Mar 09 2023

Delaware Senate Votes 15 to 1 to Urge Federal Government to Deschedule Marijuana

On the same day as Delaware’s House of Representatives voted in favor of establishing a legal marijuana market, Delaware’s Senate overwhelmingly approved a marijuana resolution of their own.

Senate Resolution 11, which “urges our federal delegation to support legislation to deschedule marijuana”, was passed by a vote of 15 to 1, with 4 members not voting.

In the resolution’s preamble, it states that marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside Heroin, “though marijuana has many well documented medical uses.. and according to the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, modern medical research has confirmed the beneficial uses for marijuana in treating or alleviating the pain, nausea, and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV/AIDS”.
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Mar 09 2023

Delaware House Approves Bill to Establish Legal Marijuana Industry

Two days after the Delaware House of Representatives approved a bill to legalize the possession of marijuana the same chamber has passed a separate bill that would legalize a regulated system of marijuana retail outlets.

House Bill 2, filed by State Represenstive Ed Osienski, was passed by the full House by a vote of 27 to 13. This is almost identical to the 28 to 13 vote on House Bill 1 to legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. House Bill 2, which now heads to the Senate, would authorize marijuana to be sold to anyone 21 and older through licensed and regulated retail outlets which would be stocked by licensed producers. The Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement  would be charged with regulating the marijuana industry through a new Office of Marijuana Control Commissioner.

“It has been a long journey to get to this point. We have experienced setbacks along the way and none worse than losing business to New Jersey and we have learned a great deal and produced what we believe is a strong bill that will make Delaware an industry leader in this field”, says Representative Osienski.
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Mar 08 2023

Psilocybin Research Bill Passed by Washington State Senate

Legislation to create a task force explicitly designed to research psilocybin and create a pathway to legalization has been passed by the full Washington State Senate.

Psilocybin mushrooms.

Senate Bill 5263 was filed by Senator Jesse Salomon along with a coalition of 21 bipartisan cosponsors. The measure initially would have established a legal framework for supervised psilocybin use, but it was substantially altered in committee effectively turning it into a research bill. The measure would establish the Washington Psilocybin Advisory Board within the Department of Health.

“The legislature intends to establish an advisory board, interagency work group, and a task force to provide advice and recommendations on developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for access to regulated psilocybin for Washington residents who are at least 21 years of age”, states the text of the bill. The measure would “develop a long-term strategic plan for ensuring that psilocybin services become and remain a safe, accessible, and affordable option for all persons 21 years of age and older in this state for whom psilocybin may be appropriate.”  Continue reading

Mar 08 2023

Minnesota Marijuana Legalization Bill Passed by 12 of 14 House Committees

Minnesota’s House Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee has given approval to HF 100 to legalize marijuana, the 12th House Committee to do so.

HF 100 would allow those 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana and grow up to eight plants for personal use, in addition to establishing a regulatory framework for licensed retail marijuana outlets. The measure has now been passed by 12 House committees, out of the 14 necessary to put the measure to a vote by the full House of Representatives.

In addition to being passed by 12 House committees, a companion measure in the Senate (SF 73) has been passed by eight Senate Committees out of the 18 necessary to put it before the full Senate.
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Mar 08 2023

Missouri: $100 Million in Marijuana Sold in First Month of Legal Sales

In the first month of legal marijuana sales in Missouri, there was $100 million in marijuana and marijuana products purchased throughout the state.

According to data released by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, marijuana sales in February topped $102.9 million last month. Of this amount $72 million came from recreational marijuana sells, with the remainder being medical marijuana sales.

The $102.9 million sold would likely have been even higher if not for February being a short month and sales not starting until February 3rd.
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Mar 07 2023

Delaware General Assembly Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill

Legislation to make marijuana legal for everyone 21 and older has been passed by Delaware’s full General Assembly.

House Bill 1 was filed by State Representative Edward Osienski along with 28 cosponsors. Today it passed the Assembly by a vote of 28 to 13. The measure must now pass the Senate in order to be sent to Governor John Carney for consideration.

According to its official summary, this act “removes all penalties for use or possession of a personal use quantity of marijuana and marijuana accessories. It further specifies that the adult sharing of a personal use quantity or less of marijuana is legal activity for those 21 years of age or older and that those 21 or older may possess, use, display, purchase, or transport accessories and personal use quantities of marijuana without penalty.”
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Mar 07 2023

Hawaii Senate Passes Bill to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

A bill to make Hawaii the next state to legalize recreational marijuana has been passed by the state’s Senate.

Senate Bill 669 was passed today by the Hawaii Senate, sending it to the state’s House of Representatives for consideration. Passage in the House would send the measure to the desk of Governor Josh Green.

If passed into law, those 21 and older would be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana and cultivate up to six marijuana plants (three of which could be mature).  An independent Hawaii Cannabis Regulatory Authority would be established under the Department of Health to regulate the industry and licensed marijuana retail outlets.
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Mar 07 2023

Arizona Senate Votes to Add PTSD and Autism to State’s Medical Marijuana Program

A legislative proposal to expand Arizona’s medical marijuana program  has been passed by Arizona’s full Senate.

Senate Bill 1466, filed by Senator Thomas Shope, would add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and autism spectrum disorder as conditions that qualify an individual to become a legal medical marijuana patient. The measure would also reduce the price of medicinal marijuana cards to just $50, which is a third of the current cost ($150), while making them entirely free for veterans.  The bill was passed recently by the Senate in an overwhelming 24 to 6 vote.

The measure has now been sent to the House of Representatives. Passage in the House would send the bill to Governor Katie Hobbs, who is expected to sign it into law if given the chance.
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Mar 07 2023

Cannabinoids May Protect Against Cancer Cachexia, Finds Study

Cannabinoids may protect against the negative effects of colorectal cancer cachexia, according to a new study published by the peer-reviewed journal Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial disorder characterized by weight loss and muscle wasting, and there are currently no FDA-approved medications. For this new study, conducted by researchers from National Taiwan University, “upregulation of six cytokines was observed in serum samples from patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and in mouse models.”

Researchers found that “pharmacological treatment with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), a selective CB2 agonist attenuated CRC-associated muscle atrophy.”
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Mar 06 2023

Study: Cannabinoids Can Reduce the Viability of Human Bladder Cancer Cells

The results of newly published research “indicate that cannabinoids can reduce human bladder transitional cell carcinoma cell viability”.

The research is published in the recent issue of the Journal of Cannabis Research, and it was epublished by the National Library of Medicine. Conducted by researchers at  Dalhousie University in Canada, the study is titled Anticancer properties of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and synergistic effects with gemcitabine and cisplatin in bladder cancer cell lines.

The study notes that “Several studies have demonstrated anti-tumor effects of components present in cannabis in different models. Unfortunately, little is known about the potential anti-tumoral effects of cannabinoids in bladder cancer and how cannabinoids could potentially synergize with chemotherapeutic agents.” The current study aimed “to identify whether a combination of cannabinoids, like cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, with agents commonly used to treat bladder cancer, such as gemcitabine and cisplatin, can produce desirable synergistic effects. We also evaluated if co-treatment with different cannabinoids resulted in synergistic effects.”
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