Cannabis News

Hawaii Lawmakers Approve Bill To Create Psychedelics Task Force Charged With Studying Psilocybin And MDMA

Published

3 months ago

April 9, 2026

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Another Hawaii House committee has passed the Senate-passed bill creating a psychedelic task force responsible for analyzing and making policy recommendations about providing access to breakthrough therapies like psilocybin and MDMA.

The House Finance Committee advanced the legislation to Sen. Chris Lee (D) on a 15-0 vote Tuesday. The measure, which passed the Senate last month by a 24-0 vote, will next go to the House floor before returning to the Senate for that chamber to consider final amendments.

The bill would create Creative Mental Health Therapy, a two-year review of the current scientific literature, supporting additional clinical research and developing policy recommendations for the “safe, ethical, and culturally informed implementation” of a psychedelic therapy program.

“The Legislature believes in addressing the mental health crisis affecting the State’s residents, particularly among veterans, first responders and trauma survivors,” SB 3199 reads. “Suicide remains the leading cause of preventable death, and the State must explore all safe and effective treatment options supported by scientific evidence.”

Given that the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated psilocybin and MDMA as breakthrough therapies in the treatment of serious mental health conditions, which may be subject to future control under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Hawaii’s legislation states that the state must “proactively prepare public health, clinical and research systems for safe and equitable implementation.”

The state Department of Health said in House committee testimony that it supports the bill, noting that in light of the FDA’s action on psychedelics, it is “prudent for Hawaii to assess research readiness, regulatory implications, workforce development and culturally informed implementation pathways” before any federal rescheduling of the substances.

The Governor’s Office of Wellness and Resiliency said the bill “has an important opportunity to begin paving a planned pathway for people who need access to life-saving treatments for trauma and other mental health issues.”

“A growing body of research demonstrates that breakthrough therapies (such as MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapies) demonstrate high efficacy and positive clinical outcomes in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, end-of-life anxiety, eating disorders, depression, treatment-resistant, and additional conditions in terminally ill patients.”

Team members should include representatives from the State Department of Health (DOH), the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of Wellness and Resiliency (OWR), the University of Hawaii School of Medicine, and more.

Like the draft, the DOH would oversee the task force, an amendment approved by the House Health Committee last month makes the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) the responsible institution, and JABSOM’s nominee as the panel’s chairman.

The commission also adopted amendments suggested by the Department of Law Enforcement to say that its Division of Narcotics Enforcement — and not the Board of Pharmacy — would be responsible for changing the state’s scheduling of psychedelics after any federal reclassification, and to change the deadline for doing so from 90 days to 30 days.

Members note in their bill report that the state Agency for Health Planning and Development has expressed concern that psychedelics are illegal under federal law and that the task force should proceed with caution.

Finally, the panel made technical corrections for clarity, consistency, and style.

If ordered, it appears invoice would be It was first assembled in 2023 based on prior work by a separate psychedelic task force.With a similar goal of exploring avenues for therapeutic access in breakthrough drugs approved by the FDA such as psilocybin.

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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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Meanwhile, Hawaii senators recently passed a bill to legalize low-dose, low-potency marijuanathe legislation did not advance the necessary steps before a crucial deadline, so it is dead for the year.

A separate marijuana legalization bill, SB 2421, that contained provisions under federal reform law or amendments to the state Constitution, was delayed for action. The Senate and House panels also delayed action on a measure to sell certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

These actions follow Senior lawmakers in the House indicated that proposals to legalize cannabis would not move forward In the 2026 session, citing the lack of sufficient support in their chamber.

Earlier this month, a Hawaii Senate committee unanimously approved legislation to allow patients immediately enter medical cannabis after submitting their recordsinstead of waiting for the cards to be delivered, as is the case under current legislation.

A Senate committee also adopted the resolutions Asking Congress to federally legalize marijuanasupport the state’s efforts to clean up people’s criminal records and take steps to make it easier for cannabis companies to access banking services.

Another Senate panel advanced separate resolutions urging the state attorney general and the health department to seek a waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Hawaii is allowed to run its cannabis program without federal interference.

user photo Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer.

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Cannabis News

cbdMD welcomes White House call for fair treatment of hemp-derived products

Published

22 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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cbdMD welcomes the Administration’s call for Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products under federal law and calls for immediate action to revise hemp regulations to ensure fair treatment of hemp products under federal law.

In a letter to congressional leadership this week, the White House Office of Management and Budget identified hemp reform as a priority strongly supported by the Administration. The petition calls on Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products by maintaining access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products, and by maintaining Congress’ intent to reduce products that pose health risks. The administration also urged Congress to pass a responsible federal framework or at least extend the current implementation period to give lawmakers time to get policy right. The request builds on the president’s previous public statements urging lawmakers to protect access to full-spectrum CBD products that millions of Americans rely on.

“We are encouraged to see the administration so clearly championing the responsible, scientific hemp products that consumers depend on every day,” said Ronan Kennedy, CEO of cbdMD. “cbdMD has always believed that the future of this category is built on quality, transparency, and clear rules that separate them from bad actors. A federal framework that protects consumer access, promotes safety, and provides certainty to companies that provide certainty is what this industry and the people it serves deserve. We applaud the policymakers who are working to achieve this outcome.”

“We believe CbdMD is purpose-built for this next phase of the market,” added Kennedy. “Our focus remains on serving our customers with reliable and effective products, supporting responsible regulation and building long-term value for our shareholders as the category continues to evolve. Along the way, we will continue to evaluate the opportunities this evolving environment holds.”

For more information:
cbdMD
cbdmd.com/

Cannabis News

Applications For Missouri Marijuana Microbusiness Licenses Will Open Next Month

Published

22 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also provide a step-by-step guide. Anyone could sit down and make the app. I don’t think it’s challenging.”

By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent

Application window win one of Missouri’s 77 micro-business marijuana licenses through a lottery selection it will be open from July 13 to 27.

The selection lottery is scheduled for Sept. 9, and the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation expects to issue licenses in December, according to a press release issued Monday.

Microbusinesses are marijuana facility licenses issued to entities and individuals designed to allow marginalized or underrepresented people to legally participate in the marijuana market.

Lesley Turek, the division’s capital manager, has been traveling the state this month to educate people about the application process.

“I really feel that microenterprise graduates are, first and foremost, a community of people who help each other,” he said. “They’re the ones who are driving this program forward, so I’m looking forward to meeting new people and sharing as much as I can about the program. It’s a great program.”

Much of what is being worked on is the new rules that went into effect at the end of May…In 2024 the proposed cannabis regulators will remove a large number of licences Because of unconstitutional property deals.

The new rules, he said, allow regulators to conduct extensive scrutiny before licensing, rather than after. Furthermore, they give a more in-depth explanation of what it means to “have and operate the majority” of the License, which is a requirement in the Constitution.

Regulators are mandated to communicate directly with majority owners and require applicants to complete a compliance course before applying and after receiving a license.

The microbusiness program was passed by voters in the 2022 constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.

In Missouri, there are seven categories in which people can qualify for a micro-business license, ranging from lower income or living in an area considered poor, to past arrests or incarcerations related to marijuana offenses.

Applicants pay a $1,500 application fee if not selected. The Missouri Lottery will select 77 license applicants to open dispensaries or cultivation facilities. The goal is to fill the remaining gaps in the minimum 144 micro-business licenses mandated by the Constitution.

Turek believes the application is relatively simple and something people can complete on their own, unlike the much more complicated application for comprehensive licenses.

“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also offer a step-by-step guide,” he said. “Anyone can sit down and do the app. I don’t think it’s a challenge.”

The part that most people often don’t understand is everything that comes with owning a marijuana facility.

“It’s very expensive, it’s very regulated, and so it’s challenging,” he said. “I want to make sure people have a clear understanding beforehand so they can make a good decision whether they want to apply for this program.”

A big part of his presentation was that the majority of the licenses should be owned by and eligible people. They must have more than 50 percent of the authority to direct the decisions made with the license.

“It’s more than a percentage of ownership,” he said. “It’s really about being able to have that control over it.”

It also talks about the designated contact, and why in the new rule the regulators will require that the designated contact be the applicant or the eligible person with the majority of ownership.

The designated liaison role was conceived as a way to ensure clear communication between the state and licensees.

Instead, state regulators discovered it many named contacts have kept real applicants in the dark about business and licensing. Applicants are locked into agreements that limit their voting power and profits in the business.

That’s why the state now requires pre-application training, a three-video online course to ensure applicants understand “potentially predatory practices,” regulators said in response to public comments during the rulemaking process.

The press release It says those who need help with eligibility requirements or application forms can contact the facility’s application services (email protected).

Educational dissemination events for micro-enterprises

Personal forums:
June 22 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Kansas City

Webinars:
June 24 – from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
June 29 – from 18:00 to 20:00

Registration is required for in-person and virtual sessions. Interested participants can register at Microenterprise education. Additional information on the microenterprise program is available here cannabis.mo.gov.

Those requiring assistance with eligibility requirements or application forms may contact Facilities Application Services at (email protected).

This story was first published by the Missouri Independent.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

RAND estimates Indiana adult-use cannabis could yield $180M in annual revenue

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2026

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Two new RAND reports commissioned by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation outline the policy options and financial commitments facing Indiana as the state debates whether to change its cannabis laws amid restrictions across the country.

Reports show that 44% of Indiana residents live within 50 miles of a licensed dispensary in a neighboring state, and 96% live within 100 miles, as three of Indiana’s four states have legalized adult-use cannabis. At the same time, intoxicating hemp products containing the same psychoactive compound as marijuana are available at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores throughout Indiana with limited oversight.

Cannabis use in Indiana has doubled in the past decade, with a significant increase among adults 26 and older. RAND estimates that 1.3 million Hoosiers used cannabis in 2024 and spent $1.8 billion on marijuana products that year. Indiana recorded more than 13,000 cannabis-related arrests in 2024, with more than 90% for possession and more than 75% for non-cannabis related charges. The state spends $10 million to $20 million annually on cannabis law enforcement.

Rather than recommending a specific policy, the RAND reports outline four broad options: maintaining prohibition, reducing criminal penalties for possession, legalizing medical cannabis, or legalizing the adult recreational use market. Legalizing adult-use cannabis would generate about $180 million in annual state revenue, roughly 1 percent of the state’s general fund, well below some previous projections and less than half of the $385 million in combined cigarette and alcohol tax revenue Indiana will collect in 2025, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Legalization would also entail significant upfront costs, and ongoing regulatory costs could reach the low tens of millions of dollars annually, outweighing the savings from reduced criminal justice spending. RAND identifies 14 policy considerations important to establishing legal markets, each with its own public health and state economic implications.