Cannabis News
Top Veterans Group Warns Congress That Hemp Ban Could ‘Slam The Door Shut’ On Medical Research
A leading veterans’ organization has warned congressional leaders that a newly approved blanket ban on consumable hemp products could inadvertently “close the door” on critical research.
In a letter to House and Senate leaders on Wednesday, American Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) executives stressed the importance of “supporting robust scientific research into hemp-derived cannabinoids,” which they said could be at risk. President Donald Trump has signed provisions of a spending bill into law.
Hemp-based cannabinoid products “can offer a real alternative to heavy prescription drugs, so many of our veterans prescribe them for PTSD, anxiety, pain and sleep problems,” wrote the VFW’s Carol Whitmore and Dan West.
“Every day, doctors dispense powerful sedatives and psychoactive drugs to help veterans cope. They work for some, but they’re too hooked, numb, or dealing with brutal side effects,” they wrote. “We’ve all seen good men and women get caught in a cycle of pills that dull the pain but don’t fix the problem.”
“It’s time to explore safer options. Early research on certain hemp compounds suggests they can manage symptoms and reduce physical pain without the risk of addiction,” the letter says, citing recent research showing that hemp-derived cannabinoids improve PTSD symptoms and may be an effective alternative treatment for pain and anxiety.
“This is not evidence of a miracle cure, just clear signs that we should continue to study. But broad movements to ‘close the hemp loophole’ could close the door. A blanket ban on hemp cannabinoids would make it nearly impossible for researchers and (US Department of Veterans Affairs) hospitals to examine the rules by which even small businesses that have legally acquired these compounds are acting legally. Seriously, it would drive veterans seeking relief into black market junk, making things more dangerous. making it not safer.”
The VFW said it is not promoting “wild, unregulated products or recreational use,” but instead “is calling for smart policy: protect the public, but don’t kill research.”
“Let science do its job, regulate what’s proven safe, and give veterans every legitimate tool available to reclaim their lives,” the letter says. “Our veterans have earned the best care we can give them. We urge Congress to take a balanced approach that protects consumers, promotes research, and gives veterans hope for safer alternatives.”
In the last month, The VFW announced that it has entered into a first-of-its-kind partnership with hemp THC beverage company Torch Drinkswith a licensed branding agreement to support various veterans services and promote cannabis beverages as a potential alternative to alcohol. In addition to the brand licensing agreement, the cannabis beverages will be available at VFW posts across the country in jurisdictions where they are locally legal.
Debate over the current appropriations bill’s hemp ban has been fueled by some who believe recriminalizing cannabis products will alleviate public health concerns, particularly regarding youth access to unregulated markets, and others who insist Congress should address the challenges by enacting regulations, including age requirements and testing requirements.
Many hemp participants argue that a ban would effectively wipe out the industry, even if enforced Non-toxic CBD products that people use for medical reasons— There is a hidden hope that they can reach an agreement with the legislators before the ban is implemented next year.
Lawmakers like Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) also say the window could allow them to advance legislation to create an alternative regulatory model for consumer hemp products.
There were Attempts by GOP lawmakers in both chambers to kill the hemp ban provision. But amendments proposed by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) were not included in the final package.
On the Senate side, Paul was joined by 22 Democrats, and especially Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) anti-marijuana: voting against the motion to introduce the amendment to avoid the ban, but was eventually overturned by the majority.
Massie tried to revive momentum in the House with an amendment mirroring Paul’s, but its chances of passage were dubious at best, as there was general agreement within the Republican caucus that the spending bill could return to the Senate without further changes.
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Since 2018, cannabis products have been considered legal hemp if they contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight.
The new legislation specifies that, within a year of taking effect, the weight will be applied to total THC—including delta-8 and other isomers. Also, “as tetrahydrocannabinol (or any other marketed cannabinoid) with similar effects in humans or animals (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services).”
The new definition of legal hemp will also prohibit “any hemp-derived cannabinoid intermediate product marketed or sold as an end product or directly to an end consumer for personal or home use” as well as products containing cannabinoids that are synthesized or manufactured outside of the cannabis plant or are unable to produce it naturally.
Legal hemp products will be limited to a total of 0.4 milligrams of total THC or any other cannabinoid with similar effects per container.
Within 90 days of the bill’s passage, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies must “publish a list of all cannabinoids known to the FDA to be naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant, as reflected in the peer-reviewed literature,” which include “all tetrahydrocannabinol classes known” in natural plants and “known cannabinoids.” cannabinoids that have or are marketed as having effects similar to cannabinoids of the tetrahydrocannabinol class.
The language differs slightly from provisions in legislation advanced out of the House and Senate Appropriations panels, which would have banned products with “quantifiable” amounts of THC, to be determined by the HHS secretary and the agriculture secretary.
Meanwhile, advocates are strongly criticizing congressional leaders for advancing a spending bill ahead of Veterans Day on Tuesday, which also omits bipartisan provisions. Allowing the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prescribe medical cannabis to doctors to patients in states where it is legal—although the policy was approved by the full Senate and House earlier this year.
Read about the VFWs the letter To Congress on the hemp ban below:
Brendan Cleak’s photo.
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Greenhouse growers are working in conditions where crop yield and energy use must be managed simultaneously. According to Timo Spruijt, Chief Customer Officer at RED Horticulture, this requires a shift from fixed lighting schedules to approaches based on plant light responses.
“Lighting is moving from static control to measured and predictable strategies,” says Timo. “That starts with understanding how plants react to light and translating that into everyday decisions.”
© RED Horticulture
This approach is based on photobiology, which links plant development to light conditions. Two parameters are central: intensity and spectrum. Light intensity affects photosynthesis, biomass accumulation and yield, while spectrum affects morphology, flowering, rooting and nutritional composition. Paul Vailhen, photobiologist at RED, points out that these factors must be managed together. “Focusing on one parameter without the other limits how plants use light. The interaction between intensity and spectrum determines photon efficiency.”
He explained that growers can use this knowledge to target harvests more precisely. “When photobiology is applied in practice, lighting becomes a management tool rather than a fixed input.”
Three areas
To support this, RED Horticulture organizes its offer around three areas: luminaires, control platform and agronomic orientation. These components are intended to respond to changes during the day and during the cultivation phases. “The needs of the plants are not constant,” says Timo. “Lighting strategies must follow these variations.”
The MyRED platform is used to translate greenhouse data into lighting decisions. Growers can monitor performance and adjust lighting strategies through a dashboard. “The platform allows producers to define and modify their light recipes and evaluate the results,” explains Timo. “It links crop data with energy use.”
He added that implementation goes beyond software. “Support continues after installation. We work with growers to set goals, apply strategies and adjust over time.”
Energy use
Energy use is a major factor in greenhouse operations. Timo connects lighting strategies directly with consumption. “Understanding how intensity and spectrum affect power use helps growers manage their energy input,” he says. “This could lead to changes in the way lighting is applied during the day.”
Automation is also part of today’s greenhouse practices. The system can adjust the lighting throughout the day according to predefined strategies. “Automation reduces manual adjustments and keeps light levels consistent,” says Timo. “It also allows control over the entire light output.”
He noted that automated control can contribute to additional energy savings beyond the performance of the luminaires. “When strategies are applied dynamically, further reductions in energy use are possible.”
Research
This is another part of the research approach. Through the Photobiology and Agronomy Research Center (PARC), RED Horticulture conducts trials under controlled conditions. Timo explains how this relates to commercial production. “Trials allow strategies to be tested before implementation. Producers can then apply these results with a clearer view of expected outcomes.”
The goal is to make photobiology applicable to different crops and growing environments. “The same principles can be adapted to different varieties and production systems,” says Timo. It concludes by returning to the role of knowledge in greenhouse management. “Understanding photobiology is the starting point. From there, growers can build lighting strategies that match crop requirements and energy constraints.”
For more information:
RED Horticulture
World Horti Center
Europe 1
2672 ZX Naaldwijk
+31 174 705 617
horticulture.red/
Cannabis News
Hawaii Lawmakers Approve Bill To Create Psychedelics Task Force Charged With Studying Psilocybin And MDMA
Another Hawaii House committee has passed the Senate-passed bill creating a psychedelic task force responsible for analyzing and making policy recommendations about providing access to breakthrough therapies like psilocybin and MDMA.
The House Finance Committee advanced the legislation to Sen. Chris Lee (D) on a 15-0 vote Tuesday. The measure, which passed the Senate last month by a 24-0 vote, will next go to the House floor before returning to the Senate for that chamber to consider final amendments.
The bill would create Creative Mental Health Therapy, a two-year review of the current scientific literature, supporting additional clinical research and developing policy recommendations for the “safe, ethical, and culturally informed implementation” of a psychedelic therapy program.
“The Legislature believes in addressing the mental health crisis affecting the State’s residents, particularly among veterans, first responders and trauma survivors,” SB 3199 reads. “Suicide remains the leading cause of preventable death, and the State must explore all safe and effective treatment options supported by scientific evidence.”
Given that the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated psilocybin and MDMA as breakthrough therapies in the treatment of serious mental health conditions, which may be subject to future control under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Hawaii’s legislation states that the state must “proactively prepare public health, clinical and research systems for safe and equitable implementation.”
The state Department of Health said in House committee testimony that it supports the bill, noting that in light of the FDA’s action on psychedelics, it is “prudent for Hawaii to assess research readiness, regulatory implications, workforce development and culturally informed implementation pathways” before any federal rescheduling of the substances.
The Governor’s Office of Wellness and Resiliency said the bill “has an important opportunity to begin paving a planned pathway for people who need access to life-saving treatments for trauma and other mental health issues.”
“A growing body of research demonstrates that breakthrough therapies (such as MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapies) demonstrate high efficacy and positive clinical outcomes in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, end-of-life anxiety, eating disorders, depression, treatment-resistant, and additional conditions in terminally ill patients.”
Team members should include representatives from the State Department of Health (DOH), the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of Wellness and Resiliency (OWR), the University of Hawaii School of Medicine, and more.
Like the draft, the DOH would oversee the task force, an amendment approved by the House Health Committee last month makes the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) the responsible institution, and JABSOM’s nominee as the panel’s chairman.
The commission also adopted amendments suggested by the Department of Law Enforcement to say that its Division of Narcotics Enforcement — and not the Board of Pharmacy — would be responsible for changing the state’s scheduling of psychedelics after any federal reclassification, and to change the deadline for doing so from 90 days to 30 days.
Members note in their bill report that the state Agency for Health Planning and Development has expressed concern that psychedelics are illegal under federal law and that the task force should proceed with caution.
Finally, the panel made technical corrections for clarity, consistency, and style.
If ordered, it appears invoice would be It was first assembled in 2023 based on prior work by a separate psychedelic task force.With a similar goal of exploring avenues for therapeutic access in breakthrough drugs approved by the FDA such as psilocybin.
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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, Hawaii senators recently passed a bill to legalize low-dose, low-potency marijuanathe legislation did not advance the necessary steps before a crucial deadline, so it is dead for the year.
A separate marijuana legalization bill, SB 2421, that contained provisions under federal reform law or amendments to the state Constitution, was delayed for action. The Senate and House panels also delayed action on a measure to sell certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
These actions follow Senior lawmakers in the House indicated that proposals to legalize cannabis would not move forward In the 2026 session, citing the lack of sufficient support in their chamber.
Earlier this month, a Hawaii Senate committee unanimously approved legislation to allow patients immediately enter medical cannabis after submitting their recordsinstead of waiting for the cards to be delivered, as is the case under current legislation.
A Senate committee also adopted the resolutions Asking Congress to federally legalize marijuanasupport the state’s efforts to clean up people’s criminal records and take steps to make it easier for cannabis companies to access banking services.
Another Senate panel advanced separate resolutions urging the state attorney general and the health department to seek a waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Hawaii is allowed to run its cannabis program without federal interference.
user photo Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer.
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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says the marijuana redistricting appeals process “remains pending” despite President Donald Trump issuing an executive order more than three months ago ordering the attorney general to pursue reform “as expeditiously as possible.”
The DEA and reform advocates filed a joint status report Monday on the agency’s interlocutory appeal of bias and improper communications with parties opposed to the redistricting.
“To date, the Movants’ interlocutory appeal to the Administrator on the Motion for Reconsideration remains pending with the Administrator,” said attorneys representing the DEA and cannabis reform advocates who are challenging the process. “No information schedule has been established.”
The agency is responsible for establishing the information schedule. But nearly a year after a former administrative law judge granted the appeal, the DEA is once again delaying the process. This is the fifth consolidated status report, with largely identical language, that the parties have submitted under the administrative litigation order.
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