Vernell Varnado on Panama Red, Vietnam and 60 Years of Weed
From his first joint overlooking San Francisco to “happy smoke” in Vietnam, backyard plants in Inglewood, postal routes, Amsterdam coffeeshops and today’s legal dispensaries, Vernell “Papa Snoop” Varnado has lived through nearly every era of modern American cannabis culture. Vernell Varnado remembers the date he arrived in California. “August 28, 1966,” he says. He had […]
So Many Georgia Patients Are Signing Up For Expanded Medical Marijuana Law That Officials Are Having Trouble Processing Them All
“We understand applicants are eager to receive their cards, and we appreciate their patience as we work through this unprecedented volume.” By Alander Rocha, Georgia Recorder Georgia’s medical cannabis program experienced an unprecedented surge of new registered patients over the past month after the law changed significantly to ease access. The patient registry grew from […]
New York Governor Signs Bill To Allow Small Businesses To Sell Marijuana At Farmers’ Markets
The governor of New York has signed legislation clarifying that marijuana microbusinesses can fully participate in cannabis farmers’ markets and pop-up events. Under previous law, microbusiness licensees were only authorized to sell their own products at the events, which are called “Cannabis Showcase Events” under state rules. Now, because of the new measure signed by […]
Rhode Island Officials Restart Marijuana Business Licensing Process After End Of Litigation That Blocked Prior Effort
“Our focus is to maintain that momentum by implementing the amended Cannabis Act as efficiently as possible.” By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current Rhode Island’s Cannabis Control Commission on Friday reopened the application process for prospective retailers after regulators’ first attempt to license more pot shops was halted by a federal court order and voided […]
Senate Votes To Delay Hemp Ban, Giving Lawmakers More Time To Craft Regulations To Keep THC Products Legal
The U.S. Senate has rejected an amendment to make sure that hemp THC products are federally recriminalized on time under a current plan that is set to go into effect in November, instead allowing a provision that would delay the ban to advance. Industry supporters say the move will hopefully give them more time to convince […]
Dr. Oz Asks Senators To Delay Hemp Product Ban So Seniors Can Get CBD Products Covered Through Medicare
Dr. Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is asking U.S. senators to reject an amendment that would keep a forthcoming ban on hemp products on track to take effect in November. “Passage of this amendment would undo significant gains that have been made to make clinically-appropriate full-spectrum hemp-derived CBD […]
VA Launches New Study Using Psilocybin To Treat Veterans With Depression And PTSD
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a new clinical trial to investigate whether psilocybin can help military veterans who are struggling with treatment-resistant depression. The move follows VA’s recent announcement of a separate trial on MDMA-assisted therapy in treating veterans with severe mental health disorders, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder. The […]
So Will the Hemp Ban Be Delayed or Not? Tensions Rise Between the GOP and the White House
A Senate stopgap funding bill would delay the federal prohibition on most hemp-derived THC products until December 11, but Republican senators Ted Budd and Pete Ricketts are trying to block the reprieve. The White House is urging GOP lawmakers to accept the short delay, warning that the dispute could stall the broader spending bill and […]
Cops, Veterans, Alcohol Industry And Others Press Congress On Delaying Hemp THC Product Ban
Dueling coalitions of police, military veterans and industry groups are pushing Congress in different directions on whether the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products should move forward as scheduled or be delayed. Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that […]
Puerto Rico Governor Signs Psychedelics Executive Order
“We are moving toward making Puerto Rico a leader in clinical research and opening new opportunities for our patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, and veterans.” By Jack Gorsline, Psychedelic State(s) of America In a significant move aimed at overhauling Puerto Rico’s approach to severe mental health and substance use disorders, Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón (R) signed an […]