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GOP Senator To File Bill Promoting Psychedelics Research And Treatment For Veterans

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A new Senate bill is being introduced that would encourage research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, create a new office at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop innovative treatments for serious mental health illnesses, and help review the scheduling status of drugs like psilocybin, ibogaine and MDMA.

The legislation, titled the “Veterans Health Administration New Therapeutics Training Act,” is sponsored by Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT). According to bill text obtained by Marijuana Moment, it would direct the VA to take steps to ease studies on psychedelics and other emerging therapies.

This is one of the latest examples of Congressional efforts to encourage scientific research on psychedelics, focusing on military veterans with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment-resistant depression, substance use disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic pain, and more.

The bill is expected to be formally introduced on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the planning. Marijuana Moment reached out to Sheehy’s office for comment, but a representative was not immediately available.

“Ongoing therapeutic interventions, including some psychedelic-assisted therapies, that have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration since the enactment of this Act could significantly change the landscape of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other mental health conditions affecting veterans,” the bill finds.

“The administration of certain emerging therapies may require intensive clinical engagement, interdisciplinary teams, dedicated clinical space, structured preparation and post-treatment integration that differ significantly from traditional outpatient mental health services,” he continues, adding that the VA is “uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive veteran-centered care that combines mental health, medical health services and support into a single system.”

That’s the only explicit mention of “psychedelics” in the legislation, and it doesn’t list the specific psychedelic substances that would be prioritized for research, but that’s a common feature of recent bills on the subject, with many other examples using catchy terminology, such as innovative or novel treatments or therapies that effectively serve as “substitutes for psychedelics.”

The measure would establish a new Office of New Therapeutics under the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to facilitate research initiatives. Studies examining alternative treatments would focus on substances such as psychedelics that are being considered for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“In the absence of centralized governance and implementation planning, the Department may experience delays, safety risks, or inconsistent access following regulatory approval of these therapies,” the bill’s findings section says. “Establishing a dedicated Office of New Therapeutics will enable the Department to proactively evaluate, research and implement emerging treatment modalities consistent with patient safety and evidence-based practice.”

There would be at least one “Center of Excellence” in each VA regional district to help develop a national model for the program facilitation initiative. A Veterans Advisory Board, made up of veterans, experts and health professionals, would be created to advise on issues such as access barriers and safety protocols.

VA should also coordinate with other federal agencies—including the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), FDA, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), Department of Defense (DOD), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)—to explore regulatory issues, possible rescheduling action for new therapies, and resources to provide psychiatric health care access and treatment.

The VA should provide annual reports to Congress to update lawmakers on its progress. Within 180 days of the bill’s passage, the department would have to report on practical issues, such as staffing needs and regulatory hurdles.

The bill is somewhat Similar intent to another bipartisan measure introduced earlier this monthSponsored by Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and David McCormick (R-PA), it would provide $30 million in annual funding to establish psychedelic-focused “centers of excellence” at VA facilities where veterans can receive innovative treatments involving substances such as psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine.

Supplemental version of the house bill—Sponsored by the Chair of the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI)—were introduced last year, but have yet to advance in the House. The measures of the House and Senate are very similar, with minor format differences.

Lawmakers and advocates supporting those reform bills have allies in senior Trump administration positions, including VA Secretary Doug Collins and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Secretary of HHS, both of whom have endorsed psychedelic policy reform.

Kennedy recently told Joe Rogan on a podcast episode The administration is “very keen” to create a pathway for novel therapies and that federal agency officials want to “get the public up to speed as quickly as possible.”

Multiple veterans groups also recently advised lawmakers in Congress about the need continue to explore psychedelics and marijuana as alternative treatments At hearings on Capitol Hill for the military veteran population. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) specifically cited the Innovative Therapy Centers of Excellence Act as an example of a reform they are supporting.

Correa and Bergman, the sponsors of this legislation, submitted separately in January also to promote research into the therapeutic potential of certain psychedelics in the treatment of serious mental health conditions experienced by veterans.

January’s bipartisan pair also discussed it the importance of strategically advancing psychedelic reform in a way that mitigates bureaucratic conflict and the influence of external interests. They said even a single mistake could threaten to turn the movement upside down.

Last year, VA Secretary He proclaimed his mission to promote access to psychedelics for veterans with serious mental health conditions, it was possible to say that it “opened that door wider than most probably thought”. The department came under fire in 2024 after rejecting an organization’s grant application It helps connect veterans to programs overseas where they can receive psychedelic therapy to treat serious mental health conditions.

Meanwhile, in November, Kennedy, Vice President JD Vance, FDA Commissioner and other Trump administration officials attended the “Make America Healthy Again” summit. it was a session dedicated to studying psychedelic medicine.

In June, Kennedy said that his agency “Fully committed” to expanding research into the benefits of psychedelic therapy. and, along with the head of the FDA, aims to give military veterans legal access to these substances “within 12 months.”

The secretary also said that in April He had a “wonderful experience” with LSD at the age of 15He took it because he thought they would be able to see dinosaurs, as depicted in a comic he was a fan of.

Last October, Kennedy specifically criticized the FDA under the previous administration for the agency’s “eradication of psychedelics” and a laundry list of other issues that he said was a “war on public health” that would end under the Trump administration.

read it the text Under the Veterans Health Administration’s New Therapeutics Training Act:

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BatchNav launches cost-saving cannabis ERP alternative

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In what has become a challenging time for operators, BatchNav, a costing and operations system tailored specifically for cannabis cultivation and production companies, recently launched its integrated platform to provide growers and processors with end-to-end visibility into costs, workflows and inventories to increase profitability.

Built by growers, financial experts and technologists, BatchNav provides growers and processors with complete end-to-end transparency by integrating costs, operations, inventory and labor. The platform provides a unified database designed to increase margins, optimize processes and reduce guesswork.

© BatchNavOptimize margins with BatchNav’s cropping software. Capture labor, materials, and overhead to provide accurate batch-level COGS, determining actual costs and profitability.

“BatchNav gives growers a clear and practical way to measure profitability at every stage of production, including true cost and margin visibility at the individual strain level, while providing the financial transparency CFOs expect,” said co-founder Clark Charlton.

Key features include a task manager; Batch and strain tracking synchronized with Metrc at all stages from raw material to finished products; supply module with real-time tracking of raw materials; a job tracker; and a costing module that integrates labor, material, and overhead to determine real-time cost-of-goods clarity at every process stage.

Founded by Kate O’Connor Masse, Mike Masse and Clark Charlton, BatchNav launched at MJBizCon in December 2025 and is now working with operators in the US and tribal nations.

© BatchNavKate O’Connor Masse

“This platform started with growers frustrated by a lack of clear visibility into their true costs. BatchNav was created to give growers a more accurate and practical way to measure profitability at every stage of production,” said Charlton.

For more information:
BatchNav
Email: (email protected)
https://batchnav.com/

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Idaho Medical Marijuana Campaign Says Legalization Ballot Measure Would Generate $100 Million In Annual Sales

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Idaho could see more than $100 million in medical marijuana sales and up to $28 million in new revenue for state coffers under a legalization measure activists are working to put on the November ballot, according to a new economic analysis released by the campaign.

The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho (NMAI) announced this last week collected enough signatures for an initiative to legalize medical cannabis To pass the statewide threshold for ballot qualification, it commissioned the firm Younger Associates to do two fiscal projections of the proposal, using Utah’s medical marijuana program as a model.

“Based on Utah’s participation trajectory, Idaho supports approximately 63,000 active patients and $108.5 million in annual retail sales by Year 6,” the analysis states.

Under the first revenue scenario, a 6 percent state sales tax would be applied to marijuana sales and there would also be a $100 annual patient registration fee, which would generate about $6.5 million in sales tax revenue and $6.3 million by the program’s sixth year.

The second revenue scenario includes the same patient registration cost and sales tax, but also adds an additional 14 percent fee collected at the point of sale. It would generate about $21.7 million a year in tax and fee revenue, in addition to about $6.3 million in annual patient card fees, to bring in $28 million a year from the state.

“Actual revenue will ultimately depend on the final program design and implementation decisions made by the State.” the report he says

In addition to the economic analysis, the NMAI also released a new short video this month saying the measure proposes “strictly regulated market access” for cannabis and treats patients “with dignity rather than fear or stigma.”

The video also features medical marijuana as an “alternative to the devastating effects of opioids” and the initiative “supports local jobs, Idaho agriculture and generates tax revenue while maintaining strong enforcement standards to prevent misuse.”

“This is not about recreation, it’s about care,” he said he says. “The law provides medical freedom to patients to consult with their physician about their health conditions and assert their right to make choices about their own care.”

But since it’s unclear how many signatures the campaign has collected so far and whether activists have met another requirement for petitions to be distributed regionally, NMAI continues to hold signature-gathering events across the state to expand its coalition of supporters ahead of the May 1 submission deadline.

Amanda Watson, communications manager for NMAI, told Marijuana Moment on Wednesday that organizers “feel very confident that we will qualify for the ballot in November.”

As of this week, NMAI has collected more than 73,000 total signatures — surpassing the statewide requirement of 70,725 for valid petitions — according to the campaign’s website.

To be certified on the ballot, the group must also submit the signatures of at least 6 percent of registered voters in at least 18 of the state’s 35 legislatures. Marihuana Moment reached out to NMAI for a status update on progress toward that goal, but a representative was not immediately available.

Meanwhile, groups of paid and volunteer applicants they are expanding across the state to high-traffic areas to collect signatures, and the NMAI website has a map showing where registered voters can go to sign.

The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, introduced by NMAI last October, would provide patients with access to marijuana from a limited number of dispensaries and provide a regulatory framework for the market.

Here are the main provisions Idaho Medical Cannabis Law:

  • Healthcare practitioners may recommend medical cannabis to patients with conditions including cancer, anxiety and acute pain.
  • Medical marijuana patients or designated caregivers can purchase up to 113 grams of cannabis for smoking or 20 grams of THC extract for vaporization per month.
  • The state would issue three vertically-integrated cannabis business licenses, and then potentially six licenses in total.
  • Marijuana would be reclassified under state law, Title II.
  • State and local law enforcement would be prohibited from assisting in drug enforcement activities related to the state’s illegal cannabis program.
  • There would be anti-discrimination protections for those who use or sell marijuana in compliance with state laws, preventing adverse actions by employers, landlords and educational institutions.
  • There does not seem to be any equity-based reform, nor will the initiative be given the opportunity to grow at home.

“We believe Idahoans deserve access to legal, compassionate and natural care right at home,” NMAI’s website states. “Our mission is to provide patients with a legal path to natural medicine to relieve suffering and restore dignity without the fear of addiction.”

“The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act is our first step. It creates a safe and strictly regulated medical program that allows qualified Idahoans to seek medical treatment for cannabis with a valid diagnosis from a health care provider.” he says. “It supports Idaho agriculture, generates tax revenue to reinvest locally and ensures patients can find natural relief.”

Last month, the campaign also released the results of a statewide poll shows that 83 percent of likely voters support the legalization of medical cannabisincluding 74% of Republicans, 95% of Democrats and 92% of independents.

When asked how they would vote if the current legalization of cannabis appears on the November ballot, 76% of respondents said “yes”. Of that cohort, 50 percent said they would “definitely” vote yes, while only 21 percent said they would vote “no.”

After introducing the medical cannabis initiative last year, a separate 2024 campaign, Kind Idaho, told supporters it would cancel its signature drive. ballot initiative to legalize the personal possession and cultivation of marijuana the adults

Pleasant Idaho previously put medical marijuana ballot measures before voters Both in the 2022 and 2024 elections, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, this year voters will see a different type of proposal on the ballot: the constitutional amendment approved by the legislature to make it so. only members of the legislature can legalize marijuana or other controlled substances.


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

Lawmakers held a separate hearing last March to discuss it bill to legalize medical cannabisbut in the following months there has been no significant action on the matter.

Separately, it would be a bill from last year by Rep. Bruce Skaug (R). set a mandatory minimum fine of $420 for possession of cannabisremoving judges’ discretion to apply lower sentences. Skaug said the bill, which ultimately stalled in committee, would send a message that Idaho is tough on marijuana.

Members of the House of Representatives were also admitted bill to ban marijuana adsalthough the Senate later defeated the measure.

user photo Max Pixel.

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We are forecasting 2026 legal revenues to be $30.5 billion, an increase of 4.9% since 2025

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Whitney Economics (WE), a global leader in cannabis and hemp business consulting, data and economic research, today announced the release of its US cannabis revenue forecast for the period 2025 – 2030.

“We forecast legal revenue to reach $30.5 billion by 2026, a 4.9% increase from 2025,” said WE Founder and Chief Economist Beau Whitney. “This is a welcome change from just one year ago, when the US legal cannabis market experienced its first year-over-year revenue decline in the history of the legalized market.”

That decline, Whitney said, would have been worse nationally had it not been for strong growth in New York and Ohio, where consumers gained greater retail access to cannabis products. Although unit volumes and legal share rates remained strong, supply saturation resulted in price compression and reduced overall revenue in the U.S. “Growth rates are still positive, not as much as in previous years, when we forecast 13.4% growth by 2026,” he said.

In addition, price deflation has again reduced near- and medium-term sales expectations, with forecasts for 2026 and 2027 down from last year. “Whitney Economics’ forecast accuracy has always been in the mid-to-high 90% range, so when it dropped to 85% in 2025, we knew we had to update our models,” Whitney said. “Accounting for price compression was a major part of this adjustment.”

In the past, the key driver for predicting cannabis retail revenue was spending multiplied by the number of consumers. However, with price compression becoming a major factor in the US cannabis market, forecasts must account for market deflation, and WE has updated its model to include price declines.

Whitney’s prediction is that cannabis consumer behavior has changed significantly since the end of the Covid-19 era, with consumers spending essentially the same amount each month. Cannabis spending patterns underwent a major shift in 2023 and 2024, with cannabis spending now beginning to reflect broader consumption patterns.

“In times of uncertainty and higher inflation, consumers are no longer adding to their carts; instead, they are buying only what they need and saving on other cannabis-related purchases,” Whitney said. “As a result of this change, for the first time, price compression has become a major variable in the cannabis forecast equation.”

Since 2014, when Washington and Colorado states rolled out the first state-based adult cannabis regulation programs, the growth of individual markets, fueled by an influx of legal consumers, has overshadowed any price compression taking place. Market growth outpaced the impact of price declines. However, as markets began to mature and the pace of consumer conversion to the legal market slowed, price compression had a greater impact on market growth.

“We’re approaching the point where the growth rates of legal share are slowing while price declines have accelerated,” Whitney said. “Consequently, price compression will play an important role in advancing market value. This is a sign of market maturity.”

With the level of price compression and its suppressive effect on market growth, states must factor this into their tax revenue projections, which are expected to decline. States can no longer expect to raise taxes to make up for lost revenue because those increases will reduce demand, just like in any other industry, Whitney said.

Despite the importance of price compression, US cannabis revenue projections still point to growth for the remainder of the decade. But given the falling prices, legislators and regulators will be forced to encourage consumers to participate in the legal market; otherwise, retail and tax revenues will continue to decline.

“Perhaps this will lead to a move away from the marijuana dispensary model and opening up sales through other distribution channels, such as grocery stores and big box retailers,” Whitney said. “The US market is at a crossroads where the market is normalizing and no longer experiencing exponential growth. Single-digit growth will become the norm moving forward.”

For more information:
Whitney Economics
Beau Whitney
(503) 724-3084
www.whitneyeconomics.com

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