West Virginia Bill Would Legalize Medical Marijuana Edibles

A new bill introduced in the West Virginia Senate would allow medical marijuana patients to access cannabis in edible form.

Senate Bill 732, filed today, has been assigned to the Health and Human Resources Committee. If approved, it will move to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

Under current West Virginia law, medical marijuana is legal for patients with qualifying conditions, but smokable forms were not initially permitted. The state’s medical cannabis program, established under the Medical Cannabis Act of 2017, allows for products such as pills, oils, topicals, and vaporized forms. However, the legislature later expanded the law to permit dry leaf or plant form for vaping. Edibles, such as baked goods and gummies, remain prohibited, which SB732 seeks to change.
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Study: Cannabis Extract May Improve Insomnia in Parkinson’s Disease Patients

A new study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience findss that cannabis extract may help alleviate insomnia in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Conducted by researchers from Brazilian institutions including Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, the study examined the effects of oral cannabis extract on cognition, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness in six patients with moderate Parkinson’s disease. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a lower dose (THC:CBD 250:28 μg/day) or a higher dose (THC:CBD 1000:112 μg/day).

Patients underwent assessments using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for cognition, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) for sleep disturbances, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for daytime drowsiness. Evaluations were conducted before treatment and at 15, 30, 60, and 90 days.
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Arizona Collected $25 Million in Marijuana Tax Revenue in February, Nearing $1 Billion All-Time

There was $24,957,632 in tax revenue generated from licensed marijuana sales in February, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue.

This represents an increase of about 9% compared to the $22,919,158 collected in February 2024. February’s taxes bring the all-time total to nearly $1 billion, reaching $992,450,806.

In February, $15,501,746 of the revenue came from the state’s 16% recreational marijuana excise tax, $7,953,363 from the 5.6% adult-use tax, and $1,501,359 from medical marijuana tax revenue.

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Texas Cannabis Legalization Bill Advances Through First Reading in House and Receives Committee Assignment

A comprehensive marijuana legalization proposal advanced through its first reading in the House of Representatives today and was referred to the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee.

House Bill 1208, first introduced by State Representative Jessica Gonzalez in November, would legalize marijuana for those 21 and older, creating a regulated market for cultivation, sales, and possession.

The referral comes on the same day the Texas Senate’s State Affairs Committee unanimously approved a separate bill that would ban all THC in hemp products, highlighting the stark divide in how lawmakers in the state want to handle marijuana and hemp policy.
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Minnesota: Bicameral and Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Allow Cannabis Billboards and Other Outdoor Advertising

Lawmakers in Minnesota have introduced bicameral and bipartisan legislation to lift restrictions on certain cannabis-related advertising.

House File 2104 and Senate File 2326, introduced today by State Representative Jim Nash (R) and State Senator John Hoffman (D), would repeal the state’s ban on outdoor cannabis advertisements, allowing businesses to use billboards and other forms of signage.

Current Minnesota law prohibits outdoor advertisements for cannabis businesses, except for limited fixed signs on their property. The proposed legislation would eliminate this restriction, enabling cannabis and hemp businesses to advertise more openly. However, the bills maintain a safeguard preventing advertisements in media where at least 30% of the audience is expected to be under 21.
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Study: Psilocin Enhances Brain Plasticity, Strengthens Nerve Cell Connections After Single Dose

A groundbreaking study from from the Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim has revealed that a single dose of psilocin (the psychoactive metabolite of psilocybin) boosts brain cell growth and connectivity.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

The findings offer valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of psilocybin, particularly in treating mental health disorders.

The study, published in eLife, examined how psilocin affects nerve cells cultivated from stem cells. Researchers found that even a single dose of psilocin triggered significant changes, with neurons developing more branches and producing increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key protein involved in neural growth and plasticity.

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Texas Senate Committee Unanimously Approves Bill to Ban All THC in Hemp Products

A Texas Senate committee has unanimously approved a bill that would outlaw THC in all consumable hemp products.

Hemp gummies.

Senate Bill 3, filed last month by Republican Senators Charles Perry, Donna Campbell, and Brent Hagenbuch, would ban any consumable hemp product containing cannabinoids other than cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG). This move would effectively eliminate the sale of delta-8, delta-9, and other THC variants that have thrived under Texas’ current hemp laws.

The bill grants regulatory authority to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), which would oversee the licensing of hemp manufacturers. It also imposes strict testing requirements, mandating that products be screened for cannabinoid content and contaminants before reaching the market.
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Maryland House Committee Approves Senate-Backed Legislation to Ease Security Guard Regulations for Cannabis Industry

Legislation to ease requirements for those attempting to become a security guard in the cannabis industry has been given approval by a key committee in the Maryland House of Representatives.

Today, House Bill 1347 was given approval by the House Economic Matters Committee. The measure, filed last month by Delegate Christopher Adams (R), is a companion to Senate Bill 299. SB 299 was passed by the Senate last month in a unanimous 45 to 0 vote.

The legislation would eliminate certain background check requirements for security guards working in the state’s legal marijuana industry. Specifically, the bill would remove the mandate for state and national criminal history records checks for security guards employed by marijuana businesses, as long as they are already authorized under Maryland’s existing security guard regulations.
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Minnesota Launches Two Grant Programs to Support Cannabis Industry, Training Program Launching Later This Month

Minnesota has launched two new programs aimed at supporting organizations that assist businesses in the state’s legal marijuana market.

The initiatives, overseen by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), will distribute up to $8 million in funding.

The CanNavigate program will provide up to $2 million in grants to community-based entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs) and groups with expertise in marijuana regulations. These grants will help individuals understand the regulatory framework of operating a marijuana business, with a focus on social equity applicants and those facing employment barriers.
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Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Overturns Order Blocking Medical Marijuana Licenses

The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has overturned a temporary restraining order (TRO) that had blocked the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) from issuing medical marijuana business licenses.

The decision, issued Friday, removes a nearly two-year legal barrier that had stalled the state’s medical marijuana program.

The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit from Alabama Always, a company that challenged how the AMCC awarded licenses. The company argued that the commission violated state law by altering application scores and failing to follow proper procedures. While the TRO is now lifted, other legal challenges remain, meaning further delays are still possible.

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