Nov 20 2024

67 Members of Congress Urge President Biden to Expand Marijuana Clemency Efforts Before End of Term

67 members of the U.S. Congress are urging President Joe Biden to build on his record of executive clemency during the final months of his presidency.

Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Jim Clyburn (D-SC), and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) sent a letter today along with 64 of their colleagues urging President Biden to “reunite families, confront deep-seated injustices in the legal system, and guide the nation toward ending mass incarceration”, during his final weeks in office.

“Mass incarceration remains a persistent, systemic injustice that erodes the soul of America”, states the letter. “Our nation has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with nearly two million people locked in jails and prisons throughout the country. The extreme use of incarceration has resulted in one in two adults having an incarcerated family member. People of color are disproportionately put behind bars, along with individuals from low-income communities, LGBTQIA+ folks, and those with disabilities.”
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Nov 20 2024

Medical Cannabis Market Projected to Reach $91 Billion by 2032, Driven by a 24% Growth Rate

The global medical cannabis market is expected to experience rapid growth, with projections showing an increase from $13.12 billion in 2023 to $91.065 billion by 2032.

This reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.02% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Introspective Market Research.

This growth is attributed to the increasing acceptance of cannabis-based treatments for a variety of medical conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, and cancer-related symptoms. As public perceptions shift and healthcare professionals become more open to its therapeutic potential, the market continues to expand, notes the report. Innovations in product development, such as oils, tinctures, edibles, and topicals, are improving accessibility and offering patients diverse options tailored to their needs.
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Nov 20 2024

FDA Approves Landmark Study on Smoked Marijuana for Treating PTSD in Veterans

Researchers are set to launch a groundbreaking clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of smoked medical marijuana in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military veterans.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Division of Psychiatry Products has cleared the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)’ Phase 2 study of smoked cannabis in Veterans for the treatment of PTSD (MJP2) to proceed. Initially placed on partial clinical hold by the FDA in 2021, MJP2 is a randomized, placebo-controlled study of 320 Veterans suffering from moderate to severe PTSD who have previously used cannabis.

Funded by the Michigan Veteran Marijuana Research Grant Program, trial will investigate the effects of inhaling high-THC dried cannabis flower versus a placebo, allowing participants to self-titrate their dosage. MAPS noted the study reflects real-world consumption patterns, aiming to assess both the benefits and risks of cannabis use for PTSD treatment.
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Nov 19 2024

U.S. Marijuana Sales Reach $1.872 Billion in October

In October, legal marijuana states collectively generated $1.872 billion in sales.

This total, based on an analysis by The Marijuana Herald, represents a marginal decrease from September’s $1.877 billion, highlighting the market’s stability. Sales data for most states was sourced from their regulatory bodies overseeing the marijuana industry. In instances where this data was unavailable, figures from the research firm Headset were used.

Looking ahead, monthly revenues are expected to rise in 2025 as Delaware and Minnesota prepare to launch their legal marijuana markets.
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Nov 19 2024

Dallas City Council Rejects Effort to Block Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative Approved by Voters

The Dallas City Council voted today against adding language to a resolution that sought to block implementation of Proposition R, a recently approved measure decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The proposed amendment, introduced by District 12 Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn, claimed the voter-approved initiative conflicted with state law and should not be enforced. Proposition R, which passed with 66% support on November 5, decriminalizes the possession of up to four ounces of marijuana, and prohibits Dallas police from using the smell of marijuana as probable cause for searches, seizures, or arrests unless a felony is involved.

“The core of this is that state law preempts our ability to enforce this ordinance,” Mendelsohn said.
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Nov 19 2024

Study: Cannabis Use Associated with Less Cognitive Decline Over Lifetime

Lifetime cannabis use does not appear to negatively impact cognitive decline, and may actually protect against it, according to a longitudinal study published in Brain and Behavior.

The research assessed the relationship between marijuana use and age-related cognitive changes in a cohort of 5,162 Danish men over a span of 44 years.

Participants’ IQs were evaluated in early adulthood, with a mean age of 22, and again in late midlife, at an average age of 62. The study found that men with a history of cannabis use experienced “significantly less cognitive decline” over their lifetimes compared to non-users.
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Nov 19 2024

Study: Injectable CBD-Loaded Microparticles Show Promise in Nerve Injury Repair

Researchers from Texas A&M International University and several Iranian universities have unveiled a novel approach to peripheral nerve tissue repair, employing injectable hyaluronic acid-based microparticles loaded with cannabidiol (CBD).

The study, published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, highlights the potential of these biomimetic microparticles in regenerating damaged nerve tissue.

The team used a microfluidic device to create hydrogel microparticles through horseradish peroxidase-mediated crosslinking in a water-in-oil emulsion system. These microparticles, composed of phenol-substituted hyaluronic acid (HAPh), CBD, and laccase, exhibited favorable physical properties, including controlled swelling, mechanical durability, and sustained CBD release, making them ideal for tissue engineering and targeted drug delivery.
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Nov 19 2024

U.S. Senator From North Carolina Says Marijuana Should Be Legal and Regulated Like Alcohol and Tobacco, Calls Rescheduling “Half-Assed”

U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has criticized efforts to reschedule marijuana and enact banking reform as inadequate, advocating instead for a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for cannabis.

(Photo credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images).

The North Carolina Republican’s stance diverges from most of his GOP colleagues, who generally oppose legalization.

In an interview with AskAPol published Tuesday, Tillis stated, “I think we’re reaching a point to where we’ve got to take a look” at broader cannabis reform. He dismissed the Biden administration’s move to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance and the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act as “half-assed measures.” According to Tillis, these incremental reforms fail to address the larger issue of establishing a consistent federal policy.
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Nov 19 2024

Massachusetts Issues First Marijuana Research Facility License to Curaleaf

Massachusetts has granted its first-ever cannabis research facility license to Curaleaf Processing, a division of multistate operator Curaleaf Holdings.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) unanimously approved the license, allowing the facility to operate in Newton, according to a press release from the agency.

“We are excited to move the state’s first-ever Research Facility license forward in the hopes that it will contribute to a safer regulated cannabis industry, rooted in science,” said CCC Acting Chair Bruce Stebbins.
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Nov 18 2024

Nevada Senate Committee Prefiles Cannabis Tax Bill

The Nevada Senate Revenue and Economic Development Committee prefiled Senate Bill 41 today, a proposal designed to amend the state’s cannabis tax regulations.

The bill, which will be considered during the January 2025 legislative session, focuses on the establishment of new requirements for cannabis businesses regarding tax permits.

Currently, Nevada law imposes excise taxes on the wholesale and retail sale of cannabis and requires businesses selling tangible personal property, including cannabis establishments, to obtain permits from the Department of Taxation. Senate Bill 41 would expand on these requirements by mandating a new cannabis tax permit system specifically for cannabis businesses.
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