Jul 26 2024
The Smart & Safe Florida campaign has raised over $66 million for its marijuana legalization initiative, Amendment 3, according to the Florida Division of Elections. This amount, reported as of mid-July, is significantly higher than any previous marijuana legalization initiative in any other state. For context, California’s Proposition 64 campaign raised $25 million in 2016, …
Jul 26 2024
Florida’s Amendment 3, a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, could significantly reduce the state’s criminal justice burden by ending over 60,000 marijuana-related arrests annually. This initiative, spearheaded by the nonprofit political committee Smart & Safe Florida and being voted on this November 5, aims to legalize the possession, purchase, and use of marijuana products for …
Jul 26 2024
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a grant of approximately $6.2 million to the Nashville-based nonprofit Hemp Building Institute. The grant will support the development of hempcrete, a sustainable building material made from hemp. This funding is part of the EPA’s broader $160 million initiative to promote environmentally friendly technologies across various …
Jul 25 2024
According to a new study, consumption of the cannabis compound cannabigerol (CBG) can lead to “overall reductions in anxiety as well as reductions in stress”, while also leading to “enhanced verbal memory relative to placebo”. Published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports, the study is titled Acute effects of cannabigerol on anxiety, stress, and mood: a …
Jul 25 2024
A new report from Human Rights Watch and the Drug Policy Alliance reveals that nearly 50,000 non-citizens have been deported over the past two decades for marijuana possession. The report, covering federal deportation data from 2002 to 2021, indicates that approximately 156,000 non-citizens were deported during this period for drug possession, with nearly one-third (47,000) …
Jul 25 2024
Minnesota has opened the initial application period for recreational marijuana licenses, 14 months after legalizing the substance. The initial applications focus on social equity businesses, allowing some to start growing cannabis plants as early as this fall, although retail sales are expected to commence in the spring. The application process, initiated by the Office of …
Jul 25 2024
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a new policy paper advocating for the decriminalization of marijuana possession. The paper also emphasizes the need for an evidence-based approach to medical education regarding cannabis and its health impacts. A public health approach is necessary to address the legal, medical, and social complexities of cannabis use, …
Jul 24 2024
A recent study published in the journal Archives of Suicide Research has revealed that medicinal cannabis may significantly reduce suicidal ideation among patients. The study, titled “Suicidal Ideation in Medicinal Cannabis Patients: A 12-Month Prospective Study,” aimed to document the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) among individuals seeking cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMP) and to observe …
Jul 24 2024
As the November election draws near, there is a significant possibility of a major shift in marijuana policy. If the Democrats retain the presidency, secure control of the U.S. House of Representatives and maintain or strengthen their positions in the Senate, several pivotal federal marijuana bills are poised for serious consideration and potential enactment. This …
Jul 24 2024
A new study reveals that marijuana use among U.S. youth has remained steady over the past decade, even as overall adult consumption has increased and more than 20 states have legalized recreational marijuana. The study, titled “Prevalence of and trends in current cannabis use among US youth and adults, 2013–2022,” was conducted by researchers from …
