Author: News Room

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) says that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is at the top of her list in a hypothetical “dream blunt rotation,” while also hinting that she’s had conversations with Biden administration officials about reclassifying marijuana. In an interview posted by Pod Save America on Monday, the senator talked about her recent push for administrative cannabis reform that goes further than simple rescheduling, and the former Obama staffer who hosted the discussion followed up by asking who she’s most and least likely to invite to a blunt session out of a list of pre-selected candidates. Warren added nuance to…

Missouri sold more than $1.4 billion worth of legal cannabis during the first year of recreational sales. That’s about $1.13 billion in adult-use purchases, according to state data released by the Department of Health and Senior Services, and another $280 million in medical marijuana transactions. The state launched legal marijuana sales to adults 21 and older in February of last year. Retailers’ best month of the year was December, during which consumers bought $106.5 million in regulated cannabis products. During January of this year, stores sold $94.8 million in adult-use marijuana—lower than any month since last May. Medical marijuana sales…

A Wisconsin Democratic lawmaker says he suspects Republican Assembly leadership pulled a kratom bill from floor consideration last week out of concern about an amendment he filed that would have forced a vote on medical marijuana legalization. The move came as the GOP speaker retreated on his own limited cannabis legislation that a top Republican senator criticized as anti-free market. Meanwhile, a new poll shows overwhelming bipartisan support for medical cannabis legalization in Wisconsin, with 86 percent of registered voters in favor of the reform, including 78 percent of Republicans. Rep. Darrin Madison (D) hatched the amendment plan with other…

Lawmakers in Hawaii are continuing to advance a bill that would provide some legal protections to patients engaging in psilocybin-assisted therapy with a medical professional’s approval. The measure, HB 2630 from Rep. Della Au Belatti (D), would not legalize psilocybin itself. Instead, it would create an affirmative legal defense for psilocybin use and possession in the case of doctor-approved use under the guidance of a trained facilitator. Hawaii’s House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee on Wednesday voted 7–0 to advance the proposal, with one member who voted yes expressing reservations on the bill and five other members absent. Two other…

Two different bills to legalize and regulate retail marijuana sales in Virginia cleared a key a crossover deadline last week, increasing hopes among advocates that lawmakers can find consensus on launching a regulated market and send implementation legislation to Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). The road to the two measures in their current form has been winding, arguably beginning in 2021, when the state legalized cannabis use and possession. The legislation that passed that session also included a framework for legal sales, but Republicans, after winning control of the House and governor’s office later that year, subsequently blocked the required reenactment…

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is highlighting its scientific review into marijuana that led the agency to recommend rescheduling—a process that involved a comprehensive analysis of research, as well looking at hundreds of posts on social media platforms to see how consumers described cannabis’s therapeutic impact. In its 2023 fiscal year Drug Safety Priorities report that was published on Thursday, FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) discussed various initiatives that it says illustrate “the depth and versatility of drug safety initiatives across the Center and FDA.” That includes the cannabis analysis it conducted under a 2022 directive…

The Apple Fritter weed strain has been creating a buzz in the cannabis community, renowned for its unique characteristics and potent effects. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the diverse aspects of this sought-after strain, from its appearance and aroma to its medical applications and growing process. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or a newcomer to the world of cannabis, this article will provide valuable insights into the Apple Fritter strain, including its side effects, availability, pricing, and legal status. We’ll explore the various consumption methods, allowing you to make an informed decision based on your preferences. So, if…

“Those of us that live with chronic pain all day every day are desperately trying to ride it out. Unfortunately, not all of us will be here when product is ready.” By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector Antoine Mordican has a medical cannabis cultivation license. And he is building out a facility to begin growing the product. Under state law, he has to demonstrate he can maintain cultivation facilities; use an inventory control system approved by the state; can start cannabis cultivation within 60 days; can dispose of plant waste according to regulations; and can maintain financial stability. “I’m building—getting everything…

“I wish I could say I was leaving the policy space with more optimism about the future of federal policy reform. On the other hand, I know there are leaders out there, known and unknown to me, who can prove me wrong.” By Justin Strekal, “Pot Smokers’ Lobbyist” Emeritus  When I used to play Dungeons and Dragons, I was often accused of “metagaming” too much, meaning I too often try to think about all possible scenarios, attempt to look around every corner, etc. In my opinion, it’s time for the cannabis reform community to do a better job of embracing…

“I’m the biggest, toughest little brother you know,” raps Bushwick Bill on “Who’s the Biggest” from his latest album, Phantom of the Rapra. At 4′ 2″ tall, Bill has survived the ghettoes of Jamaica’s Trench Town, Brooklyn and Houston’s notorious Fifth Ward, as well as the barbs of everyone from David Geffen—who refused to release the album by his band, the Geto Boys, that featured the infamous slasher epic “Mind of a Lunatic”—to Bob Dole and William Bennett, who have used the same song to fuel their recent attack on gangsta rap. Like the similarly short hero of Gunter Grass’…