May 16 2023

North Carolina Committee Approves Psilocybin and MDMA Research Bill

A key committee in the North Carolina House of Representatives has voted to approve legislation that would spend millions to research psilocybin and MDMA.

The House Health Committee voted today to pass House Bill 727, filed by Representative Edward Goodwin. The proposal would establish a $5 million grant program designed specifically to research the medical and therapeutic potential of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, and MDMA (sometimes referred to as ecstasy).

The program would be overseen by a newly-created Breakthrough Therapies Research Advisory Board. Starting in August of 2024 the Department of Health and Human Services would be required to accept grand applications from research entities and academic institutions that demonstrate a capability of conducting clinical trials on those 21+.
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May 15 2023

Springfield, Missouri City Council Likely to Put Marijuana Tax Ordinance On August Ballot

Following several Missouri cities approving local marijuana taxes in the April election, Springfield may be poised to do the same.

Today the Springfield City Council held a special meeting to discuss the possibility of imposing a local 3% tax on marijuana sales, similar to what voters approved last month in St Louis, Columbia and Kansas City. During the meeting the council directed the city attorney to establish an emergency ordinance that would be considered during their May 22 meeting that would establish such a tax.

In Missouri marijuana sales receive a 6% excise tax, in addition to the state’s standard 4.2% sales tax. Cities are allowed to establish their own tax of up to 3%.
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May 15 2023

Arizona Governor Signs Bill Allocating Millions for Psilocybin Research

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed into law legislation that allocates millions of dollars for the research of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms.

(Getty Images)

Governor Hobbs signed the measure into law a mere hours after the legislature gave it approval.

Specifically, the Department of Health Services (DHS) will distribute $5 million in fiscal year 2023-2024 for “whole mushroom psilocybin phase one, phase two and phase three clinical trials that are capable of being approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)”. The trial must be for the use to treat one of 13 listed medical conditions which includes PTSD, anxiety and long-COVID.
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May 15 2023

Las Vegas’ First Marijuana-Friendly Hotel to Open in June

A hotel that’s billing itself as Las Vegas’ first marijuana-friendly hotel plans to open its doors to the public next month.

The Lexi Las Vegas Hotel is set to open to the public on Friday, June 2. The hotel, located near Sahara Ave and Highland Drive, was formally known as The Artisan. The company behind the hotel recently spent millions to fully renovate it, including renovating 64 newly designed rooms and suites.

What sets The Lexi apart from other hotels in the area, is that they explicitly allow marijuana to be consumed on their premises, including in the hotel’s rooms and suites. One entire floor will be dedicated to marijuana consumption, and each room/suite will include a RestorAir filtration system.
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May 15 2023

Rhode Island Bill Would Defelonize Possession of Up to One Ounce of Drugs

Legislation filed today in Rhode Island would remove felony penalties for the possession of up to 28 grams of all illegal substances.

In Rhode island a 2021 law removed the possibility of a felony charge for the personal possession of up to 10 grams of illegal substances including drugs like heroin, cocaine and MDMA. Newly-filed legislation would increase this limit from 10 grams to 28 grams (or one full ounce).

The legislation would make the law retroactive, stating that any person “previously convicted of possession of twenty-eight grams (28 g.) or less of a controlled substance subject to the provisions of this subsection shall have their record modified to a misdemeanor.”
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May 15 2023

New Hampshire Governor Announces Support for Legalizing Marijuana With State-Run Stores

Swiftly following the New Hampshire Senate rejecting a House-approved marijuana legalization bill, Governor Chris Sununu released a statement clarifying his position on the issue.

Last Month the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 272 to 109 to pass a bill that would have legalized marijuana for everyone 21 and older. Despite it having widespread bipartisan support in the House, the Senate voted 14 to 10 to reject the bill last week, officially killing it for this legislative session. On Friday Governor Sununu issued a statement and declared for the first time that with the right framework, he’s ready to sign a bill legalizing marijuana.

“During my years as Governor, a bill to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire has never garnered enough bipartisan support to reach my desk”, says Governor Sununu. “I have never vetoed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana. In 2017, I was proud to be the first Governor in New Hampshire history to sign legislation decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana so that no one would go to jail for simple possession.”
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May 15 2023

Study: Recreational Marijuana Laws Reduce Cigarette and Electronic Nicotine Consumption

According to a study being published in the July issue of the Journal of Health Economics, states that have legalized recreational marijuana have seen a reduction in cigarette and electronic cigarette use.

The study, titled Have recreational marijuana laws undermined public health progress on adult tobacco use?, was conducted by researchers at Bentley University, San Diego State University and Georgia State University.

“Public health experts caution that legalization of recreational marijuana may normalize smoking and undermine the decades-long achievements of tobacco control policy”, states the study’s abstract. “However, very little is known about the impact of recreational marijuana laws (RMLs) on adult tobacco use.”
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May 14 2023

Vermont Medical Marijuana Reform Bill Sent to Governor

Legislation that would alter Vermont’s medical marijuana law has been passed by the state’s full legislature and sent to Governor Phil Scott.

The House of Representatives concurred Friday with amendments the Senate made to House Bill 270. This allows it to be sent to Governor Phil Scott, having passed with both chambers coalesced around one specific bill. Governor Scott now has the option of signing it into law, allowing it to become law without his signature, or veto it.

As passed by the legislature, House Bill 270 would double the maximum amount of THC allowed in packaged marijuana products from 50 mg to 100 mg. The law would also alter the number of plants a medical marijuana patient can grow for personal use from a total of nine to a total of 18, six of which can be mature.
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May 13 2023

Missouri Bill Would Require Public Colleges and Universities to Allow Medical Marijuana Use

Legislation filed in Missouri would require colleges and universities that receive public funding to allow medical marijuana use on campus grounds.

House Bill 687 was filed by State Representative Adrian Plank in January. Yesterday it finally received a committee assignment: it’s been assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.

“Each public institution of higher education supported by state funds shall allow students to use marijuana or marijuana-infused products for medicalvuse as authorized by state law on each campus of such institution”, states the official text of the bill.
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May 13 2023

$8.4 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in April in Rhode Island

There was $8.4 million in legal marijuana sold in Rhode Island in April.

According to data released by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations there was a total of $8,421,924.28 in marijuana and marijuana products (such as edibles, topicals and concentrates) sold in April.

In April there was $5,392,693.68 in recreational marijuana sold, which is in addition to the $2,959,442.26  worth of medical marijuana and medical marijuana products sold.
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