on the market, it remains unclear if and how federal law enforcement will enforce the new prohibitions when the new definition goes into effect,” the researchers said.

Part of the uncertainty around hemp is related to the federal approach to marijuana, which has been legalized in some form in the vast majority of states but remains federally illegal as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

“In marijuana’s case, the federal response has largely been to allow states to implement their own marijuana laws despite the fact that state-regulated activities may violate the [Controlled Substances Act],” CRS said. “If

The post It’s ‘Unclear’ How Feds Will Enforce Hemp THC Product Ban, Congressional Researchers Say, Citing Limited FDA And DEA Resources appeared first on GrowCola.com.

New marijuana & psychedelics bills in Congress; MO cannabis & psilocybin legislation; GOP lawmaker on banking access; 4,000+ marijuana studies in 2025

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Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-chair Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) told Marijuana Moment that her questions to the Trump administration about its move to rescind Biden-era enforcement guidance “remain unanswered”—saying it’s “a step backward for commonsense cannabis policy reform.”

Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) and other Democratic lawmakers filed a new congressional resolution calling for equity-focused marijuana policies and urging President Donald Trump to advocate for global cannabis reform at the United Nations.

Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY), along with Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and Nancy Mace (R-SC), filed legislation to allow doctors to

The post Congresswoman demands cannabis answers from Trump admin (Newsletter: December 5, 2025) appeared first on GrowCola.com.

A GOP congressman is pressing federal financial regulators about the ongoing issues that state-legal marijuana businesses face when trying to access basic banking services under federal prohibition.

At a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) asked Comptroller Jonathan Gould whether banks are “still blocking customers who are engaged in lawful marijuana activities.”

“Because nearly every state, whether you like it or not, has made some form of marijuana lawful in those states, and we haven’t synced up at the federal level,” he said. “So I’d love to catch up on how we’re doing that.”

The congressman had limited time to speak and advised that he’d be submitting a formal question for the record to witnesses addressing the cannabis banking issue in hopes of getting a substantive response after the hearing.

Gould also made a brief reference to marijuana banking earlier in the meeting.

In response to another lawmaker’s unrelated question about fraud issues in the banking industry, he said that “in the four months I’ve been on the job that is certainly an issue, fraud, that has risen to the top of my kind of to-do list.”

“It was not something

The post GOP Congressman Presses Federal Financial Officials On Marijuana Industry’s Banking Access Problems appeared first on GrowCola.com.

For the fifth year in a row, researchers worldwide published more than 4,000 scientific papers related to marijuana in 2025, according to a new analysis by the advocacy group NORML.

All told, since the beginning of 2015, there have been more than 37,000 published papers about cannabis, the group said, largely reflecting “researchers’ newfound focus on marijuana’s therapeutic activities as well as investigations into the real-world effects of legalization laws.”

“Despite the perception that marijuana has yet to be subject to adequate scientific scrutiny, scientists’ interest in studying cannabis has increased exponentially in the past decade, as has our understanding of the plant, its active constituents, their mechanisms of action, and their effects on both the user and upon society,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said in a press release.

“It is time for politicians and others to stop assessing cannabis through the lens of ‘what we don’t know’ and instead start engaging in evidence-based discussions about marijuana and marijuana reform policies that are indicative of all that we do know,” he said.

To tally the papers, NORML conducted a keyword search of the National Library of Medicine’s resource PubMed.gov. In total, the advocacy group said on Wednesday, PubMed now

The post Researchers Published More Than 4,000 Studies On Marijuana This Year As Trump Continues To Weigh Rescheduling appeared first on GrowCola.com.

Missouri lawmakers are preparing to once again tackle marijuana and psychedelics policy issues in the 2026 session.

Bipartisan members in the Senate and House of Representatives have pre-filed a series of bills in recent days that range from providing early release for people incarcerated for certain cannabis-related convictions to promoting access to alternative therapies such as psilocybin.

Missouri voters approved adult-use marijuana legalization at the ballot in 2022. But there’s been some tension among stakeholders about the state’s approach to cannabis regulations, which has been especially pronounced amid the debate over how the laws treat marijuana versus hemp.

With respect to psychedelics policy, a Republican-led bill to legalize the medical use of psilocybin by military veterans who are enrolled in clinical trials on the psychedelic passed in two House committees this year, but was later removed from the floor calendar.

Here are the summaries of the newly pre-filed cannabis and psychedelics measures:

Rep. Adrian Plank (D)—HB 1896: Allows for early release for persons serving sentences for marijuana-related offenses. Rep. Adrian Plank (D)—HB 1897: Creates provisions relating to licenses for marijuana facilities. Rep. Adrian Plank (D)—HB 1898: Requires publicly funded state colleges and universities to allow medical marijuana use on campus.

The post Missouri Lawmakers Pre-File Multiple Marijuana And Psychedelics Bills For 2026 Session appeared first on GrowCola.com.

A Democratic congresswoman is demanding more information from the Trump administration about its current cannabis enforcement policy on federal lands after Marijuana Moment reported obtained documents showing that Biden-era guidance urging prosecutorial discretion was rescinded earlier this year.

The guidance from former President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice coincided with mass pardons for people who committed federal cannabis possession on or before December 22, 2023. It’s not clear why the document wasn’t publicized at the time, but its rescission under the Trump administration has created controversy.

Overall, the Biden administration memo, obtained by Marijuana Moment under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, ordered U.S. prosecutors to be “extremely cautious” about how to handle future cannabis cases following the former president’s clemency action.

But now, a key member of Congress—Cannabis Caucus co-chair Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV)—says the disclosure of the guidance and notice of rescission isn’t enough and she wants further clarification from President Donald Trump’s DOJ.

“The Trump Administration wrongfully rescinded Biden-era guidance that discouraged the prosecution of simple cannabis possession on federal property,” Titus told Marijuana Moment on Wednesday. “Still, my questions to Attorney General Pam Bondi from two weeks ago about how the Trump Administration plans to handle

The post Congresswoman Demands Details On Trump DOJ Marijuana Policy After Biden Guidance It Rescinded Is Revealed appeared first on GrowCola.com.

TX medical marijuana expansion; Cannabis biz owner runs for Congress; Marijuana prisoner letter campaign; Study: Cannabis regs vs alcohol agencies

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Marijuana Moment obtained previously unpublished Biden-era cannabis enforcement guidance that was recently rescinded by the Trump administration—showing that the former president’s pardons had more far-reaching criminal justice impacts than was known, including a directive for prosecutors to be “extremely cautious” about pursuing further marijuana cases. 

The document, surfaced via a Freedom of Information Act request, also has implications for medical marijuana patient protections and the federal law criminalizing gun possession by cannabis consumers.

Cannabis business owner

The post DOJ cannabis enforcement guidance revealed (Newsletter: December 4, 2025) appeared first on GrowCola.com.

Colorado-based marijuana entrepreneur Wanda James is running for Congress, pledging to push for a complete end to federal cannabis prohibition if she’s elected. Anything short of legalization—whether that’s a bill focused on industry banking access or another incremental reform such as rescheduling—won’t cut it, she says.

James, who owns the Denver dispensary Simply Pure, is challenging Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) in next year’s Democratic primary to represent Colorado’s 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She spoke about her cannabis legalization platform at a MJBizCon event on Wednesday.

“No banking bill will save us. No half step will fix this. No incremental tweak will correct decades of damage,” she said in a press release ahead of the conference. “Only legalization gives this industry oxygen.”

“Only legalization ends 280E. Only legalization ends the raids. Only legalization ends the fear,” she said, referring to the existing policy preventing cannabis businesses from taking federal tax deductions and broadly putting companies at risk of federal enforcement action. “Only legalization stops the fragmented nonsense that destroys operators while confusing the public.”

“And let me be very clear about something else,” she said. “This is not a fight between hemp and cannabis. It is

The post Marijuana Business Owner Running For Congress Says Federal Legalization Is The ‘Only Path’ For ‘National Market Stability’ appeared first on GrowCola.com.

Former President Joe Biden didn’t just issue mass pardons for federal marijuana possession offenses during his term—his administration also ordered U.S. prosecutors to be “extremely cautious” about how to handle future cannabis cases, according to a previously unpublished guidance memo obtained by Marijuana Moment that has since been rescinded under the Trump administration.

The guidance, issued on February 26, 2024—which also had specific implications for medical cannabis patients in legal states and federal laws on gun possession by marijuana consumers—wasn’t publicized even as the then-president was campaigning for a second term that year. That’s despite Biden repeatedly touting the cannabis pardons and his directive for a federal review into marijuana that resulted in a recommendation to reschedule the plant.

But last month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming disclosed that the guidance was rescinded in September, and it said cases involving marijuana would consequently be “rigorously” enforced on federal land.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, DOJ provided Marijuana Moment with the initial guidance and the notice of the rescission under President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

The Biden administration memo advised prosecutors about the scope of the pardons, noting limitations of the clemency

The post Newly Revealed Biden Marijuana Guidance Rescinded By Trump DOJ Told Prosecutors To Be ‘Extremely Cautious’ About Cannabis Cases appeared first on GrowCola.com.

“Our governments, farmers and small businesses need more guidance and regulatory certainty—not blanket bans.”

By U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), via MinnPost

Since Congress legalized hemp in 2018, Minnesota’s hemp industry has blossomed.

In the roughly two and a half years since Minnesota signed its own hemp legalization bill into law, hemp has grown into a $200 million a year industry, creating thousands of local jobs in everything from farming and brewing to soapmaking and textiles. It has flourished because Minnesota stepped up to do things the right way by implementing smart and reasonable regulation at the state level.

But a few weeks ago, congressional Republicans decided to turn back the clock on the progress Minnesota’s hemp industry has made—threatening local jobs, small businesses, tax revenue and innovation along with it.

Much to my disappointment, they did so without talking to Minnesota stakeholders or engaging with the committees most involved in the hemp supply chain—from growth to final product. That includes the House Agriculture Committee, where I serve as the top Democrat. Since then, my office has been flooded with calls, emails and letters from concerned Minnesotans.

If the federal government is to get involved in hemp production and sales

The post Federal Hemp Ban Pushed By GOP Is A ‘Step Backward,’ Democratic Congresswoman Says (Op-Ed) appeared first on GrowCola.com.

Doctors in Texas can now complete and submit an official state form to recommend adding new medical conditions that they think should qualify a patient for medical marijuana. And dispensaries can also use the form to put forward proposals to authorize specific inhalation devices for patients.

After officials adopted rules in compliance with a recently enacted state law expanding Texas’s medical cannabis program, the Department of State Health Services released the new form on Tuesday.

For doctors seeking to add qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, they are required to submit peer-reviewed research justifying the expansion. Dispensaries, meanwhile, must affirm that the device they’re recommending is “safe and effective for the pulmonary inhalation of low-THC cannabis.”

The form is being distributed just as the state Department of Public Safety (DPS) has conditionally approved nine new medical marijuana business licenses as part of a new cannabis law.

Under the law passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in June, DPS is required to issue a total of 12 new licenses under the legislation. The department will issue conditional licenses to three additional dispensaries by April 2026.

This represents a major change to the program, as there are

The post Texas Agency Releases Form To Recommend New Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions And Approved Inhalation Devices appeared first on GrowCola.com.

A top marijuana reform group is encouraging people to participate in an annual holiday letter drive by sending messages of hope and support to those who remain behind bars over cannabis offenses.

The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) has been running the letter-writing campaign for the past seven years, putting a spotlight on the fact that while a majority of states have legalized marijuana for some purpose, there are still thousands of incarcerated people facing the consequences of cannabis criminalization.

The letter drive isn’t necessarily about promoting specific reforms. Rather, it’s meant to simply connect with people who might feel especially pained around the holiday season as they remain locked up over marijuana instead of being able to spend time with their families and friends.

“The holidays can bring a heavy loneliness for those behind bars,” Stephanie Shepard, acting executive director of LPP, said in a press release. “After serving nearly 10 years in prison for a non-violent, first-time cannabis conviction, I know how isolating it can feel to be away from family and friends during this season. I hope people will consider taking a few minutes to write—it means more than you can imagine.”

LPP has an online portal where

The post Marijuana Advocacy Group Launches Holiday Campaign To Send Letters Of Support To People Still Incarcerated For Cannabis appeared first on GrowCola.com.

VA legal marijuana sales plan; Feds reject psychedelic org’s grant app; TX medical cannabis licenses; MN lawmakers push cannabis employee stock plans

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The Progressive Turnout Project sent a warning that President Donald Trump and other Republicans could “steal” the popular issue of cannabis legalization away from Democrats—saying that “anti-marijuana policies wrongfully target Black Americans and have cost the U.S. BILLIONS of dollars.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs rejected a suicide prevention grant application from No Fallen Heroes, which helps connect veterans to programs where they can receive psychedelic therapy to treat serious mental health conditions.

The Virginia legislature’s Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market unveiled a plan to

The post Could Trump “steal” the cannabis issue from Dems? (Newsletter: December 3, 2025) appeared first on GrowCola.com.

A Virginia legislative commission on marijuana has unveiled a much-anticipated proposal to legalize recreational marijuana sales that it is recommending lawmakers pass during the 2026 session. And with an incoming governor supportive of the cannabis reform, advocates are optimistic that the plan could come fruition.

After months of hearings and debate, the legislature’s Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market released a framework for an adult-use marijuana program at its final meeting on Tuesday.

Since legalizing cannabis possession and home cultivation in 2021, Virginia lawmakers have worked to establish a commercial marijuana market—only to have those efforts consistently stalled under outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who twice vetoed measures to enact it that were sent to his desk by the legislature.

Once the next legislative session begins in January, the new proposal is expected to be sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek (D), who has served as chair of the commission, as well as Sens. Louise Lucas (D) and Aaron Rouse (D).

Notably, the latest version of the recommended legislation omits language from previous measures that would’ve allowed local jurisdictions to opt out of allowing marijuana businesses within their borders, while also increasing the authority

The post Virginia Marijuana Commission Unveils Plan To Legalize Adult-Use Sales Under New Pro-Reform Governor appeared first on GrowCola.com.

“ESOP as a business structure can give hope to new businesses as they look to grow the Minnesota cannabis sector.”

By Sen. Robert Kupec (D) and Rep. Nolan West (R), via MinnPost

With new uncertainty around the federal legality of hemp products nationally and a rocky rollout of Minnesota’s cannabis market locally, we need to consider new policy solutions to help new Minnesota cannabis businesses achieve success for owners and employees.

Thankfully, there is a bipartisan path forward by allowing employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) for cannabis businesses. Legislation allowing ESOPs has already been introduced (HF3330/SF3520) by members of both parties in both the House and the Senate.

ESOPs are uniquely suited to address the problems in Minnesota’s cannabis market. They create crucial tax benefits the industry desperately needs.

Due to IRS tax code 280E and federal prohibition, cannabis businesses cannot deduct business expenses like other businesses. As a result, they face debilitating effective tax rates that can exceed 70 percent. This creates a daunting environment for these new startup businesses, which currently have to pay leases and payroll, and they can’t even deduct payroll as a business expense.

ESOPs eliminate this issue. A 100 percent employee-owned company does not

The post Minnesota Should Allow Marijuana Businesses To Offer Employee Stock Ownership Plans, Lawmakers Say (Op-Ed) appeared first on GrowCola.com.

Texas officials have conditionally approved nine new medical marijuana business licenses as part of a law that’s being implemented to significantly expand the state’s cannabis program.

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced on Monday that it’s completed the first phase of the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) expansion selection process, which will now involve an additional due diligence assessment for the nine businesses before formally awarding the licenses.

Officials said the conditional approvals “do not grant the applicant permission to cultivate, manufacture, distribute or sell cannabis products until final approval by the department.”

“As a holder of a conditional license, the licensee is subject to the department’s ongoing due diligence evaluation,” DPS said. “Each conditional licensee is expected to fully comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the medicinal license issued under TCUP.”

“DPS will be requesting additional information from these businesses and will not be invoicing any dispensing organization license fees until the additional due diligence evaluations are completed and passed. The announcement of these nine businesses today does not guarantee that these businesses will be issued final TCUP licenses to operate as dispensing organizations.”

The law passed by the legislature and signed into law by

The post Texas Officials Approve Nine New Medical Marijuana Business Licenses As State Expands Patient Access appeared first on GrowCola.com.

A progressive political group is recruiting supporters to join a marijuana “advisory board,” warning of the risk that President Donald Trump and other Republicans could “steal” the popular issue away from Democrats.

The Progressive Turnout Project recently sent out an action alert about the shifting political dynamics around cannabis, fundraising around the creation of what it calls a “Marijuana Decriminalization Advisory Board” that supporters can join to reclaim the popular cannabis issue.

“If Democrats don’t act now, Trump and the GOP could steal marijuana reform right out from under us,” the email says. “That’s why it’s more important than for us to hear local Democrats’ honest opinions.”

“Look, anti-marijuana policies wrongfully target Black Americans and have cost the U.S. BILLIONS of dollars,” it says. “Thankfully, House Democrats are working to federally legalize cannabis by sponsoring the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act.”

That’s a reference to legislation that’s passed the House twice in recent sessions and was recently reintroduced for the 119th Congress by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and dozens of Democratic cosponsors.

In addition to removing the drug from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the bill also contains a variety of provisions meant to promote equity and address

The post Trump And Republicans Could ‘Steal Marijuana Reform’ From Democrats, Progressive PAC Warns appeared first on GrowCola.com.