🌿 Congressman calls for cannabis removal from CSA, EU moves to modernize hemp rules, and DEA prepares to publish cannabis business list

Happy Friday Pre Rollers! Welcome to another edition of The Pre Roll, the cannabis newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the industry happenings you need to know.

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Hard act to follow. United States Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) has introduced the Public Health and Research Reforms in Controlled Substances Act, a sweeping proposal to overhaul the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) for the first time in its history. The legislation seeks to modernize federal drug policy by prioritizing scientific evidence, public health, and criminal justice reform. Most notably for the cannabis industry, the bill would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely, eliminating its federal controlled substance classification.

Beyond cannabis descheduling, the six-part proposal would establish a revised drug scheduling framework, require scientific reassessment of approximately 30 controlled substances, and shift certain scheduling and research responsibilities from the Department of Justice and DEA to the Department of Health and Human Services. It would also expand research opportunities through blanket research licenses, improve transparency in scheduling decisions, and eliminate federal mandatory minimum drug sentences while allowing retroactive sentencing relief.

The legislation has received endorsements from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the Drug Policy Alliance, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. While the proposal represents a significant federal reform effort, its introduction is only the first step in the legislative process; congressional consideration and passage remain necessary.

In perfect harmony. The Council of the European Union has advanced a proposed agricultural regulation that would establish a harmonized framework for hemp production and marketing rules across member states, reducing uncertainty for farmers and businesses operating in the European hemp and cannabinoid sectors.

According to a press release, eligible hemp would need to come from registered varieties containing no more than 0.3% THC and be grown from certified seed, with comparable THC requirements applying to imports.

The changes do not constitute broad cannabis market legalization or even liberalization. Member states would retain some authority to restrict hemp products on public health and security grounds. The Council’s position is a partial negotiating mandate, so the final rules and implementation timeline remain subject to negotiations with the European Parliament.

Wait list. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is preparing to publish a list of state-licensed medical cannabis businesses that applied for federal protections under the Trump administration’s partial rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. The list is expected to identify applicants by state and business type, including dispensaries, manufacturers, and distributors, with daily updates planned once it becomes available. For now, however, the agency’s webpage links only to a placeholder file, and officials have not confirmed a release date.

The list will track businesses that submitted applications within a 60-day window to qualify for expedited consideration. Under the April rescheduling rule, the DEA is directed to process these early applications within six months, while qualifying applicants may continue operating under state-issued licenses during review. The agency has also introduced registration forms for additional medical cannabis businesses, and is conducting inspections of applicants.

However, the registration process is raising concerns about compliance requirements and workforce implications. Industry sources also report inconsistencies in inspection practices across regional DEA offices. For operators, the forthcoming list and evolving registration process will offer important insight into how federal rescheduling protections are being implemented.

Kansas: The annual Kansas Speaks Survey coordinated by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University found majority support for cannabis legalization among adult residents: 65% support legalizing medical cannabis and 58% support legalizing recreational cannabis.

Massachusetts: Cannabis regulators are considering eliminating residency requirements for medical cannabis, allowing out-of-state patients certified by a health care provider in the state to purchase tax free medical cannabis.

Michigan: Representative Jay DeBoyer plans to introduce legislation suspending the state’s 24% wholesale cannabis tax for 12 months, arguing that it has generated less revenue than projected and placed additional pressure on licensed cannabis businesses.

New Hampshire: In the most recent gubernatorial debate, candidates clashed over recreational cannabis legalization, with incumbent Governor Kelly Ayotte opposing recreational cannabis legalization over concerns about its impact on youth mental health, while Democratic challenger Cinde Warmington supports legalization to regulate sales, improve consumer safety, and retain cannabis tax revenue within the state.

New York: Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the state’s legal adult-use cannabis market has surpassed $4 billion in retail sales, reflecting rapid industry growth and expanding opportunities for licensed businesses and social equity entrepreneurs.

Oklahoma: Governor Kevin Stitt announced that Adria Berry will step down as executive director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to pursue new opportunities, naming compliance and enforcement deputy Jason Yingling as interim director while Berry remains secretary of licensing and regulation through the end of Stitt’s term.

Texas: Hemp businesses have filed a new lawsuit arguing that state officials overstepped their authority by imposing a ban on smokable hemp-derived THC products and sharply increasing licensing fees, seeking to block the regulations they say are harming the industry.

MariMed maneuvers for possible stock split

The multi-state cannabis operator’s shareholders approved a potential stock split of 1-for-50 to 1-for-100, giving the board flexibility to pursue a U.S. national stock exchange listing.

Safe Harbor Financial finds merger partner

The cannabis fintech signed a non-binding agreement for a proposed business combination with creator economy company Opifex Media, creating a diversified holding company that would remain Nasdaq-listed.

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Stay tuned for more cannabis industry news next week!

💚,

The Pre Roll Team

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