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Last week, Florida’s largest medical marijuana company, Trulieve, filed a defamation lawsuit accusing the state’s Republican Party of misleading voters about a marijuana legalization initiative with a false ad.
The lawsuit claims the GOP launched a deceptive campaign to convince voters to reject a resolution that would legalize adult-use marijuana sales in the state. The ads say large marijuana companies are the only ones that would benefit from the amendment, suggesting it would limit competition by preventing people from growing their own marijuana at home.
However, the lawsuit claims the amendment doesn’t change the state’s existing laws regarding home cultivation and that the campaign’s claims are misleading. It also claims that Trulieve is being unfairly portrayed as the author of the amendment, which the company denies.
Trulieve filed the lawsuit after sending letters to the two Fort Myers television stations that aired the ad, requesting that they remove it. Both stations refused.
The Republican Party of Florida and both television stations in Fort Myers are named as defendants in the suit. Truelieve seeks to clear its name, hold the defendants accountable, and recover damages, accusing the GOP of acting with malice by intentionally deceiving voters.
State Republican Chairman Evan Power told reporters that the ads were accurate and that he was surprised Trulieve is “so sensitive about honest TV ads.”
Missouri to fund psilocybin research
Missouri officials are looking for experts to weigh in on how to spend $5 million on psilocybin studies.
Last week, the state’s Department of Mental Health issued a request for information, asking contractors for ideas on developing competitive grants to study the use of psilocybin and other psychedelics to treat opioid use disorder. The agency will be awarding $5 million from the state’s opioid settlement fund for the research.
The funding initiative behind the request was originally intended for the study of ibogaine, another psychedelic drug known for use in treating addiction disorders. But lawmakers’ focus shifted to psilocybin before specific references to either substance were completely removed from the bill, allowing for the study of any psychedelic that could be used to treat opioid use disorder.
The Department of Mental Health is now moving forward with psilocybin-focused research. The agency’s request asked vendors how psilocybin research would be conducted, whether human subjects would be used and how long the study would last.
Vendors are also being asked whether psilocybin studies align with approved uses under the National Opioid Settlements.
D.C. shuts down pot gifting shops
Washington D.C. officials are shutting down illegal cannabis and psilocybin “gifting” shops around the city, highlighting issues with local cannabis policy.
The city’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration has reportedly issued 26 cease and desist orders and 84 warning letters to businesses gifting marijuana and magic mushrooms illegally. The agency says more than 100 stores are still operating.
Possessing recreational cannabis is legal in Washington D.C., but selling the drug is still illegal.