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

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7 months 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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Health Canada opens consultations to deregulate hemp

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14 hours ago

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May 19, 2026

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Health Canada has published a Notice of Intent to “simplify” the Industrial Hemp Regulation to “eliminate or reduce regulatory burden,” which could include removing the licensing requirement for certain industrial hemp activities, and is asking the industry what changes it wants to see before June 30, 2026.

The announcement acknowledges that “industry stakeholders have advocated for a new approach to regulating industrial hemp that treats it as an agricultural product” and that although industrial hemp and cannabis belong to the same plant family, “the productions and products resulting from the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp are completely different and pose very different risks.” CBD is “non-intoxicating,” the release states, and hemp “has less potential for public health harm and misuse and less public safety concerns compared to cannabis due to its extremely low THC levels.”

© Colin Temple | Dreamstime

Under the current framework, industrial hemp is listed in Schedule 1 of the Cannabis Act along with high-THC cannabis, even if it contains 0.3% THC or less by weight in the flower heads and leaves. To cultivate, sell, import or export seeds or grains, clean seeds, process grains or grow hemp, operators need a separate license for each activity, plus a separate permit for each import or export shipment. Anyone licensed to cultivate the seeds must test the flower heads and leaves for THC concentration, and all cultivated varieties must appear on Health Canada’s List of Approved Crops. Imported seeds also require phytosanitary certification according to CFIA frameworks. Mature stems, non-viable seeds and their derivatives are already out of the field, sitting on tab 2.

The review calls for eliminating or reducing licensing requirements, removing the separate layer of import/export permits, cutting reporting obligations, revamping the List of Approved Crops, reducing or eliminating THC testing requirements and potentially changing the 0.3% THC definition itself. That said, Health Canada is clear that some controls are being left out, specifically to “prevent the illegal cultivation and diversion of cannabis disguised as industrial hemp into an illegal market,” and that international reporting obligations remain an “important consideration.” Extracting CBD from flower heads is also out of scope, as this requires a cannabis processing license under the Cannabis Regulations.

A separate cost-benefit questionnaire goes directly to current IHR licensees, and the responses feed into the regulatory Impact Analysis Statement required by Health Canada before any proposed amendment reaches the Canada Gazette.

Source: magazine.gc.ca

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Cannabis Advocacy Groups Push Congress For Legalization And Other Reforms Following Trump’s Rescheduling Move

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14 hours ago

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May 19, 2026

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“Cannabis reform is the hottest topic in American politics, and … Congress is on course to pass a comprehensive legalization bill that targets the release of cannabis prisoners.”

Author: Jack Gorsline, Filter

A national coalition 41 advocacy groups gathered on Capitol Hill for Cannabis Unity WeekA coordinated lobbying blitz pressed a deadlocked Congress to act on federal marijuana deprogramming, criminal law reform, and fair access.

The May 12-14 mobilization brought together unions, veterans, civil liberties advocates, legal experts, industry executives and individuals directly affected by three main demands: federal cannabis legalization, the release of federal cannabis prisoners, and the expungement of civil rights restoration records. The coalition spent three days navigating the halls of both houses of Congress to introduce a comprehensive package of 13 hemp and cannabis reform bills.

The legislative push comes at a critical time. The vast majority of states have legalized medical or adult use of cannabis in some form, and although the Trump administration rescheduled state legal medical marijuana last month, federal law otherwise continues to classify the plant as a Schedule I controlled substance, creating a legal and economic paradox that advocates say can no longer be ignored.

The coalition’s main thrust is the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Elimination (MORE) Act, introduced as HR 5068. If passed, the MORE Act would completely remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, ending nearly a century of federal prohibition.

The bill’s provisions go beyond simple deprogramming. It aims to eliminate all federal penalties for marijuana activity, establish clear pathways to expungement and reentry, and create community reinvestment with federal cannabis tax revenue. The bill also includes equity measures designed to lower barriers to entry for small and independent businesses trying to navigate the highly capitalized legal market.

“Cannabis reform is a hot topic in American politics, and now that the president has indicated he’s open to reform, it’s up to Congress to pass a comprehensive legislative bill that targets the release of cannabis prisoners who no longer need to be incarcerated,” Jason Ortiz, director of strategic initiatives at the Last Prisoner Project and Co-founder of the Latino Cannabis Alliancehe said The filter.

Ortiz emphasized that the administrative gesture must be supported by specific legislative moves. “The LPP is ready to work with the co-chairs of the Cannabis Caucus and the Cannabis Unity Coalition to pass a comprehensive deprogramming bill like the MORE Act,” he continued, “to finally end the nightmare that has been cannabis prohibition, and create a pathway for all those incarcerated for cannabis offenses to reunify their families and become full members of society.”

A central theme of Unity Week was the disproportionate impact of federal prohibition on minority communities, particularly Latinos. At a May 13 news conference outside the Senate wing of the Capitol, advocates drew a direct line from the anti-immigrant rhetoric of the early 20th century to today’s deportation statistics.

“Buenos dias. My name is Jessica Gonzalez. I’m an Ecuadorian immigrant, attorney, and president of the Latino Cannabis Alliance, a national coalition of Latino advocates, lawyers, organizers, researchers, and storytellers fighting to move our communities from the margins of cannabis politics to the center,” Gonzalez told reporters and lawmakers. “We’re Harry Anslinger’s worst nightmare.”

Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, weaponized prejudice against Latinos and blacks in the 1930s to secure the initial federal crackdown on cannabis. Gonzalez noted that the structural machinery built at that time continues to operate with remarkable efficiency.

“We’re here because Latinos are the largest immigrant group in the country, and the cannabis industry benefits enormously from Latino consumers and workers because they remain silent on the same policies that make participation by non-citizen Latinos dangerous,” Gonzalez said. “That’s a contradiction we’re here to say out loud. And here’s a number we don’t hear often enough: 70 percent. More than 70 percent of people convicted federally of cannabis possession are classified as Hispanic. That’s not a coincidence, it’s the result of a system that has merged cannabis prohibition and immigration enforcement into a deportation pathway and targeted our families.”

For noncitizens, as well as legal residents, federal convictions or possession of cannabis can result in mandatory deportation without judicial discretion. Gonzalez noted that the Latino Cannabis Alliance refuses to let the economic boom of state-sanctioned cannabis eclipse the human cost of federal action.

“But we have never been a town that accepts the conditions given to us,” said Gonzalez. “My family refused when they left everything they knew and built a life in a foreign country. Our communities refused when prohibition tried to turn our families into criminals and our neighborhoods into evidence. And today, the Latino Cannabis Alliance refuses to deport one more family, silence one more worker, or erase one more community from a movement we’ve always been.”

He continued, “decriminalization is the floor, not the ceiling. We will not forget the deportees. We will not forget the detainees. Our work takes borders, but it begins where this system was built. The ban began with a lie about our people. It will end with the truth we made.”

Business leaders also described the injustice and inequality of the current landscape.

“Cannabis Unity Week is not a celebration of victory, it’s a call to action,” said Susie Plascencia, founder of Latinas in Cannabis and representative of the National Hispanic Cannabis Council. “Thousands of people are still incarcerated for cannabis crimes, families are still living with the consequences of prohibition, and Latino communities remain disproportionately harmed and underrepresented in this industry.”

Today, Plascencia noted, multi-state marijuana operators generate billions of dollars in public markets, but minority-owned independent startups face severe capital constraints due to federal bank restrictions.

“Latino entrepreneurs are among the fastest growing in the country, building businesses despite systemic barriers,” he said., “But in cannabis, many still face limited access to capital, restrictive policies and exclusion from ownership. We’re building it anyway, but we don’t have to build it alone. We’re here to demand federal action… Because equity isn’t just about repairing damage, it’s about investing in the future.”

The broader drug policy reform movement also gave the coalition its institutional weight.

“As MAPS celebrates its 40th anniversary, we are proud to join the Cannabis Unity Coalition to advance the movement for compassionate, evidence-based drug policy,” said Gina Vensel, Community Partnerships Manager for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

“This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in the War on Drugs case while recognizing the crucial work that still lies ahead, especially around restorative justice,” Vensel said. The filter. “Together, we strive to dismantle stigma, educate our communities, and advocate for meaningful reform. The Cannabis Unity Coalition represents the power of collective action to drive lasting, positive change.”

Beyond the comprehensive scope of the MORE Act, advocates spent time on the Hill educating lawmakers on narrower measures designed to solve immediate practical problems.

Among them is the STATES 2.0 Act (HR 2934), a bipartisan bill that would amend federal law to respect state legal cannabis programs while protecting state-regulated businesses from federal interference and asset forfeiture. Advocates also pushed for the PREPARE Act (HR 2935 / S 3576), which would have created a federal commission charged with designing a comprehensive regulatory framework for the post-prohibition transition.

To address the decades-long decline in political motivation for scientific research, the coalition also sponsored the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act (HR 3082) to remove barriers that prevent the Office of National Drug Control Policy from conducting objective research on the social impacts of cannabis legalization.

The coalition also focused heavily on “clean slate” initiatives, housing stability and agricultural guidelines. Key legislation in this area includes the Clean Slate Act, a bipartisan measure that mandates the unsealing of certain federal records for nonviolent cannabis convictions to help affected individuals access employment and educational opportunities. Advocates are also championing the Veterans Safe Use of Cannabis for Healing Act and the Veterans Equal Access Act — additional bills to prevent Veterans Affairs benefits from being stripped away if veterans participate in illegal cannabis programs, and to allow VA doctors to prescribe medicinal cannabis in states where it is legal.

Another item on the coalition’s agenda is the Marihuana Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act, a state-enforced measure to protect people in federally assisted housing from eviction or denial of residency based solely on cannabis use. Finally, organizers are seeking clarification on hemp regulations through a series of farm bills.

As the coalition faced a fight against the entrenched Congress leadership, several lawmakers came out of their offices to show solidarity. After the press conference, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) spoke plainly TMZ About changing currents inside the Capitol.

Omar noted that the enormous financial fallout of maintaining prohibition has fundamentally changed the conversation, making fiscal conservatives increasingly open to reform.

“I will say, legalization advocacy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a user, so everybody can be an advocate … because we understand that it’s not good for us to spend the billions of dollars that we make now incarcerating people for smoking a port,” Omar said.

Omar also suggested that the Hill’s policy positions lag behind private reality. “I think so There are a lot of people in Congress who smoke cannabis“, he said.

As the three-day rally ended, organizers were optimistic, saying the breadth of the 41-group alliance is forcing lawmakers to view cannabis not as a boutique policy issue, but as a critical intersection of labor rights, immigration justice, veterans’ health care and economic equity, among others.

Whether their unity can propel legislative movement in a deeply polarized Congress remains to be seen, but advocates left Washington with a clear message: the floor for decriminalization has been set; the battle for the ceiling of total justice is underway.

This the article Originally published by the author The filteran online magazine that deals with drug use, drug policy and human rights from a harm reduction perspective. Keep the filter on Bluesky, X or Facebookand sign up for their newsletter.

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More cannabis companies join Texas medical marijuana program as list of potentials hits 15

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2 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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Texas public safety officials have tentatively approved a dozen cannabis providers to join the state’s medical marijuana program. It’s an important step in expanding access to medical cannabis, after lawmakers voted last year to grow the system from three licensed operators to 15, state officials said.

The companies selected cover nearly every corner of Texas, from the Dallas area and the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley and West Texas, reflecting what supporters hope will become a statewide network. Among the 12 suppliers selected to move forward in the final approval process are four companies added since December. Then the Texas Department of Public Safety, which oversees the “Compassionate Use Program,” released an initial list of nine conditionally accepted applicants.

When completed, the licenses will allow the companies, many of them based in Texas, to grow, manufacture, store and sell throughout the state.

“DPS will request additional information from these businesses and will not bill the distributor organization licensing fees until additional due diligence evaluations are completed and passed,” DPS officials said in a statement.

Read more at Dallas Morning News










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