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Happy Friday all. Here we go!

In the newsletter:

• GOP Lawmakers target federal hemp “loophole”

Read up,

Alex

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A GOP-driven federal spending bill in the House of Representatives would “effectively” ban hemp-derived products, including CBD, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Marijuana Moment

The bill, CRS found, would “expand on the existing statutory definition of hemp,” which currently means cannabis containing no more than 0.3 percent THC, “to include industrial hemp products and exclude hemp-derived cannabinoid products.” This would ban “production and sale of hemp-derived cannabinoids, derivatives, and extracts thereof,” including CBD. It would also exclude “non-naturally occurring and synthesized or manufactured compounds.

While many have looked to the (now two years late) farm bill for an update on the “loophole” that gave rise to the intoxicating hemp industry, this Republican led bill clearly has the policy in its sights.

Read the story

Business:

• Josh Kesselman, owner of Raw Rolling Papers, paid $3.5M to acquire the High Times brand and announced ambitious plans to restore the media brand and its Cannabis Cup events. Kesselman is looking for an editor in chief. 
  WSJ, @rawkandroll
• An arbitration ruling awarded brand Cookies $22.7M from its multi-state retail partner TRP. It’s unclear what this means for the many Cookies-branded TRP stores.
  MJBiz
• A federal judge in Michigan ruled cannabis cases can be heard in federal court as well as state court.
  Law360
• BioTrack‘s New York trace and trace system will require operators to buy digital tags.
• Conference & Meetings World takes a look at the Roots vs. Suits “battleground”
• The Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) elected its 2025-6 executive board members.
• Law firm Dickinson Wright published a white paper on the future of hemp.
• Colorado consultant Lara Fordis showed off her RV market research lab.

State and local:

• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has until Sunday to sign or veto the hemp ban.
  NY Times
• In Ohio, GOP infighting stalled the progress of a more restrictive REC bill.
  ABC-Cleveland
• The Maine industry held off a bill that would require testing and tracking for MED products. Only REC currently has to be tested and tracked.
  Press-Herald
• A Delaware lawmaker put the kibosh on a strict hemp bill.
  WHYY
• REC legalization talks continue in Pennsylvania.
  WHYY
• Cannabis lounge rules in Massachusetts are beginning to solidify.
  Boston Herald
• A group of Maryland hemp operators sued the state in a long running legal battle.
  Baltimore Sun
• The weed lounge concept is struggling in Vegas.
  Travel Weekly
• Minnesota awarded its first REC license.
  CBS
• The defunct MedMen store on Manhattan’s Fifth Ave. has a new tenant.
  Crain’s New York Business

Health and science:

• Printed and dyed rolling papers could pose health risks.
  MJBiz

Psychedelics:

• “Who will own the God molecule?”
  NYMag

International:

• An Ontario court certified a “very large and vexing” class action lawsuit claiming Canadian operator Aurora should have warned customers about Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome. Canna Law Blog discusses.

Fun and interesting:

• Why is weed’s skunky smell changing with the times?
  NPR

State:

• The 15% to 19% cannabis excise tax hike is set to kick in in less than two weeks unless the industry can avert it.
  WeedWeek
• The Department of Cannabis Control(DCC) is accepting proposals for up to $30M in academic research grants.
• ICYMI: New proposed pesticide testing rules would impose new costs.
  WeedWeek
• The Department of Public Health aims to make Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) effective ban on hemp products permanent. A public hearing will be held July 28.
• The State Fair’s Cannabis Oasis exhibit is returning, sponsored by Embarc and Fair Play Ventures.

Business:

• Calalyst CEO Elliot Lewis warned he may sue the DCC again.
  @catalyst_ceo
• Infused pre-rolls represent about 16% of the California market.
  Shanken Daily News
• There will be a public hearing Tuesday on a DCC proposal to to restrict the cannabinoid content of pet products.
• Cookies is opening its first shop in Washington D.C. The company will also debut in Australia under the name Berner’s Signature Series, following a trademark dispute.
  CannaBiz

Local:

• A long running lawsuit in Santa Barbara County, filed by a vintner against a pot farm, is approaching a key moment.
  KEYT
• Growers and conservationists are partnering to preserve NorCal watersheds.
  The Mendocino Voice
• Humboldt County continues to pull local permits as debts linger.
  KymKemp.com

Crime:

• Hundreds of Feds raided a grow operation in rural Riverside County.
  CBS