Apr 01 2025

Initiative to Legalize Marijuana Lounges Filed in Oregon, Titled Cannabis Social Lounge Act

A statewide initiative has been filed in Oregon that would legalize cannabis consumption lounges, creating licensed venues where adults could use marijuana in social settings.

The Oregon Cannabis Social Lounge Act (OCSLA), submitted by the Oregon Cannabis Cafe Coalition on March 20, would allow the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) to license cannabis lounges beginning in 2027. These venues would allow on-site consumption but prohibit marijuana sales, requiring patrons to bring their own products.

Under the proposal, which has updated language from a similar initiative the group filed last month, lounges would be limited to microbusinesses and could not be operated by entities holding a retail marijuana license. The initiative also bars the use of alcohol and tobacco on the premises, though lounges would be allowed to sell food, beverages, and hemp-derived CBD products containing no more than 0.3% THC.
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Apr 01 2025

Wisconsin: Liberal Susan Crawford Defeats Conservative Brad Schimel in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race, Most Expensive in U.S. History

Liberal Judge Susan Crawford has been elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, defeating conservative Judge Brad Schimel in the most expensive supreme court race in U.S. history.

Crawford’s win solidifies a liberal majority on the state’s highest court, a shift poised to influence Wisconsin’s legal landscape for years to come. At the time of publication Crawford had a double digit lead with the majority of votes counted.

The election garnered national attention due to its potential impact on pivotal issues such as abortion rights, redistricting, and the legalization of cannabis. Crawford’s victory ensures that liberals maintain control of the seven-member court, a balance that could be decisive in upcoming rulings.
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Apr 01 2025

New Louisiana Bill Would Regulate Kratom Sales, Establish Health Department Oversight

A bill filed today in the Louisiana House of Representatives would establish statewide regulations on the production and sale of kratom products.

Filed by State Representative Chad Boyer (R), House Bill 253 has been referred to the House Committee on Health and Welfare. The measure seeks to prohibit the sale of kratom products that do not meet specific chemical and labeling standards, while also requiring manufacturers to register with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and provide certificates of analysis for each product.

Under HB 253, kratom vendors and manufacturers would be barred from selling products containing dangerous substances, over 1% of 7-hydroxymitragynine, residual solvents beyond FDA limits, or total alkaloids exceeding 3.5%. The legislation also prohibits products with inaccurate mitragynine content or without clearly labeled serving sizes for liquid forms.
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Apr 01 2025

Four Marijuana Bills Approved Today by Washington Committees

Four marijuana-related bills received committee approval today in Washington State.

The House Consumer Protection and Business Committee approved Senate Bill 5206 and Senate Bill 5403 today, while the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee gave approval to House Bill 1551 and House Bill 14141. All five measures had previously passed their chamber of origin.

Senate Bill 5206, approved today in committee after passing the Senate 39 to 9 last month, would ease current restrictions on cannabis advertising. It allows retailers to display up to four signs, up from the current two, and exempts signs smaller than 512 square inches from that limit.
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Apr 01 2025

Minnesota House Committee Approves Marijuana Expungement and Resentencing Bill

Today, the Minnesota House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee approved House File 1094, a bill that would expand and clarify eligibility for expungement and resentencing for individuals with prior marijuana-related convictions.

This legislation, introduced in February by State Representatives Athena Hollins (D) and Zack Stephenson (D), is designed to address the legal consequences faced by individuals with prior marijuana convictions in light of recent changes to state cannabis laws.​

The bill specifies criteria under which individuals convicted of certain marijuana-related offenses may seek expungement or resentencing. To be eligible, the offense must not have involved a dangerous weapon, intentional infliction of bodily harm, or acts intended to cause fear of immediate bodily harm or death. Additionally, the act in question must either be a lesser offense or no longer considered a crime as of August 1, 2023, the date in which the state’s adult-use marijuana law took effect.
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Apr 01 2025

Florida Fines Marijuana Legalization Campaign $121,850

Florida’s Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS) has issued a $121,850 fine against Smart & Safe Florida, a campaign seeking to legalize recreational cannabis, citing multiple alleged violations of state election law—including forgery.

Smart & Safe Florida was the proponents of 2024’s Amendment 3, which received over 50% support in the November election but failed to reach the required 60% threshold. The group is now pushing for a new, similar initiative, which would also legalize cannabis for everyone 21 and older, attempting to put it to a vote in 2026.

According to two letters sent by OECS last week, the agency claims the campaign violated several state rules. Among the accusations: submitting petition forms more than 30 days after they were signed, failing to include the full amendment text when collecting signatures, and turning in petitions allegedly containing forged or fraudulent signatures—including one from a voter who had died months earlier.
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Apr 01 2025

Study: CBD Reduces Stress-Induced Liver Damage by Improving Mitochondrial Function and Reducing Inflammation

Cannabidiol (CBD) may help protect the liver from stress-induced injury by targeting inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial damage, according to a new study published by the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.

A team of researchers from Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine explored CBD’s impact on liver injury caused by acute and chronic stress. Using a mouse model, they found that CBD produced significant improvements in liver function and cellular health.

Mice given CBD showed lower levels of liver enzymes (AST and ALT), which are key indicators of liver damage. The study also found that CBD reduced inflammatory markers like IL-1β and TNF-α, while increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and GSH-Px.
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Apr 01 2025

Yale Law Journal Essay Urges Federal Decriminalization of Marijuana, Calls Rescheduling “Legally and Logically Indefensible”

An essay published Friday in The Yale Law Journal sharply criticizes the Biden Administration’s plan to reschedule marijuana, calling it “legally and logically indefensible” and urging full federal decriminalization instead.

The piece, written by Jennifer D. Oliva, a professor at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, argues that rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) would only entrench federal control over marijuana rather than dismantling the outdated and racially biased foundation of prohibition.

“Rather than remedying the federal government’s racist and scientifically unsound criminalization of marijuana,” writes Oliva, “the Schedule III approach exacerbates the problem.” She contends that marijuana was originally banned in the 1930s through a campaign rooted in misinformation, racial prejudice, and political motives, not scientific analysis.
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Apr 01 2025

Illinois: $150 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in February, Price of Flower and Concentrates Reach Record Lows

There was $150 million in marijuana and marijuana products sold legally in Illinois in February.

According to the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer, there was $130.6 million in adult-use cannabis sold in February, with $103 million purchased by residents and $27 million by those living outside of Illinois. In addition, there was $19.7 million in medical marijuana sold in February, bringing the month’s total to $150.3.

Although the $150.3 million sold in February is a 6% drop from the $160 million sold in February 2024, prices are down over 10%, meaning the total amount of marijuana sold by weight is actually higher this year.
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Apr 01 2025

Grön Handcrafted Cannabis-Infused Edibles Announce Their Debut Across Illinois

 Grön (pronounced grewn), the “Mother of All Edibles”, founded by Christine Apple, the acclaimed woman-led producer of innovative, handcrafted cannabis-infused edibles, today announced its debut across the state of Illinois, now exclusively available at Curaleaf dispensaries.

Beginning in April 2025, Grön products will be available across most dispensaries in Illinois.

“We are thrilled to finally bring our products to the millions of cannabis consumers in Illinois,” said Christine Apple, Founder and CEO of Grön. “With Illinois’ thriving recreational market, this launch has been highly anticipated, and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce our edibles to a whole new audience. Expanding into Illinois marks a major milestone for us, and we can’t wait for consumers to experience the quality and craftsmanship that define Grön.”
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