Federal legislation that would protect state laws legalizing psilocybin is gaining renewed interest as Massachusetts may soon become the third state to do so.

Dried psilocybin.

House Resolution 5592, officially titled the “Validating Independence for State Initiatives on Organic Natural Substances (VISIONS) Act,” was introduced last September by Congressmembers Robert Julio Garcia (D-CA), with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) as a co-sponsor. The bill aims to protect state laws on psychedelics by amending the federal Controlled Substances Act, allowing for the use of certain psychedelic substances, including psilocybin, under state regulations without federal interference.

“Current federal law lags behind the growing body of evidence that suggests that the psychedelic treatment that psilocybin offers can provide relief for those suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders”,  says Congressmember Garcia. “Here in the U.S. we have countless military and law enforcement veterans who have seen their lives improve thanks to these groundbreaking treatments. The potential benefits of psilocybin have been overlooked for years and my aim is to protect the areas and states that want to delve into the real progress this treatment can offer for people in their communities.”

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New Hampshire’s House Bill 544, which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older, is set for a “full committee work session” on September 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building, Rooms 302-304.

This work session marks a significant step in the legislative process, coming just three months after the New Hampshire House narrowly rejected a similar legalization measure (House Bill 1633), which passed the full Senate 14 to 10. The final House vote was 178 to 173.

House Bill 544 was first filed in January 2023 by five Democrats. The measure would legalize marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, including a putting control of the legal marijuana market in the hands of the state liquor commission.
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Ohio’s recreational marijuana market kicked off with a strong start, bringing in over $11.5 million in sales during the first week, according to data from the state’s Division of Cannabis Control released on Wednesday.

Dispensaries across Ohio moved 1,285 pounds of marijuana flower and sold 173,043 units of other cannabis products, including edibles and topicals, totaling $11,530,708 in revenue during the first four days of legal sales. Additionally, medical marijuana sales added $8.3 million to the state’s cannabis market, bringing the total over the four-day period to nearly $20 million.

The average price for an ounce of marijuana flower spiked by approximately 20%, reaching $266 last week, compared to $222 the previous week, reflecting the demand surge as recreational sales began.
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The University of Minnesota School of Public Health has launched the state’s first Cannabis Research Center (CRC), funded by a $2.5 million state appropriation.

The center’s mission is to provide, interpret, and share research to inform cannabis-related policy and practice in Minnesota, while also conducting innovative research on the public health impacts of cannabis legalization.

Minnesota joins several other states, including California, Colorado, and Florida, that have established or are establishing state-sponsored cannabis research centers. Some of these programs have led FDA-approved clinical trials on cannabis efficacy.
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The Olympia, Washington City Council has unanimously approved a resolution to decriminalize psychedelics including psilocybin mushrooms.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

This action makes Olympia the latest jurisdiction in the state to move toward decriminalization, joining Seattle, Port Townsend, and Jefferson County.

The resolution passed by the City Council designates the enforcement of laws against entheogen-related activities as a low priority for local law enforcement. It also advocates for the “full decriminalization of these activities” at both the state and federal levels.
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A new poll conducted by the Suffolk University Political Research Center, USA TODAY and WSVN-TV finds that a strong majority of likely voters in Florida support Amendment 3 to legalize recreational marijuana.

According to the poll, 63% of voters in Florida support Amendment 3, compared to 33% who are opposed. Just 3% remain undecided on the issue.

The poll found majority support among all political affiliations, with Democrats unsurprisingly having the most support at 73%, followed by independents at 69% and Republicans at 51%. The poll found majority support among all age groups.
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The University of California in San Diego (UCSD) currently has seven active marijuana-related clinical trials, and they are seeking participants for five of them.

Of the seven cannabis clinical trials the UCSD has “in progress”, five of them are “open to eligible people”.

These studies are part of the university’s ongoing efforts to explore the medical applications of marijuana, which is becoming increasingly relevant as more states legalize its use for both recreational and medicinal purposes, and as marijuana is rescheduled at the federal level.
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