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New Democratic Congressional Marijuana Resolution Calls For Industry Equity And Pushes Trump To Advocate For International Reform At UN

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5 months ago

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Democrats in Congress have introduced a new marijuana resolution that urges officials to ensure equity in the industry and address the effects of the war on drugs, while pushing President Donald Trump to take the lead in pushing for global cannabis reform at the United Nations.

Representatives Troy Carter (D-LA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Lateefah Simon (D-CA) and Dina Titus (D-NV) — leaders of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus — introduced the latest version. Implementation of the Resolution on Emerging Cannabis Trades (RESPECT). on Thursday, along with additional sponsors.

The measure is largely the same as the version presented in the last session, with some additions.

“For decades, tough cannabis laws devastated Black, Brown and low-income communities. Today, those communities face new barriers, many of which prevent them from taking advantage of the opportunities offered by a multibillion-dollar industry,” Omar said in a press release.

“Congress has a responsibility to ensure that cannabis policy expands access to capital and invests in entrepreneurs whose communities are most affected by outdated drug laws,” he said.

The resolution calls for “actions to increase equity within cannabis policy and the legal cannabis market,” not only by promoting state and local decriminalization, but also the adoption of specific “best practices” around regulated markets.

The measure states that Trump should instruct administration officials to use the US’s “voice, vote and influence” to encourage the United Nations (UN) and its United Nations Commission on Drugs (CND) to “remove cannabis from international drug control treaties, abolish and pardon cannabis-related penalties, abolish and pardon penalties related to cannabis for pre-cannabis crimes, study and analyze the effects of cannabis control and international controls. legal goods”.

Carter said the ban on cannabis had “failed our community” and “disproportionately harmed people of color by driving mass incarceration, destroying families, taking away opportunities and burdening criminal records.”

“It’s time for the federal government to address the racial disparities in the cannabis space and create inclusive pathways for people to access economic wealth,” he said. he said.

According to the proposal, states and local governments are encouraged to “take appropriate action and take bold steps” to enact a variety of reforms designed to address disparities in participation in legal marijuana markets and to “address, reverse, and resolve the most devastating effects of the war on drugs.”

The section of the resolution on trends in reform was revised from the last version to note that Colorado and Washington State were the first to regulate cannabis more than a decade ago, and the states “have generated a total of nearly $25 billion in revenue from the use of legal mature sales of marijuana products.”

It also changed that Germany, among other European countries, has taken steps to end the ban within their borders since the previous version was introduced in Congress.

“We need to elevate the role of equity in the legal cannabis market and take bold, deliberate action to close persistent disparities,” said Simon. “The war on drugs has devastated communities of color, and it’s long past time to repair the damage and move beyond outdated and punitive cannabis policies.”

“I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this Resolution, which will serve as a significant step toward economic and restorative justice,” he said.

Titus, for his part, said: “For too long federal and state governments have unfairly prosecuted the use of cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug.”

“The RESPECT Resolution is a critical step toward policy that addresses the disparities caused by outdated cannabis programming and the so-called Drug War,” he said. “As co-chair of the Cannabis Caucus, I am advancing solutions that will once and for all end the cycle of unjust incarceration and unequal enforcement.”

Among the best practices the legislation encourages are fundamental reforms that are currently at odds with federal laws on the books, such as eliminating criminal penalties for the use and possession of marijuana, and ensuring that public benefits such as housing cannot be denied to someone because of a cannabis conviction.

It calls for the creation of automatic expungement or record sealing processes for cannabis offenses, processes for re-sentencing those convicted of crimes whose sentences have been reduced or expunged, and “suspect-based drug testing for non-safety-related jobs.”

The latest version includes additional additions, such as requiring the country to “take a proactive approach and consider and consider laws and policies regarding interstate commerce and their potential impact on differences in the cannabis market.”

It also now encourages the adoption of policies that promote “fair labor standards and practices” in the cannabis market and “the creation of a robust education campaign to inform the public of important legal and public information, including consumer education, and the development of public education campaigns to prevent youth access and drive the impairment of cannabis.”

The resolution is also co-sponsored by Reps. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ). It is supported by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), Last Prisoner Project (LPP), Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) and NORML.

“The Drug Policy Alliance is proud to support the RESPECT Resolution, which calls for urgent action to ensure cannabis markets and policies are fair for all communities,” said Cat Packer, DPA’s director of drug markets and regulation.

“Highlighting state and local best practices, supporting global decriminalization and calling on states to end criminal penalties, restore rights and ensure fair participation in the emerging cannabis economy, the resolution sets a clear path to meaningful reform,” he said. “At a time when criminalization remains the law of the land and inequality remains deeply embedded in the cannabis market and politics, this resolution is timely and critically needed.”

Jason Ortiz, LPP’s director of strategic initiatives, said the organization is “grateful to the sponsors of the RESPECT Resolution for their leadership in addressing the deep racial and economic disparities created by decades of the criminalization of cannabis.”

“This resolution recognizes that while state cannabis laws have evolved, too many people and communities are still living with the consequences of outdated federal policies,” he said. “By calling for clean records, community investment, and fair licensing, this resolution serves as a vital reminder that those most harmed by prohibition must be able to participate in and benefit from any legal cannabis market.”

Morgan Fox, NORML’s political director, said it’s “important to remind lawmakers of the ongoing harms caused by marijuana prohibition and the opportunities to begin addressing them through common sense legislation.”

“This resolution should call on Congress to prioritize the repeal of failed criminalization policies, as well as a plan to do so in a way that aims to repair the damage caused by decades of unfair enforcement,” he said.

The measure is being introduced on the same day that bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers introduced a bill. allow doctors to administer Schedule I drugs such as psilocybin and MDMA to patients with life-threatening conditions.

Mike Latimer’s photo.

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Cannabis operators report mixed results as rescheduling reshapes the financial outlook

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9 hours 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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Medical Marijuana Helps Pain Patients Reduce Use Of Opioids, New Study Shows

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May 14, 2026

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As opioids continue to cause overdose deaths, a new study suggests that making medical cannabis available and affordable could help patients reduce their use of prescription painkillers.

“Although cannabis has historically been characterized as a potential ‘gateway drug,’ it may also serve as a harm reduction tool for some patients seeking to reduce their reliance on higher-risk opioid medications,” researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine found.

The study, a prospective observational trial at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, followed 29 adults over five months. All had been living with chronic pain for years—an average of 11 years—and were already taking opioid medications, but struggled to taper off of them despite other treatments.

The study is unique in its focus on cost as a factor in access to medical marijuana, with the researchers describing their work as “the first prospective observational study evaluating medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids in a setting where cost was removed as a major barrier.”

Participants were recruited from a university outpatient chronic pain clinic and then completed monthly pain assessments using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS). The researchers measured daily opioid use, measured in milligrams of morphine equivalents (MME).

“Seven patients (24%) were able to completely discontinue opioid therapy at the end of the study, five of whom did so by the second month. Pain levels also decreased over time,” the authors wrote.

Notably, “there was a statistically significant reduction in mean pain scores experienced over the five-month study period,” says the paper published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.

“There was also a reduction in average opioid consumption of about 32 MME per day, which remained the same throughout the follow-up. In addition, seven patients were able to completely discontinue opioid therapy during the study.”

“Mean daily opioid consumption decreased from 46.8 MME/day at baseline to 16.2 MME/day at one month and remained low during the five-month follow-up period,” the researchers found.

What set the new study apart was not just the inclusion of medical cannabis, but the deliberate removal of cost as a barrier. Participants “consistently identified cost as a major barrier to initiating medical cannabis” before enrolling in the study, the document says.

Noting the novelty of the study, they added their hypothesis: “Improving access to medical cannabis will allow a subset of patients, especially those with a high cost barrier, to reduce or discontinue opioid use while maintaining adequate pain control.”

“These results suggest that medical cannabis may be a useful adjunctive therapy to reduce opioid use, relieve chronic pain, and improve health-related quality of life,” they concluded.

“The findings of this study add to the body of literature supporting the safety profile and potential therapeutic role of cannabis.”

The studies the authors are cautious in their conclusions, warning of limitations and the need for further research. “The sample size was small and derived from a single clinical site, and there was no control group.” And because “patients self-titrate cannabis products, leading to variability in dosage and frequency of use,” the findings are not standardized.

But the authors concluded that “when used under appropriate medical supervision, medical cannabis may be an effective adjunctive strategy to reduce opioid use among patients receiving long-term opioid therapy.”

This study follows a Recent research shows that using medical marijuana helps people reduce their use of other drugs, including opioids.sleep aids and antidepressants. They also experience fewer negative side effects after switching from prescription drugs to cannabis, according to a study involving more than 3,500 patients.

It also comes from behind President Donald Trump says marijuana ‘can make people feel a lot better’ and serves as a “substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioids.”

Last month, the Trump administration announced it moving forward with federal reclassification of marijuana medicinal cannabis is classified under Schedule I to III of the Controlled Substances Act.

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Livermore Falls debates cannabis licensing fees

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1 day ago

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May 13, 2026

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Existing medical cannabis licensing fees will be temporarily applied to recreational marijuana businesses, the Select Committee decided on May 5. Board members agreed 4-1 to the temporary change, as long as officials say the fees are higher than necessary and accurately reflect the town’s oversight costs.

Bryce Cobb, Livermore Falls’ code enforcement officer, plumbing inspector, health officer and E-911 dispatcher, said voters approved the amended cannabis ordinance on April 28. Cobb said the amended ordinance allows recreational marijuana businesses and the next step was to establish a fee schedule. Recreational cannabis businesses operating in town would require local licensing approval under the ordinance.

Asked if he had fee schedules from other towns to compare, Cobb said he did not. Additionally, the town’s fee schedule specifically mentions medicinal cannabis.

“So it could be medical and adult use,” Cobb said when discussing whether the existing fee structure could apply to recreational businesses.

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