Author: News Room

“SB 442 brought Montana together in a time when division is the preferred course of action in politics. I hope my colleagues will still stand with me and cast their vote to overturn the Governor’s veto.” By Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Montana Free Press Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen (R) on Tuesday complied with a state district court order by sending a poll that could give lawmakers the ability to override Gov. Greg Gianforte’s (R) veto of a marijuana tax reallocation measure, a significant step in a now almost yearlong fight about the separation of powers and proper veto procedure. Lawmakers…

A new study suggests that the use of full-spectrum psychedelic mushroom extract has a more powerful effect than chemically synthesized psilocybin alone, which could have implications for psychedelic-assisted therapy. The findings imply that the experience of entheogenic mushrooms may involve a so-called “entourage effect” similar to what’s observed with cannabis and its many components. “To date, clinical trials have generally been conducted with chemically synthesized psilocybin,” wrote the 15-person research team, representing institutions such as the Hadassah Medical Center at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Boston-based Human Metabolome Technologies, Parow Entheobiosciences in Chicago and others, “and little attention has been given…

Attorneys general from 20 states and Washington, D.C. are asking congressional leaders to take action on intoxicating hemp products that became legal through the 2018 Farm Bill. Federal lawmakers should amend the definition of hemp, they wrote in a letter sent on Wednesday, and clarify that states can take their own measures to regulate the plant and its derivative products. “As Congress prepares to embark on a new five-year reauthorization of the Farm Bill, we strongly urge your committees to address the glaring vagueness created in the 2018 Farm Bill that has led to the proliferation of intoxicating hemp products…

Pennsylvania lawmakers have held another hearing on marijuana legalization, this time focusing on criminal justice implications of prohibition and the potential benefits of reform. As the governor steps up his push for legalization, including the policy change in his budget request last month, members of the Health Subcommittee on Health Care and Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Corrections met to take up the issue on Wednesday. “I think we are really well-positioned to move forward with legislation,” Rep. Dan Frankel (D), chair of the full Health Committee who previously sponsored cannabis legalization legislation, said at the beginning of the hearing. Rep.…

Another House committee in Hawaii has advanced a bill that would legalize and regulate adult-use marijuana in the state, making one amendment concerning labor peace agreement for cannabis businesses before signing off on the legislation. The House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee voted 7–3 on Tuesday to advance the proposal, SB 3335, which would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and up to five grams of cannabis concentrates. It next proceeds to the House Finance Committee. “I think that this bill is taking the best practices across the nation amongst other 24 states…

Dina Hashem believes the gulf is a distance between what audiences want to pay to hear and what she wants to joke about. The comic makes it sound freeing and stressful, almost an opportunity for both creative freedom and distancing. Hashem’s stand up can similarly embody multiple contrasts, effortlessly and effortfully.  For example, Hashem appears both confident and uncomfortable on stage.  Look no further than her most recent special, Dark Little Whispers (now available to stream on Amazon). The comic scores big laughs without a whole lot of bells or whistles. Hashem’s low-key delivery often just highlights how strong her…

When President Joe Biden visited his Wisconsin campaign headquarters last week, Chris Syrrakos caught the president’s attention. The CBD business owner—who had just recently been cleared in a cannabis-related case—was holding a sign in support of the president’s position that “no one should be in jail for using or possessing marijuana.” Biden seized the opportunity, promoting his popular marijuana pardons and declaring that he’s “taking care” of federal cannabis reform. Syrrakos told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday that the message was well-received by the crowd of supporters. “When he came out, there was applause. Besides that, it was pretty quiet in…

Elon Musk says that he benefits from the use of ketamine –– and investors should be pleased that he takes it –– but when he posts late at night on the social media platform he owns, he insists that he is rarely under the influence. The Tesla CEO made all of those comments during a well-publicized interview with the journalist Don Lemon. “There are times when I have sort of a … negative chemical state in my brain, like depression I guess, or depression that’s not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of the…

A newly filed Senate bill in Kansas would create a medical marijuana pilot program in the state—but the measure is facing early criticism from advocates who say it’s overly restrictive and would lead to unfair “monopolies” in the market while limiting patient access. After several unsuccessful attempts to legalize medical cannabis in a more conventional manner in recent sessions—including through a bill that passed the full House of Representatives in 2021—the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee is now sponsoring new legislation, introduced on Monday, to authorize a pilot program that would launch later this year. The Kansas Department of…

The chair of the Senate Banking Committee says that passing marijuana banking legislation remains a priority for the chamber, despite political complications in the House. And a top Republican congressman is also reaffirming his support for the bipartisan cannabis measure, despite not being “a marijuana guy.” As Congress prepares to pass a final package of spending bills for the 2024 Fiscal Year ahead of a Friday deadline, there’s renewed attention to other legislative priorities, including the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH), whose panel approved the marijuana banking bill last September,…