Trulieve Faces Backlash Over Cannabis Death, Nevada Cannabis Sales Decline, and Scientists Stumble Upon Non-hallucinogenic Psychedelics

OSHA found Trulieve partly to blame for the first cannabis-related death on record, Nevada cannabis profits declined again, and scientists found antidepressant molecules similar to LSD/psilocybin without hallucinogenic effects.

Let’s dive into this week’s cannanews.

Trulieve in Hot Water Over First Cannabis-Related Death

Back in January, a Trulieve employee passed away after inhaling kief at a cultivation site. The incident marked the first recorded cannabis-related death in history. Despite this, the news initially flew under the radar. That is until the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) report on the incident hit the web earlier this week.

The report revealed that the employee was grinding cannabis flower and packaging pre-rolls when the incident happened. According to OSHA, Trulieve was partly to blame for the incident, as it failed to provide its employees with proper workplace safety hazards and training. These violations resulted in a $35,000 fine for Trulieve.

Amid the media outrage, Trulieve released a statement saying it would not be discussing the incident “out of respect for the family’s privacy.” However, the company did mention that an OSHA investigation found that the “air quality throughout the facility and the samples were all well below acceptable range.”

The victim’s family is now considering suing Trulieve over the incident. Make sure to check in with Veriheal to stay up-to-date with this developing story.

What do you think of the incident that led to the first cannabis-related death? Do you think Trulieve should receive the bulk of the blame? Let us know in the comments!

Nevada Cannabis Sales Decline Again

Nevada’s (NV) legal cannabis industry raked in $965 million in taxable sales over the last fiscal year. The figure represents a 4% drop in sales from the previous fiscal year—continuing a trend of decreasing sales since the sky-high profits of the pandemic.

Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board spokesperson Tiana Bohner spoke on the decrease, reassuring the public that it is no big deal. “While sales increased during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bohner told the Nevada Independent, “cannabis businesses are not immune to the effects of inflation and lack of disposable income as consumers adjust their spending habits and priorities.”

Cannabis activists and business owners, however, are not buying Bohner’s excuse. The decrease in revenue, combined with an increase in taxes for the industry, has left many feeling increasingly frustrated with NV’s cannabis policy. Earlier this year, a coalition of cannabis business owners spoke out against the excessive taxes and fees placed on the industry. According to business owners, these extreme fees push customers toward the much cheaper illegal market.

$147 million of the $965 million in sales will be headed to the state’s K-12 budget. Another $5 million of the profit will be headed to local government regulation agencies. 

Do you agree with the cannabis business owners’ gripes on NV’s high fees and taxes? Let us know in the comments!

Scientists Accidentally Discover Non-hallucinogenic Psychedelics

Psychedelics like LSD and magic mushrooms have powerful and long-lasting antidepressant properties. Unfortunately, their hallucinogenic effects often scare away many folks who would benefit from their use. Thankfully, it seems that scientists may have found a solution.

Interestingly enough, the research team’s discovery happened completely by accident. Researchers were initially building a virtual library of molecules that affect the brain’s serotonin system. Inspired by the reports of psychedelics’ powerful antidepressant properties, the team scoured its virtual library to find molecules that had the same effects as these substances.

The team found two molecules that closely mimicked the potency and properties of psychedelics. The team fed these molecules to mice and found that they were “extremely effective” at relieving the symptoms of depression. Even better, the molecules were able to provide this relief without triggering any hallucinogenic effects in the mice.

Though the results were promising, the team says it needs additional time to refine these molecules for human use. For one, the molecules still produced many of the same unwanted side effects as LSD, like increased heart rate and blood pressure. Nonetheless, this discovery is incredibly important and will likely change the face of mental healthcare in the near future.

Make sure to check in with Veriheal to stay up to date with the findings of this incredible study.