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Minnesota Lawmakers Approve Bill To Legalize Psilocybin Therapy And Reschedule The Psychedelic Under State Law

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2 months ago

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Minnesota lawmakers have passed a bill that would legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin for adults 21 and older while rescheduling the psychedelic under state statute.

Members of the House Health Finance and Policy Committee approved Rep. Andy Smith’s (DFL) legislation on a voice vote Monday. The proposal goes to the Trade Finance and Policy Committee.

Smith too He sponsored a similar measure last year, which ultimately failed to take effect.

Under the current bill, which was revised with a substitute amendment during the committee hearing, qualified patients over the age of 21 could receive psilocybin-assisted therapy “at an approved private residence or licensed treatment facility,” according to a summary from the Minnesota Department of Home Affairs.

“No one on this committee, that I know of, disputes that mental illness is one of the defining problems in our society today,” Smith said, adding that the legislation is the answer. recommendations of a task force on psychedelic states that was formed under a separate lawhe said “Today in this committee, we’re talking about a new tool: a therapeutic psilocybin program here in Minnesota that has great potential.”

“It will help Minnesotans struggling with substance use disorder, depression, PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain and many other mental illnesses,” he said, before describing key provisions of the proposed legislation.

A registered facilitator should administer the psychedelic. To begin with, the program would involve licensing 20 to 50 facilitators at three approved psilocybin testing facilities. More than 1,000 patients could not participate in psychedelic therapy in the first three years of the implementation of the law.

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) would be responsible for overseeing the program and implementing regulations, while the health commissioner would also be responsible for collaborating with the newly created Psychedelic Medicine Advisory Board on the initiative.

Psilocybin sessions would involve “preparation” with patient-facilitator consultation, “administration” where patients would receive the psychedelic, and “integration” where patients would work with professionals to process the therapeutic experience.

What’s more, HF 2906 as changed includes protections for health professionals who help facilitate the program. And it would impose penalties for violations of the law, such as impunity administration or growing psilocybin outside the program’s parameters.

“I think a lot when someone initially hears about this and thinks, ‘Hey, the cannabis program,’ a lot of the criticism is ‘Oh, it’s under the camel’s back for legalization,’ or whatever,” said Rep. Nolan West (R), who is sponsoring the legislation. “This is a pilot program.”

The congressman noted that interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics does not just cross party lines, but extends to the White House, where US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and what other administrative officials have had. they discussed expanding access to novel therapies.

In addition to creating a psilocybin therapy program, the Minnesota bill calls for moving the psychedelic from Schedule I to Schedule IV on the state’s list of controlled substances, reflecting its low abuse potential and low risk of addiction.

One of the open questions for the reform is how to make sure it gets adequate funding, so the sponsor said he doesn’t expect much political resistance to the underlying goal of the legislation, though spending concerns may prove problematic.

“If it doesn’t happen this year, I feel very confident that we will be able to make it happen in the next budget session,” Smith. say Minnesota Star Tribune.

Kurtis Hanna, board chair of the Psychedelic Access Project, told Marijuana Moment that advancing the bill through committee with a bipartisan vote is “gratifying” when “Minnesota’s legislature is as divided as ever.”

“Veterans, mental health professionals, doctors and patients came out in full force today to provide Minnesotans with mental health issues another tool in their toolbox,” he said. “I’m excited to see this issue gain momentum as it moves through the next few committee stops on its way to a full vote in the House and Senate.”

—
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, in Minnesota, The first marijuana store run by the state government recently opened its doorsmarking another milestone in the state’s adult cannabis program.

Last September, Minnesota officials issued the state’s first marijuana event organizer licenseallowing adults to purchase and consume cannabis products at a festival. The the first non-tribal marijuana stores opened to sell to adults 21 and older at the beginning of that month.

Also last year, the city of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, sought suggestions from residents what to name a new government brand cannabis gummy product for sale in municipal liquor stores.

The Minnesota House of Representatives released a survey at last year’s State Fair asking about attendees the idea of ​​towns being able to ban marijuana businesses within their borders. Most respondents with an opinion on the issue agree with the policy, even though it is not currently part of the state’s cannabis laws.

Before legalization took effect in Minnesota, lawmakers In the surveys of the State Fair, they found the support of the majority in favor of the reform.

The governor too elected a top state cannabis regulator which will oversee the expansion of the adult-use market. Last June, the OCM issued the state’s the first recreational marijuana license for a micro-growing business.

OCM said at the time that it was taking further steps to build on the industry and create opportunities for entrepreneurs, including opening a new licensing window for cannabis testing facilities, accepting the first applications for marijuana event licenses and verifying more applications for social equity status.

Separately, after Minnesota lawmakers passed a bill ending the criminalization of bong water with traces of drugs, the governor signed the measure into law last may

The change reverses an existing policy that allowed law enforcement to treat bong water quantities greater than four ounces as the equivalent of a pure, cut-down version of any drug used to consume the device.

Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said in December that the state “Exploring” how to respond to federal ban on THC hemp products.It would be “very disruptive” to the “thriving industry.”

user photo CostaPPR.

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Third cannabis business approved by Jefferson Town Council

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12 hours ago

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May 15, 2026

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The Jefferson City Council unanimously approved “Green Leevs” as the city’s first cannabis micro-farm at its May 6 meeting. This is the third cannabis business approved by the municipality in order to bring income to the municipality. Retail dispensaries “Greenlight Apothecary” and “Gas and Grass” were previously approved.

Green Leevs are owned by Bill Comeford, Elliot McClendon and Josh Moskowitz. All three are from the local area, Comeford grew up in Jefferson. In New Jersey, a micro-enterprise is a facility with 2,500 square feet of growing space. A micro-farm relies on the craftsmanship of cannabis rather than mass production.

“We have more control, we have more hands, the smaller grow rooms make it easier to inspect each plant,” Comeford said. “If you’re careful, it makes for a better product at the end of the day.”

Green Leeves understands that there are mixed feelings about the Council’s approval of the cannabis industry and hopes that this will ease over time.

Read more at Press Jefferson










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Virginia Governor Signs Marijuana Resentencing Bill After Lawmakers Rejected Her Amendments

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12 hours ago

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May 15, 2026

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Virginia’s governor has signed legislation to grant sentence relief to people with past marijuana convictions, even as lawmakers have refused to accept proposed amendments to the legislation that would significantly narrow the scope of reform.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) gave final approval to the bills, Rozia Henson Jr.’s HB 26 (D) and Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas’ SB 62 (D), on Thursday.

Separately, lawmakers and advocates are waiting the governor’s action on separate legislation to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana after amendments to his proposal were similarly rejected by the House and Senate last month. The changes suggested in that legislation included delaying the start of sales by six months, increasing taxes and introducing new criminal penalties for cannabis users.

Retrial reform, on the other hand, creates a process by which people incarcerated or on community custody for certain crimes involving the possession, manufacture, sale or distribution of marijuana will consider changing their sentences to receive an automatic trial.

Spanberger sent proposed amendments to lawmakers last month They had to proactively submit requests for assistance to affected people instead of the courts proceeding automatically. The Senate and House of Representatives, however, rejected the proposal, effectively rejecting it and sending the original legislation to Spanberger’s desk.

Henson, the sponsor of the House version of the bill, said it was ready to accept the governor’s changes, even if he is concerned this would mean that some people with cannabis convictions would fall through the cracks because they “didn’t have a lawyer or didn’t know how to ask.”

The whole parliament did not agree with the change, however, and now HB 26 and SB 62 The laws that were originally approved have been implemented.

The relief will apply to people with convictions or convictions for conduct that occurred before July 1, 2021, when a state law that legalized personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana went into effect. State and local corrections officials should identify and notify eligible individuals of their rights to provide notice of relief and then work with courts to automatically schedule hearings.

Henson said last month that the resentencing legislation was “built for people who are still paying the price for something that Virginia has made legal.”

“If the commonwealth were to change the law, it still has the duty to review the consequences of the people punished according to the old one,” he said.

The governor’s office said in a press release when he proposed his amendments that they “clarify that there will be no tolerance for violent crimes in Virginia, from armed robbery to possession of firearms to distribute fentanyl, heroin and other dangerous drugs.”

But Henson said he shares the “governor’s commitment” to making sure violent offenders are not eligible for this relief; and that commitment is reflected in the bill itself, which excluded people convicted of violent acts under Virginia law.

Spanberger’s release last month made no mention of the actual major changes to the bill, which was the removal of automatic leniency provisions for people with cannabis convictions.

The governor’s amendment also proposed removing the deadline for court filings on the retrial.

In the previous session, members of parliament approved similar legislation, but the then government vetoed it. Glenn Young (R).

Separately, Spanberger signed several other reform bills last month, including measures protecting the parental rights of marijuana users and giving patients access to medical cannabis in hospitals.

Cannabis policy reform organizations, on the other hand, sent a letter earlier this month asking the governor to enact the adult-use marijuana sales bill.

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Cannabis operators report mixed results as rescheduling reshapes the financial outlook

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1 day ago

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May 14, 2026

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The rescheduling came mid-quarter and rewrote the tax math for each medical sales operator, but the underlying revenue picture remained uneven in early 2026, with acquisitions driven at one end of the scale and continued top-line compression at the other.

Vireo Growth: Back on $106 million deal
Vireo Growth Inc. reported Q1 GAAP revenue of $106.2 million, up 333.5% year-over-year, driven almost entirely by recent acquisitions rather than organic growth. The company completed the Schwazze acquisition in March, adding 45 dispensaries and two manufacturing facilities in Colorado and New Mexico. At the end of the quarter, it closed Eaze and Hawthorne Gardening, FLUENT Corp. announced an acquisition agreement and executed a California dispensary joint venture with Glass House Brands. Treating all acquisitions as closed on January 1, 2025 on a pro forma basis, revenue was $210.2 million and adjusted EBITDA was $42.2 million. The company ended the quarter with $137.8 million in cash.

John Mazarakis, CEO of Vireo, said: “Performance in the first quarter met our expectations and we are excited to welcome Schwazze, Eaze and Hawthorne to Vireo. We are focused on integration and optimization across the platform, while remaining opportunistic regarding growth opportunities associated with further acquisitions.”

Cresco Labs: $151 million, 280E relief and Texas license
Cresco Labs reported Q1 revenue of $151 million, down from $165.8 million in Q1 2025. Adjusted gross margin was 50.7% and adjusted EBITDA margin of $33 million was 21.7%. Cash at the end of the quarter was $67 million against a $310 million secured term loan. The company was conditionally granted a Texas Compassionate Use Program license after the quarter ended and opened two new dispensaries in Ohio.

Management said, “Moving the state’s legal medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III is the most impactful reform this industry has seen, and it validates the work we’ve been executing for years. We’ve built the operational foundation and balance sheet discipline to reap the immediate benefits of rescheduling, and position Cresco to take advantage of the broader path to normalization.”

Jushi Holdings: 4% growth, 460 basis point margin expansion
Jushi Holdings reported first-quarter revenue of $66.4 million, up 4% year-over-year, with gross profit margin up 460 basis points to 45%. Adjusted EBITDA was $11.4 million, up 17.2%. The margin improvement was driven by higher production volumes in Ohio, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and the performance of grower processors. Jushi brand products accounted for 58% of retail revenue in vertical markets. The company refinanced $132.3 million in debt during the quarter, providing $160 million in new debt through 2029.

Jim Cacioppo, president and CEO, said: “The recent scheduling of state-licensed medical marijuana for Schedule III is an important milestone for the industry, eliminating 280E tax limitations for medical operations and supporting a more favorable long-term operating environment.” Medical sales accounted for about 60% of Jushi’s 2025 revenue, making this material relief.

iAnthus Capital: Revenue falls to $33.5 million
iAnthus Capital reported first-quarter revenue of $33.5 million, down $4.6 million from 2025’s first quarter. Gross margin was 47.5%, up 477 basis points from the 2025 quarter. The company did not provide a management comment in the press release.

Country farms: international export record, fourth consecutive quarter of net income
Village Farms International reported first quarter consolidated net sales of $50.2 million, up 27% year-over-year, with net income of $2.9 million and adjusted EBITDA of $9.9 million, up 118% year-over-year. International export sales increased 171% to a record $14.6 million, driven by demand for EU-GMP compliant products in Germany. Pure Sunfarms had the top Canadian market share in dried flowers for the 15th consecutive month. The company started planting the first half of its Delta 2 greenhouse expansion and expects its Phase II facility in the Netherlands to reach full capacity by the end of 2026, which would quadruple Dutch production.

Michael DeGiglio, President and CEO, said: “Our first quarter results reflect a strong start to the year and continued momentum in our largest markets, with adjusted EBITDA growth of 118% year-over-year, significantly outpacing revenue growth of 27%, driven by our international business and continued leadership in Canada.

Cronos Group: Record revenue, $822 million in cash
Cronos Group reported Q1 net income of $45.2 million, up 40% year-over-year and a record quarter, with net income of $15.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $5.1 million. Israel led growth PEACE NATURALS grew 53% for ninth consecutive record quarter. In Canada, the Spinach brand took first place in vapes with a 9.8% share of the national market, and maintained its top spot in edibles at 20.8%. The company ended the quarter with $821.9 million in cash and authorized a new $50 million stock repurchase program. The deadline to close the acquisition of CanAdelaar, one of the ten licensed growers in the Dutch Controlled Cannabis Supply Chain Experiment, has been extended to September 9, 2026 to allow time for regulatory approvals.

Mike Gorenstein, chairman, president and CEO, said, “Cronos achieved net earnings and gross profit in the first quarter as we continue to execute against our unlimited product strategy and the additional supply from Cronos GrowCo’s expansion fuels the next phase of our growth.”

Org chart: Revenue down 9%, Sanity Group acquisition closes after quarter
Organigram Global reported fiscal second quarter net income of $59.8 million, down 9% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA of $0.9 million, down 82%. Lower vape and pre-infusion sales drove the decline, along with a $5.8 billion dent in the U.S. hemp business. The company achieved a record quarterly harvest of over 32,000kg at its Moncton facility, up 56% year-on-year, and launched 10 SKUs in Australia targeting over 4,000 pharmacies. At the end of the quarter, Organigram acquired Sanity Group, one of Germany’s leading cannabis companies, and updated its 2026 guidance to net revenue of more than $350 million.

James Yamanaka, CEO, said: “Q2 reflected our poor performance in vaporizers and temporary challenges in pre-infusion production, compounded by slower industry growth. We have acted quickly to address these issues, and the operational changes and product improvements we have implemented are already beginning to stabilize performance.”

Greg Guyatt, Chief Financial Officer, said: “The financial impact of the competitive and operational challenges encountered earlier in fiscal 2026 is believed to have materialized in the first half of the year, and we are now beginning to stabilize performance. We expect to resume a trajectory of margin expansion and improved profitability during the second half of the year, supported by positive revenue and international sales growth. The Sanity Group.”

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