Author: News Room

A Republican congressman who has long opposed marijuana reform is telling the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came to a “misguided conclusion” to recommend rescheduling cannabis— challenging the health agency’s scientific standards and imploring DEA to dismiss them as it prepares to make a final determination. In a letter sent to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram on Wednesday, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) also said the agency should “abide by our nation’s international treaty obligations” that he says prohibit the U.S. from moving cannabis to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), as the U.S.…

“There can be no credible argument that the federal firearms statute pre-empts New Jersey law when it comes to arming police officers without the need for a federal firearms permit.” By Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor Lawyers representing a Jersey City police union say the city’s federal lawsuit that targets New Jersey for allowing Garden State police officers to use cannabis is nothing more than a “political agenda masquerading” as a civil complaint and should be dismissed. Attorney Peter Paris, who filed the motion to dismiss the case late Wednesday on behalf of the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association, argues the…

With an adult-use marijuana legalization measure potentially headed for Florida’s ballot this November, Lawmakers on the state’s House Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee approved an amended version of a measure that would preemptively limit THC in recreational cannabis products. Before advancing the bill, HB 1269, the panel first adopted an amendment from its sponsor, Rep. Ralph Massullo (R) significantly raising the proposed cap on THC for marijuana flower to 30 percent, up from 10 percent in the bill as originally introduced. Members then voted 13–4 to report the bill favorably. “Due to a variety of reasons, we’re only at the beginning of…

Another Indiana Senate panel has unanimously approved a bill that would fund clinical research trials into psilocybin. The Senate Appropriations Committee adopted a technical amendment before sending the legislation to the floor in a 14-0 vote. The action follows the psychedelics proposal being passed, also unanimously, by the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee last month. “Psilocybin has been given breakthrough therapy by the FDA and it’s not a fringe service…anymore,” Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R), the bill’s sponsor, said ahead of Thursday’s latest vote. “Research institutes would be able to apply for the funds to conduct studies to evaluate efficacy…

“Everybody’s becoming more aware of it, and how popular medical marijuana is in Kansas currently and how well it polls.” By Daniel Caudill, KMUW Activists at the Statehouse are renewing a push for state lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana in Kansas. While Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and many state legislators from both parties support the concept, lawmakers have yet to take up the issue this session. The American Civil Liberties Union held an online day of action for marijuana legalization earlier this month. During the event, activists expressed disappointment that Kansas does not have legal medical marijuana, nearly three years…

A Hawaiian lawmaker said regulation of hemp should be bundled with marijuana because hemp-derived CBD can be transformed into delta-8 THC and similar intoxicating products.Rep. David Tarnas, one of three lawmakers who called on the state’s attorney general to prepare a report and draft a bill for legalizing recreational cannabis, said it is logical that hemp be included with recreational and medical marijuana under a single regulatory body responsible for all cannabis – especially because the intoxicating hemp products have become common in Hawaii.Safety fearsThe synthetic, high-producing products are made in the lab by putting hemp-derived CBD through a synthetic…

Officials in Minnesota hope to begin issuing temporary licenses for the state’s legal marijuana industry ahead of schedule—”as soon as this summer”—with an emphasis on aiding social equity applicants, they said this week during an update on the implementation of an adult-use legalization law adopted last year. The plan from the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which would require a change in statute from state lawmakers, would “expedite the 2025 market launch and provide early advantages to social equity participants,” according a presentation they gave to stakeholders on Tuesday. Doing so will help prevent a “licensing bottleneck,” Charlene Briner,…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) might have removed marijuana from its banned substances list for professional fighters—but a California athletics commission says they could still face penalties under state rules for testing positive for THC over a certain limit ahead of an upcoming event. UFC, which formally amended its cannabis drug testing policy last month, reportedly advised fighters that they could be subject to a $100 fine by the California State Athletic Commission if they test over 150 nanograms of THC per milliliter ahead of the UFC 298 event that is set to take place on February 17 in Anaheim. An…

A marijuana legalization measure unveiled in draft form last year by Hawaii’s attorney general has now been formally introduced in the legislature, with companion bills filed in both House and Senate. Advocates, however, say the latest version needs major changes to shift the plan’s focus away from law enforcement and allow for the clearing of past cannabis convictions to provide relief to those most harmed by prohibition. Led by Rep. David Tarnas (D) in the House and Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole (D) in the Senate, the bill is largely the product of Attorney General Anne Lopez (D) and her staff. During…

A second Virginia Senate committee has now advanced a bill to legalize retail marijuana sales in the commonwealth, moving the proposal one step closer to the chamber floor. The panel also approved a separate measure that would resentence people currently incarcerated for cannabis-related crimes. The Senate Courts of Justice Committee passed the measures after making amendments to both at a hearing Wednesday. The marijuana sales bill was approved on a 7–5 vote, with three members abstaining, while the vote on the resentencing bill was 10–5. Both measures take up matters advocates would like to see addressed following the state’s legalization…