Author: News Room

A psilocybin research bill cleared a Washington State House committee on Tuesday, passing on a bipartisan 23–8 vote after lawmakers rejected a Republican-led amendment to restore the measure’s original provisions to broadly legalize facilitated use of the drug. “This is something that is—to me—low-risk, something that we can try now,” said Rep. Travis Couture (R), who introduced the amendment. “I just don’t feel that, the way we’re going, we’re moving fast enough.” SB 5263 was originally introduced by Sens. Jesse Salomon (D) and Liz Lovelett (D) in January as a proposal to allow adults 21 and older to legally use…

I’m not here to talk about any specific brand or any specific strain, but in my capacity as a journalist, I have been tasked with truth-telling and to tell you the truth: I have been extremely disappointed with the lack of quality in the California rec cannabis market as of late. We’ve all heard the news stories and the insufferable bitching from corporate cannabis CEOs about how the legal market just can’t compete with the traditional market, but past the press releases and the buck-passing, anyone in the cannabis space should be asking themselves: what exactly is standing in the…

Marijuana reform advocates announced on Wednesday that they’ll be holding a policy forum inside the U.S. Capitol Building on the unofficial cannabis holiday 4/20 that will feature speakers including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The National Cannabis Policy Summit’s Congressional Forum, hosted in the Capitol Visitors Center’s Congressional Auditorium, will bring together advocates, experts, lawmakers, stakeholders and patients for a discussion on the need for federal reform with a focus on promoting equity. While pro-legalization festivals and forums have been held outside of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. in April in recent years, this policy-centric event—details of which were…

In the past, I’ve written about how marijuana can make a great movie or show even better than it already is, and the same is true for video games. Small wonder, too. When you play a game, you’re not just watching – you’re actively involved in what’s happening. Add a joint into the mix, and you’ll soon forget that the world you’re interacting with isn’t real. Maybe you already have a go-to game to play while high. But if you’re looking for suggestions, High Times has you covered. Most of the games in this list feature satisfying gameplay and stunning…

State officials in Kansas are pushing back against a proposed law that would allow hemp fiber, grain and seeds to be used as food for pets, and feed for poultry and livestock. While proponents are pushing the measure as a way to improve farmers’ fortunes with a “new” crop, the state’s Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) say it’s not a good idea due to safety and security concerns. In addition to clearing a path for feed, the proposed measure, HB 2168, would lower licensing and registration costs for hemp producers, who are required to pay…

An industry-backed marijuana reform campaign has so far collected more than 70 percent of the signatures it needs to put a legalization initiative before voters on the 2024 ballot. The Florida Division of Elections updates petition counts on the measure at the end of each month, and at the close of March the campaign had netted 635,961 valid signatures, a development first noted by News Service Florida. At the end of January, the measure cleared a major hurdle, getting enough signatures to initiate a state Supreme Court review of the measure’s language. That analysis is still pending. By the end…

By December 2022, Harm Reduction International counted 285 people executed for drug convictions that year. By Alexander Lekhtman, Filter Worldwide executions for drug convictions have surged, more than doubling in 2022 compared with 2021. The sharp rise follows two years when executions were slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. These executions are concentrated in a relatively small number of countries. But silence from other governments and international bodies helps to perpetuate the practice. A new report by Harm Reduction International (HRI) details the disturbing trends. The nonprofit started tracking global drug executions in 2007. The worst year recorded…

Another Minnesota Senate committee has approved a bill to legalize marijuana—marking one of the final stops in the chamber on its long path to the floor. The legislation from Sen. Lindsey Port (D) cleared the Senate Rules and Administration Committee in a voice vote on Tuesday. It now has just two more expected panels to go through before the full body can take up the measure. This comes about a week after the House companion version, sponsored by Rep. Zack Stephenson (D), moved through its 14th committee. “We have been thoughtful and methodical on our work on this legislation—and we’re…

Connecticut prosecutors have dismissed more than 1,500 pending marijuana cases, while modifying about 600 others, following a review as part of the state’s post-legalization criminal erasure program. Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffen submitted a report to members of the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee on Friday showing that the review involved individualized examinations of 4,248 cases involving controlled substances. Prosecutors in each of Connecticut’s 13 judicial districts were tasked with identifying and clearing convictions for activity made legal under the cannabis bill that Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed into law last year. As Griffen pointed out, state statute previously did not…

President Joe Biden has issued a proclamation declaring April “Second Chance Month” for people who have served time in prison, and in the document he took the opportunity to tout his marijuana pardons and address the collateral consequences of cannabis convictions. The proclamation, issued on Friday, isn’t directly focused on marijuana clemency. It’s more broadly meant to raise attention to “helping people forge the new beginnings they have earned and building a safer and more just society.” Biden said that his administration has worked to prevent crime and break “the cycle of recidivism,” and part of that effort involved granting…