Dec 01 2024

Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Reduces Anxiety, Depression, and Other Psychiatric Symptoms in Cancer Patients

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has demonstrated promising outcomes in addressing multiple psychiatric symptoms in patients with cancer-related distress, according to a new study published in Nature Mental Health.

Psilocybin mushrooms.

Conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Columbia University, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, and Yale University, the study analyzed data from two randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trials involving 79 participants.

While PAP has previously been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, this study evaluated its impact on a broader spectrum of psychiatric dimensions. Researchers assessed nine categories, including interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, obsession–compulsion, somatization, phobia, paranoia, and psychosis.
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Dec 01 2024

The Top Marijuana Strains in the United States as of December 2024

With an ever-growing number of marijuana strains available, these ten have captured the attention of consumers across the U.S., dominating menus and online discussions.

Permanent Marker.

This list, crafted from data provided by various state regulatory agencies and Leafly, features strains celebrated for their flavor, effects, and versatility.
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Dec 01 2024

Judge Rules Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiatives Legally Sufficient, Will Go Into Effect December 12

A Lancaster County District Court judge has upheld the validity of petitions circulated by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, rejecting a legal challenge that sought to invalidate the ballot initiatives.

Judge Susan Strong determined that attorneys for former State Senator John Kuehn and Secretary of State Bob Evnen failed to demonstrate a sufficient number of invalid signatures to disqualify the petitions. In a 57-page ruling, Strong noted that evidence presented showed only a few hundred invalid signatures on each petition, far below the threshold needed to declare them insufficient.

“The court finds that they have fallen short,” Strong wrote, concluding that both initiatives met the legal requirements for signature validity.
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Nov 30 2024

Colorado Marijuana Sales Top $110 Million in September, Bringing Year-to-Date Total to Above $1 Billion

Colorado’s legal marijuana market has generated over $1 billion in revenue so far in 2024.

There was $112,429,698 worth of legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in September in Colorado, bringing the year-to-date total to $1,060,994,048. This is according to data released today by the Colorado Department of Revenue

Of the $112.4 million in marijuana sold legally in September, $100,516,124 was purchased for recreational use, whereas medical marijuana patients purchased $11,913,574 in product. September sales resulted in $20,927,011 in tax revenue.
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Nov 29 2024

Massachusetts Marijuana Sales Surpass $7 Billion as Prices Hit Record Low

Despite prices reaching an all-time low, there was an uptick in marijuana sales from September to October, with all-time sales passing the $7 billion mark.

In October, licensed marijuana stores in Massachusetts sold $138.8 million in recreational marijuana and $14.8 million in medical marijuana, totaling $153.6 million. Combined with $119 million in November sales through the 24th, the year-to-date total is now $1.5 billion, with an all-time total of $7.01 billion, according to data released today by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC).

In October, average marijuana prices reached an all-time low of $4.78 per gram and $135.53 per ounce. Only Oregon has cheaper legal cannabis prices.
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Nov 29 2024

Arapahoe County, Colorado Commission Unanimously Approves Psilocybin Business Regulations

Arapahoe County commissioners have unanimously approved a comprehensive set of regulations governing psilocybin businesses as Colorado prepares to begin licensing these operations in January 2025.

The decision follows the voter-approved Proposition 122, which decriminalized the use, possession, and cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms, making Colorado the second state to take such a step.

Under Proposition 122, individuals aged 21 and older can legally use certain plants and fungi for personal and therapeutic purposes. Unlike marijuana legalization under Amendment 64, which allowed local jurisdictions to ban retail marijuana businesses, Proposition 122 prohibits local governments from banning natural medicine businesses. However, counties like Arapahoe retain the authority to regulate these businesses’ time, manner, and location within the bounds of state law.
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Nov 29 2024

Marijuana Use Associated with Large Reduction in Opioid Prescriptions Among Chronic Pain Patients in Utah, Finds Study

According to the results of a newly published study conducted in Utah, cannabis has the potential to to serve as an alternative to opioids for chronic pain management.

For the study, published on Utah.gov, researchers analyzed the impact of medical cannabis on opioid prescription rates, focusing on 186 patients with chronic pain diagnoses. The study utilized patient data from Dragonfly Wellness dispensaries and electronic health records, revealing a compelling trend of reduced opioid use following cannabis initiation.

The study found that 84.4% of participants experienced a decrease in their opioid prescriptions after beginning cannabis treatment. On average, opioid consumption, measured in Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME) per month, dropped by 53.1%. This equated to a reduction from 3,832 MME/month before cannabis use to 1,798 MME/month afterward. Patients using cannabis products with a THC:CBD ratio of 1:0 showed the most significant reductions.
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Nov 29 2024

Study: Fluorinated Cannabinoids Show Promising Therapeutic Potential

A new study published in the journal Pharmacological Reports highlights the therapeutic potential of four newly developed fluorinated cannabinoids.

Conducted by researchers from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and Universität Regensburg in Germany, the study explores the biological activity of these compounds, particularly their anti-inflammatory properties.

“Phytochemicals derived from the plant Cannabis sativa hold promise in terms of medicinal value”, states the study. “Cannabinoids such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) are arguably the best characterized and known to possess wide-ranging therapeutic benefits. The mechanism of action for these therapeutic effects remains to be fully elucidated, however, the anti-inflammatory actions are of particular interest.”
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Nov 29 2024

Idaho Secretary of State Approves 2026 Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative for Signature Collection

Idaho has advanced a proposed measure to decriminalize marijuana by approving its title and summary, clearing the way for signature collection.

The measure, proposed by Kind Idaho, would decriminalize personal use and cultivation of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older if approved by voters in 2026. The secretary of state has  authorized the petition for circulation, allowing organizers to begin gathering the 70,725 signatures needed to place it on the ballot. The official “short ballot title” for the proposal calls it a “Measure decriminalizing the possession, production, and cultivation of marijuana and marijuana-infused products for personal use by persons 21 or older.”

The measure would allow for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana flower or 1,000 milligrams of THC in products like oils, tinctures, and edibles. It also allows home cultivation of up to 12 plants, with adults able to securely store up to eight ounces of marijuana harvested from those plants at home or on private property, provided it remains inaccessible to minors. Consumption in public or open settings would be prohibited.
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Nov 29 2024

Study: CBD May Protect Against Chemotherapy-Induced Liver Damage

Researchers from Suleyman Demirel University and Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University in Turkey have found that cannabidiol (CBD) may alleviate liver damage caused by methotrexate (MTX), a commonly used chemotherapy drug.

The study, published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, highlights CBD’s potential as a protective agent against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity by targeting oxidative stress and inflammation.

The research involved 32 female Wistar Albino rats, divided into four groups: a control group, an MTX-only group, an MTX+CBD group, and a CBD-only group. The MTX+CBD group received a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) followed by daily CBD injections (5 mg/kg) for seven days. Researchers assessed oxidative stress markers, liver enzyme levels, and genetic expressions linked to inflammation and apoptosis.
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