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NJ Psychedelic Therapy Association (NJPTA) founder Denise Rue gave her perspective on the psilocybin shrooms research bill to Rutgers University New Brunswick student group RU Psyched. The NJ Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Therapy Pilot Program She explained that the Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Therapy Pilot Program was signed into law by former Governor [ . . . ] Source: NJ Psychedelic Expert Addresses Rutgers New Brunswick Student Group on Shrooms Legalization from Heady NJ

“What I experienced with ayahuasca was not an escape from grief, but a direct engagement with it . . . It was a fundamentally different process than the one I had relied on throughout my career-not control or suppression, but forgiveness, surrender and understanding.” By: Kemmi Sadler, Law Enforcement Action Partnership Life has an interesting way of opening your eyes-and your mind. Over the course of my law enforcement career, I built my identity around evidence, discipline and control. And to my surprise, it was that mindset that ultimately led me to reconsider everything I thought I knew about . . .

The Northeast cannabis market continues to mature and evolve, making industry connectivity more critical than ever. Serving as the annual epicenter for the region’s cannabis professionals, the New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN) Boston returns to the Hynes Convention Center on April 24 and 25. Since its inception in 2015, NECANN Boston has grown from a regional gathering into the undisputed must-attend B2B event for the East Coast cannabis sector. Having attended the conference last year, I can personally attest to the energy this convention provides for entrepreneurs, operators, and . . .

A bill that would allow California marijuana stores to offer drive-thru windows to serve customers is advancing in the state legislature. The measure, which cleared the Assembly Business and Professions Committee in a 17-2 vote on Tuesday, says that licensed cannabis retailers and microbusinesses with storefronts can sell marijuana products “to a customer in a motor vehicle in a drive-through located on the premises.” Under AB 2697 from Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D), cannabis businesses would need approval from the local jurisdictions in which they operate in order to add the drive-thru . . .

Virginia lawmakers on Wednesday voted to reject the governor’s amendments to legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales, risking a potential veto as the original proposal heads back to her desk for reconsideration. In a voice vote, the House of Delegates declined to consider Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D) suggested changes to the cannabis measure as part of a block with other legislation that the governor also proposed amendments to, effectively rejecting the suggestions. The Senate is expected to take similar action later in the day. Spanberger’s suggested changes to the cannabis . . .

The Trump administration is reportedly ready to move ahead with marijuana rescheduling. More than four months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the attorney general to expeditiously finish the process of moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the administration may be finally prepared to move forward. Citing an administration official familiar with the matter, Axios reported that action could come as soon as Wednesday. Marijuana Moment reached out to the White House press office for more details, but a . . .

New Jersey has long been known as the Garden State. Despite it being a felony, many are still exploring cannabis gardening and home grow trends. As cannabis culture continues to evolve across the Northeast, that nickname is taking on a whole new meaning. The commercial market in NJ is booming. There are over 250 licensed [ . . . ] Source: Garden State Cannabis Gardening: Navigating Home Grow Trends from Heady NJ

A new federal proposal, the Higher Education Marijuana Research Act, would create protections for academics and universities involved in studying cannabis and remove barriers to cannabis research. The bill was introduced on Monday, April 20, by two co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Dina Titus (D-NV). The proposal would require the DEA to report on the current number and status of cannabis research licenses and to establish an Office of University Relations to support university researchers in obtaining said licenses. Additionally, higher education . . .

The Connecticut House of Representatives voted 81-63 on Monday to approve a bill removing the state’s THC cap on cannabis flower and concentrates, CT Insider reports. The proposal would also increase the THC levels allowed in infused beverages, expand the state’s medical cannabis offerings, and allow registered cannabis patients who are visiting Connecticut to acquire products through state-licensed dispensaries. The bill also changes the word “marijuana” to “cannabis” in the state statutes. Republican lawmakers led a bipartisan effort to amend the bill to remove the provisions increasing . . .

Americans broadly favor legalizing marijuana for recreational or medical purposes, with support across party lines, according to a new poll. The YouGov survey from published on Monday found that 59 percent of U.S. adults want to legalize cannabis-including 75 percent of Democrats, 50 percent of Republicans and 54 percent of independents. When asked specifically about whether marijuana should be made legal for certain purposes, 55 percent said they back recreational use and 84 percent said they want to legalize medical cannabis. Democrats showed the strongest support for legalization across . . .

The conversation around cannabis is shifting away from dark corners and into the bright light of daily health and wellness lifestyle routines. People are looking at this plant as a way to find balance in a fast-paced world. It is no longer just about recreation. Instead, it’s about how it fits into a broader sense [ . . . ] Source: The Growing Role of Cannabis in Lifestyle and Wellness Conversations from Heady NJ

“What this means for Alabama is patients will be getting the much-needed medicine they need. We’ve had the program now for five years, [and] there’s been a crazy delay.” By Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector Nearly five years after the Alabama Legislature approved a medical cannabis program in the state, the weeks-long process of producing and testing products for patients has begun, setting up an early May availability for patients. Antoine Mordican, CEO of Native Black Cultivation, said in a phone interview Tuesday that he sent the first biomass, or cannabis flour, to Homestead Health, a . . .

“What this does is, it modernizes our cannabis and hemp laws to reflect today’s market realities.” By Emilia Otte, CT Mirror A bill revamping regulations around the cannabis market passed the House of Representatives Monday night after a debate over what some lawmakers saw as a loosening of important restrictions on cannabis sales, and what others saw as logical modifications to a system that was placing barriers in front of a growing market. “What this does is, it modernizes our cannabis and hemp laws to reflect today’s market realities,” said Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, during the . . .

A new congressional bill would provide $150 million in marijuana research funding for universities over five years, while allowing those institutions to obtain cannabis for studies through partnerships with state regulatory agencies and law enforcement. The legislation, introduced on Monday by Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who co-chair the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, is titled the Higher Education Marijuana Research Act. It would add universities and public entities to the list of marijuana manufacturer applicants that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) would need . . .

In a bid to reduce skewed test results and contamination fears, a Colorado bill would move oversight of cannabis testing labs from the Marijuana Enforcement Division to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The bill follows a report released by the CEO of edibles company Ripple which found labs in the state produce unreliable . . . Log in or become a WeedWeek Member to read this article. The post Newsbrief: Colo. bill takes aim at lab fraud appeared first on WeedWeek.

It’s been a minute since the man known as “The Natural” executed one of his trademark arm bars to choke out an opponent inside the UFC Octagon. More than a decade-and-a-half have passed since he submitted James Toney in the first round of their ballyhooed 2010 heavyweight bout. Yet, at 62 years old, Randy Couture might just be having his biggest impact yet-in the wellness industry, and particularly for military vets like himself. As so often is the case, it all started with a cannabis gummy. “This whole journey began with trying to solve sleep problems,” Couture says, warming to the idea of . . .

“Now we are stopped from continuing that process. But that does not mean we are stopped from figuring out the best path forward.” By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant Rhode Island’s Cannabis Control Commission on Friday held its first public meeting since a recent court ruling that temporarily paused the process of reviewing and awarding retail cannabis licenses. Commissioners and staff acknowledged applicants’ and cultivators’ frustration over the abrupt halt to the process that would award 20 new retail licenses as early as May. Commissioner Robert Jacquard said regulators had already . . .

The Vape Market Is Reshaping Itself. Here’s The 2026 U.S. Vape Report. Over the past year, the U.S. cannabis vape category hasn’t just grown, it has fundamentally reorganized. What used to be a relatively straightforward market defined by cartridges and distillate is now evolving into something far more segmented, more strategic, and more competitive. If you’re a brand, buyer, or operator, the takeaway is clear: the old playbook is no longer enough. Download the full 2026 US Vape Report here. A Category Splitting Into Two Speeds One of the most important shifts happening right now is . . .

A pair of Republican senators have filed a bill that would require the federal government to track the cost of hospitalization due to marijuana use. The new Marijuana Impact on Medicaid Act of 2026 from Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) would require the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to compile data on “Federal and State expenditures under the Medicaid program . . . that are attributable to costs incurred for providing medical assistance for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, and for services received at a hospital emergency . . .

“These findings ought to reassure lawmakers that cannabis access can be legally regulated in a manner that is safe, effective, and that does not inadvertently impact young people’s habits.” The post Minnesota: Far Fewer Young People Consuming Cannabis, Survey Finds appeared first on NORML.

Over the last several years, I have built a cannabis-focused media network with an audience of over 20 million followers across platforms, while also growing an e-commerce business that has processed over 125,000 orders and has become one of the most-reviewed shops in its category. Highlife Media was founded in Switzerland in 2016. After years of promoting clients in the cannabis industry, building audiences, testing content, and learning how restricted platforms behave in practice, my team and I entered e-commerce ourselves. In 2021 we launched our own online headshop called World of Bongs. . . .

Despite concerns from marijuana legalization opponents who claimed the policy would lead to skyrocketing use by teens, cannabis consumption by middle and high school students in Minnesota is lower now than it has ever been over the past decade, according to newly published state data. “There continues to be a steady decline in youth cannabis use since 2013, with 96% of students reporting not having used cannabis in the last month,” the state Department of Health said in a press release on Monday about the latest results of the Minnesota Student Survey, which is conducted every three years . . .

Due to violent crime and kidnappings, the U.S. State Department warns Americans from going to six Mexican states and suggests to reconsider visiting seven others. The good news is the country’s homicide rate has declined 33% since 2019.

The top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representative says there is enough support within the body to pass comprehensive federal marijuana reform-if only Republican leaders would allow a vote. “I’ve consistently supported the rescheduling of marijuana,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said on Monday, which was also the unofficial cannabis holiday 4/20. “It should not be classified as a Schedule I drug.” The congressman was responding to a question at a press briefing from a reporter who asked whether there is any realistic chances of passing marijuana reform legislation amid the . . .

Farmers in the U.S. grew three-quarters of a billion dollars worth of hemp crops in 2025-a 64 percent increase from the prior year-according to a new federal report. The new annual National Hemp Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) delineates data on how much of the $739 million worth of crops were grown out in the open in fields or cultivated under protection in greenhouses, high tunnels and hoop houses. The 49,267 acres of hemp grown outdoors in the U.S. last year represents a 9 percent increase from 2024, and its value of $646 million is 53 percent higher than the prior . . .