Cannabis News Roundup: Week 2025-15: America’s Cannabis Future: Justice Reforms, Market Investigations, and Hemp Uncertainty

Week of 12 Apr, 2025

• Maryland advances major cannabis expungement reforms after mass pardons.

• New York investigates major brands for illegally moving cannabis into the legal market.

• Minnesota reinstates its social equity licensing lottery and finalizes key cannabis regulations.

• Connecticut debates shortening ownership rules for social equity businesses and establishes a new cannabis oversight division.

• North Dakota rejects decriminalization of low-level cannabis possession.

• Montana reallocates marijuana tax funds toward conservation, law enforcement, and public health.

• Nationally, former DEA officials warn Trump administration may delay marijuana rescheduling.

• National hemp news spotlights a regulatory crisis, blaming the FDA’s inaction for a market collapse.

• Texas, Alabama, Indiana, and Missouri all see legislative battles around regulating or restricting hemp-derived THC products like delta-8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MARYLAND

 

Maryland is taking major steps to expand cannabis justice. Lawmakers passed a bill that will automatically hide pardoned marijuana convictions from public view and make it easier for people to expunge cannabis-related records. This follows Governor Wes Moore’s mass pardon of over 175,000 such convictions last year. The bill also removes some restrictions on expungement eligibility, such as the need to complete probation first. Governor Moore is expected to sign the bill into law soon.

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NEW YORK

New York’s cannabis market is under fresh scrutiny.

State regulators have launched an investigation into California-based cannabis giant Stiiizy and several other brands. They’re accused of illegally bringing marijuana grown outside New York into the state’s legal supply chain — a practice called "inversion" that's banned under state and federal law.

Investigators conducted surprise audits at Omnium Canna, a licensed processor on Long Island, suspected of acting as a middleman. Brands reportedly involved, including Grön, M Fused, and To the Moon, have denied any wrongdoing. Stizy says inspections found no violations.

If proven, these allegations could hit local growers, hurt consumer safety, and further destabilize New York’s already fragile legal cannabis industry.

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MINNESOTA

On April 4, a state judge ordered the Office of Cannabis Management to reinstate a canceled lottery for social equity cannabis licenses. That lottery, meant to give early business opportunities to communities harmed by past marijuana laws, had been delayed for months over legal challenges.

Just days later, Minnesota's proposed cannabis regulations were approved without changes — a critical step toward launching retail sales.

Together, these rulings mean Minnesota can soon start issuing licenses and opening legal cannabis businesses. More than 1,700 social equity applicants now have a renewed shot at joining the industry.

While Minnesota’s rollout has been slower than other states, officials say the focus remains on fairness, public safety, and building an inclusive market.