Oct 03 2024

Missouri Allocates $5 Million to Research if Psilocybin Can Treat Drug Addiction

Missouri officials are preparing to award $5 million in grant funding to explore whether psilocybin could be an effective treatment for opioid use disorders and help reduce overdose deaths.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

The state’s Department of Mental Health released a memo on Monday seeking expert assistance from contractors to help shape the competitive grant process for this research.

The memo explains, “This request for information (RFI) allows vendors to provide us with ideas, suggestions, and relevant information specifically related to opioid research and its potential to treat opioid addiction.”
Continue reading

Oct 03 2024

Nearly $10 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in Rhode Island in September, $88 Million Year-to-Date

In Rhode Island, marijuana sales nearly reached $10 million for the third straight month.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations, legal marijuana stores and dispensaries sold a combined $9.52 million in product in August. The vats majority of these sales, $7.70 million, were purchased for recreational use, with medical marijuana patients purchasing $1.83 million in product during the same period.

These figures are nearly identical to the $9.63 million sold in September of last year, but are a slight drop from the record-setting $10.25 million sold last month.
Continue reading

Oct 02 2024

Arizona Court Rules Driver’s Licenses Can’t Be Suspended Solely for Marijuana in Blood

The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled today that merely having marijuana in a driver’s system is insufficient for the state to suspend their license.

The court dismissed arguments from the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) that a blood test showing marijuana metabolites constituted sufficient evidence of being “under the influence.”

Appellate Judge Andrew Jacobs, writing for the unanimous court, clarified that when voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2020, Arizona law specified that penalties could only be imposed if the state demonstrated the driver was “impaired to even the slightest degree by marijuana.” He stated, “But that was not the case here. Instead, the state claims it can suspend Kirsten’s privilege of driving for his prior use of marijuana, as evidenced by metabolites of cannabis in his blood, without any impairment.”
Continue reading

Oct 02 2024

Oregon Marijuana Sales Top $75 Million for 20th Straight Month

August marked the 20th consecutive month where Oregon’s legal marijuana sales were above $75 million.

Data compiled and released by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission shows that there was $78,565,729 worth of marijuana sold legally in August, a roughly $5 million decrease from the $84 million sold in July. All-time sales are now over $6.9 billion, with the year-to-date total standing at around $725 million.

The average price of dried marijuana flower stayed exactly the same in September compared to August, at $3.75. However, the price of concentrates dropped slightly, from $16.48 to $16.25.
Continue reading

Oct 02 2024

Public Hearing on Marijuana Rescheduling Will Take Place in Two Months on December 2

The public hearing for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) proposal to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I, to Schedule III, will take place in exactly two months, on December 2.

“This is notice that the Drug Enforcement Administration will hold a hearing with respect to the proposed rescheduling of marijuana into schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act”, states the notice, which was published in the Federal Register in August. “The proposed rescheduling of marijuana was initially proposed in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2024.”

The notice says “Interested persons desiring to participate in this hearing must provide written notice of desired participation as set out below, on or before September 30, 2024. The hearing will commence on December 2, 2024, at 9 a.m. ET at 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.”
Continue reading

Oct 02 2024

Study Says Nanotechnology Could Revolutionize Marijuana-Based Medicine

A new study published in the journal Recent Advances in Drug Delivery and Formulation suggests that nanotechnology could be key to overcoming the challenges of effectively administering cannabis-based medicines.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and the University at Buffalo, the study explores how nanotechnology could improve the bioavailability, solubility, and targeted delivery of cannabis compounds, potentially enhancing their therapeutic effects.

“Medical cannabis has potential therapeutic benefits in managing pain, anxiety, depression, and neurological and movement disorders”, states the study’s abstract. “Phytocannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant are responsible for their pharmacological and therapeutic properties. However, the complexity of cannabis components, especially cannabinoids, poses a challenge to effective medicinal administration.”
Continue reading

Oct 02 2024

Illinois Marijuana Company Launches “Doobies for Boobies” Fundraiser to Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 nuEra, a leading cannabis brand, says it’s “proud to announce the launch of its “Doobies for Boobies” Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) fundraiser to support Gilda’s Club, a nonprofit organization that provides free programs to support individuals impacted by cancer.”

Running from October 1st to 31st, nuEra will donate $1 from every sale of its BCA pre-rolls and BCA wristbands to Gilda’s Club.

“Breast cancer awareness is a cause that resonates deeply with our team and our customers. We are thrilled to partner with Gilda’s Club for this important initiative,” said Laura Jaramillo Bernal, COO at nuEra. “Every purchase made during October helps support cancer patients and their families, and we hope to raise significant funds for this incredible organization.”
Continue reading

Oct 02 2024

Next Month Three Texas Cities Will Vote on Marijuana Decriminalization Proposals

On November 5, voters in three Texas cities have the opportunity to join a handful of others that have decriminalized marijuana possession.

During the November 2022 election, voters in five cities —San Marcos, Austin, Denton, Fort Hood, and Elgin— approved ordinances to decriminalize marijuana, with support ranging between 60% and 82%. This November, voters in Lockhart, Bastrop, and Dallas will have the opportunity to do the same.

All three proposals would prevent law enforcement from arresting individuals found with up to four ounces of marijuana. Instead, they would receive a citation similar to a traffic ticket.
Continue reading

Oct 02 2024

New Hampshire Committee to Vote Next Week on Legislation to Legalize Psychedelics for Therapeutic Use

A committee in the New Hampshire House of Representative is expected to vote next week on a bill that would legalize the therapeutic use of certain psychedelics.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms (left), mescaline (middle), and LSD (right). All three would be legalized for therapeutic use if House Bill 1693 is passed into law.

House Bill 1693, filed in December by State Representative Kevin Verville (R), would require the Department of Health and Human Services to create and administer a new program regulating the use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes.  The bill models the proposed statute after the state’s law that established the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.

The New Hampshire House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs has scheduled to an executive session on the bill for October 9 at 1pm. Executive session are generally only held when a committee is expected to take a vote on a particular measure.
Continue reading

Oct 01 2024

New Mexico Marijuana Sales Top $50 Million in September, Nearly $400 Million So Far in 2024

For the fifth time this years, monthly marijuana sales in New Mexico passed $50 million.

There was $50,097,212.57 worth of marijuana and marijuana products sold legally in New Mexico in August, according to the state’s Regulation & Licensing Department. Adult-use sales for August were $38,018,830.10, with medical marijuana sales making up the other $12,078,382.44.

There were 1,206,438 marijuana transactions in August: 959,066 adult-use transactions, and 247,372 transactions by medical marijuana patients.
Continue reading