Best of the Week: June 20 – June 26, 2025

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

1. Texas Legalizes Medical Cannabis: Becoming the 40th State To Do So

On June 21, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 46 into law which established the Lone Star State as the 40th state to legalize medical cannabis. The medical cannabis expansion bill contains additions to the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP). The earlier version of TCUP was “an extremely limited, restrictive, low-THC medical cannabis program that didn’t meet the Marijuana Policy Project’s standard to be considered a medical cannabis state," the Marijuana Policy Project stated in a press release.

2. Long Island Cannabis Dispensary Strong Strains Addresses Recent Cease-and-Desist Letter

Last week, Strong Strains, an East Setauket cannabis dispensary located on Long Island, New York, was issued a cease-and-desist letter from the property owners because they mentioned that the company violated the “Northgate Plaza at Stony Brook Condominium’s property rules.”

On June 20, 2025, Strong Strains issued a response to the letter. “Strong Island Chronic LLC d/b/a Strong Strains holds a valid license from the State of New York to operate a retail marijuana business,” the press release stated. “Strong Strains operates its business at 19 Technology Drive, East Setauket, New York (the ‘Premises’), in accordance with a valid Special Use Permit granted on December 27, 2024, by the Town of Brookhaven Board of Zoning Appeals. On May 27, 2025, the Town of Brookhaven issued a Permanent Certificate of Compliance for the operation of a retail marijuana sale establishment at the Premises.”

3. 7,000 Cannabis Pardons Issued by Maryland Governor Moore

In a Juneteenth event announcement, Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared that he would be pardoning almost 7,000 people who have received cannabis crime convictions. Additionally, he announced that there would be a new program created to increase race-based equity.

“It's about access. It's about inclusion. And it's about wealth. Because that is the issue that we've got to address when it comes to this work of repair,” Moore mentioned.

4. Thailand Restricts Recreational Cannabis Use, Returns to Medical-Only Market

On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the government of Thailand changed its policy on cannabis, resulting in access to cannabis for medical use only, reported the BBC. Unpermitted cannabis consumption will once again become a criminal activity at some point in the future, according to the public health minister. The new regulations, published in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday, defined cannabis as controlled herbs that require a prescription from a doctor in order to be purchased.

5. Randomized Clinical Trial Tests Effects of CBD on Behavior in Boys with Severe Autism

A recently published study examined the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in boys. As noted by the study, previous studies have suggested that CBD could have a therapeutic effect on symptoms, though controlled clinical trials have yet to be conducted on the safety and tolerability. The study, “Cannabidiol (CBD) Treatment for Severe Problem Behaviors in Autistic Boys: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” was published in May 2025 in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. The CBD used in the study was Epidiolex, which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for seizures in children, the study noted.