Apr 15 2025

Florida House Committee Unanimously Passes Bill to Waive Medical Marijuana Card Fees for Veterans, Extend Validity to Two Years

In a unanimous vote today, the Florida House Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill that would waive medical marijuana card fees for veterans and extend the validity of all cards from one year to two.

House Bill 555 would eliminate the state’s fee for issuing, renewing, or replacing medical marijuana identification cards for veterans who have received an honorable discharge. Applicants would be required to provide a DD-214 form to verify their status.

In addition to the fee waiver for veterans, the measure would extend the expiration date for all medical marijuana ID cards—regardless of veteran status—from one year to two. The change is intended to lower costs and reduce the burden of frequent renewals for patients and caregivers.
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Apr 15 2025

Red Light Holland Cleared to Begin U.S. Psilocybin Imports Through DEA-Approved Partner

Red Light Holland has announced that its U.S.-based partner, Irvine Labs, has secured a 2025 psilocybin quota from the Drug Enforcement Administration, a necessary step toward importing naturally derived psilocybin from the Netherlands into the United States.

With this DEA quota in hand, Irvine Labs is now preparing to apply for an import permit that would allow it to receive psilocybin produced at Red Light Holland’s mushroom cultivation facility in the Netherlands. Once imported, the psilocybin will undergo testing and processing at Irvine Labs’ facility in California, which is both FDA-compliant and registered with the DEA for handling Schedule I substances.

The companies plan to develop shelf-stable microdosing capsules using proprietary dehydration and packaging methods aimed at preserving the integrity and extending the shelf life of psilocybin derived from natural sources. This step marks the first major milestone in their partnership, as both companies work to advance into emerging legal psychedelic markets.
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Apr 15 2025

Lawmakers in Chile Introduce Bill to Legalize Marijuana Cultivation and Possession for Everyone 18+

A group of lawmakers in Chile has introduced legislation that would legalize the use and cultivation of marijuana for those 18 and older, marking a significant step toward reforming the country’s cannabis laws.

The measure, filed Wednesday by the Regulation for Peace group, proposes a legal framework for personal possession, cultivation, and private use of marijuana by adults. The goal, according to proponents of the bill, is to reduce harm, support public health, protect children, and encourage scientific research.

Under the proposed law, adults would be allowed to grow up to six flowering marijuana plants for personal use, or the equivalent in indoor cultivation covering no more than two square meters. Individuals could store up to 800 grams annually.
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Apr 15 2025

Oregon House Unanimously Approves Bill Expanding Psilocybin Access and Oversight

The Oregon House of Representatives has unanimously approved House Bill 2387, advancing legislation that would expands access to psilocybin services while strengthening regulatory oversight and transparency.

Psilocybin mushrooms.

HB 2387 allows licensed health care providers regulated by certain state boards to discuss and provide psilocybin services if they are also licensed psilocybin facilitators. The bill clarifies that such professionals cannot be penalized for incorporating psilocybin into their practices, provided they adhere to state rules and do not mix psilocybin administration with concurrent health care services.

The legislation also facilitates information sharing between the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and regulatory boards concerning psilocybin-related investigations while maintaining strong confidentiality provisions. It gives OHA authority to share relevant disciplinary data with public entities to improve oversight, barring exceptions related to reproductive or gender-affirming care.
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Apr 15 2025

Psilocin May Help Relieve Itching, Finds Study

A study from researchers at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences has found that psilocin significantly reduced scratching behavior in an animal model of pruritus, suggesting it may have potential as a treatment for chronic itch conditions.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

The study, published in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology, tested varying doses of psilocin (which is the main active compound your body produces after consuming psilocybin) and its combination with 1-MT, a kynurenine pathway inhibitor, on mice subjected to pruritus-inducing stimuli. The researchers documented the number of scratching bouts and analyzed the presence of the head-twitch response, a common measure of psychedelic activity in rodents.

Psilocin at 1 mg/kg demonstrated the strongest antipruritic and hallucinogenic effects. Western blot analysis confirmed increased activity of 5-HT2A receptors in the skin. When combined with 1-MT, the antipruritic effects became more pronounced, suggesting a role for kynurenine pathway inhibition in the observed relief. Additionally, levels of inflammatory markers TLR-4 and TNF-α were significantly reduced in the treatment groups, along with decreased activity of the enzyme IDO.
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Apr 15 2025

U.S. Cannabis Market Projected to Reach $76 Billion by 2030, Driven by Legalization, Health Demand and Industry Expansion

The U.S. cannabis industry is on track to reach a market value of $76.39 billion by 2030, according to a new report from Research and Markets.

This would represent an 11.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 through the end of the decade, fueled by expanding legalization, increased consumer demand, and innovations in cultivation and product development.

Cannabis use in the U.S. continues to grow, both for recreational and medical purposes, notes the report. Marijuana is commonly used to treat cancer-related symptoms, pain, mental health conditions, and nausea. According to the American Cancer Society, over 1.95 million new cancer cases were expected in 2023 alone, underscoring the potential demand for marijuana-based therapies. The FDA has already approved cannabinoid-based drugs like nabilone and dronabinol to treat chemotherapy-related nausea.
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Apr 15 2025

Study: Cannabis Leaves Improve Taste and Quality of Kombucha by Enhancing Fermentation

Researchers from Thailand’s Kasetsart University have found that cannabis leaves can significantly improve the taste and quality of kombucha by boosting beneficial bacteria and reducing harsh acidity.

The study, published by the journal Foods, examined the use of Thai cannabis leaves in kombucha brewed with assam green tea. The cannabis leaves were found to be rich in protein (23.1%) and phytonutrients that support the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are known to promote gut health and enhance fermentation.

After seven days of fermentation, kombucha infused with 30% cannabis leaves had the highest LAB count (5.53 log CFU/mL). These batches also showed higher pH and reduced acetic acid levels, indicating a milder, more pleasant taste. Volatile compound analysis revealed that the cannabis-infused kombucha contained lower concentrations of acetic acid, ethanol, and carbon dioxide, contributing to a smoother odor and flavor profile.
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Apr 15 2025

MAPS Announces MDMA-Assisted Therapy Education Event For Ukrainian Mental Health Practitioners, April 28 to May 4

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization at the vanguard of the psychedelic movement since 1986, is bringing its International Therapist Education Program (ITE) to Ukraine.

The event is organized in collaboration with the nonprofit Ukrainian Psychedelic Research Association (UPRA) and will take place from April 28 to May 4 in Lviv, Ukraine.

Students will gain foundational knowledge of psychedelic-assisted therapies including the inner-directed therapeutic approach; facilitating preparation, medication, and integration sessions; building a strong therapeutic alliance; and addressing complex topics such as therapeutic touch, suicidal ideation, and the dynamics of transference and countertransference.
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Apr 14 2025

Washington Senate Passes Bill Granting Collective Bargaining Rights to Marijuana Farmworkers, Sends It to Governor

The Washington State Senate voted 29 to 20 today to approve a bill that would grant collective bargaining rights to agricultural cannabis workers.

House Bill 1141, which already passed the House in March by a 55 to 40 vote, will now be sent to Governor Bob Ferguson for consideration.

If signed into law, or allowed to become law without a signature, the bill would place cannabis agricultural workers—those involved in cultivating, trimming, curing, and sorting marijuana—under the jurisdiction of the state’s Public Employment Relations Commission. This change would formally extend collective bargaining rights to these workers, aligning them with labor protections available in other industries.
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Apr 14 2025

New Louisiana Bill Would Establish Adult-Use Marijuana Pilot Program

A bill filed in the Louisiana House of Representatives would create a temporary program allowing for limited recreational marijuana sales.

House Bill 627, sponsored by State Representative Mandie Landry Newell, was assigned today to the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice. Titled the “Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Regulation and Enforcement Act,” the bill authorizes the Louisiana Department of Health to oversee a regulated pilot program for non-medical marijuana sales and production, starting January 1, 2026.

Under the proposal, only existing therapeutic marijuana retailers and licensed cultivators would be eligible to participate. Each of the state’s administrative regions would be allowed one adult-use retail location, operated by a permit holder already authorized to dispense medical marijuana. Participants must notify the Department of Health at least 90 days prior to launch.
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