Dec 10 2024

Psychedelics, Especially Psilocybin and LSD, Show Promise for Easing Depression and Anxiety in Terminally Ill Patients, Study Finds

A new systematic review and network meta-analysis, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, explores the potential of psychedelics to alleviate existential distress in terminally ill patients.

Dried psilocybin (left) and LSD (right).

Conducted by researchers from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, the Italy Department of Mental Health and Drug Abuse, and the University Utrecht in the Netherlands, the study analyzed data from nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 606 participants.

The analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of psychedelics such as psilocybin, ketamine, LSD, and MDMA. Results showed significant improvements in depression and anxiety compared to control groups.

“Network meta-analysis identified psilocybin as the most effective compound for depression, and LSD for anxiety. However, head-to-head comparison between psychedelics did not reach statistical significance”, states the study. “The rates of treatment discontinuation and adverse events between psychedelics and controls were comparable.”
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Dec 10 2024

South Carolina Lawmakers File Bills to Decriminalize Marijuana Possession and Legalize Medical Marijuana

In a significant push toward marijuana reform, two South Carolina lawmakers prefiled bills on December 5 aimed at decriminalizing marijuana possession and establishing a medical marijuana program.

Both bills, introduced by Democratic members of the South Carolina House, reflect a growing national movement to reevaluate marijuana laws.

Introduced by Representative Todd Rutherford, House Bill 3019 seeks to create a framework for the legal medical use of marijuana in South Carolina. The bill, titled the “Put Patients First Act,” would allow registered patients suffering from debilitating medical conditions to use marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. The measure outlines provisions for a confidential registry, establishes protections for physicians and caregivers, and permits the operation of dispensaries to cultivate and distribute marijuana for medical purposes.
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Dec 10 2024

Nearly $25 Million in Marijuana Sold in Connecticut in November, $275 Million in 2024

In Connecticut, licensed marijuana stores sold over $24 million worth of product.

In total , there was $24,411,425 in marijuana and marijuana products sold in November, a slight increase from the $24,055,147 sold in October and the $23,445,921 sold in September.

The year-to-date total for 2024 is now around $275 million, bringing the all-time total to nearly $600 million.
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Dec 09 2024

Montana: Licensed Marijuana Sales Top $26 Million in November, Over $300 Million in 2024

Montana’s marijuana market remains steady, with over $26 million in total sales in November.

The Montana Department of Revenue released data today showing that there was $23,124,107 in recreational marijuana sold in November, in addition to $3,584,808 in medical marijuana sales, combining for $26,708,916 in total sales. Sales include dried marijuana as well as a variety of marijuana products such as edibles, concentrates, prerolls, and topicals.

The year-to-date total for 2024 is now around $310 million, bringing the all-time total to $920,309,950.
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Dec 09 2024

Ohio Marijuana Sales Surpass $320 Million in First Three Months of Recreational Market, Nearly $40 Million in Tax Revenue

Since licensed marijuana sales began on August 7 in Ohio, the state has recorded $320,719,313 in combined sales across both medical and recreational markets, according to data released today by the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Cannabis Control.

Between August 7 and December 7, recreational marijuana sales totaled $203,141,060, while medical marijuana sales reached $117,578,253. This period saw 2,537,211 recreational transactions and 1,179,673 medical transactions. The combined $320 million in sales resulted in around $38 million in tax revenue for the state.

The average price per gram has increased slightly to $7.47, up from a low of $6.99 the previous week. By comparison, prices in early August hovered around $9.42 per gram.
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Dec 09 2024

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals Appears Unlikely to Side With Cannabis Companies in Case Challenging Marijuana Prohibition

A federal appeals court on Thursday appeared poised to reject claims by several Massachusetts marijuana businesses that the longstanding federal prohibition on the drug is no longer constitutional, according to Reuters.

The businesses, represented by attorney David Boies, argued that the legal and legislative landscape surrounding marijuana has shifted significantly since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal ban in 2005.

Boies told the three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston that the original justification for the ban—rooted in Congress’s goal of eradicating marijuana nationwide—has effectively been abandoned. He pointed out that 38 states, including Massachusetts, now allow marijuana use for medical or recreational purposes. He also cited Congress’s actions since 2014 barring the U.S. Department of Justice from interfering with state medical marijuana programs and its 2010 approval of medical marijuana in Washington, D.C.
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Dec 09 2024

Psychedelics Linked to Enhanced Sexual Function Even Months After Use, Study Finds

Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin may improve sexual function for months after use, according to a study conducted by the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

This research marks the first known scientific investigation into the long-term effects of psychedelics on sexual health. Participants in the study reported significant improvements across various aspects of sexual functioning, including satisfaction, arousal, and connection with their partners, with benefits lasting up to six months after their psychedelic experiences.

Published in Nature Scientific Reports, the study gathered responses from nearly 300 individuals before and after their use of psychedelics. The research combined data from two groups: individuals who consumed psychedelics recreationally or ceremonially and participants in a clinical trial examining psilocybin as a treatment for depression. This combination allowed the researchers to assess the impact of psychedelic experiences on multiple dimensions of sexual health.
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Dec 09 2024

How Marijuana Rescheduling Could Impact Washington, D.C.

By Ty Buffington, NORM Legal Intern

Following the Biden Administration’s initiation in 2022 of a marijuana rescheduling effort, the DEA commenced a formal rule-making process in 2024, beginning with a notice and public comment period.

After the submission of over 40,000 public comments on the issue of whether to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, the DEA announced this summer that it would hold a hearing before an administrative law judge. That hearing commences this week and is anticipated to continue into the first quarter of 2025.

If the DEA ultimately concurs with HHS’s proposed rescheduling recommendation, the impacts of this change on the state level will likely be limited. Without further federal reform, state-regulated medical and adult-use (recreational) cannabis regimes will remain in conflict with federal law, which provides state governments with little to no flexibility with respect to legalizing Schedule III substances. The DEA is unlikely to grant licenses to businesses operating in the state-regulated marijuana industry and the FDA is unlikely to approve botanical cannabis for use as a prescription drug. This leaves the state-sanctioned cannabis market in largely the same precarious legal position it is currently in.
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Dec 09 2024

US Congress: Bipartisan Bill Would Allow Expungements of Pardoned Marijuana Offenses

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced H.R. 10248, the Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Expungements Act.

Filed recently by Congressmember Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), the bill has garnered support from Republican cosponsors Laurel Lee (FL), Barry Moore (AL), Don Bacon (NE), and Jeff Duncan (SC), as well as Democrat David Trone (MD).

The legislation is named after Weldon Angelos, who was sentenced to 55 years in federal prison at the age of 24 for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses. His mandatory sentence, which included firearms charges, has drawn widespread criticism as excessive, especially given his lack of prior criminal history. Angelos was granted clemency by President Barack Obama after serving 13 years and later received a full pardon from President Donald Trump. Despite these measures, his criminal record continues to create significant barriers to employment and reintegration.
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Dec 08 2024

Massachusetts’ Legal Marijuana Market Now Features 740 Active Strains, Nearly 30% Increase Since Last December

There’s now 740 active strains available in Massachusetts’ legal marijuana market, according to data from the state’s Cannabis Control Commission (CCC).

(Photo credit: Strain Caregivers).

This marks a 29% increase from the 572 active strains recorded in December 2023 and an impressive 84% jump from the 401 strains available in December 2022.

The rapid expansion highlights the state’s flourishing cannabis industry, which saw $151.8 million in sales in November, bringing the year-to-date total to $1.6 billion, and the all-time total to $7.04 billion.
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