Jun 28 2023
During a recent address to the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament), President Zelenskyy stated:
“In particular, we must finally honestly legalize cannabis-based medicine for everyone who needs it, [with] the relevant scientific research and controlled Ukrainian manufacturing.”
Continue reading
Jun 28 2023
The poll was published online last week and was presented at the Psychedelic Science 2023 Conference in Denver, Colorado.
“More than six out of 10 (61%) American registered voters support legalizing regulated therapeutic access to psychedelics, including 35% who report ‘strong’ support,” states a press release. “In addition, more than three-quarters of voters (78%) support making it easier for researchers to study psychedelic substances. Almost half (49%) support removing criminal penalties for personal use and possession.”
Continue reading
Jun 27 2023
Magic mushrooms containing psilocybin.
The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 5 to 2 to pass Senate Bill 58. The measure has already been passed by the full Senate, 21 to 16. The measure would legalize the possession of up to two grams of DMT, 15 grams of ibogaine, two grams of psilocybin (or up to four ounces of “a plant or fungi containing psilocybin”) and two grams of psilocyn (or up to four ounces of “a plant or fungi containing psilocybin”).
“These substances have significant healing potential and there’s growing research showing that potential”, said Senator Scott Wiener. “Had the war on drugs not started in the 60s and 70s, we would probably be in a dramatically more advanced state around psychedelics, but the war on drugs shut everything down and we lost 40 or 50 years as a result.” Weiner says that he’s “trying to reverse some of that damage.”
Continue reading
Jun 27 2023
Senate Bill 1676 was passed by the Senate in April by a vote of 39 to 0, and it was approved by the House of Representatives the following month 119 to 0. Yesterday the measure was signed by chamber officers and officially presented to Governor DeSantis. Although DeSantis has the option of vetoing the bill, it was clearly passed with well more than the 2/3rds support required to override a veto.
The legislation explicitly clarifies by law that hemp extract is considered a food product subject to certain requirements and regulations. For example, hemp extract containers would be required to include a batch number, a barcode, a certificate of analysis from an independent laboratory, an Internet address with more information about the product and an expiration date.
Continue reading
Jun 27 2023
Starting July 1, it will be legal for those 21+ to possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana, and grow up to four plants. Criminal penalties for possessing up to 2.5 ounces will also be removed.
Also starting July 1, at least 100 medical marijuana dispensaries are expected to become dual outlets that sell both medical and recreational marijuana. Standalone recreational marijuana stores are expected to start opening next year.
Continue reading
Jun 26 2023
The Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples have released a report that found evidence of First Nations being blocked from participating in the nation’s legal marijuana industry. It urges the Minister of Health to introduce legislation “to amend the Cannabis Act to allow First Nations to regulate the possession, sale and distribution of cannabis on their lands.”
“First Nations missed out on significant economic opportunities, which are no longer available now that the cannabis market is largely saturated”, states the report. “[T]his exclusion continues today in fisheries, forestry and the cannabis market”. The committee also found that First Nations were not included in Canada’s excise tax-sharing framework, and thus “an excise tax-sharing framework for First Nations should be developed to share revenues more broadly”.
Continue reading
Jun 26 2023
“Today is historic,” said state Representative Spencer Roach, the prime sponsor of House Bill 387. “Gov. DeSantis continues to demonstrate his commitment to expanding patient access to medicine, in alignment with the overwhelming majority of Florida voters.”
HB 387, which goes into effect on July 1, allows licensed physicians to use telehealth options such as Zoom when renewing a patient’s medical marijuana authorization card during annual renewals. The law does not, however, allow physicians to use telehealth when first authorizing a patient to use medical marijuana.
Continue reading
Jun 26 2023
According to a new Public Policy Institute of California survey, a record-high 64% of Californians said that the use of marijuana should be legal. In September 2010 Californians were split (47% legal, 49% not legal). Since then, the share supporting legalization has risen by double digits across most regions and demographic groups.
While half or more across regional and demographic groups think the use of marijuana should be legal, there is still a considerable partisan divide: three in four Democrats and independents say marijuana use should be legal, compared to four in ten Republicans. Support for legalization increases with educational attainment (51% high school only, 67% some college, 74% college graduates) and is higher among those 18 to 34 (72%) than among those 35 and older (61%).
Continue reading
Jun 26 2023
The department’s Notice #23-12 states that effective July 1, 2023, “Public Chapter 423 creates a new 6% sales tax for the privilege of engaging in the business of selling products containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid.”
This tax “applies in addition to the standard 7% state sales tax rate and the applicable local option sales tax rate”. However, the tax “does not apply to hemp-derived fiber, grain, or topical products.”
Continue reading
Jun 26 2023
The approval by the state of Nevada comes after receiving the prospective license in December 2022 from the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board.
“Receiving this confirmation from the state allows us to move on to the final design and buildout of our consumption lounge,” said Larry Scheffler, Co-CEO of Planet 13. “The consumption lounge will be a huge step to unlocking the full potential of the SuperStore as a cannabis destination. It will give customers the ability to try products prior to buying, watch live entertainment, and enjoy food and drink in a social setting that matches Planet 13’s incredible experiential design standard.”
Continue reading
