May 20 2025

Maryland Governor Signs Bill Easing Background Checks for Marijuana Security Guards

Legislation reducing hiring barriers for security guards in Maryland’s marijuana industry has been signed into law by Governor Wes Moore.

Senate Bill 299, sponsored by Senators Mary Carozza (R) and Brian Feldman (D), removes the requirement for state and national criminal background checks for security guards working for licensed marijuana businesses, provided they are already registered under Maryland’s general security guard laws. The change is intended to streamline employment while avoiding redundant checks that can be problematic due to marijuana’s ongoing federal classification.

Previously, all cannabis agents—including security staff—were required to register with the Maryland Cannabis Administration and undergo background screening, a process that sometimes created delays or disqualified applicants over minor past offenses.
Continue reading

May 20 2025

Nebraska Lawmakers Fail to Pass Medical Marijuana Regulations Following Filibuster

Efforts by Nebraska lawmakers to regulate medical marijuana stalled this evening after the Senate failed to overcome a filibuster, effectively killing legislation that would have set up a framework for the voter-approved program.

Despite voters legalizing medical marijuana through two ballot initiatives last November, there is currently no licensed dispensaries and no access for patients. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, which includes members of the Liquor Control Commission and two gubernatorial appointees, is now tasked with overseeing implementation. Dispensary licensing isn’t expected to begin until at least October.

The primary bill to advance regulation, LB 677, was introduced by Senator Ben Hansen and was seen as the most viable of four marijuana-related proposals introduced this session. After weeks of negotiations in the General Affairs Committee, the panel advanced a compromise amendment, AM1251, outlining possession limits and qualifying conditions.
Continue reading

May 20 2025

Connecticut House Passes Bill to Decriminalize Psilocybin

The Connecticut House of Representatives has voted in favor of House Bill 7065, a proposal that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of psilocybin, commonly found in psychedelic mushrooms.

Under the measure, individuals found with less than half an ounce of psilocybin would no longer face criminal charges. Instead, first-time offenders would be subject to a $150 civil fine, with repeat violations resulting in fines ranging from $200 to $500. Law enforcement would still be required to confiscate and destroy any psilocybin they encounter.

The proposal was given approval by the House with 74 voting in favor, and 65 opposed, with 12 members absent.
Continue reading

May 20 2025

Las Vegas Casino Executive Says Embracing Cannabis Could Boost Tourism and Revenue

Seth Schorr, CEO of Fifth Street Gaming, says it’s time for Las Vegas to embrace marijuana lounges and allow hotel deliveries to boost tourism and stay competitive with other destinations.

Schorr made his case during a cannabis and gaming policy panel this week at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, hosted by the Cannabis Policy Institute and International Gaming Institute.

“We need every tool in the toolbox,” Schorr said. “Visitation is down. Maybe 10 years ago, you had to be conservative, but today it’s got to be on the table.”
Continue reading

May 20 2025

Minnesota: White Earth Nation Becomes First Tribe to Open Recreational Marijuana Stores Off-Reservation

The White Earth Nation is set to make history as the first tribal government in Minnesota to open recreational marijuana dispensaries off tribal land, following the signing of a compact agreement by Governor Tim Walz on Tuesday.

Under the agreement, the White Earth Band of Chippewa is authorized to open up to eight dispensaries across the state. Waabigwan Mashkiki, the tribe’s cannabis enterprise, plans to launch its first off-reservation store as early as this weekend in Moorhead, with another in St. Cloud expected to open by mid-June.

Eric Taubel, interim director of the state’s Office of Cannabis Management, praised the compact as a national model. “We’ll be the first state where not only are tribes operating cannabis businesses off tribal land, but they’re doing so under tribal regulatory authority,” he said. While the tribe will self-regulate its stores, the state will retain secondary oversight, including annual inspections and product embargos when necessary.
Continue reading

May 20 2025

New York Bill Would Ban Marijuana Ads on TV and Radio

A new proposal filed today in the New York Assembly would prohibit marijuana advertisements on television and radio, while also imposing fines of up to $5,000 for violations.

Assembly Bill 8510, introduced by Assemblymember Keith Brown (R), was referred to the Committee on Economic Development. The measure would amend Section 86 of the state’s cannabis law by banning cannabis and cannabis product advertisements that appear on TV or radio, or are in the form of billboards. The bill also expands existing advertising restrictions related to targeting children, making misleading claims, and promoting sales through discounts and coupons.

Under the bill, anyone found advertising in violation of Section 86 could face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation. This would apply to individuals or licensed cannabis businesses, and could be enforced even during the license application process.
Continue reading

May 20 2025

Federal Judge Strikes Down Oregon’s Voter-Approved Cannabis Union Law

A federal judge has struck down Oregon’s voter-approved Measure 119, ruling that it violates the U.S. Constitution and federal labor law.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon issued a permanent injunction against the enforcement of the measure, which would have required marijuana businesses to enter into labor peace agreements (LPAs) with unions as a condition of licensing or license renewal.

The law, approved by voters in 2024, mandated that cannabis companies remain neutral toward unionization efforts and submit documentation of an LPA with a “bona fide” labor organization. The judge concluded that this provision infringes on the free speech rights of business owners and is preempted by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which governs union-related matters at the federal level.
Continue reading

May 20 2025

Study: Ketamine, Psilocybin, and Esketamine Offer Rapid Relief and Functional Benefits in Treatment-Resistant Depression

A new systematic review published in the journal Cureus finds that psychedelic-assisted therapies such as ketamine, esketamine, and psilocybin may offer fast-acting and sustained relief for those with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), while also improving real-world functioning.

Ketamine (left) and psilocybin mushrooms (right).

The review analyzed 10 randomized controlled trials published within the past year, all of which assessed various psychedelic agents in adults with TRD. Most trials reported significant reductions in depressive symptoms, with esketamine and high-dose psilocybin showing effects that lasted for months. Several studies also found that these therapies improved daily functioning and workplace productivity. Notably, esketamine nasal spray was shown to outperform quetiapine in both symptom remission and productivity metrics over a 32-week period.

The safety profile of these substances was favorable, with few adverse cognitive effects. Trials involving ketamine and esketamine—both in oral and intravenous forms—showed no meaningful cognitive decline, and psilocybin’s benefits were strongly tied to the intensity of the psychedelic experience, suggesting both neurochemical and psychological mechanisms of action.
Continue reading

May 20 2025

Cannabinoids Discovered in Rhododendron Plant

Researchers have identified two cannabinoids and three other bioactive compounds in Rhododendron, a plant native to Pakistan that has long been used in traditional medicine.

In a study published in Natural Product Research, scientists from the University of Swat and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in the UK analyzed the leaves of Rhododendron anthopogon, a species found in Pakistan’s Swat District. Using column chromatography, the team isolated five compounds, including cannabichromeorcinic acid and cannabigerorcinic acid—both classified as cannabinoids.

The remaining compounds identified were ursolic acid and friedelin, which are triterpenoids, along with 2-phenylethyl 4-methoxybenzoate. The structures were confirmed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, compared against existing literature.
Continue reading

May 20 2025

Portland Marijuana Cafes Can Now Sell Non-Infused Drinks Like Lattes and Teas, Following Unanimous City Council Vote

Cannabis retailers in Portland, Maine can now legally serve freshly prepared drinks like lattes and teas, as long as they don’t contain marijuana.

The Portland City Council and mayor voted unanimously on Monday to update city code and allow marijuana retail locations to operate as restaurants in the context of nonalcoholic beverage preparation. This change clears the way for cannabis cafes and shops to sell non-infused beverages made on-site to those 21 and older.

Mark Barnett, owner of Higher Grounds on Wharf Street, had long pushed for the amendment. His business operated as a traditional coffee shop until switching to cannabis retail in 2020—yet he was barred from selling the very drinks that built his customer base. Barnett called the previous rule a source of “severe economic pain” and said the update could help other struggling shops diversify their income.
Continue reading