May 05 2025

Missouri Transfers $3.25 Million in Medical Marijuana Funds to Veterans Commission, Bringing Fiscal Year Total to $13 Million

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has transferred another $3.25 million in medical marijuana revenue to the Missouri Veterans Commission, as required by the state constitution.

(Photo credit: GETTY Images).

The latest contribution, made last week, brings the total medical marijuana funds transferred so far this fiscal year to $13 million. These figures do not include any revenue from Missouri’s adult-use marijuana program, which is tracked separately.

Under Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, the state is required to allocate proceeds from its medical marijuana program to support veterans’ services. Funds are collected through license and application fees, as well as taxes on medical marijuana sales.
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May 05 2025

Rhode Island Marijuana Sales Reach $9.8 Million in April, $38 Million So Far in 2025

Rhode Island retailers sold $9.8 million worth of marijuana in April, the highest monthly total since December, according to new data released by the Department of Business Regulation.

Of the total sales, $8.16 million came from adult-use purchases and $1.64 million came from medical marijuana transactions. The new figures bring the state’s year-to-date marijuana sales to $38,098,567.

April’s total marks a modest increase over March, which saw $9.75 million in marijuana sales. That followed $8.98 million in February and $9.57 million in January. Rhode Island’s marijuana market, which opened in late 2022, generated $123 million in total sales last year.
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May 05 2025

Pennsylvania House Health Committee Passes Marijuana Legalization Bill

The Pennsylvania House Health Committee has passed a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana for adults, advancing legislation that was introduced just yesterday by a coalition of 27 state lawmakers. The vote was 14 to 12.

House Bill 1200 would allow those 21 and older to legally purchase marijuana from state-licensed retailers regulated by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The bill establishes a network of “Pennsylvania Cannabis Stores,” following a model similar to the state’s existing liquor system, and it allows individuals 21+ to grow up to two mature and two immature cannabis plants at a private residence.

The legislation includes provisions for social and economic equity, prioritizing individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition. It also mandates the automatic expungement of non-violent marijuana convictions and removes various civil and criminal penalties related to legal cannabis activity.
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May 05 2025

Study: Cannabis Use Linked to Lower Inflammation, No Effect on Insulin Sensitivity

A new study published in The American Journal of Medicine found that regular marijuana use is associated with reduced inflammation, but it does not appear to impact insulin sensitivity.

Researchers at the University of Colorado studied healthy adults aged 21 to 40, comparing those who used marijuana at least weekly for a year to those who had not used it at all in the past year. Cannabis users were randomly assigned to use one of three types of flower over a four-week period: a THC-dominant product (23% THC), a balanced product (10% THC and 8% CBD), or a CBD-dominant product (20% CBD).

Blood samples were analyzed to measure markers of inflammation, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and others, while insulin sensitivity was assessed using the Matsuda Index.
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May 05 2025

Florida Medical Marijuana Sales Total $161.7 Million in April

Florida’s medical marijuana market brought in $161,736,755 in sales during the month of April, according to data released by research firm Headset.

This brings the state’s 2025 total to over $610 million, solidifying Florida’s role as the largest medical-only marijuana market in the United States. Headset revised the sales total for March, lowering the total slightly from $162 million to $159 million.

Dried marijuana flower continued to dominate Florida’s medical market in April, making up the largest portion of sales at approximately 45%. Vapor pens, edibles, concentrates, pre-rolls, capsules, and tinctures and topicals followed in that order, reflecting consistent trends from previous months.
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May 04 2025

Pennsylvania: 27 Lawmakers File Bill to Legalize Marijuana and Establish Licensed Sales

A group of 27 state lawmakers in Pennsylvania filed legislation today that would legalize marijuana for adult use, including establishing a regulated market for licensed sales and expunging certain past convictions.

House Bill 1200 would allow adults 21 and older to purchase marijuana products through state-licensed retailers overseen by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The bill creates a statewide system of “Pennsylvania Cannabis Stores,” similar to the state’s liquor model, and tasks the Department of Agriculture and Department of Revenue with implementing and regulating the program.

The legislation includes strong provisions for social and economic equity, including support for individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana criminalization. It also mandates automatic expungement of non-violent marijuana convictions and removes certain civil and criminal penalties for legal cannabis activity.
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May 04 2025

Mexico: Thousands Rally in Mexico City Demanding Marijuana Legalization and Home Cultivation Rights

Thousands of protesters gathered in Mexico City over the weekend, calling on lawmakers to legalize marijuana and end criminal penalties for personal use and cultivation.

The large-scale demonstration, held Saturday in the heart of the capital, featured marchers demanding the right to freely consume marijuana without fear of legal harassment. Many also called for the immediate legalization of home cultivation, a key issue that has been left unresolved by lawmakers despite multiple Supreme Court rulings on the matter.

Mexico’s Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that laws prohibiting personal possession of marijuana—particularly amounts over five grams—violate constitutional rights. However, despite the rulings, possession above this threshold remains criminalized under federal law, leading to continued arrests and prosecutions.
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May 04 2025

Study: CBD-Infused Hydrogel Promotes Healing in Radiation and Wound-Induced Skin Injury

A new study from researchers at Qinghai University and the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that a CBD-based hydrogel significantly improves healing in skin injuries caused by combined radiation and trauma, offering a promising new treatment for patients undergoing tumor surgery followed by radiotherapy.

The study, published in Phytomedicine, tested various formulations of hydrogels made from cannabidiol (CBD), chitosan (CS), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)—two biocompatible materials commonly used in medical applications, in an animal model. The CMC/CS/CBD hydrogels were created without chemical crosslinkers, using only electrostatic interactions to form the structure. These were then tested in mice exposed to gamma radiation and minor circular skin wounds to mimic radiation-wound (RW) injuries.

Among the formulations, the hydrogel with a 3:1 CS-to-CMC ratio (CMC/CS3/CBD) demonstrated the best performance in terms of swelling, gel strength, and healing efficacy.
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May 03 2025

Virginia Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Labeling and Delivery Expansion Bill

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has vetoed legislation that would have revised labeling requirements for medical marijuana products and expanded delivery options for patients.

The bill, House Bill 1989, was approved by the House in an 84 to 14 vote and by the Senate 30 to 10. Despite its broad bipartisan support, Governor Youngkin rejected the measure yesterday, preventing it from becoming law unless lawmakers override his decision.

The legislature could override a veto with a two-third majority, which the bill appears to have enough support for, but it’s uncertain if lawmakers will take this approach, or if they’ll let the veto stand.
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May 03 2025

New Poll Finds 56% of Georgia Voters Support Legalizing Recreational Marijuana, Up 10% Since 2017

Most Georgia voters believe marijuana should be legal for recreational use, according to a new poll showing a notable shift in public opinion.

A survey conducted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that nearly 56% of Georgians now support legalizing marijuana for adult use—up from 46% in a similar poll from 2017. The increase marks the highest level of support recorded in recent years.

The rising acceptance of marijuana in Georgia mirrors broader national trends, with 24 states now allowing recreational use. According to a Gallup Poll released in November, 68% of adults in the U.S. support legalizing cannabis for all uses.
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