Apr 10 2025

Texas Senate Committee Advances Bill to Regulate Kratom and Ban Certain Hallucinogens

A proposal to regulate kratom and prohibit several hallucinogenic substances has advanced in the Texas Senate.

Texas State Capitol Building.

The State Affairs Committee voted today to approve Senate Bill 1868, sponsored by Senator Charles Perry. The measure would create a legal framework for the sale and labeling of kratom products while adding certain hallucinogenic compounds to the state’s list of banned substances.

Under the bill, kratom products would be required to undergo lab testing for contaminants and alkaloid content, including levels of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Any product that is not properly tested or labeled would be considered illegal to sell, and violators could face criminal penalties. The bill would also prohibit the sale of kratom to anyone under 18.
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Apr 10 2025

Missouri House of Representatives Approves Kratom Consumer Protection Act With 148 to 2 Vote

The Missouri House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (House Bill 1037) by a vote of 148 to 2. The legislation now moves to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee for consideration.

Kratom plant (photo credit: iStock.com/Panwasin getti).

If enacted into law, HB 1037 would establish comprehensive regulations for kratom products, including strict labeling requirements and limits on alkaloid content to ensure consumer safety. Kratom, derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant native to Southeast Asia, is commonly used for pain relief, anxiety, and as a substitute for opioids, but its unregulated status has led to concerns over adulteration and inconsistent potency.

The bill requires manufacturers to label products with the amounts of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine—the two primary active compounds. It prohibits sales to anyone under 21 and bans products that are contaminated or contain synthetic derivatives. The measure also caps the amount of 7-hydroxymitragynine at 2%, citing its high potency.
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Apr 10 2025

The Trajectory of Legal Recreational Cannabis in the U.S.

Twenty-four U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana as of 2025, marking a dramatic shift in drug policy over the past decade.

The movement began in 2012 with voter initiatives in Colorado and Washington, and has since expanded through a mix of ballot measures and legislative actions. Below is a state-by-state timeline of legalization, in order of the year each state approved adult-use cannabis, along with key policy details such as possession limits, retail provisions, and tax structures.

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Apr 10 2025

Bipartisan Maine Bill Would Authorize Medical Marijuana Farmers’ Markets Across the State

A bipartisan group of nine Maine lawmakers has introduced a bill that would allow the creation of licensed medical marijuana farmers’ markets.

Filed today, House Bill 1559 was referred to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. The measure is sponsored by State Representative Chapman of Auburn and cosponsored by Senators Bickford of Androscoggin and Hickman of Kennebec, along with Representatives Bishop of Bucksport, Boyer of Poland, Eder of Waterboro, Fredericks of Sanford, Lance of Paris, and Supica of Bangor.

If passed into law, the bill would authorize the Office of Cannabis Policy to license medical marijuana farmers’ markets, defined as buildings or spaces where registered caregivers and dispensaries can sell cannabis products directly to qualified patients. These markets would also allow onsite consumption by patients who purchase products.
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Apr 10 2025

Oregon’s Satya Therapeutics Marks 900 Legal Psilocybin Sessions, Leads Oregon in Access, Affordability and Experience

Satya Therapeutics, a pioneer in Oregon’s psilocybin therapy landscape, today announced significant achievements underscoring its leadership in the state’s growing psychedelic wellness sector.

The company recently conducted its 900th client session, positioning itself as one of Oregon’s most active service centers, according to a press release sent today. With an estimated 8% of all clients served statewide since the program’s 2023 launch, Satya continues to set benchmarks in accessibility and care. In Q1 2025 alone, the center welcomed 129 clients, reflecting sustained demand despite industry and economic uncertainties.

Satya’s $1,000 all-inclusive sessions-among Oregon’s most affordable – are made possible by its vertically integrated model. The company grows its own psilocybin mushrooms, ensuring quality control and cost efficiency. Andreas Met, COO, emphasized: “Our direct cultivation allows us to offer exceptional value while maintaining rigorous safety standards”.
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Apr 10 2025

Missouri Marijuana Sales Set New Monthly Record With $130.88 Million in March

Missouri saw its highest-ever monthly marijuana sales total in March, reaching $130.88 million, according to data released today by the Department of Health and Senior Services.

(Photo credit: GETTY Images).

This figure includes $115.76 million in adult-use sales and $15.12 million from the medical marijuana market.

The March numbers surpass the state’s previous monthly record of $130.5 million, set in December 2024. The surge in sales continues a strong start to the year, bringing Missouri’s total marijuana revenue for 2025 to $360.44 million through the first three months. That total includes $113.21 million in January and $116.16 million in February.
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Apr 10 2025

ScottsMiracle-Gro Spins Off Cannabis Investment Arm Amid Strategic Shift

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company today announced the transfer of its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Collective, Inc., to an independent strategic partner, as part of a broader strategy to separate its cannabis-related investments from its core lawn and garden business.

The Company created The Hawthorne Collective in 2021 as a vehicle to invest in areas of the cannabis industry that are not pursued by its Hawthorne Gardening Company subsidiary, a leader in cultivation supplies such as lighting, nutrients and other materials for cannabis growers and hydroponic cultivators. Included within The Hawthorne Collective’s holdings are investments in Fluent, previously Cansortium, a vertically integrated cannabis company with licenses and operations in Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and New York.

“The Hawthorne Collective transaction is the initial step in our plan to move our cannabis-adjacent subsidiaries into a separate and independent company as we further our strategic focus on our core lawn and garden business,” said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and CEO of ScottsMiracle-Gro. “For our shareholders, this will reduce the impact of the cannabis sector’s volatility on our Company’s stock and provide opportunities to drive meaningful and immediate value creation through increased investments in our consumer business. As we further advance this plan, we next will look to separate The Hawthorne Gardening Company from ScottsMiracle-Gro by the close of fiscal 2025.
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Apr 10 2025

Study: Cannabis Use Linked to Reduced Stress and Improved Sleep in Veterans, Unlike Alcohol

Cannabis use among veterans is associated with reduced stress and improved sleep quality on the same day, according to a new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Researchers from King’s College London, New York University, the University of Southern California, the University of Washington, and the University of California Berkeley examined daily diary data from 74 veterans with elevated PTSD symptoms and problematic cannabis use over a three-month period. The study aimed to assess how cannabis and alcohol use interact with sleep quality and perceived stress on a day-to-day basis.

Using dynamic structural equation modeling, the study found that higher cannabis use was associated with lower stress and better sleep quality that same night. No lasting or next-day effects of cannabis use were identified, either positive or negative.
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Apr 10 2025

Oklahoma Medical Cannabis Patient Count Declines for Fourth Straight Month

Oklahoma’s medical marijuana patient count has declined for the fourth consecutive month, continuing a trend that began at the start of 2025.

According to new data from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, there are 336,798 active patients as of April 2, down slightly from 337,253 in March. That figure was already lower than February’s total of 339,529 and January’s 340,258. In December 2024, there were 340,425 patients.

The drop marks a continued cooldown from the state’s 2022 peak, when monthly totals consistently hovered around or above 380,000. For comparison, Oklahoma had 386,561 patients in January 2022—nearly 50,000 more than the most recent count.
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Apr 10 2025

New Hampshire Senate Committee Schedules Public Hearing on House-Backed Marijuana Legalization Bill

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 198 on April 15 at 1:40 p.m. in Room 100 of the State House.

The hearing follows the New Hampshire House of Representatives approving HB 198 with a 208 to 125 vote last month. The legislation, introduced by State Representatives Jared Sullivan, Jonah Wheeler, and Heath Howard, would legalize marijuana for individuals 21 and older.

Under HB 198, adults would be allowed to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, 10 grams of marijuana concentrate, and products containing up to 2,000 milligrams of THC. The proposal does not include provisions for licensed retail sales, home cultivation, or public consumption.
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