Latest Cannabis News: July 29, 2025

Stay up to date with the latest legalization and cannabis news with the C.B. Advisors. Every week, we will release a snippet of what’s happening with each state in the cannabis industry. Did you miss last week? No worries – click here for last week’s cannabis news.

Federal

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge who’s overseen the ongoing marijuana rescheduling process is retiring, saying that “all matters filed in this case will be forwarded to” President Donald Trump’s newly Senate-confirmed agency administrator “for whatever action, if any, he deems appropriate,” as there is for now no judge to hear the issue.

Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-judge-overseeing-marijuana-rescheduling-retires-leaving-fate-of-reform-to-trumps-new-agency-head/

Low THC

North Carolina: Ahead of its first meeting on Tuesday, a governor-created cannabis advisory council in North Carolina is seeking comments from the public about the marijuana policy issues they care about most. After its first meeting on Tuesday, the council is set to convene at least every other month through December 2026. Members will be tasked with developing and submitting initial recommendations on a “comprehensive cannabis policy, including any proposed legislation” to the governor by May 15, 2026.

Final recommendations will be due by December 31, 2026.

Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/governor-created-north-carolina-marijuana-council-seeks-public-comment-ahead-of-first-meeting-this-week/

Medical

Oklahoma: A campaign to put adult-use marijuana legalization before Oklahoma voters next year will begin gathering signatures on Friday. If Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA) is successful, voters will see a marijuana legalization question on their ballots as early as next June’s primary election, the campaign said. If it qualifies for the ballot and is passed, State Question 837 would:

• Preserve existing MMJ regulations, with sales regulated by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA).
• Allow adults 21 and older to purchase cannabis from existing MMJ dispensaries.
• Impose a new 10% excise tax on adult-use purchases.

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/oklahoma-adult-use-marijuana-legalization-campaign-launches-this-week/

Texas: A Texas lawmaker is using a special legislative session, called in part to regulate hemp products, to introduce a bill that would legalize adult-use marijuana.

If passed, House Bill 195, introduced July 24 by Democratic state Rep. Jessica González, would permit adults 21 and over to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or 15 grams of concentrates. Licensing and oversight would fall under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, with rules in place by November 1, 2026.

The agency would license cannabis growers, processors, testing labs, and retailers.

Cannabis sales would be allowed only in jurisdictions that opt in. Local governments could regulate the number, hours, and locations of businesses.

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/texas-lawmaker-introduces-longshot-marijuana-legalization-proposal/

Recreational

New York: The state Office of Cannabis Management previously granted licenses to the dispensaries because it miscalculated how near they were to local schools. Affected storefronts will need to move before renewing their licenses, and those still going through the application process will need to alter their plans, per a letter sent today by the state Office of Cannabis Management. A misapplication of local zoning codes saw regulators misjudge distances by measuring from a school’s entrance rather than from its property line. A source familiar with the situation told City & State that the governor was furious when briefed on the issue before assembling her staff. OCM ultimately determined that 105 retail dispensary license holders would be affected, 53 of which are located in New York City; however, 43 of those 105 licensees aren’t operational yet. An additional 47 applicants for licenses are also expected to be affected. OCM and the Hochul administration are hoping that new legislation could grandfather in dispensaries that were inadvertently given the licenses.

Source: https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/07/ocm-informs-cannabis-dispensaries-they-must-relocate-further-away-schools/407042/

Rhode Island: Rhode Island published their social equity resource page. The page features presentations, reference materials for the app process, and an interactive DIA map.

Source: https://ccc.ri.gov/social-equity-resource-page

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