May 27 2025

Oklahoma Bill Mandating Annual Medical Marijuana Industry Training Becomes Law Without Governor’s Signature

A bill requiring annual training and credentialing for employees in Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry has become law after Governor Kevin Stitt declined to sign or veto the measure.

By taking no action, the governor allowed House Bill 2837 to take effect following its approval in the legislature, where it passed the House 75 to 12 and the Senate 31 to 14.

The new law mandates that all employees working in the state’s medical marijuana sector complete educational training annually to receive or renew their work credentials. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) will be responsible for approving the training programs, which may include instruction on state regulations, patient privacy, and the safe handling and storage of marijuana products.
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May 27 2025

Survey: Strong Majority of Americans Support Allowing Cannabis in Casinos and Gaming Venues

A new survey conducted by researchers from the University of Nevada finds that most adults support allowing cannabis use in or near casinos and other gaming venues, signaling a potential shift in public opinion that could challenge long-standing regulatory divides in Nevada.

The survey gathered responses from 620 adults aged 21 and older across the United States. It asked about participants’ views on marijuana and gambling, with a particular focus on whether they support policies that currently prohibit any overlap between the two industries. Over two-thirds expressed support for allowing cannabis consumption in or near casinos, suggesting growing public openness to integrating the two sectors.

The findings come amid renewed academic and legislative interest in Nevada’s separation policies. State law currently bans cannabis businesses from operating within 1,500 feet of a gaming establishment, with no crossover allowed between license holders. However, researchers say these rigid boundaries may no longer reflect public sentiment or economic opportunity.
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May 27 2025

Nevada Legislature Passes Bill Allowing Those With Past Marijuana Possession Convictions to Work in Foster Care

By a combined vote of 61 to 2, the Nevada Legislature has passed Assembly Bill 107, a measure that removes certain marijuana-related convictions from disqualifying individuals from working in or operating foster homes.

(Photo credit: http://nevadalawhelp.org/).

AB 107 was approved by the state Senate on May 23 with a 19 to 2 vote, after having previously passed the Assembly unanimously in April, 42 to 0. It will now be sent to Governor Joe Lombardo for consideration.

Under current law, individuals convicted of violating any law regulating controlled substances—including marijuana—were barred from residing in, being employed by, or operating a foster home. AB 107 revises this policy by allowing individuals with prior convictions for marijuana possession (not for the purpose of sale) to be eligible, so long as the offense occurred more than five years ago.
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May 27 2025

Minnesota Announces Reopening of Registration for Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Businesses and Licensing Rollout for Low-Potency Hemp Edible Businesses

Today, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced that on June 2 it will open a new window for accepting registrations for businesses seeking to sell hemp-derived cannabinoid products (HDCPs) to consumers.

Hemp plants.

Businesses that sell HDCPs but are not registered with the Office of Cannabis Management are in violation of Minnesota law and will be subject to enforcement action including the destruction of all the business’s HDCPs and penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation, according to a press release from OCM.

The second registration window will remain open until August 31, making it possible for unregistered businesses to become eligible to sell HDCPs, including hemp-derived THC beverages, during the busy summer season. OCM also announced that starting October 1 and continuing through October 31, it will accept business license applications for three license types: lower-potency hemp edible retailers, lower-potency hemp edible manufacturers, and lower-potency hemp edible wholesalers – the last of which is a new license type approved by the 2025 Legislature and signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on Friday, May 23.
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May 27 2025

Study: Psilocybin May Help People With Anorexia Process Buried Trauma and Enter Remission

Women with anorexia experienced a resurfacing of previously blocked traumatic memories during psilocybin-assisted therapy, leading to remission of their eating disorder symptoms, according to a new study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

The pilot study involved 10 women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or in partial remission. Each received a 25-mg dose of COMP360, a synthetic formulation of psilocybin, along with psychological support and integration therapy sessions. Researchers from the University of California, the Medical University of South Carolina, and King’s College London conducted the study to assess the safety and early therapeutic potential of psilocybin treatment for anorexia.

Two participants reported the emergence of previously dissociated memories of sexual trauma during the therapy. Processing these memories with professional support appeared to result in meaningful psychological breakthroughs. Both individuals achieved clinically significant weight gain and remission of their anorexia-related symptoms, as measured by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), within three months of treatment.
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May 27 2025

Study: Regular Cannabis Use May Protect Brain Function in People With HIV

According to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Brain Communications, regular cannabis use may help counteract some of the harmful neurological effects of HIV, particularly those related to inhibitory brain processing and gamma oscillatory activity.

(Photo credit: Getty Images).

Researchers from the University of Nebraska and Creighton University analyzed brain activity in 108 participants—both cannabis users and non-users, with and without HIV—using magnetoencephalography (MEG) during somatosensory stimulation tasks. The findings showed that people with HIV (PWH) who used cannabis had stronger gamma oscillatory responses and more normalized spontaneous gamma activity in the primary somatosensory cortex compared to PWH who did not use cannabis.

Notably, the study found that longer HIV disease duration was associated with reduced sensory gating efficiency—but only in non-cannabis users. Those who regularly used cannabis showed no such decline, suggesting a potential protective effect.
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May 27 2025

Ohio Lawmakers Plan to Restrict Voter-Approved Cannabis Law by End of June

Republican leaders in the Ohio House and Senate say they plan to pass significant changes to the state’s voter-approved recreational marijuana law by the end of June, raising concern among legalization advocates that lawmakers are working to undermine the will of the people.

The two chambers are currently working to combine Senate Bill 56 and House Bill 160, both of which would impose new restrictions on the cannabis market. While there are differences between the bills, both would limit the THC content of products and restrict the state’s home grow provisions. The Senate proposal would reduce the legal plant count from 12 per household to six total, while the House version would keep the 12-plant household limit intact but still cap THC levels.

House Finance Chair Brian Stewart (R) said the effort is about reaching a consensus that reflects more widespread support, though he acknowledged that further “adjustments on the criminalization side” are being considered. He also expressed support for the House’s substitute bill, which would allow for low-dose THC-infused beverages.
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May 27 2025

New Study Reveals How Different Parts of the Marijuana Plant Control Cannabinoid and Terpene Production

A new study published in BMC Genomics explores how different parts of the marijuana plant influence the production of cannabinoids and terpenes, offering insight into the plant’s internal regulatory mechanisms.

Through a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of wild cannabis, researchers identified over 2,500 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across leaf, stem, and root tissues. These findings point to clear tissue-specific control over the pathways that produce cannabinoids and terpenoids.

Genes essential for terpenoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis—such as terpene synthase (TPS) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL)—were found to be most active in leaf tissue, especially during the flowering stage. Validation through RT-PCR of ten key genes, including CBDAS and THCAS, confirmed strong expression in leaves, consistent with the idea that this photosynthetically active tissue is a primary site of cannabinoid synthesis.
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May 27 2025

Mississippi Tribe to Vote on Marijuana Legalization in Two Weeks, On June 10

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is set to vote on a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana on tribal land in just two weeks.

Referendum No. 2025-01, which would allow the possession, production, and distribution of marijuana for adults within the tribe’s jurisdiction, is scheduled for a vote during the June 10 special election.

If approved, the measure would make the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians the first tribal nation in the state—and among the first in the Deep South—to establish a regulated marijuana industry for adult-use.
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May 27 2025

Study: Combining CBGA and Terpenes in Nanoparticle Form May Boost Pain Relief While Lowering Dose Requirements

A study published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics suggests that combining cannabinoid and terpene nanoparticles could offer enhanced pain-relief effects while requiring lower doses.

For the study, researchers encapsulated cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and three cannabis-derived terpenes—myrcene, nerolidol, and caryophyllene—into biodegradable nanoparticles, then tested them alone and in combination for their ability to activate the TRPV1 pain receptor.

Individually, nerolidol showed the strongest TRPV1 activation, followed by myrcene and caryophyllene, while CBGA was less potent on its own. However, when combined at their EC50 concentrations, the CBGA/nerolidol pairing produced a markedly stronger response than either compound alone, suggesting a synergistic effect. The CBGA/myrcene combo did not reach statistical significance over the additive baseline, but it still enhanced calcium influx and is considered worth further investigation due to myrcene’s known analgesic properties.
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