Apr 02 2025

Study Finds Sublingual CBD Improves COVID-19 Outcomes

A new peer-reviewed clinical trial conducted by researchers at Tel Aviv University and Reichman University found that sublingual cannabidiol (CBD) may improve clinical outcomes in patients infected with COVID-19.

Published in The Israel Medical Association Journal, the double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 10 participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Seven patients received CBD extract administered sublingually, while three received a placebo.

Researchers monitored both clinical responses and inflammatory cytokine levels, which are known to play a significant role in the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

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Apr 02 2025

Two Hawaii Senate Committees Approve Bill Allowing Medical Marijuana for Any Condition and Telehealth Evaluations

Two Senate committees in Hawaii have approved legislation that would significantly expand access to medical marijuana and tighten regulations on unlicensed dispensaries.

House Bill 302 was approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 4 to 1 vote and by the Senate Ways and Means Committee in a unanimous 12 to 0 vote. The measure, filed earlier this month by eight lawmakers, will require one more committee vote before moving to the full Senate.

If passed into law, HB 302 would make several changes to Hawaii’s medical marijuana program. These include allowing physicians and advanced practice registered nurses to certify patients for any condition they deem appropriate for medical marijuana use. Currently, only certain qualifying conditions are permitted under law, such as cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, severe pain, and glaucoma.
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Apr 02 2025

U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Truck Driver Fired for Positive THC Test

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Douglas Horn, a former commercial truck driver who was terminated after testing positive for THC following his use of a hemp-based CBD supplement marketed as containing “0% THC.”

In a 5-4 decision, the court found that individuals can seek damages under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act for business or property losses stemming from personal injuries. Horn had sued companies including Medical Marijuana Inc., Red Dice Holdings LLC, and Dixie Holdings LLC—makers of the CBD product Dixie X—after he was fired despite relying on the product in good faith.

Horn, who had driven trucks for 14 years, began using Dixie X to relieve pain from a car accident. He said the product’s labeling assured him it was THC-free and compliant with federal law. However, a random drug test led to a positive result and his subsequent dismissal. Horn maintains he never knowingly consumed marijuana.
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Apr 02 2025

Oregon: March Marijuana Sales Reach $78 Million, Pushing Total Past $7.4 Billion and Generating $1.25 Billion in Taxes

Oregon’s marijuana industry generated$78 million in sales in March, a notable increase from the $70 million sold in February.

In March, licensed marijuana stores and dispensaries in Oregon sold $78,444,557 worth of marijuana and marijuana products, according to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Although this is a roughly 5% decrease from the $82 million sold in March 2024, the actual amount of cannabis sold is higher, given prices are down over 10%.

In March, Multnomah, by far, was the county with the most sales, at $17.3  million, following by Malheur at $8.5 million, and Washington at $8.4 million. March’s marijuana sales bring the state’s all-time total to above $7.4 billion.
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Apr 01 2025

Initiative to Legalize Marijuana Lounges Filed in Oregon, Titled Cannabis Social Lounge Act

A statewide initiative has been filed in Oregon that would legalize cannabis consumption lounges, creating licensed venues where adults could use marijuana in social settings.

The Oregon Cannabis Social Lounge Act (OCSLA), submitted by the Oregon Cannabis Cafe Coalition on March 20, would allow the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) to license cannabis lounges beginning in 2027. These venues would allow on-site consumption but prohibit marijuana sales, requiring patrons to bring their own products.

Under the proposal, which has updated language from a similar initiative the group filed last month, lounges would be limited to microbusinesses and could not be operated by entities holding a retail marijuana license. The initiative also bars the use of alcohol and tobacco on the premises, though lounges would be allowed to sell food, beverages, and hemp-derived CBD products containing no more than 0.3% THC.
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Apr 01 2025

Wisconsin: Liberal Susan Crawford Defeats Conservative Brad Schimel in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race, Most Expensive in U.S. History

Liberal Judge Susan Crawford has been elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, defeating conservative Judge Brad Schimel in the most expensive supreme court race in U.S. history.

Crawford’s win solidifies a liberal majority on the state’s highest court, a shift poised to influence Wisconsin’s legal landscape for years to come. At the time of publication Crawford had a double digit lead with the majority of votes counted.

The election garnered national attention due to its potential impact on pivotal issues such as abortion rights, redistricting, and the legalization of cannabis. Crawford’s victory ensures that liberals maintain control of the seven-member court, a balance that could be decisive in upcoming rulings.
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Apr 01 2025

New Louisiana Bill Would Regulate Kratom Sales, Establish Health Department Oversight

A bill filed today in the Louisiana House of Representatives would establish statewide regulations on the production and sale of kratom products.

Filed by State Representative Chad Boyer (R), House Bill 253 has been referred to the House Committee on Health and Welfare. The measure seeks to prohibit the sale of kratom products that do not meet specific chemical and labeling standards, while also requiring manufacturers to register with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and provide certificates of analysis for each product.

Under HB 253, kratom vendors and manufacturers would be barred from selling products containing dangerous substances, over 1% of 7-hydroxymitragynine, residual solvents beyond FDA limits, or total alkaloids exceeding 3.5%. The legislation also prohibits products with inaccurate mitragynine content or without clearly labeled serving sizes for liquid forms.
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Apr 01 2025

Four Marijuana Bills Approved Today by Washington Committees

Four marijuana-related bills received committee approval today in Washington State.

The House Consumer Protection and Business Committee approved Senate Bill 5206 and Senate Bill 5403 today, while the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee gave approval to House Bill 1551 and House Bill 14141. All five measures had previously passed their chamber of origin.

Senate Bill 5206, approved today in committee after passing the Senate 39 to 9 last month, would ease current restrictions on cannabis advertising. It allows retailers to display up to four signs, up from the current two, and exempts signs smaller than 512 square inches from that limit.
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Apr 01 2025

Minnesota House Committee Approves Marijuana Expungement and Resentencing Bill

Today, the Minnesota House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee approved House File 1094, a bill that would expand and clarify eligibility for expungement and resentencing for individuals with prior marijuana-related convictions.

This legislation, introduced in February by State Representatives Athena Hollins (D) and Zack Stephenson (D), is designed to address the legal consequences faced by individuals with prior marijuana convictions in light of recent changes to state cannabis laws.​

The bill specifies criteria under which individuals convicted of certain marijuana-related offenses may seek expungement or resentencing. To be eligible, the offense must not have involved a dangerous weapon, intentional infliction of bodily harm, or acts intended to cause fear of immediate bodily harm or death. Additionally, the act in question must either be a lesser offense or no longer considered a crime as of August 1, 2023, the date in which the state’s adult-use marijuana law took effect.
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Apr 01 2025

Florida Fines Marijuana Legalization Campaign $121,850

Florida’s Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS) has issued a $121,850 fine against Smart & Safe Florida, a campaign seeking to legalize recreational cannabis, citing multiple alleged violations of state election law—including forgery.

Smart & Safe Florida was the proponents of 2024’s Amendment 3, which received over 50% support in the November election but failed to reach the required 60% threshold. The group is now pushing for a new, similar initiative, which would also legalize cannabis for everyone 21 and older, attempting to put it to a vote in 2026.

According to two letters sent by OECS last week, the agency claims the campaign violated several state rules. Among the accusations: submitting petition forms more than 30 days after they were signed, failing to include the full amendment text when collecting signatures, and turning in petitions allegedly containing forged or fraudulent signatures—including one from a voter who had died months earlier.
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