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Louisiana Attorney General Withdraws From Lawsuit Against Trump Administration’s Marijuana Rescheduling Move

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2 weeks ago

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Louisiana’s attorney general has declined to participate in a lawsuit he initially filed. question the federal cannabis rescheduling action announced by President Donald Trump Department of Justice in April.

The suit, filed last month by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) and the attorneys general of Indiana and Nebraska, says officials must “show that this agency action does not comply” with the requirements of federal law, “was improperly promulgated and was otherwise procedurally improper,” “exceeds the perpetrator or is consistent with arbitrary” capriciousness, abuse of discretion, and not in accordance with law.

“Consequently, petitioners request that this Court declare this recent agency action unconstitutional and vacate,” reads the filing filed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

But on Friday, Murrill filed a motion saying, “Petitioner State of Louisiana respectfully moves pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 42(b), as applied by Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 20, to dismiss Louisiana as petitioner in this proceeding.”

“This motion seeks to dismiss Louisiana only. Defendants do not oppose this motion,” he said. “Louisiana therefore respectfully requests that the Court dismiss Louisiana solely from this proceeding, and that each party bear its own costs.”

It’s not clear why Murrill was first involved, then left the case a few days later. Representatives for the Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to Marihuana Moment’s request for comment for this story.

Last week the court consolidated the complaint of the State Attorneys General a A separate lawsuit filed earlier last month by the prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). and the Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA).

Also last week, anti-marijuana activists, substance abuse professionals, doctors and a cannabis-focused biopharmaceutical corporation filed one. An additional lawsuit seeking to challenge the Trump administration’s move to deregulate marijuana.

Under an action announced in April by Attorney General Todd Blanche, marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license were immediately changed from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Annex, as well as marijuana products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An An administrative hearing scheduled for this month will examine the broader rescheduling of cannabisincluding for recreational products.

“AG’s Reinstatement Order violates the regulatory requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 USC §§ 551 to 559, and section 201 of the CSA, 21 USC § 811, exceeds the Attorney General’s statutory authority under the CSA, and is otherwise arbitrary and capricious and does not meet SAM’s statutory requirements, as claimed by both petitions. reorganization action.

Torridon Law was signed by lawyers at PLCC, where former US Attorney General William Barr, who led the DOJ during Trump’s first term, is a partner.

SAM announced in January that it was Hiring Barr’s firm to fight cannabis rescheduling After Trump signed an executive order directing officials to quickly complete the process.

The defendants named in the two now consolidated lawsuits are the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Blanche and DEA Administrator Terrance Cole.

A federal judge last month dismissed a separate lawsuit brought by SAM challenge a new Trump administration initiative to cover hemp-derived products up to $500 annually for eligible Medicare patients

Meanwhile, last month the House committee Federal officials voted to block further steps to reschedule cannabis.

Read Louisiana’s the movement to remove the following from the marijuana redistricting lawsuit:

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Massachusetts CCC pauses license applications

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5 hours ago

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June 17, 2026

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The Cannabis Control Commission, the government body that oversees the marijuana business in the state of Massachusetts (USA), has decided to temporarily stop accepting new license applications for growing marijuana, both indoors and outdoors. This hiatus officially began on June 16, 2026.

Anyone planning to apply for a new marijuana cultivation license after June 16, 2026 will not be able to do so while this suspension is in effect. The Commission will not accept such requests during this period.

There are two groups that can continue normally. First, anyone who submitted an application before June 16, 2026, will continue to review and process applications as usual. Second, applicants for specific programs designed to help communities historically affected by drug laws, known as the Social Equity Program and the Economic Empowerment Program, are exempt from this suspension if they apply for a smaller-scale “Microenterprise” license.

The suspension will be in effect for 120 days from June 16, 2026, which is currently scheduled to be lifted around mid-October 2026. However, the Commission has the power to terminate earlier or extend further, depending on market conditions.

Source: Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission










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Federal Marijuana Rescheduling ‘Does Not Appear To Apply’ To Washington Businesses, State Officials Say

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5 hours ago

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June 17, 2026

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Marijuana regulators in Washington say the Trump administration’s move to re-regulate cannabis at the federal level “doesn’t appear to apply” to the state’s businesses.

US Department of Justice in April He issued an order that immediately reclassified the state’s licensed medical cannabisas well as marijuana products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Schedule I through Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). A trial scheduled for this month will take place consider marijuana III.

“Washington does not issue licenses to producers, processors or retailers of medical cannabis,” the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) said in guidelines released Tuesday. “Instead, Washington has a single recreational market and within that market producers/processors can manufacture (DOH) compliant products, and certain retailers can sell DOH-compliant products to adult patients and all designated providers.”

“Therefore, Washington cannabis licensees do not appear to qualify as ‘state medical marijuana licensees’ and therefore may not be eligible for registration under the final Rule,” the agency said, referring to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Registration process for legal marijuana businesses in the state to take advantage of the federal benefits that come with the reform.

That said, the LCB “does not take a position if licensees decide to apply for federal registration,” the guidance continues. “If a licensee is seeking federal registration, we would be interested in learning about their experience and federal decisions.”

However, “based on our analysis, the federal reorganization in its current form does not appear to apply to cannabis licensees in Washington, primarily because of the legal framework governing recreational cannabis,” the LCB said.

The agency emphasized, however, that while it has consulted with the Cannabis Regulatory Association, the National Governors Association and industry stakeholders, its current opinion does not represent Washington’s formal opinion and “may not be our final interpretation as information is evolving and the decision may not rest with the state.”

“We await additional guidance from the federal agencies involved, new or updated federal agency processes and/or other federal procedures,” he said. he saidreferring to the next administrative hearing and Ongoing litigation calls into question the rescheduling of cannabis.

“The LCB recognizes that there are many cannabis growers, processors, and retailers actively involved in the production and sale of medical cannabis in Washington. These businesses may or may not be eligible to use the 280e tax deduction, and may also register with the DEA III. Ultimately, they have no input into whether their licensees meet the criteria for “state medical marijuana licensees,” as that determination can be made unilaterally by the DOJ within the meaning of the Final Rule. to reasonably interpret and determine that Washington cannabis licensees qualify as “state medical marijuana licensees.”

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.

In California, regulators recently approved emergency rule changes to the state’s marijuana licensing process. to make it easier for companies to receive benefits In line with the Trump administration’s latest move to federally regulate medical cannabis.

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How New Zealand showed up in London’s cannabis industry

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1 day ago

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June 16, 2026

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The medical cannabis market is expected to grow from $47 billion to $149 billion by 2031, and New Zealand has a real role to play in that story. And thanks in large part to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), the government’s international business development agency, Puro is starting to play.

At Cannabis Europa 2026 London, NZTE hosted an evening event at the City Arts Bar with Puro, New Zealand companies Bluelab, Rua Bioscience and CannFX. Puro called it The NZ Room.

Beyond all things Kiwiana – including Puro brand kiwifruit, Kiwi’d – the room was filled with some pretty amazing people: Ivy League scientists, company founders, patients, advocates, industry players, government officials, Maori tribal leaders and a tough Scotsman. All in the same space with the same true passion for where this industry is going.

It was one of those rooms where conversations went well when they had to end. That’s usually a sign of something well done.

Made possible by NZTE
For Puro, the NZTE relationship has been formative. With ongoing support, Puro has entered the Australian market with 47 unique product SKUs and signed a £7 million supply agreement with UK distributor IPS Pharma.

NZTE understands the potential of the New Zealand cannabis industry. The willingness to support this nascent industry and put New Zealand in the spotlight at events like Cannabis Europa is very significant. New Zealand is a small country and the country’s credibility in international markets is built from relationship to relationship, room by room. NZTE helps build those rooms.

© Cigar

what’s next
For the first time, patients in the UK have access to medicinal cannabis grown in New Zealand. That’s the direct result of years of work by Puro’s team, but it’s not worth much if you can’t connect with buyers globally. Creating international relationships that events like Cannabis Europa make this possible.

“We are grateful for the extensive support from the New Zealand Government that drives our progress, including the Ministry of Primary Industries’ support for our genetic breeding, product innovation and market access goals. This collective effort from agencies such as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, NZTE and the New Zealand Export Credit Bureau ensures that Mail that started in London will continue to grow in Puro’s international goals,” he said. a statement

For more information:
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www.puro.co.nz

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