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Federal Bill Would Require Data Collection on Cannabis-Related Medicaid Spending

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Republican Congressman Plans to Reintroduce Bill to Reschedule Cannabis 

A federal bill introduced Monday would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect Medicaid spending on cannabis-related inpatient and outpatient care and emergency room visits related to cannabis use. The bill, sponsored by North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd (R), comes just weeks after launching a pilot program that allows Medicare providers to be reimbursed up to $500 per patient per year for discussing and providing certain hemp-derived cannabis products.

In a statement, Budd claims that the use of cannabis has “serious” health consequences and that lawmakers must “put the health and safety of the American people first, ban it completely.”

“This is exactly why lawmakers need access to reliable data detailing Medicaid spending related to marijuana abuse. Millions of Americans rely on Medicaid health care benefits, and my legislation will ensure that Congress understands the dangers of this drug and its impact on federally funded health programs.” – Stupid in a press release

The bill is supported by the anti-cannabis group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), which is also suing the federal government on the pilot program allowing reimbursement for hemp-derived products. In a statement, Kevin Sabet, CEO of SAM, said the organization “enthusiastically” supports the legislation.

“Senator Budd’s bill requires an accounting of taxpayer-funded health programs and the impact of normalizing this dangerous drug on their costs,” Sabet said in the statement, “and this is long overdue.”

In addition to collecting data on Medicaid costs related to cannabis use, the Marijuana Impact on Medicaid Act would require HHS to provide Congress with a report within one year of enactment that includes a summary of the findings from the data collection, in addition to making recommendations for possible legislative or administrative action to be considered.

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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Trump Admin Asks Congress to Regulate Full-Spectrum Hemp Products or Delay Federal Crackdown

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Trump Admin Asks Congress to Regulate Full-Spectrum Hemp Products or Delay Federal Crackdown

The Trump administration this week asked Congress to either regulate full-spectrum hemp CBD products or delay an upcoming federal crackdown targeting hemp-derived THC products. Marijuana moment reports.

Russell T. Vought, who has served in the administration as director of the Office of Management and Budget since February 2024, called for the reforms Wednesday in a paper addressed to Rep. Mike Johnson (R), Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The letter states that the White House “strongly supports” changing federal law to regulate specific hemp products instead of banning the category entirely — “or, at the very least, an extension of the implementation of the regulatory framework” that will take effect in less than five months.

Currently, it is governed by a federal spending bill that President Trump (R) signed into law At the end of last year will come into effect on November 12, which contain new THC restrictions that ban almost all consumable hemp products.

The president said on social media in April that lawmakers should pass legislation protecting Americans’ access to full-spectrum hemp CBD products.

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

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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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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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