Maryland Lawmakers Advance Bill To Extend Psychedelics Task Force Through 2027

Maryland House lawmakers have approved a Senate-passed bill to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027 to develop updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel drugs and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization.

About a month after unanimously advancing through the Senate, members of the House Health Committee on Tuesday approved the legislation from Sen. Brian Feldman (D) and the full House signed off on second reading on Wednesday, with third reading passage expected soon.

The House of Delegates separately passed the chamber’s own version of the bill last month.

Both chambers’ proposals are aimed at building upon a current law that created the Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances.

The Senate version of the bill was been amended in that chamber to add a representative of a historically black college or university (HBCU) to the task force. Del. Pam Guzzone (D) said on Tuesday that she wants senators to amend her bill, which is now in the other chamber, to also add the HBCU representative so that both versions will be identical.

The psychedelics panel released an initial final report to state lawmakers last year, with recommendations for the phased implementation of a wide range of reforms to provide legal therapeutic access to substances such as psilocybin.

Members of the task force have already advised that it was ultimately recommending a “multi-pathway framework for safe, broad, and equitable access to natural psychedelic substances, with an initial focus on psilocybin.”

The psychedelics task force was formed following Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) signing of a pair of bills into law in 2024. The 17-person body, overseen by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), was charged with studying how to ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances” in the state.

SB 336 and HB 427 would continue that work, maintaining the panel through December 31, 2027. In the interim, the task force would be required to submit an updated report to legislators with additional findings and recommendations by October 31 of this year.

Beyond the extended timeline for the task force to study and develop the new report, the current law would not change under the legislation.

The multi-step regulatory framework that members recommended last year “involves phased implementation of complementary elements from medical/therapeutic use and supervised adult use, to deprioritization, and to commercial sales,” the earlier report said. “This model broadly and inclusively serves the needs of Maryland’s diverse population while enabling unified safety standards, accountability, and viable economic pathways for small businesses.”

The first phase of the plan would be to create an advisory board to establish safety parameters, data monitoring, practice guidelines, licensing protections, public education campaigns, training for facilitators, law enforcement and testing facilities, as well as “immediate restorative justice measures,” the report states.

Under phase two, the state would implement “deprioritization measures” to mitigate the harms of criminalization, provide for supervised medical and adult-use consumption facilities, allow personal cultivation for “permitted individuals” and promote research processes.

Finally, phase three would be contingent on the “demonstrated safety outcomes and provider confidence” based on the prior steps. Should those factors be satisfied, the last phase would lead to a commercial sales program for adults “who maintain an active license to use natural psychedelic substances,” coupled with an evaluation of the state’s “readiness for expanding to additional natural psychedelic substances.”

“Safety and oversight measures ensure responsible and gradual expansion of access while maintaining capacity to identify and respond to emerging issues swiftly,” the report said. “This approach plans for long-term learning and improvement: starting small, utilizing built-in evaluation and accountability mechanisms from the outset, gathering real-world data, and committing to an iterative approach to policymaking.”

Notably, the task force said it did not support “delaying state action pending future federal [Food and Drug Administration] approval.”

“The Task Force recognizes that implementing such a comprehensive framework requires careful sequencing and coordination, with particular attention to scope of practice issues that may significantly affect the viability and safety of different pathways. However, the order of implementation must carefully consider professional regulatory frameworks and safety concerns raised by medical organizations and health care providers. The Task Force’s recommendation for simultaneous implementation of multiple pathways does not mean that all components must activate on the exact same day, but rather that Maryland should avoid the sequential approach seen in other jurisdictions where implementing one pathway causes others to ‘languish,’and/or bolster black and gray markets.”

Rather, the task force said, the multi-phase approach to psychedelics reform “establishes foundational systems that support all pathways equally, followed by a coordinated launch of medical, supervised adult use, and deprioritization pathways, with commercial sales following once product safety systems are operational.”

Members also said that the model envisioned could be used by other states to develop their own laws that “adapt to their own circumstances and values.”At this point, the task force is only looking at psilocybin, mescaline and DMT.

While the legislature empowered members to investigate potential regulations for other psychedelic substances, they decided to take a more conservative approach in their initial work.

As originally introduced, the House version of the task force legislation contained more prescriptive requirements to explore and issue recommendations on aspects of psychedelics policy such as “systems to support statewide online sales of natural psychedelic substances with home delivery” and “testing and packaging requirements for products containing natural psychedelic substances with clear and accurate labeling of potency.” That language was ultimately removed, however.

The task force legislation advanced about two years after a different law took effect creating a state fund to provide “cost-free” access to psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

—Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—

Meanwhile, earlier this month, Maryland lawmakers took up a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job—taking testimony on the unique need to give emergency service professionals the option to use cannabis as an alternative treatment for health conditions that commonly afflict the first responder community.

Legislators also considered a bill last month to protect the gun rights of medical marijuana patients in the state.

Members of the House Judiciary Committee discussed the legislation from Del. Robin Grammer (R), who has sponsored multiple versions of the cannabis and gun rights measure over recent sessions, but they have not yet advanced to enactment.

Separately, a Republican congressional lawmaker representing Maryland who has built a reputation as one of the staunchest opponents of marijuana reform on Capitol Hill—and whose record includes ensuring that Washington, D.C. officials are blocked from legalizing recreational cannabis sales—may be at risk of being unseated in November due to redistricting in his state.

Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype and Apollo.

Michigan Sheriff Running For Governor Pledges To Repeal Marijuana Tax Increase

“We cannot balance state budgets on the backs of one industry. Excessive taxation drives consumers back to the illicit market and shrinks the legal one.”

By Katherine Dailey, Michigan Advance

Genesee County Sheriff and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Swanson came out strongly in opposition to the 24 percent cannabis tax passed as a part of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to pay for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) plan to fund road repairs statewide.

In a video posted to Facebook on Friday evening, Swanson promised that, if elected, he would work to repeal the tax saying that it is “not fair and equitable” to an industry that provides goods and services, as well as jobs, for the state of Michigan.

Swanson’s campaign added in a press release that the tax “undermines both the legal market and the intent of voter-approved legalization,” citing the 2018 ballot initiative vote that legalized cannabis in the state of Michigan.

“As Governor, I will work to roll back the 24 percent wholesale excise tax to ensure fairness and equity,” he continued in the press release. “We cannot balance state budgets on the backs of one industry. Excessive taxation drives consumers back to the illicit market and shrinks the legal one.”

“I’ve never been a fan of solving budgetary problems by targeting one industry, and that’s what’s happened,” Swanson said in the video. “The people spoke. This is an industry that’s here to stay. and anything that tries to disrupt that is gonna be non-negotiable for this administration. And on top of that, we’re gonna keep this from spilling over to the black market, where these can lead into other, more dangerous situations. So we’re just gonna make sure this industry is taken care of.”

The tax passed narrowly through the state Legislature in early October and went into effect at the start of 2026, and has been heavily criticized—and even taken to court—by cannabis industry leaders for what they see as harms to the industry and the small businesses that make it up.

Swanson’s press release also quoted Michigan Cannabis Industry Association Executive Director Robin Schneider as praising his opposition to the tax, especially as a law enforcement officer focused on keeping the industry out of the black market.

“Candidate Chris Swanson came out publicly against the 24 percent wholesale tax,” Schneider said. “It is now our responsibility to create the momentum behind the messaging that he is bold enough to carry for us.”

Swanson also emphasized in the press release that he still intends to fund the types of infrastructure projects that the cannabis tax is currently set to fund.

“This is about doing what’s right for Michigan. Even by rolling back this tax, I am 100 percent committed to funding all future road and bridge projects. That’s a priority too,” he said. “Supporting a fair system protects people, strengthens small businesses and respects the voters who made their voices heard.”

Swanson has trailed in polling and campaign fundraising in the primary behind Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D), but has continued campaigning ahead of the August primary.

This story was first published by Michigan Advance.

Hawaii Senators Pass Resolutions Seeking Federal Medical Marijuana Exemption From DEA

Hawaii senators are sending a message to the governor, state attorney general and health department to recognize their “clear legislative stance” in support of requesting an exemption from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stipulating that Hawaii is permitted to run its medical cannabis program without federal interference.

Members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Monday approved a pair of resolutions that address the state-federal cannabis policy disconnect, with a push to have state officials exercise their authority to request a DEA exemption under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) with respect to its medical marijuana law.

The “legal disharmony” resulting from the underlying policy conflict has “created a layered legal and economic gray area, in which patients and dispensaries must violate federal law to participate, with prosecution protection entirely dependent upon the non-enforcement of federal law,” the companion Senate resolution and Senate concurrent resolution say.

This is not the first time that the legislature has advanced such resolutions—and the language of the latest versions reflects a sense of frustration that the Department of Health (DOH) failed to follow through on lawmakers’ 2021 directive to request the cannabis exemption. The governor and state attorney general also have the power to make that exemption request, the measures note.

Under the current system, the “legal disparities between the state and federal regulation of cannabis threaten employment, firearms registration, inter-island transport, housing, hospice care, and safe and affordable access for tens of thousands of Hawaii’s medical cannabis patients,” the legislation says, adding that the conflicting policies further “discourage hundreds of thousands of potential medical cannabis patients from enrolling in Hawaii’s Medical Cannabis Program for fear of federal repercussions.”

To effectively protect the state’s medical cannabis patient population, Hawaii could apply for the DEA exception “so that registered patients could participate in Hawaii’s Medical Cannabis Program without being exposed to federal prosecution or discrimination,” SR 141 and SCR 150 continue.

Under the concurrent resolution adopted during the 2021 session, DOH received a request from lawmakers to apply for that exemption in hopes of receiving “formal written acknowledgement that the listing of marihuana, marihuana extract, and tetrahydrocannabinols as controlled substances in Federal Schedule I does not apply to the protected activities in Hawaii Revised Statutes.”

However, “despite this clear legislative stance, the Department of Health, along with the Governor and Attorney General who also have the discretion to apply for the exemption, have yet to take any action,” the measures say.

Notably, the resolutions that cleared the Senate committee on Monday also point out that President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December to “expedite the federal rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule III.” Therefore, there’s urgent need to “protect Hawaii’s medical cannabis program and the state’s authority over the intrastate medical use of cannabis.”

The resolutions say the governor is “respectfully requested to act on House Concurrent Resolution 132, Regular Session of 2021 and pursue with the Drug Enforcement Administration an exemption from federal controlled substance regulation for registered medical cannabis patients in Hawaii.”

Also, “it is also requested that registration waivers from the Drug Enforcement Administration for state-licensed dispensaries under Chapter 21 United States Code, section 822(d) are pursued for the intrastate production and distribution of medical cannabis,” and DOH is additionally “requested to provide updates to the Legislature as they become available.”

Relatedly, in 2020, DEA rejected a petition to exempt Iowa from enforcement actions related to its medical cannabis program that was filed by an activist, Carl Olsen, who also filed a lawsuit against the governor, arguing that the state had unnecessarily delayed submitting that request as prescribed under legislation that passed that year.

—Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—

Back in Hawaii, although senators recently approved a bill to legalize low-dose and low-potency marijuana, the legislation didn’t advance through required steps before a key deadline, and so it is dead for the year.

A separate marijuana legalization bill that contained provisions making the reform contingent on changes to federal law or the state Constitution, SB 2421, was deferred for action. Both Senate and House panels additionally deferred action on a measure to allow for the sale of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

Those actions comes after key House lawmakers signaled that cannabis legalization proposals would not be advancing in the 2026 session, citing a lack of sufficient support in their chamber.

Earlier this month, a Hawaii Senate committee separately passed legislation to allow patients to immediately access medical cannabis once their registrations are submitted, instead of having to wait until their cards are delivered as is the case under current law.

Meanwhile, a Hawaii House committee last week approved a Senate-passed bill that would create a psychedelics task force responsible for studying and making policy recommendations on providing access to breakthrough therapies such as psilocybin and MDMA.

Legislation to allow qualifying patients to access medical marijuana at health facilities is also advancing this session.