Dec 31 2024

New York Lawmaker to Refile Legislation to Legalize Medical Psilocybin and Establish Licensed Service Centers

New York Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D) plans to refile her psilocybin legalization bill for the January 2025 legislative session after the measure failed to advance in 2024.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

The proposed legislation, titled Assembly Bill 10375 during this year’s session, was introduced in May 2024. The measure sought to establish a comprehensive framework for the “regulated adult use, support services, and cultivation of psilocybin-containing fungi.” Despite significant interest, the bill did not progress through the legislature this year.

Paulin’s bill outlines a system for licensing and regulating psilocybin therapy, allowing qualified adults to use the substance under the supervision of licensed healthcare professionals in designated service centers. The measure would also remove psilocybin from the state’s list of controlled substances.
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Dec 31 2024

CBD Has Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Potential, “Exhibiting Promise as a Therapeutic Alternative for Oral Diseases”, Finds Study

A new study suggests cannabidiol (CBD) could be a game-changer in fighting gum disease, showing significant antibacterial and antibiofilm effects against harmful oral bacteria.

Researchers from Brazil’s Federal University of São João del Rei and Universidade Federal de Uberlândia found CBD to be both effective and non-toxic, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic option for periodontal health.

In the study, researchers explored the potential of CBD as an antimicrobial agent to combat bacteria associated with periodontitis. Their findings, being published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology and published online ahead of print by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, suggest that CBD may serve as a therapeutic option for oral diseases while exhibiting minimal toxicity.
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Dec 31 2024

35 Marijuana Reviewer Jobs Remain Open in Four States and D.C., Pays Up to $1,500 Weekly

Toker’s Guide is hiring marijuana reviewers across Florida, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and Washington, D.C., offering 35 positions aimed at cannabis enthusiasts with a knack for writing and product evaluation.

The company describes itself as “a rapidly growing cannabis start-up helping people find the best weed in their area by utilizing reviews from local connoisseurs.” According to a job listing on Indeed, Toker’s Guide is seeking reviewers to assess and write about dispensary products, with a focus on delivering high-quality reviews.

The breakdown of job openings includes seven positions in Florida, 17 in Maryland, four in Virginia, one in New York, and six in Washington, D.C. While most roles are “mostly remote,” applicants must be able to travel for pick-ups or deliveries.
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Dec 31 2024

Legislation to Support Collective Bargaining for Marijuana Workers Filed in Washington Legislature

Legislation to establish collective bargaining rights for marijuana workers was filed yesterday in the Washington State House of Representatives.

House Bill 1141, introduced by State Representatives Lillian Ortiz-Self and Mary Fossee on December 30, 2024, seeks to establish collective bargaining rights for workers in Washington’s marijuana industry. The bill is scheduled for consideration during the 2025 legislative session and aims to extend labor protections to workers involved in marijuana cultivation and processing.

The proposed legislation establishes guidelines for organizing labor unions, resolving labor disputes, and protecting workers’ rights to collective bargaining. Employees covered under the bill include those performing tasks such as growing, harvesting, drying, and trimming marijuana on licensed farms. Managers and supervisors with decision-making authority are excluded from these provisions.
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Dec 31 2024

Montana Lawmaker Files Resolution Urging Federal Government to Pass SAFER Banking Act

Senator Joshua Kassmier, a Republican, has prefiled Senate Joint Resolution 5 (SJR 5) in the Montana Legislature, urging the United States Congress to pass the SAFER Banking Act.

The resolution was officially introduced on December 27, and it was assigned on December 30 to the Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee for consideration.

SJR 5 highlights the challenges faced by marijuana-related businesses due to federal restrictions on banking access. The resolution notes that despite marijuana’s federal Schedule I classification under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, public opinion has shifted significantly, with a Pew Research poll showing 61% of Americans support nationwide legalization. Montana voters approved medical marijuana in 2004 and recreational use in 2020, with the state generating over $117 million in marijuana tax revenue between January 2022 and April 2024. These funds have supported initiatives ranging from mental health services to wildlife conservation and veterans’ programs.
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Dec 30 2024

Hawaii Governor Signs Order to Protect Medical Marijuana Caregivers

Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed Executive Order No. 24-06 today, designed to protect caregivers who provide medical cannabis to qualified patients, from undue enforcement.

Under current Hawaii law, primary caregivers are authorized to cultivate marijuana for qualified patients. However, the law allowing this was set to expire on January 1.

To address this, the Governor has signed an executive order directing the Department of Health to not use resources to address situations where a caregiver is cultivating cannabis for a patient within the bounds of the law that exist today. This will allow primary caregivers to continue to perform their duties without fear of enforcement from the Department of Health, so long as they are not committing other significant violations like those described in the executive order.
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Dec 30 2024

Six Marijuana-Related Clinical Trials Now Open for Participants at UC San Diego

The University of California San Diego (UCSD) is seeking participants for six marijuana-related clinical trials.

The university is currently conducting seven clinical trials related to marijuana and its compounds, with all but one currently open to new participants (the seventh is “currently not accepting new patients, but might later”). Below is a breakdown of these trials, with summaries of what researchers are seeking to accomplish and links for those interested in taking part.
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Dec 30 2024

UCSF Seeks Participants for Four Psilocybin Clinical Trials

The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is seeking participants for four clinical trials exploring the effects of psilocybin on mental health conditions and chronic low back pain.

The university is currently conducted eight clinical trial related to psilocybin, with two “in progress, not accepting new patients”, two that are “not yet accepting patients”, and four that are currently “open to eligible people”.

Below is a summary of the four trials that are currently seeking participants, with links for those interested in contacting the university to apply or to seek further information.
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Dec 29 2024

Study: Recreational Marijuana Legalization Linked to Reduction in Opioid Deaths

A new study reveals that legalizing recreational marijuana may cut opioid-related deaths by an average of 3.5 per 100,000 residents.

The research, based on state-level data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found the most significant impact in states that legalized marijuana earlier in the opioid crisis. According to the study, the decline in overdose deaths was immediate in these states and grew stronger over time, persisting for at least five years.

Researchers from multiple institutions, including Texas Tech University, New Mexico State University, and the American Institute for Economic Research, observed similar trends in states that legalized marijuana more recently, though the effects typically appeared three years after legalization, coinciding with the development of dispensary infrastructure.
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Dec 29 2024

Study: 3D-Printed CBD Suppositories Show Promise in Treating Epilepsy

Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine have found that cannabidiol (CBD)-loaded hollow suppositories using 3D printing technology may be effective in treating epilepsy.

3D-printed CBD suppository.

Published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics, the study highlights the limitations of traditional oral CBD formulations, which often face significant first-pass metabolic effects, reducing their efficacy. The newly designed suppository, referred to as CHS (cannabidiol-loaded hollow suppository), features an inner supporting spring and an outer CBD-loaded hollow shell.

The spring was created using 3D-printed thermoplastic urethane filaments, while the shell was crafted with a metal mold filled with a mixture of CBD, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyethylene glycol. Laboratory tests showed that CHS provided a sustained release of CBD over five hours, allowing effective systemic delivery.
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