Hey there, Benzinga Cannabis Community! It’s Maureen Meehan here, your resident weed-watcher, ready to break down what’s been going on in the world of cannabis — from Capitol Hill to the heart of Texas and beyond.

Today, we’ve got a federal update that might make you do a double take, Montana’s lawmakers moving some green away from the green and New York regulators who are still snoozing on those pot lounges.

Texas might actually make life easier for medical cannabis operators, while Minnesota’s tribal land ruling is raising serious equity questions. We’re also talking psychedelics, migraines, MDMA deals and a mega dispensary staking its claim on the Texas border.

Let’s break it all down.

In today's issue:

• 🏛️ Politics + Policy Moves

• 🏙️ Local Grumbles & Growing Pains

• 🧪 Health, Science & Psychedelics

• 💊 Business & Industry Buzz

🚨 Federal Marijuana Trafficking Cases Continue To Decline As State-Level Legalization Expands

In case you needed more proof that legalization works—federal cannabis trafficking cases have plummeted. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission's 2024 Sourcebook, we’re down to roughly 500 cases in 2024 from a high of nearly 5,000 back in 2013. That’s a massive drop and a clear sign that federal enforcement is chilling as states blaze their own paths.

Translation? Fewer people getting busted for weed, more energy to focus on, well, actual crime.

💸 Montana Senate Approves Bill To Shift Marijuana Revenue From Conservation Programs To Police And Addiction Treatment

Things are heating up in Montana, where lawmakers just advanced Senate Bill 307 to redirect over $60 million in weed tax revenue away from wildlife conservation—and toward enforcement and treatment programs.

Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray isn’t sugarcoating it: “I would submit to you that the deer, the elk, the ducks, the geese are all doing pretty good in Montana.”

He’s betting voters care more about kids and cannabis prevention than funding for ducks. Time will tell how that gamble pays off.

🌿 What’s Next For Medical Cannabis In Texas?

Could the Lone Star State finally be making moves that don’t involve long drives and midnight delivery runs? A bipartisan bill—SB 1505—aims to allow medical cannabis providers to store their products in satellite locations instead of hauling everything back to a central hub each night.

For companies like Texas Original, that would be a game-changer. Drivers wouldn’t have to spend hours on the road just to meet state requirements. This one’s got support from both sides of the aisle, and for once, Texas patients and providers might get a win.

Speaking of Texas…

🚀 Mango Cannabis Launches Superstore In New Mexico, Along Texas Border Where Weed Is Banned

Everything’s bigger in Texas—even when it’s not in Texas. Mango Cannabis just launched a 9,000-square-foot superstore in Sunland Park, NM, right next to El Paso, where cannabis remains very illegal.

COO Mike Khemmoro told Benzinga the store is already crushing it. “As the largest dispensary in the state at over 9,000 square feet, Mango Cannabis is here to set a new standard,” he said.

Texans may not be able to buy weed legally at home—but a short drive across the border could change their day real quick.

⚖️ Tribal Land Ruling Undercuts Marijuana Law’s Claims Of Undoing Racial Disparities

In Minnesota, a tribal cannabis case highlights the tension between state law, tribal sovereignty, and social equity. After Todd Thompson, a member of the White Earth Band of Chippewa, started selling cannabis from his shop on tribal land, he was raided by local and tribal law enforcement.

“They took my sacred items… my feather and put it on the floor,” said Thompson, who cited his tribe’s constitution to defend his rights.

It’s a reminder that legalization without respect for sovereignty and equity is not a winning formula and that there’s still a long road ahead.

🛋️ NY Cannabis Merchants Fume They Can’t Open Pot Lounges Because Of Foot-Dragging By Regulators

Remember when New York legalized cannabis and promised weed lounges? Yeah, about that...

Four years later, there’s still no way to even apply for a consumption site license. Dispensary operators are stuck with unused space and mounting frustration. The Office of Cannabis Management says rules are coming, but one industry insider blamed the footdragging on resistance from public health officials wary of sidestepping indoor air laws.

Until then, it’s smoke outside or not at all.

👁️ Study Finds Cannabis Users Face Higher Risk Of Thyroid Eye Disease

A new study in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is raising eyebrows (and eyelids). Researchers found that cannabis users are at higher risk of developing Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)—symptoms include eye swelling, retraction, and even optic nerve damage.

The study compared users of cannabis, cigarettes and control patients. Treatments included steroids and Tepezza (by Horizon Therapeutics). This is definitely something for regular consumers and healthcare pros to keep an eye on—literally.

🍄 Using Psychedelics Is Tied To 25% Lower Likelihood Of ‘Frequent Bad Headaches,’ Study Shows

Magic mushrooms and LSD might be the unexpected MVPs in the fight against migraines. According to a new study in the Journal of Pharmacology, people who’ve tried classic psychedelics are 25% less likely to report frequent bad headaches.

The data, pulled from a long-term UK cohort study, can’t prove causation, but the association is strong enough to get researchers excited about future treatment options. Less Advil, more microdosing? Stay tuned.

🇺🇸 PharmAla Signs Distribution Agreement For Its MDMA Drug In The U.S.

PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (CSE: MDMA) (OTC: MDXXF) secured a U.S. distribution partner for its clinical-grade LaNeo MDMA. The third-party logistics firm specializes in pharma, which means smoother supply chain operations and less import/export drama.

The deal helps ensure MDMA reaches clinical trial sites efficiently—and sets up PharmAla for wider U.S. market penetration as psychedelic medicine continues evolving.

Got thoughts? Tips? Wild stories from your dispensary visits?

Hit reply or send a note to [email protected] — we love hearing from you!

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