Filed under: Weekly Burn
DUMBEST POLICY MOVE: Florida Pushes Medical Marijuana Ban for People With Past Charges
The Florida legislature just cleared a terrifying hurdle. Lawmakers advanced a bill that would allow the state to suspend or revoke a medical marijuana card for anyone charged or convicted of specific drug crimes. And yes, cannabis is on that list.
Under SB 2514, a person can be stripped of their medical access even if the case is still ongoing. This includes any low-level bust involving more than 10 grams. If you plead guilty or no contest, the revocation is automatic.
So let’s get this straight. In Florida, if you’ve ever actually needed weed, like, medically or otherwise, you can be punished for it. It’s a setup that encourages people to never admit to past use. Legal for some, legal until we change our minds for others.
The policy hasn’t become law yet, but it’s one step from DeSantis’ desk. And there’s nothing in the bill clarifying whether it applies retroactively. It very well could. Every person with a prior cannabis charge in Florida could lose access to their medicine. This is what passes for regulation in 2025.
SHITSHOW OF THE WEEK: Queens Dispensary Accused of Forging FDNY Chaplain Letter
A cannabis dispensary in Queens, New York, allegedly tried to juice their application for a second location by submitting a forged letter of support from the FDNY chaplain.
That’s right. Terp Bros dispensary submitted documents bearing the name and signature of Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, the official chaplain of the FDNY. The letter appeared to endorse their planned second location in Ozone Park.
Except the FDNY says the chaplain never wrote it. In fact, he knew nothing about it. Officials called it a likely forgery.
The state’s Office of Cannabis Management is investigating. Meanwhile, the Ozone Park board pulled its support. Nothing screams community wellness like lying about a priest’s blessing to get your weed permit.
STONER ODDITY OF THE WEEK: Missouri Hemp Bros Want Weed Sold Like Beer
Here’s your weird cannabis development of the week. In Missouri, a group of hemp business owners has submitted a constitutional petition to deregulate marijuana and hemp products so they can be sold like alcohol and tobacco.
You read that right. If it passes, dispensaries wouldn’t be the only place to legally sell weed; you could grab pre-rolls at the gas station next to the six-packs. It would also erase many of the marijuana industry’s current guardrails.
This plan is backed by American Shaman, a major hemp operator that already sells intoxicating products outside of dispensary channels. The effort comes after the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation began cracking down on unlicensed THC sales under the current cannabis framework.
Whether it has a shot at passing is anyone’s guess, but it signals a shift in how some business owners want weed treated. Not as medicine, not as recreation, just as a product.
POLICY SPOTLIGHT: North Carolina Governor Forms Cannabis Advisory Council
Governor Josh Stein of North Carolina signed an executive order this week to establish the state’s first-ever Cannabis Advisory Council.
The 24-member body will study marijuana laws, propose regulations, and consider issues like youth protections, expungement, public health, and market structure. Members will include medical professionals, law enforcement, faith leaders, and tribal representatives.
While this doesn’t legalize anything, it is a major policy move for a state that has historically lagged behind. The council must deliver formal recommendations by the end of 2026. No promises, but it’s movement.
BONUS: North Carolina Senate Votes to Ban Synthetic Hemp
While the council gets going, the North Carolina Senate just passed HB 563 to ban the sale of synthetic cannabinoids such as Delta-8 and THC-A. The bill also raises the minimum purchase age for hemp products to 21 and creates a hemp registration program.
Unlike the advisory council, this one has teeth. It’s expected to move quickly to the governor.
FINAL GRADE FOR THE WEEK: C+
Florida re-ups its war on weed users, New York dispensary drama exposes shady licensing plays, and Missouri hemp bros pitch weed like beer. North Carolina moves slowly, but maybe in the right direction. The hits are soft this week, but they still land.
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