Lawmakers move to extend psychedelics task force through 2027
Maryland legislators filed bills to extend the state’s psychedelics task force, giving it more time to study reforms and issue recommendations through 2027. The extension would allow lawmakers to continue evaluating decriminalization, medical access, and potential regulatory pathways for substances like psilocybin.
D.C. Reminders:
Virginia Senate kills bill banning police stops based solely on cannabis odor
Virginia lawmakers rejected legislation that would have prohibited police from stopping drivers based solely on the smell of marijuana. The decision preserves law enforcement discretion and highlights ongoing tension between cannabis reform and policing priorities.
- The next CCA meeting is Feb. 17, 1-3 P.M.
- Despite legislative delays, a new poll shows a majority of Virginia voters favor allowing legal retail marijuana sales — increasing pressure on lawmakers to act.
East Coast Roundup
Delaware Senate Democrats are pushing to override Gov. John Carney’s veto of a marijuana zoning bill — a move that could determine where licensed cannabis businesses are allowed to operate statewide.
Connecticut lawmakers are debating changes that would increase cannabis taxes while reducing costs for medical cannabis patients — reopening the debate over who should shoulder the tax burden of legalization.
Culture & More
A new explainer revisits how hemp and cannabis, despite being the same species, ended up governed by radically different legal frameworks. The piece traces the political, economic, and historical decisions that produced today’s regulatory divide — and why that divide continues to create confusion for consumers and regulators alike.
Researchers at the University of Washington found that individuals with psychotic disorders who use cannabis may face higher rates of additional health complications. The findings add nuance to ongoing debates about cannabis risk, mental health, and the importance of targeted public health messaging.
Portland International Airport has cleared passengers to carry cannabis within Oregon’s legal limits, joining a growing list of airports taking a hands-off approach to cannabis possession. While federal law still applies, enforcement realities continue to shift at transportation hubs in legal states.
The cannabis-themed sandwich chain Cheba Hut is expanding to Chesterfield, signaling continued normalization — and commercialization — of cannabis culture in states where legal sales are still pending.
Around the Country
A group of Arizona Republicans — including U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs — have publicly supported a proposed ballot initiative that would repeal the state’s voter-approved adult-use cannabis market and end commercial sales.
Oklahoma’s 2026 session has drawn nearly two dozen cannabis-related proposals, many focused on its medical market. Legislators are debating mandatory pesticide testing for final harvests and production batches under House Bill 3013, which would require tests for 72 different pesticides and set allowable thresholds.
Indiana remains one of the few states without either a medical or adult-use cannabis program. Legislators are instead advancing measures that further restrict the substance, including Senate Bill 250, which would ban THC-product sales and prohibit advertising within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds.
In Wisconsin, Democratic legislators have introduced a broad cannabis legalization proposal that would create a regulated market for both adult-use and medical cannabis. The bill outlines a licensing framework for growers, processors, and retailers, sets possession limits, and includes provisions for testing, consumer safety, and expungement of past convictions related to cannabis offenses.
From the swamp
California’s Supreme Court issued a ruling clarifying how the state’s open container laws apply to cannabis, potentially reshaping enforcement and consumer behavior. The decision adds another layer to the evolving patchwork of cannabis-related traffic and possession rules.
More than a month after an executive order directed the Department of Justice to act on cannabis rescheduling, the agency says it has no updates. The continued silence has frustrated operators and advocates, extending uncertainty around tax policy, enforcement priorities, and federal oversight.
