Oct 31 2023

Pennsylvania Health Committee Approves Bill to Allow All Licensed Marijuana Growers to Sell Directly to Patients

A key House committee in Pennsylvania has given approval to legislation that would allow all licensed marijuana growers and processors to sell marijuana directly to patients.

The House Health Committee voted 20 to 5 today to pass Senate Bill 773, a little over a month after it was given approval by the full Senate in a 44 to 3 vote. Filed by Senator Chris Gebhard along with a bipartisan coalition of seven cosponsors, the measure must be approved through one more committee and then the full House of Representatives before it can be sent to Governor Josh Shapiro.

If passed into law Senate Bill 773 would allow all licensed marijuana growers to receive a dual license that also allows them to operate a dispensary where they can sell marijuana and marijuana products.
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Oct 31 2023

Rhode Island Cannabis Commission Launches Website

The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission on Tuesday officially launched its new website.

(Photo credit: Rhode Island Cannabis Commission).

“The initial launch of regulated adult use cannabis has demonstrated the State of Rhode Island’s success in carefully expanding into this new and growing industry”, says Kim Ahern, Chairperson for the Cannabis Control Commission, in a quote on the front page of the new site. “Going forward, the CCC will work to ensure that Rhode Island’s adult use and medical cannabis industries are regulated in a safe, transparent and equitable manner.”

According to the commission the new website will give the public increased access to information and updates regarding the state’s marijuana laws (including regulatory guidelines, upcoming public meetings, etc.), while improving transparency.
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Oct 31 2023

Missouri Transfers $13 Million in Medical Marijuana Funds to Help Veterans

Today, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) transferred $13 million in funds from Missouri’s medical marijuana program to the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC).

According to a press release, this marks the fifth transfer to date, for a total of $39,978,820, since the medical program was formed in late 2018.

Additionally, DHSS transferred $3,836,919 in funds generated by Missouri’s adult use marijuana program to agencies as outlined in Article XIV, Section 2, of the Missouri Constitution. Recipient agencies of adult use program funds include the following:
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Oct 31 2023

US House Committee to Consider Removing Marijuana Testing for Federal Job Applicants, Allowing D.C. Marijuana Sales

Washington D.C. legalized recreational marijuana years ago, but the federal government has refused to allow it to take effect. A key House committee is now set to consider allowing such sales, while also making a change to federal drug testing laws.

The House Rules Committee will soon consider the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill, and lawmakers recently filed amendments to the measure that would prevent applicants from being drug tested for marijuana when applying for most federal jobs.

The committee will also be considering a newly-filed amendment that would explicitly allow Washington D.C. – the nation’s capital – to open recreational marijuana stores usable by everyone 21 and older. Currently D.C. is allowed medical marijuana dispensaries, but not recreational retail outlets.
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Oct 31 2023

DEA Calls for Drastic Increase in THC, Ibogaine and Magic Mushroom Production

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is seeking to drastically increase the amount of THC, ibogaine and psilocybin that’s manufactured for research purposes.

Ibogaine (top left), psilocybin (top right) and marijuana (bottom).

The DEA is seeking to almost double the amount of magic mushrooms and THC that’s produced to “support research and clinical trials”. The DEA is also proposing to almost quintuple the amount of ibogaine that’s produced, and to increase the amount of “other tetrahydrocannabinol” products by more than 2,200%.

The move by the DEA comes as congressional researchers say the agency is “likely” to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, following a request from the Department of Health.
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Oct 30 2023

Democrat US Congressmember Running Against President Biden Is Very Pro-Marijuana Law Reform

Just a few days ago Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips (D) announced that he is running against President Biden in the Democratic primary race. Although his chances are deemed by many political experts to be slim, he may help push Biden to be supportive of actions like legalizing marijuana.

(Photo credit: Michelle Brochstein / Sipa USA).

Representative Phillips is now the just one of two candidates running against President Biden in the primary race, with former Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announcing recently that he would be running as an independent. Author Marianne Williamson, who has been polling at around 9%, is the other candidate.

Although Phillips faces an uphill battle in a primary where the entire Democratic Party is putting their full weight behind Biden, Phillips’ introduction in the race has drawn some excitement from those seeking an alternative to Biden. Phillips is relatively new to Congress (2019), but he is well liked among his constituents and colleagues, and he has the sort of calm, calculated demeanor many want in a presidential candidate. As a  Democrat who is moderate but with many progressive-leaning opinions, many also believe he could fair well in a general election battle.
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Oct 30 2023

Study: Marijuana is “Safe and Highly Effective” for Treating Neuropathic Pain and Concomitant Sleep Disturbance

Medical cannabis “is safe and highly effective for treating neuropathic pain and concomitant sleep disturbance”, states a new study.

cheyenne marijuana

Titled Medical Cannabis Alleviates Chronic Neuropathic Pain Effectively and Sustainably without Severe Adverse Effect: A Retrospective Study on 99 Cases, the study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids, and it was published online by the US National Library of Medicine. It was conducted by researchers at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany and The University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

“Medical cannabis may provide a treatment option for chronic neuropathic pain. However, empirical disease-specific data are scarce”, states the study.
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Oct 30 2023

Georgia Lawmaker Joins Coalition in Announcing Forthcoming Marijuana Reform Bill

State Representative Eric Bell (D), along with a coalition of activists and industry leaders, has announced new legislation to reform the state’s marijuana laws.

(Photo credit: The Good Life Store).

The New Georgia Project Action Fund has joined forces with State Representative Eric Bell (D) to announce the We Want All The S.M.O.K.E. (Spreading Marijuana Opportunities and Knowledge Everywhere) Campaign. The campaign includes “esteemed community leaders and activists from around the state in forming the Georgia Coalition for Cannabis Reform”. The group will be pushing a marijuana legalization bill that Representative Bell plans to file at the start of the upcoming legislative session.

This “first-of-its kind initiative” is being supported by leaders in the cannabis industry and medical field, including the Georgia Hemp Association, Lakeland Centres, Minority Cannabis Research Laboratories, CARE for Georgia, and more.
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Oct 30 2023

Ohio: With Vote on Marijuana Initiative a Week Away, New Poll Shows Strong Support

According to new polling, nearly 60% of likely Ohio voters plan to vote “Yes” on Issue 2.

The new PublicPolicyPolling survey found that 59% of those who are likely to vote in this month’s election are in support of Issue 2, which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

“Issue 2 is a proposed state law that would legalize the growing, sale, and use of marijuana for adults”, states the polling question. “If the election were today, would you vote Yes, to legalize adult use of cannabis and marijuana, or No, to keep marijuana law as they are today?”
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Oct 30 2023

Massachusetts: Enough Signatures Collected on Psychedelics Initiative to Force Vote

A Massachusetts campaign seeking to legalize psychedelics has collected enough valid signatures to force the legislature to vote on their initiative.

Dried psilocybin.

The nonprofit political committee Massachusetts for Mental Health Options says it has verified over 75,000 signatures from registered voters, more than the 74,574 needed to force the state’s legislature to consider the proposal. The initiative would “expand mental health treatment options in Massachusetts by providing new pathways to access natural psychedelic medicine therapy”, including “creating access to natural psychedelic medicine therapy and removing criminal penalties for personal possession of these medicines.”

Once the state verified the signatures, the legislature will be given until May 1 to approve or reject the initiative. If they choose the latter, Massachusetts for Mental Health Options will have until July 3 to submit an additional 12.4k signatures in order to place the measure on the November, 2024 general election ballot.
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