DEA launching new cannabis business registration applications (Newsletter: May 12, 2026)
- The ATF released draft revisions to gun purchase forms to reflect medical marijuana’s federally legal status following recent cannabis rescheduling efforts.
- Massachusetts lawmakers decided not to advance a proposal to roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law, allowing activists to gather more signatures for a November ballot initiative.
- Connecticut passed a bill expanding eligibility for a psychedelic pilot program to all qualifying adults, anticipating federal approval of substances like psilocybin and MDMA.
- An Indiana Republican senator plans to introduce a medical cannabis legalization bill in 2027, influenced by recent gubernatorial comments and federal reform progress.
ATF changes marijuana question on gun form; MA lawmakers pass on anti-cannabis measure; CT psychedelics bill to gov; IN GOP legalization bill
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Free to read (but not free to produce)! We’re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we’re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen. If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The Drug Enforcement Administration announced it will soon launch registration forms for state-licensed medical marijuana manufacturing, distribution and testing businesses that want to take advantage of federal protections under rescheduling—building on an existing form for dispensaries.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives posted draft revisions to a gun purchase form that would recognize medical marijuana’s federally legal status following the Trump administration’s rescheduling move. The Massachusetts legislature’s Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions recommended that lawmakers not act on a proposal to roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law, leaving prohibitionist activists to collect additional signatures to place it on the November ballot. Connecticut lawmakers sent Gov. Ned Lamont (D) a bill to expand a psychedelic pilot program to let all adults who meet eligibility criteria participate—instead of just veterans, retired first responders and healthcare workers—in anticipation of federal approval of psilocybin or MDMA. An Indiana Republican senator announced plans to file a bill to legalize medical cannabis in the 2027 session in light of Gov. Mike Braun’s (R) recent comments on the issue and as reform advances at the federal level under the Trump administration. Historian Emily Dufton highlights in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed how the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling move is focused on helping ailing seniors, but says she’s “concerned that this project was rolled out quickly with vocal support but little coordination.”
/ FEDERAL President Donald Trump said his administration is “looking very seriously” at approving “natural 7-OH.” The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted an article about how “cannabis triggered one teen’s downfall from excelling at sports and having a bright future at college to suffering from a ‘God complex.'” / STATES Colorado regulators filed proposed changes to marijuana rules. Vermont regulators published guidance on cannabis cultivation tier increases. Ohio officials are launching a public education campaign about “the health and safety risks of marijuana use.” New York cannabis regulators are extending the application deadline for the Community Grants Reinvestment Fund to May 21. New Jersey regulators sent a newsletter with updates on various cannabis issues. The Nevada Cannabis Advisory Commission’s Subcommittee on Taxation will meet on Thursday. — 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 San Francisco, California is seeing a surge in arrests and citations for low-level drug crimes, but not for sales, under a crackdown championed by the mayor. / INTERNATIONAL The International Criminal Court unsealed an arrest warrant for a Philippine senator linked to that county’s bloody “war on drugs.” Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee approved additional funds for the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “legalization reduces cannabis possession and sales arrests for White and Black populations, narrowing but not eliminating disparities,” that there are “spillover increases in hospitalizations involving cannabis and other illegal drugs,” that “spillovers on arrests, incarcerations, and crimes involving serious violent or property offenses are insignificant or even decrease” and that “other illegal drug sales arrests decrease across populations.” / BUSINESS Cannara Biotech Inc. completed its acquisition of Medican Organic Inc. Cronos Group Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $45.2 million and a comprehensive loss of $3.3 million. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.