Tag: the war on (some) drugs

Prince Harry’s U.S. Visa File to Be Made Public Amid Accusations of Lying About Drug Use

An American judge has ordered the release of Prince Harry’s immigration files amid longstanding questions over whether he lied on his visa application to the United States about past drug use.

Prince Harry’s status in the U.S. may be in jeopardy as Judge Carl Nichols ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must release at least a redacted version of the Duke of Sussex’s visa application by Tuesday, the Daily Mail reported.

The conservative Heritage Foundation think tank had sued the DHS under the Biden administration after it had rejected a Freedom of Information request to publicly reveal the prince’s immigration files.

Heritage argued that it was in the public interest to know whether Harry had lied about his past drug use in order to gain entry to the U.S. after he abandoned his Royal duties in Britain in favour of money-making ventures with his wife in Hollywood.

Although having used illicit drugs in the past does not necessarily preclude one from gaining a visa to the United States, lying on a visa application can result in its termination.

In his ruling, Judge Nichols said: “The government has provided the court with its proposed redactions to the documents…those redactions appearing appropriate, the government is ORDERED to lodge on the docket the redacted versions of those documents no later than March 18, 2025.”

It remains to be seen if the redactions will include the section in which Harry was asked if he had ever taken illegal drugs.

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Florida Senate Panel Takes Up Bill To Restrict Hemp Products

For the third year in a row, Florida lawmakers have begun debating a proposal to regulate THC-derived hemp products, which have evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry in the Sunshine State.

In addition to banning Delta-8 products and restricting the amount of Delta-9 THC levels in hemp products to 5 milligrams per serving and 50 milligrams per package, the latest proposal from Polk County Republican Sen. Colleen Burton (SB 438) includes for the first time regulations on hemp-infused drinks, which have surged in popularity over the past year.

The proposal would restrict the amount of THC per bottle or cans to no more than 5 milligrams. It would ban those drinks being sold at any locations other than ones already licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, adding additional prohibitions and requirements.

“Liquor stores and restaurants that would like to sell these products, they have come to us and asked us to provide some regulations so that they know that the products that they are selling have gone through the rigor of the testing and will all be held to the same standards,” Burton said in introducing the bill to the Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday afternoon.

But that provision received some pushback.

“Requiring us to carry a liquor license when we’re a non-alcoholic bottle shop kind of goes against what we built,” said Caitlyn Smith, co-owner of Herban Flow in St. Petersburg, which bills itself as Florida’s first non-alcoholic bottle shop.

Her husband and co-founder, Michael Smith, said that he is five years’ sober and the last thing that he wants is for his store to be regulated as a liquor store when it isn’t one.

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Texas Senator Files Bill To Support Research On Psychedelic Therapy For PTSD And Depression

A Texas senator has introduced a bill to require studies on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in the treatment of serious mental health conditions.

Sen. César Blanco (D) filed the legislation on Friday. It aims to facilitate the studies—which would be conducted by medical schools at two Texas universities—to better understand the possible benefits of psychedelics for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Researchers at Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin would be tasked with researching the existing scientific literature around psychedelics, actions made by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and potential strategies to provide access to the novel medicines.

The study would involve an evaluation of “patient access to current treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other co-occurring conditions and recommend legislative or other actions necessary to ensure patient access to psychedelic therapies following approval” by FDA, “including considerations of provider availability, affordability, accessibility, training and licensure, and other regulatory requirements.”

Substances within the scope of the review include psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine, according to the bill’s text.

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CBD Mouthwash Helps Reduce Oral Inflammation And Prevent Plaque Biofilms, Study Finds

Newly published research suggests that mouthwash containing cannabidiol (CBD) and another botanical extract could be a useful tool for promoting oral health, controlling bacteria and reducing inflammation.

The report, published late last month in the journal Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health, involved 40 patients using a mouthwash containing tea tree oil, CBD oil and spilanthol, a fatty acid extracted from the Acmella oleracea plant. Authors noted growing interest in CBD and spilanthol as natural ingredients in mouthwash products.

Compared to a mouthwash containing only tea tree oil, the CBD-infused product was significantly more effective at reducing plaque buildup and oral bleeding—chief symptoms of gingivitis.

Researchers also found that the CBD/spilanthol mouthwash maintained “homeostasis of the oral microbiome, thereby reducing the levels of bacteria that can affect periodontal health.”

The findings stand to benefit more than just oral health, authors noted, writing that inflammation in the mouth “has been demonstrated to correlate with the health status of the entire organism.”

“Prolonged, unaddressed inflammation, instigated by plaque bacteria and their interaction with the host immune system,” the paper says, “results in the deterioration of the supporting tissues of the teeth, as well as elevated levels of inflammatory mediators, which in turn, increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and complications during pregnancy.”

In the study, participants who had oral inflammation and demonstrated what’s called “bleeding while probing” (BOP) showed a “significant reduction in BOP index values,” researchers observed.

They noted that CBD and spilanthol share characteristics that appear to help address oral inflammation and bleeding.

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Idaho Lawmakers Hold Hearing On Bill To Legalize Medical Marijuana

Jeremy Kitzhaber, a U.S. Air Force veteran, held up a blue lunch bag to a committee of Idaho lawmakers on Monday that he uses to store the drugs meant to soothe his pain, including hydrocodone, morphine and oxycodone.

Kitzhaber has a rare type of stage four cancer that he developed while transporting radioactive and hazardous materials in the military. He can take those strong opioids at any point in the day—in addition to the drugs he takes to keep his cancer from growing and manage his bowel movement and anxiety. However, the one drug he cannot legally take is marijuana.

Idaho has some of the strictest laws against any kind of marijuana usage, but an informational hearing held in the Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee opened the discussion for Kitzhaber to advocate for a bill to legalize medical marijuana for Idahoans living with chronic pain and answer lawmakers’ questions about what legalizing marijuana would look like in Idaho.

Kitzhaber has been working on legislation to legalize marijuana for six years, and this year, Reps. Ilana Rubel (D-Boise), and Jordan Redman (R-Coeur d’Alene), named House Bill 401, or the “Sgt. Kitzhaber Medical Cannabis Act,” after him. The sponsors introduced it as a personal bill, meaning it has no chance of advancing this session and is intended to send a message.

What would medical marijuana look like in Idaho?

Unlike most of its neighboring states, marijuana is recreationally and medically illegal in Idaho.

During the 2025 legislative session alone, lawmakers passed at least two pieces of legislation aimed to restrict marijuana usage in Idaho. This includes a bill signed by the governor and set to take effect July 1 to implement a $300 minimum fine for individuals found possessing less than three ounces marijuana.

Another piece of legislation passed in both chambers is a proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution that, if approved by voters, would make it so that only the Idaho Legislature has the power to legalize marijuana and other narcotics.

House Bill 401 is modeled after Utah’s legislation, Rubel told the committee, who said Idaho lawmakers should at some point consider this type of legislation.

The bill would move marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II controlled substance. It would allow medical practitioners to give medical cannabis cards to patients who are at least 21 years old and diagnosed with qualifying conditions such as cancer, ALS, AIDS, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating illnesses. The card would be valid for up to one year, and renewal must be sought after.

Under the bill, individuals with medical cannabis cards would not be subject to prosecution for certain amounts of marijuana possession.

“The bill does not legalize cannabis, it only decriminalizes it,” Kitzhaber said.

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Virginia Governor’s Veto Of Marijuana Sales Bill Would Erase Millions In Revenue For Pre-K And Drug Treatment, State Report Shows

With Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) widely expected to veto a lawmaker-passed plan to legalize retail marijuana sales in the commonwealth, a new fiscal impact statement makes clear that rejecting the proposal would mean missing out on tens of millions of dollars in annual state revenue—including for pre-kindergarten programs, community reinvestment and substance use treatment.

Annual government revenue would begin at an estimated $7.3 million in fiscal year 2026, according to the Department of Taxation, rising steadily as the regulated system got off the ground. By fiscal year 2031, the figure is projected to climb to an annual $87.84 million.

All told, by the end of fiscal 2031, retail cannabis is expected to bring Virginia nearly $300 million in total revenue.

The income would come from an 8 percent excise tax on marijuana sales and a 1.125 percent sales tax imposed under the legislation, from Sen. Aaron Rouse (D) and Rep. Paul Krizek (D).

The numbers were published on Friday in a report from the state Department of Planning and Budget.

The top-level revenue projection does not include separate, local taxes of up to 2.5 percent. Depending on how broadly municipalities implement those taxes, they could bring in up to $2 million statewide in fiscal 2026, rising to an estimated $24.09 million by fiscal 2031.

The bulk of the state money would go to community reinvestment. The Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund would receive an estimated $1.92 million in fiscal 2026, which would rise to $46.26 million in fiscal 2031.

Money would also go to preventing and treating substance use disorders. That would be about $1.92 million in fiscal 2026, rising to $19.27 in fiscal 2031.

Revenue would also fund pre-kindergarten programs (beginning at $2.56 million initially and rising to $7.72 million annually in fiscal 2031), public health programs ($320,000 initially and rising to $3.85 million in fiscal 2031) and other initiatives.

In terms of how the revenue is divided, that would change over time. Until fiscal 2027, 40 percent would fund pre-K, 30 percent would go to the reinvestment fund, 25 percent would go toward substance use disorders and 5 percent would fund public health programs. After that, 10 percent would go to pre-K, 60 percent to community reinvestment, 25 percent to substance use disorders and 5 percent to public health.

As for costs, preparing for and administering a regulated retail sales program would cost several million dollars per year—about $9.37 million total in fiscal 2026 and an estimated $9.26 annually after that.

Licensing fees for marijuana businesses would pay the bulk of administrative costs at the Cannabis Control Authority (CCA), which would regulate the adult-use retail system. During its first year, however, some funds would also need to come from the state general fund.

New expenses at CCA would include 73 more staff members as well as technology and equipment, vehicles and travel.

The Department of Taxation, meanwhile, would incur estimated costs of $468,950 during the first fiscal year of operation in order to update forms and internal systems.

State Police, meanwhile, would incur just over $200,000 annually to hire two additional staff members to conduct fingerprinting and background checks.

Despite the fiscal impact report indicating that legalizing retail sales could bring Virginia hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue over the next several years, the state’s governor is widely expected to veto the lawmaker-passed bills.

Youngkin vetoed a nearly identical proposal last legislative session, and his office has said he’s inclined to do the same this year.

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Seattle BLM leader arrested for dealing fentanyl after Jay Inslee granted him clemency

One of the leaders of Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County has been arrested on almost a dozen drug and weapons charges after being granted clemency by former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee in 2019.

The Lynwood Times first reported the arrest of Percy Levy, 54 during a traffic stop by the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force after a 16-month investigation.

After a warrant was served on the suspect’s home, officers found 2,818 grams of powder cocaine, 14.7 grams of rock cocaine, and 556 grams of fentanyl, enough to kill approximately 278,000, one-third the population of Snohomish County. Packaging material and a digital scale were also found, likely indicating distribution. A handgun was also located in the house.

He was charged with 11 Class B Felony charges, including two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and eight separate counts of possession of controlled substances with an attempt to sell.

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Minnesota Judge Rules That Native American Man Can Be Prosecuted Over Marijuana Possession On Reservation Despite State Legalization

A Minnesota district court judge ruled that the state may prosecute Native Americans on most reservations for possessing large amounts of marijuana, allowing a felony case against a White Earth man to proceed.

The ruling is the first—though likely not the last—to address state law enforcement’s jurisdiction over marijuana in Indian Country since Minnesota legalized its recreational use in 2023.

Todd Thompson, a White Earth citizen, faces a felony possession charge with a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for selling marijuana without a license from his tobacco store in Mahnomen on the White Earth reservation.

Mahnomen County sheriff’s deputies and White Earth tribal police raided his store on August 2, 2023, a day after recreational cannabis became legal in Minnesota, and seized about 7.5 pounds of cannabis, 433 grams of marijuana wax and $2,748 in cash along with Thompson’s cell phone and surveillance system.

Thompson asked Mahnomen County District Judge Seamus Duffy to dismiss the charge, arguing that the state doesn’t have the legal jurisdiction to prosecute him.

Under what’s called Public Law 280, Minnesota has the power to prosecute tribal members on certain reservations including White Earth’s for criminal acts but not civil or regulatory violations of state law. Thompson and his attorney, Claire Glenn, argued that after cannabis was legalized in Minnesota, possessing and selling the drug became a regulatory matter, not a criminal one.

The judge, in a ruling issued earlier this month, disagreed. He wrote that the possession of “non-personal, non-recreational amounts of marijuana in public is generally prohibited,” and that just because the state may issue licenses to businesses to sell marijuana, doesn’t mean it’s only a regulatory matter. He pointed to a case in which a White Earth man was convicted of possessing a pistol without a permit on tribal land.

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Ending Drug Testing For Marijuana During Pregnancy ‘Improved Racial Parity’ Without Harming Babies, American Medical Association Study Says

A new federally funded study published by the American Medical Association finds that removing isolated marijuana use as a reason to order urine drug screenings during pregnancy “was associated with improved racial parity in testing and reporting” of test results to child protective services, “with no evidence of decreased identification of non prescribed, non cannabis substances” and “no significant association between the intervention and any measured neonatal outcomes.”

The report, published on Monday in the journal JAMA Network Open, notes that urine drug screenings are often used during pregnancy to guide prenatal care. And some states require that positive results for federally illegal substances be reported to child protective services.

Authors from Washington University in St. Louis, however, suggest that the harms of that practice sometimes outweigh the benefits. Eliminating marijuana as a reason to order drug screening, they wrote, better protects families and promotes parity by “reduc[ing] racial bias in urine drug screening and reporting to child protective services without impacting the identification of clinically meaningful substance use.”

The report notes that “Black patients are significantly more likely than their White counterparts to undergo peripartum urine drug screening (UDS) and subsequent reporting to child protective services (CPS).”

Parents’ fear of a CPS report and possible loss of custody of a newborn child can get in the way of needed care, which can further exacerbate racial disparities in health.

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