#080 - The Best News of Last Week - April 3, 2023
๐ - Weed Neighbors: Kentucky Legalizes Medical Marijuana, Surrounding Indiana with High Hopes
1. Kentucky Legalizes Medical Marijuana in Bipartisan Vote After Decade of Failed Attempts
The state of Kentucky has legalized the use of medical marijuana. The bill received final passage on Thursday. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear signed it into law Friday morning after a decade of failed attempts in the state legislature.
The news makes Kentucky at least the 38th state in the U.S. to legalize medical marijuana.
Now Indiana is surrounded by weed states. The encirclement is complete ๐
2. The Maryland House of Delegates voted Saturday to approve the Trans Health Equity Act
The Maryland House of Delegates voted Saturday to approve the Trans Health Equity Act โ a bill that just a year ago disappeared from the chamberโs agenda ahead of a floor vote.
The bill would require Maryland Medicaid, beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, to provide coverage for additional gender-affirming treatments, which are currently disallowed in the stateโs plan but commonly covered by private insurance. The expanded treatments include hormone therapy, hair alteration, voice therapy, physical alterations to the body, and fertility preservation.
3. FDA approves over-the-counter Narcan. Here's what it means
The approved nasal spray is the best-known form of naloxone. It can reverse overdoses of opioids, including street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl and prescription versions including oxycodone.
Making naloxone available more widely is seen as a key strategy to control the nationwide overdose crisis. Effects begin within two minutes when given intravenously, and within five minutes when injected into a muscle. The medicine can also be administered by spraying it into a person's nose.
4. Boston expands tuition-free community college program to all residents
Boston has expanded its tuition-free community college program to include all city residents regardless of age, income or immigration status.
Starting this fall, any city resident will be eligible to pursue an associateโs degree or certificate at one of six partnering local institutions without paying to attend. The program also includes a $250 stipend for incidental expenses each semester for up to three years, and up to $2,500 of debt relief for students whose account balances are keeping them from re-enrolling.
5. First cheetah cubs born in India since extinction 70 years ago
India has welcomed the birth of four cheetah cubs - more than 70 years after the animals were declared officially extinct there. India's environment minister announced the good news, calling it a "momentous event".
The country has been trying to reintroduce the big cats for decades, and last year brought eight cheetahs over from Namibia as part of the plan. Another 12 cheetahs were brought to India from South Africa last month.
6. BBC education show in Afghanistan helps children banned from school
The BBC has launched a new education programme for children in Afghanistan who are banned from school. It is aimed at children aged 11 to 16, including girls whose secondary education has been stopped by the ruling Taliban.
The weekly programme is called Dars, which means lesson in Dari and Pashto, Afghanistan's official languages. It is hosted by BBC Afghan female journalists who were evacuated from Kabul during the 2021 Taliban takeover.
Each new weekly half-hour episode of Dars will air four times a day, Saturday to Friday, on the newly launched BBC News Afghanistan channel.
7. A Trans Creator Has Raised Over 1.5 Million for Trans Healthcare on TikTok Live
Transgender TikTokers are celebratingย Trans Day of Visibility by raising over $1.5 million for gender-affirming care around the world.
Mercury Stardust โ a DIY TikToker and trans advocate who calls herself the โTrans Handy Maโamโ โ raised $120,000 last year in a livestream for the mutual aid nonprofitย Point of Pride, which maintains funds for surgeries, hormone therapy, and free binders and gaffs. This year, Stardust and cohost Jory, a.k.a. AlluringSkull, set themselves a goal of raising $1 million in a planned 30-hour live streamโฆand then smashed that milestoneย less than six hours after starting the stream Thursday evening.
In the end, check out this cute idea:
That's it for this week :)
This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation:
Also donโt forget to share this post with your friends.