Sep 06 2023

CA Assembly Votes 42 to 11 to Legalize Psychedelics

The full California Assembly has voted to pass legislation to legalize the personal possession of certain psychedelics.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

The Assembly voted 42 to 11 to pass Senate Bill 58, a measure to legalize the “possession, preparation, obtaining, transfer, as specified, or transportation of” psilocybin, psilocyn, mescaline, ibogaine and DMT. The proposal has already been approved by the state’s full Senate but will need to go back for one final vote before it can be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom given it was amended.

Specifically Senate Bill 58 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”).
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Sep 06 2023

Study: Psilocybin Treatment Associated With “Clinically Significant Sustained Reduction in Depressive Symptoms”

In a new study a single dose of psilocybin was associated “with a clinically significant sustained reduction in depressive symptoms and functional disability”, with minimal side effects.

Published by the American Medical Association, the objective of the study was to “evaluate the magnitude, timing, and durability of antidepressant effects and safety of a single dose of psilocybin in patients with MDD [major depressive disorder].”

In this phase 2 trial conducted between December 2019 and June 2022 at 11 research sites in the US, participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a single dose of psilocybin vs niacin placebo administered with psychological support. Participants were adults aged 21 to 65 years with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition diagnosis of MDD of at least 60 days’ duration and moderate or greater symptom severity.
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Sep 06 2023

Poll: 60% in Florida Support Initiative to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

According to new polling a large majority of voters in Florida support the legalization of marijuana.

Conducted by the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University, the survey found that 60% of registered Florida voters support legalizing marijuana, including 50% of Republicans. Support for Democrats was the highest at 71%, with 59% of independents supporting the move.

Support for medical marijuana was much higher, with 83% in support including 87% of Democrats, 84% of independents and 78% of Republicans.
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Sep 05 2023

Amendment Filed in US Congress to Block Federal Agencies from Testing Applicants for Marijuana

A federal amendment filed in the United States Congress would prohibit most federal agencies from testing job applicants for marijuana.

Filed by Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California, the amendment was filed as part of a larger spending bill and is cosponsored by Representatives Daniel Goldman (New York) and Earl Blumenauer (Oregon). The latter is the co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

Specifically the amendment would bar most federal agencies from conducting a drug test for THC on those seeking employment. Agencies would still be allowed to test those already employed with the agency if they have reasonable suspicion to believe marijuana is being used on-the-job, and the amendment would not apply to certain positions like those involving the carrying of a firearm.
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Sep 05 2023

Teamsters Ratify Contracts With Green Thumb Industries, Covers Three Illinois Dispensaries

Teamsters Local 777 members at three dispensaries operated by Rise – a subsidiary of the multi-state marijuana company Green Thumb Industries (GTI) – have ratified their first collective bargaining agreements.

The contract will cover workers at two locations in Joliet, Ill. and another in Niles, Ill, according to a press release. This victory marks the end of a protracted fight with GTI that included a 13-day work stoppage that ended back in May – the longest Unfair Labor Practice strike at a cannabis retailer in U.S. history.

“This fight should be a lesson to cannabis companies all across the country and not just Illinois – Teamsters don’t back down,” said Jim Glimco, Local 777 President. “A lot of people who went through what these men and women went through would’ve thrown in the towel. Not this group. They’re young, energetic, tough, smart; they look out for one another, and they embody what being a part of this union is all about.”
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Sep 05 2023

Maryland: Over $90 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in August

In the second month of legal recreational marijuana sales, Maryland’s marijuana industry saw over $90 million in sales.

Licensed marijuana retail outlets sold $91.7 million worth of marijuana in August, a $4.3 million increase over the $87.4 million sold in July. This is more than double the marijuana sales total for June, the last month in which marijuana was legal exclusively for those with a qualifying condition.

A little over $55 million of total marijuana sales was “buds” (dried flower), with marijuana concentrates coming second at $24.6 million. Sales for infused edibles was $6.1 million, $5.1 million for infused non-edibles, $512k for shake and $9.5k for plants.
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Sep 05 2023

Colorado Governor Sends Letter to President Biden In Support of Rescheduling Marijuana

On Tuesday Colorado Governor Jared Polis sent a letter to President Biden declaring support for the Department of Health’s recent request to reschedule marijuana.

colorado governor

“We are pleased to hear that you have recently received Health and Human Services (HHS) recommendation to move cannabis to Schedule III”, Governor Polis says in the letter. “It’s about time. This is an historic moment and we owe you and your Administration a debt of gratitude for your leadership on catching up with where the science is.”

Polis continues: “Cannabis’ current classification under federal law as a Schedule I drug is contradicted by the scientific evidence. The notion, as previously considered, that cannabis has no accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and no accepted safety standards even under medical supervision has been widely disproven, HHS’s recommendation is evidence-based and a move in the right direction.”
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Sep 05 2023

Nevada: $68 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in June, $10.9 Million in Taxes Garnered

In Nevada legal marijuana retail outlets sold over $68 million in product in June.

According to data released by the Nevada Department of Taxation, there was $68,588,014 in legal marijuana sold in June, resulting in $10,932,417 in tax revenue for the state. $53,280,093 of this was sold in Clark County, $8,369,706 in Washoe County and $6,938,215 among all other counties.

Of the $10.9 million in taxes garnered, $4 million came from the state’s 15% excise tax on marijuana wholesale, with $6.8 million coming from the state’s 10% marijuana retail tax.
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Sep 05 2023

Biden Official Says Marijuana Will Likely to be Rescheduled Before the 2024 Election

An official with the Biden Administration tells us it’s their belief that marijuana will be moved to schedule III prior to the 2024 election.

In a letter sent recently to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Department of Health (DOH) officially requested that marijuana to be reclassified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act. This would effectively legalize it for prescription use, with other schedule III drugs including codeine, ketamine and testosterone. The letter comes in response to an executive order issued last year by President Biden asking Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and Attorney General Merrick Garland to initiate a review process to consider marijuana rescheduling.

Currently marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, putting it alongside hard drugs such as heroin and LSD and indicating that it has “no known medical benefit”. This makes it illegal for all purposes under all circumstances.
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Sep 05 2023

August is a Record-Breaking Month for Massachusetts Marijuana Sales, $5 Billion in Marijuana Sold Since 2018

In August there was $158 million in legal marijuana purchased in Massachusetts, according to the state’s Cannabis Control Commission.

The nearly $160 million in legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in August breaks the state’s previous monthly record of $151.8 million set in June of this year. Although medical marijuana sales mirrored recent months with around $19 million sold, recreational marijuana sales reached an all-time high of almost $140 million.

These numbers include the legal distribution of dried marijuana flower and marijuana concentrates, as well as products containing marijuana including edibles, tinctures and topicals.
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