May 13 2025

Delaware Committee Approves Bill to Regulate Hemp-Derived THC-Infused Beverages

The Delaware House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee has approved a bill to create a regulatory framework for the production and sale of hemp-derived THC-infused beverages.

House Bill 98 was filed on May 7 and cleared committee today, just six days later. The proposal would allow licensed marijuana product manufacturers and licensed alcohol manufacturers to obtain an “infused beverage endorsement” authorizing them to produce beverages containing up to 10 milligrams of THC per container. Out-of-state manufacturers would also be allowed to ship products into Delaware, but only through licensed warehouses.

Retail sales would be limited to licensed package stores, which must apply for authorization to sell the products. These retailers would be required to store infused beverages on separate shelves from non-THC items and post clear signage indicating the presence of THC.
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May 13 2025

Study: Cannabichromene (CBC) Demonstrates Antidepressant Effects in Animal and Computer Model

A new study published in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology found that cannabichromene (CBC), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, may have significant antidepressant effects through its interaction with cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptors.

The study was conducted by researchers from four Indian institutions, including G D Goenka University and Amity University. Using a combination of computer modeling and animal testing, the team explored CBC’s antidepressant potential. The in silico phase involved identifying gene targets associated with depression and comparing them to those potentially impacted by CBC. CB2 receptor genes were identified as a key shared target, and molecular docking showed CBC binding strongly to these receptors with a higher affinity than cannabidiol (CBD) and THC.

In the in vivo portion, male Swiss albino mice were exposed to three weeks of chronic unpredictable mild stress to induce depression-like symptoms. CBC was administered in two doses (10 and 20 mg/kg), alongside a control group given the standard antidepressant imipramine. Mice treated with 20 mg/kg of CBC showed a significant reduction in immobility—an indicator of depressive behavior—comparable to those treated with imipramine.
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May 13 2025

Missouri Supreme Court Hears Case on Stacked Marijuana Taxes Impacting Dozens of Cities and Counties

The Missouri Supreme Court is considering whether cities and counties can both impose a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana, a decision that could affect more than 70 jurisdictions statewide.

The case centers on Robust Missouri 3 LLC, a dispensary in Florissant that says customers are currently paying a combined marijuana sales tax of 6%—3% from the city and 3% from St. Louis County—on top of the state’s 6% marijuana tax, bringing the total to nearly 21%.

The company argues that the Missouri Constitution only allows one local government to impose the additional 3% tax. “There’s only supposed to be one local government, one boss, one master dictating outcomes,” said attorney Eric Walter, representing Robust, during Tuesday’s hearing.
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May 13 2025

Study: Full-Spectrum CBD With Small Amounts of THC Reduces Alcohol Cravings Without Adverse Effects

A new study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that full-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) containing trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may reduce alcohol cravings in individuals with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD), without causing significant side effects.

Researchers from the University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado conducted a randomized, eight-week trial with 44 participants assigned to receive either full-spectrum CBD (fsCBD, containing less than 0.3% THC), broad-spectrum CBD (bsCBD, with no THC), or a placebo. All products were commercially available and dosed at 150 mg of CBD per day.

The fsCBD group experienced significant reductions in alcohol craving, as measured by the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale, at both week 8 and week 16, while no such improvements were observed in the bsCBD or placebo groups. Those in the fsCBD group also showed a decline in failed attempts to control drinking and a decrease in harmful drinking scores.
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May 13 2025

Michigan Marijuana Sales Total $270.2 Million in April, Over $1 Billion Year-to-Date, Cost Per Ounce Reaches New Low

Legal marijuana sales in Michigan totaled $270,167,826.22 in April, bringing the year-to-date total to above $1 billion, according to a new report released by the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency.

This includes $269,652,599.29 in adult-use sales and $515,226.93 in medical marijuana sales in April. The combined total represents a slight dip from March’s $276.9 million, though April saw the average retail price of flower drop once again, reaching a new record low of $62.23 per ounce (down from $65 in March).

Through the first four months of 2025, marijuana sales in Michigan have reached approximately $1.06 billion. This includes $1,054,809,362.93 in adult-use sales and $2,456,787.83 in medical marijuana sales.
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May 13 2025

Pennsylvania Senate Committee Rejects House-Backed Marijuana Legalization Bill

A Pennsylvania Senate committee has rejected legislation passed by the House that would legalize marijuana sales through a state-run retail system.

The Senate Law and Justice Committee voted 7 to 3 today to reject House Bill 1200, with one Democrat joining Republicans in opposition. State Senator Dan Laughlin (R), who chairs the committee, said the state store model proposed in the bill would sideline small businesses and raise logistical and legal concerns.

“I made it pretty crystal clear that I do not believe that the state store model,” Laughlin said during Tuesday’s hearing.
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May 12 2025

Texas House Bill 46 to Expand Medical Cannabis Program Approved by Full House

House Bill 46, which would significantly expand Texas’ medical cannabis program, was given approval by the full Texas House today. The vote was 118 to 16.

The measure, which mirrors Senate Bill 1505, would broaden access to low-THC cannabis for patients across the state. It was passed by the House through its second reading, with a third and final reading expected soon.

If enacted, HB 46 would allow licensed dispensaries to operate satellite storage facilities, raise the statewide cap on dispensing organization licenses from three to six, and require approved licensees to begin dispensing low-THC cannabis within 24 months. It would also expand the list of eligible medical conditions to include chronic pain, degenerative disc disease, traumatic brain injury and Crohn’s disease.
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May 12 2025

Anchorage, Alaska Using Millions in Marijuana Tax Revenue to Strengthen Local Child Care System

Anchorage is turning to its marijuana tax revenue to help fix one of the city’s biggest challenges: child care.

In a move long in the making, officials are preparing to roll out between $5 to $6 million annually — all from cannabis tax dollars — to improve affordability, accessibility, and sustainability in the city’s child care sector.

In 2023 city voters approved an initiative to dedicate cannabis tax revenue to early childhood programs. Now, those dollars are finally being funneled into concrete plans, with former Acting Mayor and Assembly member Austin Quinn-Davidson helping lead the charge.
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May 12 2025

Connecticut House Passes Cannabis Labor Protections Bill in 131 to 12 Vote

A bill that would strengthen labor protections and wage standards for workers in the cannabis industry has cleared the Connecticut House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support.

House Bill 6842, which mandates labor peace agreements for cannabis establishments and prohibits the inclusion of tips in minimum wage calculations for cannabis workers, passed by a vote of 131 to 12. The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The legislation requires all cannabis licensees—including dispensaries, producers, and cultivators—to enter into labor peace agreements with certified unions as a condition for final licensure or expansion. These agreements prevent strikes, picketing, and lockouts, while guaranteeing access for unions to organize workers.
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May 12 2025

Study Finds Hemp Seed Oil May Help Speed Wound Healing

Hemp seed oil may offer a natural and effective alternative for wound care, outperforming conventional antibiotic ointments, according to new research published in the Narra J journal.

Scientists from Universitas Syiah Kuala in Indonesia found that hemp seed oil significantly accelerated wound healing in mice compared to both untreated wounds and those treated with chloramphenicol, a common antibiotic ointment.

In the study, 36 male mice were divided into three groups: one receiving no treatment, another treated with chloramphenicol ointment twice daily, and a third treated with hemp seed oil at a concentration of 400,000 mg/mL, also twice daily. Researchers assessed wound recovery over a 21-day period using both visual and microscopic evaluations.
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