Texas House Approves Legislation to Mandate Study of Psychedelic Therapies for PTSD and Depression

The Texas House of Representatives voted today to approve House Bill 4014, advancing a proposal that would require a statewide study on the potential therapeutic use of psychedelics to treat PTSD, depression, and related conditions.

Texas State Capitol Building.

Filed by State Representative John Bucy (R), the bill directs the Health and Human Services Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of psychedelic therapies—including psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine—as potential treatments for mental health disorders. The study would include a review of current clinical trials and scientific literature, as well as an evaluation of FDA actions related to these substances. The House passed the bill

HB 4014 calls for the commission to collaborate with Baylor College of Medicine and the Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School. The goal is to assess treatment guidelines, best practices, and patient access—especially in anticipation of possible FDA approvals of psychedelic-assisted therapies in the coming years.
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Maine: $19.3 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in April, $244 Million Year-to-Date, Cost Per Gram Reaches Record Low

Maine’s legal marijuana market continued its steady momentum in April, generating $19,317,383 in sales across 381,865 transactions.

The data, released by the Office of Cannabis Policy, shows the average price per gram of dried flower fell to a record low of $6.63. That’s $0.24 less than in March, when the previous record low of $6.87 was set. This marks fifth straight month of declining flower prices, even as sales volume remains strong.

Nearly 60% of April’s revenue—roughly $11.3 million—came from “usable marijuana,” which includes dried flower and prerolls. Other categories such as concentrates, edibles, and vape products made up the remaining share.
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Study: Cannabinol (CBN) Enhances Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Drug Exemestane

Combining the cannabinoid cannabinol (CBN) with the breast cancer drug exemestane may significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, according to a new study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology.

Researchers from Universidade do Porto in Portugal and the Technical University of Denmark evaluated the effects of CBN in combination with three aromatase inhibitors commonly used in clinical settings—anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane. The experiments, conducted using MCF-7aro breast cancer cells and tumor spheroids, revealed that only the combination of CBN and exemestane produced a meaningful reduction in cancer cell viability and growth.

The study found that CBN enhanced the anti-tumor action of exemestane by reducing the expression of aromatase, the enzyme responsible for estrogen production. This combination also improved the regulation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR) activity—key targets in ER+ breast cancer therapy. Notably, the CBN and exemestane pairing helped overcome one of exemestane’s drawbacks—its weak estrogen-like effect—while also preventing AR overexpression, which can contribute to treatment resistance.
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U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Reaffirms Support for Psychedelic Research, Says Agency Involved in 11 Studies

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins says the department remains committed to researching psychedelics as a potential treatment for conditions like PTSD and traumatic brain injury, noting the agency is currently involved in 11 separate studies on the issue.

The comments came during a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing yesterday, where Senator John Boozman (R-AR) brought up Collins’ earlier remarks about psychedelics made during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump. Boozman said the committee is paying close attention to the issue and is interested in finding new solutions for veterans with severe mental health needs.

In response, Collins emphasized that helping veterans who haven’t benefited from standard treatments remains a top priority, saying “I’m committed to doing whatever we can to provide veterans and those who have maybe not responded to traditional care and others, especially in the area of PTS and also TBI, the other issues that we’re dealing with that lead to a lot of what we’ve seen in suicide and death by suicide. So we’re looking at it right now.”
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Poll: 51% of Texas Voters Support Legalizing Recreational Cannabis, 84% Support Medical Legalization

A new University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll shows that a strong majority of Texas voters support legal marijuana in some form, with more than half favoring full recreational legalization.

According to the poll, 51% of Texas voters say marijuana possession should be legal for recreational use—35% for small amounts and 16% for any amount. Another 33% support legalization for medicinal use only, while just 15% believe marijuana should be fully illegal. Even among Republican voters, only 21% back a total ban, with 40% supporting some level of recreational use.
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Oklahoma Senate Approves Medical Marijuana Training Bill

The Oklahoma Senate has approved legislation that would require annual training and credentialing for all employees working in the state’s medical marijuana industry.

(Photo credit: McAfee & Taft).

House Bill 2837 passed the Senate yesterday in a 31 to 14 vote, following its March approval in the House of Representatives by a vote of 86 to 9.

Before heading to Governor Kevin Stitt’s desk, the measure must return to the House for a final concurrence vote on Senate amendments. If given final approval, the new requirements would take effect on November 1, 2025.
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Bill Filed in Maine Legislature Would Automatically Seal Past Marijuana Convictions

Legislation introduced today in the Maine House of Representatives would establish an automatic process for sealing certain marijuana-related criminal records.

(Photo credit: Shutterstock.com).

House Bill 1916, titled “An Act to Automatically Seal Criminal History Record Information for Class D and Class E Crimes Relating to Marijuana Possession and Cultivation,” was filed on behalf of the Judiciary Committee and referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety for consideration.

The measure would apply to low-level marijuana possession and cultivation offenses committed between January 1, 2001 and January 30, 2017, prior to the legalization of recreational marijuana in Maine. Under the proposal, qualifying criminal history records would be identified and reviewed monthly by the State Bureau of Identification. If the records meet specific eligibility criteria—such as the absence of recent convictions or pending charges—they would be forwarded to the Administrative Office of the Courts for final determination.
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Arizona Legislature Approves Marijuana Advertising Bill, Sends it to Governor

Arizona’s House of Representatives voted 53 to 1 today to approve House Bill 2179, concurring with the Senate’s 28 to 1 vote on April 29. The legislation now heads to Governor Katie Hobbs for consideration.

Arizona State Capitol Building.

Filed last month by State Representative Selina Bliss (R), HB 2179 establishes comprehensive advertising restrictions for licensed marijuana businesses and nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries. The new rules are designed to prevent marketing that could appeal to individuals under the age of 21.

If signed into law or allowed to become law without a signature, the bill would ban marijuana advertisements that include cartoons, toys, fictional characters, or any branding commonly associated with products marketed to children. It would also prohibit depictions of marijuana consumption and disallow marketing that emphasizes THC potency levels.
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Pennsylvania House Gives Approval to Recreational Cannabis Legalization Bill

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has given approval to House Bill 1200, advancing legislation that would legalize marijuana for adult use. The vote was 102 to 101.

The bill received its second reading vote today following its passage out of the House Health Committee yesterday. It now moves to a third and final reading, expected to take place as soon as this week. Once approved through its third reading, it will be sent to the state’s Senate.

Filed just two ago by a bipartisan group of 27 lawmakers, HB 1200 would allow adults 21 and older to purchase marijuana and marijuana products from retailers licensed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The system would follow the model used for liquor sales, with the creation of Pennsylvania Cannabis Stores. Adults would also be allowed to grow up to two mature and two immature marijuana plants at home.

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Bipartisan Bill to Require VA to Establish Centers of Excellence to Study Psychedelic Therapies Gains Eighth Sponsor

A bipartisan bill to create dedicated VA research centers for psychedelic-assisted therapies has just gained its eighth congressional sponsor.

Representative Sarah Elfreth (D-MD) joined the list of co-sponsors for the Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025 on May 5. She joins Representatives Jack Bergman (R-MI), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), and Lou Correa (D-CA), who is leading the legislation alongside Bergman. The bill was originally filed in early April.

If passed, the legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish at least five research centers focused on studying psychedelic substances such as MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, and ibogaine for conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and substance use disorder. These therapies would be evaluated for their effectiveness in treating mental and physical health conditions common among veterans.
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