Oct 19 2023

US Senate: Federal Marijuana Banking Act Receives 32nd Sponsor

A federal marijuana banking bill gained another cosponsor this week in the US Senate.

The SAFER Banking Act is now sponsored by 32% of the entire US Senate, with Senator Tammy Baldwin joining as a cosponsor yesterday (the first new sponsor since October 4).

Late last month the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs passed the SAFER Banking Act (S.2860), with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowing to put it to a vote of the full Senate “very soon”. Since the committee’s approval the measure has gained nine additional cosponsors.
Continue reading

Oct 19 2023

Fifth California City Decriminalizes Psychedelics

With California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent veto of a bill to legalize psychedelics, the city of Eureka is taking action of their own.

Dried magic mushrooms.

The Eureka, California City Council has voted unanimously to pass a resolution to essentially decriminalize the personal possession of certain psychedelics by making it the lowest enforcement priority. This is similar to what Seattle did with marijuana back in 2003, nearly a decade prior to Washington State legalize the plant.

Eureka is now the fifth city in California to decriminalize psychedelics, joining Oakland, Santa Cruz, Arcata and San Francisco. Eureka is located in Northern California with a population of around 26,000.
Continue reading

Oct 19 2023

Study: Medical Marijuana Reduces Pain, Depression and Opioid Use Among Older Adults

According to a new study medical cannabis reduces pain, opioid use and depression among those 65 and older.

The study, published in the journal Biomedicines, is titled Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults. It was conducted by researchers at Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Clalit Health Services and Tel Aviv University, all in Israel.

As noted by the study, “The proportion of older adults using medical cannabis is rising.” Therefore, researchers “aimed to assess the effects of herbal medical cannabis on the functional status of older adults.”
Continue reading

Oct 18 2023

FBI Data Shows There Was Over 225,000 Marijuana Arrests Nationwide Last Year

According to new data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), marijuana arrests increased slightly last year.

(Photo credit: Shutterstock).

Despite recreational marijuana being legalized in 23 states and medical marijuana legalized in over a dozen more, marijuana arrests saw an uptick between 2021 and 2022.

According to the FBI, there were 227,108 people arrested for a marijuana-related charge in 2022. Around 209,000 of these were for simple possession. Arrests in 2022 were 3.47% higher than in 2021.
Continue reading

Oct 18 2023

Illinois Bill Would Remove Psilocybin as Schedule 1 Drug, Create Psilocybin Advisory Board

The Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act has been filed in the Illinois Senate.

Dried psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”).

Senate Bill 2612 was filed today by Senator Willie Preston, and it’s been sent to the Senate Assignments Committee.

The proposed law would establish the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board within the Department of Public Health “for the purpose of advising and making recommendations to the Department regarding the provision of psilocybin and psilocybin services”, and it would remove psilocybin and psilocin from the list of Schedule I controlled substances.
Continue reading

Oct 18 2023

Wisconsin: Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed in Assembly, Companion Bill Already Filed in Senate

Just nine days after a bill to legalize marijuana was filed in the Wisconsin Senate, a companion bill has been filed in the state’s Assembly.

Wisconsin Assembly Bill 506 was filed with 36 cosponsors, led by State Representative Darrin Madison. It has been assigned to the Committee on State Affairs. Companion bill SB 486 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

Both SB 486 and AB 506 would legalize the personal possession of up to five ounces of marijuana for everyone who is at least 21 years old. The personal cultivation of up to six marijuana plants would also be allowed.
Continue reading

Oct 18 2023

Ohio Senate President Threatens to Alter or Repeal Marijuana Legalization Initiative if Approved by Voters

In Ohio early voting is underway for an initiative to legalize marijuana, but despite the election being three weeks away Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman is already promising to ignore the will of his constituents.

In recent comments on the Senate floor, Senate President Matt Huffman said that if voters approve Issue 2 on November 7, it will be “coming right back before this body”, indicating the measure and its provisions could be altered or even repealed.

Huffman says he “will advocate for reviewing it and repealing things or changing things that are in it”. He says if Issue 2 does pass, “We’re going to have a mental health crisis on our hands. We are going to pay for this for years and years and years, and it’s only going to get worse.”
Continue reading

Oct 18 2023

Oregon’s Two Leading Cannabis Trade Associations Announce Merger

In a landmark move meant to “fortify the foundation of Oregon’s cannabis industry”, the boards of the state’s leading cannabis trade associations—the Oregon Cannabis Association (OCA) and the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon (CIAO)—have unanimously voted to merge, effective immediately.

(Photo credit: Brian Breneman).

According to a press release, the merger “signifies a united front for the Oregon cannabis industry, blending the strengths and expertise of both organizations to create the strongest force for advocacy Oregon’s cannabis industry has seen.

According to Mike Getlin, CIAO’s Board Chair, “This merger makes a clear statement that the industry can, must, and will stand as one. We are proud to stand beside our colleagues from the OCA and look forward to working for a better future for all Oregon cannabis businesses and employees.”
Continue reading

Oct 18 2023

Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) May Help Those With Psychological Distress From Childhood Trauma

According to a new study, “psilocybin therapy may be potentially acceptable and may feasibly help in supporting survivors of adverse childhood experiences with particularly strong benefits to those with more severe childhood adversity.”

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Athabasca University, and University of Michigan, and it was published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. The study is titled Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin for Treating Psychological Distress among Survivors of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Evidence on Acceptability and Potential Efficacy of Psilocybin Use.

“Survivors of adverse childhood experience are at elevated risk for psychological distress”, notes the study’s abstract. “In recent years, renewed interest in psychedelic medicine has highlighted the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for those who have experienced childhood
Continue reading

Oct 18 2023

Poll: 57% of Likely Ohio Voters Plan to Vote Yes on Issue 2 to Legalize Marijuana

With early voting underway and less than three weeks to go until the November 7 election, a Baldwin Wallace University Ohio Pulse Poll shows strong support for a ballot initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana.

The BW Community Research Institute (BW CRI) survey asked Ohioans for their opinions on a variety of issues, including Issue 2, an initiative on the November ballot that would make marijuana legal for everyone 21 and older.

The poll found that 57% said they plan to vote “yes” on Issue 2, with 35% planning to vote “no” and just 7% undecided.
Continue reading