Cannabis policy continues to occupy state legislators as they press into new territory. Prohibition made cannabis policy far simpler, but new issues began to arise as states started to chart their own course — first, with the legalization of medical cannabis and then recreational.

Developing practical, equitable cannabis laws is contentious, primarily due to social issues, historical precedent, and a lack of a solid research base to inform policymakers. The body of science is growing, but still suffers from many years of neglect and from the narrow focus on substance abuse that characterized most research.

Cannabis markets have become a complex political landscape, especially since the advent of intoxicating hemp cannabinoids. As delta-8 THC products began populating markets in earnest in 2021, recreational cannabis operators in legal states protested this, lobbying state lawmakers to address the inequitable…