An Arkansas initiative to expand the state’s medical marijuana program, in addition to establishing a federal trigger for recreational marijuana legalization, has narrowly failed to make the November ballot. Today, Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston announced that Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) did not gather enough valid signatures to qualify the Arkansas Medical Cannabis …
Category: News
Sep 30 2024
California Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Marijuana Cafés
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law legislation that legalizes Amsterdam-stye marijuana cafés. Today, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1775, nearly a year after he vetoed a similar bill by the same prime sponsor. The proposal was approved overwhelmingly by the state’s legislature: 58 to 6 in the Assembly, and 30 to 7 in …
Sep 30 2024
Kamala Harris Calls for Marijuana Legalization for First Time as Presidential Nominee
For the first time as the official Democratic nominee for president, Kamala Harris has expressed her support for legalizing marijuana. Although Vice President and Democratic nominee for president Kamala Harris has supported legalizing marijuana since 2019, including cosponsoring a descheduling bill while in the Senate, she has (until now) not made any comments on the …
Sep 29 2024
Study: Single Dose of Psilocybin Shows Promise for Veterans with Treatment-Resistant Depression
A recent study by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital has revealed promising results for veterans battling severe treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders and online ahead of print by the National Library of Medicine, the study is the first to examine how a single dose …
Sep 28 2024
California Governor Signs Bill Allowing Marijuana Businesses to Combine Activities Under One License
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law legislation allowing marijuana businesses to conduct multiple activities under a single license. Senate Bill 1064 was signed by Governor Newsom earlier today. The measure, introduced by Senator John Laird (D) in April, was approved by the Assembly (73 to 0) and Senate (37 to 1). SB 1064 …
Sep 28 2024
Iowa Democrats Make Marijuana Legalization a Top Agenda Item for 2025
Iowa Democrats are making marijuana legalization a top priority for the 2025 legislative session. As they work to increase their presence in the Iowa House, where they currently hold 36 out of 100 seats, Democrats are focusing on issues that resonate with a wide range of Iowans. At the forefront of this agenda is the …
Sep 27 2024
St. Louis Officials Vote to Extend Marijuana Store Hours as City Sees Surge in Marijuana Revenue
St. Louis officials have approved a plan to extend marijuana dispensary and retail outlet hours throughout the city. On Friday, the Board of Aldermen voted to allow such stores to remain open until 10 p.m., seven days a week. The proposal was introduce by Alderman Rasheen Aldridge. Prior to the board’s vote, Aldridge noted the …
Sep 27 2024
Study: Cannabis Cream Reduces Chronic Kidney Disease-Related Itching in Hemodialysis Patients
A new double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Kidney Medicine found that a cannabis-containing cream significantly reduced itching in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis. The study, conducted by researchers from Thammasat University in Thailand, involved 60 participants, all experiencing moderate to severe CKD-associated pruritus. The participants were divided into two groups: one received …
Sep 27 2024
GOP Senator Introduces Federal HEMP Act to Triple Allowable THC in Hemp
U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced the Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act, in an attempt to to address hemp farmers’ concerns “with federal overreach and bring clarity, transparency, and certainty to regulation”. The HEMP Act amends the definition of “hemp” from 0.3 percent THC to 1 percent THC. It also requires testing of …
Sep 26 2024
Report Finds Marijuana Seed Market to Grow From $1.3 Billion in 2021 to $6.5 Billion in 2031
The global cannabis seed market is projected to undergo remarkable growth, increasing from $1.3 billion in 2021 and $2.15 billion in 2024, to an estimated $6.5 billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.4%. This forecast, highlighted in a recent report by Allied Market Research, underscores a shift in consumer behavior …