Tag: the war on (some) drugs

Nebraska Lawmakers Advance ‘De Facto Ban’ On Wide Range Of Consumable Hemp Products

A legislative proposal to crack down on “synthetic” consumable hemp or other THC products advanced Monday over some opponents’ preference for regulations and not a “de facto ban.”

Legislative Bill 316, from state Sen. Kathleen Kauth (R) of the Millard area, would redefine most “hemp” products to mean “marijuana,” putting them legally in line with existing enforcement and penalties. It advances a key priority of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) to restrict products that exceed 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations, the compound most commonly associated with getting a person high.

“These compounds are masquerading as hemp but are in fact dangerous synthetic chemicals that have never been tested for consumption in humans,” Kauth said during debate.

‘We need to do something’

The bill advanced 33-13, though at least two supporters—state Sens. Tom Brandt (R) of Plymouth and Ben Hansen (R) of Blair—said the bill would need to be amended to maintain their support and overcome the 33-vote threshold for a filibuster. Three more centrist Democratic lawmakers declined to take a position on the bill: state Sens. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, Jason Prokop of Lincoln and Dan Quick of Grand Island.

Multiple opponents said they preferred the regulatory regime proposed in LB 16 by state Sen. John Cavanaugh (D) of Omaha, the lead opponent to Kauth’s bill. Cavanaugh’s bill would need to hitch a ride on a different bill, or “co-opt” LB 316. Cavanaugh filed more than a dozen amendments to LB 316 to try.

“I’m opposed to hijacking other people’s bills, but I put it on here because I think people in this body will agree that we need to do something,” Cavanaugh said.

Cavanaugh described the goal of attacking only “synthetic” products as a “red herring,” “misnomer” and “misdirection” in part because chemical “synthetic marijuana”—K-2 or “spice”—has already been banned for more than a decade. Kauth’s broader bill on hemp-derived products, he said, would cost more than $1.6 million, at least, in state tax revenue, at a time the state faces a major projected budget deficit.

However, he said his bill could generate $7.7 million with an improved regulatory system.

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Psilocybin shows promise for improving mood, cognition, and motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease

A small pilot study has found that psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, may improve not only mood but also cognitive and motor symptoms in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The results surprised the research team, who initially aimed only to evaluate the drug’s safety. Instead, participants experienced noticeable improvements that lasted for weeks following a single high-dose session. The findings, published in Neuropsychopharmacology, mark the first time a psychedelic has been tested in people with any neurodegenerative disease.

Parkinson’s disease is best known for its motor symptoms, including tremor, stiffness, and slowed movement. But many people with the disease also struggle with depression and anxiety, which often begin years before motor symptoms appear. These mood issues are not just emotionally distressing—they are strongly linked to faster physical decline and worse overall quality of life. Standard treatments for depression and anxiety, such as antidepressants, are often less effective in people with Parkinson’s, making the search for new therapeutic options especially urgent.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound that is converted in the body into psilocin, which interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain. Studies in major depression and anxiety linked to terminal illness have shown that even a single dose of psilocybin, when paired with psychotherapy, can lead to rapid and long-lasting improvements in mood. Scientists believe the drug may help the brain form new neural connections, a property referred to as neuroplasticity. These effects may be particularly relevant for people with Parkinson’s disease, who exhibit disrupted serotonin signaling, inflammation, and loss of neural connectivity—all factors that may contribute to both mood and motor symptoms.

Given the complex neurobiology of Parkinson’s and concerns about possible drug interactions and psychosis risk, the research team at the University of California, San Francisco set out to test the safety and tolerability of psilocybin in this population. They enrolled 12 participants between the ages of 40 and 75, all of whom had mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease and met diagnostic criteria for depression or anxiety. People with significant cognitive impairment, active psychosis, or other medical risks were excluded from the trial. Most participants were already being treated with levodopa, the most common medication for managing motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.

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Texas House Committee Approves Senate-Passed Bill To Ban Cities From Decriminalizing Marijuana

A Texas House committee has approved a Senate-passed bill that would prohibit cities from putting any citizen initiative on local ballots that would decriminalize marijuana or other controlled substances—as several localities have already done despite lawsuits from the state attorney general.

About a week after clearing the full Senate, members of the House State Affairs Committee advanced the legislation from Sen. Charles Perry (R) in a 9-6 vote on Wednesday. That same panel recently held a hearing on a House companion version that has not moved, indicating that lawmakers have opted to use the Senate bill as the vehicle to enact the ban on local cannabis reform.

Under the proposal, state law would be amended to say that local entities “may not place an item on a ballot, including a municipal charter or charter amendment, that would provide that the local entity will not fully enforce” state drug laws.

The latest version of the legislation, as previously amended in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, would also specifically bar localities from putting initiatives on the ballot that would contravene the state’s consumable hemp laws.

It would also require the attorney general to create a form for people to report violations of the law. And it’d expedite legal proceedings to challenge any city, mandating that an appellate court “render its final order or judgment with the least possible delay,” a legislative analysis says.

Cities found to be in violation of the law by placing a decriminalization initiative—or any measure that conflicts with state or federal drug laws—would be subject to a $25,000 civil fine for a first offense and a $50,000 fine for any subsequent offense.

“In the last few years several local governments have adopted policies and ordinances that are designed to decriminalize controlled substances or instruct law enforcement or prosecutors not to enforce our state drug laws,” Perry said in a statement of intent.

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Researchers Announce They’ve Discovered A New Cannabinoid In Marijuana

Researchers have announced that they’ve successfully identified a new cannabinoid—cannabielsoxa—produced by the marijuana plant as well as a number of other compounds “reported for the first time from the flowers of C. sativa.”

The team of government and university researchers out of South Korea also evaluated 11 compounds in cannabis for antitumor effects in neuroblastoma cells, finding that seven “revealed strong inhibitory activity.”

Authors said the findings represent “an initial step toward developing a product for the treatment of neuroblastoma,” a cancer they note “is the most common solid tumor in children and the most frequent malignancy in the first year of life.”

Published this month in the journal Pharmaceuticals, the paper says researchers used chromatographic techniques to isolate the compounds. They then examined their molecular structures and used a metabolic testing method to assess their toxicity to neuroblastoma cells.

“This study successfully isolated a new cannabinoid and six known cannabinoid compounds, along with a new chlorin-type compound and three additional chlorine-type compounds,” the study says, “which were reported for the first time from the flowers of C. sativa.”

Two of the compounds identified for the first time in cannabis—132-hydroxypheophorbide b ethyl ester and ligulariaphytin A—are described as “chlorin-type compounds.”

They, along with five other known cannabinoids—cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidiolic acid methyl ester (CBDA-ME), delta-8 THC and cannabichromene (CBG)—”could be considered as the potential compounds for antitumor effects against neuroblastomas,” researchers found.

Results of the antitumor analyses “demonstrated that cannabinoid compounds had stronger inhibitory effects on neuroblastoma cells than chlorin-type compounds,” the paper notes.

The new cannbinoid, cannabielsoxa, was not among the compounds that researchers identified as potentially toxic to neuroblastoma cells, however.

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Decline Of Christianity Sparks Rise In Claims For Religious Protections Of Psychedelics

In February, a group called Singularism scored a troubling victory under the Utah Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), claiming police violated their rights by confiscating otherwise illegal magic mushrooms (psilocybin) used for tea ceremonies and their “scriptures” (recorded insights during trips). A mental health counselor had allegedly formed the organization to alleviate suffering and facilitate practitioners’ (called “voyagers”) connections with themselves and God.

A federal judge ordered the return of the items, rejecting the government’s argument that Singularism was “essentially a drug-dealing business in a minister’s robe.” The judge further found that Singularism held sincere religious beliefs and that each day the group was “deprived of the sacrament they suffer harm to their religious exercises.” Although the judge noted that individuals could perhaps achieve the same experiences from meditation, as opposed to illegal drugs, she said “most people do not have that luxury of time,” accurately distilling the zeitgeist of American obsession with a quick fix. And then she called it religion.

Litigation continues, but meanwhile, the decision sets a disturbing precedent. And a movement is afoot to capitalize on the win. Led by well-funded educated elites that includes scholars, lawyers, religious leaders, and entrepreneurs, the goal is obtaining widespread U.S. legalization of psychedelics.

How did we get here?

During the 21st century, the percentage of Americans attending religious services steadily shrank, while the percentage of those claiming no religion more than doubled. Christianity in particular has been in rapid decline. In 2007, 78 percent of U.S. adults identified as Christians; in 2024, that number had dropped to 62 percent.

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Louisiana Lawmaker Proposes Marijuana Legalization Pilot Program As ‘Revenue Source’ For The State

Louisiana lawmakers are gearing up for another push to legalize marijuana in the state, with at least two proposals now filed to enact cannabis-related reform this session.

Rep. Candace Newell (D)—who has made repeated attempts to end criminalization—discussed her latest legislation in an interview with Louisiana First News that aired on Saturday, describing a proposed three-year pilot program that is “designed to test and evaluate parameters of the implementation of a permanent adult-use cannabis program,” according to a legislative analysis.

“Aside of just wanting to have legalized recreational marijuana, I’m also looking at another revenue source in the state of Louisiana,” Newell said. “I’m talking about statewide, across the board, education on the product—the use of the product, the dangers of it and how it can be beneficial.”

The sponsor added that, from her perspective, “what we’ve seen is the states where they’ve done just the full blanket legalization and regulation that that is failing.”

At the same time, she emphasized the potential revenue stream from legalizing and taxing cannabis for adults.

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Nebraska Senators Schedule Town Halls To Discuss Medical Marijuana Bills

State lawmakers scheduled three eastern Nebraska public forums this weekend to allow the public to weigh in on medical cannabis and proposed state legislation.

State Sens. John Cavanaugh (D) of Omaha, Rick Holdcroft (R) of Bellevue and Ben Hansen (R) of Blair plan to host the series this Saturday in La Vista, Sunday in Omaha and Monday in Lincoln. Attendants will be able to hear updates on the status of medical cannabis legislation, namely Hansen’s Legislative Bill 677, and “share their thoughts.”

The schedule is as follows:

  • Saturday, May 3, from 1–3 p.m. at the Carpenters Union Hall in La Vista (10761 Virginia Plaza, La Vista).
  • Sunday, May 4, from 1–3 p.m., at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Thompson Alumni Center (8800 Dodge St., Omaha).
  • Monday, May 5, from 5–7 p.m., at Southeast Community College (8800 O St., Lincoln).

The hosts plan to accommodate everyone who wishes to speak during the two-hour events.

In November, about 71 percent of Nebraskans legalized medical cannabis with a physician’s recommendation, and 67 percent of Nebraskans voted for a regulatory scheme.

“Since the legislature has failed to act at this point, I want to give the citizens an opportunity to have their voices heard by their elected representatives,” Cavanaugh told the Nebraska Examiner.

Hansen said the town halls are meant to help inform the public about the legislative process and receive feedback, answering questions and hearing concerns.

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White House Drug Czar Could Endorse Marijuana Legalization Under New Bill To Repeal ‘Ludicrous’ Restriction

Democratic congressional lawmakers have announced the filing of a bill that would remove a restriction that’s prevented the White House drug czar from advocating for the legalization of marijuana or other Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

At a Last Prisoner Project (LPP) event outside the Capitol on Tuesday, Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN)—co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus—talked about the group’s legislative priorities for marijuana reform. Beyond the new bill, that will also include bipartisan legislation to end federal prohibition in legal states and free up the industry to access banking services.

The lawmakers’ “Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act” would take aim at a federal statute prohibiting the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) from promoting reform around Schedule I drugs.

The current law states that no funds provided to ONDCP can be used for “any study or contract relating to the legalization (for a medical use or any other use) of a substance listed in schedule I,” further requiring the office’s director to “take such actions as necessary to oppose any attempt to legalize the use of a substance (in any form)” that is in Schedule I and has not been approved for use for medical purposes by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Under the two-page bill, that statutory language included in section 704(b)(12) of the ONDCP Reauthorization Act would be repealed.

Titus said on Tuesday that the legislation would “remove outdated restrictions, which are just ludicrous.”

“They’re not allowed to sponsor any research on Schedule I drugs. They can’t even talk about it, to show you how ridiculous is,” she said. “And by law, they have to actively oppose the legalization of any substance that is Schedule I and not approved by the FDA. We’re trying to remove that prohibition.”

Marijuana legalization “is not some out-of-nowhere kind of issue. This is something that is truly mainstream,” Titus said. “So if we can get rid of that policy, we can begin to do research on some of the advantages, or how marijuana can be used and what are the medical implications so when they say, ‘Oh, we don’t know—we don’t know what it’ll do, it might be dangerous’—you can counter that with good research.”

Whether the Trump administration’s recently appointed drug czar would exercise the authority to advocate for reform under the bill if enacted is uncertain. However, ONDCP Director Sara Carter has previously called medical marijuana a “fantastic” treatment option for seriously ill patients and said she doesn’t have a “problem” with legalization, even if she might not personally agree with the policy.

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Supreme Court Gives Trump Administration More Time To Consider Challenging Marijuana And Gun Ownership Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court has approved a request from the government’s top lawyer that sought more time to consider a challenge to a February appeals court ruling around the federal prohibition on gun ownership by people who consume marijuana.

An order by Justice Brett Kavanaugh last week granted government lawyers an extension until June 5 to decide whether to appeal a February ruling from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer had previously requested the extension, telling the high court that the government needed more time to consider the case.

“The Solicitor General has not yet determined whether to file a petition for a writ of certiorari in this case,” said Sauer’s three-page filing. “The additional time sought in this application is needed to continue consultation within the government and to assess the legal and practical impact of the court of appeals’ ruling.”

The case concerns a defendant, Keshon Daveon Baxter, who was found in possession of both a firearm and a bag of marijuana. The government charged him under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), which prohibits gun ownership by “unlawful” users of controlled substances.

Baxter argued in district court that the prohibition was itself illegal, contending both that “unlawful” use was too vague in the statute to be enforceable and also that the government’s ban on drug users’ possession of firearms was unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.

The lower court rejected both arguments—a ruling Baxter appealed to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

It a February opinion, an Eighth Circuit panel upheld the portion of the district court’s decision denying Baxter’s vagueness claim but reversed the lower court’s ruling on the constitutionality of the firearms ban. However, judges wrote that there were insufficient factual findings in the record “for this Court to review Baxter’s as-applied Second Amendment challenge.”

Nevertheless, the Eighth Circuit wrote, “We reverse the district court’s ruling on Baxter’s as-applied Second Amendment challenge and remand to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”

Had the Supreme Court not granted the government’s extension, in the case, U.S. v. Baxter, a decision whether to appeal the Eighth Circuit ruling would have been due May 6.

Sauer, an appointee of President Donald Trump, formally assumed his role as solicitor general earlier this month. He previously helped represented Trump in his landmark case on presidential immunity.

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