DOJ’s marijuana & guns filing; HI legalization bill advances; NY THC beverage licenses; MO hemp product ban passes
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Department of Justice suggested in court filing that a “frail and elderly grandmother” who “uses marijuana for a chronic medical condition” could potentially succeed in challenging the federal law banning gun possession by cannabis consumers—while defending the overall policy.
The Hawaii Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee approved a bill to legalize low-dose and low-potency marijuana, even as their counterparts in the House of Representatives say cannabis prohibition will not be ended in the state this year.
Texas voters who participate in the March 3 Democratic primary election for which early voting is currently underway will get to weigh in on a marijuana ballot question that asks whether the state should “legalize cannabis for adults and automatically expunge criminal records for past low-level cannabis offenses.”
New York lawmakers filed legislation to allow liquor and wine stores to sell THC-infused drinks by obtaining a new low potency cannabis beverage retail permit.
The Missouri House of Representatives passed a bill to ban hemp THC products in line with recently adopted federal restrictions.
/ FEDERAL
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) tweeted, “Minnesota business owners like Sean Syverson are feeling the impact of the administration’s across-the-board tariffs—higher costs, lost markets, no stability to plan for the future. That’s why I’m fighting to repeal these harmful tariffs on Canada, and the federal hemp ban.”
/ STATES
The Oklahoma House Alcohol, Tobacco and Substance Abuse Services Committee approved a bill to restrict the shape of medical cannabis gummies and add labeling requirements.
West Virginia lawmakers discussed their marijuana reform bills.
Colorado regulators published guidance about changes to licensing procedures for new or renewing marijuana business employees.
New York regulators seized more than $2 million dollars worth of illicit cannabis products in multiple enforcement actions across the state.
California regulators published a brochure on the Cannabis Inspection Program.
New Jersey marijuana regulators sent a note about Black History Month.
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/ LOCAL
The Chicago, Illinois City Council upheld the mayor’s veto of a bill to restrict hemp-derived products.
San Francisco, California’s mayor signed a bill allowing police to arrest people for public drug use and send them to a center where they can leave after sobering up.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Costa Rican regulators launched an online platform for medical cannabis and hemp authorizations.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “cannabinoids show anticancer effects in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.”
A study “advances our understanding of how psychedelic compounds may function as therapeutics for mitigating the substantial global burden of nicotine addiction and other” substance use disorders.
/ BUSINESS
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. closed a private placement of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes.
Organigram Global Inc. announced a C$65.2 million private placement investment by BT DE Investments Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of British American Tobacco p.l.c.
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The post Cannabis legalization on the ballot in Texas (Newsletter: February 20, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.
