Jun 13 2024

American Medical Association Officially Endorses Drug Decriminalization

Members of the American Medical Association (AMA) have voted overwhelmingly in favor of endorsing the decriminalization of drug possession.

At their annual meeting yesterday in Chicago, the AMA voted 345 to 171 to adopt a new policy calling for the “elimination of criminal penalties for drug possession for personal use as part of a larger set of related public health and legal reforms designed to improve carefully selected outcomes.” This marks the first time the group has ever supported drug decriminalization.

Ryan Englander, an MD/PhD candidate who is a delegate from Hartford, Connecticut, said “The war on drugs is quite reminiscent of the phrase, ‘The beatings will continue until morale improves. We have tried for decades to criminalize our way out of a substance use crisis in this country, and it has not worked.”
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Jun 13 2024

Get Free Joints and Pay to Participate in “Science of Smokeability” Study

A new study, titled the Science of Smokeability (SOS), is seeking those interesting in receiving free joints and pay in order to take part in a study designed to help improve the smoking experience of marijuana consumers.

DaySavers, who describes themselves as “the most compliant and tested pre-rolled cone and rolling paper brand on the market”, is partnering with the Cannabis Research Coalition and The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP) on a first-of-its-kind study called.

The SOS is a 2+ year series of scientific experiments focusing on analyzing cultivation and processing metrics to evaluate which variables produce the most pleasant and least harmful smoking experience.
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Jun 12 2024

Texas Judge Throws Out Attorney General’s Lawsuit Against Austin Marijuana Ordinance

A county judge in Texas has dismissed a lawsuit from Attorney General Ken Paxton filed against the City of Austin.

AG Paxton sought to have the courts throw out a voter approved ordinance that decriminalized the possession of marijuana. Travis County District Court Judge Jan Soifer rejected the challenge, and has dismissed the lawsuit from Paxton. This allows Austin’s marijuana ordinance to stay in effect indefinitely.

“This is a great victory, not only to protect the will of Austin voters, but also to encourage voters in places like Dallas to support our campaigns this year,” said Ground Game Texas, the group behind the marijuana ordinance, in an e-mail.
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Jun 12 2024

Vermont Records $11 Million in Legal Marijuana Sales in April

In April, Vermont’s legal marijuana sales reached nearly $11 million, marking the fifth consecutive month with sales surpassing $10 million and the ninth time in the past ten months it’s reached that milestone.

According to the Vermont Department of Taxes, there was $10.94 million in legal marijuana sales in April, bringing the yearly total to around $45 million. Marijuana sales brought in $1.53 million in tax revenue for April, and around $6 million for the year.

Although marijuana sales in April slightly declined from March’s $11.31 million, they were still nearly $3 million higher than the previous April.
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Jun 12 2024

US House: Second Committee Approves Ending Marijuana Testing for Military Recruits

The Rules Committee in the United States House of Representatives has passed a federal defense bill that includes a provision to end marijuana testing for military recruits and prospective officers.

Approval of the provision through the Rules Committee comes roughly three weeks after it passed the House Armed Services Committee as part of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and it comes a day after the White House announced its opposition to the move. The NDAA is a massive defense bill necessary for funding national defense and military operations.

Included in the NDAA is a provision that prohibits marijuana testing of military recruits and potential officers. An amendment by Congressmembers Mary Miller (R-IL), Pete Sessions (R-TX) , Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Gary Palmer (R-GA) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY) to remove the provision ending military marijuana testing was rejected by the committee, as was a flurry of other marijuana-related amendments.
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Jun 11 2024

Study Finds “Psilocybin Reduces Heroin Relapse”

A new study published online by the US National Library of Medicine provides promising evidence that psilocybin, a psychedelic compound known for its profound effects on the mind, may help reduce heroin relapse rates.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

This groundbreaking research focuses on the substance’s potential to diminish the persistent and maladaptive behaviors associated with opioid addiction, a major contributor to overdose deaths which account for more than 50% annually.

In the study, researchers utilized a rat model of heroin self-administration to test the effects of psilocybin. Unlike other studies focusing on nicotine and alcohol, this research is pioneering in its application to opioid addiction. Psilocybin, acting as an agonist at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R), a key target in the modulation of drug-seeking behavior, was administered to rats. The findings revealed that while psilocybin did not affect heroin intake, a single dose administered 4-24 hours before a relapse test significantly blunted the cue-induced heroin-seeking behavior.
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Jun 11 2024

Here Are the 55 Cities in Ohio That Have Placed a Ban on Marijuana Stores

Ohio’s recreational marijuana law, passed by voters in 2023, allows cities to opt out of allowing marijuana sales. So far, 55 have done so.

Under Ohio’s marijuana law, those 21 and older are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates, and they can cultivate up to six marijuana plants at a private residence. The law allows licensed marijuana stores, overseen by the Division of Cannabis Control, to sell marijuana and marijuana products.

As of this publication, 55 cities have enacted ordinances to prohibit licensed marijuana stores. Although these cities have a combined population of over a million people, they represent only 6% of all cities and towns in the state.
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Jun 11 2024

White House Opposes House Committee’s Proposal to End Marijuana Testing for Military Recruits

The White House says it objects to a provision passed by a key House committee that would end marijuana testing for military recruits.

Last month, the House Armed Services Committee approved the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a significant defense bill necessary for funding national defense and military operations. Included in the bill is a provision that prohibits marijuana testing of military recruits and potential officers.

The provision, titled “PROHIBITION ON CANNABIS TESTING FOR ENLISTMENT OR COMMISSION IN CERTAIN ARMED FORCES,” states:
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Jun 11 2024

Mississippi Medical Marijuana Bills Take Effect July 1

New medical marijuana legislation will take effect in Mississippi on July 1.

In 2022, the state passed a restrictive medical marijuana program. Two bills aimed at enhancing patient access to cannabis care and expanding research capabilities will officially take effect on July 1.

Senate Bill 2857 focuses on improving patient access by allowing patients to possess a 30-day supply of cannabis, rather than the previous 7-day limit. This change will more than quadruple the amount of marijuana products they are allowed to possess at any given time.
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Jun 11 2024

New York Officials Approve Rules Allowing Those 21+ to Grow 12 Marijuana Plants at Home

The New York Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has given final approval to rules that allow those 21 and older to grow marijuana for personal use at a private residence.

In February the CCB gave preliminary approval to rules allowing for personal home grows. The proposed rules were posted in the state’s register the following month, launching a 60-day public comment period that ended last month.

Today, the CCB voted to finalize the rules, which allows for the personal cultivation of up to 12 plants, with growers allowed to possess up to give pounds harvested from these plants.
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