Author: News Room

Berkeley, California officials have advanced a proposal to decriminalize certain psychedelics—including synthetics like LSD, rather than focusing more narrowly on entheogenic “natural” plants and fungi as has been the case with similar measures approved in other cities. The Berkeley Community Health Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve the resolution, though some advocates oppose particular provisions. The measure, which is uniquely inclusive of LSD while excluding peyote and ibogaine from the list of covered substances, will next go before the City Council for consideration. At Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioners made some changes to the proposal before passing it—which built on a…

Marijuana reform advanced through multiple state legislatures this year—and voters in two more states voted to legalize adult-use cannabis at the ballot in November. But while there was significant progress for legalization activists in 2022, lawmakers and activists weren’t able to get legalization across the finish line everywhere this session. As a reminder, 2022 marked a year where cannabis policy changes were enacted by legislatures in states are ideologically distinct as Mississippi and Rhode Island. And voters in Maryland and Missouri elected to legalize recreational marijuana during the midterm election Still, there are a handful of states that came close…

“The reality of the status quo is that only the largest, most well-connected MSOs have enough capital to weather the storm if SAFE doesn’t pass.” By Kaliko Castille, Minority Cannabis Business Association With the 2022 midterms over and just one runoff race left to determine whether the Democrats will hold a one-vote or 50-50 majority in the Senate, all eyes (at least in the cannabis industry) are turning to the lame duck session and the hope that the Senate will finally send the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act to President Joe Biden’s desk. Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA)…

Nevada’s Board of Pharmacy is seeking to appeal a recent court ruling that deemed its classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug to be unconstitutional, and it wants the order to be stayed as the appeal proceeds. The notice of appeal was filed last week, about a month after the Clark County District Court made its final ruling in the case. Judge Joe Hardy had previously said that the board “exceeded its authority” by keeping cannabis in Schedule I. The ACLU of Nevada filed a lawsuit over the classification earlier this year, alleging that despite voter-approved legalization, police have continued…

The House sponsor of a marijuana banking bill says that he sees signs that the Senate will finally act during the lame duck session—but he is cautioning that he’s “been disappointed before.” Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), who is retiring after this session, told Yahoo Finance on Tuesday that he’s an “eternal optimist” who still believes that Congress will pass the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. But he’s also a “realist” who recognizes that “time is short” to get something done. “The optimist says, ‘we’re gonna get it done.’ There are several ways we can do it,” he said,…

This is the eulogy I gave for my friend on Tuesday. To honor his memory I’m sharing it here with the larger community. Please keep his family in your thoughts through this impossibly difficult time. In the early morning hours of November 15th we lost our brother Jesse unexpectedly. Affectionately known as Woodie, or Jesse the Chef, he was a loving son and brother, a devoted boyfriend, successful entrepreneur, but maybe most importantly, a true friend to so, so many, his loss will be felt forever. He was only 29 years old. It’s hard to summarize someone as complex as…

“We want to make sure as a task force we’re doing what’s in the best interest of the patients in this state.” By Victor Skinner, The Center Square The Louisiana Legislature’s Employment and Medical Marijuana Task Force discussed issues with unemployment compensation, impairment, and testing on Tuesday as they prepare to craft recommendations for lawmakers later this month. Task force members are now working on an accelerated timeline to present recommendations to the Department of Health by December 21, to ensure lawmakers have sufficient time to draft legislation ahead of the 2023 session in April. At Tuesday’s meeting, members contemplated…

An agriculture conglomerate has received the first authorization to grow and process hemp in Costa Rica under a recently signed resolution from the country’s agriculture ministry. Farming and food conglomerate Ingenio Taboga SA said it plans to plant hemp and build a processing factory at a 150-acre site. Taboga, based in Bebedero de Cañas, Guanacaste, lists products in alcohol-based sanitizers, specialty sugars, natural sweeteners, protein powders and CBD on its website. ‘Extremely important “For the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), the development of responsible and efficient agricultural activities with significant agro-export potential is extremely important,” said Agriculture Minister Víctor…

A Korean pharmaceutical maker said it will partner with a Japanese company to complete development of a CBD “film” for oral intake. CTC Bio, Gyeonggi-do province in Korea, said Japan’s Evolution Network LLC (CoNet LLC), Tokyo, will also distribute the products in Japan and other international markets under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed this week. The technology, called an “oral dissolving film” (ODF), releases the healing agent within a few seconds due to water-soluble polymers which are quickly dissolved by saliva. The film also allows for the administering of more accurate doses, CTC Bio said. Patents sought CTC Bio…

Nowadays, if you live in a legal state, you can find all kinds of activities in which cannabis is involved, even centric to the experience. Like yoga? You can cannabis-ify it. Like painting, standup comedy, book club? That too.  As America’s epicenter of entertainment, New York City, which is on the precipice of rolling out its legal recreational cannabis market in the coming weeks (or months), is a seemingly intuitive spot for artists and performers to weave weed into their shows. So, when I got an invitation to a cannabis-themed magic show, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. …