In this week’s edition:

• Join Dentons and Perfectly Dosed Webinar on the Hemp THC Beverage Market
• Cannabis Legalization Proposal Purportedly Submitted to Trump Administration
• The Georgia Senate Voted to Increase the State’s THC Limit on Medical Cannabis
• Switzerland Plans to Become the First European Country to Launch a Full Adult-Use Cannabis Market
• The “Hidden Potential Winners” of Cannabis Rescheduling: DEA-Registered Bulk Manufacturers

Dentons Speaks

Join Dentons Partners Eric Berlin and Joanne Caceres for a conversation with the Founders of Perfectly Dosed: “Navigating the Next Steps in the Hemp THC Beverage Market,” Wednesday, March 19th at 12 PM CST. Register here.

Dentons Senior Managing Associates Lauren Estevez and Jacob Raver will be presenting at Dentons CLE webinar “U.S. Cannabis and Hemp – 2025 Legal Updates,” on March 25th, 2-3 PM EST.  They will discuss insight into U.S. cannabis markets; state-regulated cannabis frameworks; federally legal and state-regulated hemp in 2025; and 2025 predictions.  Please register to join here.  

Portland, ME Partner Malina Dumas will be a panelist on “Obtaining a New York Cannabis Business License,” at National Business Institute’s Marijuana Business Law course in New York on March 18th.

Chicago Cannabis partner Eric Berlin in will be presenting “Cannabis Law Update” for The Decalogue Society of Lawyers CLE program in Chicago on March 20th.

Federal

Cannabis Legalization Proposal Purportedly Submitted to Trump Administration – A proposal for federal cannabis legalization was reportedly submitted to the White House earlier this month, following discussions between an unspecified Trump administration representative and the co-founder of Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Howard Wooldridge.  The development comes amid speculation on Trump's stance on cannabis and a recent spike in stock prices related to U.S. cannabis companies.

New Documents Provide Evidence of DEA’s Bias in Rescheduling Process – In an ongoing case between the DEA and Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, newly submitted evidence points to the opaque selection of witnesses who were called to testify at the originally slated January 2025 rescheduling hearing.  The DEA selected 25 of 163 applicants on a “still unknown criteria.”  A majority were sent to entities who strongly oppose rescheduling, and only one was sent to a rescheduling supporter, which was ultimately rejected by the DEA.  Note that the rescheduling process is indefinitely on hold.

State

AZ – Arizona lawmakers are promoting a new bill (HB 2179) that would tighten cannabis advertising regulations, aiming to prevent appeals to underage audiences and curb unlicensed sales.  The bill, which passed the House with strong support, prohibits cannabis businesses from using child-friendly names, images, and references to THC potency in ads, and has received backing from industry leaders who support its goal of distinguishing legal from illicit products.

CA – California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force confiscated $534 million worth of illegal cannabis in 2024 as part of operations targeting unlicensed retail sales, delivery services, and residential cultivation sites.  The largest seizures occurred in Los Angeles and Alameda counties, with additional significant hauls in other counties like Mendocino and Kern.  

CA – California Division of Workers’ Compensation is considering removing medical cannabis as an accepted treatment for injured workers in workers' compensation cases, following updated guidelines from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).  The ACOEM now advises against cannabis use for treating various types of pain, citing health risks and minimal evidence of its effectiveness.

FL – Since states have taken different approaches to regulating hemp, Florida lawmakers recently met with hemp industry representatives and state officials to discuss whether the plant should be more heavily regulated.  Upcoming discussions will focus on potential future legislation for hemp regulations.

GA – The Georgia Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 220, which increase the state’s THC limit on medical cannabis from 5% to 50% and allow for alternative cannabis consumption methods.  The Act, titled, “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act” changes the term “low-THC oil” to “medical cannabis” and will allow more patients to register in the program.  Georgia’s patient numbers stood at only 26,000 in December 2024, which is lower compared to similar states.

ME – Lawmakers in Maine introduced a bill that would establish a mandatory testing program for harvested medical cannabis and a reporting requirement to the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.  The reason behind the bill is that Maine currently tests recreational cannabis stricter than medical cannabis.  

NC – North Carolina House Speaker, Destin Hill (R), recently stated that state Republicans might be more willing to consider medical cannabis legalization this session than in past sessions.  Many constituents have reached out to their representatives in the state, and the lawmakers are shifting their views to better serve them.

NH – Proposed House Bill 198 is advancing to the New Hampshire House floor, which would legalize possession limits of cannabis for adults 21 years and older and prohibit public consumption.  HB 198 would permit possession of two ounces of cannabis flower or cannabis trim, ten grams of cannabis concentrate, and cannabis products other than cannabis concentrates containing no more than 2,000 mg of THC.  Although there were at least 16 senators (a veto-proof majority) who either voted “yes” on previous attempts to legalize cannabis or expressed support for legalizing possession and home cultivation, there is likely opposing pressure from Republican senators.  Other legislative initiatives have been introduced, including HB 196, an annulment bill; HB 53, a bill to permit patients to cultivate at home; and HB 190, a bill that would double medical cannabis possession limits.

OH – The Ohio House of Representatives is considering House Bill 160, which aims to impose THC limits on cannabis concentrate products and cap the number of dispensaries at 350, while leaving home grow laws and possession limits unchanged.  This proposal, introduced by Rep. Brian Stewart, contrasts with a more restrictive Senate bill and seeks to respect voter-approved cannabis legalization while implementing reasonable reforms, including prohibiting child-appealing advertising and redirecting cannabis tax revenue to the state’s general fund.

TX – A Texas Senate proposal, Senate Bill 1505, aims to expand the state's Compassionate Use Program by allowing new cannabis administration methods such as vaping, and changing dose measurements to milligrams instead of weight.  The bill seeks to improve accessibility for patients with various medical conditions, addressing criticisms that the current program fails to provide adequate statewide access.

UT – Utah's HB203, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost (D), aims to make minor improvements to the state's medical cannabis rules by increasing the number of legal cannabis-dispensing pharmacies from 15 to 17 and enhancing state oversight to ban tainted batches.  Despite initial opposition from conservative groups, the bill has passed the relevant Senate committee and gained support from key lawmakers, including Senate President Stuart Adams.

D.C. – The D.C. Council approved an emergency bill to give regulators expanded authority to act against unlicensed cannabis businesses.  The bill was introduced by D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson at Mayor Muriel Bowser's request.  Over the past six months, law enforcement closed 25 unlicensed cannabis retailers.  Unlicensed stores were selling unregulated, untested products, posing safety risks.  Some closures involved search warrants, recovering weapons, cash, cocaine, and other illegal drugs.  The bill still needs Mayor Bower’s final approval before its enacted.

Hemp

Bills to Limit Hemp-products Advance in Georgia –Senate Bill 33 proposes strengthening consumer protections by requiring testing and labeling for products with Delta 8 THC, Delta 10 THC, and other cannabinoids, while Senate Bill 254 would ban all THC-infused beverages and place new restrictions on hemp-derived Delta 8 and Delta 10.  

FL – The combined Florida House workgroup formed to study Florida’s hemp industry and recently came to conclusions regarding the status of hemp-derived products in the state.  Although the 24-member group was not tasked to make legislative recommendations, they agreed that Florida must change how hemp-derived products are regulated but does not want to take steps to ultimately shut down the state’s hemp industry.  These conclusions come after testimony from regulators, industry experts, and entrepreneurs.  Meanwhile, there have been bills introduced (SB 438 and SB1030) to regulate hemp-derived products proposing potency limitations.

KY – Kentucky lawmakers drop proposed ban on hemp-derived THC drinks and instead propose to regulate and limit these products under amendments to Senate Bill 202.  This bill would limit hemp-derived THC beverages to 5 mg of THC per beverage, require licensing, and regulate the beverages similarly to alcohol.  SB 202 also directs the University of Kentucky Cannabis Center to study these drinks providing a report by January 1, 2026, and directs the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to establish further regulations and requirements.  To become law, the bill will need to pass the House and receive Governor Andy Beshear’s signature.

Tennessee Seeks To Tighten Restrictions On Hemp Industry – House Bill 1376, passed by the House Judiciary Committee, proposes stricter regulations on the hemp industry in Tennessee.  Sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R), the bill would place the hemp industry under the Alcoholic Beverage Commission instead of the Department of Agriculture.  If enacted, only vape and liquor stores would be allowed to sell certain hemp products.  Derivatives like THCA and THCP would be banned.  Representatives from the hemp industry warn that the bill could force businesses to shut down and lead to lawsuits.

International

Germany – Amidst regulatory uncertainty, the number of medical cannabis imports to Germany more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, according to recent figures published by Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).  Germany imported over 70 tonnes of dried cannabis flowers in 2024, largely from Canada and Portugal.  The expansion of telemedicine clinics has driven much of the demand for medical cannabis.  The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) aims to repeal liberal cannabis laws, but coalition requirements may limit their ability to enforce these pledges.

Israel – On March 5th, 2025, the Knesset, the legislative branch of the Israeli government, approved a bill that regulates the use of cannabis for medical use in a preliminary reading.  The 2022 bill was supported by 37 Knesset members with only 20 opposing it.  This approval comes off the heels of a 2020 bill to legalize cannabis in Israel that was never passed.  Sharren Haskel, Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, considers this a step in the right direction for “stopping the prosecution [and] criminalization” of more than one million citizens who are cannabis users in Isreal.

Malavsia  – Malaysia’s Health Minister is inviting people with scientific evidence supporting the medical use of cannabis-based products to submit registration applications to the Drug Control Authority for approval and subsequent market in Malaysia.  Currently, cannabis and cannabis derivatives are classified as dangerous drugs and poisons under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Poisons Act 1952.    Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that prohibition of cannabis or hemp cultivation under Section 6B(1) of the Dangers Drugs Act does not prevent him from “granting authorization to public officials for cannabis cultivation for research, educational, experimental, or medical purposes.”

Switzerland – Switzerland recently announced its plans to become the first European country to launch a full adult-use cannabis market.  To further those plans, the country launched seven active pilot trials, which explore different ways of selling and dispensing cannabis.  The trials, still in their early stages, have shown that when participants shift their consumption patterns, they usually move to lower-risk consumption methods such as vaping.

Business

A Report Commissioned By The California Department Of Cannabis Control Concludes That The Ongoing Federal Ban On Interstate Marijuana Commerce Is A Key Factor Aiding The Illicit Market –A report commissioned by the California Department of Cannabis Control (“DCC”) concludes that the ongoing federal ban on interstate marijuana commerce is a key factor aiding the illicit market and hurting licensed cannabis businesses.  The DCC made this finding based on an analysis of consumer trends, industry data, regulatory enforcement actions and more.  The report claims that 40% of consumers are purchasing from legal operators years into legalization, leaving 60% of consumers utilizing the illicit market to obtain their product.  The report also lists the unregulated market for intoxicating hemp as a substitute for consumers which creates another barrier to entry to the legal market.  Restricting the intoxicating hemp market would limit substitutes and increase benefits to the legal market.

NORML Op Ed: Marijuana Consumers Are Under Attack In Multiple States, And It’s Time To Fight Back– 70% of Americans believe that cannabis should be legal for adults, yet lawmakers on both the Democratic and Republic sides are attacking consumers right to safe, affordable access to legal cannabis.  Republican lawmakers in Montana, Nebraska, Texas, Ohio, and South Dakota are not only seeking to revoke or significantly limit current legal cannabis voter-approved or voter-initiated laws, but are also making attempts to remove the consumer voter from the process.  Democratic lawmakers in California, Maryland, Michigan, and New Jersey are also attempting to hurt these legal markets by increasing cannabis taxes at an alarming rate.  These attacks on legal cannabis threaten the consumer's access while also pushing them into the illicit market.  Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML, urges “Now is not the time to become complacent, nor is it a time to presume that marijuana will somehow legalize itself.”

The “Hidden Potential Winners” of Cannabis Rescheduling: DEA-Registered Bulk Manufacturers – A recent Canna Law Blog maps out the strategic advantage DEA-registered bulk manufacturers (“DEA Registrants”) have to advocate for rescheduling, engage with Attorney General Bondi and access opportunities in the domestic and global cannabis market.  There are currently eight DEA Registrants that can cultivate federally legal cannabis for scientific, research and medical purposes.  Given their unique position and authority from the DEA, the blog argues DEA Registrants could be favorable voices in advancing the process of changing the federal framework.  Furthermore, the blog suggests DEA Registrants could be at the forefront of innovative partnerships with state-legal operators and the exportation of US grown medical cannabis.

Oscar Nominees Receive Gift Bags with Cannabis Products – The “Everybody Wins” gift bag at this year’s Oscars, worth nearly $200,000, contained a selection of cannabis products.  These included infused gummies from Beboe, infused beverages from Señorita, pre-rolls from Dogwalkers, and smokeable products from RYTHM.  The gift bags were offered to celebrities like the host of the Oscars, Conan O’Brien, and Oscar nominees, such as Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Demi Moore, and Cynthia Erivo.

Medicine

Study Finds That Medical Cannabis Patients Report “Significant Improvements” In Their Cancer-Related Symptoms – Data published in the scientific journal, Cannabis, recently reported that of the 220 cancer patients surveyed, 83-91% benefited from the use of medical cannabis for symptoms of pain, insomnia, and stress (anxiety/depression), 69-80% felt improvements with anorexia and digestive symptoms, and about 50% reported improvements in fatigue and neuropathy.  The study also showed how financial disparity was a factor in frequency of use with many citing costs as a reason.  This raised the issue of health equity, lack of insurance coverage, affordability and access to medical cannabis.

Psychedelics

Missouri Lawmakers Advance Bill to Conduct Medical Psilocybin Trials – The Missouri House Committee on Veterans and Armed Forces unanimously (20-0) voted to advance a bill to permit clinical trials researching the use and efficacy of psilocybin.  Eligible patients would require a diagnosis of PTSD, major depressive disorder, or substance use disorder, or require end-of-life care and be at least 21 years old.  As such, supporters argue the bill would particularly support veterans.  This is the third consecutive year Missouri lawmakers have considered reforming the state’s medical psilocybin program.

Please click here for more information on the Dentons US Cannabis group.

Authored by associates Lauren Estevez, Kristina Grimaldi, Blair Johnson, Jacob Raver and Legal Interns Victoria Mooncotch and Jessica Steinberg