Jan 03 2024

Massachusetts: Enough Signatures Collected on Psychedelics Legalization Initiative to Force a Vote

Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin’s office has certified that enough valid signatures have been submitted on an initiative to legalize psychedelics to force a vote of the legislature.

Mescaline (top left), ibogaine (top right), psilocyn mushrooms (bottom left), DMT (bottom right).

Massachusetts for Mental Health Options submitted over 96,000 valid signatures, well more than the roughly 74,000 needed to force a vote. The legislature will now have the option of passing the initiative into law, or giving proponents an opportunity to place the measure on the November, 2024 ballot for voters to decide.

“This brings psilocybin and other breakthrough psychedelic therapies one big step closer to being available to adults dealing with depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges,” says Jennifer Manley, a spokesperson for the group pushing the initiative.
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Jan 03 2024

The Six States Most Likely to Legalize Marijuana in 2024

24 states have legalized recreational marijuana, and that number could rise this year.

In 2023 three more states joined the list of those that have legalized recreational marijuana; Delaware, Minnesota and Ohio. Whether through the legislative or initiative process, multiple other states saw momentum build for legalization efforts last year, with proponents hoping to continue the wave in 2024.

With that in mind, below are the six most likely states to legalize marijuana this year.
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Jan 02 2024

Johns Hopkins University to Conduct $10 Million Study of 10,000 Medical Marijuana Patients

Johns Hopkins University has announced that they will be conducting a five-year, $10 million study on the potential benefits of medical marijuana.

A new National Cannabis Study will soon begin tracking how a nationally representative cohort of about 10,000 patients respond to cannabis treatment, according to a Johns Hopkins University newsletter. The study will be supported by a five-year, $10 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

As part of a larger Cannabis and Health Research Initiative, “the data will be combined with existing observational studies and a system for identifying medicinal cannabis users in electronic medical records, in order to compare their information with non-users.” The researchers also plan to create a library of publications and other education materials.
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Jan 02 2024

A Look at the Federal Marijuana Bills Most Likely to Pass the US House and Senate in 2024

As we enter 2024, there are several pro-marijuana bills and provisions in consideration in the United States Congress.

In December, 2022 President Biden signed into law the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, making it the first standalone piece of marijuana legislation to ever be signed into law by a US president. Since then, proponents of marijuana law reform have been working on several marijuana measures in hopes of bringing further progress in the near future.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the marijuana bills most likely to see significant movement in 2024.
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Jan 02 2024

Oregon: $81 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in December, $950 Million for the Year

In Oregon there was over $80 million in marijuana sold through legal outlets in December.

According to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, licensed marijuana stores sold $81,332,264 worth of marijuana and marijuana products in December. This is a roughly $5 million increase over the previous month, and a $2 million increase over the previous December.

In December Multnomah County by far sold the most amount of marijuana at $18.3 million, followed by Washington County with $8.9 million and Malheur County with $8.8 million.
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Jan 02 2024

Survey Finds 79% of Military Veterans Want Expanded Access to Medical Marijuana

According to a new survey, a strong majority of military veterans support expanding access to medical marijuana.

(Photo credit: Getty Images Plus)

According to the new Ohio State University survey, published by the Social Science Research Network, 79% of veterans want federal law to be amended so that Veterans Affairs doctors are legally authorized to prescribe medical marijuana to their patients. Federal legislation to do just that recently gained its 29th sponsor in the House of Representatives.

According to the survey, family members of veterans support expanded access to medical marijuana at an even higher rate, with 92% in support of the move.
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Jan 02 2024

New Colorado Law Requires Marijuana Products to Have Use-By Dates

A law requiring marijuana products to have use-by dates took effect this week.

(Photo credit: Life Flower Dispensary).

As of January 1, all marijuana products sold through licensed retail outlets in Colorado must include “use-by” dates that indicate when the product is nine months old and should no longer be consumed if it’s past that point.

The new requirement was approved by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division in late 2022, with the division giving the industry a large window to adjust to and adopt the new requirements.
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Jan 02 2024

Washington State Law Preventing Employers From Refusing to Hire Marijuana Users Now in Effect

Legislation designed to end discriminatory hiring practices against those who use marijuana during their personal time officially took effect yesterday.

Senate Bill 5123, filed by Senator Karen Keiser, passed the House of Representatives and Senate in April, with the votes being 56 to 41 and 30 to 18 respectively. The measure, signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee in May, officially took effect yesterday, January 1.

The new law protects marijuana consumers by prohibiting employers from refusing to hire someone who tests positive for marijuana on a pre-employment drug test.
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Jan 01 2024

New Mexico: Legal Marijuana Sales Pass $45 Million for 10th Straight Month

For the 10th straight month legal marijuana sales in New Mexico passed $45 million.

According to data released today by the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, there was exactly $50,466,985.89 worth of legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in New Mexico in December. This is a noticeable increase over the $46.5 million sold in November, and it breaks the previous monthly record of $47.7 million sold in August of last year.

In December medical marijuana sales were $12,996,676.63. Recreational marijuana sales were $37,470,309.21.
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Jan 01 2024

Two California Laws Protecting Marijuana Users Now Officially In Effect

Laws designed to protect marijuana consumers who are seeking employment and those who are already employed officially took effect today in California.

Two separate pieces of legislation designed to end workplace discrimination against those who use marijuana off-the-job both took effect today, January 1, in California.

Senate Bill 700 makes it unlawful “for an employer to request information from an applicant for employment relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis.” The law was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October.
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