The Weekly Roll June 20th 2025

Happy Friday!

Welcome back to The Weekly Roll. I hope everyone had a lovely week! Here is what’s happening this week in cannabis and art:

California Hemp Ban : California's health department is proposing to permanently ban hemp THC products (like THC drinks and vapes) statewide, which would make an earlier emergency ban permanent. The move risks over 18,000 jobs and $3 billion in lost revenue over five years, but it's being pushed to protect the state's heavily regulated marijuana industry from what they see as unfair competition from less-regulated hemp companies. Governor Newsom supports the ban, arguing these hemp products are too accessible to minors and don't meet the same safety standards as legal marijuana products. Article

Toxic Papers :  A study found that printed marijuana rolling papers contain dangerously high levels of heavy metals like copper and chromium, prompting at least one company to dump their inventory entirely. The problem is that smoking accessories aren't regulated like cannabis itself, so consumers don't realize those colorful designs might be toxic when burned. Some companies are even using pesticide-treated rose petals for wraps, creating additional health risks.  Article

Interesting Number : 7,000. The number of pardons issued by Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Juneteenth, granting clemency to people with past possession convictions who were missed in initial searches due to technical coding issues. This follows his historic pardon of over 175,000 people last year, making him one of the most proactive governors on cannabis clemency as he works to address the disproportionate impact of prohibition on Black communities.  Article

Picasso Painted Pink : A climate activist threw pink paint at a 1901 Picasso painting at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts on Thursday, with the 21-year-old protester saying they were "protecting" art because "there is no art on a dead planet." The action was meant to draw attention to Canada's record-breaking heat wave and wildfire risks, and follows a trend of climate groups targeting famous artworks in museums over the past five years, though some activist chapters have disbanded due to legal consequences and public backlash. Article

Have a great weekend! 

Aidan