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The Fight For Cannabis Reform Must Focus On Medical Patients—Not Taxes And Banking—In Order To Win (Op-Ed)

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7 months ago

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“Without medicine at the center, the Federal reform loses its moral compass and its political lever.”

Cannabis Businesses and Professionals Unity for the National Medical Kannabis

It is clear that the opposition against cannabis is nourished by the narrative of moral panic, disinformation and “large marijuana”. Without strategic contracting for well-being, we risk losing the land we have earned.

Last week, the HOUSE’s paving committee exceeded the version of the Budget of the Department of Justice. FY2026 Trade, Justice, Science and Related Agency (CJS) would include provisions that will allow the administration of drug enforcement administration (DEA) again in the states of cannabis programs.

CJS Budget Bill was the language that would also want Prevent President Donald Trump to make efforts for determination in cannabis programming. This should turn off alarms in our community. And yet the loudest push came from business, but from patients, with our uncompromise, farms, allies.

Our most valuable asset

The coverage coverage coverage for Kannabis was a promise to produce “determination” for a few weeks. But there was a real bearer What he said about Kannabis: “great thing about medicine” listens.

These words catch true in Washington, DC: Cannabis doctor remains the most politically feasible policy for federal policy reform. If you currently face cannabis businesses and professionals, we cannot ignore the truth.

Bank and tax relief will not come with a great reform of cannabis

Despite the flood of new State laws, new businesses and new participants, Washington barely made.

It has been more than a decade to secure access to Secure access (ASA) to ensure the fire interference in the Medical State of Congress. Bank reform, tax fairness and state trade are still not available. Patients remain access to stigma, discrimination and patches.

Corporate Kornabis seemed to be supported by the medical expansion and cannabis business, who walks far from the patient’s narrative. It was the descendant of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Cannabis “admits that he currently supports” medical use “and will lead to the III program.

Instead of taking a return of victory for medical cannabis, the cannabis community was based on tax deductions.

This pivot has been able to provide short-term growth and attention, but he actually canceled the proven path that has moved Congress: patients. The result is a decade of Washington.

Without a medical cannabis in the center, the Federal reform loses its moral compass and a political lever.

Including the “big things” about medical cannabis

Medical cannabis is the strongest counterpoint. It saves lives, reduces health costs and undergo public support during the political spectrum.

Consider the numbers:

  • Chronic pain: Almost 30% of chronic pain patients use cannon to relieve, often reduce or replace opioids. More than 68 million Americans live with chronic pain.
  • Cancer: More than 40% of cancer reports the symptoms such as pain, anxiety, sleep and hunger.
  • Older adults: One of the five adults now uses cannabis now. In the medical states, many advantages made by many arthritis, sleep and quality of life. It is the fastest increase in Kannabis users.
  • Veterans: About 22 percent of veterans use PTSD, chronic pain and sleeping incidents, still facing stigma and federal obstacles.
  • Opioids: Washington Post recently mentioned the study County with dispensers will be seen reducing 30 percent of the dead Opioido overdose over time.

Pay page

If you entered the Kannabis space in the last five years or 10 years, you may not know how we arrived.

Patient advocates have been working on strategies for decades for the National Medical Canavy Program.

For years, the cannabis supply chain programs, cannabis supply chain products, the World Cannabis Organization (UN) and the United Nations, and the United Nations, recommends patients for medical professionals.

White House This year decreased these protections, Asa called the organizations of national patients and encouraged Congress to restore them. And HHS can Cannabis “use medical use” at this time? Reflects more than two decades established by patient defenders.

Not to choose zero sum

Helping Medical Kannabis does not mean against adult use. In fact, focusing the doctor strengthens the whole market.

Patients bring credibility with politicians, their stories create support for bipartisan and their experiences cannot be divided into quarter sales figures.

President Trumpen comments – “Great things about doctors” – they are not just a note. In the policy of Kannabis, they reflect coherent thread in administrations, festivals and decades: the medical cannabis has had power.

If we become “great things”, we can change the conversation, go back and finally, we will finally get comprehensive federal realms of patients.

Patients have a plan; They need our help

As a creative founder of safe access, Steph Sherer described the last marijuana at the moment. “It’s time for the congress to create a federal path for medical cannabis accesses” The next phase of access is a comprehensive federal legislation. History has shown us that the doctor must first come.

Patients created a moral and political basis for cannabis reform. Today they remain the strongest motor. But only patients cannot carry this fight. If we want to move Washington, we need to put patients and their needs behind our efforts.

Cannabis businesses and professionals united for the national medical cannabis It is safe access to access security (ASA) interested business, professionals and investors who believe in cannabis medicine and are willing to end the patients.

Marijuana is possible with the help of readers. If you are based on journalism to defend cannabis, consider the commitment to Patreon every month.

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NC lawmakers revisit marijuana policy following reclassification

Published

19 hours ago

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April 28, 2026

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North Carolina lawmakers say they’re fueling debate over the state’s marijuana laws — a move by the Trump administration to reclassify it as a less dangerous drug.

Across the country, a set of laws and enforcements regulate marijuana. The drug is illegal under federal law, but dozens of US states have legalized it. And almost all states have legalized medical marijuana prescriptions for certain ailments. North Carolina is among the remaining states to resist any form of legalization. Republican politicians in North Carolina have resisted passing any bills to legalize or decriminalize marijuana, despite public opinion polls showing broad public support for such changes.

Senate President Phil Berger said he expects his chamber to revisit efforts to legalize medical marijuana this week. “We will have a conversation within our caucus if they are interested in whether we do something,” Berger told reporters Tuesday.

The recent actions of Republican President Donald Trump may add a new dimension to these conversations. Trump’s acting attorney general on Thursday signed the drug classification as a less dangerous and less strictly regulated drug than marijuana. Federal law does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use.

Read more at WRAL News










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Indiana GOP Governor Directs State Agencies To Meet With Medical Marijuana Advocates As Federal Rescheduling Takes Effect

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19 hours ago

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April 28, 2026

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Indiana state officials are holding a series of meetings with medical marijuana advocates at the behest of the Republican governor.

After a day The Trump administration announced that federal cannabis regulation is moving forwardOfficials from the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Health and other state agencies spoke with Hoosier Veterans for Medical Cannabis and Indiana NORML to discuss next steps at the state level.

The meetings, activists said, were at the request of Gov. Mike Braun (R).

“The governor has reached out to us to meet with other heads of his department to get their input on this move,” military veteran Jeff Staker, one of the advocates, told Fox 59. “Our next step, hopefully, will be in the governor’s office.”




Lucy Luman, who is also a veteran and serves as president of Indiana NORML, he said That federal reform “addresses major challenges our lawmakers have raised before.”

Advocates previously met with Indiana Secretary of Business Affairs Mike Speedy, they told WHTR-TV.

“It tells you that the governor has considered it well, and I hope that our organization and others will come into the governor’s office and discuss with him and brainstorm more,” Staker. he said. “You have to realize that a lot of our state legislators have been waiting for that to happen.”

“The feds have made their move, and now it’s time for Indiana to make ours,” he said. “And of course we want to do well.”




State Rep. Jim Lucas (R) said federal marijuana rescheduling “takes away the arguments that the opposition had in our state.”

State Sen. Rodney Pol (D) agreed, saying the Trump administration’s action has “helped get the ball rolling.”

last month, The governor said the “crescendo will rise” in the call to legalize marijuanaregional dynamics as well as law enforcement by opting for reform. But for now, he said, the GOP legislative leadership is “not interested in doing anything anytime soon,” even though “half of Hoosiers probably smoke illegally.”

Braun said he thinks lawmakers should take an “extra look” at medical cannabis and, while he’s personally “agnostic” about legalization, the reality is Indiana is “now surrounded by four states” that allow medicinal or adult use of cannabis.

“Probably half of Hoosiers smoke illegally,” he said, noting that suburban Kentucky allows patients to access medical cannabis, while Illinois, Michigan and Ohio have recreational marijuana laws.

“I’m going to listen to law enforcement. They’ve even changed their minds about legalizing and regulating,” Braun said, adding that he compared cannabis to gambling. The state was late to pass laws allowing adults to gamble, he said, but now ranks among the top three states nationally in terms of per capita revenue from vice.

“Some people won’t want to, just on principle. A lot of police and sheriffs in our state are willing to cross the border (to buy cannabis). It’s going to be a growing problem, so far, the way our state legislature has opposed it,” he said. “I’ve been more agnostic about it. I can see the points of view, and I’ve seen law enforcement move somewhat.”

“So that will give you the best description of where the dynamic is in our state,” the governor told WOWO. “I think the leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House in particular are cool — and they control the legislative agenda — they’re not interested in doing anything anytime soon. But I think the crescendo will rise, and that pretty much describes where we are.”

Braun also addressed the issue in another recent interview, saying the state will “probably have to address” the issue and pairing cannabis reform with sports betting.

State legislators already He stated that there is no legalization of marijuana in the 2026 sessionThis is another year where Indiana will be left out as one of the few states without effective medical or adult use cannabis laws.

The governor said this separately in January He “fits in” with the idea of ​​legalizing medical cannabis in the state. Instead, Indiana lawmakers this session have focused on efforts to ban THC hemp products, though The fight for 2026 appears to be over after a last-minute push failed late last month.

Braun has previously said that federal marijuana reorganization He could add “some fire” to the local push to legalize cannabis in his state.

Among Indiana residents, a survey released in January found that nearly three in five supported the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis.

Specifically, Ball State University’s (BSU) Bowen Center’s annual Hoosier Poll found that 59 percent of residents support the legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. An additional 25 percent return allowing patients to access medical marijuana, bringing total support for that reform to 84 percent.

—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
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Braun, for his part, He previously said it is “probably time” to introduce therapeutic cannabis among state patients. The comments came alongside a separate poll showing that nearly 9 in 10 Indiana adults (87 percent) support the legalization of marijuana.

The main Republicans in the Legislature, however, They have openly opposed marijuana reform.

“It’s no secret that I’m not,” Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R) said at the end of 2024. “I don’t have people coming to me with really compelling medical cases to find out why it’s so beneficial. And any situation I’ve seen, it’s passing medical marijuana, it’s basically passing recreational marijuana.”

House Speaker Todd Huston (R) questioned any medical benefits associated with marijuana, calling the substance a “mental health deterrent.” He and others suggested that lawmakers in favor of reform simply want to increase state revenue.

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Oakland Launches Nation’s First Cannabis Equity Certification Mark

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2 days ago

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April 27, 2026

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In 2017, the city of Oakland made history by becoming the first city in the country to launch a Cannabis Equity Program, which helps those affected by the “War on Drugs” enter the cannabis industry and create thriving local businesses. The program changed policy conversations about cannabis equity in California and across the nation.

Now, in an effort to raise awareness about venture capital and help them survive and thrive, Oakland has launched the nation’s first initiative to promote city-certified venture capital businesses in the cannabis industry. The Oakland Legendary Cannabis Certified Equity Label lets buyers know they support businesses that invest in creating high-quality products by prioritizing equity. The label commemorates the city of Oakland as the birthplace of modern cannabis legalization and highlights its operators as legendary pioneers who define cannabis culture and set standards that are now accepted worldwide. Oakland currently has 50 licensed Equity cannabis businesses.

“Oakland continues to lead with courage and conviction. During my time in Congress, I chaired the Cannabis Caucus and called for cannabis equity programs to address the harm done to Black and Brown communities,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. “Today, the Oakland Legendary label puts power back where it belongs, helping consumers make informed choices and ensuring that those with the most influence lead and thrive in today’s economy. Oakland is proud to lead the way!”

“The City of Oakland is committed to fostering the economic success of local venture capital companies,” said Ashleigh Kanat, director of Oakland’s Department of Economic and Workforce Development. “The Oakland Legendary brand lets consumers know they’re supporting a certified Oakland stock business and getting a true Oakland experience: premium, authentic and locally produced with a story they won’t find anywhere else. This differentiation will increase the presence of cannabis products in the market.”

“The Oakland Legendary brand is the gold standard for quality,” says Dale Sky Jones, Executive Chancellor of Oakland University. “These are the ones who defined the culture and perfected the craft long before there was a legal market. When you buy Oakland Legendary, you’re not just supporting a local business; you’re getting the world’s most authentic, high-caliber cannabis. These brands are true trendsetters, and once you try them, you’ll understand why Oakland remains the epicenter of the world’s finest cannabis.”

“Root’d believes it is extremely important to highlight the brands of operators who were disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs and educate the consumer on the importance of protecting the equity brands that have shaped the culture and community of cannabis. These core equity brands are the root ecosystem of our culture; the bigger and stronger the roots, the healthier Root’d’s culture McCullough” 510 has a long legacy in the cannabis industry and has been featured on the front page of the New York Times for being one of the first dispensaries in the nation. “It’s important to us that we direct consumers to amazing products and also shop with a purpose.”

Consumers can easily identify Oakland’s legendary certified equity operators through the Oakland Legendary certification mark on packaging, advertisements, and certified equity dealer windows. In a nod to the resilience of the community, the brand’s official positioning is slightly tilted, with the word “Legendary” rising, symbolizing the upward trajectory and sustained growth of Oakland’s capital operators.

The Oakland Legendary awareness campaign includes exclusive use of the certification mark on packaging and marketing materials and “I Hella ♡ Oakland Legendary Cannabis” swag. High-visibility billboards are located along Highway 880 to publicize the program. The public awareness campaign is supported by the National Equity Trade Network.

Source: Oakland

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