Apr 02 2025

Study Finds Medical Marijuana Use Linked to Long-Term Improvements in Quality of Life, Sleep, Anxiety, Depression and Pain

A study published today by PLOS One found that patients prescribed medicinal marijuana experienced sustained improvements in their overall health-related quality of life, fatigue, sleep, anxiety, depression, and pain over the course of a full year.

The study, published as part of the QUEST Initiative and conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, Curtin University, and the University of Western Australia, followed 2,353 adult participants who were newly prescribed medicinal cannabis oil over a 13-month period. The participants, identified by 114 clinicians across Australia, completed validated health surveys at baseline, 2 weeks, and at regular intervals up to 12 months. Patients ranged in age from 18 to 97, with an average age of just over 50. Women made up approximately 63% of the sample.

Researchers found that “Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in overall HRQL (health-related quality of life), fatigue, and sleep disturbance were maintained over 12-months in patients prescribed medical cannabis for chronic health conditions.”
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Apr 02 2025

Czech Republic: All Doctors Can Now Prescribe Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain, Including for Minors in Palliative Care

As of April 1, all licensed doctors in the Czech Republic are allowed to prescribe medical marijuana to patients experiencing chronic pain. Previously, this option was limited to specialists.

As of April 1, all licensed doctors in the Czech Republic are now allowed to prescribe medical marijuana to patients experiencing chronic pain. Previously, this option was limited to specialists, making access far more restricted.

Cannabis has been legal for medical use in the country since 2015, but only around 250 doctors had prescribed it by the end of 2024. That’s expected to change significantly with this new regulation, which opens the door for general practitioners to authorize cannabis as an alternative to powerful opioids like morphine and fentanyl.
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Apr 02 2025

U.S. Congressmember Introduces Bill to Require Elon Musk and DOGE Members to Pass Drug Test

Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) introduced new legislation to force Elon Musk — who she says “has a well-documented history of drug use” — and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees to pass a drug test, and participate in random drug testing in order to retain their Special Government Employee status with the United States government.

marijuana in urine

“Donald Trump has given billionaire Elon Musk the keys to our government, and with it, access to highly sensitive information — from Treasury and Social Security data to even our most guarded military plans”, said Rep. Sherrill in a press release. “Those with access to sensitive information must be thoroughly vetted, clear-eyed, and exercise good judgment. Elon Musk and his DOGE employees should be held to the same standard as other executive branch employees, whether that’s for conflicts of interest or passing a drug test to maintain employment or a security clearance.”

She continues: “In the wake of Trump’s top national security officials sharing classified information on an unsecured Signal group chat — putting our service members’ lives at risk — it’s more important than ever to protect the American people from the Trump Administration’s reckless incompetence and blatant disregard for national security”.
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Apr 02 2025

New Jersey Governor Signs Bill Establishing Online Expungement Portal

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law a measure requiring the State Police to maintain an online portal that allows individuals to track the processing status of their expungement orders.

New Jersey Capitol Building.

The bill also mandates annual public reports detailing the volume and timeliness of expungement processing.

This action comes in the wake of a class-action lawsuit filed by the Office of the Public Defender last year, which exposed a backlog of nearly 50,000 court-granted expungements that had not yet been processed by the State Bureau of Identification. That backlog had left many New Jerseyans vulnerable to employment and housing barriers, despite having their records legally expunged.
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Apr 02 2025

Ohio Lawmakers Strip Governor’s Proposed Marijuana Tax Hike From Budget Proposal

Republican leaders in the Ohio House say they have removed Governor Mike DeWine’s proposal to increase taxes on marijuana from the state’s upcoming budget.

House Speaker Matt Huffman and House Finance Chair Brian Stewart confirmed Tuesday that the governor’s proposed tax hike on marijuana, as well as cigarettes and sports betting, will not be included in their version of the budget. The proposal would have doubled the state’s tax rate on recreational marijuana and sports gambling, while nearly doubling the tax rate on cigarettes.

The removal comes as lawmakers prepare their first round of revisions to the budget bill. Huffman and Stewart also noted changes to a plan that would help finance a proposed $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park for the Cleveland Browns.
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Apr 02 2025

5 States That Could Hold Public Votes on Marijuana Legalization in 2026

As the movement for marijuana legalization continues to gain momentum across the United States, several states are preparing for potential public votes on the issue in 2026.

A number of states are vying to become the 25th to legalize recreational cannabis, including states like New Hampshire, where legalization bills have been advancing in the legislature this session. Among them are several where activists are working to place initiatives on the 2026 ballot. With that in mind, below are the states most likely to see marijuana initiatives put to voters in 2026.

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Apr 02 2025

Bill to Expand Marijuana Cultivation Filed in Minnesota House

Minnesota State Representatives Nolan West (R) and Keith Allen (R) have filed legislation that would allow marijuana businesses to significantly expand their cultivation capacity.

House Bill 2426, which has been referred to the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, would amend state law to increase the allowable plant canopy for licensed medical cannabis combination businesses from 60,000 square feet to 90,000 square feet.

Under the bill, businesses would also be allowed to request canopy increases beyond the new limit by demonstrating market need, compliance with state rules, and cultivation capacity.
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Apr 02 2025

Maryland Governor Sent Bill to Legalize Personal Production of Cannabis Concentrates and Expand Resentencing Options

The Maryland Legislature has sent Governor Wes Moore a bill that would legalize the personal production of certain cannabis concentrates while enabling individuals to seek reduced sentences for certain marijuana-related offenses.

Hash (photo credit: WeedMaps).

House Bill 413 and companion measure Senate Bill 925 have officially been sent to Governor Moore, who is expected to sign the measure into law.

“A person who is at least 21 years old may manufacture a personal use amount of cannabis products or concentrated cannabis for personal use or adult sharing at a private residence if the manufacturing process does not involve the use of a volatile solvent,” states the proposed law. In addition to allow production of cannabis concentrates, it would explicitly allow the production of cannabis edibles.
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Apr 02 2025

Planet 13 Announces Opening of 32nd Florida Medical Cannabis Dispensary

Planet 13 Holdings Inc., a leading vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis company, today announced the grand opening of its 32nd Florida dispensary in Orange Park on April 4 and 5, 2025.

Located at 921 N Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL, the 4,680-square-foot facility is well positioned to serve the medical cannabis community in and around Jacksonville and will be open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 365 days a year.

Grand opening celebrations kick-off on April 4, 2025, with local business owners joining the Clay County Chamber of Commerce to cut the ceremonial ribbon at 11 a.m., and guests will be entertained by a popular DJ during the two-day event. A LifeSouth Blood Donation Bus will also be on site along with an MMJ doctor providing information about how to obtain a medical card.
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Apr 02 2025

Study: Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Fibromyalgia Symptoms

A new pilot study published in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research finds that psilocybin-assisted therapy may offer a safe and potentially effective treatment option for individuals with fibromyalgia.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Researchers from the University of Michigan, The Ohio State University and Johns Hopkins University conducted an open-label clinical trial involving five adults diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Each participant received two doses of psilocybin—15 mg followed by 25 mg—administered two weeks apart, along with preparatory and integration psychotherapy sessions.

The study’s primary focus was on safety. No serious adverse events occurred, though all participants experienced temporary increases in blood pressure or heart rate during dosing, which normalized by the end of treatment. Four participants reported short-term headaches.
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