Trump surgeon general’s psychedelics experience & anti-cannabis views (Newsletter: May 12, 2025)

VA secretary’s psychedelics meeting; FL marijuana bills die; PA GOP senator on legalization; NY cannabis odor provision removed from budget

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Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Casey Means, President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as surgeon general, has spoken about her own “meaningful experiences” with psychedelics, but has argued that using marijuana will “vastly diminish your ability to make Good Energy.” Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and VA staff met with a psychedelic therapy advocate to discuss ways to increase access for military veterans. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed budget legislation that does not include her initial proposal to let police use the odor of marijuana to force drivers to take a drug test after lawmakers removed the provision. Florida lawmakers killed several bills to expand the state’s medical cannabis program—including measures to allow home cultivation, add new qualifying conditions, protect employment and parental rights of patients and let military veterans register for free. A Pennsylvania Republican senator said he thinks a bill to legalize marijuana can pass both chambers and be enacted this year, arguing that prohibition “has not turned out well” and saying the state should “regulate it the way we have done with alcohol and gambling.” The Massachusetts legislature’s Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy held a hearing on several bills to enact stricter regulations on intoxicating hemp-derived products, including measures to prevent them from being sold outside marijuana dispensaries and to tax them. A Florida representative who sponsored a hemp regulation bill that failed to be enacted this session said she will keep working to pass legislation to “ensure these products are safe and protect consumers, while still allowing Florida farmers to thrive.” Illinois social equity marijuana businesses are calling on lawmakers to provide more grant funding and to loosen regulations, including by enacting a moratorium on licensing fees and letting medical patients purchase cannabis products at any licensed dispensary. Researcher Jonathan Simone of Brock University says “the entourage effect is a valid hypothesis and arguably the most promising in terms of explaining cannabis’s varied and nuanced effects” but that it is “more often co-opted for marketing than grounded in evidence.” / FEDERAL The Drug Enforcement Administration published new resources about ketamine. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) said that China is “very involved in money laundering when it comes to marijuana production and the sale of marijuana as well.” Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) tweeted, “Proud to see Texas leading the way on innovative mental health solutions. Psychedelic therapy has real potential to help our veterans heal.” / STATES Kentucky’s state auditor said her investigation of the medical cannabis business licensing process will not delay the launch of the market. The Delaware Senate is delaying a confirmation vote for the nominee to be the state’s next top marijuana regulator over concerns about potential conflicts of interest. North Carolina’s Senate president pro tempore and House speakers discussed the prospects of hemp regulation legislation. The Maine legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee took action on several cannabis bills. Arizona regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to possible contamination with aspergillus. The chair of New York’s Cannabis Control Board said she will continue to serve in the role even after changes were made to budget legislation to eliminate her salary. California regulators are proposing rules to establish animal cannabis product standards. Nevada regulators launched a billboard campaign urging people to buy legal cannabis products. U.S. Virgin Islands regulators sent an update about the marijuana business licensing process. The Virginia Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council will meet on Monday. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. —

/ LOCAL Anchorage, Alaska officials are allocating marijuana revenue to child care programs. / INTERNATIONAL Armenia’s Parliament speaker said marijuana should be legalized. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found “no evidence suggesting that past-month cannabis users have better or worse physical activity levels compared to non-users.” A study of rats found that cannabis oils. “particularly THC-rich CO, CBD:THC ratio 1:1 CO, CBD:THC ratio 2:1 CO and terpenes, can effectively reduce dyslipidemia, liver damage and hepatic steatosis in” sucrose-rich diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS Legacy Cannabis Genetics is hosting a series of meetings about its California state-funded study this month and next month. / BUSINESS WM Technology, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $44.6 million. MariMed Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $38 million and a net loss of $5.4 million. 4Front Ventures Corp. received a failure-to-file cease trade order from Canadian officials. Missouri retailers sold $125.9 million worth of legal marijuana products in April.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.