An Idaho senator is defending House Joint Resolution 4 (HJR 4), a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Idaho Legislature exclusive authority to legalize marijuana, medical cannabis and other psychoactive substances, preventing voters from doing so through citizen-led ballot initiatives. Supporters argue the measure would ensure any legalization proposal undergoes legislative review and public hearings, while opponents say it would strip Idahoans of a long-standing democratic tool and limit voters’ ability to shape future drug policy. If approved by voters in the November election, the amendment would block future ballot initiatives seeking to legalize marijuana in the state, leaving such decisions solely in the hands of lawmakers. The debate comes as several neighboring states legalized cannabis through voter-approved initiatives, a path that would no longer be available in Idaho under the proposal. (Marijuana Moment)

A new study highlighted by Scientific American found that cannabinoids can activate a specific group of neurons in the brain’s central amygdala, a region involved in processing fear and stress, potentially helping explain why cannabis sometimes causes anxiety, panic or paranoia instead of relaxation. Researchers observed that mice given a cannabinoid compound became increasingly anxious in stressful situations, with higher doses producing stronger fear-related responses. The study found that cannabinoids weaken a natural inhibitory “brake” in the brain, allowing fear circuits to become overactive when combined with environmental stress. Scientists say the findings could help explain why a pleasant cannabis experience can sometimes turn negative, particularly with high doses or in stressful settings. (Scientific American)

A new study from Northwestern University identified a group of brain cells in the central amygdala that may help explain why cannabis can sometimes increase anxiety instead of reducing it. In experiments involving mice, researchers found that higher doses of cannabinoid compounds combined with stressful situations activated specific neurons associated with fear and anxiety, causing the animals to show heightened threat responses. The team concluded that cannabis may weaken the brain’s natural “brake” on these fear circuits, helping explain why a pleasant experience can quickly turn anxious in stressful environments. The findings could contribute to future research on both cannabis-related anxiety and new approaches for treating anxiety disorders.

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A large study involving more than 11,000 adolescents found that teens who begin using cannabis tend to show slower gains in memory, attention, language and processing speed compared with their nonusing peers. Researchers observed that many cannabis users started out with similar or even slightly higher cognitive scores, but their progress leveled off over time while other teens continued to improve. The findings also suggest that THC exposure may play a key role, as teens with evidence of THC use showed worsening memory performance over time. While the study does not prove cannabis directly caused the changes, researchers say the results raise concerns about cannabis use during a critical period of brain development. (Psypost)