An Arkansas campaign seeking to expand the state’s medical marijuana law and create a trigger for the legalization of recreational marijuana has submitted well more than enough signatures to put their measure to a vote this November.

In July, Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) submitted 111,402 signatures for their initiative, with signatures spread across 62 counties. Although this was above the 90,704 signatures required across 50 counties in order to make the November Ballot, the state said that not enough of the signatures were valid. This gave APA 30 days to collect an additional 11,000 signatures.

Today, the group submitted nearly 40,000 additional signatures, bringing the total to around 150,000. This all but guarantees the initiative will be placed on the November 5 ballot, given less than half of the signatures need to be valid for the group to reach their goal.
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The California Legislature has given final approval to a bill that would allow licensed marijuana growers to sell their products directly to consumers at farmers markets, moving the legislation one step closer to becoming law.

The Assembly has concurred with amendments made by the Senate to Assembly Bill 1111, allowing the bill to proceed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Newsom now has the option of signing it into law, vetoing it, or allowing it to become law without his signature.

AB 1111, sponsored by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D), authorizes the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) to issue temporary event licenses, enabling on-site cannabis sales and consumption at designated venues within jurisdictions that permit such activities.

The measure includes specific provisions for small-scale marijuana producers, restricting eligibility to those cultivating no more than one acre or a specified square footage under varying license types. The bill also incorporates amendments from the Senate Appropriations Committee, which limit the license to “state temporary events” and delay the bill’s implementation until January 1, 2026.

For the full text of the bill, click here.

In a little over two months, voters in three Texas cities will consider ordinances that would decriminalize marijuana possession.

On the November 5 ballot in Lockhart, Bastrop and Dallas, Texas, are ordinances that propose to reduce penalties for possessing personal amounts of marijuana. Specifically, the measures would prevent law enforcement from arresting individuals found with up to four ounces of marijuana. Instead, they would receive a citation similar to a traffic ticket.

According to Ground Game Texas (GGT), the group behind the Dallas measure, the proposal would:
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The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has awarded Emory University researchers a $200,000 grant for a pilot study examining MDMA-assisted Massed Exposure Therapy for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

MDMA tablets, often referred to as “ecstasy”.

The study is being conducted by Dr. Barbara Rothbaum and Dr. Jessica Maples-Keller at the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program in Atlanta, Georgia. Enrollment for this study is open to any civilian who meets the criteria, including Veterans.

“Dr. Rothbaum, known for her groundbreaking research innovating evidence-based PTSD treatments since 1986, pioneered Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and Massed Prolonged Exposure Therapy (MPE)”, states a press release. “These two evidence-based therapies for treating PTSD provide a safe environment for individuals to approach their trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations and learn that the trauma-related memories and cues are no longer dangerous. PE, which is one of only three front-line talk therapies currently recommended for PTSD, involves weekly sessions over three months, while MPE is an intensive version that is condensed into 10 daily sessions over two weeks.
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According to a new report by Research and Markets, the global cannabis cultivation market, already valued at billions of dollars, is expected to grow by 120% by 2030.

The report found that the cannabis cultivation market grew from $3.64 billion in 2023 to $4.15 billion in 2024, and it’s expected to continue growing at a compound annual growth rate of 14.09%, reaching $9.17 billion by 2030.

“In the Americas, cannabis cultivation has undergone significant transformation, especially in regions where legislation has shifted towards legalization”, states the report. “Canada and certain states of the USA have established robust legal frameworks that govern the production, sale, and consumption of cannabis. These regions host some of the world’s largest cannabis companies, which are heavily regulated, publicly traded, and adhere to strict quality controls.”
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