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Michigan Senators Weigh Marijuana Regulatory Reform Bills To Aid Industry Reeling From New Tax Increase

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5 days ago

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“Our members are calling on this commission to help our industry create market stability and advance thoughtful and collaborative industry planning.”

By Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance

Almost two weeks after Michigan lawmakers took office Legislation that imposes a 24 percent tax on wholesale marijuanaMembers of the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee heard testimony on several bills that committee chairman Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) said were aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on the cannabis industry.

Two bills were considered Wednesday, one limiting the number of licenses for marijuana dealers and supply centers, and another aimed at cracking down on the sale of unregulated intoxicating hemp products, though Moss indicated there would be additional meetings on the bills in the future.

Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) unveiled the first package, the Senate Bills 597 and 598Starting Jan. 1, 2026, it would limit marijuana dealer licenses and wholesale licenses per 10,000 residents in a municipality, similar to how the state regulates liquor sales.

Singh said communities with a population of less than 10,000 would always have at least one license.

In addition, current license holders can renew their licenses or transfer them to another person.

Second set, Senate bills 599–602It would create a regulatory framework for consumer hemp products in Michigan, Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) explained, citing that intoxicating products made from hemp, including Delta-8 and other synthetic cannabinoids, are being sold at Michigan gas stations, convenience stores and online without oversight or testing.

Both proposals received support from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency, which regulates Michigan’s adult cannabis industry, as well as support from several members of the state’s cannabis industry.

Derek Sova, the agency’s policy and legislative specialist, said one of the agency’s challenges is marijuana versus hemp, when debating whether a substance is intoxicating or not.

Hemp is commonly understood to be either a crop or a tissue, Sova explained, with both Michigan and the federal government’s definitions of hemp and marijuana allowing the unregulated sale of products containing high amounts of THC, the marijuana component primarily responsible for its intoxicating effect.

“Because of the way it’s defined, they’re considered hemp, and because of that, they’re not age-appropriate. There’s no testing requirement, like there is in Michigan with marijuana products. There’s no labeling restrictions,” Sova said.

In addition to establishing a regulatory framework for non-toxic consumable hemp products, such as CBD-infused gummies and intoxicating hemp products, Sova said the bill package would regulate the sale of non-consumable hemp, which is used to make textiles and building materials.

“Right now, under the current law, you have to get a license to do that, a license to sell that. We don’t think that should be regulated,” Sova said.

Robin Schneider, executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, offered support for limiting licenses for marijuana suppliers and retailers, saying unlimited marijuana cultivation licenses have led to oversupply, lowered wholesale prices and harmed businesses throughout the supply chain.

Additionally, the proliferation of retail space has led to public nuisance concerns, traffic problems and community complaints, Schneider said.

“Our members are calling on this committee to help our industry create market stability and thoughtful, collaborative industry planning to make business decisions based on projections that at least include predictability,” Schneider said.

The association also supported the regulation of intoxicating hemp products, noting that these products are being shipped out of state to Michigan and are not being produced by Michigan hemp farmers.

“Not only have our hemp farmers been left out and harmed in many ways, current legislation does not allow them to manufacture hemp products for CBD-only consumption in Michigan,” Schneider said.

Kyleigh Cumming, lab director at Kairos Labs, a cannabis testing lab, told committee members that the 2018 farm bill defining hemp created a loophole that allowed CBD to be converted into THC-like compounds.

“These conversion processes create many dangerous and unknown byproducts along the way, while allowing the resulting products to be labeled as hemp-derived and sold in Michigan as an unregulated intoxicant,” Cumming said.

In a study of 15 vape products purchased in various southeast Michigan communities, Cumming said the products had no lab test results or traceability, and when purchasing the products, no one asked for ID to verify age. When the products were tested, the lab found 15 contaminants, and all 15 samples detected the THC levels of 0.3 percent set by the federal government.

While offering support for additional regulations on hemp products, City of Detroit cannabis director Kimberly James called for more teeth in the bill to allow local governments to take action when intoxicating hemp products are sold in unlicensed locations.

“(The Cannabis Regulatory Agency) does not currently enforce violations of the (Michigan Regulation and Marijuana Tax Act) against non-licensees, and I would not expect them to enforce violations of this act against anyone who is not a licensed consumer hemp processor,” James said. “Local governments should have the authority to stop this practice immediately when the products are in a regular store and explicitly state that they contain THC.”

Polehanki promised to work with James to make sure those changes were made, saying the legislation “isn’t good unless we take these products off the market.”

Blain Becktold, founder of iHemp Michigan, which represents hemp farmers, manufacturers and businesses across the state, said the group’s members supported denying or limiting the sale of products that could be harmful to purchase or consumption, but he refused to define hemp as hemp with less than 0.3 percent THC, pointing to a federal push to increase the 1 percent to 1 percent.

“That’s not to make more toxic products. That’s really for the safety of growers and farmers. If they invest that time, money and effort into farming, and it warms over .3, they’ve lost all of that. 1 percent we wouldn’t have that problem,” Becktold said.

Cassin Coleman of Cannabis Consumer Advocacy also expressed concern about the proposed regulations, noting that limiting THC in non-intoxicating hemp products would limit access to certain products that individuals use for medical purposes.

“As is often the case, the products that patients use consistently, which are CBD products, contain THC,” Coleman said, noting that these products contain THC because they are “full spectrum,” meaning they contain the full range of compounds that occur in the cannabis plant.

Trying to remove or limit the amount of THC in these products would remove other important cannabinoids, plant proteins and antioxidants, Coleman said, warning that these products could be ineffective.

This story was first published by the Michigan Advance.

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How to build a cost-efficient cultivation facility in Minnesota

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14 hours ago

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October 22, 2025

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Free webinar






With proper planning and design, you can reduce long-term costs, build a high-performing and respectable grow operation, and take advantage of the energy rebates and valuable grower incentives available through Minnesota programs.

Join TSRgrow, CannDelta and the Center for Energy Excellence for a free online masterclass on October 30th at 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM EST created for future growers, investors and operators entering Minnesota’s legal cannabis industry.

© TSRgrow

Whether you’re preparing to apply for a license or build your own space, this session will introduce you to key steps, infrastructure options, and expert-backed strategies to help you build smarter and save money from day one.

What you will learn:

  • How to plan your facility construction from permits to zoning approvals
  • Key infrastructure considerations: HVAC, lighting and environmental controls
  • Ways to reduce startup costs and avoid costly design mistakes
  • Design strategies for efficiency, scalability, and compliance
  • Insights into lighting design, energy saving and remote system control
  • Energy Rebate Programs: How to Unlock Valuable Rebates, Energy Efficiency Audits, and Exclusive Grower Incentives Available in Minnesota
  • Whether you’re just perfecting your build strategy or not, this masterclass will help you lay a solid foundation for success in the Minnesota adult-use market.

Click here to register

For more information:
TSRgrow
(email protected)
www.tsrgrow.com



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Ohio House Passes Bill To Remove Voter-Approved Marijuana Legalization Protections And Restrict Hemp Market

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14 hours ago

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October 22, 2025

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The Ohio House of Representatives has passed a bill that would do just that make significant changes to the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law removing several protections for consumers, while also adding some new restrictions on hemp products intended to align the two sectors of the cannabis industry.

After passing through several House committees this week, with major amendments, the House approved Sen. Stephen Huffman’s (R) legislation on a vote of 87-8 on Wednesday.

Although the measure was previously approved by the Senate, it will have to return to that chamber for concurrence, or go to a bicameral conference committee, before going to the governor’s desk.

The House watered down some controversial provisions of the Senate-passed bill, but advocates are concerned that it would still make major changes to the marijuana law voters approve in 2023.

Rep. Brian Stewart (R), who has led the legislation through the House, argued before the vote that the legislation effectively achieves “carefully crafted compromise” among lawmakers with differing views on cannabis issues.

“It’s been very difficult to debate this bill, but most of our important bills usually are. Instead of being some kind of weak-sauce tie-breaker mash-up, this bill does what we claim we want to come to Columbus,” he said. “It tackles the issue head-on. It makes tough decisions. It respects and implements the views of residents and advocates from affected industries. This bill strikes a good balance between Ohioans’ individual liberties, their safety, the financial well-being of our local communities, and the need to protect the health and safety of Ohio’s children.”

Rep. Jamie Callender (R), who sponsored legislation to legalize marijuana before voters passed the reform on the ballot, said the bill is “not perfect,” but argued that lawmakers “must take action” to address intoxicating hemp and other pending issues.

“This is the revised code we’re writing,” he said. “I anticipate that there will be many more bills on these issues in the near and long term, as there should be … I will continue to work with all of them to make it better.”

While its supporters have described it as a less hands-off approach than the original Senate bill, the measure would make significant changes to existing legalization law, with several provisions that advocates say are in direct conflict with the will of voters and represent legislative overreach.

For example, the proposal would eliminate language in the current statute that provides anti-discrimination protections for people who legally use cannabis. It includes safeguards against adverse action in the context of child custody rights, the ability to perform organ transplants, and professional licensing.

It would also recriminalize possession of marijuana from any source other than a state-licensed Ohio dispensary or possession of marijuana from a legal household. Because of this, people can be charged with a felony for carrying cannabis purchased from a legal Michigan store in the Michigan area.

It would also ban the smoking of cannabis in outdoor public places, such as bar patios, and ban landlords from vaping marijuana in rental properties. Violation of this latter policy, even if it involves vaping in a person’s backyard in a rental property, would be a misdemeanor offense.

Karen O’Keefe, director of state policy for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), said in a letter to House lawmakers on Wednesday that SB 56 today “eliminates key protections of the law enacted by voters and re-criminalizes harmless behaviors that voters legalized.”

“Please reject this erosion of the liberties established by the voters,” he said.

Unlike the Senate-passed version of the bill, the House alternative would send cannabis sales tax revenue to local governments.

The legislation, amended by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, also adds new restrictions on the hemp market. With the exception of beverages, hemp products would only be allowed to be sold in licensed hemp dispensaries.

Stores and breweries would be allowed to sell hemp-derived THC drinks, with new advertising restrictions to avoid appealing to youth. Products for on-premise consumption would be limited to 5 mg of THC, but adults could buy drinks of up to 10 mg to take home. Stronger drinks could also be manufactured in Ohio, but only for sale to people outside the state.

The bill would also include a new $1.20 per liter tax on hemp beverages.

The measure Earlier on Wednesday, the Treasury Board also amended it to clarify that people seeking to have their marijuana possession charges dropped would not have to prove the exact amount of cannabis they possessed. The amendment would also allow for dismissal of dismissed marijuana charges, not just convictions.

The amendment also aligns the beverage cannabinoid policy with the beverage laws and clarifies that the penalties for selling marijuana, hemp beverages or cannabinoid products to a minor would be the same regardless of the type of product.

Wednesday’s House vote comes weeks after the governor issued emergency regulations banning the sale of hemp products for 90 dayswith instructions to the legislature to consider permanent regulations. Last week, however, a county judge ordered the state to enforce that policy in response to a legal challenge.

“Quite frankly, the legislature didn’t take action,” Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said in an interview published this week. “I’m still hopeful that the legislature will step in and take action.”

House Speaker Matt Huffman (R) recently commented on the relative lack of progress on marijuana and hemp legislation since voters approved legalization on the ballot in 2023, highlighting the stark divisions within the Republican caucus.

There are “people who think marijuana should be legalized and regulated,” others who “think hemp products should be on par with everything that happened in the statute that started and then “people, like me, who are prohibitionists, don’t think it should be legalized at all and should be rare,” he said.

“I would say the prohibitionists have lost this debate.”

—
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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Meanwhile, last month, the Ohio Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) introduced new proposed rules to underpin the state’s marijuana legalization law. establishing plans to update regulations on labeling and packaging requirements.

The proposal arrived a few weeks later Medical and adult marijuana sales in Ohio officially surpassed $3 billionData from the state Department of Commerce (DOC) shows.

the state About $703 million worth of recreational cannabis was sold in the first year the law was enactedAccording to data from DCC.

In March, a survey of 38 municipalities by the Ohio State University (OSU) Moritz School of Law found local leaders were “unequivocally opposed” to earlier proposals which would have cut planned funding..

Meanwhile, in Ohio, adults can buy more than double the amount of marijuana starting in June than were under previous limits, state officials determined that the market could sustainably supply patients and adult users of medical cannabis.

The governor announced his desire individually in March Marijuana tax revenue to support police training, local jails and behavioral health services. He said funding for police training was a top priority, even if it wasn’t approved by voters in 2023.

Ohio’s Senate President also pushed back against criticism of the Senate bill, claiming that the legislation does not respect the will of the electorate and it would have little effect on the products available in stores.

user photo Philip Steffan.

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Greenhouse growers & suppliers at IFPA 2025

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2 days ago

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October 21, 2025

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For many exhibitors, the IFPA Global Show requires months of preparation. From choosing the best booth location, coming up with an attractive layout, to launching new products and organizing parties. Needless to say, a lot of time and effort goes into this highly anticipated event that some call the Super Bowl of products. Last week, it was finally here. On October 17th and 18th, approximately 20,000 attendees from more than 50 countries around the world converged on Anaheim, California for an expo, educational sessions, camaraderie, and more.

Among them were the big players in North American greenhouses, and when they are somewhere, we all know the suppliers will follow, and so will we. So today we are sharing a photo report of greenhouse growers and horticulture suppliers.

Click here for the photo report.

Want more? Click here for the photo report fresh produce industryhas Fresh produce companies in Latin Americaor, if you prefer flowers, gardening companies.

What’s in fashion?
So what about the show. Many new products were introduced and many of them were variants of a category. Salad kits in different flavors, adding new colors to an existing tomato line and continued focus on better varieties in the berry segment. In the mushroom category, a new soup kit was introduced. This year’s highlights were the asparagus products and a cucumber picking kit, which includes not only cucumbers but also spices and garlic. Fermentation also seems to be picking up steam, as evidenced by kombucha drinks and kimchee. Will these products continue to be included in the category?

© Marieke Hemmes | MMJDaily.com

Click here for a photo report of the show.

the snack
It’s not new, but it’s definitely expanding the range of products in the snack segment. More tomatoes and cucumbers and new snacks were launched, but the show floor also saw celery sticks that go in kid’s lunch packs, carrots with dips, berries in small snack containers and nuts for dessert. Also, the availability of products in the nuts segment is expanding with dragon nuts and dried grapefruit strips. Packaging options for snacks also continue to expand.

The show’s attendees couldn’t complain when it came to snacking. Many companies were testing products with Dubai’s chocolate-dipped strawberries being very popular. The avocado toast bar was a busy place, with people lining up to sip the different fruit juices they were trying.

Extending the growing season
On the growing side, some US growers have cited a tough year to date as prices for some vegetable products have been low. While it wasn’t a perfect summer on the East Coast, most of the fresh produce escaped the extremes, which resulted in good yields. The crops in California did not have to endure intense heat, which also benefited the production volume. Exhibition breeders and growers are increasingly focusing on extending growing seasons. In addition to US and Canadian producers, IFPA has a strong representation of Mexican producers who market their products in the US.

Floor design
There has been a significant change in the floor plan this year, as the Flower section is cut into another building opposite the product display. The floral exhibition opened an hour earlier to give attendees more time to visit both exhibitions. The reason for creating a separate exhibition space for Floral was related to space, as the segment has seen a lot of growth in recent years. The Anaheim convention center can no longer accommodate both shows on one floor, but when the show returns to Orlando in 2026, the segments will likely be reunited.

Overall, exhibitors were happy with the floor plan design and turnout. The first day was definitely more crowded than the second day, but that is no longer surprising. However, some exhibitors mentioned that they missed the presence of some retail banners. Since the show is held on the west coast, not all east coast merchants had the opportunity to participate.

Next year, the show will return to Orlando, FL from October 15-17, 2026.

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