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Most Rhode Island Marijuana Social Equity License Applicants Have Been Disqualified

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The commission also approved new rules for hemp products.

By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant

Only 38 percent of pre-applicants for a cannabis retail license reserved for those affected by the war on drugs have been able to submit a formal application, the Cannabis Control Board announced Friday afternoon.

Of the 94 applications to be considered for a social equity license, 36 met the eligibility criteria after review. The committee received the certificate in a 2-0 vote on Friday and they now have until December 29th to submit applications to go to the lottery. The commission will award six social equity licenses through this lottery.

It was the first vote since the departure of President Kimberly Ahern 204,069 dollars a year left the post on October 21, 2026 to run for state attorney general.

Ahern’s usual seat between Commissioners Layi Oduyingbo and Robert Jacquard was empty while the other two members conducted business. In addition to voting to certify social equity applicants who have passed the eligibility test, the board formally approved hemp regulations previously administered by another agency.

Oduyingbo and Jacquard thanked Ahern for his work during the past two and a half years of meetings, including establishing rules governing Rhode Island’s recreational pot industry.

Olivia DaRocha, a spokeswoman for Gov. McKee’s (D) office, said Monday that the governor’s team is still working to identify a candidate to replace Ahern. That nomination would require Senate approval and is expected to be introduced early in the next legislative session, DaRocha said.

“In the meantime, the committee continues to work,” DaRocha wrote in an email to the Rhode Island Current.

Previous screenings of social equity applicants were performed by Massachusetts-based Creative Services, Inc.

To be certified and continue in the application process, social equity applicants must meet one of the following five criteria:

  1. 51 percent ownership and control One or more people have lived in a disproportionately affected area for at least five of the previous 10 years.
  2. 51 percent ownership and control One or more people who have been arrested or imprisoned for drug offenses that have since been decriminalized, or who have had a family member affected by the war on drugs.
  3. At least 10 full-time employees At least 51 percent of current employees live in a disproportionately affected area or were arrested/convicted of marijuana charges.
  4. ability to do demonstrate significant past experience or in business practices that promote economic empowerment in disproportionately affected areas.
  5. Not more than 400 percent of the median incomeas determined by the commission, in at least five of the past 10 years in an area of ​​disproportionate impact.

Over-impacted areas were determined by state regulations based on the federal poverty level, unemployment rate, number of students in the free school lunch program, and historical arrest rates by census tract. This applied to parts of five Rhode Island municipalities: Central Falls, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket.

Those who do not meet the criteria can still apply for a standard license. Applications for all types of licenses must be made by December 29.

Under the 2022 law that legalized recreational cannabis, the commission could offer 24 new licenses to retailers, with six reserved for social equity applicants and another six for worker-owned cooperatives. All recreational licenses will be distributed across six geographic zones, with a maximum of four stores per zone.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the state’s Office of Cannabis will have 90 days to review applications and verify that each meets eligibility qualifications before entering a lottery. The deadline set at the committee’s October 20 meeting is built in at least 60 days to allow applicants to secure approval at the local level for random selection.

The regulators is expected to start issuing licenses As soon as May 2026.

What about hemp?

Commissioners also voted to formally approve regulations for hemp products manufactured and sold in Rhode Island. The rules were approved under an emergency order in July after the commission took over oversight of hemp from the Department of Corporate Regulation before moving it to the new Bureau of Cannabis.

Carla Aveledo, the commission’s policy liaison, told the panel that the rules were mostly unchanged. Regulations still require products to be tested, labeled in a way that does not appeal to minors, and sales restricted to those 21 and older.

All products may contain 1 milligram total THC (the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant) per serving, or 5 milligrams total THC per package. That is somewhat contradictory The new rules passed by the federal government were intended to tighten the loopholes which have allowed the proliferation of psychoactive hemp products such as beverages and edibles.

“Staff will continue to monitor federal legislation and any changes to ensure that Rhode Island’s hemp laws are consistent with any federal requirements,” Aveledo said.

Rhode Island legalizes hemp-based alcoholic beverages starting in August 2024. The policy has divided the cannabis industry, which mostly opposes the products, and the liquor industry, which supports them but wants exclusive control over where they are sold.

The division called for the General Assembly’s Cannabis Control Commission to conduct a study on dosage limits, packaging standards, labeling requirements, licensing requirements and other ways to ensure that children do not accidentally consume intoxicating beverages.

The commission’s recommendations go to state lawmakers by March 1, 2026. The commission plans to hold hearings early next year as it shapes its study, commission spokeswoman Charon Rose said Monday.

This story was first published by the Rhode Island Currant.

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Klasmann-Deilmann announces management changes

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After fifteen years of successful cooperation, managing director Moritz Böcking and the shareholders of Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH have mutually agreed to part ways. As of May 1, 2026, Moritz Böcking will hand over the position of managing director to Jan Astrup, who served as the company’s CEO in 2021/2022. Jan Astrup and Damian Ikemann will form the Board of Directors of the Klasmann-Deilmann Group from now on.

© Klasmann-Deilmann Benelux

Klasmann-Deilmann thanks Moritz Böcking for his cooperation and the progress achieved in the transformation of the Klasmann-Deilmann Group. Moritz Böcking expanded Klasmann-Deilmann beyond the growing media business into new areas of commercial horticulture and promoted innovation and digitalization within the company. In addition, its achievements include the expansion of resources derived from renewable raw materials, as well as the acquisition of a subsidiary in Australia and production facilities in France and Canada, which operate in cooperation with external partners. He also significantly advanced Klasmann-Deilmann’s positioning as a global pioneer of sustainable development in the growing media industry, thereby making a decisive contribution to the company’s economic growth.

With Jan Astrup, Klasmann-Deilmann is getting an internationally experienced manager who has proven himself in the company and has extensive experience in raw materials, production, process optimization and technology. With the new CEO, raw materials and technology-driven areas for the substrate industry are now increasingly important at senior management level. Jan Astrup will strengthen the core commercial horticulture business and help develop the company for the future.

For more information:
Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH
(email protected)
www.klasmann-deilmann.com



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Congressional Amendments To Delay Or Speed Up Federal Hemp THC Product Ban Won’t Get Votes

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Congressional amendments to both delaying the scheduled federal recriminalization of hemp THC products for another year or to speed up implementation will not be considered on the House floor this week.

Rep. James Comer (R-KY) introduced the delay proposal as an amendment to the Farm Bill, while Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) introduced an expedited approach. Neither will move forward, however, with Comer withdrawing his measure and the House Rules Committee failing to vote on Miller’s.

Hemp derivatives containing less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by weight of the drug were made federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill signed by President Donald Trump in his first term. But late last year, Trump signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp so that only products with a total of 0.4 milligrams of THC per container will be legal starting Nov. 12.

Comer’s amendment, sponsored by Reps. Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA), would have delayed the ban until November 2027.

According to Miller’s proposal, however, the ban will begin the day the new Farm Bill takes effect. However, it is unclear based on progress in Congress whether the large-scale farming legislation will actually become law, and the legislation could not pass until after the current recriminalization date.

Comer told the panel at Monday’s meeting that his amendment would “protect American farmers” and “help the hemp industry and the thousands of jobs that use and rely on these products.”

“It is clear that Congress needs more time to pass legislation that protects jobs, eliminates bad actors, standardizes labeling and requires third-party testing,” he said. “My amendment would give Congress another year, until November 2027, to develop this solution.”

It is not clear why he decided to remove it from the annex to the proposal Farm BillAlso known as the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, or HR 7567.




Griffith, a member of the Rules Committee who sponsored Comer’s amendment, noted that there are “a lot of hemp products from overseas that don’t have third-party testing” on the market, “frankly all kinds of junk.”

He said the real solution is for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the products, citing a separate bill he has introduced on the issue, but argued that “we have to have time to adjust,” which he said would provide the delay amendment.

Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) also introduced an amendment to the bill that, according to the sponsor’s summary, “changes the definition of hemp to protect the legal hemp market, creating a regulatory framework that protects children, bans synthetics, and ensures that products on the market are of American origin.”

The congressman later withdrew the proposal for undisclosed reasons.

However, he recently received a letter White House officials commented on pending legislation to create a regulatory framework for hemp.

Last week, Vince Haley, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and James Braid, assistant to the president for legislative affairs, sent hemp policy suggestions to Barr, who is helping lead efforts to establish regulations for the plant as an alternative to prohibition.

“We appreciate your work to advance policy,” the executive order Trump signed in December, which included provisions to protect Americans’ access to CBD products, the staff wrote in a letter to Congress.

“We are submitting draft legislation and comments to your account to address the final statutory definition of hemp-derived cannabinoid products to ensure that Americans have access to adequate full-spectrum CBD products while maintaining Congress’ intent to limit the sale of products that pose serious health risks,” White House officials said, according to a social media screencast. “We are open to discussion and further technical assistance.”

The annex to the administration’s proposed legislative text has not been released publicly, and the White House and Barr’s office did not immediately respond to Marihuana Moment’s request for more details.

It’s not clear from the text of the letter whether the White House was proactively sending legislative proposals to the lawmaker or whether they were responding to something sent by his office, though two cannabis industry sources suggested to Marihuana Moment that Barr was sending the language to the administration, and then providing technical feedback.

Trump this week It inspired lawmakers in Congress to take action to change the currently planned hemp banand suggested that this threatens to federally recriminalize full-spectrum CBD products.

“I’m calling on Congress to update the Act so Americans can continue to have access to the full-spectrum CBD products they trust and support, while maintaining Congress’ intent to restrict the sale of products that pose health risks,” the president said in a Truth Social message Thursday, the same day his administration announced it is moving forward to re-regulate marijuana.

“We need to do this RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who have found CBD to help them,” he said. “Also, I’m told it will help our BIG FARMERS that we love and will always be around.”

Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) had it introduced the hemp ban delay amendment before the House Agriculture Committee when it took up the Farm Bill last month, but the president of that panel determined that the proposal was not in line with the legislation.

The Farm Bill passed by the previous committee includes provisions to help the hemp industry and farmers who grow cannabis for industrial purposes, such as fiber and grain. For example, the legislation would amend statutes related to states and tribes developing regulatory plans for industrial hemp production, including policies on testing, sampling, background checks and record keeping.

Other bipartisan hemp reform bills are pending in Congress.

This month, for example, it was introduced by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA). The Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, which would give states the option of federal recriminalization of THC hemp products. it will be established this year.

Ernst withdrew his name, however, as a sponsor of the legislation. His office did not respond to Marihuana Moment’s request for clarification on the move.


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

The US Department of Agriculture published this month shows that US farmers grow $3 billion in hemp crops by 2025— 64% increase compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, this month the Trump administration launched a new initiative Cover up to $500 of hemp-derived products annually for eligible Medicare patients. The program being implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) focuses largely on CBD, but also allows a certain amount of THC in products.

Anti-marijuana organizations filed a lawsuit against the Medicare hemp coverage policyand Health and Human Services attorneys. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Director Mehmet Oz recently He submitted a letter requesting the filing of the case.

Meanwhile, the White House Management and Budget Office has held a series of meetings a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) CBD product enforcement policy.

The FDA also issued guidance making it clear that it does not intend to interfere Establish a Medicare coverage plan for hemp-derived products.

CMS finalized a rule that will be adopted separately Coverage of certain hemp products, primarily as specialized health-related benefits, through Medicare Advantage the plans

As hemp products become more popular among consumers, some big brands are trying to get in on the action.

The main retailer Target, for example, is expanding its involvement in the hemp-derived THC beverage market. Last year, the company began a pilot program in 10 stores in Minnesota that sell cannabis drinks. That apparently went well, and now the company has secured licenses from Minnesota regulators to sell lower-potency edible hemp products — including THC drinks — in 72 stores in the state.

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NC lawmakers revisit marijuana policy following reclassification

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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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