Cannabis News of Note for the Week:
Marijuana Moment: The House Appropriations Committee is calling for an investigation into the Biden administration’s marijuana rescheduling recommendation, citing “deviations” from a prior review process as well as concerns about the “mental health hazards” of cannabis use.
Law Firm Holland & Hart: A federal court ruled that marijuana businesses are blocked from utilizing COVID-19-Related Employee Retention Credits under the 280E tax penalty.
Greenway Magazine: May marijuana sales set multiple records, highlighting strength of Missouri market
Politico: House Committee Advances Ban on Intoxicating Hemp (Below)
APPROPS BILL ADVANCES W/OUT HEMP CHANGES — The FY 2026 Agriculture appropriations bill advanced Wednesday in the House without changes to language that would prohibit THC in hemp.
In a somewhat telling sign, Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Natalie on Wednesday that he supports the language.
“Every gas station, or all these shops that show up in Main Street USA … are really selling what is, in effect, cannabis,” Joyce said. “And they shouldn’t be.”
He said his support for cannabis is rooted in a desire for regulation, testing and making sure there is no access for youth. The proliferation of intoxicating hemp products, he said, includes none of that. While he is glad that some states have passed laws regulating hemp products, he believes they should just create a state-legal cannabis industry.
“They’re taking advantage of a loophole,” Joyce added. “You’re either in the cannabis industry or producing industrial hemp for industrial hemp purposes.”
What’s next? The Appropriations Committee is moving through various pieces of budget legislation, but the House floor vote on the 2026 budget could be months down the line. And whether or not the Senate will leave the language in the bill is another question entirely.
Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) or Rand Paul (R-Ky.), both senators who have supported the hemp industry in the past, said they hadn’t read the language when asked on the Hill this week. There’s so much other important legislation on the agenda right now in the Senate — most notably the “big, beautiful bill” — that it’s just not top of mind
Cannabis Reports of Note for the Week:
MMJ Daily: Breaking Down the Tax Revenue for Adult Use States