May 30 2024

New York Bill to Allow Licensed Marijuana Events Ordered to Third and Final Reading in Senate

Legislation aimed at allowing and regulating marijuana events across the state has passed through its second reading in the New York Senate and has been ordered to a third and final reading.

Filed by Senator Michelle Hinchey, Senate Bill 9679 will be sent to the Assembly if it passes its final reading in the Senate. If enacted into law, the measure would amend the existing marijuana law by adding Section 130-a, which establishes a framework for cannabis event permits.

The bill defines a “cannabis event” as an event where licensed retailers of adult-use cannabis can sell their products outside of their licensed premises. These events can take place at various locations such as theatrical productions, concerts, sporting events, exhibitions, private venues, or any other location authorized by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Additionally, these events may include educational activities, music, and other forms of entertainment.
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May 30 2024

Study Finds CBD Gel Reduces Pain and Enhances Grip Strength in Hand Osteoarthritis Patients

A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports and available online through the National Library of Medicine has revealed promising results for the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in treating hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, Avecho Biotechnology, and the NTF Group in Australia, the study explored the potential benefits of a novel transdermal CBD gel for managing this chronic condition.

Hand OA is a degenerative disease characterized by chronic pain and impaired functionality, and current treatment options often fall short. CBD has previously demonstrated analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in preclinical arthritis models, prompting researchers to investigate its efficacy in human subjects.
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May 30 2024

Florida Governor Set to Veto Bill to Ban Delta-8 THC

Governor Ron DeSantis is set to veto legislation banning Delta-8 THC, according to multiple sources within the governor’s office.

Gummies made with delta-8 THC.

If enacted, Senate Bill 1698 would limit the sale of hemp products containing Delta-9 THC while placing a complete ban on the production and sale of products containing Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC. Those in the hemp industry argue that if the bill passes, it would devastate the industry and lead to thousands of job losses.

Florida’s Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1698 in a unanimous 39 to 0 vote, meaning they have well more than the two-thirds required to override a governor’s veto. However, the measure’s passage was much closer in the House of Representatives, with the final vote being 64 to 48.
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May 30 2024

Trump Found Guilty on 34 Felony Charges, Bolstering Biden’s Reelection Bid

Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records to influence the 2016 presidential campaign.

(Photo credit: Andrew Kelly/Pool via AP)

A New York jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts related to a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The prosecution alleged that Daniels was paid to keep secret a 2006 tryst she had with Trump in order to influence the results of the 2016 election, which Trump ultimately won. The verdict comes at a time when nationwide polling shows him around 2% ahead of President Biden.

The trial lasted a month and a half, with the verdict coming swiftly. In addition to the fiery testimonies of Daniels and Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump was held in contempt of court ten times and fined $10,000 for violating a gag order against attacking people involved with the trial. Many Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, traveled to New York to speak out in support of the 2024 Republican presidential candidate.
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May 30 2024

Federally Funded Study Reveals Marijuana Terpenes Effective in Chronic Pain Management

In a groundbreaking study funded by federal agencies, researchers have discovered that terpenes, a component of marijuana, can significantly alleviate chronic neuropathic pain in mice through the activation of adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR).

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in many plants, contributing to their flavor and scent, and are abundant in cannabis. Previous studies have hinted at the analgesic properties of terpenes, but this study provides a more focused insight into their mechanisms and effectiveness.

The research team, which included researchers from the University of Arizona and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, utilized a mouse model to explore the effects of specific terpenes (geraniol, linalool, β-pinene, α-humulene, and β-caryophyllene) in treating chronic pain conditions, including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and inflammatory pain caused by lipopolysaccharide. The terpenes were tested at a dosage of 200 mg/kg, which showed a level of pain relief comparable to standard pain medications like morphine and the synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212.
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May 30 2024

Marijuana Use Linked to Lower Prostate Cancer Rates, Study Finds

Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Florida, and the University of Connecticut have published a study that suggests marijuana use may be linked to lower prostate cancer prevalence.

Utilizing data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health spanning 2002 to 2020, the study involved a significant sample size of 2,503 participants across the United States. The participants were categorized based on their marijuana use status: current users, former users, and those who have never used. The researchers also incorporated eleven demographic variables as covariates to ensure the accuracy of their findings.

Researchers found that prostate cancer prevalence was notably lower in current marijuana users (31.7%) and former users (31.6%) compared to those who have never used marijuana (39.9%). This difference was statistically significant, suggesting a protective effect of marijuana against prostate cancer. Further analysis revealed that this trend was particularly pronounced among the elderly (aged 65 and above) and non-Hispanic whites, with current and former users showing significantly lower rates of prostate cancer compared to non-users in these groups.
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May 30 2024

New Hampshire House Rejects Senate Amendments to Marijuana Legalization Bill, Calls for Conference Committee

The New Hampshire House of Representatives has voted to reject Senate amendments to a bill aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana and is requesting the establishment of a conference committee.

The House’s decision to reject the Senate’s amendments comes a week after the Senate passed the bill with a vote of 14 to 10. This marked the first time in US history that Republican-led state Senate passed a marijuana legalization bill.

The House passed HB 1633 in March with a vote of 239 to 136. However, due to amendments made by the Senate, the bill required final concurrence from the House. Today, the House voted 261 to 108 against concurring with the Senate’s version of the bill. Instead, they are seeking to establish a conference committee consisting of members from both the Senate and House to address the differences between the two chambers’ versions of the bill.
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May 30 2024

President Biden Says the Thousands of Marijuana Charges He Pardoned Should Also Be Expunged

President Biden has issued thousands of federal marijuana pardons. Now, he says these charges should also be expunged.

President Biden speaking at a campaign event in Philadelphia on May 29.

In October 2022, President Joe Biden announced a sweeping pardon for all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. The pardon applied to thousands of individuals convicted on federal charges since 1992.  Following the initial pardons, over a year later the administration expanded the scope of marijuana-related clemency efforts to include thousands of additional charges.

Now, President Biden says that these charges should also be expunged.
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May 30 2024

New York Senate Passes Bill Allowing Cannabis-Related Employment for Individuals on Parole

The New York Senate has passed a bill allowing individuals under parole, probation, or other state supervision to be employed by cannabis licensees.

The bill, introduced by Senator Kevin Parker in February, was approved yesterday with a vote of 45 to 16. The measure amends the existing cannabis law, specifically targeting Section 127, subdivision 6, to expand employment opportunities for those under state supervision.

Under the revised law, individuals on parole, probation, or other state supervision will not face punishment or penalties for engaging in conduct allowed under the cannabis law, provided their supervision terms do not explicitly prohibit such activities.
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May 30 2024

Louisiana Legislature Approves Bill Allowing Automatic Pardons for Marijuana Possession Convictions

Legislation that allows for the automatic expungement of first-time marijuana possession convictions has been given approval by Louisiana’s full legislature.

House Bill 391 “Removes eligibility for a pardon by the governor without the necessity of completion of sentence and without a recommendation of the Board of Pardons for a person convicted of possessing more than 14 grams of marijuana.” The measure was filed by State Representatives Delisha Boyd, Tehmi Chassion and Alonzo Knox.

Yesterday the measure was given final approval in the House of Representatives by a vote of 63 to 30. The Senate passed the bill eight days prior 31 to 7. It will now be sent to Governor Jeff Landry.
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