Following important cannabis news articles every day can be a real burn-out, we know. That’s why the Emerald rolls up a chronicle of the headiest news hits, and passes them to you at the end of each week. We Bring You: The Dime.
Republicans Favor Federal Decriminalization
USA Today reports that on Monday, November 15th, South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, introduced legislation to federally decriminalize cannabis. “This legislation, I believe, has something good for everyone,” Mace told NBC News reporters on Monday; “whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican.” Her motion brings forth an alternative to the Democratic party’s proposal for mayor cannabis reform. Forbes writes that Mace’s bill — The States Reform Act — would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act. This would therefore allow the federal government to treat the drug in a manner similar to alcohol. The act would also impose a 3% tax on the sale of cannabis. It would also expunge the records of those with non-violent cannabis-related federal offenses.
Green Wednesday
As Thanksgiving approaches, so does Green Wednesday, a now established national cannabis holiday. Green Wednesday takes place the day before Thanksgiving, as cannabis lovers flock to their local dispensaries in preparation for their Thanksgiving feast. In 2020, dispensaries saw an 80% increase in cannabis sales the day before Thanksgiving. This amounted to a total of $238 million dollars throughout the entirety of the holiday, according to Green Market Report. But this year, Verlife predicts that Green Wednesday sales should exceed last year’s $238 million mark, as companies have begun to use the holiday as a way to promote new products.
NYC Bans Cannabis and Psychedelics ads on Subways
On Wednesday, November 17th, New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) moved to explicitly ban advertisements displaying cannabis and psychedelic mushrooms from subways, buses and trains, Cannabis Law Report writes. The change in policy comes after the New York legislature passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), in March. The MRTA explicitly censures cannabis advertisements on public transit vehicles and stations, reports Benzinga. However, the mystery remains on why the MTA would ban ads promoting psychedelic mushrooms as the drug is still illegal. In recent years, there’s been a push for the decriminalization of “magic mushrooms” in New York, according to Marijuana Moment. However, state officials have not approved a law as of yet.
Psychedelics may Cure Opioid Dependency
According to a new Canadian study, psychedelic-assisted therapy can reduce daily use of opioids. Researchers have found that patients treated with psychedelics experienced up to a 55% reduction in daily opioid use. The study, published last week in the Journal of International Drug Policy, is the first to link psychedelics to lower opioid use. With the U.S.’s opioid epidemic claiming 91 lives a day, psychedelic- assisted therapy may prove to be a reliable solution to the nation’s crisis.
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