Best of the Week: July 25 – July 31, 2025

Let’s dive into the top stories shaping the conversation this week. Summaries of each article are listed below.

1. New Bill in Texas Hopes to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis

During a special legislative session that was ordered by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a bill called HB 195 was introduced by state Representative Jessica González, that would legalize adult-use cannabis in the state. If passed, aside from legalization, adults who are 21 years old and older would be entitled to possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower in public. At home, individuals would be allowed to have in their possession, 10 ounces of cannabis flower and 15 g of concentrates.

2. Terrance Cole is New Administrator for US Drug Enforcement Administration

In a July 25, 2025, press release, the US Drug Enforcement Administration announced the appointment of Terrance “Terry” C. Cole as the new Administrator as of July 23, his nomination having been confirmed by the Senate with a 50 – 47 vote.

Cole’s most significant priority as Administrator, the press release stated, is on combatting drug cartels and the drug crisis in the US.

3. Senate Agriculture Bill Drops Hemp Ban After Negotiations

Language that would have banned intoxicating hemp products across the nation has been removed from the agricultural funding bill, Politico recently reported. The bill had been authored by Representative Andy Harris and the hemp-related language had been added by Senator Mitch McConnell, a press release from the US Hemp Roundtable explained. After negotiation efforts from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, the language was removed.

A July 10 news release included highlights of the bill, and the Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) section notes, “The bill also closes the hemp loophole that has resulted in the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products being sold across the country.”

Industry stakeholders supported the removal of the language, which they said would have decimated the nation’s hemp industry.

4. New Downtown Cleveland Cannabis Dispensary Grand Opening Announced from Klutch Cannabis

Klutch Cannabis announced that their flagship retail cannabis dispensary will be having a grand opening on Friday, August 1, 2025, beginning at 10am EST. The new location is situated in the heart of the entertainment district in Downtown Cleveland in the Record Rendezvous building. According to their press release, this is where the term “Rock and Roll” was introduced and what established Cleveland as the “Cradle of Rock and Roll.”

Due to this heritage, the new location has taken the history as part of the theme for the dispensary.

5. $2.5 Million Lawsuit Filed by Connecticut Officials for Cannabis License-for-Sale Fraud

Connecticut officials have filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against “MAKECTBETTER LLC, its principal Michael Tedesco of Fairfield, and affiliate Zafir Iqbal of Oakdale alleging a fraudulent cannabis license-for-sale scheme involving forged documents and tens of thousands of dollars in payments from upwards of 70 businesses.”

With the lawsuit, filed in the Hartford Superior Court by Attorney General William Tong, he asked for the defendant’s assets to be frozen. The Attorney General’s press release claims that the fraudulent cannabis license-for-sale scheme involved “forged documents and tens of thousands of dollars in payments from upwards of 70 businesses.” By freezing the defendant’s assets, it will stop them from “offloading or shifting resources to evade accountability.”