Government
The DEA Wants More Weed and Mushrooms Grown for Research – Is It a Trap for One-Sided Negative Research Papers?
Is it a good or bad thing that the DEA wants more cannabis and mushrooms grown for research?
The DEA Wants to Double the Amount of Cannabis & Psychedelics Grown for Research
This Doesn’t Seem Like Good News
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a notice earlier this month, announcing their intention of proposing a much larger increase in cannabis to be grown for research by next year. The notice specifically mentions they want to boost the production of psychedelics including psilocin, mescaline, and LSD, reports Marijuana Moment.
The notice proposed the production of some 14,770 pounds of marijuana for 2023. In 2021, their proposal was to grow 2 million grams and for 2022, it was 3.2 million grams. The latest request is almost double the growth of marijuana.
In addition, the DEA also wants to increase the production of psilocybin. As there has been a psychedelic revolution around the United States in the last few years with localities and states decriminalizing psychedelics, more people than ever are curious about their healing properties. This year, the production quota for psilocybin was 8,000 grams but the DEA wants to look into manufacturing psilocyn, another important compound found in magic mushrooms, from 4,000 to 8,000 grams. Among other psychedelics that the DEA is keen to research are LSD, mescaline, and 5-MeO-DMT.
Is this really good news, or are they looking to create biased, one-sided studies that are only going to reveal negative side effects from these therapeutic substances? Let’s take a tri
Because not too long ago, just earlier this year on January 12, 2022, the DEA already wanted to criminalize psychedelics. Docket No. DEA-623, which is based on a 2012 Health and Human Services report, was proposed by the DEA. It recommends to move 5 psychedelic drugs (which are so obscure) into the Schedule 1 category. These drugs include Moxy, Alpha-O, and iprocin among others, all of which are tryptamines, which belong to the same class of drugs as LSD and magic mushrooms.
Why in 2022? Why these obscure drugs? Why now when we are trying to decriminalize cannabis federally and make more psychedelics accessible to everyone who needs it?
It’s also ironic that the DEA proposed such a rule RIGHT when there was dozens of clinical research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics coming in. Psychedelics have been proven to treat a myriad of psychological and physical ailments especially where pharmaceutical drugs have failed.
The docket was open to public comment until February 14, though, it isn’t surprising that many of the responses were criticizing the DEA.
“Actions such as this are completely misguided and actually contribute negatively to the so called war on drugs,” said one commenter. “If these substances are banned they will be replaced by more and more obscure and convoluted chemicals with even more questionable safety profiles. Please stop and think about the potential ramifications of a decision like this,” they continued.
They aren’t wrong.
It’s no wonder the DEA withdrew from their plan to outlaw these psychedelics.
What Is President Biden Going To Do About The Classification Of Marijuana?
More recently, US President Joe Biden made an announcement through a video recording that there were new executive actions intended to address the current stance of marijuana in the United States. With 37 states already legalizing cannabis for medical use and recreational use legal in 19 states as of the time of writing, it simply makes no sense for people to suffer for past federal offenses that only involve possession of the drug.
Biden said that a new executive order would pardon all previous federal possession offenses, which would greatly impact the lives of over 6,500 Americans. However, he also had a second announcement, urging governors to also issue pardons for state cannabis possession offenses. In addition, he called for a federal review of the current classification of marijuana, since it’s still a Schedule 1 substance – on the same category of LSD and heroin.
“As I said when I ran for president, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana,” he disclosed in a statement. “It’s legal in many states, and criminal records for marijuana possession have led to needless barriers to employment, housing and educational opportunities,” he continued.
According to senior government officials, Biden still wants to place restrictions to control underage sales of marijuana as well as trafficking. “The president has been clear that our marijuana laws are not working,” said an administration official to reporters. “Members of Congress have been working on this issue, but that effort is stalled. And we’re almost at the end of Congress. So, the president has been considering his options and he’s now taking executive action to address the country’s failed approach to marijuana,” they said.
Necessary Actions? Where Are The Changes?
Given all that, one can say that the DEA and the US government are simply lacking in action. They have many things to say about the failure of the war on drugs, trafficking, underage sales, Schedule 1, decriminalization, abuse, and so much more.
Yet here we are asking: where are the actions that follow?
2023 is already approaching, and marijuana is still a Schedule 1 substance. Meanwhile, the DEA is interested in making obscure psychedelics Schedule 1 substances. Sure, they want to study the drugs more, but where is that all going to go? Are they really going to make an effort to make the lives of millions of Americans easier by simplifying acess to the natural medicines they badly need, or is it all a front?
America needs action, and not words.
Corruption
Vigilance Arrests Officials After Bribery Complaints at Supply Office
HARIDWAR, Uttarakhand — Officials from the Dehradun-based Vigilance Department have arrested Haridwar District Supply Officer Shyam Arya and two other employees on charges of accepting a bribe of ₹50,000, authorities confirmed. The arrests took place during a planned operation after investigators laid a trap at the District Supply Office in response to repeated complaints from the public.
According to vigilance sources, the accused were caught “red-handed” while receiving the alleged bribe, reportedly demanded in exchange for official services within the department. The operation, coordinated from the state capital of Dehradun, underscores the department’s commitment to tackling corruption.
Complaints That Triggered the Operation
The arrests followed months of complaints alleging that officials at the Haridwar District Supply Office were routinely soliciting illegal payments for government services. These included the issuance of ration cards, approvals for licenses, and other administrative clearances under the public distribution system.
Vigilance officials said preliminary verification of the complaints indicated a recurring pattern rather than isolated incidents. Following this assessment, the department used a standard anti-corruption tactic of laying a trap to obtain direct evidence of bribe solicitation and acceptance.
Inside the Supply Office
After the arrests, vigilance teams established a presence inside the office, sealing parts of the premises while examining files and records. Investigators are reviewing documentation related to recent approvals and transactions to determine whether the alleged bribery was systemic.
The accused are also being questioned to identify potential accomplices and to ascertain whether accepting bribes was a routine practice. Officials noted that the investigation could expand depending on findings from the document review and interrogations.
A Broader Anti-Corruption Push
The case has drawn attention across Uttarakhand’s administrative machinery, particularly within the Supply Department, which plays a vital role in delivering welfare services. Vigilance officials said the arrests reflect a “zero-tolerance” approach toward corruption and warned that similar operations will continue wherever credible complaints arise.
The state’s anti-corruption drives have intensified in recent months, emphasizing both deterrence and accountability. While the investigation in Haridwar remains in its early stages, officials say it highlights the risks faced by public servants accused of exploiting their positions and the growing willingness of enforcement agencies to act on citizen complaints.
Business
A Tipping Point for Cannabis: President Trump Champions CBD & Cannabis Science on Truth Social
When the President of the United States shares a video about the life changing potential of hemp derived CBD on his personal social media platform, it is more than news, it is a cultural shift.
For decades our government lied to us about cannabis. It demonized the plant, waged war on its users, and filled prisons while allowing pharmaceutical companies to flood the nation with addictive and deadly drugs. For over a century we have been fighting uphill, not just for legalization, but for truth, for science, and for the right to heal ourselves naturally.
Now in 2025, the most powerful political figure on Earth is using his own voice and platform to talk about the endocannabinoid system and the science backed benefits of CBD. That is monumental. It is validation for everyone who has fought, been arrested, been silenced, and been dismissed for telling this truth. The President’s video post is already being described as a pivotal moment in cannabis history, and President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social is trending across platforms as advocates celebrate the breakthrough.
The Science Behind the Endocannabinoid System
The video begins by introducing something most people, including many doctors, still know little about, the endocannabinoid system. Discovered in the 1990s, the ECS is a network of receptors and signaling molecules that works as the body’s master regulator, coordinating communication between major systems like the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems.
The roots of this discovery go back much further. CBD was first isolated in 1940 by American chemist Roger Adams, but it was Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli organic chemist, who fully elucidated the chemical structure of CBD and identified its stereochemistry in the 1960s. His pioneering work not only opened the door to modern cannabinoid science but also earned him the title “Godfather of Cannabis Research.” It was this foundation that led to the identification of the endocannabinoid system itself decades later, revealing how cannabinoids interact with our physiology on a fundamental level.
The ECS is now widely recognized as a vital part of human biology, with extensive research supported by the National Institutes of Health. When functioning properly, the ECS acts like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every section plays in harmony. As we age, the system weakens. That imbalance is linked to inflammation, chronic pain, cognitive decline, sleep problems, and many other conditions associated with aging.
Mainstream medicine often addresses these issues with pharmaceutical band aids, dangerous and addictive drugs that treat symptoms rather than root causes. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise help, but they only partially support the ECS and do so slowly over time.
Hemp Derived CBD: A Game Changer for Aging
Here is where the science gets exciting. As the video explains, the ECS can be restored much more quickly with hemp derived CBD. Strengthening this system naturally helps the body regain balance, reducing pain, improving sleep, lowering stress, slowing disease progression, and even extending healthy lifespan.
It is not theoretical. One in five seniors is already using CBD to manage pain, arthritis, cancer symptoms, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, and more. Despite decades of research and acknowledgment from institutions like the National Institutes of Health, most physicians receive no training on the ECS. There are still no FDA standards for CBD products on the market. If that were the case for any other class of medicine, it would be considered malpractice.
The World Health Organization has confirmed CBD’s excellent safety profile and non addictive nature in its critical review report. The result is that millions of older Americans are suffering unnecessarily when a safe and natural solution exists.
Hemp derived CBD is a powerful first step in restoring balance to the endocannabinoid system, but it is only part of the picture. Research shows that full spectrum cannabis extracts, which include a broader range of cannabinoids and terpenes, can work even more effectively. Complete concentrated cannabis oil, containing the full spectrum of natural endocannabinoids, may deliver the most profound results for certain patients. Expanding access to these therapies will be essential if we want to unlock the full healing potential of this plant.
The Economic and Social Impact
The video cites a powerful figure. A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis estimates that fully integrating cannabis into the healthcare system could save the United States nearly 64 billion dollars annually. These savings reflect reduced pharmaceutical dependency, fewer hospitalizations, improved chronic disease outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for aging Americans. You can read more about PwC’s research on healthcare innovation here.
It is a financial argument, but it is also a moral one. Why should our elders endure pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline when nature has given us tools to help them live longer, happier, and healthier lives?
A Call to Action: Finish What the Farm Bill Started
The message concludes by crediting the 2018 Farm Bill, championed by President Trump, for legalizing hemp and laying the groundwork for today’s CBD market. The Farm Bill was just the first step.
Now the call is for bold next moves.
- Educate doctors about the endocannabinoid system
- Include CBD under Medicare coverage
- Provide clear federal standards for CBD quality and dosing
These steps would constitute the most significant senior health reform in modern history, one that would transform aging and cement a powerful legacy for any administration that makes it happen.
What This Means for Future Cannabis Medicine
For those of us who have been in the cannabis community for decades, this is not just another news story. It is a signal that our movement is winning. A conversation that was once criminalized and censored is now being amplified by the President of the United States on his own platform.
It means the science is undeniable. It means the truth can no longer be buried. It means the wall of prohibition is cracking, not just legally, but culturally, scientifically, and politically.
It also means that everything we have been fighting for at 420 Magazine since 1993, education, access, healing, and justice, is finally moving full steam ahead. The President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social moment is proof that science and policy are finally converging.
Business
New Mexico cannabis operator fined, loses license for alleged BioTrack fraud
New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.
The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.
The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.
The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.
After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.
In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.
The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.
At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.
Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.
Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.
The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:
- Regulators alleged in August that Albuquerque dispensary Sawmill Sweet Leaf sold out-of-state products and didn’t have a license for extraction.
- Paradise Exotics Distro lost its license in July after regulators alleged the company sold products made in California.
Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/
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