Jul 28 2024

Psilocybin Shows Potential in Treating Anorexia Nervosa, Study Finds

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of California has found that psilocybin therapy may be a safe and acceptable treatment option for women with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Dried psilocybin.

Published in the journal Focus: American Psychiatric Association Publishing, the study represents a significant step in exploring new treatments for this challenging and often deadly disorder.

Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental illness characterized by restrictive eating and an intense fear of gaining weight. There are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat the core symptoms of AN, making the search for effective therapies critical. This open-label feasibility study involved 10 adult female participants who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for AN or partial remission (pAN).
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Jul 27 2024

Kamala Harris Supports Marijuana Legalization, Saying “It Gives a Lot of People Joy and We Need More Joy”

Over the past five years, Vice President Kamala Harris, now a presidential candidate, has consistently shown support for marijuana legalization.

In a notable shift from her earlier stance, when she opposed legalizing marijuana as the District Attorney of San Francisco, Harris has evolved to become a vocal proponent of legalization. In April, she became the first U.S. vice president to publicly support legalization, stating, “We need to legalize marijuana.”

Harris has consistently supported legalization since 2019, saying in September of that year, “It’s time to end mass incarceration. This includes legalizing marijuana, sentencing reforms, and abolishing private prisons.”
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Jul 26 2024

Florida Marijuana Legalization Campaign Surpasses $66 Million in Fundraising

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, and Ohio’s Issue 2 raised $7 million last year; both initiatives were successfully passed into law.

Of the $66 million raised, approximately $60 million came from the medical marijuana company Trulieve. Other major contributors include Verano Holdings LLC, Curaleaf Inc., AYR Wellness Inc., and Green Thumb Industries.
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Jul 26 2024

Florida’s Amendment 3 Would End Over 60,000 Marijuana Arrests Annually

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 adults aged 21 and older. Amendment 3 allows individuals to possess up to three ounces of dried marijuana flower and up to five grams of marijuana concentrates.

Amendment 3 also provides for the establishment of licensed retail outlets, which would sell these products to consumers. Medical marijuana dispensaries in Florida would have the option to obtain a dual license, allowing them to participate in the recreational market​.
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Jul 26 2024

US Environmental Protection Agency Awards Millions for Hempcrete Development

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a grant of approximately $6.2 million to the Nashville-based nonprofit Hemp Building Institute.

Hempcrete

Hempcrete (photo credit: TaoClimate).

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 industries.

Hempcrete, a sustainable construction material, combines hemp hurds with a lime binder, resulting in a lightweight, concrete-like substance. It is valued for its insulating qualities and environmental benefits, making it an increasingly popular alternative to conventional building materials. The grant from the EPA is intended to promote the use of biogenic materials, such as hemp, soy, and straw bale, by developing environmental product declarations (EPDs) and life cycle assessments (LCAs) that measure the environmental impact throughout their life cycle.
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Jul 25 2024

Clinical Trial Finds Cannabigerol (CBG) Improves Memory and Decreases Stress and Anxiety

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 double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, field trial. It was conducted by researchers at Washington State University and the University of California.

“Cannabigerol (CBG) is a phytocannabinoid increasing in popularity, with preclinical research indicating it has anxiolytic and antidepressant effects”, states the study’s abstract. “However, there are no published clinical trials to corroborate these findings in humans.”
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Jul 25 2024

Nearly 50,000 People Deported for Marijuana Possession Since 2002, Finds Report

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) of these cases involving marijuana.

The report, titled Disrupt and Vilify: The War on Immigrants Inside the US War on Drugs, highlights that some deportations are for activities related to marijuana that are no longer illegal under state and local laws. The authors noted that federal immigration laws have not been updated to reflect changing public attitudes toward marijuana.
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Jul 25 2024

Minnesota Opens Application Process for Recreational Marijuana Licenses

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 Cannabis Management (OCM), began on Wednesday with the opening of a preapproval license window for businesses verified as involving social equity applicants, reports MinnPost. This initial application window closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, August 12.
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Jul 25 2024

American College of Physicians Advocates for Marijuana Decriminalization

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, says the American College of Physicians (ACP) in a new policy paper released today.

“Regulatory Framework for Cannabis: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians,” published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, issues recommendations to policymakers on adopting a public health approach to prevent and control adverse cannabis-related health outcomes.
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Jul 24 2024

Medical Marijuana Linked to Decrease in Suicidal Thoughts, Finds Study

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 changes in their mental health over a 12-month period.

The study followed 3,781 patients at the start of their treatment, with follow-up data available for 2,112 patients at three months and 777 patients at 12 months. Researchers used self-reported measures of depressed mood and SI from the PHQ-9 questionnaire, alongside data on sociodemographic characteristics and overall well-being.
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