Virginia has approved legislation that would legalize recreational marijuana. By a vote of 21 to 19, the Senate advanced Senate Bill 970 to the state’s House of Representatives. Approval through the House would send the measure to Governor Glenn Youngkin, who has promised to veto the bill. The legislature can override a veto, but only …
Psilocybin Shows Strongest Evidence for Treating Alcohol Use Disorder in Psychedelic Therapy Review
A new systematic review highlights the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy for substance use disorders, finding psilocybin to be the most promising treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Researchers from King’s College London, the University of Birmingham, and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust reviewed 37 studies involving 2,035 participants, assessing treatments with LSD, …
New Mexico Bill Would Restrict Workplace Cannabis Testing for Medical Marijuana Patients
A bill to prohibit employers from considering an employee impaired based solely on the presence of cannabis metabolites in their system has been filed in New Mexico. House Bill 230, introduced today by Representatives Reena Szczepanski (D) and Elizabeth Thomson (D), has been assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee. The proposal bans …
New York Bill to Legalize Medical Psilocybin Filed Today, Companion Measure Already Filed in Senate
A bill to legalize the medical use of psilocybin in New York was introduced today by Assemblymember Patrick Burke (D) and referred to the Assembly Health Committee. The measure, Assembly Bill 3775, serves as a companion to Senate Bill 495, which was filed on January 8 and sent to the Senate Finance Committee. The legislation …
New Mexico Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish Medical Psilocybin Program
Legislation to create a program for the medicinal use of psilocybin was introduced today in the New Mexico Senate. Senate Bill 219, the Medical Psilocybin Act, would allow those in New Mexico to receive psilocybin-assisted treatment for certain behavioral health conditions, including major treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, end-of-life care, and other …
Study: Opening Recreational Marijuana Stores Has No Impact on Emergency Room Visits
A study being published soon by the International Journal of Drug Policy, published online ahead of print by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, analyzes the impact of recreational marijuana retailer allocation on emergency department visits in Ontario. Researchers from York University, Western University, and the University of Toronto conducted a longitudinal study using health …
North Carolina’s Only Legal Marijuana Store, Located on Tribal Land, Open Nearly 150 Days to Everyone 21+
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company in Cherokee, North Carolina—the only legal marijuana retailer in the state—has been open for nearly 150 days, generating millions in sales without any reported arrests. The store, operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), remains the state’s sole outlet where recreational marijuana can be legally purchased, as North …
Heavy Drinking Alters Brain Function—But Adding Cannabis May Not Make a Difference
A study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence suggests that co-using alcohol and cannabis does not produce additional changes in brain connectivity compared to heavy alcohol use alone. For the study, researchers from the University of California conducted a secondary analysis of three clinical laboratory studies, examining resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in 60 individuals. Participants …
Scotts Miracle-Gro to Separate Cannabis Arm Into Independent Company
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. is preparing to separate its cannabis-focused subsidiary, Hawthorne Gardening Co., into a fully independent company—a decision executives believe will enhance its financial value. This marks a departure from the previous stance of Scotts CEO Jim Hagedorn, who had favored keeping Hawthorne within the parent company despite the marijuana industry’s instability, according to …
Smart & Safe Florida Begins Mailing Petitions to Put Marijuana Legalization on November 2026 Ballot, Petition Also Available Online
Smart & Safe Florida has begun mailing thousands of petitions to households statewide in its renewed push to legalize recreational marijuana. The petition can also be downloaded online here. Although the petition is available online, it was still be mailed back or dropped off to be counted. The group’s initiative, similar to its 2024 proposal …
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