Author: News Room

“They don’t feel like we’re worthy of being part of the political system. They’ve made rules to try to eliminate us.” By Michelle Griffith, Minnesota Reformer The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to decertify the Legal Marijuana Now Party as a major political party. The DFL alleges the Legal Marijuana Now Party hasn’t complied with the state’s new election laws, and that its recent nomination of a presidential primary candidate against her wishes illustrates the party’s disregard for the law. DFL Chair Ken Martin also wants the court to order Secretary of State Steve Simon…

Members of a two Hawaii House committees have approved a bill to create explicit legal protections around the therapeutic use of psilocybin, with eligible patients able to possess and consume the psychedelic under a trained facilitator’s care. The House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee and Health & Homelessness Committee passed the legislation from Rep. Della Au Belatti (D), with amendments, in separate 7-1 and 10-0 votes on Tuesday. The measure is the product of a task force on breakthrough therapies that was formed last year to explore the issue, Sen. Chris Lee (D), sponsor of the Senate’s companion version, told…

“The resubmission is focused on responses to issues raised in the Attorney General’s rejection opinion.” By Hunter Field, Arkansas Advocate A marijuana industry and patient group has resubmitted language to the attorney general for a ballot measure to expand access to medical cannabis in Arkansas. Attorney General Tim Griffin (R) rejected the first version of the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2024 due to improper formatting and ambiguities about how the measure would affect existing state laws and rules. Arkansans for Patient Access on Monday submitted new versions of the proposed constitutional amendment, ballot title and popular name with mostly…

A new scientific literature review published in the journal Molecules explores the “collaborative interactions” of various chemical compounds in marijuana—including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids—arguing that a better understanding of the components’ combined effects “is crucial for unraveling cannabis’s complete therapeutic potential.” The findings reinforce what many in the marijuana space have been saying for years: that it’s not only THC and CBD that modulate a person’s cannabis experience, but also the complicated interactions between cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other molecules in the plant—a concept known as the “entourage effect.” “In cannabis science, cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids have often been overlooked,…

Florida’s Senate Committee on Health Policy advanced a bill on Tuesday that would preemptively limit THC levels in adult-use marijuana products. The change would restrict products allowed under a recreational cannabis legalization ballot initiative that organizers are working to put on November’s ballot. The bill, SPB 7050, would prohibit dispensary sales of marijuana flower with a potency of greater than 30 percent THC. All other cannabis products would be limited to 60 percent THC. It would also set a serving size on edible products of 10 milligrams THC or less, with the total amount per package no more than 200…

A House panel in Virginia has voted to advance amended legislation that would legalize retail marijuana sales in the state, sending the bill to the chamber floor. A separate bill with somewhat different provisions is proceeding in the Senate, however, setting up potentially contentious negotiations as the session proceeds. The House General Laws Committee on Tuesday voted 10–8 to report the measure, HB 698, from Rep. Paul Krizek (D), with one member abstaining. In its current form, the bill would allow licensed retailers—existing medical marijuana dispensaries as well as dozens of equity-focused microbusinesses—to open for adult-use sales on January 1,…

The Grateful Dead have made Billboard chart history despite not being a band for nearly 30 years, with the greatest number of top 40 albums to ever make the Billboard 200. According to Billboard, the release of Dave’s Picks, Volume 49: Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford U., Palo Alto, CA (4/27/85 & 4/28/85) debuted at number 25 on the charts making the total number of top 40 releases in the Dead’s repertoire at 59, surpassing both Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley who were previously tied for the record at 58. “Dave’s Picks” is a series of live recordings of old Grateful Dead…

Canada’s THC-infused beverage market is about to get more crowded. Jones Soda, the beloved soft drink company known for its quirky flavors, said on Tuesday that the arm of its cannabis business, Mary Jones, “has been approved to operate in Ontario, Canada, with additional provinces to follow.”  “Starting with their THC-infused beverages, the products are currently slated for Ontario availability in Q1 24,” the company said in a press release. Jones is eyeing an additional expansion into other cannabis categories within the Canadian market in collaboration with Tilray Brands, the Canadian cannabis company. The company said in the press release…

Bipartisan California lawmakers have introduced a new bill to legalize psychedelic service centers where adults 21 and older could access psilocybin, MDMA, mescaline and DMT in a supervised environment with trained facilitators. The “Regulated Therapeutic Access to Psychedelics Act” was formally filed on Tuesday by Sen. Scott Wiener (D) and Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R). It was drafted in a way that’s meant to be responsive to concerns voiced by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) last year when he vetoed a broader proposal that included provisions to legalize low-level possession of substances such as psilocybin. Instead, the new bill that’s now being…

A senator said his local police chief told him there haven’t been any problems with drive-thru cannabis dispensaries. By Austin Fisher, Source NM By one vote, the New Mexico Senate passed an amendment on Monday afternoon that will continue to allow cannabis businesses to offer their services at drive-thru windows. Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque) is carrying Senate Bill 6, which would make a number of changes to New Mexico’s cannabis law. A substitute bill written by the Senate Judiciary Committee would have prohibited sales of cannabis through a drive-thru window. Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces) introduced three amendments to the bill on the…