Author: News Room

The mayor of Cleveland, Ohio says he’s open to consuming a marijuana gummy—but first the state needs to “get it together” and provide regulated access under its voter-approved legalization law. At the end of an extensive interview with Cleveland Scene that was published last week, reporter Mark Oprea asked Mayor Justin Bibb (D) if he would “smoke with us” now that cannabis has been legalized for adults. “Would I smoke with you?” Bibb asked, laughing. “I’d take a gummy with you. How’s that?” “Oh, really?” the interviewer asked. “Yeah, well, I got to find somewhere to buy some,” the mayor…

West Virginia’s Republican Senate president says that legalizing marijuana could help ease the state’s crush of fatal fentanyl overdoses, predicting that the policy change will come “sooner than later” but probably not in the new legislative session. “My gut tells me it might not happen this year,” Senate President Craig Blair (R) said at a media event last week, according to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. “But you’re going to see it sooner than later, because that is a way to combat the issue.” Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that West Virginia had more fatal…

“I’m committed to a medicinal cannabis program that is for the health and well-being of South Carolinians.” By Jessica Holdman, South Carolina Daily Gazette The medical marijuana debate is back at the South Carolina Statehouse and the Senate medical committee chairman wants a “redo.” The latest iteration of legislation to legalize and regulate the prescription of cannabis to treat the symptoms of cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism and other debilitating diseases is currently stuck in the Senate. Proponents are pushing for a vote early in the legislative session, which begins Tuesday. Speaking to a room full…

A newly introduced bill in Rhode Island would effectively legalize psilocybin mushrooms in the state, removing penalties around possession, home cultivation and sharing of psilocybin until mid-2026. The proposal, from Rep. Brandon Potter (D), would not establish a commercial retail system around psilocybin—at least until after federal reform is enacted. Until then, it would exempt up to an ounce of psilocybin from the state’s law against controlled substances provided that it “has been securely cultivated within a person’s residence for personal use” or is possessed by “one person or shared by one person to another.” In an interview with Marijuana…

Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has opened a fourth survey seeking public input on how the state’s forthcoming commercial marijuana market should function, asking for opinions around packaging and labeling as well as the state’s system for cannabis tracking, inventory and verification. Already the agency has solicited input on issues such as cultivation, processing and manufacturing; pesticides, fertilizers and environmental controls; and retail cannabis operations and sanitary standards. OCM was initially planning to circulate a total of five surveys on marijuana consumer and industry topics, with the aim of informing rulemaking under the state’s legalization law enacted last year.…

States have expunged or sealed more than 2.3 million marijuana records since 2018, with courts increasingly processing relief as more legalization laws are enacted, a newly updated analysis from NORML finds. Looking at publicly available data, the advocacy organization’s estimate indicates that about half a million more cannabis cases were expunged in the past year alone. That’s largely thanks to legislation that’s been implemented as part of state legalization efforts. NORML’s report says California, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Virginia have been especially active in facilitating expungements. In those states, courts must proactively identify and clear records for…

A California lawmaker is renewing his push to legalize cannabis cafes in the state, with a newly introduced bill and plans to work with the governor and regulators to address concerns that resulted in the last version being vetoed. Assemblymember Matt Haney (D) is again sponsoring the proposal, which would allow on-site marijuana consumption at licensed businesses, which could also offer non-cannabis food and drinks and host live events such as concerts if they get permission from the local government. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed the prior version, saying that while he appreciated that the intent was to “provide cannabis…

If you’re looking for a unique, sweet and fruity flavor, then Fruity Pebbles Strain is the perfect cannabis strain! Originally bred by Alien Genetics as FPOG, Fruity Pebbles OG is a hybrid marijuana strain made up of Green Ribbon, Granddaddy Purple, and Tahoe Alien genetics. Each puff you take has hints of tropical and berry flavors that bring to mind the beloved cereal classic. And with its moderate THC content, you can enjoy the perfectly balanced buzz and delicious aroma for an enjoyable session every time. Get ready to get creative with some flavorful Fruity Pebbles Strain! Physical Appearance Fruity…

“They should have the same rights of any other patient, and exactly the same restrictions.” By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix In 2021, Samuel E. Velez Ortiz, a corrections officer with the Florida Department of Corrections, was fired when a random drug test flagged him for cannabis metabolites. While he continues to challenge his termination in state courts, a new bill filed by South Florida Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky would ensure that such an action couldn’t happen in the future to a state employee who is also a medical marijuana patient. The Public Employee Protection Act (SB 166) would give…

A new study aimed at comparing medical marijuana and opioids for chronic non-cancer pain found that cannabis “may be similarly effective and result in fewer discontinuations than opioids,” potentially offering comparable relief with a lower likelihood of adverse effects. The findings, published in the journal BMJ Open, come from a review of 90 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing opioids, medical marijuana and placebos, which together involved 22,028 participants. Eighty-four of the trials were included in the report’s qualitative analysis. “Our findings suggest that both opioids and cannabis for medical use may provide benefits for a minority of chronic pain patients,”…