Author: News Room

Hundreds of people received more serious federal prison sentences in the last fiscal year because of prior marijuana possession convictions in states that have since reformed their cannabis laws, a new report published on Tuesday by the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) shows. While federal marijuana possession cases have declined dramatically since 2014 as more state legalization laws have come online, the report highlights the long-term consequences of cannabis convictions in terms of federal sentencing. It also reveals how many federal defendants face enhanced sentencing due to state-level marijuana possession offenses even after their state’s policy evolves to decriminalize or legalize…

About one in three chronic pain patients report using marijuana as a treatment option, and most of that group has used cannabis as a substitute for other pain medications, including opioids, a new study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) found. The new paper from researchers at the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University builds on the growing body of scientific literature indicating that cannabinoids can serve as effective pain management tools for some people and as substitutes for certain pharmaceuticals The cross-sectional study, published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Substance Use…

“Passage of Amendment 3 clarified the issue and normal business deductions will be allowed for marijuana related businesses.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Marijuana companies will be able to deduct business expenses on their state taxes for the first time this year, a Missouri Department of Revenue spokeswoman confirmed to The Independent. Missourians voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2018. But under federal law, growing, transporting or selling marijuana remains a crime. Because of this dynamic, marijuana companies have differed from every other legal business in the state because they weren’t allowed to deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses, such as…

“We must keep the long game in mind when we think about ending the 85-year policy of marijuana prohibition and criminalization.” By Justin Strekal, BOWL PAC 2022 was the best of times for marijuana policy reform in America—but if you read the headlines or (god forbid) log onto Twitter, you could be forgiven for thinking that it was the worst. This Orwellian doublethink is understandable if you look at it through the lens of a minute-by-minute analysis, or by only looking at the stock prices of the young, dominant players in the emerging cannabis industry. But we must keep the…

Lawmakers in nearly a dozen states are already pursuing psychedelics reform legislation for the 2023 session, with proposals ranging from legalizing psilocybin for therapeutic use to decriminalizing natural plants and fungi across the board. From Connecticut to California, it’s become quickly apparent in the first few weeks of the new year that psychedelics policy will be a major issue in legislatures across the country this session. What started as a local decriminalization movement is now rapidly evolving at the state level, as well as in Congress. There are currently reform efforts underway in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana,…

Winter is officially most people’s least favorite season, and it’s likely that the onset of colds and flus factor in. While colds tend to be milder and come on gradually, an attack of the flu is usually quite sudden, bringing headaches, body pain, and serious lethargy. With tossing and turning at night, a swollen and runny nose, and noisy mouth-breathing, these common respiratory illnesses can leave you feeling miserable for a week or more. We each have our own arsenal of go-to remedies when feeling sick, whether it’s hot toddies or steaming bowls of soup. And for some cannabis enthusiasts,…

One day before the first adult-use marijuana shops are set to open in Connecticut, state officials launched a web portal to facilitate more cannabis record sealing after automatically processing relief for tens of thousands of people at the beginning of the year. The governor, lieutenant governor and state lawmakers gathered at the Reentry Welcome Center in Hartford on Monday to tout the erasure of nearly 43,000 marijuana records this month, which was made possible as part of the legalization law that was enacted in 2021. Officials took the opportunity to announce the launch of the “Clean Slate and Cannabis Erasure”…

The Democratic governor of Wisconsin says he’s “confident” that lawmakers in the state’s Republican-led legislature will produce a passable, bipartisan medical marijuana legalization bill this session, and that he’s ready to sign such a measure—as long as the majority party doesn’t come up with a “flawed” plan that’s overly restrictive. In a pair of new interviews, Gov. Tony Evers (D) reacted to remarks from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R), who said last week that Republicans are “getting pretty close on medical marijuana,” keeping the door open for reform this session. While Evers plans to continue pushing for comprehensive reform…

The governor of Minnesota is calling on supporters to join lawmakers and the administration in their push legalize marijuana this session, circulating an email blast on Friday that encourages people to sign a petition backing the reform. With the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party in control of the House, Senate and governorship following last year’s election, cannabis legalization has become an especially hot topic in Minnesota, with legislators gearing up to advance the issue with Gov. Tim Walz’s (D) proactive support. On Thursday, lawmakers unveiled a revised legalization bill, which builds on a reform bill that passed the House after going through upwards…

Missouri regulators have released sample applications for adults who want to be able to grow marijuana at home for personal use. The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) posted the forms on Saturday to give people time to gather the necessary information needed to fill them out before regulators start formally accepting and reviewing applications early next month. Many states that have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational purposes allow some form of home cultivation. But under Missouri’s voter-approved marijuana law, which took effect last month, there’s a unique caveat requiring adults 21 and older to apply for a…