Hey there, Benzinga Cannabis family, we hope you had a fabulous Easter, Passover and 4/20! Maureen Meehan here with your Cannabis Daily news from across the marijuana world.

Today's buzz? Oh, it's spicy. We’ve got Timothy Leary’s jailbreak straight out of a Hollywood script, THC panic spreading through political circles, a PAC going all-in on the Trump-Biden cannabis saga, and Ohio finally living its best 4/20 life — legally.

Plus, we’re diving deep into hemp drama in Texas and the complex chemical secrets of cannabis you probably didn’t learn from your budtender.

Let’s light this thing up. 🔥

In today's issue:

• 🧨 Counterculture History

• 🧪 Potency Panic & Policy

• 🗳️ Politics & Power Plays

• 🍄 Psychedelics & Policy

• 🌾 Hemp Hustle, Texas Edition

• 🎉 Culture & Community

• 🔬 Science Spotlight

🕶️ Inside Timothy Leary’s Audacious Prison Escape

It’s the prison break that feels more Ken Kesey than Shawshank: Rolling Stone shared an excerpt from Acid Queen, Susannah Cahalan’s new book chronicling the wild world of Rosemary Leary — yes, Timothy’s partner-in-psychedelic-rebellion.

Rolling Stone’s focus? Timothy Leary’s actual escape from prison, an operation that seems to have had a little help from an elite cast of characters: the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, the Weather Underground, and — get this — their attorney, the late Michael Kennedy, who was legal counsel and chairman of High Times magazine for over four decades.

While Kennedy and his wife Eleanora denied orchestrating the caper, friends and allies paint a murkier picture. Bill Ayers, a key member of the Weather Underground, recalled that Kennedy acted as middleman between the Brotherhood of Eternal Love and the Weather Underground. “We met with Michael one day and he said, ‘These folks are interested in getting Tim Leary out of prison, and they wondered if you all would be interested in helping if you had any capacity to do that?’”

Even Kennedy himself admitted in a later documentary: “We do our best work in the dark.” Now that’s a lawyer you want on retainer — or in a spy movie.

🚨 Today’s Weed Is Incredibly Strong. But That’s Not What You Should Be Worried About

THC levels have politicians spooked — but they may be missing the point. According to physician and cannabis expert Peter Grinspoon, over-hyping potency concerns could backfire, especially for medical marijuana patients.

"Now it’s stronger. And the argument is it’s so dangerous because it’s so potent,” Grinspoon told Slate. But here’s the rub: Patients use less when cannabis is stronger. Mandated potency caps? They might just force people to smoke more — bad for lungs, bad for wallets.

And don’t even start with those THC label percentages. Due to inconsistent lab testing, they’re about as reliable as your ex’s promises.

📊 THC Levels Have Quadrupled Since The 1990s

To visualize this potency panic: In the ’90s, 5% THC weed was elite. Today in LA? Good luck finding anything under 20%. As more Americans go “California sober,” first-timers might be in for an unexpected rocket ride.

As Ziva Cooper from UCLA put it: “It’s very difficult to find cannabis that’s less than 20% THC.”

🧢 Marijuana Industry PAC Ad Accuses Biden Of Waging ‘Deep State War’ Against Cannabis, Urging Trump To Save The Day With Rescheduling

The latest ad from the American Rights and Reform PAC goes full Alex Jones, accusing Biden’s DEA of sabotaging rescheduling efforts. The ad asks Trump to "finish what he started" — even though, well, Biden started the rescheduling review in the first place. 🤷‍♀️ Meanwhile, Trump’s own DEA appointees have been staunch anti-cannabis crusaders. So while the ad's got buzz, the facts are kinda... hazy. 🌫️

⚖️ Colorado Governor Could Grant Mass Pardons For Psychedelics-Related Convictions Under Newly Filed Bill

Colorado is leading the charge — again. A new bill could allow Gov. Jared Polis to pardon past low-level psychedelic offenses, as the state fine-tunes its legalization framework. The proposal covers substances like psilocybin, ibogaine, and DMT — yes, that DMT.

Let the healing begin... legally.

🧬 Hemp Farmers Say Texas Bill To Rein In Intoxicating Cannabinoid Products Could Destroy State Industry

Senate Bill 3 is causing waves in Texas, and not the fun kind. If passed, the bill would ban any consumable hemp products containing even trace amounts of THC. Farmers? They’re panicked and with good reason.

They say it would gut a growing industry and cost millions in state revenue. Think: $19.3 million gone from Texas’s books. Cities alone could lose $2.1M a year by 2030. All for banning products that are — let’s be real — already tightly regulated.

🌿 Marijuana Enthusiasts Celebrate First 4/20 In Ohio Since Legal Recreational Sales Began

Ohio’s first legal 4/20 was one for the books. Adrienne Robbins, deputy exec of OHCANN, said the day was a high-water mark (pun fully intended) for sales and optimism.

“Years ago we probably didn’t know if we were going to reach this day or not... this has been a high sale weekend for them,” Robbins shared.

Still, challenges remain: tough marketing restrictions and pricing hurdles keep some Ohioans looking north to Michigan. But with numbers trending up, Ohio’s green future looks bright.

🧬 Cannabis’ Chemical Properties Hold Promise And Mystery

Cannabis isn’t just THC and CBD. According to Nolan Kane, a plant geneticist at University of Colorado Boulder, the plant contains hundreds of compounds — many of them still mysteries.

“There’s THCA, CBDA, CBD, THC, CBG…” Kane told local media, each with its own impact on mood, sleep, pain, and more. With seven percent of U.S. adults using cannabis for medical conditions, understanding how these compounds interact with our endocannabinoid system is more vital than ever.

Research? Just getting started. But the potential? Massive. 🚀

That’s all for today’s Cannabis Daily — and what a ride it’s been. From Leary’s jailbreak to Texas’s hemp crossroads, we’re watching a world in flux. Keep your eyes peeled, your mind open, and your stash legal.

See you tomorrow! 🌱

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