Decriminalization

In a significant legal victory for cannabis reform advocates, a Texas district court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had tried to overturn a voter-approved marijuana decriminalization measure that was approved in Austin in 2022 by nearly 80% of adults...

The prospect of marijuana legalization in Hawaii is dead for now but cannabis decriminalization is still alive and well. House lawmakers approved a bill this week to create a task force that would lower fines for cannabis possession and clear past criminal records for marijuana offenses. “...

This article was originally published on Microdose and appears here with permission. With MAPS moving its historic Phase 3 MDMA trial towards FDA approval, the movement toward psychedelic legalization is gaining increasing momentum. The forthcoming FDA approval of MDMA will be a milestone...

This article was originally published on Psychedelic Spotlight and appears here with permission. In an unanimous move, Berkeley has officially deprioritized arrests for possession and use of psilocybin and ayahuasca. Berkeley has long been an epicenter of psychedelic research and culture in the...

Texas’s House of Representatives passed a bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis on Wednesday in a voice vote. The bill still requires a second reading, which is a formality, before heading to the Senate for further consideration, reported local...

Psychedelic Research & Fed Funding By The National Institute Of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) named the types of psychedelics studies to which it would grant funds and further guidance for pre-clinical research and studies with young participants. NIMH’...

Vice President Kamala Harris finally addressed marijuana policy issues, a topic she avoided for much of her tenure as California's Attorney General (2004-2010). At a Texas Democratic party reception, Harris spoke about President Joe Biden's recent decision to pardon those...

President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he would pardon all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. While the president's move is expected to impact 6,500 Americans, the nearly 2,000 people convicted during his Vice President's tenure as San Francisco's...

Lawmakers in Thailand decided to withdraw a piece of legislation regulating the broader use of cannabis in the country, reported Bloomberg. The bill was sent back to the committee for further revision after a 198 to 136 vote by members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Democrat party, a...

President Joe Biden has finally granted clemency to dozens of individuals with non-violent federal drug convictions and commuted the sentences of 75 people who were serving time at home because of the pandemic. He also issued three pardons. The president's move marks his first...

A bill to decriminalize low-level possession of psilocybin and promote research into the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic is heading to the Oklahoma Senate after House members gave it the green light. Sponsored by Rep. Daniel Pae (R), the legislation cleared the chamber in a 62-30...

It seems that Israel is taking steps toward the legalization of recreational cannabis, with the government considering fully decriminalizing adult use. President Isaac Herzog and Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced Sunday that the government is also considering expunging criminal...

This article was originally published on Cannabis.net and appears here with permission. Whether or not a city has decriminalized cannabis plays a tremendous role in where people choose to live. Last November, Gallup released the results of a poll revealing that support for...

As of Jan. 1, Oregonians can legally purchase up to two ounces of cannabis flower from licensed retailers, NORML reports. In a Dec. 28 meeting, Oregon's Liquor and Cannabis Commission approved new rules, including doubling how much marijuana customers can purchase and giving the green...

This article by Emily Jarvie was originally published on Psychedelic Spotlight, and appears here with permission. The aim of the legislation is “prioritizing treatment and safety in an effort to preserve lives rather than discard them through criminalization and incarceration." A new...