Author: News Room

Newly introduced legislation in Hawaii would 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 measure is the result of a task force on breakthrough therapies that was formed last year to explore the issue, its sponsor, Sen. Chris Lee (D), told Marijuana Moment. SB 3019 would not legalize psilocybin itself but would instead create an affirmative defense for qualified patients and their caregivers, effectively exempting them from state laws against psilocybin. A companion bill in the House, HB 2630, is sponsored by…

“I’m here in open-mouth amazement that we are still discussing passing a medical marijuana bill… The same rhetoric from opponents and legislators. We’re just like this little island.” By Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector Delaney Jones’s grandmother, a survivor of European concentration camps during the Holocaust of World War II, suffered from a type of cancer that was often detected late, spread rapidly and had a poor prognosis. “She got really, really sick with pancreatic cancer late in life,” Jones said. “She said nothing she went through in the camps hurt like this.” She endured chemotherapy treatment for cancer and striking…

Wendy Baker, founder of Space Gem, celebrated a decade of making edibles in 2023—a monumental achievement that stems from a lifetime of appreciation for cannabis culture, and a commitment to working exclusively with Humboldt County ice water hash. Her products have won multiple awards at cannabis competitions, including the Humboldt County Cup and the High Times Central Valley Cannabis Cup, but most recently took home two first place trophies at the 19th annual Emerald Cup in May 2023. From Spacedrops gummies to Mind Expanding Belts, Gem Guice beverage enhancer, and Cosmic Tincture, Baker has put her edibles out into the…

Maryland lawmakers are considering a new proposal to create a task force to study and make specific recommendations about the best path forward to legalize and regulate certain psychedelics. The bill from Del. Guy Guzzone (D) and five cosponsors would establish a “Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances” under the state Department of Health. While several states have advanced similar legislation on exploring psychedelics legalization, the Maryland legislation stands out in its level of detail for what members will be required to study and make policy recommendations on, including “systems to support statewide online sales of natural…

The governor of New York says she’s “very fed up with how long it is taking” to expand the state’s recreational marijuana market with more licensed businesses, revealing that she recently urged regulators to “go back to the drawing board” to approve hundreds of new retailers. Tensions are high in the Empire State, as marijuana license applicants voice frustration over delayed approvals and the abrupt cancellation of a Cannabis Control Board (CCB) meeting on Wednesday where regulators were expected to grant additional approvals. But when Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) caught wind of the fact that the board was only prepared…

A Senate proposal to legalize commercial sales of marijuana in Virginia has passed a key hurdle, clearing the Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services in a 10–5 vote on Friday morning. The bill needs to advance quickly through additional committees in the coming weeks in order to stay alive in the current session. The measure, SB 448, from Sen. Aaron Rouse (D), would begin licensing adult-use marijuana businesses in July of this year, though retail licenses wouldn’t be available until 2025. Local governments would be able to ban commercial cannabis activity, but only with approval from voters. With the committee’s…

A majority of American likely voters, including most Republicans under the age of 55, support legalizing marijuana “in all 50 states,” according to a new poll from a prominent GOP firm. The survey from the Tarrance Group found that 57 percent of respondents favor nationwide cannabis legalization, including 35 percent who said they “strongly” support the policy change. That’s slightly lower than other recent polls on national legalization, but that likely reflects the somewhat misleading language of the question put before voters, which suggested that federal-level reform “would legalize it in all 50 states,” even though most proposals that have…

“The idea is to make this accessible. When you talk about the will of the people, they want it to be accessible.” By John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight A Senate panel chaired by a member of the state’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee shot down a bill Wednesday with far-reaching implications for cannabis patients. Among nine bills that would adjust South Dakota’s medical cannabis laws this legislative session in Pierre, seven remain alive, including bills to hike the price of a dispensary license, allow police to search dispensaries and force prescribers to notify a patient’s primary care provider about their receipt…

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) says he doesn’t support Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) call for a crackdown on the nicotine product Zyn because it’s a matter of “freedom and personal choices,” drawing parallels to his reasons for supporting marijuana legalization. Schumer said earlier this week that he’s asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the health impacts and marketing of the nicotine pouches that have been popularized on social media in a way that he says appeals to youth. “It’s a pouch packed with problems—high levels of nicotine,” the majority leader said.…

Ahead of a hearing on a bill to legalize marijuana possession in Ireland, a government-appointed citizen commission has released a report formalizing recommendations to stop criminalizing people over drugs—a policy position that the country’s prime minister says holds merit. About three months after the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use completed their review of Ireland’s drug laws and voted to recommend broad decriminalization and implementing harm reduction programs, the panel’s official report was published on Thursday, and the country’s taoiseach (the equivalent of a prime minister) told lawmakers he will give it “careful consideration” Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who met with the…