Minnesota’s marijuana legalization law, signed by Governor Time Walz in May, is on track to be in full effect come early 2025.

“We are on track to successfully launch the legal marijuana industry in early 2025″, says Charlene Briner, interim director for the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). “We are all putting in a lot of work to keep us on track.”

Briner was brought on recently to replace Erin Dupree, who resigned in September just days after being appointed director of the OCM by Governor Walz.
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Indiana’s Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services interim study committee has voted to recommend that the state approve a pilot program for psilocybin  (“magic mushrooms”) therapy.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms. (Photo credit: Rich Townsend/Getty Images)

According to a report released by the committee, the “prevailing view is that psilocybin should not be a Schedule I drug and has proven medical benefits.” With that in mind, the committee recommends “the Indiana General Assembly take an approach that strikes a balance between access, research, and prudence.”

To do this, they recommend the state “conduct a pilot clinical study utilizing established therapeutic protocols as a starting point to explore the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of psilocybin assisted therapy in Indiana.”
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According to a new meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, cannabinoids may help improve “eczema, acne, pruritus, psoriasis, hair growth, and skin cancer and have anti-aging effects on skin.”

“The therapeutic application of cannabinoids has gained traction in recent years”, notes the abstract of the study, published online by the National Institute of Health. “Cannabinoids interact with the human endocannabinoid system in the skin. A large body of research indicates that cannabinoids could hold promise for the treatment of eczema, psoriasis, acne, pruritus, hair disorders, and skin cancer.”

The study notes that “There are several clinical trials that show the potential benefits of cannabinoids in various dermatologic diseases. Clinical trials involving cannabinoids for pain, inflammation, and cancer “are actively ongoing, with a growing interest in their potential application in conditions that extend beyond skin concerns.”
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According to a new Washington State University study, published in the journal Exploration of Medicine, most people who report using marijuana to get a good night’s rest have quit using over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids all together.

“More than 80% of the 1,255 cannabis users surveyed for the analysis reported no longer using over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids such as melatonin and benzodiazepines”, according to a university press release. “Instead, they had a strong preference for inhaling high-THC cannabis by smoking joints or vaporizing flower, two fast-acting methods that previous research has shown can help with difficulty falling asleep.”

Interestingly, around half of the people in the study also specifically reported using cannabis strains containing CBD and the terpene myrcene, an aromatic plant compound found in hops, basil and other plants in addition to cannabis.
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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) announced this week that he’s issuing dozens of additional pardons to those convicted for marijuana-related charges.

Governor Evers announced that he has issued 82 to new pardons, the majority going to people convicted for drug-related charges, and many of those for simple marijuana possession.

“It continues to be a privilege to hear about individuals’ lives, work, and what they have done to overcome their past mistakes and build positive, rewarding lives for themselves and their families,” said Gov. Evers.
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In Canada there was nearly half a billion dollars worth of legal marijuana sold in September.

According to Statistics Canada, there was CA$440 million worth of legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in September. This is a slight decrease over the CA$464 million sold in August, but a roughly 10% increase over the CA$392 sold during the same period in 2022.

As of October 1, there are now 3,654 licensed marijuana retail outlets located throughout Canada, an increase of 14 stores from the month prior. The vast majority of these are located in Ontario, with there being 1,770. This is followed by British Columbia with 513 and Manitoba with 194.
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According to a new study funded by a federal grant those with anxiety “reported better sleep after cannabis-use-only and after co-use, but not after alcohol-use-only.”

“Sleep problems and anxiety conditions are common comorbidities and may be influenced by cannabis and alcohol use”, begins the study’s abstract. “This study examined daily within-person variation in subjective sleep quality among individuals with anxiety symptoms after cannabis or alcohol were used alone, and after co-use.”

The study was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review, and it was conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado, the University of Haifa and Colorado State University
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Carnival Cruise has given a lifetime ban to a Texas woman who brought CBD gummies on board, despite them being federally legal.

Texas woman Melinda Van Veldhuizen has gone on so many cruises with Carnival Cruise that she has previously received priority boarding. Despite this, the cruise company has given Melinda a permanent ban for bringing aboard gummies containing cannabidiol (CBD), according to Local10 News. The ban comes despite hemp-derived CBD being legal since the passage of the federal farm bill in 2018.

On the cruise Melinda was celebrating her 21st wedding anniversary’s, as well as her son’s senior year of high school.
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Licensed marijuana retail outlets can remain open on Thanksgiving, according to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

“Cannabis sales at all licensed cannabis establishments are allowed on Thanksgiving Day”, according to a recent notice posted by the Department. “Consumers should check with retailers directly for holiday hours.”

The notice states that “Any reporting to the contrary is incorrect and should be disregarded.”
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