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Mississippi Gov. Vetoes Medical Cannabis Reform Bills 

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3 months ago

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Mississippi Gov. Vetoes Medical Cannabis Reform Bills 

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) vetoed it last week two laws that provided state law updates on medical cannabis. Together, the bills would have allowed ‘right to try’ provisions for patients and loosened rules on doctor visits. The reforms would also have eliminated THC caps on some medical cannabis products.

In his veto of the bill to loosen regulations and end some of the THC limits, Reeves said the legislation “seeks to erode three important safeguards” in state law “intended to minimize the potential diversion” of medical cannabis “for recreational purposes.”

“Requiring a mandatory six-month follow-up visit to ensure the patient is receiving a therapeutic benefit from the use of medical marijuana; requiring caregivers to pass an annual criminal background check; and limiting THC potency to 60% for oils and concentrates are reasonable and necessary checks and balances in the medical marijuana program and do not create barriers.” – Reeves in his the veto message

The vetoed bill was referred back to the House Committee on Business and Commerce

In his veto of the ‘right to try’ bill, Reeves said the bill would “extend the ‘right to try medical cannabis’ to every person on the planet”, which he opposes.

In the veto message, Reeves mentioned the concern of Dr. Daniel Edney, state health officer, who said the proposal “shifts the intent of the bill from giving Mississippians the ability to work with their treating physicians in dire situations when all other options have failed.”

“This policy position of the (Mississippi State Department of Health) was clearly communicated to leadership and the committee that we can only support this narrowly drafted and strict language,” the veto message said, citing Edney, “and will not support anything to make the program more outdoor fun. Unfortunately, the amended language distorts the intent of the bill’s original text.”

The vetoed bill returned to the House Public Health and Human Services Committee.

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New York Lawmakers Pass Bill to Prevent Inversion of Illicit Cannabis into Legal Market 

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6 hours ago

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June 24, 2026

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New York Lawmakers Pass Bill to Prevent Inversion of Illicit Cannabis into Legal Market 

or bill The effort to prevent the diversion of illegal cannabis products into New York’s regulated market has been approved by both the House and Senate, moving it to Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for final approval.

The legislation defines “illegal cannabis” as any cannabis product on which taxes have not been paid, or proceeds from unlicensed individuals or entities. The bill prohibits the practice of subversion by licensees and testing facilities and includes protections for whistleblowers.

In a statement, state Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D), the bill’s sponsor, said the state has made significant strides in building a successful legal cannabis market…but that market can only continue to grow if New Yorkers can trust the source and safety of their products.

“Illegal products are dangerous and unreliable, which is why this bill says enough is enough. It’s time to make sure only legal products hit our shelves, hold bad actors accountable, and maintain the integrity of our legal marketplace.” – Cooney in one press release

The bill would authorize the Office of Cannabis Management to seek suspension orders against licensees or laboratories suspected of diverting cannabis and creates civil penalties of no more than five times the proceeds of the prohibited sale of cannabis.

TG joined Ganjapreneur in 2014 as a news writer and began hosting the Ganjapreneur podcast in 2016. He is based in upstate New York, where he also teaches media at a local university.

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Supreme Court Rules Cannabis Consumers Have Right to Own Guns

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4 days ago

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June 20, 2026

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Supreme Court Rules Cannabis Consumers Have Right to Own Guns

The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that cannabis users can legally own firearms under the Second Amendment.

The ruling stems from United States v. Hemani, in which prosecutors pursued criminal charges against Texas man Ali Hemani, who admitted to regularly using cannabis while in possession of a firearm.

In their reasoning, the justices cited a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that requires gun restrictions to be “consistent with this nation’s historic tradition of regulating firearms.”

National Rifle Association (NRA) and National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) submitted amicus briefs for the case earlier this year.

Joseph A. Bondy, chairman of the board for NORML and the organization’s co-counsel on its amicus brief, called the decision “a measured but important vindication of personal liberty and constitutional principle.”

“The Court accepted what NORML sought: that responsible adults not lose their Second Amendment rights simply because they consume cannabis, absent any individualized showing of dangerousness. Our Constitution protects people, not stereotypes, and does not allow the government to turn cannabis use alone into a categorical mark of civic worthlessness.” – Bondy, in a statement

Based in Portland, Oregon, Graham is the editor-in-chief of Ganjapreneur. He has been writing about the legalization landscape since 2012 and has contributed to Ganjapreneur since our official launch in…

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Virginia Officials Reach Compromise to Launch Legal Cannabis Sales Next July

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6 days ago

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June 18, 2026

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Virginia Officials Reach Compromise to Launch Legal Cannabis Sales Next July

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) reached a compromise with state lawmakers to add provisions legalizing the commercial cultivation and sale of adult-use cannabis to the state budget. WTOP reports.

Under the agreement, adult-use sales will begin on July 1, 2027. The industry will initially be taxed at 6%, rising to 8% in 2029, and local governments will be able to levy an additional tax on cannabis of between 1% and 3.5%.

Governor last month vetoed a cannabis sales proposal sent to her desk by lawmakers, despite a campaign promise to support the establishment of legal sales. Spanberger had initially requested changes to the proposal, but lawmakers instead sent their original proposal back for reconsideration, which she rejected.

“In the end, we all wanted to provide a market that the Commonwealth could effectively implement over the long term. We’ve always had the same end goal, an end goal that’s been years in the making.” – Spanberger, at a press conference

The vetoed legislation would have launched the adult-use market on Jan. 1, 2027, but lawmakers settled on the governor’s delayed start date. The agreement includes a total of 350 cannabis business licenses, although the governor’s proposal had reduced the number of licenses to 200.

The sales agreement also creates a new $250 fine for public consumption of cannabis, although the governor had proposed making the offense a Class 4 misdemeanor, the report said.

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