Apr 15 2025

Oregon House Unanimously Approves Bill Expanding Psilocybin Access and Oversight

The Oregon House of Representatives has unanimously approved House Bill 2387, advancing legislation that would expands access to psilocybin services while strengthening regulatory oversight and transparency.

Psilocybin mushrooms.

HB 2387 allows licensed health care providers regulated by certain state boards to discuss and provide psilocybin services if they are also licensed psilocybin facilitators. The bill clarifies that such professionals cannot be penalized for incorporating psilocybin into their practices, provided they adhere to state rules and do not mix psilocybin administration with concurrent health care services.

The legislation also facilitates information sharing between the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and regulatory boards concerning psilocybin-related investigations while maintaining strong confidentiality provisions. It gives OHA authority to share relevant disciplinary data with public entities to improve oversight, barring exceptions related to reproductive or gender-affirming care.
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Apr 15 2025

Psilocin May Help Relieve Itching, Finds Study

A study from researchers at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences has found that psilocin significantly reduced scratching behavior in an animal model of pruritus, suggesting it may have potential as a treatment for chronic itch conditions.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

The study, published in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology, tested varying doses of psilocin (which is the main active compound your body produces after consuming psilocybin) and its combination with 1-MT, a kynurenine pathway inhibitor, on mice subjected to pruritus-inducing stimuli. The researchers documented the number of scratching bouts and analyzed the presence of the head-twitch response, a common measure of psychedelic activity in rodents.

Psilocin at 1 mg/kg demonstrated the strongest antipruritic and hallucinogenic effects. Western blot analysis confirmed increased activity of 5-HT2A receptors in the skin. When combined with 1-MT, the antipruritic effects became more pronounced, suggesting a role for kynurenine pathway inhibition in the observed relief. Additionally, levels of inflammatory markers TLR-4 and TNF-α were significantly reduced in the treatment groups, along with decreased activity of the enzyme IDO.
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Apr 15 2025

U.S. Cannabis Market Projected to Reach $76 Billion by 2030, Driven by Legalization, Health Demand and Industry Expansion

The U.S. cannabis industry is on track to reach a market value of $76.39 billion by 2030, according to a new report from Research and Markets.

This would represent an 11.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 through the end of the decade, fueled by expanding legalization, increased consumer demand, and innovations in cultivation and product development.

Cannabis use in the U.S. continues to grow, both for recreational and medical purposes, notes the report. Marijuana is commonly used to treat cancer-related symptoms, pain, mental health conditions, and nausea. According to the American Cancer Society, over 1.95 million new cancer cases were expected in 2023 alone, underscoring the potential demand for marijuana-based therapies. The FDA has already approved cannabinoid-based drugs like nabilone and dronabinol to treat chemotherapy-related nausea.
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Apr 15 2025

Study: Cannabis Leaves Improve Taste and Quality of Kombucha by Enhancing Fermentation

Researchers from Thailand’s Kasetsart University have found that cannabis leaves can significantly improve the taste and quality of kombucha by boosting beneficial bacteria and reducing harsh acidity.

The study, published by the journal Foods, examined the use of Thai cannabis leaves in kombucha brewed with assam green tea. The cannabis leaves were found to be rich in protein (23.1%) and phytonutrients that support the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are known to promote gut health and enhance fermentation.

After seven days of fermentation, kombucha infused with 30% cannabis leaves had the highest LAB count (5.53 log CFU/mL). These batches also showed higher pH and reduced acetic acid levels, indicating a milder, more pleasant taste. Volatile compound analysis revealed that the cannabis-infused kombucha contained lower concentrations of acetic acid, ethanol, and carbon dioxide, contributing to a smoother odor and flavor profile.
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Apr 15 2025

MAPS Announces MDMA-Assisted Therapy Education Event For Ukrainian Mental Health Practitioners, April 28 to May 4

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization at the vanguard of the psychedelic movement since 1986, is bringing its International Therapist Education Program (ITE) to Ukraine.

The event is organized in collaboration with the nonprofit Ukrainian Psychedelic Research Association (UPRA) and will take place from April 28 to May 4 in Lviv, Ukraine.

Students will gain foundational knowledge of psychedelic-assisted therapies including the inner-directed therapeutic approach; facilitating preparation, medication, and integration sessions; building a strong therapeutic alliance; and addressing complex topics such as therapeutic touch, suicidal ideation, and the dynamics of transference and countertransference.
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Apr 14 2025

Washington Senate Passes Bill Granting Collective Bargaining Rights to Marijuana Farmworkers, Sends It to Governor

The Washington State Senate voted 29 to 20 today to approve a bill that would grant collective bargaining rights to agricultural cannabis workers.

House Bill 1141, which already passed the House in March by a 55 to 40 vote, will now be sent to Governor Bob Ferguson for consideration.

If signed into law, or allowed to become law without a signature, the bill would place cannabis agricultural workers—those involved in cultivating, trimming, curing, and sorting marijuana—under the jurisdiction of the state’s Public Employment Relations Commission. This change would formally extend collective bargaining rights to these workers, aligning them with labor protections available in other industries.
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Apr 14 2025

New Louisiana Bill Would Establish Adult-Use Marijuana Pilot Program

A bill filed in the Louisiana House of Representatives would create a temporary program allowing for limited recreational marijuana sales.

House Bill 627, sponsored by State Representative Mandie Landry Newell, was assigned today to the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice. Titled the “Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Regulation and Enforcement Act,” the bill authorizes the Louisiana Department of Health to oversee a regulated pilot program for non-medical marijuana sales and production, starting January 1, 2026.

Under the proposal, only existing therapeutic marijuana retailers and licensed cultivators would be eligible to participate. Each of the state’s administrative regions would be allowed one adult-use retail location, operated by a permit holder already authorized to dispense medical marijuana. Participants must notify the Department of Health at least 90 days prior to launch.
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Apr 14 2025

Recreational Cannabis Sales Begin in Colorado Springs for the First Time April 15

Starting tomorrow, Colorado Springs will officially join the ranks of Colorado cities that allow recreational cannabis sales—a significant shift for a city that has long resisted the state’s legalization movement.

This change comes after voters approved Ballot Question 300 in November 2024, allowing existing medical marijuana dispensaries to apply for licenses to sell recreational cannabis. The measure passed with 54.7% of the vote, while a competing initiative to ban recreational sales, Ballot Question 2D, was narrowly defeated.

As of today, 27 dispensaries have received licenses to begin recreational sales, with five more pending approval. The city anticipates that the 5% sales tax on recreational cannabis could generate up to $2 million in its first year, earmarked for public safety, mental health services, and veterans’ programs.
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Apr 14 2025

New York Bill Would Allow Cannabis Stores and Nurseries to Sell Immature Cannabis Plants for Personal Cultivation

A bill filed today in the New York Senate would authorize licensed marijuana businesses to sell immature cannabis plants for personal cultivation.

Senate Bill 7387 was introduced by Senator Michelle Hinchey (D) and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations. The measure would allow retail dispensary licensees, microbusiness licensees, and nursery licensees to sell up to three immature cannabis plants per person for home growing.

The proposal defines an “immature cannabis plant” as “a cannabis plant that has not flowered and that does not have visible buds”, and it directs the Cannabis Control Board to establish rules and regulations for such sales.
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Apr 14 2025

Maryland Lawmakers Approve Budget Bill Including 25% Marijuana Tax Hike, Sending it to Governor Moore

Maryland’s cannabis tax rate is set to increase under a new budget bill approved by lawmakers and sent to Governor Wes Moore.

(Photo credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg).

House Bill 352, passed Monday, raises the tax on adult-use marijuana sales from 9% to 12% starting in fiscal year 2026, an increase of 25%. The new rate will remain in place indefinitely unless lawmakers take further action. Earlier in the session, some legislators pushed for an even higher rate of 15%, but that proposal was ultimately scaled back.

The tax increase comes as Maryland faces a projected $3 billion structural deficit. Supporters argue the move will help address the shortfall without major cuts to services, but marijuana reform advocates, including NORML, strongly opposed the measure. They warned that raising taxes could push more consumers back to the illicit market and financially burden licensed marijuana businesses.
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