Author: News Room

Officials with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently joined scientists at a public meeting on next steps for conducting research to develop psychedelic medicines. During the two-day event hosted by the Reagan-Udall Foundation earlier this month, multiple FDA representatives discussed the agency’s work to promote clinical trials into the therapeutic potential of substances such as psilocybin and MDMA. Academics and psychedelics drug development professionals also participated in the sessions. This comes months after FDA issued historic draft guidance on psychedelics studies, providing scientists with a framework to carry out research that could lead to the development of novel medicines.…

South Dakota’s Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed a bill into law this week that would roll back employment protections medical marijuana patients slightly, allowing employers to take action against people who test positive for THC if they work in a safety-sensitive position. The bill, SB 12, also clarifies that discipline or termination for violating a drug-free workplace policy is not grounds for an employment discrimination or wrongful termination claim. The change adds clear boundaries to the state’s workplace drug law, which says that “a registered qualifying patient who uses cannabis for a medical purpose shall be afforded all the same…

The traditional representation of cannabis culture in home decor is a timeless staple, including everything from mind-bending psychedelic art to Rastafari-inspired colors schemes and unique signage with phrases like “It’s 4:20 somewhere.” While these designs will always be a classic part of cannabis culture, some brands are looking to give cannabis decorations a renovation. With this in mind, artist and interior designer Sarah Rodebaugh created her brand, Chronic Biophiliac, to offer decor alternatives inspired by biophilic interior design, or design centered around our innate need to be close to nature. Rodebaugh has created a variety of sophisticated designs that integrate…

The New Mexico Senate has unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution requesting that state officials research the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and explore the creation of a regulatory framework to provide access to the psychedelic. The body voted 37-0 to pass the measure from Senate Minority Whip Craig Brandt (R) and Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D). The action came days after the Health and Public Affairs Committee had approved the legislation, also unanimously. As “memorial” legislation, the proposal isn’t binding. Rather, it would represent a formal request for the state Department of Health to “study the efficacy of using psilocybin mushrooms for…

The top marijuana regulator in New Jersey is projecting that “this is the year” the state will “reach and surpass” a $1 billion annual cannabis sales milestone—even as he throws cold water on the prospect of federal legalization “anytime soon.” Jeff Brown, executive director of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), said during a public hearing on Thursday that he wants to ensure the state marijuana industry is best positioned to compete in the years to come, and he cited forthcoming rules to expand edible offerings at retailers as an example of how to achieve that. He said the…

Vice President Kamala Harris’s office has been reaching out to people who’ve received a pardon for marijuana possession under the president’s clemency proclamations—seeking assurance that the Justice Department certification process is going smoothly and engaging in broader discussions about cannabis policy reform, according to a pardon recipient who was contacted. Chris Goldstein, a cannabis activist who recently received a pardon certificate after being formally forgiven for a 2014 cannabis possession case, told Marijuana Moment on Thursday that the vice president’s office reached out to him and then scheduled a meeting last Friday with three staffers to go over his certification…

New York regulators have approved draft rules to allow for the home cultivation of recreational marijuana, and have signed off on more than 100 new cannabis business licenses that they hope will help the legal market overcome its “rocky start” this year. Amid sharp criticism from the governor and state lawmakers over the protracted licensing process, the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) on Friday voted in favor of several resolutions to expand marijuana operations and lay out proposed home grow rules for adult consumers. Regulators approved over 100 licenses for retailers, microbusinesses, cultivators, processors and distributors. Two cannabis research licenses were…

Delaware officials have released draft regulations for the state’s adult-use marijuana market that’s expected to launch next year, and they’re now seeking public input on the proposed rules. The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) published the draft regulations on Thursday, laying out a basic framework for various cannabis business license types and requirements for the application process. The office said it will be releasing draft regulations on a weekly basis as it prepares for the implementation of the legalization under a pair of marijuana bills that Gov. Jay Carney (D) allowed to become law without his signature last year.…

A Florida House panel has approved legislation to preemptively set potency caps on recreational marijuana ahead of a potential vote on a legalization initiative on the November ballot. The legislation, which would prohibit dispensary sales of adult-use cannabis flower with a potency of greater than 30 percent THC, cleared the House Health and Human Services Committee on a 14-6 vote on Thursday. All other cannabis products would be limited to 60 percent THC under the legislation, and it would mandate a serving size on edible products of 10 milligrams THC or less, with the total amount per package no more…

Two Minnesota Republican state lawmakers are claiming that home cultivation of cannabis as the result of the legalization law enacted by the Democratic legislature and governor last year could lead to a power failure as grow lights put an overwhelming strain on the state’s electrical grid. “Now, I hope most of you are not familiar with the marijuana grow operation,” Rep. Paul Novotny (R) said at an event last weekend, “but I will tell you that it takes a ton of electricity.” “Get ready for blackouts and brownouts. That’s what’s going to happen,” added Sen. Eric Lucero (R), who called…