Virginia cannabis bills passed by House and Senate (Newsletter: February 18, 2026) – Marijuana Moment
Hawaii Senators Take Up Marijuana Legalization Bills After Key House Lawmakers Signal Reform Is Dead For 2026 Session
Virginia Lawmakers Pass Bills To Legalize Marijuana Sales, Resentence Past Convictions And Allow Medical Cannabis In Hospitals
Massachusetts Hits $9 Billion Recreational Marijuana Sales Milestone With Surge In Purchases Ahead Of Big Snowstorm
Maryland Lawmakers Approve Bill To Extend Psychedelics Task Force Through 2027
Former White House Drug Czar Says Trump Is Wrong To Reschedule Marijuana, Calling It A ‘Gateway Drug’ That’s ‘Massively Destructive’
AI Models Like ChatGPT Can Generate ‘Convincingly Realistic’ Psychedelic Experiences When Virtually Dosed, Study Shows
Cannabis-Infused Drinks Offer Consumers A ‘Harm Reduction’ Alternative To Alcohol, Study Shows
Marijuana Use Isn’t A ‘Red Flag’ In The Dating Scene, Three In Four Americans Say In New Survey
10 Million US Adults Microdosed Psychedelics Last Year, New Report Shows
Marijuana’s Restrictive Federal Classification Isn’t Supported By Science, New Study Concludes
DEA Promotes Anti-Marijuana PSA Contest Inviting Students To Warn Peers About THC Dangers On 4/20
Largest Entertainment Arena In US Partners With Cannabis Businesses To Sell THC Drinks At Concerts And Live Events
Woody Harrelson Got Kicked Out Of Two Bars For Smoking Marijuana With Matthew McConaughey’s Mom
State Marijuana Regulators Share Tips On How To Stay Safe And Legal Around The Holidays
One In Three Americans ‘Pre-Game’ With Marijuana Before Family Holiday Gatherings, Survey Finds
Montana Retailers Have Sold More Than $1 Billion Worth Of Recreational Marijuana Since Legalization Took Effect
Pre-Rolls Are A Key Driver Of The Cannabis Retail Market’s Success (Op-Ed)
Massachusetts Hits $10 Billion Marijuana Sales Milestone, With Top Official Saying Consumption Lounges Will Bolster Industry In 2026
Ohio Dispensaries Sold More Than $1 Billion Worth Of Legal Marijuana In 2025
Marijuana Consumers Are More Likely To Shop At Target Following Decision To Sell Cannabis-Infused Drinks, Poll Shows
Virginia cannabis bills passed by House and Senate (Newsletter: February 18, 2026)
GOP congressman celebrates cannabis’s ongoing Schedule I status (Newsletter: February 17, 2026)
Feds finalize Medicare CBD coverage rule, hemp industry operative says (Newsletter: February 16, 2026)
FDA head discusses cannabis benefits & concerns (Newsletter: February 13, 2026)
Cannabis businesses’ lawsuit against feds is dismissed (Newsletter: February 12, 2026)
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Former White House drug czar bashes rescheduling; OK GOP divided on medical marijuana; MD psychedelics vote; MA cannabis sales milestone
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Former White House Drug Czar William Bennett said President Donald Trump is wrong about rescheduling marijuana, calling it a “gateway drug” that is “massively destructive.”
Virginia lawmakers passed bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales, provide resentencing relief for past convictions and allow medical cannabis access in hospitals for seriously ill patients—setting up negotiations on the reforms between the Senate and House of Delegates.
Oklahoma’s GOP House speaker and Senate president pro tem are rejecting Gov. Kevin Stitt’s (R) push to put medical cannabis back on the ballot and roll back legalization—saying that voters have already decided they support legal access.
The Hawaii Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Commerce and Consumer Protections Committee held a joint hearing on bills to legalize marijuana, allow hemp-derived cannabinoid product sales and expedite medical cannabis access.
The Maryland House Health Committee approved a bill to extend the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for a year and require a new report with recommendations to ensure “broad, equitable & affordable access to psychedelic substances.”
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission reported that retailers have now sold more than $9 billion worth of recreational marijuana products since legalization—including a huge surge in purchases ahead of a recent big snowstorm.
/ FEDERAL
The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse will meet on March 9.
/ STATES
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) touted his mass marijuana pardon action.
Texas’s attorney general is suing kratom retailers.
The Oklahoma Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill to allow counties and municipalities to add a local tax on medical cannabis.
A Missouri senator discussed her bill to criminalize public marijuana smoking.
Illinois regulators published guidance on cannabis labeling, stability testing and retention samples.
Virginia regulators launched a new medical cannabis program dashboard.
Massachusetts regulators published a guide on how marijuana revenue is allocated.
The California Board of State and Community Corrections released $125 million in grant funding to support local governments’ efforts to address public health and safety impacts associated with marijuana legalization.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
The Amsterdam, Netherlands City Council is expected to consider banning tourists from accessing cannabis cafes after next month’s elections.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A German study found that “eight months after legalisation, no significant short-term effects on cannabis use or [driving under the influence of cannabis] were observed.”
A study found that people who inject drugs “in states with recreational cannabis laws were less likely to use opioids daily” and that “cannabis legalization may potentially reduce opioid-related harms.”
/ BUSINESS
Compass Pathways plc announced it achieved its primary endpoint in an ongoing Phase 3 trial of its synthetic psilocybin formulation for treatment-resistant depression.
Rhode Island retailers sold $10.2 million worth of legal marijuana products in January.
Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 25-year veteran in the cannabis and drug law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana, psychedelics and other substances. He previously reported for Forbes, Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and was given the Hunter S. Thompson Media Award by NORML and has been named Journalist of the Year by Americans for Safe Access. As an activist, Tom founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority and handled media relations, campaigns and lobbying for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
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