In the days of the Armada, a fleet of warships, the scuttlebutt was the rumor or gossip that would spread throughout the ship. Today, Armada Law Corp presents The Scuttlebutt, a daily summery of news articles that people within the cannabis, hemp and plant medicine industries are chatting about along with links to the full articles.
In today’s news:
#cannabispolitics – “The mixed bag of marijuana ballot initiatives, with only two out of five succeeding, highlights the opposition that continued expansion efforts may face and gives insights into how to proceed. Going forward it will be critical for the medical segment of industry to establish itself as credible actors. A well regulated and established medical industry has proven to be a reasonable step-off point for adult use expansion. It is possible that this did not happen in Arkansas. Also, as we saw in the Dakotas, the lack of an advocacy campaign may give the opposition an edge. This problem is not easily solved as advocacy resources have constricted and are likely to be directed at larger markets than what the Dakotas have to offer. Based on the results, the states that did manage to pass their initiatives were either in very progressive electorates, like Maryland, or required a robust and sustained advocacy campaign from both inside and outside of the state, such as Missouri.”
#cannabisindustry – ““One of the most positive aspects of the German government’s current legislative proposal for adult-use cannabis is that businesses will have equal opportunities to apply for licenses with minimal limitations. Other positive points in the proposal include the omission of THC limits (at least for consumers over age 21, though potentially for those ages 18-21) and that this proposal would provide amnesty to those who have been convicted of prior cannabis offenses. However, the legislation could be improved even more if it included provisions to assist illicit operators in transitioning into the legal adult-use market.””
#cannabisindustry – Virginia – “The Virginia General Assembly will convene at the beginning of the new year. Lawmakers are expected to debate new legislation surrounding legalized marijuana sales.
Last year, the General Assembly legalized carrying up to an ounce of recreational weed. But what they didn’t do was create a solid framework for legal sales.”
https://www.cbs19news.com/story/48053254/potential-for-commercial-marijuana-marketplace
#psilocybin – “Researchers in the United Kingdom studied whether the effects of psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogenic drug, depend on the body mass index of the person, thereby requiring higher doses for the same effect in heavier people. The results showed that the overall intensity of psychedelic experiences after consuming a 25 mg dose of psilocybin was unaffected by differences in body mass indices of respondents. The study was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.”
#psychedelics – “Veterans looking to try magic mushrooms without breaking U.S. law must travel to either Latin America or the Caribbean to find a retreat. Armand Lecomte, a marine corps veteran who claims psychedelic-assisted treatment saved his life, helps orchestrate psilocybin retreats in Jamaica several times a year for MycoMeditations. A Portland resident, Lecomte urged state and local leaders to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin. He said he plans to get trained as a licensed facilitator in Oregon.
“It’s ridiculous these veterans have to leave the country they served to get the healing they need,” he said. To date, 30 men in Lecomte’s battalion have died by suicide. “If some of my brethren had access to this, they’d still be here.”
Despite 56 percent of Oregonians voting in favor of Measure 109 in 2020, a majority of counties voted this November to opt-out of its implementation.”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/oregon-to-offer-magic-mushrooms-for-psilocybin-therapy-from-january
#cannabispolitics – Maryland – “The possession of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis is no longer subject to criminal penalties, under legislation (HB 837) that took effect of January 1, 2023.
Under the new law, adults who possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis (and/or up to 12 grams of cannabis concentrates and/or any cannabis product containing up to 750 mgs of THC) are subject to a civil violation, punishable by no more than a $100 fine. Adults who possess between 1.5 ounces and 2.5 ounces of flower (or who possess up to 20 grams of cannabis concentrates and/or products containing up to 1,250 mgs of THC) face fines of up to $250.”
https://norml.org/blog/2023/01/01/maryland-civil-penalties-take-effect-for-cannabis-possession/