US Cannabis Policy Roundup: Rescheduling Fallout, Ballot Drives, and State Hemp Fights

An Idaho medical cannabis campaign has sent county-verified petition signatures to the secretary of state's office for final review of its legalization ballot measure, though it remains unclear whether the county count confirms enough valid signatures. The American Trucking Associations and other transportation and safety groups wrote federal officials citing "serious safety concerns" over the Trump administration's marijuana rescheduling effort, asking that employers retain the ability to drug-test safety-sensitive transportation workers. The Cayman Islands Law Reform Commission issued a report outlining reform options after voters backed a decriminalization referendum. Drug Policy Alliance's Cat Packer, writing an op-ed on the DEA's cannabis rescheduling hearing, said: "There was no discussion of the lasting harms of marijuana criminalization itself—the arrests, convictions, incarceration and collateral consequences that continue to affect individuals, families and communities." North Carolina's Senate passed a bill restricting hemp, THC and kratom products, going further than the House, which had only limited sales to those 21 and older. In Tennessee, Democrats are pushing a "Pot for Potholes Act" to legalize marijuana as new hemp THC restrictions take effect statewide. Georgia's expanded medical marijuana law could triple its registered patient count within a year, according to a licensed operator's CEO. Virginia hemp farmers and retailers worry new provisions in legislation legalizing recreational sales will hurt their businesses. Federally, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll banned kratom use among servicemembers. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) noted people remain "locked up" on nonviolent marijuana and drug charges while "other people are now millionaires because of cannabis." Elsewhere: New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office disputed claims its newborn drug-exposure custody policy would flag prior marijuana or alcohol use; California recalled marijuana products over pesticide contamination; Oklahoma and Illinois updated medical cannabis and hemp rules respectively; Colorado and Virginia published summaries of newly enacted cannabis laws; Oregon is seeking advisory committee applicants; New Jersey issued guidance on cannabis and pregnancy; Massachusetts' Cannabis Control Commission meets July 30; Denver released a marijuana social equity report; and the Philippine Supreme Court faces a petition to declare its drug war unconstitutional. New research found cannabinoid-based therapies reduced agitation and neuropsychiatric symptoms versus placebo in Alzheimer's patients, and that supervised full-spectrum medical cannabis oil use correlated with better reported quality of life and sleep. Separately, Terra Herbal Health LLC sued the IRS over 280E tax deficiencies and penalties following rescheduling.