Insights

LOS ANGELES- The American Medical Association (AMA) voted to support drug decriminalization at its annual House of Delegates meeting in Chicago on June 12. MD/PhD candidate Ryan Englander highlighted the inefficacy of the war on drugs, urging for a shift towards more effective measures. Englander emphasized the failure of criminalization in addressing the substance use ...

NEW YORK- New York has made notable progress in cannabis regulation, introducing new rules that allow adults to cultivate plants for personal use. This development is part of the state’s broader strategy to foster a regulated cannabis market. However, it coincides with growing concerns over unlicensed sales and enforcement issues, creating a complex landscape for ...

LOS ANGELES- Ohio's cannabis law permits individuals aged 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and up to 15 grams of cannabis concentrates. Additionally, residents can cultivate up to six cannabis plants at private residences. The law also allows licensed cannabis stores, regulated by the Division of Cannabis Control, to sell ...

LOS ANGELES- Nebraskan advocates are urgently working to collect signatures for their medical cannabis initiative to be included on this year’s ballot. The advocacy group Nebraska for Medical Marijuana (NMM) is appealing to supporters to help gather the necessary signatures before the approaching deadline. NMM campaign manager Crista Eggers sent an email on June 6, ...

LOS ANGELES- The Rhode Island Department of Labor, in collaboration with the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), will offer a free cannabis training program to a select group of students. This initiative aims to equip individuals with the skills needed to enter and thrive in the state's growing cannabis industry. Announced on May 29, ...

NEW YORK- South Dakota voters will have another opportunity to decide on the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Initiated Measure 29, which aims to legalize the recreational use, possession, and distribution of cannabis, will be on the ballot for the 2024 general election on November 5. On June 3, Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson confirmed ...

LOS ANGELES- The U.S. House of Representatives has approved amendments to a significant spending bill, enabling Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations to military veterans and support research into psychedelics. The amendments were passed as part of the appropriations legislation covering Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA). The ...

LOS ANGELES- Red Light Holland Corp. a company specializing in the production and sale of functional mushrooms and psilocybin truffles, announced the successful completion of the first phase of psilocybin extraction. This milestone was achieved at Chiral Labs, in partnership with PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. Following a Health Canada-approved import of Red Light Holland’s natural ...

NEW YORK- A study titled "Cannabis Sativa Oil Promotes Social Interaction and Ultrasonic Communication by Acting on Oxytocin Pathway" has been published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, and made available online by the US National Library of Medicine. Conducted by researchers at the Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine at the University of ...

LOS ANGELES- Minnesota will allow some commercial cultivators to begin growing cannabis later this year in preparation for the state's upcoming retail market. The state will award cannabis business licenses through a vetted lottery system instead of the previously used merit-based application process. Governor Tim Walz signed a cannabis policy bill on Friday that implements ...

LOS ANGELES- A dispensary in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, has filed a lawsuit against the state Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) over rules prohibiting the transport of cannabis products by boat across the Vineyard Sound. The lawsuit, initiated by Geoff Rose, owner of Island Time, challenges the regulations that prevent him from importing cannabis from the mainland, ...

LOS ANGELES- If signed into law, Senate Bill 228 will allow private contractors to replace Louisiana State University (LSU) and Southern University (SU) in the cultivation of medical cannabis, ending their unique role in this industry. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Patrick McMath, aims to refocus these universities on higher education and transition cannabis cultivation ...

LOS ANGELES- Recent analysis of national survey data reveals that more Americans now admit to daily cannabis use than to daily alcohol consumption. Published in the journal Addiction, the research found that in 2022, approximately 17.7 million people reported using cannabis daily or near-daily, compared to about 14.7 million daily or near-daily drinkers. Survey Data ...

LOS ANGELES- The House Armed Services Committee has approved the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a comprehensive defense bill crucial for funding national defense and military operations. A significant provision within the bill prohibits the testing of cannabis for military recruits and potential officers. Section 531, titled “Prohibition on Cannabis Testing for Enlistment or ...

LOS ANGELES- Glass House Brands Inc. has retracted its defamation lawsuit against Catalyst Cannabis Co., citing concerns over Catalyst's financial viability and the potential harassment of its customers. This withdrawal marks a significant turn in the legal conflict between the two cannabis companies. Background of the Dispute The dispute originated from allegations by Catalyst and ...

LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released its 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) on May 9, providing an in-depth analysis of illegal drug and trafficking trends in the United States. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram emphasized the evolving threats to public safety and national security, highlighting a shift from plant-based drugs like heroin and ...

LOS ANGELES- As Ohio prepares for the launch of its adult-use cannabis program, several dozen municipalities have implemented temporary bans on adult-use cannabis businesses. Research from Ohio State University, summarized by Cleveland.com, indicates that as of March 31, at least 47 municipalities had opted to prohibit adult-use cannabis operations enabled by the state legalization law ...

Washington, DC (NORML): Taxes derived from the licensed sale of state-regulated cannabis products totaled more than $4 billion in 2023, according to an analysis provided by the Marijuana Policy Project. MPP’s estimates do not include revenues derived from the sale of medical cannabis products or from the collection of state-imposed regulatory fees. Cannabis sales generated the greatest amount ...

LOS ANGELES- The Texas Senate will hold a public hearing on May 29 to discuss a potential ban on delta-8 and delta-9 THC products. These products have been widely available in Texas since 2019, following a decision that allowed the sale of hemp products containing these compounds. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called for ...

LOS ANGELES- Chris Alexander, the Executive Director of New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), is set to resign at the end of his three-year term in September, as announced by Governor Kathy Hochul. The announcement, made during a news conference that Alexander did not attend, comes at a time when New York is poised ...

LOS ANGELES- In Idaho, one of the few states without any legal cannabis framework, the advocacy group Kind Idaho is making strides to place a medical cannabis initiative on the 2024 ballot. The organization faces the daunting task of collecting approximately 63,000 signatures from registered voters by April 14 of the next year to qualify. ...

LOS ANGELES- The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued a recall for a product known as Onion Bhaji after laboratory tests detected possible contamination with Aspergillus, a fungus known to cause allergic reactions or infections. The state health department is urging consumers who have purchased this product to dispose of it immediately and seek ...

LOS ANGELES- The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has issued a cease and desist order to Bay State Extracts, a state-licensed hemp business, directing it to stop the production and sale of products containing the cannabinoid THCV. The state agency declared that such products are illegal under current state law. The CEO of Bay ...

LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has postponed a crucial administrative hearing originally scheduled for June on the proposed ban of two psychedelic compounds, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (DOC). This decision follows a legal challenge by Panacea Plant Sciences which contests the constitutionality of using administrative law judges in DEA's rulemaking process. The challenge, ...

LOS ANGELES- In a landmark policy shift, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has announced plans to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance, a category that includes less restricted drugs. This change reflects a growing recognition of the potential medicinal benefits of cannabis, historically used for pain relief and ...