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Quitting the nightly wine habit is such a tough shift, so congrats on sticking with it! I've found the real trick is having something else to wind down with in the evening — sometimes it's herbal tea, sometimes it's just keeping my hands busy with a casual game. Lately I like to play Wacky Steps online before bed instead of pouring a glass. Drinkable CBD is an interesting route too, glad it's been working for you.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) wants to know whether medical marijuana businesses seeking federal protections in line with the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process plan to order cannabis from other states, what types of products they offer and who their suppliers are. That’s according to a list of 26 questions obtained by Marijuana Moment that agency officials are sending to businesses in Colorado that have filled out a DEA registration form for medical marijuana dispensaries. Once cannabis operators submit the form, DEA personnel stop by to inspect their facilities and generally have a number of follow-up questions that businesses need to submit answers to. Cannabis industry sources say the way the agency has been carrying out the inspection process varies between DEA’s regional offices throughout the country, however. The 26-item questionnaire that Marijuana Moment obtained is being used by DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division, which covers Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming—though the latter state does not have legal medical cannabis. The questions on the form being sent to Colorado businesses include: Will you be ordering marijuana or marijuana products from other states? Will you be ordering synthetic cannabinoids? Will you be ordering marijuana seeds or plants in order to grow at the dispensary location? What are the specific types of products offered (e.g., gummies, extracts, concentrates, tinctures, topical products, oils, flower buds, oil cartridge vapes, dry herb vapes, pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes, etc.)? Please identify your medical marijuana supplier(s) to include name(s), address(es), and DEA registration number(s). Please provide a copy of any labeling, packaging, and sealing policies (refer to federal guidelines for medical marijuana packaging pursuant to Title 21 CFR § 1301.13(k)(8) which states that the label of all medical marijuana products shall, when dispensed to or for a patient, contain a clear, concise warning that it is a crime to transfer the drug to any person other than the patient). How is defective (e.g. mold, rot, bug infestation), expired, or discontinued/deadstock marijuana products disposed of? In June, Mississippi medical cannabis businesses spoke to Marijuana Moment about being visited by DEA officials, who told them they were among the first in the country to be seen for inspection under the registration process. The Mississippi businesses said DEA wanted similar questions answered, though there was not complete overlap with the Rocky Mountain list. For example, officials from DEA’s New Orleans division, which covers Mississippi, wanted information about any previous license transfers, state regulatory disciplinary history and security plans. While those items don’t appear specifically on the form being sent to Colorado businesses, it’s possible that agents are gathering that information in other ways, such as during their in-person visits. DEA’s press office did not respond to a request for comment from Marijuana Moment about why the agency has not standardized the process of handling medical marijuana business registration under rescheduling from region to region. The agency launched its initial registration form for dispensaries in April, days after Attorney General Blanche issued an order immediately moving marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to Schedule III, along with marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A DEA hearing that recently concluded testimony is considering broader marijuana rescheduling. Meanwhile, the agency said it plans to launch new forms for additional types of state-licensed medical marijuana businesses beyond dispensaries, such as manufacturers, distributors and laboratories. The currently available registration form for state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries asks for information about their processes for storage, ordering, dispensing, inventory, maintenance of records and other aspects of their businesses. The application asks about specific details about security measures such as vaults, safes, secure storage rooms, access controls, alarm systems and on-site security personnel. Applicants can choose whether they are requesting to handle marijuana, marijuana extracts or naturally derived delta-9 THC. While only medical marijuana is currently being moved to Schedule III, the application also asks potential registrants whether their firms handle or dispense recreational marijuana. The DEA application also asks businesses to submit information about their state cannabis licenses and to answer questions about criminal and disciplinary histories. It also asks: “Has anyone who will be involved in the ownership or operation of the firm previously manufactured, distributed, and/or dispensed any controlled substance without a DEA registration authorizing such activity?” Presumably, every currently operational state-legal cannabis business has key personnel who have done so, since medical marijuana was, until recently, a Schedule I controlled substance that DEA did not broadly authorize manufacturing, distribution and dispensation of. Applicants must additionally list suppliers from which they intend to procure marijuana, and to disclose whether they anticipate repackaging or relabeling cannabis products. They also need to provide lists of individuals with the business that are anticipated to have “access to controlled substances,” including their dates of birth, social security numbers, criminal histories related to drugs. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said they plan to issue new tax guidance for the marijuana industry following the rescheduling announcement. Rescheduling will benefit state-licensed marijuana businesses by allowing them to take federal tax deductions they’re currently barred from under an IRS code known as 280E that doesn’t apply to Schedule III substances. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also recently posted a draft update to gun purchase form to acknowledge the federally legal status of medical marijuana under rescheduling. The Congressional Research Service published a report on the marijuana rescheduling move’s scope and limitations. Read the DEA’s list of questions for marijuana businesses below: The post DEA Has A List Of Questions For Marijuana Businesses That Register For Federal Rescheduling Protections appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Study: Medical marijuana for older adults; Marijuana rescheduling & business acquisition op-ed; MO hemp lawsuit; NM psilocybin apps Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. Have you thought about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming months and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count on. Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) pardoned more people for past marijuana convictions—adding to the thousands of such acts of cannabis clemency he has previously granted. “Not everyone earns the privilege of a second chance. But you have demonstrated that you deserve one.” A new study of people over the age of 65 who used medical cannabis found that “pain, insomnia, and mood or behavioral symptoms decreased significantly”—with “consistently low documented clinically effective doses.” “Symptom severity decreased significantly across the three main symptom domains, with improvement in approximately 90% of patients.” Christopher B. Lynch of Dickinson Wright PLLC argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that federal rescheduling “is drawing interest from pharmaceutical, agricultural and consumer products companies” and that “well-positioned operators are already using this window to plan restructurings, seek new partners, acquire distressed assets and target new markets.” Florida Democrats are seizing on a grand jury report that found Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) administration “misappropriated” $10 million in Medicare funds for “political activities”—including opposing a marijuana legalization ballot initiative. Missouri officials and hemp businesses filed dueling briefs in a federal lawsuit from the industry that says the state’s new THC product restrictions are “unconstitutionally vague.” The New Mexico Department of Health is now accepting applications for medical psilocybin producer permits as regulators move to launch the program earlier than anticipated. Alabama’s second medical cannabis dispensary opened—about three months after sales launched at the first store, and five years after lawmakers passed legislation to legalize patient access. / FEDERAL The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health published a report on cannabis industry worker safety. Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) said he expects the House of Representatives to “iron out” some “sticking points” with a Senate-passed funding bill, “particularly the hemp issue.” The House bill to delay the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products got two new cosponsors for a total of 40. / STATES A Texas judge held a hearing on a request for a temporary restraining order to block hemp product restrictions. California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to incomplete and incorrect regulatory compliance testing. Illinois regulators clarified that there is no limit on the number of seeds that medical cannabis patients can purchase or possess. Maine regulators published guidance about outdoor medical cannabis cultivation. The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority Board of Directors will meet on September 9. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / INTERNATIONAL St. Maarten lawmakers rejected a motion to release documents related to the government’s agreement with a firm helping to craft cannabis policies. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “Cannabis sativa crude extracts possess localised, low-potency inhibitory effects against MRSA.” A study of shelter-housed dogs with stress-related behaviors treated with CBD and CBDA found “increased resting, reduced locomotion and postural transitions, and fewer dogs displaying repetitive locomotion,” suggesting “a specific calming effect, potentially reflecting reduced nocturnal vigilance and reactivity, rather than generalized sedation.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The New York Post editorial board criticized legislation to create a Cannabis Wage Board. / BUSINESS Glass House Brands Inc. rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Canadian retailers sold C$517.8 million worth of legal marijuana products in June. / CULTURE Tennis player Katie Boulter complained about the smell of marijuana at the U.S. Open. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: The post Colorado governor issues more cannabis pardons (Newsletter: August 31, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“The state is working really hard to operationalize this program as quickly as possible. People are suffering and they want to address that suffering.” By Leah Romero, Source NM New Mexico’s Medical Psilocybin Program recently opened up applications for producers of the psychedelic mushroom, marking a significant step toward the therapeutic program becoming fully operational. “We’re no longer talking about a piece of legislation and some rulemaking. This is real, this is happening and it’s being operationalized right now,” Santa Fe-based psychedelic attorney Victoria Cvitanovic told Source NM. The program was created last year with the signing of Senate Bill 219, which created the medical psilocybin program, an advisory board and legalized use of the psychedelic in controlled, therapeutic settings. Qualifying conditions currently include major treatment-resistant depression, post traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders and end-of-life care. The New Mexico Department of Health Center for Medical Cannabis and Psilocybin began accepting applications last week from potential producers to grow the mushrooms for future program participants. Cvitanovic told Source that the application is intended to ensure the psilocybin “produced for this program in New Mexico is both safe and medically beneficial for patients, as well as that this doesn’t cause safety issues for people in New Mexico generally.” According to the permit requirements, applicants must provide a state business license; proof of registration with the New Mexico Secretary of State and the Taxation and Revenue Department; facility safety documents; proof of ownership of the facility or a signed statement from the landowner; proof of compliance with city and county zoning requirements; and verification that psilocybin products will only be produced and tested in New Mexico. “I think it’s notable that the application balances both the safety of the patients who will be receiving the end product and the safety of people who may live in areas of the state where someone is granted a license to produce psilocybin,” Cvitanovic said. “These applications are open to anyone, but they are fairly extensive because of the high stakes of producing a controlled substance, specifically for very limited medical use.” She said she believes that most applicants will have an agricultural and entrepreneurial background, but likely only a small number of “highly qualified” applications will meet the requirements. A DOH spokesperson told Source NM in an email that there is currently no deadline for applications and that they will be reviewed in order of submission. Cvitanovic said she recommends those considering applying to be a producer confer with a lawyer and accountant and get documentation together to submit the most complete and compliant application as possible. However, they should also consider whether their plans are operational if a permit is granted. SB219 set a deadline of December 31, 2027 for the psilocybin program to be implemented; however, the state committed to expediting the timeline by a year, aiming to open the program to its first patients by the end of 2026. “The state is working really hard to operationalize this program as quickly as possible,” Cvitanovic said. “People are suffering and they want to address that suffering.” She added that the program’s rulemaking process is not complete and more permit applications will open up down the line for testing and for qualified clinicians. A “buildout and inspection period” will also likely follow before treatment begins with patients. She encouraged people interested in participating in the program to speak with their behavioral health providers about becoming certified to facilitate the treatment. “Programs like this are only as strong as the clinicians and therapists and other people who choose to participate in them. This is hard work, and it is not risk free, but it has the ability to change the lives of thousands of New Mexicans who are suffering,” Cvitanovic said. This story was first published by Source NM. Photo courtesy of Alan Rockefeller. The post New Mexico Launches Medical Psilocybin Producer Permit Applications appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Plaintiffs argue in the lawsuit that the result is “a single product is simultaneously legal ‘hemp’ and illegal ‘marijuana.’” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent A federal judge is being asked to decide whether Missouri’s new law banning intoxicating hemp products is clear enough to enforce in November or so contradictory that a constitutional challenge to it should move forward. At the center of the dispute is the question of whether Missouri calls a product legal “hemp” in one part of state law and illegal “marijuana” in another. The plaintiffs, led by the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, said in a filing this week that the state has created overlapping definitions, leaving businesses unsure what they can legally sell when the law goes into effect on November 12. They argue the case over House Bill 2641 deserves to be heard in court. “Most judges would read [House Bill 2641] and go, ‘What is going on here?’” said Chuck Hatfield, attorney for the plaintiffs. “‘This seems like something we need to at least dig into and figure out.’ And that’s what our clients want is a day in court.” The state says there’s no contradiction because the law specifically outlines which category controls: if it meets the definition of a hemp-derived cannabinoid product, it’s treated as marijuana. The state asked Judge M. Douglas Harpool of the U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri to dismiss the lawsuit earlier this month. The state argues the case is part of a growing nationwide effort by the hemp industry to overturn similar state laws. “The industry’s playbook is well established,” the motion to dismiss states, citing other federal cases where the challenges against other state legislation regulating intoxicating hemp have failed. Plaintiffs hit back in their response this week, saying that Missouri’s law is different from the other states cited. These products will be considered marijuana in Missouri under the new law, they argue, and that’s where the legislation gets “unconstitutionally vague.” The federal law distinguishing marijuana and hemp has brought intense debate both in the legislature and courts nationwide since Congress legalized hemp in 2018. For Missouri, the lawsuit is the latest episode in a long saga to regulate intoxicating hemp products that, in previous years, has ended with lawmakers throwing their hands up in frustration. When Congress legalized hemp in 2018, it opened a door for intoxicating products like hemp-derived THC beverages that are now found in grocery stores and bars throughout the state. Congress closed that loophole in November by passing a federal ban that’s set to go into effect November 12. Missouri lawmakers said they intended to mirror that language by a law passed this spring. However, plaintiffs argue in the lawsuit that the result is “a single product is simultaneously legal ‘hemp’ and illegal ‘marijuana.’” The state argues in its motion to dismiss that it prevented this scenario because it “enacted provisions to guard against confusion.” “In other words, to the extent that a hemp-derived cannabinoid meets the statute’s definition of ‘hemp’ and is not included in any of the statute’s exclusions from ‘hemp,’ then the product is not a ‘hemp-derived cannabinoid product’ for purposes of HB 2641’s central mandate,” according to the state’s motion. “It is that simple.” The bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Dave Hinman of O’Fallon, will prohibit hemp products from containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container, which is among the limits included in a provision in the federal spending bill Congress approved last year. Even if Congress reverses course and decides to allow the sale of these products, Hinman’s bill would only permit them to be sold in Missouri’s licensed marijuana dispensaries. And if Congress chooses to delay the ban, Missouri would still ban all products, except for intoxicating beverages. However, plaintiffs argue beverages are not specifically stated as being exempt. The law lists types of products that would go into effect if there was a delay, which includes “any solid candy, gummy, chewable product, tablet, capsule, oil, baked good, or other solid edible.” It also includes products “that can be smokable or vapeable in the form of raw plant material, flower, or bud material and that contain any amount of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid.” Beverages are thought to be allowed because they aren’t on the list of things that would go into effect. However, critics have said other products might be unintentionally exempt because they are not listed here, not just beverages, and the law just creates another loophole. Plaintiffs point to the carve-out clause as further reason the law is “difficult to parse.” This list has become a bigger focus because Congress is currently considering delaying the federal ban. Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate approved a measure to fund federal agencies until December 11, and it includes delaying the federal ban on intoxicating hemp THC products until that date. It now goes back to the U.S. House for final approval before heading to the president’s desk. This story was first published by Missouri Independent. The post Missouri Officials Defend Hemp Product Ban From Industry Lawsuit In Federal Court appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Having more dispensary locations throughout the state is vital for patient access and affordability.” By Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector Alabama’s second medical cannabis dispensary opened Friday in Talladega about three months after the first storefront opened in Montgomery. The dispensary is the second location of Callie’s Apothecary, the first medical cannabis dispensary to open in the state. Once the the first round of licensees get up and running, there will be 12 dispensaries across the state between four companies. “The opening of medical cannabis dispensaries is a milestone for Alabama’s medical cannabis program,” said Sam Blakemore, chair of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), in a statement. “Having more dispensary locations throughout the state is vital for patient access and affordability.” Vince Schilleci, owner of Callie’s Apothecary, said in a phone interview Thursday that the Talledega location will ease the travel burden for patients in the northern half of the state until more dispensaries open. “Hopefully it’ll help patients that have been on the fence of whether or not they wanted to try this, but didn’t want to drive to Montgomery. Perhaps it’s a little bit closer for them now,” he said. “We’re just happy to now have multiple locations in the state to make it a little bit easier for those patients that are having to travel.” The Montgomery location opened in June, five years after the Legislature approved a medical cannabis program and after several rounds of litigation over the state program, particularly in the granting of licenses. The store reported doing about $15,000 worth of sales in its first week of operation. According to the release, over 800 patients have made more than 1,300 transactions at the Montgomery location. Three of the companies, CCS of Alabama, LLC, GP6 Wellness, LLC and RJK Holdings, LLC, have licenses. A fourth license is pending litigation, but is likely to go to Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries, LLC. According to the statement, GP6 Wellness expects to open BamaBloom dispensaries in Athens and Birmingham in September. A third location is planned for Etowah County. CCS of Alabama expects to open its third Callie’s Apothecary location in Bessemer in September. RJK Holdings has locations planned in Oxford, Mobile, and Daphne, according to the statement. The Alabama medical cannabis law, enacted in 2021, allows registered physicians to recommend cannabis for about 15 medical conditions, including cancer, depression, Parkinson’s Disease, PTSD, sickle-cell anemia, chronic pain and terminal diseases. People who suffer from the qualifying conditions must get approval from their physician and enter the patient registry in order to buy products at a dispensary. The approved product forms are restricted to tablets, tinctures, patches, oils and gel cubes (only peach flavor), with raw plant material and smokable forms remaining prohibited. “Alabama law tightly regulates businesses in the medical cannabis industry and rightfully so,” said AMCC Director John McMillan in a statement. “Because of this, opening a dispensary is not an overnight process, but we appreciate the diligence of each of the licensees in moving forward with their plans to open first-class dispensaries across the state.” At the program’s full capacity, there will be at least 37 dispensaries across the state, McMillan said. This story was first published by Alabama Reflector. The post Alabama’s Second Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“The practical question isn’t whether this is something to celebrate, it’s whether your business is positioned to be a consolidator, an attractive acquisition target or something different.” By Christopher B. Lynch, Dickinson Wright PLLC There are a lot of rumors and misinformation out there about what the April 23 federal marijuana rescheduling order means. Some will tell you a story about legalization finally arriving. Others will tell you that not much is changing. But if you look closely, there’s another interesting story emerging: one of careful planning, swift action and targeted consolidation. Since Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche moved Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and state-licensed medical marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, the businesses that I think are best positioned to take advantage of rescheduling aren’t popping champagne—they’re positioning themselves to take advantage of new first-mover opportunities. That, more than any headline about “federal legalization,” is the real story of rescheduling’s first year: not a national market opening overnight, but a faster, harder sorting of who survives in the one we already have. NewLake Capital Partners CEO Anthony Coniglio put it well: “Each year brings predictions of a major M&A wave in cannabis. And so far, each year has mostly delivered tuck-in deals rather than transformative consolidation.” We’re seeing deals that are smaller, more frequent and often faster with less diligence. Two months after Blanche’s order, the Department of Justice opened an expedited administrative hearing to consider rescheduling marijuana in full, including adult-use. That hearing has now concluded, and a recommendation could come at any time. But for license holders and investors making decisions today, the more immediate question isn’t when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and DOJ finish the bigger rulemaking. It’s whether their business is built to be an acquirer, an acquisition target or neither, in a race that’s already started. What the order actually does The April order reclassified medical marijuana that is FDA-approved or state-licensed, moving it out of Schedule I—reserved for drugs deemed to have no accepted medical use —and into Schedule III, the category for substances with accepted medical use and an abuse potential lower than Schedule I or II drugs. Blanche limited the order to medical products, citing U.S. international drug treaty obligations as the reason adult-use marijuana stayed on Schedule I. Licensed operators got a 60-day window to opt into a priority DEA registration pathway. Many took advantage of that pathway, and we’re seeing some of the results: in June, Trulieve restructured to separate its 206 DEA-registered medical dispensaries from its adult-use business and became the first U.S. cannabis company to list on the New York Stock Exchange proof that registration can be a path to markets and resources this industry has been shut out of for a decade. Tax relief under Section 280E—which prevents deductions for operations that sell Schedule I and II drugs—is the clearest near-term benefit of registration, but there are arguments for federal trademark protection and other prospective benefits. Where the broader rescheduling case stands today The bigger question of full rescheduling was the subject of DOJ’s separate administrative hearing, which ran from June 29 through July 15. Final briefs were filed August 19, and Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek C. Julius is now finalizing the record ahead of a recommendation. That recommendation won’t be law; it goes to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, who, together with Blanche, will decide whether to issue a final rule. There’s no statutory deadline to rely on, so there could be an update next week or next year—and that’s assuming none of the legal challenges cause further delay. What began as a single petition challenging the rescheduling move by Smart Approaches to Marijuana has become three consolidated lawsuits in the D.C. Circuit, plus a coalition of doctors, activists and the attorneys general of Indiana and Nebraska (Louisiana has since withdrawn). And if you need proof that of the value of the opportunities that rescheduling can bring, just look to the claims by MMJ International Holdings, which argues it now faces competitors reaching Schedule III for free after it spent years (and significant capital) pursuing FDA approval the traditional way to get a market advantage. The plaintiffs in the consolidated lawsuits have asked the court to stay the order while the case proceeds. The DOJ opposed that, and plaintiffs filed their reply on July 17. Two operators, MedPharm Iowa and Tri-Mountain Pure, have since moved to intervene in defense of the order. A ruling granting a stay could freeze DEA registrations and potentially suspend benefits that operators are banking on. Why “rescheduled” doesn’t necessarily mean “legalized” If you operate under a state medical marijuana license, hold dual medical and adult-use authorizations or are evaluating an investment in this industry, treat this moment as the start of a compliance project, not the arrival of a legalized market—we still have many more questions than answers. State law compounds this, since no two states built their systems alike. The right strategy in Maryland may be wrong in Michigan or Washington, and the ground could shift again fast if the D.C. Circuit grants a stay, or if the ALJ’s recommendation or the eventual final rule reshapes the framework. Some states could tie state licensure to DEA registration—Oklahoma already has, telling license holders to get DEA registration or risk losing their state permits next year. Layer on top of all that new DEA regulation of license holders, which could mean on-demand facility access and inspection authority, DEA security requirements, mandatory disclosure of employees’ Social Security numbers and potential exposure for co-located medical and adult-use businesses. This industry could look very different twelve months from now. Striving for pole position Rescheduling alone isn’t going to turn leaden cannabis equities into gold overnight, and I don’t think institutional capital is going to dive into the market immediately—that still requires congressional legislation such as the SAFER Banking Act and operators with the earnings and balance sheets to earn institutional trust. But in the meantime, rescheduling is drawing interest from pharmaceutical, agricultural and consumer products companies that stayed on the sidelines while marijuana sat on Schedule I and well-positioned operators are already using this window to plan restructurings, seek new partners, acquire distressed assets and target new markets. This is a genuinely significant moment in the fifty-year history of federal cannabis policy, and one that I think will reward careful, jurisdiction-specific planning and analysis. The practical question isn’t whether this is something to celebrate, it’s whether your business is positioned to be a consolidator, an attractive acquisition target or something different, and the race for pole position is already underway. As the smoke clears on rescheduling, start preparing now to take advantage of the opportunity. Christopher B. Lynch is a Member in Dickinson Wright PLLC’s Seattle office, where he practices in the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Cannabis Law groups. Photo by Kyle Jaeger. The post Federal Rescheduling Sets The Stage For Marijuana Business Acquisitions As Pharma And Ag Firms Eye Industry (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Medical marijuana helps 91 percent of older adults improve their pain, insomnia and mood or behavioral symptoms, a new study has found. The research involved 124 people over the age of 65 who received medical cannabis from a specialized practice in Colombia and whose symptoms were measured at baseline, 44 of whom had a follow-up visit after three months. Most of the participants had not previously used marijuana, and the most frequent diagnoses they presented with were pain-related and musculoskeletal disorders, cancer and neurodegenerative and non-degenerative neurological disorders—with their top therapeutic objectives being relief of pain, mood/behavioral issues, insomnia and motor symptoms. Patients’ symptoms were recorded by treating physicians and then coded by researchers on a four-point scale (0 = absent, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe), “classified according to its documented impact on patients’ autonomy, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and participation in meaningful daily activities,” the paper said. “Symptom severity decreased significantly across the three main symptom domains, with improvement in approximately 90% of patients.” Symptom improvement was defined as a reduction of at least one point in severity relative to baseline, and 91 percent of participants met that threshold, the study, which has not yet been published in a journal and has been made available as a preprint, found. “The first documented improvement occurred at visit 2 in 67.7% of patients with pain, 65.4% of those with insomnia, and 73.9% of those with mood or behavioral symptoms, with median times to first improvement of three, two, and one month, respectively,” the researchers wrote. “Symptom evolution between baseline and the last available follow-up visit demonstrated a consistent reduction in symptom severity across the three most prevalent clinical domains. Median severity scores for pain, insomnia, and mood or behavioral symptoms decreased significantly from baseline to the last available assessment, and no patient showed worsening of symptom severity.” Analyses also showed that there were “strong effect sizes” for descriptive improvements in digestive and motor symptoms, appetite, well-being and physical strength—though those were not statistically significant. There was a “significant progressive decline in symptom severity over successive follow-up visits for pain, insomnia, and mood or behavioral symptoms.” While total resolution of symptoms was uncommon, a small numbers of patients with pain, insomnia and mood/behavioral issues did report complete relief. Notably, the researchers said that the clinically effective doses of cannabis, which was most commonly administered in oral oil-based formulations, was “low”—typically using just a few milligrams per day of THC, CBD and/or CBG. The study, which received funding from the European Union, also measured patients’ ongoing use of other medications after starting cannabis, finding that while the “overall medication burden remained stable,” there were dose reductions or discontinuations of concomitant medications in a quarter of the patients. Overall, there was a “favorable longitudinal evolution of the three most prevalent symptom domains—pain, insomnia, and mood or behavioral symptoms—during routine treatment with supervised medical cannabis,” the paper said. “Symptom intensity decreased from predominantly moderate to mild levels, and most patients experienced at least a one-point reduction in the severity of their principal symptom during follow-up. Longitudinal analyses further showed progressive improvement across successive follow-up visits, suggesting that these changes reflected a sustained clinical trajectory rather than an isolated difference between baseline and the final assessment.” “In this retrospective real-world study, older adults receiving supervised medical cannabis experienced favorable symptom evolution during follow-up, while treatment showed a clinically acceptable safety profile and was characterized by consistently low documented clinically effective doses,” the researchers concluded. The findings, they said, “add to the growing evidence that cannabis may represent a therapeutic option for selected older adults under specialist supervision.” The researchers cautioned that the observational nature of the study means that causality cannot be inferred, though they do plan to follow up with larger cohorts of patients in Colombia, Argentina and Chile, which they said will “improve statistical power, increase the diversity of clinical practice settings, and allow more robust evaluation of treatment patterns, effectiveness, and safety across different healthcare contexts.” A separate recent federally funded study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) found that “older adults are increasingly turning to cannabis for symptom management”—with many motivated to try marijuana “as an alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals due to concerns about adverse effects.” “As cannabis legalization becomes more widespread, older adults are increasingly turning to it not just for recreational use, but to manage symptoms associated with aging, including pain, sleep disturbances, and mental health concerns,” that research found. AMA separately adopted a resolution this year that recognizes both the risks and potential therapeutic benefits of marijuana use among older adults. Photo courtesy of Max Pixel. The post Medical Cannabis Reduces Pain, Insomnia Or Mood Issues In 91% Of Older Adults, Study Finds appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“The scheme defunded healthcare services for poor children to instead advance the political agenda of Gov. Ron DeSantis.” By Christine Sexton, Florida Phoenix Florida Democrats went on the offensive Thursday against Republican leaders after the release of a blistering statewide grand jury report that found $10 million in Medicaid funds were “misappropriated” and wound up being used for “political activities.” That report—obtained by CBS Miami and posted on its website—did not result in anyone getting charged but blasted several top state officials, including Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) and Jason Weida, now chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). The report also says U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL), the former state attorney general, knew about the $10 million transfer of Medicaid funds from a $67 million drug overpricing settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation. The foundation “quickly funneled” the money to two non-profit groups that wound up directing some of the money to a campaign against an effort to legalize recreational marijuana. The probe originated after the Republican-controlled House held hearings in the spring of 2025 amid speculation that First Lady Casey DeSantis—who started the Hope Florida initiative—might run for governor. Rep. Alex Andrade, a Pensacola Republican, turned over information to the Tallahassee prosecutor that became the catalyst for the grand jury investigation. Andrade told the Florida Phoenix Thursday it would be “inappropriate” to discuss the grand jury report. Democrats say the 19-page grand jury report shows that top Republicans knowingly flouted Florida law by diverting the money paid by Centene Corp., a managed care company, from state coffers to political action committees Uthmeier controlled. Democrats want voters to keep that in mind when they head to the polls in November. “This is blatant corruption,” Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried told reporters Thursday during a media availability. Joining her were Democratic U.S. senatorial candidate Angie Nixon and Jose Javier Rodriquez, the Democrat running for attorney general. “And for 30 years, Republicans have controlled this state, and somewhere along the way, they started acting like taxpayer money was theirs to spend, state government was theirs to exploit, and nobody had the right to question them,” Fried said. “Authoritarianism can look like leaders abusing government power, evading accountability, and treating public institutions like their own,” she said. “That’s exactly the warning signs we are seeing here.” Meanwhile, Uthmeier and his former boss, DeSantis, meanwhile, played down the findings as they focused their remarks on the release of the report, which has been sealed for months, to a South Florida CBS News affiliate. (Uthmeier had been DeSantis’s chief of staff and ran the anti-amendment campaign.) The station reported the grand jury’s findings and made the document available for the public to read. Appearing in Lake City, the governor said the only apparent crime was committed by “whoever leaked the grand jury report,” and warned there would be “consequences for that in a variety of ways.” He insisted the entire investigation was designed to “smear” his wife. DeSantis said he’d “reviewed” the $10 million transfer amid the controversy and that “it was legally sound. It was appropriate and it was consistent with the state’s mission. And that was true then and it’s true now.” Appearing during his own press conference in The Villages, Uthmeier called the investigation a “politically motivated witch hunt driven by Democrats and a far-left Democrat state attorney in Tallahassee.” “Here’s what I’ll say: Nobody did anything wrong here. There was not even probable cause to move forward. This is a hoax, and all it did was show that the Democrats can’t win on policy, they can’t win on the law.” But Democrats, noting the Republican-controlled House of Representatives had launched the original legislative investigation into Hope Florida, insist this is a not partisan issue. They insist all voters will care about the grand jury’s 16 findings and that the allegedly illegal transfer of $10 million during the 2024 election cycle to help defeat a recreational marijuana constitutional amendment will play a role in the 2026 election cycle. ‘My opponent is a criminal’ “I’ve been traveling the state talking about how we’re going to return the Attorney General’s office to the people, refocus on priorities that are going to make people’s lives better, tackling crime, costs, and corruption,” Rodriguez said during the Democratic availability. “My opponent is a criminal. He’s a criminal who should resign. He should come clean and turn himself in.” A former Democratic state senator and attorney, Rodriguez said the grand jury found the money was misappropriated but had insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally. “Nobody will take responsibility for deciding the $10 million of taxpayer money would go to Hope Florida,” the grand jury report reads. “This decision was the original misappropriation, and no witness would take responsibility for making the decision or had any memory of who made it.” And because “virtually everyone involved is a lawyer and acted on the advice of other lawyers,” the grand jury concluded that fact would pose an “impediment to criminal prosecution.” Rodriguez, however, put the blame directly on Uthmeier. “James Uthmeier was the person with authority here. It was his [political] committee. He directed the money. He directed those involved. And you know, Floridians need leaders who are going to clean house in Tallahassee. To clean house means to break down that wall of silence, the conspiratorial corruption that we have in Tallahassee, that this grand jury report lays out,” Rodriquez said. Nixon called the diversion the” ultimate betrayal of working families.” “Think about this: Ashley Moody stole $10 million from children in Florida. Everyone involved in this, Ashley Moody included, should resign. They should resign. Enough is enough.” Nixon said she was going to file complaints against Uthmeier, Moody and Weida with the Florida Bar. She encouraged Florida voters to do the same. Moody on her X page issued a “clarifying” statement. There have been numerous reports that misrepresent the facts surrounding an AHCA settlement agreement that has been available to the public for two years. Understanding this is political season and there may be a tendency to misrepresent the facts, it is important to clarify… — Ashley Moody (@AshleyMoodyFL) August 27, 2026 Democratic gubernatorial hopeful David Jolly, meanwhile, released a statement saying the investigation into the transfer must be reopened. “The scheme defunded healthcare services for poor children to instead advance the political agenda of Gov. Ron DeSantis,” the Jolly camp said in a prepared release. “With key leaders in the scheme refusing to answer questions, and no one held accountable, the investigation must be reopened.” This story was first published by Florida Phoenix. Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Florida Dems Pounce On Grand Jury Finding That DeSantis Admin ‘Misappropriated’ Medicaid Funds To Fight Marijuana Legalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Colorado’s governor has issued additional pardons for past marijuana convictions, adding to the thousands of such acts of cannabis clemency he has granted to date. Gov. Jared Polis (D) on Wednesday pardoned 29 people—several of whom were sentenced for cannabis-related crimes. Jonathan Carey, for example, was convicted of possessing more than 8 ounces of marijuana in 2005. “Many people with criminal histories desire a second chance, and you have earned one,” the governor wrote in a letter to Carey. “Since your conviction you rededicated yourself to living as a good citizen. While incarcerated, you completed a bootcamp and were resentenced to six months. After your release, you worked hard to better yourself through education. You graduated cum laude from law school in 2016 and founded the COPA Legal Clinic to provide low cost legal services. Your friends and colleagues describe you as hard working, persistent, passionate, and diligent. I hope this pardon will create even more opportunities for you and allows you to obtain licensure to continue your legal career.” “Not everyone earns the privilege of a second chance. But you have demonstrated that you deserve one,” Polis said. “I hope you will make the most of this opportunity and treat your obligations seriously. It will require hard work and dedication to stay on the right path. But I have confidence you will move beyond these past mistakes and build a better life for yourself and your loved ones.” Scott Dillon pleaded guilty in 1999 of attempted possession of 8 ounces or more of cannabis. “You have worked hard to better yourself through higher education,” the governor wrote to Dillon. “You earned an associate degree in massage therapy, a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science, a master’s degree in health and sport science, and a doctoral degree in chiropractic medicine.” “You opened your own practice to focus on sports medicine where you serve professional athletes and patients with special needs. Your family and colleagues describe you as passionate, loving, and driven. I hope this pardon will create even more opportunities for you, such as allowing you to fully participate in your children’s lives and for your ease of international travel.” In 2006, Sabrina Flanagan pleaded guilty to possession of between 1 and 8 ounces of marijuana and possession of 1 gram or less of a controlled substance. “You currently work as a peer support specialist and help others who are recovering from challenges such as addiction, stress, and PTSD,” Polis wrote to her. “You also founded The Mersaides Project, which helps individuals seal their criminal records.” “Your friends and colleagues describe you as passionate, empathetic, and responsible. I hope this pardon will create even more opportunities for you, provides closure on this previous chapter of your life, and affirms the progress you have made in becoming an upstanding citizen of Colorado.” Ernest Flowers Jr. pleaded guilty in 1997 to possession more than 8 ounces of marijuana or concentrate. “You worked hard to better yourself through higher education, earning your bachelor’s degree in technical management,” Polis said. “You have also had a successful career as a senior IT analyst and given back to the community by volunteering with local foodbanks, leadership programs, and Colorado Springs Comic-Con.” “Additionally, you have honorably served your country in the Air Force, receiving the Air and Space Achievement Medal. I hope this pardon will create even more opportunities for you, acknowledge your rehabilitation, and removes any stigma from your previous conviction.” Derek Bilbrey pleaded guilty to possession of 1-8 ounces of marijuana in 2000. “You worked hard to earn your GED, finish aircraft mechanic school, serve your country in the Coast Guard, and then earned your commercial driver’s license,” the governor wrote. “Your family describes you as hard working, motivated, loving, and a model citizen. I hope this pardon will create even more opportunities for you, and allows for a fresh start and better career prospects.” Polis’s office said in a press release that he “continues to review all applications received before the April 3, 2026 deadline for clemency applications during his term.” Previously, in 2020 and 2021, Polis issued mass pardons for thousands of people with prior marijuana convictions. Last year, the governor announced a round of mass pardons for people with psilocybin-related convictions. The action came just weeks after he signed a bill into law empowering him and future governors to issue clemency for people who’ve committed psychedelics offenses. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — Shortly after signing the legislation that now allows him to grant the pardons, Polis said the reform represents another step “towards a fairer future.” He’s advocated for the policy change since the state legalized certain entheogenic substances in 2022. The post Colorado Governor Pardons More People For Marijuana Convictions appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

KY medical marijuana update; VA hemp biz want hearing on ban; Cannabis treatment referrals higher in illegal states Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has issued an order laying out the schedule for a lawsuit from anti-marijuana groups and a cannabis-focused biopharmaceutical corporation that seeks to block a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plan to cover hemp products for eligible patients. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) gave an update on the rollout of the state’s medical cannabis program, saying it is now “over the halfway mark” toward “becoming fully operational when it comes to dispensaries”—and touting marijuana as an alternative to “addictive opioids.” Virginia hemp businesses are calling on the legislature’s Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market to hold a hearing on newly enacted THC product restrictions to establish a “complete public record” on the “consequences” of the policy. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano explains in a Marijuana Moment op-ed how new federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration data shows that “cannabis-related drug treatment admissions are highest in jurisdictions where cannabis possession remains illegal and where marijuana-related arrests are most prevalent.” A new study on the impact of psychedelics decriminalization found that participants said it is “associated with reduced legal risk, improved safety and therapeutic access, and enhanced psychosocial wellbeing, with minimal reports of worsening conditions or widespread initiation of use, suggesting it functioned more as a harm-reduction and community-health strategy than as a permissive drug policy.” “Decriminalizing psychedelics represents a rational, evidence-informed recalibration of drug policy that prioritizes health, equity and safety.” / FEDERAL President Donald Trump issued a statement recognizing Overdose and Drug Poisoning Awareness Week. The Drug Enforcement Administration is moving to place three 7-OH-related compounds in Schedule I. Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) discussed his bill to regulate hemp THC drinks, saying, “we have so many people in southwest Ohio who poured a ton of money, no pun intended, into these businesses.” / STATES A Florida grand jury found that Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) administration “misappropriated” Medicaid settlement funds that were later used to campaign against a marijuana legalization ballot initiative. The North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis’s Public Safety Subcommittee held a hearing on marijuana-impaired driving. California generated $261.7 million in marijuana sales tax revenue in the second quarter of the year. Alabama regulators said the state’s second medical cannabis dispensary will open on Friday. Oklahoma medical cannabis regulators are hosting a series of community conversations across the state. The New York Cannabis Control Board will meet on Thursday. Maryland regulators will host a cannabis industry workforce development conference on October 10. — Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. — / INTERNATIONAL Jersey medical cannabis prescriptions increased by 35 percent over a year. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “CBD may have potential as an adjunct or alternative strategy in HER2-positive breast cancer.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Empire State Green Standard Alliance has a booth at the New York State Fair. / BUSINESS Lawyers for Curaleaf reportedly sent a journalist another letter that they said is both “on the record” but “not for publication.” Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: The post Fed lawsuit on Medicare CBD coverage advances (Newsletter: August 28, 2026) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The governor of Kentucky says that the state’s efforts to get medical cannabis dispensaries open is now past the “halfway mark” to becoming “fully operational.” Gov. Andy Beshear (D) noted at a press briefing on Thursday that he recently attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for a medical marijuana cultivation business, saying it is “just the latest example of how we’ve kept our promise to Kentuckians” to provide legal access to patients in need. The governor, who signed medical cannabis legalization legislation in 2023 that took effect at the beginning of last year, said he is “proud” that the state is “moving forward in every step of the process.” “So far, more than 25,209 Kentuckians have been approved for medical cannabis cards,” he said. “We now have over 490 practitioners registered to issue certifications. And we have 41 businesses up and running. That includes 11 cultivators, two safety compliance facilities, five processors and 23 dispensaries. Those numbers will continue to grow.” The increasing access to medical marijuana means that “more Kentuckians won’t have to turn to addictive opioids” and will be able to “deal with chronic conditions, will get the relief they deserve, will be able to to address the PTSD that they may have gotten while serving our country.” With the Blue Sage Dispensary planning to open in Lebanon on Friday, Beshear said, the state will be “over the halfway mark of Kentucky becoming fully operational when it comes to dispensaries.” “Medical cannabis is helping our people in need live fuller lives with less pain,” the governor said. “It is a win-win.” Beshear signed an executive order in June to broaden the list of health conditions that make patients eligible to legally obtain medical cannabis. But days later, House Majority Whip Jason Nemes (R) asked Attorney General Russell Coleman (R) to ensure that state agencies “not cooperate” with the governor’s marijuana directive, which he called “unlawful.” “Any organization, any licensee, that participates in this unlawful expansion should be prosecuted,” Nemes said during a legislative committee hearing. “This is not the way forward.” The governor pushed back, however, saying that the GOP lawmaker exhibited a “complete lack of humanity.” “It’s helping a lot of people, and I was really surprised to see an attack from one lawmaker who called on the attorney general to prosecute people dying of a terminal illness for securing medical cannabis,” Beshear said. “I mean, that’s a complete lack of humanity. It is really low. I mean, an individual with ALS, you want to prosecute? That is certainly not leadership, and even for that individual, is a new record low.” After the legislature declined to take him up on a suggestion to expand the qualifying condition list this session, the governor used his authority to make it so patients with 15 additional health disorders—including Parkinson’s disease, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell anemia, fibromyalgia, arthritis and glaucoma—can also be certified for medical marijuana access. Beshear also rescinded an earlier executive order he issued in 2022 through which he offered to provide pardons for any patients who got into trouble for possessing medical cannabis that they purchased at a legal dispensary in a neighboring state. The more recent executive order on qualifying conditions is a follow up to a medical marijuana legalization law Beshear signed in 2023. The state’s first medical cannabis dispensary opened in December of last year. The governor in February announced that cannabis gummies are available for purchase in the state’s licensed dispensaries. Beshear in January said he’s “not satisfied” with the time it’s taken to launch the state’s medical marijuana program—but that he anticipates the pace of patient access would “pick up significantly” in 2026. In recognition of the delayed implementation, he signed an executive order to waive renewal fees for patients who get their cards so that they don’t get charged again before retailers open. Beshear separately announced last year that the state had launched a new online directory that lets people see where medical cannabis dispensaries will be opening near them. He emphasized that the state has been working to deliver access to patients “at the earliest possible date,” and that involved expediting the licensing process. Last year, the governor also ceremonially awarded the commonwealth’s first medical marijuana cards. During the November 2024 election, Kentucky also saw more than 100 cities and counties approve local ordinances to allow medical cannabis businesses in their jurisdictions. The governor said the election results demonstrate that “the jury is no longer out” on the issue that is clearly supported by voters across partisan and geographical lines. Meanwhile, legislature’s Interim Joint Committee on Health Services held a hearing last month on a proposal to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in hospitals. The post Kentucky’s Medical Marijuana Program Is ‘Halfway’ To Becoming ‘Fully Operational,’ Governor Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“This study suggests a beneficial impact of psychedelic decriminalization on the people who use them.” By Jack Gorsline, Psychedelic State(s) of America A newly published community survey of individuals who use psychedelics suggests that local decriminalization efforts are overwhelmingly associated with perceived improvements in safety, therapeutic access and psychosocial wellbeing, directly countering historical fears that such policies might destabilize communities. The study, titled “Perceptions of Psychedelic Decriminalization: Findings from a Community Survey of People Who Use Psychedelics,” was authored by Daniel J. Kruger, Julie Barron and Larry Norris, and published in the peer-reviewed journal Social Sciences. It captures a snapshot of the “third psychedelic era,” a period defined by the revival of institutional research, massive pharmaceutical investment and a growing grassroots movement aimed at decriminalizing naturally occurring psychedelics at the municipal and state levels. “This research is one step toward better understanding what decriminalization looks like for the people and communities directly experiencing it—and whether the policies we are advocating for are actually helping create the positive community outcomes,” said Co-Author Julie Barron in an exclusive statement provided to Psychedelic State(s) of America about the findings of the study Surveying 163 individuals living in areas that have enacted decriminalization policies, including cities in California, Colorado and Michigan, the researchers’ survey concluded that the policy changes yielded largely positive outcomes for the community. “In decriminalized zones, most (84.0%) of 163 survey participants reported feeling improvements in one of the following areas because of decriminalization: legal risks, social acceptance, substance availability, substance safety, diversity of available products and overall substance quality,” the authors wrote in the study. In stark contrast to warnings from opponents of drug policy reform, the survey found that only 5.5 percent of participants reported worsened conditions in any of those categories. Furthermore, not a single participant reported that legal risks had worsened following decriminalization. “This study suggests a beneficial impact of psychedelic decriminalization on the people who use them.” The benefits extended deeply into the realm of therapeutic and mental health outcomes. Nearly 75 percent of respondents reported decriminalization-related improvements regarding psychedelic therapy, citing better social acceptance, availability and diversity of services. “Most public health headlines focus on the risks of psychedelics, but these findings show how decriminalization can benefit a community as well,” said Larry Norris, a co-author of the study and Co-Founder of Decriminalize Nature. “Some clinical practitioners and legalization lobbyists write off decriminalization as the ‘wild west,’ or ‘not viable’ as if it’s a competition,” Norris added. “That attitude attempts to disempower community based healing and forces a cost-prohibitive gatekeeper mentality.” “Despite their best efforts to muddy the waters, decriminalization is not a competitor with psychedelic assisted psychotherapy,” he said. Beyond access to the substances themselves, decriminalization appears to have a profound ripple effect on daily life. Following the implementation of decriminalization policies, 72.4 percent of participants reported improvements in overarching life conditions. Specifically, about half of the respondents reported improvements in stress, anxiety, worry and connection to their community. More than a third reported improvements in depressive symptoms, family relationships and other interpersonal relationships. About a quarter cited better physical health and working conditions, while one in five reported improvements related to addiction and financial status. Only 2.5 percent of participants reported declines in any category of life conditions. Notably, more than 27 percent of participants reported that they had either stopped taking or reduced their use of traditional pharmaceutical medications due to psychedelic decriminalization. The researchers identified social acceptance as one of the most pronounced and consistent areas of change, noting its critical role in overall health and wellbeing. “The rapid growth of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings underscores the existence of a parallel trajectory of experimentation and knowledge production operating independently of formal clinical research,” the study authors observed, highlighting how grassroots and legacy communities have continued to steward psychedelic use outside of regulated medical frameworks. The survey also documented notable shifts in how individuals source their psychedelics. While sourcing from friends remained the most common method at approximately 54 percent, participants reported significant increases in purchasing from in-person retail dispensaries, growing or harvesting substances themselves, buying online and working with underground therapists or healthcare professionals. The authors cautioned, however, that currently operating psychedelic storefronts are generally not authorized under existing decriminalization policies, which typically do not permit commercial sales. Consequently, these unregulated markets introduce additional risks. Roughly one-fifth of participants reported being scammed when attempting to purchase psychedelic substances, though the majority of these incidents—53.5 percent—occurred prior to decriminalization. In qualitative responses, participants emphasized that decriminalization provided immense relief from legal anxiety. Many described feeling safer, more protected and less worried about arrest or employment consequences. This reduction in fear often translated into lower stress and a greater willingness to explore psychedelics for healing. However, not all feedback was entirely positive. A smaller subset of respondents expressed critical or ambivalent perspectives, raising concerns about the potential over-legislation and corporatization of psychedelics. These individuals voiced fears that pharmaceutical or corporate interests could dominate the emerging field, potentially marginalizing sacred, community-based practices and legacy healers. To address these equity concerns, many participants urged policymakers to center the voices of Indigenous communities, people of color and those most harmed by the historical “War on Drugs.” When asked for policy suggestions, respondents overwhelmingly supported expanding decriminalization and legalization, with many advocating for adult-use availability, home cultivation and retail access. They also emphasized the need for better quality control, third-party drug checking, clear labeling, and expanded access to guided psychedelic-assisted therapy. The researchers acknowledged several limitations in their study. The data relied on self-reported perceptions and utilized a convenience sample that heavily represented individuals already connected to psychedelic communities. The demographic makeup was predominantly white (78.5 percent) and highly educated, with the vast majority of participants being frequent, experienced users of substances like psilocybin, cannabis, MDMA and LSD. Because of the cross-sectional design of the survey, the researchers noted that their methodology precludes definitive attributions of causality, and they called for longitudinal studies to assess how perceptions and outcomes change over time as policy models mature. “It was very difficult to find usable information about post-decriminalization areas,” said Barron—who is the founder of the Michigan Psychedelic Society. “Some information is available through Poison Control…but we were looking for something else.” “We had a hard time tracking emergency-room data and 911 calls for service” Barron continued, “because these incidents are not labeled specifically as psychedelic-related. They are generally categorized more broadly as drug-related or involving dangerous drugs.” “Until we have better systems in place for specifically labeling and tracking plant medicines and psychedelics,” Barron concluded, “we need to ask psychedelic users themselves about their experiences and have them report on what they were experiencing.” Despite these limitations, the authors concluded that their findings present a compelling case for rethinking drug laws. “Overall, the data suggests that decriminalization was perceived as being associated with reduced legal risk, improved safety and therapeutic access, and enhanced psychosocial wellbeing, with minimal reports of worsening conditions or widespread initiation of use, suggesting it functioned more as a harm-reduction and community-health strategy than as a permissive drug policy,” the researchers wrote. Ultimately, the study suggests that ending the threat of criminal penalties for personal possession and use is a critical step toward a healthier society. “Decriminalizing psychedelics represents a rational, evidence-informed recalibration of drug policy that prioritizes health, equity, and safety,” the study concluded. For leaders of legacy psychedelic institutions, like Ismail Ali, Co-Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), combatting cultural stigma surrounding psychedelics has long been a cornerstone priority as part of a multigenerational and multifaceted drug policy reform effort. In a statement provided exclusively to Psychedelic State(s) of America, Ali commented that, “the findings of this study reinforce how legal exposure shapes the entire environment around psychedelic use, separate from anything about the substances themselves… [and] shows how removing criminal penalties is essential to reduce social stigma, invite community education, and mitigate personal risk.” “However” Ali further noted, “this study also reveals the limitations of decriminalization as a policy solution—and make the case for it to be one of multiple approaches that complement one another.” “A comprehensive public health approach includes elements that go further than decriminalization can take us; safer supply, a well-resourced safety net, professional training, and accessible treatment infrastructure all require affirmative legal protection and investment,” Ali said. “All in all,” he concluded, “the findings of this study are consistent with what our movement has argued for years: reducing the criminal-legal exposure of psychedelic use changes people’s lives before a single policy ever touches quality control, insurance, or institutions.” This article was produced by Psychedelic State(s) of America—a nonprofit-sponsored news organization dedicated to rigorous independent psychedelic journalism. Subscribe to PSA online and Follow PSA on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X and Facebook. Learn more about PSA and donate to the PSA Media Fund here. Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype and Apollo. The post Decriminalizing Psychedelics Improves Safety And Wellbeing, Study Concludes appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A federal appeals court has laid out the schedule for a lawsuit brought by a coalition of anti-marijuana groups and a cannabis-focused biopharmaceutical corporation that are challenging the Trump administration’s initiative to cover up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products each year for eligible Medicare patients. In May, Judge Trevor N. McFadden dismissed the challenge to the program that’s implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that focuses largely on CBD but also allows a certain amount of THC in products. The opponents of the CBD Medicare effort then asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to reconsider the decision. On Wednesday, the appeals court issued an order setting the schedule for briefs in the case: Appellants’ Brief: October 5 Appellees’ Brief: November 4 Appellants’ Reply Brief: November 25 Deferred Appendix: December 2 Final Briefs: December 16 “All issues and arguments must be raised by appellants in the opening brief,” the order signed by Clifton B. Cislak, the court’s clerk, says. “The court ordinarily will not consider issues and arguments raised for the first time in the reply brief.” An attachment to the order notes that the case “may be set for oral argument,” with details to follow in a separate order if the court does schedule a hearing. McFadden, the lower court judge who first heard the case, ruled that prohibitionist groups and activists, led by Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), as well as a cannabis-focused biopharmaceutical corporation MMJ International Holdings and its subsidiaries, “have not established standing to bring this case.” “Each claims an injury too abstract or too remote to open the courtroom doors,” he said. “At the outset, the Court notes that it need not tackle the bulk of questions that Plaintiffs raise in their motions,” McFadden wrote. “That is because Plaintiffs’ case suffers from a fatal flaw: the failure to establish Article III standing to bring their claims. The Court addresses only this jurisdictional hole and will dismiss the entire suit and deny Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction as moot.” In April, lawyers for Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Director Mehmet Oz filed a brief arguing that the anti-cannabis organizations that filed the suit against the Medicare hemp coverage policy do not have standing to bring the case. “No organizational Plaintiff shows enough for an injury-in-fact,” McFadden said in his ruling. “All claim that they diverted resources in response to the BEI’s implementation, but none established that such resource diversion ‘interfered’ with its core activities or prevented it from ‘pursuing its true purpose.’” When it comes to the company MMJ and its subsidiaries, the judge said it is “not a direct and current competitor with anyone selling hemp to Medicare beneficiaries.” “In short, MMJ has no product on the Medicare-beneficiary market and no sense of when it may,” he said. Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ International Holdings, said in a press release on Thursday that “no court has ruled that CMS followed the law.” “A court ruled that we were not allowed to ask,” he said. “We were told we are not a competitor because we have no product on the market. We have no product on the market because we followed the federal process. That is the question we are putting to the D.C. Circuit.” Outside of the challenge to the CMS hemp program, SAM, MMJ and others filed separate lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule marijuana. Beyond the advocacy organizations, the hemp CMS case involves individual plaintiffs, including anti-marijuana lawyer David Evans, who claims he had standing to challenge the new Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Incentive (BEI) as a Medicare recipient—but the federal agencies reject that argument. “If Evans’s worst-case-scenario—his doctor recommends hemp to him—came true, Evans would lack a concrete harm,” McFadden wrote. “In sum, no matter the theory, Plaintiffs have failed to establish an Article III injury from the BEI’s implementation,” the judge said. “The use and regulation of hemp are important matters, and Plaintiffs understandably have strong views on these topics. But while they may not like the BEI, they have not been injured by it. The case will thus be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.” Previously, McFadden had rejected the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order to halt the program from launching on April 1. Notably, the government’s motion to dismiss the case says it was prepared in part by Matthew Zorn, a lawyer for HHS who before taking on the federal job led numerous cases suing government agencies on behalf of plaintiffs seeking marijuana and drug policy reform. The CMS initiative comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December calling on the attorney general to finalize a rule federally rescheduling marijuana, which is now underway, that also contained components to “improve access” to full-spectrum CBD products. Under the program, inhalable preparations are not allowed, and products can contain no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight and can have up to 3 milligrams of total THC per serving. The THC limit could potentially change if a law the president signed late last year takes effect as scheduled this November. That policy would strictly limit the types of cannabis products that are currently permitted under the 2018 Farm Bill that Trump signed in his first term, expressly prohibiting hemp derivatives containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. The White House has called on Congress to take action to amend the planned ban to maintain legal access to hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD products. Oz, the CMS director, recently pressed senators to support provisions to delay the effective date of the hemp product ban in order to provide more time to craft a regulatory structure as an alternative to prohibition. Keeping the ban on schedule “would undo significant gains that have been made to make clinically-appropriate full-spectrum hemp-derived CBD accessible to the senior citizens and individuals with disabilities that rely on the Medicare program for their healthcare,” Oz wrote in a letter. In a brief in the CMS hemp lawsuit, federal agencies noted that “CMS does not pay for hemp products under the BEI.” “The participating provider furnishes eligible products at its own cost, subject to the $500 annual cap per beneficiary. The BEI operates within the shared-savings framework that defines the underlying models. If a provider’s investment in beneficiary engagement reduces the beneficiary’s total cost of care, the provider and CMS share in the resulting savings. If it does not, the provider absorbs the loss. No new federal appropriation is involved. No new entitlement is created. The BEI is, at its core, a decision by willing providers that a particular intervention can reduce downstream claims.” A bipartisan group of members of Congress recently sent a letter to Trump and other federal officials pressing for guidance on whether medical cannabis would be covered by Medicare. Meanwhile, the White House Office of Management and Budget held a series of meetings this year about a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) CBD products enforcement policy. FDA also issued guidance making clear that it does not intend to interfere with implementation of the Medicare hemp-derived products coverage plan. CMS separately finalized a rule that will allow coverage of some hemp products as specialized, non-primarily health-related benefits through Medicare Advantage plans. Read the order on the briefing schedule for the lawsuit challenging the Medicare hemp program below: Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney. The post Federal Appeals Court Sets Schedule For Lawsuit Challenging Medicare Hemp Coverage Program appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net