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:
#cannabisindustry – “A federal agency released a report on Thursday that urges states that have legalized marijuana to include warning labels on cannabis products that caution against driving while impaired—noting that federal prohibition is a barrier to nationalizing such consumer education to mitigate public safety risks.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report provides an in-depth overview of the “crash risk associated with different drugs, including alcohol, and the prevalence of their use among drivers,” as well as “countermeasures to reduce impairment-related crashes.”
One countermeasure that NTSB recommended to states across the U.S. is to mandate marijuana labeling to inform consumers about the dangers of driving after consuming cannabis. The board recognized that several legal states do require such labeling, but pointed out that others don’t.”
#psychedelics – “Researchers, including those at Johns Hopkins Medicine, have been studying psilocybin therapy for a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and addictions.
“It’s becoming more widely accepted as a legitimate mental and emotional health tool,” says Nicholas Levich, co-founder of Psychedelic Passage. The Oregon-based business operates a nationwide referral network of “psychedelic facilitators” who can guide you through a psilocybin experience or “journey.”
They have seen a big spike in demand. Levich said in 2021, “we probably referred out 60 people or something. And this past year, we referred over 420.””
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/psilocybin-magic-mushrooms-therapeutic-depression-anxiety/
#psychedelics – “A Republican New Hampshire lawmaker has filed a bill to legalize the possession and use of psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD by adults 21 and older.
As state legislators across the U.S. pursue psychedelics reform for the 2023 session, the New Hampshire bill from Rep. Kevin Verville (R) has entered the mix.
The legislation stipulates that the “possession or use of a hallucinogenic drug by a person 21 years of age or older shall not be an offense.” It would also specifically reduce penalties for LSD manufacturing and possession by people under 21.”
#hempderivedproducts – “On December 5, 2022, the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy filed a lawsuit against three affiliated Minnesota hemp companies seeking condemnation and destruction of several million dollars worth of gummy edibles. Ironically named ‘Death by Gummy Bears,’ they allegedly contained 100 milligrams of hemp-derived THC per gummy and were intentionally marketed in a manner that is appealing to children.
The lawsuit alleges Northland Vapor Moorhead, LLC, Northland Vapor Bemidjii, LLC, and Wonky Confections, LLC manufactured and sold the products in violation of Minnesota law because:
The products exceed the established maximum THC limit for edible products of five milligrams of any THC per serving, or no more than 50 milligrams of any THC per container
The gummy bear-shaped products and the packaging are appealing to children and resemble well-known gummy candy brands that are marketed to and consumed by children
The products were not tested for residual solvents, pesticides, mold, and heavy metals as required by law
The lawsuit seeks to order the defendants to halt manufacturing and selling these edible products, and also seeks the destruction of all embargoed inventory that violates Minnesota law.”
Does 6,500 pardons/expungements constitute fulfilling his promise? Share your thoughts….
#cannabispolitics – “As part of Martin Luther King Jr. festivities, president Joe Biden was at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington on Monday, to deliver a keynote speech for the National Action Network’s annual MLK breakfast. Introduced by activist and Reverand Al Sharpton, Biden went on to tout his administration’s accomplishments within the black community.
While the usual platitudes and political self-congratulations were present, the president found time to reiterate his position on federal cannabis pardons and record expungements, where at least 6,500 individuals with prior convictions for simple cannabis possession had been previously sentenced.
Although president Biden didn’t dispense details about the mass pardons he granted last October, he described the action as an example of a campaign promise that he’s fulfilled.”