Mar 13 2024

Massachusetts Governor Announces “Nation-Leading Effort” to Pardon Marijuana Possession Convictions

Governor Maura T. Healey today announced that she is taking executive action to pardon misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions in Massachusetts.

If approved by the Governor’s Council, this would be “the most comprehensive action by a governor since President Joe Biden pardoned federal marijuana possession convictions and called on governors to take similar actions in their states”, according to a press release from Governor Healey. It could impact hundreds of thousands of people.

If approved, Governor Healey’s pardon will apply to all eligible convictions, and most people will not need to take any action to have their criminal records updated. It would apply to all adult Massachusetts state court misdemeanor convictions before March 13, 2024 for possession of marijuana (sometimes referred to as possession of a “Class D substance”).
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Mar 13 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris Holding White House Forum on Friday With Marijuana Pardon Recipients

On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris will hold a forum at the White House with individuals who have received marijuana pardons as part of an executive order issued by President Biden in late 2022.

Regional NORML Coordinator Chris Goldstein, along with two other Presidential marijuana pardon recipients including hop hop artist Fat Joe, will be attending a forum this Friday at the White House with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss ongoing efforts by the Biden Administration to reform federal cannabis policies. Portions of the meeting are scheduled to be livestreamed by the White House.

Goldstein, who has a history of cannabis activism in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, received a Presidential pardon certificate earlier this year. He was federally convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession in 2014 for smoking cannabis during a protest in an outdoor area of Independence Hall National Historic Park in Philadelphia.
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Mar 12 2024

Study: Cannabinoids Led to Symptom Improvements in Over 70% of Cancer Patients

According to a new study about one in four cancer patients use cannabinoids to assist in symptom control, and a strong majority saw a “subjective alleviation of treatment-related symptoms”.

“Limited studies have described the utilization of cannabinoids among cancer patients”, states the study, published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. “This survey study aimed to characterize utilization patterns and perceptions of cannabinoid use for treatment-related side effects among patients receiving radiation treatment.”

This was an “anonymous survey study of patients who were undergoing or recently completed radiation treatment at a comprehensive cancer center. Data on cannabinoid use during cancer treatment, reasons for the use of cannabinoids, perceived effects of cannabinoids, and formulations of usage were collected and summarized using descriptive statistics.”
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Mar 12 2024

Study: Marijuana Can Make it Easier for Women to Achieve an Orgasm and Can Improve Frequency and Satisfaction

According to a new study of hundreds of women, marijuana made it easier to achieve an orgasm in a majority of participants, while also improving orgasm frequency and satisfaction.

“Up to 41% of women experience female orgasm disorder/difficulty (FOD), a statistic unchanged for 50 years”, states the study, published in the March issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine. “Despite this, there is a paucity of validated treatments.”

The study notes that research “has suggested cannabis as a treatment for female sexual disorders for more than 50 years. Yet a literature review revealed no studies evaluating cannabis as a treatment specifically for FOD and no studies comparing women with and without FOD.”
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Mar 12 2024

Colorado: Over $22 Million in Marijuana Taxes Made in February, $2.6 Billion Since 2014

Colorado made well over $20 million in tax revenue from legal marijuana sales in February.

Colorado made $22,002,884 in taxes from the licensed distribution of marijuana, according to data compiled and released by the Colorado Department of Revenue. This marks a slight increase over the $21.5 million sold in January, despite February have two fewer days.

The yearly total for marijuana taxes in Colorado is now $43,549,755, while all-time tax revenue is now at $2,661,707,488
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Mar 12 2024

Arizona House Health Committee Passes Senate-Approved Bill to Legalize Psilocybin Therapy Centers

A key House committee had given approval to psilocybin legislation that’s already been approved by the full Senate.

Dried psilocybin.

The House Health & Human Services Committee has voted 8 to 2 to pass Senate Bill 1570, which has already been approved by the full Senate in a 24 to 4 vote. If the measure passes the full Senate, it will be sent to Governor Josh Green for consideration.

If enacted into law, the measure would legalize psilocybin therapy centers where individuals can legally consume psilocybin in a medical, supervised setting, with trained staff constantly available. Licensing for these centers would be handled by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
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Mar 12 2024

Bipartisan US Lawmakers “Deeply Troubled” Over Barriers to Marijuana Research, Send Letter to Biden Administration

A pair of bipartisan lawmakers in the US Congress have sent a letter to the Biden Administration saying they are “deeply troubled” with a lack of progress following Biden’s 2022 executive order meant to streamline marijuana research and remove barriers.

The letter was signed by Congressmembers Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Andy Harris (R-MD), and sent to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Anne Milgram, Chief Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“President Biden signed our Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (Public Law No. 117-215) into law on December 2, 2022 – representing a historic breakthrough in addressing the federal government’s misguided restriction of research on the impacts of cannabis”, begins the letter. “At a time when more than half of Americans reside in a place where adult-use of cannabis is legal at the state or local level, and there are four million registered medical marijuana users with many more likely to self-medicate, it is essential that we are able to fully study the impacts of cannabis use.”
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Mar 11 2024

Massachusetts Governor to Pardon Tens of Thousands Convicted of Marijuana Possession

Following in the footsteps of federal marijuana pardons issued in late 2022 by President Biden, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey plans to issue thousands of pardons for those convicted of marijuana possession.

Governor Maura Healey (photo credit: Steven Senne/Associated Press).

Specific details of the plan will be announced at a Wednesday press conference. What we do know is that the pardons will cover charges related to possessing up to an ounce of marijuana, which was legalized in 2016.

Under Massachusetts marijuana law, those 21 and older are allowed to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants for personal use. The first licensed marijuana store opening in 2018.
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Mar 11 2024

Virginia Bill to Legalize Marijuana Sales Officially Delivered to Governor, Deadline for Response is April 8

Today, legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales was officially delivered to Governor Glenn Youngkin.

In February Virginia lawmakers passed legislation to legalize the licensed distribution of recreational marijuana, with sales beginning May 1, 2025. Today, the measure was delivered to Governor Youngkin, who now faces an April 8 deadline to decide how he’s going to approach the measure. Governor Youngkin has the option of signing it into law, vetoing it, or allowing it to become law on April 9 without a signature.

Under the proposed law, those 21 and older would be allowed to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana per transaction from a licensed marijuana store. They could also purchase up to 100mg of THC in edible form.
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Mar 11 2024

President Biden Releases FY 2025 Budget Proposal, Includes Provision Blocking DC Marijuana Sales

President Biden has released to Congress his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, and it again includes a provision that blocks Washington DC from allowing licensed marijuana sales. The budget does, however, propose keeping a provision that protects state medical marijuana laws.

Washington DC legalized recreational marijuana in 2014. However, due to a provision passed by US Congress each year since then, licensed marijuana stores are unable to open in the district; although medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed.

Now, President Biden has released his Fiscal Year 2025 draft budget, and it again incudes a provision by Congressmember Andy Harris (R-MD) that prevents DC from allowing marijuana sales. Biden’s inclusion of the provision isn’t incredibly surprising, given he’s included it in each of his past budget requests. However, proponents of marijuana law reform were hopeful that Biden could finally propose removing the provision, especially fresh of becoming the first US President to promote marijuana reform during a State of the Union address.
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