Author: News Room

The drug company behind the CBD-based medication Epidiolex has filed a lawsuit against more than a dozen competitors that are seeking to create generic versions, alleging patent infringement. GW Research Ltd, which along with GW Pharmaceuticals is a subsidiary of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, filed the suit. GW, one of the only companies to secure Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a cannabis-derived medication, says that the various competitors have submitted what are known as Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) in order to “commercially market generic versions of GW’s cannabidiol oral solution drug product.” The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District…

Minnesota lawmakers have unveiled a marijuana legalization bill and announced next steps to advance the reform in the 2023 legislative session. At a press conference on Thursday, the House and Senate sponsors of a revised legalization bill were joined by leaders of each chamber as well as advocates to preview the legislation, which largely aligns with an earlier measure that passed the House in 2021. Rep. Zack Stephenson (D) and Sen. Lindsey Port (D), who are sponsoring the proposal in their respective chambers, said that they already have a hearing scheduled in the House Commerce Committee next Wednesday. “Cannabis should…

Colorado officials are looking for people to join a first-of-its-kind advisory board tasked with informing the implementation of psychedelics legalization following voter approval of a reform initiative on the November ballot. The state Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is promoting a webpage where people can fill out applications to be considered for appointment on the Natural Medicine Advisory Board. The application forms request information about a person’s basic background and qualifications. The 15-member board, once appointed by the governor, will be responsible for studying and making recommendations on a number of issues related to the psychedelics law, which permits adults…

The governor of Kentucky used his State of the Commonwealth address on Wednesday to call on the legislature to legalize medical marijuana “this session,” saying that it’s an essential reform for the state to make sure it is “treating people right.” “Far too many Kentuckians are suffering from life-threatening and chronic conditions like our veterans with PTSD or Kentuckians with cancer,” Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said. That’s why he signed a pair of executive orders in November, which took effect at the beginning of the month, he said. Those moves allow patients who meet certain criteria to possess up to…

Weed plants sandwich a stop sign in the center of the Brooklyn Made stage. The DJ is playing a random assortment of half-decent rap music while Tony Shhnow is on stage pouring a drink into a red Solo cup. It’s Tony’s first tour with Cousin Stizz, and it’s his first time in Brooklyn this past April. The Cobb County rapper sports eyeglasses that have gold semi automatic guns on the sides, a green army jacket, a black Louie Vuitton belt, and a pair of clean white Air Force 1s. Tony opened with “EVEN ON A SUNDAY,” a track built entirely…

Whether it’s for orchids, berries, or bananas, plant tissue culture has been widely used in agriculture for nearly 40 years to produce uniform and disease-free stock. But when it comes to cannabis, this technology has only emerged within the last few years as scientists working with weed cracked the code of what the plant wants to reproduce successfully at a small scale. Joining in the fight against one of pot’s primary foes, hop latent viroid disease, cannabis tissue culture is a new path forward towards preserving the genetics of one of the most diverse botanicals on the planet. And, while…

The governor of Ohio has signed a major criminal justice reform bill that will let cities facilitate mass expungements for people with certain drug-related convictions, including marijuana possession of up to 200 grams, while also protecting people from getting criminal records for possessing cannabis paraphernalia. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed the legislation from Sen. Nathan Manning (R) on Tuesday. The bill covers a wide range of issues, including sentencing reform for people in prison and broader criminal records sealing and expungements. Key provisions of the bill came about after Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb (D) attempted to facilitate several thousand expungements…

A pre-filed bill would make a handful of natural psychedelics legal for adults 21 and older in New York.This week, New York lawmakers will introduce a bill that would legalize the “possession, use, cultivation, production, creation, analysis, gifting, exchange, or sharing by or between natural persons of twenty-one years of age or older of a natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogen.”New York’s bill would allow the use of psychedelics DMT, ibogaine, mescaline, psilocybin, and psilocin. These substances are considered “natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogens.” The legislation would also authorize “psychedelic services” which could be paid, unpaid, or used for spiritual and…

Oregonians are one step closer to legally consuming magic mushrooms. Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS), the government agency in charge of creating a framework for the regulation of magic mushrooms in Oregon, is now accepting applications for licenses to legally grow, test, and facilitate the consumption of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms. OPS finalized its rules on how psilocybin mushrooms will be regulated on December 31, two years after Oregon voters passed Measure 109 in Nov. 2020, becoming the first state to legalize psilocybin. The agency began accepting license applications on Monday.  Though the move signals a significant step…

“For decades, the failed and irrational War on Drugs has ensured that we have arrested, prosecuted and jailed millions of Americans for low level nonviolent drug offenses.” By Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern Saying that legalization without decriminalization is “simply not an option,” state Rep. Nima Kulkarni on Tuesday introduced a constitutional amendment to ask Kentucky voters to weigh in on the cannabis debate. In addition to the amendment, which would legalize personal possession and use of marijuana in Kentucky, the Louisville Democrat also introduced legislation to codify decriminalization into state law. The amendment will ask voters “to decide whether they…