Cannabis News

Former Senator Details Psychedelics Conversations With Two Trump Cabinet Members

Published

1 week ago

December 1, 2025

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A former US senator says he has personally spoken with the heads of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) about the therapeutic potential of psychedelics such as ibogaine, and both members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet welcomed reform on the issue.

Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who was a Democrat for most of her career in Congress before becoming an independent, said there is a great opportunity under the Trump administration to free up access to psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His “close” relationship with the HHS secretary and swinging around alternative political views.

In an interview with Politico, Sinema spoke about the country’s “magical and unique time” for psychedelic reform at a recent event hosted by Americans for Ibogaine, the advocacy organization co-founded by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R).

“Is there an opportunity to do this in this administration? Hell, yes,” he said, adding that Kennedy “is disruptive and supports psychedelic medicine.”

“The opportunity is ripe in this administration, and we should strike while the iron is hot,” said the former lawmaker, who has publicized the therapeutic use of the psychedelic ibogaine.

In addition to Kennedy, Sinema said he advised VA Secretary Doug Collins about the potential of psychedelics to help veterans with serious mental health issues.

“He hadn’t heard of it. He hadn’t even heard of psychedelic medicine,” she said. “He was skeptical at first. He’s a conservative pastor in Georgia. Then he got together with some veterans and saw the science and as you’ve heard, he’s the most prominent proponent of psychedelic medicine in the administration.”

“Historically, I think you’ve seen psychedelics — not necessarily psychedelic medicine — but psychedelics, left-wing hippies dominated,” he said. say Political “Psychedelic medicine as a treatment for disorders is important to many people on the right. I want to be clear: the reason is not because they are psychedelics, but because nothing else works.”

The former senator said that “in a conservative’s brain, psychedelics are not a drug, they are a medicine.”

“In the old-school left-wing psychedelic movement, they’re seen as a drug. That drug has medicinal properties, but it also has other non-medicinal properties that they celebrate,” he said. “I think what you’re seeing from the mainstream blue community is a concern that if they accept psychedelics they’ll look like left-wing weirdos and hippies. It could also be a commitment to mainstream medicine. Politically speaking, it could also be skepticism if conservatives like it.”

As the Arizona legislature advanced an ibogaine research project earlier this year, the former senator—who also championed psychedelic legislation while serving in Congress—.he gathered support for the reformWhile pledging to personally raise $5 million in philanthropic donations to support psychedelic research, if it ultimately materializes.

Last year, a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official, who has since moved into an advisory role, praised Sinema. his “knowledge of psychedelic literature and all related subjects” while praising the agency’s work to advance research into novel therapies.

For his part, Kennedy, the health secretary, he is believed to still use psychedelics, although he is otherwise soberThe following book by a journalist who allegedly had a romantic relationship with her states.

Last month, Kennedy, Vice President JD Vance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner and other Trump administration officials attended the “Make America Healthy Again” summit. it was a session dedicated to studying psychedelic medicine.

While Sinema noted that Collins was not particularly familiar with psychedelic therapy before joining the Trump administration, the secretary has become one of the most vocal advocates for advancing reform to ease access for veterans.

In July, for example, VA Secretary He proclaimed his mission to promote access to psychedelics for veterans with serious mental health conditions, it was possible to say that it “opened that door wider than most probably thought”.

“I’m the first secretary of the VA—actually, in a cabinet about a month and a half ago— really brought psychedelics to a Cabinet meeting” Collins said at the time. “I think what we need to look at is we need to put the alternatives on the map. The VA will do our job. We will do it within the law and we will do what we have to do.”

The secretary also said in the summer “very open” to expanding access to psychedelic therapy for veterans-he emphasized that he intends to find ways to “cure” people with serious mental illnesses and not just to treat superficial symptoms.

Collins noted that the VA is actively conducting a dozen or so clinical trials either internally or through private partnerships “on a number of different substances where we’re seeing really good results,” among others. One based at VA Bronx Health Care researching MDMA-assisted therapy “Actually, with very good results.”

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In June, Kennedy said that his agency “Fully committed” to expanding research into the benefits of psychedelic therapy. and, along with the head of the FDA, aims to give military veterans legal access to these substances “within 12 months.”

The secretary also said that in April He had a “wonderful experience” with LSD at the age of 15He took it because he thought they would be able to see dinosaurs, as depicted in a comic he was a fan of.

Last October, Kennedy specifically criticized the FDA under the previous administration for the agency’s “eradication of psychedelics” and a laundry list of other issues that he said was a “war on public health” that would end under the Trump administration.

Photo elements courtesy of the user carlosemmaskype and Apollo.

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Cannabis News

US (FL): Cannabis company countersues competitor for AI-fabricated extortion

Published

18 hours ago

December 9, 2025

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Leafwell Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against medical marijuana company My Florida Green, alleging that its competitor used artificial intelligence to make legal claims as part of an extortion scheme designed to harm Leafwell’s business. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court…

Cannabis News

Maine Officials Approve 2026 Ballot Initiative To Largely Repeal Marijuana Legalization Law For Signature Collection

Published

18 hours ago

December 9, 2025

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Maine officials have given permission to prohibition activists to begin gathering signatures for a proposal A ballot initiative that would roll back the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law. The measure, if passed, would also overhaul the regulatory structure of the medical cannabis program by establishing product testing requirements.

The proposal — called the “Cannabis Legalization Act and Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act” — is a revamped version of a marijuana initiative introduced in September, sponsored by a Republican state senator and a former top staffer for then-Gov. Paul LePage (R), staunch prohibitionist.

The latest proposal, a petition approved by the Secretary of State on Monday, would remove and amend multiple sections of the current state statute, which voters approved in 2016 to effectively repeal the legalization of recreational marijuana sales.

Adults over the age of 21 would remain legal to possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis under the proposal, but a section of the law allowing home cultivation would be repealed. The sale and home cultivation of medical marijuana would be legal.

Madison Carey, who was listed as a lead petitioner in the original version of the repeal initiative and remains involved in the current campaign, told Marihuana Momenti on Tuesday that “there needs to be regulation of marijuana,” arguing that her own experience recovering from opioid misuse disorder speaks to the inadequacy of the current law.

“My hope is to raise awareness of the reality of the potential dangers of not having regulation,” he said. “I think people are fed up with the constant use — the constant (retail businesses) coming up where people can legally buy marijuana.”

Of course, repealing the voter-approved law that established the adult-licensed sales system would eliminate the current regulatory infrastructure in place, which reform advocates say helps mitigate public health and safety risks associated with the illegal market.

Rep. David Boyer (R), who led the fight to get a cannabis legalization initiative on Maine’s ballot in 2016 when he was a staff member at the Marihuana Policy Project, said voters should refuse to sign petitions for the new initiative.

“Don’t stop Maine’s progress, don’t stop signing this unfair repeal initiative,” he told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday. “Repealing the legalization of cannabis would shut down an industry larger than lobsters, potatoes and blueberries combined, costing our state jobs, revenue and economic growth.”

According to the new measure, the director of the Office of Cannabis Policy will “advance policies that promote the health and welfare of the people of the state and protect their health and safety, emphasizing the health and welfare of minors as a priority consideration in the performance of all duties.”

They should also “ensure that eligible patients maintain access to high-quality, effective, and affordable medical cannabis under this Act.”

Under the proposal, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services would create a testing program for cannabis products that would require dispensaries and dispensaries to send those products to a licensed facility for safety evaluation before dispensing them to qualified patients.

The testing facility “should ensure that cannabis or cannabis products do not exceed acceptable levels of contamination for any contaminants that are harmful to health and require testing and ensure proper labeling.”

“The department shall adopt rules establishing a testing program under this section, rules identifying the types of pollutants harmful to health, which must be tested for cannabis and cannabis products under this chapter, and rules regarding the maximum level of contamination for each pollutant,” the vote said. the initiative the text says

Additionally, regulators should administer a system to track cannabis plants from seed to the point of retail sale or disposal. That system “should be able to track cannabis plants in groups during the cultivation phase and when passing from the cultivation phase to another registrar”.

Entrepreneurs must submit at least 67,682 valid voter signatures by February 2, 2026 to be eligible for next year’s ballot. If approved by voters, the initiative would take effect on January 1, 2028.

Maine lawmakers passed a bill in June legalize possession of an ounce of psilocybin Adults over 21 years of age.

After a different effort in the state last year legalize psilocybin and allow adults to access the psychedelic in state-licensed facilities. But lawmakers watered down that bill—instead, they changed it to create a committee to study further reforms—and in the end it was not approved.

Meanwhile, Maine legislators in February A top marijuana official voted to investigate possible conflicts of interest.

And last year, the law that allowed people came into force now apply for legal marijuana crime records to be sealed.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

By concentrating our portfolio, we create room for innovation and growth

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2025

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Viscon transfers the range fork product portfolio to Flier

Viscon Plant Technology will transfer its spacer fork product portfolio (including spacer forks and fixed forks) to Flier Systems effective January 1, 2026.

“The furrows are a proven solution for spacing within the sector. By transferring this portfolio to Flier Systems, the technology will remain available to both existing and new customers, with continued quality and support. Flier Systems will take over development, sales and technical service, while Viscon Plant Technology focuses on its core activities,” the team says.

“The transfer of the fields is a deliberate strategic step to strengthen our focus on automation solutions for plant growers and young breeders. In addition to concentrating our portfolio on technologies such as tissue culture automation, phenotypic sorting and somatic embryogenesis automation, we create room for further innovation and growth. We are pleased to have found a reliable and dedicated partner in Flier Systems,” said Nigela, who will continue the same product portfolio. Viscon Plant Technology.

“Acquiring spacer forks fits perfectly into our strategy to automate the entire production process for professional plant growers. Having just introduced the upgraded SPH transplanter/sorter, we have already taken an important step in the automation of potted plants. Acquiring spacer forks is a logical addition as it allows us to offer a complete and integrated package. Viscon,” said Ad Kranendonk, Flier Systems.