Cannabis News

Marijuana Business Owner Running For Congress Says Federal Legalization Is The ‘Only Path’ For ‘National Market Stability’

Published

7 days ago

December 3, 2025

admin

Colorado-based marijuana entrepreneur Wanda James is running for Congress, pledging to push for an end to the federal ban on cannabis if elected. Anything outside of legislation (whether it’s a bill focused on industry bank access or other incremental reform like rescheduling) won’t cut it, he says.

James, who owns the Simply Pure dispensary in Denver, is challenging Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) in next year’s Democratic primary to represent Colorado’s 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He spoke about his cannabis legalization platform at an MJBizCon event on Wednesday.

“No bank bill will save us. No half-step will fix it. No amount of tweaking will correct decades of damage,” he said in a press release ahead of the speech. “Only legalization gives oxygen to this industry.”

“Only legalization ends 280E. Only legalization ends raids. Only legalization ends fear,” he said, referring to the policy that prevents cannabis businesses from taking federal tax deductions and generally puts businesses at risk of federal enforcement action. “Only legalization stops the piecemeal nonsense that destroys operators while confusing the public.”

“And let me be very clear about something else,” he said. “This is not a battle between hemp and cannabis. It’s the same plant. The same history. The same communities. The same families. The same lack of respect. It’s time to send it to Congress that will step up the momentum our industry demands.”

In a statement on his campaign site, James also said he will “champion legislation to completely remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)” if elected. Rescheduling the plant or kicking the can down the road with “administrative delays” is not enough, he said.

“Full legalization. PERIOD,” he said. “This is the only way forward with federal safety standards, interstate commerce, banking access and national market stability.”

“In Congress, I will work with reform officials, veterans from both parties, and economic innovation committees to ensure that legalization is implemented quickly, safely, and with strong public health and consumer protections,” James. add.

The campaign statement also said James will push for legislative reform that boosts marijuana tax revenue for community reinvestment initiatives that support “affordable housing, mental health services, child care assistance, public school improvements and neighborhood economic development.”

“This approach ensures that legalization becomes a tool to lift up families, support workers, and rebuild ALL communities damaged by decades of discriminatory and wasteful enforcement,” he said.

The candidate also said he will “promote a federal equity framework that ensures priority licensing, business development assistance and access to federal grants and low-interest capital for communities disproportionately impacted by criminalization.”

James said the regulatory approach to marijuana he would adopt would prevent “corporate consolidation from wiping out the small operators and the pioneers who built this industry.”

“I will fight for antitrust protections, access to federal loans and fair trade rules between states that allow small businesses to compete without being crushed by multinationals,” he said. “And I will push for clear federal packaging, testing and transportation standards so entrepreneurs can responsibly scale across state lines.”

Also, as a military veteran, James said that doctors at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can recommend medical cannabis to the veteran population “without fear of penalties or bureaucratic hurdles.”

In 2023, James approached then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) at an event focused on higher education and higher education. supported marijuana banking legislationpointing out how black business owners in the industry broadly support additional reform to free up banks and credit unions to work with state-licensed cannabis companies.

“I would love to see more and more movement on this. Make no mistake about it, first and foremost, we need to get grassroots banking in place,” he told Marijuana Momenti at the time, adding that his personal bank accounts were recently closed due to his involvement in the marijuana industry.

James is also a regent-elect at the University of Colorado, and his role in the marijuana industry became a point of contention leading to formal censure by the Board of Regents, who criticized an ad campaign warning about the dangers of cannabis use as racist for its portrayal of blacks using marijuana.

“This is a victory for me because we have completely exposed the problems that the University of Colorado has with race,” he said. he said of the census “We’ve been able to bare it for the world to see, and I couldn’t be more proud of my community and the people who have stood up for the truth and stood up against Blackness.”

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) responded to the board’s censure action, writing that “the First Amendment protects the right to free speech,” and that “no White House executive order or university public policy can override that fundamental right.”

The First Amendment protects the right to free speech. Neither an executive order from the White House nor a university public policy can override this fundamental right. I am concerned that the CU Board Regent who punished Vice Chancellor Wanda James did this. Subject 👇

— Phil Weiser (@pweiser) July 14, 2025

“I’m concerned that the CU Board of Regents did that to punish Vice Chancellor Wanda James,” she said. “To protect the right to free speech and the fair treatment of CU Regent James, the Council of Regents would do well to reconsider the actions against him. Letting this action go into effect not only raises questions about fairness, but also weakens CD1’s representation on the Council.”

—
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
—

Last year, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) called James is a “force of nature,” acknowledging his historic role in the marijuana policy debate and Colorado’s cannabis program.

DeGette, the incumbent congressman for whose seat James is running for, is also a supporter of marijuana reform. For example, legislation protects…as well as a pilot acquisitionto Avoiding federal interference with state cannabis laws.

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

US (FL): Cannabis company countersues competitor for AI-fabricated extortion

Published

19 hours ago

December 9, 2025

admin

Leafwell Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against medical marijuana company My Florida Green, alleging that its competitor used artificial intelligence to make legal claims as part of an extortion scheme designed to harm Leafwell’s business. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court…

Cannabis News

Maine Officials Approve 2026 Ballot Initiative To Largely Repeal Marijuana Legalization Law For Signature Collection

Published

20 hours ago

December 9, 2025

admin

Maine officials have given permission to prohibition activists to begin gathering signatures for a proposal A ballot initiative that would roll back the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law. The measure, if passed, would also overhaul the regulatory structure of the medical cannabis program by establishing product testing requirements.

The proposal — called the “Cannabis Legalization Act and Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act” — is a revamped version of a marijuana initiative introduced in September, sponsored by a Republican state senator and a former top staffer for then-Gov. Paul LePage (R), staunch prohibitionist.

The latest proposal, a petition approved by the Secretary of State on Monday, would remove and amend multiple sections of the current state statute, which voters approved in 2016 to effectively repeal the legalization of recreational marijuana sales.

Adults over the age of 21 would remain legal to possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis under the proposal, but a section of the law allowing home cultivation would be repealed. The sale and home cultivation of medical marijuana would be legal.

Madison Carey, who was listed as a lead petitioner in the original version of the repeal initiative and remains involved in the current campaign, told Marihuana Momenti on Tuesday that “there needs to be regulation of marijuana,” arguing that her own experience recovering from opioid misuse disorder speaks to the inadequacy of the current law.

“My hope is to raise awareness of the reality of the potential dangers of not having regulation,” he said. “I think people are fed up with the constant use — the constant (retail businesses) coming up where people can legally buy marijuana.”

Of course, repealing the voter-approved law that established the adult-licensed sales system would eliminate the current regulatory infrastructure in place, which reform advocates say helps mitigate public health and safety risks associated with the illegal market.

Rep. David Boyer (R), who led the fight to get a cannabis legalization initiative on Maine’s ballot in 2016 when he was a staff member at the Marihuana Policy Project, said voters should refuse to sign petitions for the new initiative.

“Don’t stop Maine’s progress, don’t stop signing this unfair repeal initiative,” he told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday. “Repealing the legalization of cannabis would shut down an industry larger than lobsters, potatoes and blueberries combined, costing our state jobs, revenue and economic growth.”

According to the new measure, the director of the Office of Cannabis Policy will “advance policies that promote the health and welfare of the people of the state and protect their health and safety, emphasizing the health and welfare of minors as a priority consideration in the performance of all duties.”

They should also “ensure that eligible patients maintain access to high-quality, effective, and affordable medical cannabis under this Act.”

Under the proposal, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services would create a testing program for cannabis products that would require dispensaries and dispensaries to send those products to a licensed facility for safety evaluation before dispensing them to qualified patients.

The testing facility “should ensure that cannabis or cannabis products do not exceed acceptable levels of contamination for any contaminants that are harmful to health and require testing and ensure proper labeling.”

“The department shall adopt rules establishing a testing program under this section, rules identifying the types of pollutants harmful to health, which must be tested for cannabis and cannabis products under this chapter, and rules regarding the maximum level of contamination for each pollutant,” the vote said. the initiative the text says

Additionally, regulators should administer a system to track cannabis plants from seed to the point of retail sale or disposal. That system “should be able to track cannabis plants in groups during the cultivation phase and when passing from the cultivation phase to another registrar”.

Entrepreneurs must submit at least 67,682 valid voter signatures by February 2, 2026 to be eligible for next year’s ballot. If approved by voters, the initiative would take effect on January 1, 2028.

—
It’s Marijuana Moment 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
—

Maine lawmakers passed a bill in June legalize possession of an ounce of psilocybin Adults over 21 years of age.

After a different effort in the state last year legalize psilocybin and allow adults to access the psychedelic in state-licensed facilities. But lawmakers watered down that bill—instead, they changed it to create a committee to study further reforms—and in the end it was not approved.

Meanwhile, Maine legislators in February A top marijuana official voted to investigate possible conflicts of interest.

And last year, the law that allowed people came into force now apply for legal marijuana crime records to be sealed.

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

By concentrating our portfolio, we create room for innovation and growth

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2025

admin

Viscon transfers the range fork product portfolio to Flier

Viscon Plant Technology will transfer its spacer fork product portfolio (including spacer forks and fixed forks) to Flier Systems effective January 1, 2026.

“The furrows are a proven solution for spacing within the sector. By transferring this portfolio to Flier Systems, the technology will remain available to both existing and new customers, with continued quality and support. Flier Systems will take over development, sales and technical service, while Viscon Plant Technology focuses on its core activities,” the team says.

“The transfer of the fields is a deliberate strategic step to strengthen our focus on automation solutions for plant growers and young breeders. In addition to concentrating our portfolio on technologies such as tissue culture automation, phenotypic sorting and somatic embryogenesis automation, we create room for further innovation and growth. We are pleased to have found a reliable and dedicated partner in Flier Systems,” said Nigela, who will continue the same product portfolio. Viscon Plant Technology.

“Acquiring spacer forks fits perfectly into our strategy to automate the entire production process for professional plant growers. Having just introduced the upgraded SPH transplanter/sorter, we have already taken an important step in the automation of potted plants. Acquiring spacer forks is a logical addition as it allows us to offer a complete and integrated package. Viscon,” said Ad Kranendonk, Flier Systems.