Legal Affairs
Florida Cannabis Legalization Initiative Fails to Qualify for 2026 Ballot
LOS ANGELES – Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that the Smart & Safe Florida campaign failed to submit the required number of valid signatures to qualify its proposed constitutional amendment for the ballot. ...
Psychedelic Pharmacists Foundation Launches to Advance Education and Research
PORTLAND – The Psychedelic Pharmacists Association (PPA) has launched the Psychedelic Pharmacists Foundation (PPF), a new nonprofit entity focused on education, research, and public awareness of responsible psychedelic medicine integration. The PPF will operate as ...
Week in Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – The Cannabis and Psychedelics worlds delivered a fresh wave of momentum that’s turning heads from boardrooms to ballot boxes. States pushed bold new frontiers in therapeutic access, millions of Americans embraced microdosing ...
Banks Still Hesitant on Expanding Services for Cannabis Businesses Post-Trump Rescheduling Order
LOS ANGELES – President Donald Trump's Executive Order fast-tracked the move to reschedule Cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, aiming to ease research barriers and tax deductions for state-legal operators. Yet even as this policy ...
Atai Gains Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Spot
NEW YORK – AtaiBeckley N.V., the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm born from the November merger of atai Life Sciences and Beckley Psytech, has secured a place in the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (NBI), a move that underscores ...
Vireo Growth Acquires Eaze, Expands into California and Florida
MINNEAPOLIS – Vireo Growth Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire Eaze Inc. in a stock-based transaction valued at $47 million upfront, marking the company's first push into the competitive California and Florida markets. The ...
Massachusetts Cannabis Rollback Gains Legislative Traction
BOSTON – State election officials have validated more than 78,000 signatures for a measure that would dismantle the commercial side of Massachusetts' recreational Cannabis industry, thrusting the issue back into legislative hands just as the ...
Florida Cannabis Legalization Initiative Fails to Qualify for 2026 Ballot
LOS ANGELES – Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that the Smart & Safe Florida campaign failed to submit the required number of valid signatures to qualify its proposed constitutional amendment for the ballot. ...
Psychedelic Pharmacists Foundation Launches to Advance Education and Research
PORTLAND – The Psychedelic Pharmacists Association (PPA) has launched the Psychedelic Pharmacists Foundation (PPF), a new nonprofit entity focused on education, research, and public awareness of responsible psychedelic medicine integration. The PPF will operate as ...
Week in Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – The Cannabis and Psychedelics worlds delivered a fresh wave of momentum that’s turning heads from boardrooms to ballot boxes. States pushed bold new frontiers in therapeutic access, millions of Americans embraced microdosing ...
Texas Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Local Cannabis Reforms
LOS ANGELES- A Texas judge has dismissed a lawsuit by Attorney General Ken Paxton that sought to nullify voter-approved local cannabis decriminalization ordinances in Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos. Last week, a Texas ...
Study Shows Reduced Opioid Prescriptions Near Cannabis Dispensaries
LOS ANGELES- A recent study has found that communities in Oregon with cannabis dispensaries nearby have lower rates of opioid prescriptions. The research, titled “Recreational cannabis dispensary access effects on prescription opioid use and mortality,” ...
Minnesota Codifies Ban on Cannabis Odor as Sole Reason for Searches
LOS ANGELES- Minnesota lawmakers have codified a Minnesota Supreme Court decision that prevents law enforcement from using the smell of cannabis as the sole basis for searching a vehicle. This decision follows the legalization of cannabis ...
AMA Approves Support for Drug Decriminalization
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 ...
Michigan Surpasses California in Cannabis Sales Volume
LOS ANGELES- Michigan has overtaken California as the largest cannabis market in the U.S. in terms of sales volume, according to data from multiple market intelligence firms. Michigan surpassed California over the winter in the ...
Psychedelics Linked to Improved Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults
LOS ANGELES- Older individuals who have used psychedelics exhibit better cognitive functioning and fewer depressive symptoms compared to those who have not, according to new research published in Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine. However, psychedelic usage ...
Slovenia Votes Overwhelmingly for Cannabis Reforms in Recent Elections
WORLD- In a significant shift, Slovenian voters have endorsed key cannabis reforms, including the cultivation of medical cannabis and limited personal use, reflecting evolving societal attitudes. One of the key questions put to voters was ...
Massachusetts Lawmakers Postpone Intoxicating Hemp Regulation to 2025
LOS ANGELES- Massachusetts lawmakers have announced that legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp products will not be completed before the end of the current legislative session next month. Despite the pressing need for regulation, the bill ...
New York Advances Cannabis Regulation Amid Enforcement Challenges
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 ...
Filament Health Completes C$1.0 Million Bridge Financing
LOS ANGELES- Filament Health Corp., a natural psychedelic drug development company, announced the completion of its C$1.0 million bridge financing. This follows the company's press release from June 3, 2024. Negev Capital Fund One, LP ...
California Cannabis Retailers Could Soon Diversify Offerings with New Bill
LOS ANGELES- A new bill proposed by Assemblymember Matt Haney seeks to assist California's cannabis retailers in diversifying their revenue streams. This legislation would allow these businesses to sell non-cannabis food and non-alcoholic beverages and ...
Minnesota Cannabis: State Announces Automatic Expungements of 57,780 Criminal Records
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Criminal history records that qualify for automatic expungement under the Adult-Use Cannabis Act are no longer visible to the public in the Minnesota Criminal History System (CHS). The Minnesota Department of Public Safety ...
California Bill Proposes Psilocybin Therapy Pilot Program for Veterans and First Responders
LOS ANGELES- A psilocybin therapy bill introduced by California Senators Brian W. Jones and Josh Becker on June 6 seeks to establish a three-year pilot program for military veterans and first responders. Senate Bill 803, ...
Vermont Cannabis Sales Reach $10.94 Million in April
LOS ANGELES- According to the Vermont Department of Taxes, legal cannabis sales in April totaled $10.94 million, contributing to a yearly total of approximately $45 million. Cannabis sales generated $1.53 million in tax revenue for ...
Mary Jane Berlin 2024: Epicenter of European Cannabis Culture and Innovation
BERLIN—This week, Berlin is hosting one of the most anticipated events in the cannabis industry: Mary Jane Berlin. From June 14 to June 16, the sprawling Arena Berlin will transform into a vibrant hub for ...
Ohio’s Cannabis Law Faces Varied Municipal Responses
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 ...
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Approve Recreational Cannabis Sales
LOS ANGELES- Recreational cannabis may soon become a reality in North Carolina following a decision by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). This move could significantly transform the state’s cannabis landscape. While North Carolina ...
Vermont Cannabis Bill H.612 Passes Without Governor’s Signature
LOS ANGELES- Vermont Governor Phil Scott allowed cannabis bill H.612 to become law without his signature, marking significant regulatory changes to the state's cannabis landscape. The bill, which aims to improve regulations surrounding cannabis and ...
Optimi Health Corp. Announces Major Milestones in International Psychedelic Supply Operations
LOS ANGELES- Optimi Health Corp, a Health Canada licensed GMP psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in controlled substances such as botanical psilocybin and MDMA, has announced several significant milestones in its international psychedelic supply operations and ...
Agrify Strengthens Financial Position with Key Debt Conversions
Agrify, a provider of indoor agriculture technology and solutions, has strengthened its financial standing through significant debt conversions by key entities controlled by its top executives. This strategic move enables the company to retain its ...
Mississippi Expands Medical Cannabis Program and Research Capabilities
LOS ANGELES- In 2022, Mississippi passed a restrictive medical cannabis program. Two new bills aimed at enhancing patient access to cannabis care and expanding research capabilities will take effect on July 1. Senate Bill 2857: ...
New Hampshire Lawmakers Near Compromise on Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization
LOS ANGELES- New Hampshire lawmakers in the House and Senate are reportedly close to reaching a compromise on a cannabis legalization bill, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin. With the legislative session ending on Thursday, ...
Proposed Amendments to Cannabis Law in Canada Aim to Ease Regulatory Burden
LOS ANGELES- The Canadian government has proposed a series of amendments to federal cannabis regulations to alleviate some of the regulatory burdens faced by producers and distribution companies. These changes aim to streamline processes ranging ...
Nebraska Advocates Push for Medical Cannabis Initiative Signatures
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 ...
Florida Governor Vetoes Hemp Regulations Package
NEW YORK- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed a legislative package aimed at banning products containing hemp-derived delta-8 THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids, according to CBS News. The vetoed legislation, Senate Bill 1698, sought to regulate ...
