Jun 03 2025

California Assembly Unanimously Passes Bill to Delay Marijuana Excise Tax Increase

The California Assembly has unanimously passed legislation to delay a planned increase in the state’s cannabis excise tax.

Introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney, Assembly Bill 564 would postpone scheduled changes to the state’s marijuana excise tax until the 2030–31 fiscal year. The proposal was passed by the Assembly 74 to 0, sending it to the Senate for consideration.

Under current law, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration must begin reviewing and potentially increasing the excise tax every two years starting in 2025. This review process is intended to compensate for revenue lost from the elimination of the state’s marijuana cultivation tax. AB 564 would delay that process by five years.
Continue reading

Jun 03 2025

Study: Combination of CBD and Hydroxychloroquine Found Safe and Bioavailable in Phase I Trial

A phase I clinical trial has found that a novel combination of cannabidiol (CBD) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), known as IHL-675 A, is well tolerated and bioavailable in healthy volunteers, supporting further investigation in inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The trial involved 36 participants who were randomly assigned to receive either IHL-675 A, Epidiolex (CBD), or Plaquenil (HCQ). IHL-675 A combines 75 mg of CBD and 100 mg of HCQ in a single gel capsule using UniGel technology. Participants were monitored over four weeks, with assessments of safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of both active ingredients and their metabolites.

Adverse events (AEs) occurred in all treatment groups at similar rates, with 66.7% of participants in the IHL-675 A group reporting treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs), compared to 58.3% for Epidiolex and 50% for Plaquenil. Most AEs were mild, with no severe or serious adverse events reported. Common AEs for IHL-675 A included headache, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort. Vital signs, ECGs, and laboratory tests showed no clinically significant abnormalities.
Continue reading

Jun 02 2025

Study: Aesthetic Elements of Psychedelic Experiences Strongly Linked to Psychological Benefits

A new study finds that the aesthetic quality of psychedelic experiences—such as vivid visual imagery and emotional beauty—may be a key factor in promoting therapeutic benefits.

Researchers at the University of Colorado surveyed 96 individuals who had used classic psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, DMT, or mescaline within the past year. Participants completed several psychological assessments, including a novel tool called the Psychedelic Aesthetic Experience Questionnaire (PAEQ), which measured the subjective aesthetic dimension of their experiences.

The results showed that aesthetic experience was strongly correlated with psychological insight (r = .48), emotional breakthroughs (r = .40), behavioral changes (r = .55), and mystical-type experiences (r = .49). At the same time, aesthetic richness was negatively associated with fear (r = –.24) and paranoia (r = –.36), suggesting it may help buffer against challenging experiences.
Continue reading

Jun 02 2025

Study: Strong Majority of Psychiatric Patients Open to Psilocybin Therapy, Including Non-Hallucinogenic Options

A majority of psychiatric patients support the idea of psilocybin therapy, with many showing a willingness to try non-hallucinogenic forms, according to new research published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.

The study, conducted by researchers at Wright State University, surveyed patients aged 18 to 65 at a community mental health center to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to engage in psilocybin-based treatments. The results show that 62.4% of respondents were open to hallucinogenic psilocybin, while 60.4% were receptive to non-hallucinogenic alternatives.

Acceptance varied by diagnosis. Patients with major depressive disorder were significantly more likely to favor the hallucinogenic form of treatment. In contrast, individuals with borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder preferred non-hallucinogenic options, which researchers suggest may be due to heightened concerns about the intensity of psychedelic experiences.
Continue reading

Jun 02 2025

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to Vote Next Week on Marijuana Legalization

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is just days away from voting on a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana on tribal land for everyone 21 and older.

Scheduled for a special election on June 10, Referendum No. 2025-01 would allow adults to possess, produce, and distribute marijuana within the tribe’s jurisdiction. Although the referendum would only apply to tribal land, the proposal calls for sales to apply to everyone 21 and older regardless of tribal status.

The referendum outlines a framework for licensing and regulating marijuana businesses, but full regulatory details would be developed by tribal leadership after the vote if the measure is approved. The tribal council has indicated that plan to quickly act on the referendum if it’s approved by voters.
Continue reading

Jun 02 2025

Florida Medical Cannabis Sales Reach $157 Million in May, Pushing 2025 Total to $750 Million

Florida’s medical marijuana market generated $157,368,038 in sales during May, according to figures released today by the research firm Headset.

With May’s numbers now in, Florida’s 2025 marijuana sales total $748,497,423. This includes revised totals of $155,307,418 for April, $150,896,110 for March, $139,346,318 for February, and $145,579,539 for January.

Dried marijuana flower once again accounted for the largest share of sales in May at 45%. Vaporizers and vape pens followed with 21%, while edibles made up 13% of sales. Concentrates represented 12%, with the remaining 9% made up of tinctures, topicals, pre-rolls, capsules, and other products.
Continue reading

Jun 02 2025

Ohio House Committee Sets June 4 Hearing on Bill to Roll Back Voter-Approved Marijuana Law

The House Judiciary Committee in Ohio has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, June 4 on Senate Bill 56, a proposal to roll-back portions of the state’s voter-approved cannabis legalization law.

The hearing is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on June 4 in Room 313 of the State House, with SB 56 listed second on the committee agenda.

The legislation has been replaced with a substitute version that aligns more closely with House Bill 160, which shares many of the same provisions. HB 160 sponsor State Representative Brian Stewart (R) said the new version helps move the process toward “a single vehicle,” while acknowledging further amendments may still be added.
Continue reading

Jun 02 2025

The Cannabis Bills Currently Being Considered in U.S. Congress As of June 2025

As of June 2025, the U.S. Congress is actively considering several cannabis-related bills that address issues ranging from state autonomy and veterans’ access to medical marijuana, to banking reforms and federal research policies.

These legislative efforts include:

STATES 2.0 Act (H.R. 2934)

Introduced by Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH), Max Miller (R-OH), and Dina Titus (D-NV), the STATES 2.0 Act would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exempt individuals and businesses operating in compliance with state or tribal cannabis laws from federal enforcement. The bill also proposes to authorize interstate cannabis commerce between legal jurisdictions and allow cannabis businesses to claim federal tax deductions currently denied under IRS Code 280E. Additionally, it outlines a framework for eventual federal regulation and taxation of cannabis products.

On May 29 the STATES 2.0 Act gained its fourth sponsor.

Continue reading

Jun 02 2025

Federal Judge Rejects Oregon’s Attempt to Dismiss Psilocybin ADA Lawsuit

A federal judge has denied the Oregon Health Authority’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit that challenges the state’s refusal to allow home-based psilocybin services for people with disabilities.

Filed by four trained or licensed psilocybin facilitators, the lawsuit claims Oregon’s psilocybin regulations violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to accommodate clients who are physically unable to travel to licensed service centers. On May 30, U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai ruled that the plaintiffs have standing to pursue their case and plausibly stated a claim under the ADA.

The plaintiffs, including a licensed therapist and two doctors, argue that OHA’s current framework unfairly denies access to psilocybin services for clients with severe disabilities or terminal illness. Oregon law requires all psilocybin sessions to occur in licensed service centers, with no exceptions for home visits. Plaintiffs asked OHA to create a process for reasonable accommodation, but the agency responded that any such change would require a statutory amendment.
Continue reading

Jun 02 2025

Texas Set to Simultaneously Expand Medical Cannabis Program and Ban Hemp-Derived THC

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign two contrasting marijuana-related bills into law—one that would dramatically expand the state’s medical cannabis program, and another that would effectively ban most hemp-derived THC products.

The first measure, House Bill 46, would broaden the state’s limited Compassionate Use Program by adding several new qualifying conditions, including chronic pain, terminal illness and traumatic brain injury. It would also increase the number of licensed dispensaries from three to fifteen and allow new methods of consumption such as patches and inhalers. The expansion would mark the most significant update to the program since it launched in 2015.

At the same time, the governor is also expected to sign Senate Bill 3, which would ban the retail sale of consumable hemp products containing any form of THC—including delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10—if the products are intended to be ingested, inhaled, or applied to the skin. Only trace amounts of THC would be allowed in CBD and other non-intoxicating products. The law would take effect September 1, 2025.
Continue reading