Cannabis reduces alcohol consumption for heavy drinkers, study shows

OG ARticle

May 9, 2025

Tom Angell

President Donald Trump is withdrawing his nomination of acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, who recently sent a threat letter to a locally licensed medical cannabis dispensary—for reasons unrelated to marijuana policy.

Pennsylvania senators and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) are signaling that a House-passed bill to legalize marijuana sales through state-owned dispensaries will need to be amendedif it stands a chance of being enacted into law.

The Wisconsin legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voted to cut Gov. Tony Evers’s (D) marijuana legalization proposalfrom budget legislation.

The Texas House of Representatives passed bills to establish a state-backed study on the use of psychedelic therapy to treat conditions like PTSD and depressionand to speed up access to substances like psilocybin and MDMA following federal approval.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has rescheduled an event to foster “an open and candid discussion” about “the path forward to realize meaningful cannabis breathalyzer technologyand implementation” for September.

Congressional Psychedelic Advancing Therapies Caucus co-chairs Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Lou Correa (D-CA) are asking Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins to meet with themto discuss how the “promising therapies” can help veterans suffering from PTSD and other conditions.

A new federally funded study shows that using marijuana before drinking “significantly reduced alcohol consumption compared to when alcohol was offered without cannabis,”indicating that “legal-market cannabis can serve as a substitute for alcohol among some heavy-drinking individuals.”

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) and other law enforcement leaders are pressuring lawmakers not to pass legislation to implement the voter-approved legalization of medical cannabis, claiming it will make the state “less safe.”

/ FEDERAL

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)pressed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel about Chinese-linked illegal marijuana grow operations during hearings.

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN)complained that “psilocybin mushrooms were on the menu” during a trip to China by Biden administration officials, an apparent reference to former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen consuming a different kind of psychedelic mushroom while visiting the country.

Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI)noted the case of a German-American green card holder who was detained by federal immigration officials and whose only criminal record is for simple possession of marijuana and a DUI in 2015 and 2016.

/ STATES

IndianaGov. Mike Braun (R) signed a bill to ban marijuana advertising.

CaliforniaGov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that regulators have seen 99.7 percent compliance with a ban on intoxicating hemp product sales among business licensees.

Illinois’streasurer posted a request for proposals for banking services to process cash payments of cannabis taxes.

New Yorklawmakers approved budget legislation that would eliminate the salary of the Cannabis Control Board chair.

Arkansas’sHouse speaker said the sponsor of a bill to allow medical cannabis dispensaries to have drive-thrus doesn’t believe he has enough support to override a veto from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R).

Marylandregulators filed proposed changes to rules for a cannabis equity grants program.

Pennsylvaniaregulators posted an update on the medical cannabis program.

New Jerseyregulators sent an update on marijuana business licensing.

Minnesotaregulators published a flyer about a cannabis grants program.

Montanaregulators sent a newsletter with updates on various cannabis issues.

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/ LOCALBirmingham, Alabama’s mayor is calling on Gov. Kay Ivey (R) to veto a bill to regulate hemp products.The Independence, Missouri City Council approved a proposal to use marijuana tax revenue to help solve cold cases./ INTERNATIONALThe Australian Legalise Cannabis Party touted its “strong” results in recent elections and said its chances of winning a seat in the Senate are “promising.”/ SCIENCE & HEALTHA study found that “cannabis use was associated with lower reported pain but did not find that depressive symptoms moderated the relationship between cannabis use and pain.”A study concluded that “vaporized DMT offers a non-invasive, time-efficient, and cost-effective alternative to other psychedelics and traditional antidepressants, supporting its role in interventional psychiatry and public health.”/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSISThe Attorney General Alliance will host a webinar about intoxicating hemp products on June 4./ BUSINESSCuraleaf Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $310 million and a net loss of $60.2 million.Verano Holdings Corp. reported quarterly net revenue of $209.8 million and a net loss of $11.5 million.

The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc.reported quarterly revenue of $87.4 million and a net loss of $32.2 million.

Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.reported quarterly revenue of $71.7 million.

TerrAscend Corp.reported quarterly net revenue of $70 million and a net loss of $12.3 million.

Cronos Group Inc.reported quarterly revenue of $32.3 million.