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Forbes
18 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Trump Budget Drops Protections For State Medical Cannabis Programs
The White House budget request for 2026 omits language that has protected state-regulated medical ... More cannabis operators from federal prosecution for more than decade. The Trump administration's budget request for the 2026 fiscal year drops provisions that have protected state medical cannabis programs for more than a decade, online cannabis news outlet Marijuana Moment reported on Monday. The budget provision has blocked federal law enforcement agencies from spending resources to investigate or prosecute businesses operating in compliance with state-authorized medical cannabis programs, despite the continued prohibition of marijuana under federal law. 'This provision, which has been in place since 2014, protects patients, caregivers, and medical cannabis providers in the 39 states that have legalized medical access from federal interference or criminal prosecution,' the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) wrote in a statement. 'Prior to the passage of this protection, federal prosecutors routinely took actions against patients and dispensaries in legal states.' The budget restriction was first adopted by Congress in 2014 and has been included in the federal budget every year since. But the Trump administration's budget request for the 2026 fiscal year released last week does not include the language. Similarly, the budget requests for each of the four years of President Donald Trump's first term omitted the protections for state-regulated medical cannabis operators. The administration of President Barack Obama also left the language prohibiting federal interference with regulated medical marijuana businesses out its budget requests following the initial adoption of the provisions. By contrast, the administration budget requests for all fours years of Joseph Biden's presidency included the protections for state-legal medical marijuana businesses. While the budget request illustrates the Trump administration's spending policies and priorities, Congress has the constitutional responsibility and authority for appropriations legislation. The congressional budget has included the language every year since 2014, despite attempts by both Democratic and Republican administrations to drop the provision. 'Today, more than half the country, including 36 states and Washington, D.C., have embraced medical marijuana, and for the past 10 years, the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment has prevented the Department of Justice from using federal funds to stop states from implementing their medical marijuana programs,' Laura A. Bianchi, co-founding partner of the cannabis and psychedelics law firm Bianchi and Brandt, writes in an email. 'Rolling back these protections would mark a significant setback for marijuana reform. Ultimately, Congress will have the final say, and the industry remains hopeful that they will uphold these vital safeguards.' When Trump signed previous appropriations bill including the protections for medical cannabis operators after requesting they be removed, his administration issued a statement that it 'will treat this provision consistent with the President's constitutional responsibility to faithfully execute the laws of the United States.' The statement, which was issued on three separate occasions, was widely interpreted to suggest that the Trump administration might ignore the budget restriction. The omission of the protections for state-legal medical cannabis programs in the Trump administration's 2026 budget request is likely to disappoint supporters of cannabis policy reform who were encouraged by the president's apparent support for decriminalizing marijuana during the 2024 election campaign. In September, Trump suggested he supported reclassifying marijuana under federal drug laws and that he would back state efforts to legalize recreational cannabis. 'As President, we will continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug, and work with Congress to pass common sense laws, including safe banking for state authorized companies, and supporting states rights to pass marijuana laws, like in Florida, that work so well for their citizens,' Trump wrote on Truth Social, according to a report from Marijuana Moment.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Texas Legislature Passes Medical Marijuana Program Expansion Bill
Texas lawmakers have approved legislation to significantly expand the state's medical marijuana ... More program, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbot for his consideration. Texas lawmakers on Sunday approved legislation to significantly expand the state's medical marijuana program. After a conference committee reached a deal over the weekend, lawmakers passed a compromise bill that rectified differences in legislation passed last month by the Texas Senate and the state House of Representatives. The House passed the compromise medical cannabis program expansion bill by a vote of 138-1, while the Senate approved the measure with a unanimous 31-0 vote, according to a report from online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment. The legislation now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for consideration. The bill expands the list of conditions that qualify a patient to use medical marijuana, adding chronic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Crohn's disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases. End-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care would qualify patients for the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), as the current state medical cannabis program is known. The legislation also increases the types of cannabis products authorized by the TCUP, adding medical marijuana patches and topicals, as well as suppositories, approved inhalers, nebulizers and vaping devices. The bill also directs the state Department of Public Safety to increase the number of medical cannabis business licenses from three to 15. Licensed providers would also be allowed to operate approved satellite locations. The House version of the bill, HB 46, was approved by the chamber on May 13. The Senate passed an amended version on May 27, but House lawmakers declined to concur to the changes. A conference committee to iron out the differences agreed on the final compromise version over the weekend, leading to the House and Senate votes on Sunday. Republican Rep. Tony Tinderholt, who served on the conference committee, told his colleagues in the House that the legislation strengthens and expands the state's medical cannabis program. 'The veterans out there watching need to know that the Texas Compassionate Use Program has been protected,' Tinderholt said, KXAN television news reported. 'We actually got a little more than what we thought we'd get out of that conference committee,' he added. 'Veterans are covered, chronic pain is covered, and this bill will cover all of the things that we wanted when it went over to the Senate and there were modifications made.' The passage of the compromise medical marijuana program expansion bill was welcomed by cannabis policy reform advocates, including members of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center. 'For 10 years, most patients have been excluded from participating in the Compassionate Use Program,' Heather Fazio, executive director of the group, told Marijuana Moment. 'We're happy to see that the legislature is finally expanding the program in a meaningful way.' The Texas legislature's approval of the medical marijuana program expansion bill came only days after lawmakers passed legislation (SB 3) to ban consumable hemp products with any amount of THC. These products, which have less than 0.3% THC under federal law, retain other potentially beneficial cannabis compounds. Peter Barsoom, founder and CEO of 1906, a manufacturer of low-dose, fast-acting cannabis edibles, said that Texas lacks a consistent cannabis policy. 'Texas is sending a mixed message - on one hand, it's recognizing the medical benefits of cannabis by expanding access, and on the other, it's banning products that many rely on for relief,' Barsoom writes in an emailed statement. 'This type of inconsistency not only confuses consumers but also undermines trust in the system. We know prohibition is a policy failure. What we need is sensible regulation that provides consumers access to safe, legal, and effective hemp-derived products, especially for veterans, people living with chronic pain, and everyday consumers looking for alternatives to pharmaceuticals.' Both measures now head to Abbott for consideration. The Texas Hemp Business Council and its members and supporters are calling on the governor to veto SB 3.
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Texas Senate Panel Considers Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill
A Texas Senate committee is considering legislation to expand the state's limited medical cannabis ... More program. A Texas Senate committee on Monday considered legislation that would expand the state's current limited medical cannabis program. The Senate Committee on State Affairs discussed the bill without acting on it, according to a report from online cannabis news outlet Marijuana Moment. The legislation, HB 46, was passed by the Texas House of Representatives last week. If signed into law, the bill would make significant changes to the state's medical cannabis Compassionate Use Program, which was approved by lawmakers in 2015. At Monday's Senate committee meeting, Republican Sen. Charles Perry, the sponsor of a HB 46 companion bill in the Senate, SB 1505, said that the legislation is a 'work in progress' that would likely be amended before final passage. 'It's currently in the works, and we're still having conversations on what the final product is,' Perry said about the bill. 'There will be a committee substitute, but it is not back from [Legislative] 'Some of the things in it are a good step in the right direction, some of the things that are in it are kind of a backwards look, and some of the things in it could open up the door for unintended consequences,' Perry added, KXAN television news reported. He added that some of the provisions still being debated include the number of additional medical cannabis dispensaries that will be added, THC limits on products and the specific medical conditions that will qualify a patient to use cannabis under the program. 'As I say, this is a work in process,' Perry told his colleagues at Monday's hearing, 'and [I] just wanted to have it heard so that when that [substitute version] comes out, we can address it in proper time.' Sen. Brian Birdwell, also a Republican, said that with the substitution bill expected soon, he plans to work with Perry and 'see what he's going to change.' Birdwell told Perry he had 'serious concerns' with the version of HB 46 passed by the House compared to the Senate companion, but he added that 'instead of wasting the committee's time asking questions, now I think I'd rather just consult separately with Sen. Perry.' The committee then opened the hearing to testimony on the bill before holding for further action. 'We got a week or so to hammer this down,' Perry said, adding that separate legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp products, SB 3, is scheduled to be taken up in the House of Representatives this week. 'So we'll see where that lands and see where this all fits together. It's kind of a package deal.' The Texas Capitol in Austin. The Texas House of Representatives passed HB 46 and referred the legislation to the state Senate on May 13. Rep. Ken King, the Republican sponsor of the bipartisan bill, said the measure will help people whose lives can be improved by medical cannabis. 'Back in 2015, Texas passed the Compassionate Use Act that allowed patients with epilepsy to access low-THC cannabis. Since then, the program has been expanded to include additional medical conditions, but Texans still struggle to get access to the medicine they're legally allowed to receive,' King said on the floor. 'There are not enough dispensing organizations licensed in the state, and current law limits how and where the products can be stored and distributed.' Under the amended version of the legislation passed by the House, HB 46 would add new qualifying conditions to the CUP, including chronic pain, glaucoma, traumatic brain injury, spinal neuropathy, Crohn's disease or other inflammatory bowel disease, degenerative disc disease and any terminal illness for patients receiving hospice or palliative care. Military veterans would be eligible to use cannabis for any medical condition. The legislation would also increase the number of medical cannabis dispensaries by directing the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to issue 11 new dispensary licenses within an equal number of designated public health regions throughout the state. Licensed dispensaries would also be permitted to open satellite locations with state approval. HB 46 as passed by the House also adds new forms of medical cannabis available to patients, including vaporizers, nebulizers, topicals and patches. More potent cannabis products would also be allowed, and doctors would be able to prescribe dosages as they see fit. The current program only permits patients with one of eight qualifying medical conditions to use non-smokable cannabis products with a limit of 0.5% THC by dry weight.
Forbes
18-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
North Carolina Lawmakers File Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill
A group of North Carolina lawmakers this week introduced legislation to legalize medical cannabis in the state, online news source Marijuana Moment reported on Friday. The measure, House Bill 1011, was filed on Tuesday with primary sponsorship from Democratic Reps. Aisha Dew, Pricey Harrison and Zack Hawkins. The measure, titled the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act, would legalize the use of cannabis for patients with certain qualifying debilitating medical conditions, such as cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease and post-traumatic stress disorder. The legislation would also apply to patients in end-of-life care and those with other specified debilitating medical conditions. Patients would need a doctor's recommendation to use medical cannabis under the legislation. Doctors would be permitted to recommend smoking or vaping cannabis if they note the intended method of consumption on the recommendation. The bill also permits registered caregivers aged 21 and up to obtain medical cannabis for patients. North Carolina's medical cannabis program would be overseen by the state Department of Health and Human Services, which would be responsible for developing rules for the testing of medical cannabis products by independent laboratories. Medical cannabis products would be regulated by a newly created Medical Cannabis Production Commission. The agency would be responsible for licensing cannabis businesses and ensuring an adequate supply of medical cannabis is produced for patients. The bill authorizes up to 10 medical cannabis suppliers to cultivate and distribute licensed medical marijuana products. Each supplier would be permitted to operate as many as eight dispensaries, which would be known as 'medical cannabis centers.' The measure also establishes the North Carolina Cannabis Research Program to 'undertake objective, scientific research regarding the administration of cannabis or cannabis-infused products as part of medical treatment.' The legislation is similar to a 2023 bill of the same name from Republican Sen. Bill Rabon. That measure gained the approval of the North Carolina Senate but never came up for a vote in the state House of Representatives. Last year, the Senate approved a separate measure to legalize medical cannabis, but it also failed to garner a vote in the House. The North Carolina Capitol Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Earlier this year, the findings of a survey from Meredith Poll found strong support among registered voters for legalizing medical marijuana in North Carolina. According to the poll, 71% of North Carolinians 'strongly' or 'somewhat' support legalizing medical cannabis, while only 23% 'strongly' or 'somewhat' said they oppose the policy reform. 'We hear about it all the time. There's broad support across political parties. People want it taxed. They want the money, and they want it regulated,' Democratic Sen. Graig Meyer told WDTV television news at the time. 'They want to know we're doing it in a safe way, especially that protects kids.' Meyer voted in favor of the 2023 version of the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act in the Senate, where it received bipartisan support. Despite the issue's popularity, however, medical cannabis legalization bills have failed to gain the support of key Republican leaders in the House of Representatives. 'Everyone knows if you put a marijuana bill on the floor of either chamber, you've got enough votes to pass it,' Meyer said. 'The question is, can you get over the objections of a few powerful people that are standing in the way and that dynamic still exists in the House.' House Bill 1011 has been referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House for consideration. If the bill is passed into law, North Carolina will join the 39 other states that legalized medical cannabis. At least three other cannabis policy reform bills are also pending in the North Carolina legislature, including House Bill 984, which would legalize medical cannabis only for patients in a registered research program. Senate Bill 350 would legalize both recreational and medical marijuana, while House Bill 413 would legalize recreational cannabis.
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Unveil Recreational Cannabis Legalization Plan
A bipartisan pair of lawmakers has announced plans to introduce a bill to legalize recreational ... More marijuana in Pennsylvania. A bipartisan pair of Pennsylvania lawmakers this week unveiled a plan to legalize recreational marijuana, nine years after the Keystone State legalized cannabis for medical use. Democratic Rep. Emily Kinkead and Rep. Abby Major, a Republican, released highlights of the cannabis legalization plan on Monday in a memo seeking cosponsors for an upcoming bill. 'This bipartisan legislation reflects strong support for legalization across the Commonwealth and the input of stakeholders at every level,' the memo reads, online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment reported on Wednesday. 'Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation as we work to move cannabis legalization forward in Pennsylvania.' In the memo, the lawmakers acknowledged Pennsylvania's 'robust' medical cannabis program. They added, however, that 'all but one of our neighboring states have legalized recreational adult-use cannabis.' Kinkead and Major wrote that one of those neighboring states, Ohio, legalized recreational marijuana for adults via a ballot initiative that voters approved in 2023. After regulated sales of adult-use cannabis began last year, they added, the state collected $15.5 million in taxes on recreational marijuana in the first three months of regulated sales. 'It is well past time for Pennsylvania to move in a similar direction, and our proposed legislation represents a bipartisan path to legalize adult-use cannabis, establishing strong tenets for an adult-use market,' they said. 'And perhaps most importantly, this bill is not just about legalization, it's about setting up a stable, well-regulated market that prioritizes public safety and public health, protects children from exposure, promotes social justice, and fosters economic opportunity.' The bipartisan pair of legislators offered key features of an upcoming bill, the text of which has not yet been released. The plan includes establishing an independent commission to regulate both recreational and medical cannabis in Pennsylvania. Stated goals of the program include inclusive economic growth, justice reform, consumer protection and support for law enforcement and local governments, among others. Passing a cannabis legalization bill in Pennsylvania, they wrote, 'would not only boost local economies and create upwards of 30,000 new jobs, but also create a new revenue stream for our state, allowing us to reinvest in essential services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.' 'Moreover, this bill ends the blanket criminalization of marijuana users, particularly in communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis-related arrests, while providing a robust pathway for those individuals and communities to participate in and benefit from the legal market,' the memo continues. 'Legalizing marijuana within this framework allows the industry to be regulated, ensuring that products are tested for safety, purity, and potency,' Major and Kinkead wrote. 'Legalization provides an opportunity to implement public health education, prevent misuse through responsible marketing and regulation, and ensure that marketing efforts are designed to avoid targeting children, with strict age verification measures in place.' Pennsylvania lawmakers legalized medical cannabis in 2016 with the passage of Senate Bill 3, which was signed into law by then-Gov. Tom Wolf in April of that year. Regulated sales of medical marijuana began in February 2018. Legalizing recreational marijuana, however, has so far not been supported by the Pennsylvania legislature. Earlier this month, however, Democratic House Speaker Joanna McClinton said that legalizing recreational cannabis could give the state a new stream of tax revenue. 'Most House Democrats support [marijuana legalization], though we will need Republican support for passing a bill this massive,' McClinton said at an event sponsored by the progressive nonprofit group Represent PA. 'It's going to be a heavy lift.' Late last year, a pair of Democratic lawmakers released their plan to legalize recreational marijuana, saying the state is an 'outlier' in its continued prohibition of cannabis. Pennsylvania state Reps. Rick Krajewski and Dan Frankel, who led several hearings on cannabis reform during the past legislative session, said they plan to introduce legislation to decriminalize cannabis and create a regulated market that focuses on public health, raises revenue for the state and supports those harmed by the criminalization of marijuana. Also in December, Democratic state Rep. Danilo Burgos announced plans to introduce a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana without legalizing recreational cannabis sales. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has indicated his support for legalizing and regulating cannabis for adults. Last month, he said that Pennsylvania is 'losing out' by keeping recreational marijuana illegal. 'I think it's an issue of freedom and liberty. I mean, if folks want to smoke, they should be able to do so in a safe and legal way,' Shapiro said. 'We should shut down the black market—and, by the way, every state around us is doing it. Pennsylvanians are driving to those other states and paying taxes in those other states.' If Pennsylvania legalizes recreational marijuana, it will join the 24 states that have legalized cannabis for adults.
