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. The alcohol side stayed quiet again, so today's edition leans hemp/THC. Top Story House passes funding bill 370–48, sending the hemp THC ban delay to President Trump FEDERAL • Marijuana Moment • Sep 1 The House voted 370–48 Tuesday to pass the Senate-approved government funding bill whose hemp provision moves the effective date of federal hemp THC recriminalization from November 12 to December 11, and the measure now goes to President Trump for signature. The provision keeps the original November 12 date for synthetic cannabinoids not naturally occurring in the plant. Supporters of the delay said the extra month gives lawmakers time to craft product regulations as an alternative to prohibition; the White House has said it supports the delay. Why it matters: Once the bill is signed, every compliance plan keyed to November 12 shifts to December 11 — four more weeks of the current selling window for hemp THC beverages and a new deadline for inventory, labeling and reformulation decisions. Synthetic-cannabinoid products stay on the November 12 timeline, and state-law effective dates set by the states themselves do not move. |
Federal Bid by ban supporters to block the House floor agenda over the hemp delay fails 210–208 FEDERAL • Marijuana Moment • Sep 1 Before the funding vote, a group of members opposed to the delay tried to defeat the procedural rule setting the House floor agenda; the rule survived 210–208. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) said intoxicating “gas station weed” is being sold in convenience stores, and Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) said unregulated intoxicating products should not remain on the market; Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) called the blocking tactic “blackmailing your colleagues,” and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) criticized colleagues for leveraging procedural votes over the issue. The narrow margin shows the December 11 date remains contested in Congress. Around the States New Mexico: judge holds off on tracking-system ruling until Thursday as retailer cutover proceeds NEW MEXICO • KUNM • Sep 1 Second Judicial District Judge Joshua Allison postponed a decision on cannabis businesses' request to keep BioTrack as the state's system of record, saying he wants to see how the new NMS2S system performs for retailers before ruling Thursday morning. The plaintiffs, including the Cannabis Association of New Mexico, said the transition has already caused losses during the blackout window and noted the BioTrack contract is paid through September 15; the Regulation and Licensing Department said the plaintiffs had not shown genuine harm. BioTrack's final shutdown remains set for 12:01 a.m. Friday. Why it matters: Partners moving product in New Mexico still face the Friday cutover — Thursday's ruling is the last point at which that timeline could change, so reconciliation and transfer records should be ready either way. California: Newsom signs bill defining cannabis packaging that is “attractive to children” CALIFORNIA • Marijuana Moment • Aug 31 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2249, by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D), which bars cannabis packaging designed or likely to appeal to people under 21 — including cartoons, child-associated characters, candy imagery and balloon-style lettering — effective January 1, 2028, with the Department of Cannabis Control to adopt implementing regulations. Newsom said the law protects children and gives “responsible businesses the certainty they need”; the California Cannabis Industry Association said it will “impose significant costs” on licensed operators. Realistic fruit imagery identifying ingredients remains permitted. Why it matters: Anyone selling into California's cannabis channel has a 16-month runway to audit label and package designs against the new definition before the 2028 effective date. On the Radar Thursday–Friday — New Mexico's Judge Allison rules Thursday morning on the bid to keep BioTrack as the system of record; absent an order, BioTrack shuts down for good at 12:01 a.m. Friday, September 4, and all activity moves to NMS2S. Awaiting signature — The funding bill with the hemp-delay provision is before President Trump; until it is signed, November 12 remains the federal effective date of record. 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. |