Author: News Room

The Republican governor of Utah has allowed a bill to become law without his signature that authorizes a pilot program for hospitals to administer psilocybin and MDMA as an alternative treatment option. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said in a letter to legislative leaders last week that he was letting the psychedelics legislation become enacted despite his reservations due to the “overwhelming support” it received, with both chambers unanimously approving the measure. “I am generally supportive of scientific efforts to discover the benefits of new substances that can relieve suffering,” Cox said. “However, we have a task force that was set…

Since the U.S. Census Bureau first launched a map detailing the proportion of state revenue made up by marijuana tax money last fall, the agency has continued tracking the data, allowing further comparisons to be made over time. In the fourth quarter of 2023, for example, New York recorded about $14.8 million in excise tax on marijuana sales, making up a comparatively slim 0.02 percent of the state’s total tax revenue for the quarter. That’s an increase, however, of 49 percent compared to the preceding quarter—an indication of the potentially massive New York market still slowly getting off the ground…

In the wake of mass media layoffs and dwindling marketing budgets, many cannabis journalists have turned to independent platforms, like Substack, to build their own audience for reporting on the plant.  Last week, career cannabis journalist and Managing Editor of San Diego Magazine Jackie Bryant joined the troves of ancillary writers being targeted by Stripe, Substack’s payment platform, for violating their terms of sale — despite merely reporting on the plant — while they continue to host many clients selling cannabis and “paraphernalia” directly. On Tuesday, March 19, Bryant got an email with the subject line: “[Important] Closure of your…

Conducting a recall safely and expeditiously can present a unique opportunity to build a brand’s reputation in the consumer-focused cannabis industry and highlight commitment to consumer safety and well-being. By Joanna Borman and Amy Rubenstein, Dentons In 2023, state legal cannabis sales reached $29 billion. With additional states launching adult-use cannabis sales each year—where consumers have more access and cannabis businesses offer more products—the risk of large-scale, costly product recalls increases too. From December 2023 to January 2024, three cannabis product recalls occurred in the state of California. While strong internal compliance programs offer the best way to prevent recalls…

A California bill that was introduced last month as a minor technical fix to an existing law protecting workers from employment discrimination over legal marijuana use was substantially amended in committee this week with new section that would roll back the protections for various categories of workers, including those in law enforcement, coroners’ offices and animal control. Under two pieces of legislation signed into law in 2022 and 2023, California employers are now prohibited from asking job applicants about past cannabis use, and most are barred from penalizing employees over lawful use of marijuana outside of the job. The newly…

If you’ve ever driven from California to Oregon by way of Interstate 5, it’s likely that you’ve passed right by the Rogue Valley. This region of southern Oregon, comprised of the two bordering Josephine and Jackson counties, is home to the Rogue River, a 215-mile waterway that moves westward until it hits the coast. Unlike more prominent areas of the Pacific Northwest, such as Portland, Oregon, or almost all of Washington state, southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley has a unique climate perfect for farming. Jessica Clements, founder of Güd Gardens, has been cultivating cannabis in Oregon since 2010. “This little pocket…

“Approximately 70 percent of the labels reported THC percentages more than 15 percent higher than what was quantified through the lab.” By Anna Schwabe, University of Colorado Boulder Cannabis flower sold in Colorado claims to contain much more tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, than it actually does, according to my findings published in the peer-reviewed journal Plos One. THC is the psychoactive compound that is derived when cannabis flower—commonly referred to as “bud”—is heated through smoking or cooking. Why it matters Accurate THC reporting is a linchpin for medical patients, recreational consumers and the overall integrity of the cannabis industry. Medical and…

A Nebraska legislative committee has given preliminary approval to a bill that would tax hemp and CBD products in the state at a whopping 100 percent rate. The cannabis product tax hike is part of legislation designed to bring in more money to state coffers to offset property tax bills, according to an outline of the plan from Sen. Lou Ann Linehan (R), the legislation’s sponsor, that was posted by a Nebraska Public Media reporter. The legislature’s Revenue Committee advanced the underlying measure, LB 388, on a 7–0 vote on Thursday, according to a report in the Nebraska Examiner. The…

Over the last few years, the world of professional joint rollers has exploded with Bruno Van Holland right amongst the front of the pack. Best known as simply Bruno, Van Holland’s attempt to elevate the live rolling experience with his always dapper haircut, tuxedo vest, and giant smile has endeared him to the cannabis world. And I mean that in the most literal sense as I’ve personally accompanied him to the Canary Islands and Denmark, not to mention all of our domestic adventures. Everywhere we’ve been, folks were quick to pull out their phones to catch a shot of Bruno…

Intoxicating hemp products are now banned in South Dakota after Gov. Kristi Noem signed a law intended to remove from the market all products containing delta-8 THC and other synthetic compounds. Under the law, production, sales and distribution of “chemically modified or converted industrial hemp” are illegal. The law specifically bans delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC made from hemp, delta-10 THC, THC-O-acetate, HHC, THCP, and “any other THC isomer, analog, or derivative.” The new law targets gummies, vape pens, pre-rolled joints and smokable flowers that contain the intoxicating compounds, which are commonly called “diet weed” or “marijuana light.” The products have…