Latest California Healthline Stories

First, Marijuana. Are Magic Mushrooms Next?
Advocates in Oregon and Denver are pushing ballot measures to allow possession of mushrooms containing the hallucinogenic ingredient psilocybin, as new research shows it may be useful in treating depression and anxiety. Supporters of a measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms in California ended their effort late last month.

Momentum To Regulate Drug Prices Uncertain After Prop 61 Defeat, Republican Victories
Any proposals to rein in prescription drug costs will likely come from states, rather than national lawmakers, experts say.

California Lends Its Weight To Wider Marijuana Acceptance
The number of states with laws permitting marijuana use underscores a national cultural shift toward wider acceptance of the drug, despite the federal ban and limited evidence on the public health impacts of legalization.

Voters Say Yes To Marijuana Legalization, Tobacco Tax; Reject Drug Price Initiative
Californians also approve the continuation of a fee paid by hospitals to generate more money for Medi-Cal.

California’s Drug Price Initiative: Will Voters ‘Send A Signal To Washington’?
Despite heavy opposition from the pharmaceutical industry and skepticism from policy experts, many voters see Proposition 61 as a way to protest the nation’s mounting drug prices.

California Voters Divided On Drug Price Ballot Measure But Support Other Health Initiatives
Support for Proposition 61 has declined in recent weeks in the wake of fierce campaigning by pharma-backed opponents.

Maverick AIDS Activist To Porn Police? The Man Behind California’s Proposition 60
Michael Weinstein of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation says he is promoting condoms where others have forgotten them.

Would California’s Proposed Tobacco Tax Hike Reduce Smoking?
When New York increased its cigarette tax, smoking rates declined. California’s proposed increase of $2 a pack may, too, say researchers. The higher the tax, the more likely people are to quit.

Election Buzz: Critics Of Legal Pot Say Addiction Becomes ‘A Disease Of The Family’
As more states consider legalizing recreational marijuana, families consider what messages to present to young people about using pot. Should it be avoidance, moderation or acceptance? Differing views from Arizona and Oregon.

Election Buzz: A Look At Brain Science As 5 States Vote On Legalizing Pot
Recreational marijuana is on the ballot in five states in November. What do we know about pot’s effects on the brain?