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Congresswoman Demands Answers From Trump DOJ Over Marijuana Prosecution Policy Change

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6 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this month that the DOJ sent a memo to federal prosecutors in September announcing it was rescinding a previously unpublished Biden-era policy that discouraged people from trespassing on federal land.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of marijuana does not pose a significant threat to public safety, and it is indefensible to revive prosecution under an outdated law that does not reflect the current use of cannabis in the United States,” he said.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”.

—
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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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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Custom Cones USA launches Cones Canada

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20 hours ago

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May 21, 2026

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Custom Cones USA has announced the launch of Cones Canada, a wholly Canadian operation designed to meet the growing needs of Canadian pre-roll producers, processors and brands.

With a stocked warehouse in Ontario and a dedicated Canadian e-commerce platform, Cones Canada eliminates the complication that Canadian businesses have historically faced in sourcing pre-rolled cones: no import fees, no customs delays and no currency conversion headaches. Orders are billed in Canadian dollars (CAD) and shipped from Ontario to anywhere in Canada.

Why Cones Canada, why now?
The legal cannabis market in Canada continues to grow, and pre-rolls are a $1.4 billion market. In 2024, pre-rolls passed as the top category in the country, and retained their title in 2025 with 77.2 million units sold, again the highest of any category, according to cannabis analytics firm Headset.

Canadian growers and processors have long relied on Custom Cones USA’s reputation for quality. Its cones have been tested to Health Canada standards for flowers and are trusted by leading pre-roll manufacturers worldwide. However, cross-border orders came with additional cost, time and logistical complexity.

“We’ve been supplying Canadian cannabis brands for years, and the demand from our Canadian customers made this next step an easy decision,” said Harrison Bard, co-founder and CEO of Custom Cones USA. “With Cones Canada, we’re bringing the same products, the same quality standards, and the same expert support that our customers have always trusted. Only now we’re doing it without limits.”

Cones Canada’s Ontario facility carries four of the most popular pre-rolled cone sizes from the Custom Cones USA catalog, each in two types of European-sourced paper: Refined White and Natural Brown.

In addition to ready-to-ship bulk cones, Cones Canada offers access to Custom Cones USA’s machine, packaging and custom branding options, including full-color filter tip printing, cigar bands and outer wraps. and custom packaging, Canadian brands can build a distinctive, shelf-ready product line backed by Pre-Roll Experts.

For more information:
Cones Canada
conescanada.ca/

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TSA Clarifies That Its Marijuana Policy ‘Has Not Changed’ Despite Clickbait Headlines

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20 hours ago

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May 21, 2026

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Over the past week, many news organizations have been running exaggerated headlines about a supposed change by the federal government to allow marijuana to be brought into airports and airplanes.

But it’s not true, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) tells Marihuana Momenti.

“TSA’s policy on medical marijuana has not changed,” a TSA spokeswoman said in an email Wednesday.

“According to the TSA website: If any illegal substance or evidence of criminal activity is found during the security screening, TSA will refer the matter to law enforcement,” they said.

While it’s true that the agency’s list of medical marijuana “What can I bring?” section of its website was updated on April 27, there were no major changes in policy.

Currently, the website says “Yes,” passengers can carry medical marijuana in both the cabin and checked bags, with special instructions.

But TSA Cannabis Policy Says “Yes” to Medical Marijuanawith the same caveats, since 2019.

both current The version of the page was updated last month and archived The version from seven years ago reads:

“TSA’s screening procedures are security-based and designed to detect potential threats to the aircraft and passengers. Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for illegal drugs, but if a security screening detects illegal substances or evidence of criminal activity, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer.”

The previous version also had this language regarding federally legal hemp products, but it has now been removed in the latest update:

“Under federal law, possession of certain marijuana and cannabis-infused products, including certain Cannabidiol (CBD) oils, is illegal. TSA officers must report any suspected violation of the law, including possession of certain marijuana and cannabis-infused products.

Products/medicines containing CBD derived from hemp or approved by the FDA are legal as long as they are produced within the regulations set forth by law under the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018.

Many news organizations that haven’t bothered to compare the current version of the TSA page to the previous one seem to think so The Trump administration’s move to federally regulate cannabis last month it caused the air travel safety agency to make a change in its policy, but that is not the case.

“Website updates occur periodically for clarity and accuracy,” said the TSA’s email to Marijuana Moment on Wednesday. “TSA policy remains the same. No changes have been made.”

Other agencies, meanwhile, have made cannabis policy changes consistent with federal rescheduling.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has published a Draft update to a gun purchase form to recognize the legal status of medical marijuana in the reprogramming. The revised section of the question states that only the “recreational use or possession of marijuana” is federally prohibited, omitting the prior form’s mention of medical cannabis.

The US Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said they plan to issued new tax guidelines for the marijuana industry after reprogramming. The reform will benefit state-licensed marijuana businesses by allowing them to take federal tax deductions that are currently prohibited under IRS Code Section III, known as Section 280E.

Even the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which has long opposed the legalization of cannabis and accused the Biden administration of stalling the initiative in the reorganization process, has done so. It launched a registration process for legal marijuana businesses in the state to take advantage of the federal benefits that come with the reform.

The Department of Transport, however, clarified this last week Truck drivers, airline pilots and other federally regulated safety-sensitive workers still cannot use medical marijuana without being punished

The TSA, for its part, posted a marijuana-infused claim to celebrate National Brownie Day Back in 2020.

“We hear it’s National Brownie Day, so we’re here to talk about something really sticky-icky-icky (ooh wee),” the federal agency posted on its Instagram account. “Hopefully this isn’t posted near 4:20 because we’re going down.”

That high-flying introduction was followed by a sort of public service announcement, warning passengers not to bring cannabis through airports.

“Marijuana, humble or neat, is not dope in your cabin or checked bag,” the message reads, setting up a rhyming scheme and immediately dropping: “This includes cannabis products and CBD oil, which are illegal under federal law, except for products that contain no more than 0.3% THC or are approved @F dry weight.”

The hashtags included in the post include “#NationalBrownieDay,” “USAtraveling,” “#leaveitathome,” “#chronnic” (misspelled) and “#maryj.”

Image courtesy of Steve Fitzgerald.

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Medical cannabis cultivation event set for June 8 in the Netherlands, ahead of GreenTech

Published

2 days ago

on

May 20, 2026

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On June 8, researchers, growers and technology providers from around the world will gather in the Netherlands for a day of presentations, facility tours and networking focused on the cultivation of medicinal cannabis, organized by the Dutch cannabis consortium Cultivation for Compounds and MCPIR.

© Andrea Di Pastena | MMJDaily.com

The event takes place across two locations. The morning program takes place at the MCPIR in Bleiswijk, where Jaime Ahumada and René Corsten, cannabis researchers and consultants at Delphy, will present their latest findings on mother plant management, clear strategy and upcoming research plans at the Delphy Improvement Center, including opportunities for growers to actively participate in ongoing research and knowledge development. Attendees can also take a tour of the cannabis cells.

In the afternoon he will visit the World Horti Center in Naaldwijk with presentations from Mexx Holweg, Dutch Light Innovations and Cultivation for Compounds, followed by a visit to Vertify.

MMJDaily covered last year’s event on the ground. Check out our photo report to see the research sites and the community gathered there.

For more information:
MCPIR
www.mcpir.nl
worldhorticenter.nl/eu/themes/cultivation-for-compounds/

Delphi



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