{"id":85446,"date":"2026-02-18T03:11:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/virginia-cannabis-bills-passed-by-house-and-senate-newsletter-february-18-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T19:46:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T03:46:48","slug":"virginia-cannabis-bills-passed-by-house-and-senate-newsletter-february-18-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/virginia-cannabis-bills-passed-by-house-and-senate-newsletter-february-18-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia cannabis bills passed by House and Senate (Newsletter: February 18, 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank-39.jpg\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1500\"> <\/p>\n<p><em>Former White House drug czar bashes rescheduling; OK GOP divided on medical marijuana; MD psychedelics vote; MA cannabis sales milestone<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/newsletter\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Subscribe<\/a>\u00a0to receive Marijuana Moment\u2019s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It\u2019s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.<\/p>\n<p>(function() {<br \/>\n\twindow.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || {<br \/>\n\t\tlisteners: [],<br \/>\n\t\tforms: {<br \/>\n\t\t\ton: function(evt, cb) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.mc4wp.listeners.push(<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t{<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tevent   : evt,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcallback: cb<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t);<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t}<br \/>\n\t}<br \/>\n})();<br \/>\n<!-- Mailchimp for WordPress v4.11.1 - https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/mailchimp-for-wp\/ --><\/p>\n<div class=\"mc4wp-form-fields\">Get our daily newsletter.&#013;<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n\t<label>Email address: <\/label>&#013;<br \/>\n\t&#013;\n<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n&#013;<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n\t&#013;\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><label>Leave this field empty if you&#8217;re human: <\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"mc4wp-response\" \/><!-- \/ Mailchimp for WordPress Plugin --><\/p>\n<p><b>Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Free to read (but not free to produce)!<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We\u2019re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we\u2019re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/former-white-house-drug-czar-says-trump-is-wrong-to-reschedule-marijuana-calling-it-a-gateway-drug-thats-massively-destructive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Former White House Drug Czar William Bennett said President Donald Trump is wrong about rescheduling marijuana<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, calling it a \u201cgateway drug\u201d that is \u201cmassively destructive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI love Donald Trump. I love almost everything he does, but I don\u2019t love this.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/virginia-lawmakers-pass-bills-to-legalize-marijuana-sales-resentence-past-convictions-and-allow-medical-cannabis-in-hospitals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Virginia lawmakers passed bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales, provide resentencing relief for past convictions and allow medical cannabis access in hospitals for seriously ill patients<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014setting up negotiations on the reforms between the Senate and House of Delegates.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/oklahoma-house-and-senate-gop-leaders-dismiss-governors-push-to-repeal-medical-marijuana-at-the-ballot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Oklahoma\u2019s GOP House speaker and Senate president pro tem are rejecting Gov. Kevin Stitt\u2019s (R) push to put medical cannabis back on the ballot and roll back legalization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014saying that voters have already decided they support legal access.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/hawaii-senators-take-up-marijuana-legalization-bills-after-key-house-lawmakers-signal-reform-is-dead-for-2026-session\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Hawaii Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Commerce and Consumer Protections Committee held a joint hearing on bills to legalize marijuana<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, allow hemp-derived cannabinoid product sales and expedite medical cannabis access.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/maryland-lawmakers-approve-bill-to-extend-psychedelics-task-force-through-2027\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Maryland House Health Committee approved a bill to extend the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for a year<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and require a new report with recommendations to ensure \u201cbroad, equitable &amp; affordable access to psychedelic substances.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/massachusetts-hits-9-billion-recreational-marijuana-sales-milestone-with-surge-in-purchases-ahead-of-big-snowstorm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission reported that retailers have now sold more than $9 billion worth of recreational marijuana products since legalization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014including a huge surge in purchases ahead of a recent big snowstorm.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ FEDERAL<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nida.nih.gov\/news-events\/meetings-events\/2026\/03\/national-advisory-council-drug-abuse-open-session-march-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> will meet on March 9.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ STATES<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/KPIX_20260216_040000_CBS_News_Things_That_Matter_A_Town_Hall_With_Governor_Wes_Moore\/start\/1966\/end\/2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Maryland<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Gov. Wes Moore (D) touted his mass marijuana pardon action.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.texasattorneygeneral.gov\/news\/releases\/attorney-general-paxton-sues-kratom-retailers-deceptively-marketing-and-selling-products-containing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Texas\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> attorney general is suing kratom retailers.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/tulsaworld.com\/news\/state-regional\/government-politics\/article_88c23504-f835-4cfc-ba0b-a9f5ef6cea72.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Oklahoma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill to allow counties and municipalities to add a local tax on medical cannabis.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.missourinet.com\/2026\/02\/16\/public-marijuana-use-could-become-a-misdemeanor-under-missouri-proposal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missouri<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> senator discussed her bill to criminalize public marijuana smoking.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/illinoisnewsjoint.com\/idoa-releases-bulletin-for-cannabis-labeling-stability-testing-and-retention-samples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Illinois<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators published guidance on cannabis labeling, stability testing and retention samples.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cca.virginia.gov\/news\/cca-launches-medical-cannabis-dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Virginia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators launched a new medical cannabis program dashboard.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MA_Cannabis\/status\/2021982288633110887\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Massachusetts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators published a guide on how marijuana revenue is allocated.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bscc.ca.gov\/news\/bscc-releases-125-million-to-support-illicit-cannabis-enforcement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">California<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Board of State and Community Corrections released $125 million in grant funding to support local governments\u2019 efforts to address public health and safety impacts associated with marijuana legalization.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>\u2014<br \/>\nMarijuana Moment is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9128 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank-38.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Learn more about our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.<br \/>\n\u2014<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b><br \/>\n\/ INTERNATIONAL<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Amsterdam, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchnews.nl\/2026\/02\/cannabis-cafe-ban-for-tourists-in-amsterdam-back-on-the-agenda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Netherlands<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> City Council is expected to consider banning tourists from accessing cannabis cafes after next month\u2019s elections.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ SCIENCE &amp; HEALTH<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A German study found that \u201ceight months after legalisation, no significant short-term effects on cannabis use or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanepe\/article\/PIIS2666-7762(26)00005-0\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">[driving under the influence of cannabis]<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> were observed.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A study found that people who inject drugs \u201cin states with recreational cannabis laws were less likely to use opioids daily\u201d and that \u201ccannabis <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/news-releases\/1115633\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">legalization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> may potentially reduce <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0376871626000219?via%3Dihub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">opioid-related harms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ BUSINESS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20260217100836\/en\/Compass-Pathways-Successfully-Achieves-Primary-Endpoint-in-Second-Phase-3-Trial-Evaluating-COMP360-Psilocybin-for-Treatment-Resistant-Depression\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compass Pathways plc<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> announced it achieved its primary endpoint in an ongoing Phase 3 trial of its synthetic psilocybin formulation for treatment-resistant depression.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Cannabis_RI\/status\/2022340199683125315\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rhode Island<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> retailers sold $10.2 million worth of legal marijuana products in January.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Make sure to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">subscribe<\/a> to get Marijuana Moment\u2019s daily dispatch in your inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>(function() {<br \/>\n\twindow.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || {<br \/>\n\t\tlisteners: [],<br \/>\n\t\tforms: {<br \/>\n\t\t\ton: function(evt, cb) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.mc4wp.listeners.push(<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t{<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tevent   : evt,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcallback: cb<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t);<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t}<br \/>\n\t}<br \/>\n})();<br \/>\n<!-- Mailchimp for WordPress v4.11.1 - https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/mailchimp-for-wp\/ --><\/p>\n<div class=\"mc4wp-form-fields\">Get our daily newsletter.&#013;<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n\t<label>Email address: <\/label>&#013;<br \/>\n\t&#013;\n<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n&#013;<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n\t&#013;\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><label>Leave this field empty if you&#8217;re human: <\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"mc4wp-response\" \/><!-- \/ Mailchimp for WordPress Plugin --><\/p>\n<p><em>Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis \/\/ Side Pocket Images.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/virginia-cannabis-bills-passed-by-house-and-senate-newsletter-february-18-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Virginia cannabis bills passed by House and Senate (Newsletter: February 18, 2026)<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n&#013;<br \/>\nRead More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/virginia-cannabis-bills-passed-by-house-and-senate-newsletter-february-18-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Virginia cannabis bills passed by House and Senate (Newsletter: February 18, 2026)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former White House drug czar bashes rescheduling; OK GOP divided on medical marijuana; MD psychedelics vote; MA cannabis sales milestone Subscribe\u00a0to receive Marijuana Moment\u2019s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It\u2019s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. (function() { window.mc4wp<span class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/virginia-cannabis-bills-passed-by-house-and-senate-newsletter-february-18-2026\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":459,"featured_media":85447,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15451],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85446"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/459"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85446"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85448,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85446\/revisions\/85448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}