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Congresswoman Demands Answers From Trump DOJ Over Marijuana Prosecution Policy Change

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2 months ago

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Democratic congressmen are demanding the Justice Department respond to the Trump administration’s action by a U.S. attorney, his office said recently, to explain the apparent “backwardness” of federal marijuana enforcement guidelines recently revealed by a U.S. attorney. It will “harshly” prosecute people for possessing or using cannabis on federal lands.

Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), chairwoman of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday saying the review’s revelations about federal cannabis policy “raise serious concerns about the transparency and rationale behind the Department’s enforcement priorities, which will inevitably have a serious social and economic impact on communities across the country.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming said earlier this month that the DOJ sent a memo to federal prosecutors in September announcing it was rescinding a previously unpublished Biden-era policy that discouraged people from trespassing on federal land.

“We need common sense cannabis policy reform,” Titus told Marijuana Moment after sending the letter to Bondi on Friday. “It is ridiculous for the Trump Administration to enforce an antiquated law and target the simple possession of marijuana, claiming it is a public safety risk. As chair of the Cannabis Caucus, I am taking the lead in challenging this decision that would continue a cycle of unfair incarceration and unequal enforcement.”

Neither the memo nor the prior guidance has been made publicly available, and the Trump administration is asking prosecutors to provide a copy of its message — and to answer additional questions about marijuana enforcement priorities — by Dec. 3.

“The simple possession of marijuana does not pose a significant threat to public safety, and it is indefensible to revive prosecution under an outdated law that does not reflect the current use of cannabis in the United States,” he said. “The War on Drugs has been a costly enterprise that has disproportionately affected low-income and historically marginalized communities.”

He added that marijuana remains the leading cause of drug-related arrests “despite the fact that most states have to varying degrees enacted laws that relax prohibitions against the use of marijuana or its components.”

“A return to criminalization at the federal level will not deter use or strengthen public safety; it will simply continue the cycle of incarceration and uneven enforcement,” the congressman wrote. “The consequences of a simple possession of cannabis charge can have life-changing consequences.”

“Your decision to begin prosecuting misdemeanor marijuana requires immediate reconsideration. I urge you to release the Biden-era guidance and appeal memos without delay. The public deserves full transparency about the policies that shape federal enforcement priorities and determine how taxpayer dollars are deployed. People should face criminal penalties for possessing minors.”

In addition to issuing September notices to U.S. attorneys about marijuana charges, Titus is asking the DOJ to specify what types of cannabis crimes it prioritizes, what “data and evidence” it relied on to reverse the Biden-era policy, how many cannabis possession cases the department has prosecuted on federal land in the past 10 years and how many it expects to prosecute for the policy.

“Thank you for your attention to this important issue,” the letter concludes. “I look forward to working with you to ensure federal enforcement policies are transparent and aligned with the values ​​and priorities of the American public.”

While former President Joe Biden issued two mass pardons to people convicted of federal cannabis possession offenses during his tenure – notably including those convicted in the second round of possession on federal land – the administration did not report that a prosecutorial guidance directive had been issued, and there has been no news.

Questions remain about the specifics of marijuana prosecution policies associated with Biden and Trump, but the apparent decision to roll back discretionary policies adds uncertainty to how the current administration views its enforcement role as federal and state cannabis laws continue to conflict.

For example, the release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming came just one day later Trump signed a major spending bill that includes provisions to ban consumable hemp products containing THC—Industry players say the president’s legalization of the crop would wipe out the market that has sprung up since he signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law during his first term.

Then there is the ongoing process of reorganizing marijuana, which the president said would be decided in a few weeks at the end of August.

That hasn’t happened yet, a White House spokesperson told Marijuana Moment “There is a process underway regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Marijuana Reregulation From May 2024 onwards and all policy and legal requirements and implications are being considered”.

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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.

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Trump endorsed the review — as well as bank access to the marijuana industry and an initiative to legalize adult use in Florida, which ultimately failed — during his campaign ahead of his second term. But when he was informed of the status of the reorganization process in mid-August, he was less clear about his personal position.

The administration was “only looking at” the reform, and he said at the time that it was “too early” to say how the issue would be decided, adding that it was “a very complicated issue”.

Meanwhile, key White House staff under the Biden administration has recently shed new light on the massive marijuana pardon and cannabis reprogramming process they helped facilitate, revealing the extent to which they were involved in the broader acts of grace that GOP leaders now scrutinize.

Also, as the marijuana reregulation proposal awaits action, some GOP members of Congress have urged Trump to push ahead with reform, with one lawmaker joking that it’s possible, taking a jab at Biden. the previous administration “shouldn’t have been able to find the autopen in time” to complete the cannabis reform process he started

Separately, the president last month posted a video on the Truth Social platform to promote the health benefits of cannabis– suggesting that covering CBD under Medicare would be “the most important senior health initiative of the century.”

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Vivent Biosignals & Green Laniel join forces to bring plant-driven agriculture to the US

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17 hours ago

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January 17, 2026

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Vivent Biosignals and Green Laniel Consulting have announced a partnership to accelerate plant-driven irrigation and irrigation in key U.S. agricultural markets. Green Laniel Consulting is a US-focused provider of agronomic solutions led by Mauricio Manotas.

By combining Vivent’s ability to decode plant biosignals in real-time using plant biosensors, machine learning and AI with Green Laniel’s deep experience in agronomy, grower operations and US market access, the partnership allows growers to make decisions based on what really matters: how the plant itself is responding.

© Vivent Biosignals

The partnership will cover a variety of crops and production systems, initially plant-driven irrigation and greenhouses for perennial crops, including potatoes, directly guided by plant feedback.

“By combining Vivint’s plant-level intelligence with Green Laniel’s strong presence and agronomic leadership in the US, we are enabling a new generation of plant-driven farming systems. This partnership helps growers improve yields and quality while significantly increasing resource efficiency and sustainability.” says Mauricio Manotas, Green Laniel Consulting.

For more information:
Vivent Biosignals
Tel.: +41 79 5114627
Email: (email protected)
https://vivent-biosignals.com/



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Indiana Lawmakers Approve Bill To Restrict And Regulate Hemp THC Products

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17 hours ago

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January 17, 2026

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“In India, we would like some certainty about these products so that those who manufacture and sell them know what our laws are.”

By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle

Indiana lawmakers want state legislation to join the recently enacted federal ban on intoxicating and synthetic hemp products to counter the growing delta-8 industry.

Lengthy and complex legislation would also regulate less potent products that pass statutory muster.

But, “there will be no demand” for products below the proposed threshold, said Justin Swanson, representing the Midwest Hemp Council and 3Chi, a THC products retailer.

THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.

Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, admitted to the committee that he would prefer to “wipe all these things off the planet, period,” but that his proposal is “whatever is possible.”

His Senate Bill 250 would mimic Congress’s shutdown of what Freeman described as the “Farm Bill loophole,” referring to 2018 legislation that defined legal hemp as any part of the plant that contains less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight. That definition allowed products containing delta-8, THCA and other intoxicating cannabinoids to proliferate, including in Indiana.

A federal funding law passed in November specifies that all types of THC count. It also limits THC products to just 0.4 milligrams per container, and completely bans those made in labs.

“I think (that’s) what the federal government wanted when they passed the Farm Bill in 2018; I think that’s what everybody had in mind when they copied that language here in Indiana,” said Chris Daniels, chief traffic safety resource attorney for the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. “The target was very low potency THC.”

An industry group supported the changes.

“It is imperative that Indiana act to align with federal policy in the 2026 legislative session,” said Cory Harris, representative of the American Cannabis and Hemp Trade Association. “Failure to do so means that Indiana’s policy will be stricter than federal law, making Indiana a legal cannabis market.”

The federal provisions will go into effect in November. Freeman’s bill repeats those provisions, but puts them into effect four months earlier, in July.

“It’s sweet that Indiana codified a federal law that will decimate an entire industry in the state,” Swanson said. “The landscape is still unsettled.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Baird — a Republican representing Indiana — introduced a proposal to push the effective date of the federal ban to 2028. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order to expedite the reclassification of marijuana as a less dangerous and less restricted drug.

Swanson said his clients support a “responsible regulatory framework,” and told lawmakers that “the status quo is not acceptable to anyone.”

Freeman’s invoice spends dozens of pages specifically regulating low-THC “hemp-derived cannabinoid products” that would be legalized, primarily with a long-standing 21-and-over requirement.

It also puts the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission in charge of regulating the rest of the industry, establishing four types of licenses for manufacturers, distributors, retailers and carriers. They would be prohibited from advertising within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds and others, with retailers prohibited from operating within the same radius.

Retailers would not be able to deliver products or allow customers to consume them on the spot. Selling the products online would also be illegal, another sticking point for advocates.

Dave Colt, CEO and co-founder of Sun King Brewery, said his homegrown company spent months and more than $100,000 on equipment, research and development for its THC seltzer. Amid declining alcohol sales nationwide, seltzers have allowed Sun King to retain its employees and even grow.

“We also make products for at least a dozen Hoosier small businesses. Without that additional revenue, we would be forced to lay off people and reduce our business significantly,” Colt stated. “We believe the industry wants clear regulations to meet consumer demand.”

Other provisions relate to packaging, labeling and testing.

A fiscal impact study by the nonpartisan Service Agency estimated a financial impact of half a billion dollars annually for ATC to administer and enforce the proposal. The agency will have to hire at least one excise officer in each of the six districts plus Marion County to investigate complaints related to the new regulatory framework.

There will be additional costs for law enforcement training, procurement and online databases, the analysis noted.

The costs could be offset by the permit and other fees collected. The measure would allocate 70 percent of the proceeds to ATC administrative efforts, 20 percent to enforcement, 5 percent to the state’s 988 suicide and crisis hotline and 5 percent to the general fund.

If all tobacco sales certificate holders applied for a retail permit, for example, their application fees would generate $2.1 million. If all are approved, the state would earn an additional $4.6 million, according to LSA’s analysis.

The state seed commissioner would handle licensing for hemp growers and handlers.

Freeman also included a sentence that prevents the Indiana code from immediately reflecting the federal reclassification of marijuana, if that goes forward.

“This bill simply says that we’re not going to automatically follow what the federal government does, that we, the 150 of us, would make that decision, not the federal government for us,” Freeman told his colleagues.

The Senate Commerce and Technology committee also approved an amendment to eliminate an excise tax, as all revenue-raising provisions must be initiated in the House.

The revised legislation passed on a 7-2 party line vote, but the next bill must pass through the Senate Appropriations Committee before going to the House floor.

Previous efforts to ban and regulate intoxicating hemp products have failed.

Asked about his chances this year, Senate Republican Leader Rodric Bray told reporters, “I don’t have that crystal ball,” but added, “I think the bill is in pretty good shape right now.”

“I think in Indiana, we would like some certainty about these products, so that those who manufacture and sell them know what our laws are,” he continued, “and, most importantly, to build in some really meaningful protections for our young people across the state.”

This story was first published by the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Brendan Cleak’s photo.

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Creating a thoughtful cannabis environment for Colorado Springs

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2 days ago

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January 16, 2026

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In Colorado Springs, where the landscape of legal cannabis is centered around medical use, BioMeds Weed Dispensary Colorado Springs has become a destination for patients seeking high-quality cannabis products and a fair and respectful retail experience. Located at 2301 Rand Avenue, BioMeds has developed a reputation for prioritizing product integrity, patient education and consistent service in response to the brightest trends found in recreationally oriented markets.

Unlike recreational dispensaries, where the volume and variety can sometimes overwhelm, BioMeds takes a deliberate approach. The dispensary offers a good selection of medical cannabis products, including a variety of delivery formats to suit your health needs. These typically include flower strains, tinctures, capsules, topicals, and ingestibles, allowing patients to explore therapeutic cannabis without relying on inhaled methods.

BioMeds understands that patients arrive with different experiences, preferences and conditions. To meet these needs, the dispensary emphasizes informed, non-judgmental customer service based on product knowledge. The staff is trained to explain how different formats work, as well as interpret cannabinoid ratios, identify common terpenes, and select products that match specific wellness goals.

© BioMeds Weed Dispensary Colorado Springs

BioMeds’ product selection is part of the reason patients turn to cannabis. For many, whole flower remains a must-have choice, especially strains that emphasize CBD content, balanced proportions or effect-specific terpene profiles. BioMeds often sells indica, sativa, and hybrids with specific labeling, allowing patients to make informed decisions about onset time, duration, and expected outcome. Beyond flower, tinctures and capsules offer discreet, dose-controlled ways to incorporate cannabis into your daily wellness routine, especially for those managing pain, inflammation, or neurological conditions.

Topicals are also a key part of BioMeds’ offering. These include cannabinoid-infused creams, salves, and lotions intended for topical use. Patients dealing with joint discomfort, muscle tension, or skin conditions often turn to topical products for their non-toxic effects and targeted relief. These products also serve as an entry point for patients exploring cannabis for the first time, especially when faced with systemic or psychoactive effects.

Another category that sees sustained interest in BioMeds is ingestion. These may include low-dose edibles, oils, or beverages tailored to patients seeking long-lasting, absorbed beverages. While recreational edibles in Colorado may gravitate toward high-THC formats, medically focused dispensaries like BioMeds ensure that low-dose, balanced-ratio, CBD-rich formats are available and clearly labeled. Many patients prefer longer-lasting edible formats, especially for managing symptoms at night or for relief throughout the day.

Compliance is a pillar of BioMeds’ operating philosophy. As a medical-only dispensary, the group complies with all Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) guidelines. Patients must present a valid marijuana card, and all transactions are recorded and monitored according to state protocols. BioMeds does not allow recreational sales and maintains internal training programs to keep employees up-to-date on evolving regulations, labeling requirements and patient protection.

While the dispensary may not offer flashy promotions or themed events often seen in the recreational market, it has placed a special emphasis on medical integrity and personalized service in the Colorado Springs cannabis landscape. For patients who prioritize results over hype, BioMeds offers a consistent experience with proven products and a team that truly understands the nuances of using medical cannabis.

Behind the scenes, BioMeds maintains strong supplier relationships to ensure product availability and freshness. Inventory is regularly reviewed and rotated, and the team communicates directly with manufacturers to maintain transparency around sourcing, testing and packaging. The dispensary favors small and medium-sized Colorado growers who focus on consistency and compliance, with many products undergoing third-party lab testing for cannabinoid content, residual solvents and microbial contamination.

For more information:
BioMeds Weed Dispensary Colorado Springs
biomedsofcolorado.com/

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