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Senator Secures Half A Million Dollars For Research On Hemp, Calling It ‘One Of The Oldest And Most Versatile Crops In Agriculture’

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A Democratic senator is touting the inclusion of hemp research provisions she secured as part of a Senate-passed agriculture spending bill, calling the cannabis plant “one of the oldest and most versatile crops in agriculture.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) promoted the $1 million in funding that was incorporated into the appropriations legislation, designated for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cereal Disease Lab. Half of that funding will specifically go toward research into industrial hemp fiber. The other half will go toward research to prevent crop losses caused by mycotoxins.

“This funding ensures Minnesota continues to lead in ag research and emerging crops like industrial hemp. This funding for the Cereal Disease Lab will help farmers expand markets and tackle the most pressing challenges they face in this uncertain moment through innovation,” Klobuchar said in a press release last week. “I will continue to work across the aisle to ensure this funding passes the House and is signed into law.”

The release states that the dollars secured through the senator’s amendment “will allow the lab to accelerate research that benefits Minnesota’s farmers and establish a new partnership aimed at improving processing of industrial hemp fiber.”

While visiting a hemp research lab at the University of Minnesota last week, Klobuchar said the $500,000 in funding that’d be implemented if the Senate bill is enacted into law would “improve opportunities for Minnesota’s industrial hemp growers by expanding processing opportunities and making their businesses more innovative and competitive.”


Sen. Amy Klobuchar secures hemp research funding [RAW]

“You can make everything from flooring to insulation to shirts,” the senator said, pointing to a member of the audience who was wearing hemp-based clothing.

“It’s one of the oldest and most versatile crops in agriculture. The fiber is strong. It’s biodegradable. And it’s eco-friendly,” she said. “But in order for hemp fibers to be fully utilized, we need to invest in the processing technology. This is crucial for our farmers.”

“In Minnesota alone last year, there were 132 licensed hemp growers, 96 licensed processors and over 2,000 acres of industrial hemp planted last year. It’s a strong start, but we clearly have room to grow. Investments in infrastructure and key research into how to process fibers from the plant are needed to accelerate the growth. That’s why the funding is so critical. I was there when we made some exemptions to allow the growth of hemp on the [Senate Agriculture Committee], and now I want to be part of making sure that we’re making the smartest use of this industrial new research partnerships in Saint Paul, creating new world jobs and increasing access to a sustainable crop that can boost farm income. We still have work to do.”

The senator had filed two separate amendments on the issue, one of which would have devoted $250,000 to the hemp project and the other, which was adopted into the overall spending legislation, to earmark half a million dollars for the effort.

While Klobuchar’s amendment was incorporated into the spending bill covering Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (AgFDA), another proposed revision from Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) that would’ve recriminalized consumable hemp products containing any “quantifiable” amount of THC did not make the cut.

That followed a procedural protest from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who warned that the policy change would effectively “destroy” the hemp market that’s proliferated since the crop’s federal legalization under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Paul said recently that he has plans to meet with House lawmakers to “reach a compromise” on an approach to regulate hemp. McConnell has contested the idea that the legislation he sponsored would “completely destroy” the market, as Paul and industry stakeholders have insisted.

The hemp language in the Senate spending bill, prior to being removed, was nearly identical to what the House Appropriations Committee passed in June, with noted cannabis prohibitionist Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) leading the charge.

Meanwhile, Paul recently filed a standalone bill that would go in the opposite direction of the hemp ban, proposing to triple the concentration of THC that the crop could legally contain, while addressing multiple other concerns the industry has expressed about federal regulations.

The senator introduced the legislation, titled the Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act, in June. It mirrors versions he’s sponsored over the last several sessions.

Harris, for his part, told Marijuana Moment that he wasn’t concerned about any potential opposition to the hemp ban in the Senate—and he also disputed reports about the scope of what his legislation would do to the industry.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report in June stating that the legislation would “effectively” prohibit hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Initially it said that such a ban would prevent the sale of CBD as well, but the CRS report was updated to exclude that language for reasons that are unclear.

The hemp language is largely consistent with appropriations and agriculture legislation that was introduced, but not ultimately enacted, under the last Congress.

Hemp industry stakeholders rallied against that proposal, an earlier version of which was also included in the base bill from the subcommittee last year. It’s virtually identical to a provision of the 2024 Farm Bill that was attached by a separate committee last May via an amendment from Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), which was also not enacted into law.

A leading alcohol industry association, meanwhile, has called on Congress to dial back language in the House spending bill that would ban most consumable hemp products, instead proposing to maintain the legalization of naturally derived cannabinoids from the crop and only prohibit synthetic items.

Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) President and CEO Francis Creighton said in a press release that “proponents and opponents alike have agreed that this language amounts to a ban.”

Separately, key GOP congressional lawmakers—including one member who supports marijuana legalization—don’t seem especially concerned about provisions in the bill despite concern from stakeholders that it would put much of the hemp industry in jeopardy by banning most consumable products derived from the plant.


Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.


Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

Jonathan Miller, general counsel at the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, told congressional lawmakers in April that the market is “begging” for federal regulations around cannabis products.

At the hearing, Rep. James Comer (R-KY) also inquired about FDA inaction around regulations, sarcastically asking if it’d require “a gazillion bureaucrats that work from home” to regulate cannabinoids such as CBD.

A report from Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) last year called cannabis a “significant threat” to the alcohol industry, citing survey data that suggests more people are using cannabis as a substitute for alcoholic beverages such a beer and wine.

Last November, meanwhile, a beer industry trade group put out a statement of guiding principles to address what it called “the proliferation of largely unregulated intoxicating hemp and cannabis products,” warning of risks to consumers and communities resulting from THC consumption.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Become a patron at Patreon!





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Can Cannabis Help Make The Brain Younger

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The age old search for youth may have a new direction – marijuana

The fight to stay young and healthy has been going on for hundreds if not thousands of years. Billions have been spent, but now there is a new twist – can cannabis help make the brain younger. In the age of biohacking and wellness trends, millennials juggling Zoom fatigue and daily stress are asking: can cannabis do more than chill us out—might it actually make our brains feel younger?

RELATED: Marijuana Might Be A Better Hurricane Party Guest

Preclinical research has shown striking results: in older mice, low-dose THC boosted synaptic connectivity and improved memory, seemingly reversing age-linked cognitive decline.

On the human front, a controlled trial at Johns Hopkins and Tufts used dronabinol—a synthetic THC—in 75 Alzheimer’s patients experiencing agitation. Over three weeks, a twice-daily 5 mg dose reduced agitation by about 30% and was better tolerated than traditional antipsychotics.

A peaceful sleeping baby nestled in a soft, fluffy blanket inside a wicker basket.

However, when it comes to cognitive effects in healthy or aging adults, the data is more mixed. A JAMA Network Open study tracked 57 new medical cannabis users for a year using fMRI scans. The result? No meaningful changes in working memory, reward processing, or inhibitory control—good news for safety-minded users.

But another large-scale imaging study found among young adults (ages 22–36), heavy cannabis users showed reduced brain activation during working memory tasks—63% in lifetime users and 68% in recent users.

Long-term studies add nuance: a Danish cohort study followed over 5,000 men from young adulthood to their 60s and found no greater cognitive decline among cannabis users—in fact, users showed slightly less IQ decline than non-users

RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

What Does It All Mean for the average person?

  • Dronabinol may soothe brain agitation in Alzheimer’s patients—a meaningful bump in quality of life for patients and caregivers Johns Hopkins Medicine.

  • Medical cannabis over a year doesn’t appear to disrupt key cognitive functions in healthy adults, based on fMRI measures.

  • Heavy recreational use, especially among the younger crowd, may impair working memory and brain activity in imaging studies

  • Long-term cognitive aging trends may not suffer—and could potentially fare better—in users, according to a large Danish study.

While animal studies highlight a fascinating possibility—THC under tightly controlled, low doses might rewind aspects of brain aging— human trials are still in early stages. For Alzheimer’s-related agitation, synthetic THC shows real promise. For healthy adults, cannabis appears neurologically safe over a year. Yet, heavy habitual use—particularly among younger individuals—may carry cognitive costs. Conversely, long-term cognitive aging does not seem accelerated among users—and might even be subtly mitigated.



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Klutch Cannabis Opening 5th Ohio Dispensary in Northfield

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[PRESS RELEASE] – NORTHFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, Aug. 15, 2025 – Klutch Cannabis, one of Ohio’s leading vertically integrated cannabis companies, announced the grand opening of its newest dispensary, located at 10650 Northfield Road in Northfield Village, Ohio. Doors will officially open at 10 a.m. Aug. 21, 2025.

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The new location marks Klutch’s first dispensary in Summit County, where the company is headquartered. Conveniently situated directly across the street from the MGM Northfield Park Casino and Racetrack, the dispensary is easily accessible from Route 8 and I-271, finally bringing much-needed access to medical cannabis patients and adult-use consumers in Northern Summit County communities, including Northfield Village, Macedonia, Northfield Center Township, Twinsburg, Hudson, Sagamore Hills, Boston Township, Richfield Township, Bath Township, and more.

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The expansion further solidifies Klutch’s retail footprint in Northeast Ohio and represents an important milestone as the company begins delivering its renowned top-shelf products on its home turf. Offerings will include exclusive drops and limited releases along with customer favorites from the company’s Klutch Cannabis and Habitat by Klutch lines, its Ohio-exclusive brand partners, and other Ohio cannabis companies. The Northfield dispensary will also feature Klutch’s signature aesthetic and exceptional customer service, as well as a convenient drive-thru pickup window for pre-orders.

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Hours of operation for the new Northfield Village location will be:

  • 10 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
  • 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday
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“We’re incredibly excited to expand Klutch Cannabis’s retail footprint to Summit County,” Klutch founder and CEO Adam Thomarios said. “This location has been years in the making and will finally provide patients and adult-use customers in Northern Summit County with access to the quality, care, and consistency that Klutch is known for. Our thanks go out, especially, to the community, administration, and officials in Northfield Village for being such great partners from the start. The Village is a great place to do business, and we can’t wait to start making a positive impact in the community.”

For more information about Klutch Cannabis, its dispensaries, and its award-winning products, visit KlutchCannabis.com and HabitatbyKlutch.com or follow @KlutchxCommunity and @HabitatbyKlutch on Instagram.



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Book Review: The Traveling Cannabis Writer’s Guide to America’s Hidden Gems

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Every so often, a cannabis book comes along that feels like it has been missing from the shelf for years. Veronica “Vee” Castillo’s Cannabis Legacy Chronicles Series: The Traveling Cannabis Writer’s Guide to America’s Hidden Gems – Part 1: The 30,000-Foot View is one of those rare finds.

We read it cover to cover and it is clear: Vee has built something more than a travelogue. This is six years of crisscrossing the United States, living out of suitcases, rental cars, and guest rooms, documenting over 200 stories that mainstream media rarely touches.

The book brims with voices from every corner of the cannabis map: Black, Brown, and woman-owned businesses, legacy cultivators preserving genetics through prohibition, Caribbean entrepreneurs blending tradition with modern cannabis tourism, and women who left corporate jobs to open dispensaries, grow medicine, and build communities.

What sets it apart is Vee’s perspective. She writes like someone who has been in the grow rooms, sat at the kitchen tables, and walked the fields, not parachuting in for a quick profile but staying long enough to see the heartbeat of each place. Her chapters on women innovators, cultural preservation, and equity-driven tourism do not just inform, they inspire.

This is not a story about cannabis, the commodity. It is about cannabis, the connector.

If you care about the soul of this industry, if you want to see the people and places that make cannabis culture rich and resilient, this book delivers. It is equal parts history, advocacy, and celebration, wrapped in storytelling that is as authentic as it gets.

Vee will soon be bringing that same depth of reporting to High Times, and if Cannabis Legacy Chronicles is any indication, readers are in for something special.

We cannot recommend it enough. Grab your copy of Cannabis Legacy Chronicles: Part 1 here and see why we are so excited to welcome her to the High Times family.



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