Cannabis News Roundup: Week 2025-16: TX expansion of medical cannabis program, MO recalls and cancelled licenses, NC proposes cannabis access via state-sanctioned studies

19 Apr, 2025

This week’s episode dives into cannabis legislation sweeping the U.S.—from Texas expanding access to chronic pain patients to Missouri cracking down on predatory investors in microbusiness licenses. We cover Illinois' push to end vehicle searches based on smell, Indiana's new Delta-8 regulations, and Florida’s contradictory bills helping veterans while taxing hemp products. Plus, we explore vetoes in Arkansas, New Hampshire's stalled legalization, and equity debates in Kentucky's licensing rollout.

 

 

 

 

Transcript

TEXAS

Texas lawmakers are reviewing a new bill to expand the state’s limited medical cannabis program. House Bill 46, introduced by Representative Ken King, would increase the number of cannabis dispensary licenses to 11, allow storage at satellite locations, and expand treatment access to more patients, including those with chronic pain. The bill also includes new ways of administering low-THC cannabis, such as vaporized inhalation when medically necessary. A hearing on the bill took place on April 17.

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ILLINOIS

Illinois is taking another step toward cannabis law reform. Senate Bill 42, which passed the Senate on April 11, would prohibit law enforcement from stopping or searching a vehicle based solely on the smell of cannabis. The bill also eliminates a previous requirement that cannabis be transported in odor-proof containers.

The legislation is a response to confusion created by two conflicting Illinois Supreme Court rulings in 2023. One said the smell of burnt cannabis wasn’t enough to justify a search, while another said the odor of raw cannabis was — due to the packaging requirements in place. Senator Rachel Ventura, who sponsored the bill, says this placed an unreasonable burden on law enforcement and created inconsistencies in how cannabis users were treated.

SB 42 now heads to the House, where supporters hope it will soon be signed into law.

MISSOURI

In Missouri this week, cannabis regulators made headlines on two fronts—product safety and social equity enforcement—raising concerns across the broader industry about compliance and accountability.

First, state officials expanded a massive marijuana product recall, now affecting nearly 68,000 items linked to a company called Delta Extraction. The issue? THC oil used in those products was sourced from outside Missouri and never entered the state’s track-and-trace system. While Delta argued their distillate, made from hemp-derived THC-A, was legal, Missouri regulators disagreed—emphasizing that all intoxicating cannabis must be grown, processed, and tracked in-state. It’s a stance that may influence how other states handle hemp-derived cannabinoids.

Second, Missouri revoked 25 cannabis microbusiness licenses after uncovering predatory investor practices that exploited a program designed for disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Regulators say wealthy backers used front-facing applicants to gain control of licenses, violating the spirit and the letter of the law. With 34 microbusiness licenses now revoked in total, Missouri’s crackdown is sparking broader conversations about how equity programs are monitored—and whether enough is being done nationwide to protect them from manipulation.

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina is inching closer to legalizing medical marijuana, but with a unique twist. House Bill 984 would legalize the possession and use of cannabis for patients enrolled in registered research studies. The bill aims to create a carefully controlled environment where doctors, institutions, and patients can legally explore the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.

The legislation would establish a state-run Cannabis Treatment Research Database under the Department of Health an