Good morning — here's the regulatory picture for alcohol and hemp/THC beverages, readable in about three minutes. Every headline links to the original source. A quiet stretch on the alcohol side, so today's edition leans hemp/THC. Top Story House set to vote this week on funding bill that delays the federal hemp THC ban to December 11 FEDERAL • Marijuana Moment • Aug 31 The House is expected to take up, as soon as today, the Senate-passed government funding bill whose hemp provision moves the effective date of federal hemp THC recriminalization from November 12 to December 11. The Senate approved the bill 90–6 after rejecting, 61–32, an amendment from Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) that would have removed the delay. The House vote is expected under suspension of the rules — an expedited process requiring a two-thirds majority and allowing no amendments. Supporters of the provision say the extra month gives lawmakers time to craft regulations as an alternative to prohibition. Why it matters: If enacted, every compliance plan keyed to the November 12 federal effective date shifts to December 11 — a four-week extension of the current selling window for hemp THC beverages, and a new deadline to watch for reformulation, labeling and inventory decisions. |
Federal DEA sends 26-question compliance form to businesses registering for rescheduling protections FEDERAL • Marijuana Moment • Aug 31 The Drug Enforcement Administration is sending a 26-item questionnaire to state-licensed medical cannabis businesses that registered for federal protections under the administration's rescheduling initiative, with questions covering interstate sourcing, supplier identification, product types, packaging and labeling compliance, and disposal of defective product; facility inspections follow registration. The registration form launched in April. Around the States New Mexico: retailer migration to NMS2S begins; BioTrack shuts down for good at 12:01 a.m. Friday NEW MEXICO • NM Regulation & Licensing Dept. • Sep 1 Under the state's published cutover schedule, retailer migration to the new NMS2S track-and-trace system began at 12:01 a.m. today; retailers gain access to both systems Wednesday while sales continue in BioTrack, and all cannabis activity — including sales — moves to NMS2S when BioTrack shuts down at 12:01 a.m. September 4. The emergency motion by seven businesses asking a state court to keep BioTrack as the system of record through at least September 15 remained unresolved as of Monday. Why it matters: Partners moving product in New Mexico have until Friday to reconcile inventory and shift transfers, lab samples and sales records into the new system — and a late court order could still change the timeline on short notice. Missouri: state and hemp industry file opposing briefs in federal challenge to intoxicating-hemp law MISSOURI • Marijuana Moment • Aug 29 In the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, state officials defended House Bill 2641 — which restricts intoxicating hemp products, with exceptions for certain beverages, effective November 12 — while the Missouri Hemp Trade Association argued the law is unconstitutionally vague because a single product can be simultaneously legal hemp and illegal marijuana. The dueling briefs are now before Judge M. Douglas Harpool. Why it matters: The ruling will shape whether hemp beverages keep a distinct sales lane in Missouri when the law's restrictions take effect this fall. On the Radar Any day — A Travis County, Texas judge's ruling on hemp businesses' request to pause state THC enforcement remains pending after the August 28 hearing; a full temporary-injunction hearing follows on September 17 or October 8 depending on the outcome. Nov. 12 → Dec. 11? — New federal hemp restrictions take effect November 12 unless the funding bill now before the House (see Top Story) moves the date to December 11. DEA rescheduling — The agency's marijuana rescheduling decision remains pending; registrant inspections and follow-up questionnaires (see Federal) are underway in the meantime. |