Cannabis News Roundup: Week 2025-08: AL and MN cannabis business licensing begins, Oklahoma's gun rights and medical cannabis, Wisconsin's cannabis legalization in 2026-27

Week of 22 Feb, 2025

Florida’s push to include opioid addiction in its medical marijuana program, Illinois’ move to prevent police from using cannabis smell for searches, and Indiana’s approval of saliva tests for THC detection in DUI cases. Kansas shut down a bill allowing terminally ill patients access to medical cannabis, while Alabama’s medical marijuana program faces delays due to testing and licensing issues. Plus, we discuss Ohio’s attempt to roll back key provisions of its voter-approved recreational marijuana law and how Oklahoma is defending gun rights for medical marijuana patients. All this and more in our latest deep dive into cannabis policy and business.

 

Covered states: AL, FL, IL, IN, KS, ME, MN, NH, ND, OH, OK, WI

 

 

 

 

FLORIDA

 

In Florida, a State Senator Carlos Smith has introduced a bill to expand the state's medical marijuana program to include opioid addiction as a qualifying condition. If passed, this legislation would take effect on July 1st, providing individuals struggling with opioid dependence access to medical cannabis as a treatment option.

ILLINOIS

 

In Illinois, lawmakers are pushing a bill that would ban police from using the smell of cannabis—raw or burnt—as the sole reason to search a vehicle. Senate Bill 42, backed by Democratic Senator Rachel Ventura, aims to clarify conflicting court rulings and prevent unnecessary searches, which critics say disproportionately target people of color.

 

Supporters argue the change protects civil rights, while law enforcement groups worry it could hinder drug enforcement and efforts to catch impaired drivers. The bill has passed a key committee and now heads to the full Senate for debate. 

 

INDIANA

 

In Indiana, on Tuesday, the State House approved House Bill 11 19 with an 84 to 10 bipartisan vote. The bill seeks to permit specific saliva tests as admissible evidence for detecting THC and other drugs in drivers, aiming to enhance the efficiency of impaired driving prosecutions. The proposed legislation authorizes the use of two saliva tests—the Drager DrugTest 5,000 and the So Toxa Oral Fluid Mobile Test System—as admissible evidence in court to detect THC and other drugs in drivers.This initiative addresses concerns that current blood sample methods are time-consuming, costly, and contribute to backlogs in the Indiana State Police laboratories. The bill now advances to the Senate for consideration.

 

KANSAS

 

In Kansas on Friday, Senate rejected an amendment to Senate Bill 250 that would have granted terminally ill patients the right to access medical cannabis under the state's Right to Try Act. The proposal, introduced by Senator Cindy Holscher, aimed to align state policy with federal provisions was defeated along party lines.

ALABAMA

 

In Alabama, a long-delayed medical cannabis program is taking a crucial step forward. The Medical Cannabis Commission has announced it will begin issuing testing laboratory licenses—a necessary move before patients can legally access medical cannabis products.

Interested businesses must submit requests by March 14th, with formal applications due by April 16th, and licenses expected to be awarded by June 17th. 

The need for additional testing labs is urgent. Currently, only one facility is operational in Alabama, contributing to delays in making cannabis products available to patients. Without proper testing, when the dispensaries open, they won’t be able to stock shelves with legally compliant products. However, uncertainty remains. While cultivators are already growing cannabis, dispensary licenses are still tied up in legal disputes, and no patients are yet registered to purchase medical cannabis. This raises concerns about whether testing labs, even once licensed, will have products to test and a