Against the odds, the hemp industry saw growth in 2024—even as federal agencies and state governments ramped up efforts to ban popular hemp-derived products like Delta-8 THC. According to a new USDA report, the sector showed surprising resilience during a time when regulation and uncertainty loomed large. The hemp market has faced ongoing challenges, particularly …
Hemp Industry Thrives in 2024 Despite Delta-8 Ban Push Read More »
Colorado is once again at the forefront of drug policy reform. A newly filed bill could give the state’s governor the power to issue mass pardons for past convictions related to psychedelics. This marks a major step forward for those who have been criminalized for nonviolent drug offenses tied to substances like psilocybin and mescaline—both …
Colorado’s New Psychedelics Bill Could Lead to Mass Pardons Read More »
A recent push by alcohol retailers to become the exclusive legal sellers of marijuana products has sparked new debates over fairness, control, and the future of cannabis retail. As cannabis laws evolve, so do the power struggles behind who gets to profit from legal access. Here’s what it means for consumers, dispensaries, and the future …
Should Alcohol Retailers Control Cannabis Sales? Read More »
A new study suggests that individuals who use psychedelics demonstrate significantly higher levels of creativity and originality compared to non-users—and this may be tied to a stronger sense of connection with the world around them. Researchers found that people who regularly consume psychedelics like psilocybin or LSD scored higher on measures of divergent thinking, abstract …
A group of former marijuana prisoners who received clemency under former President Donald Trump gathered outside the White House this week to call on President Joe Biden to grant similar relief to those still incarcerated for federal cannabis convictions. Organized by the nonprofit Mission [Green], the event took place just ahead of 4/20, highlighting ongoing injustices …
Former Cannabis Prisoners Rally at White House, Urge Biden to Free Others Left Behind Read More »
A Nebraska legislative committee has once again failed to advance a bill that would have created a legal and regulated medical marijuana program, leaving patients in the state without access to safe, physician-approved cannabis treatments. Despite growing public support and years of advocacy from both lawmakers and patients, the Judiciary Committee deadlocked in a 4-4 …
Nebraska Stalls Medical Marijuana Progress—Again Read More »
Arizona has taken another step forward in modernizing its police hiring practices by loosening restrictions on prior marijuana use among law enforcement applicants. The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) voted to reduce the required abstinence period from marijuana use to just six months, down from the previous two-year requirement. This change reflects …
Arizona Eases Marijuana Use Restrictions for Police Recruits Once Again Read More »
As the 4/20 cannabis holiday approaches, Colorado officials are calling on budtenders—the frontline workers of the cannabis industry—to play a larger role in educating consumers about safe driving and marijuana use. In a new op-ed, state leaders from the Department of Transportation and Marijuana Enforcement Division emphasized the need to prevent impaired driving through direct …
Colorado Urges Budtenders to Help Educate on Cannabis & Driving Laws Ahead of 4/20 Read More »
A top financial office in Pennsylvania is questioning the revenue estimates presented by Governor Josh Shapiro for his plan to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state, suggesting the figures are overly optimistic and not grounded in realistic timelines. In his 2024-2025 budget proposal, Governor Shapiro outlined a plan to generate $14.8 million from recreational marijuana …
Pennsylvania Budget Analysts Challenge Governor’s Cannabis Revenue Forecast Read More »
A legislative committee in Maine has voted to advance a bill that would legalize the supervised use of psilocybin—the psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms—despite significant disagreements among its members. The bill, known as LD 1914, was introduced by Senator Donna Bailey and aims to establish a regulated system allowing adults aged 21 and over …
Maine Lawmakers Move Psilocybin Legalization Forward Despite Split Opinions Read More »