Nov 10 2023

Ohio Governor Asks Legislature to Revise Voter-Approved Marijuana Legalization Law By December 7

Just days after Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana, the state’s governor is already seeking changes.

(Photo credit: Fred Squillante).

Governor Mike DeWine made comments to reporters yesterday indicating that he wants rapid changes made to Issue 2, prior to it taking effect on December 7.

“What the people have clearly told us is they want legal marijuana in Ohio,” said DeWine. “We are going to see that they have that, but we’ve also got to live up to our responsibility to all the people in the state of Ohio, whether they voted for it or voted against it.. that we do this in a very responsible way, we do it in a respectful way. And we do it, frankly, the Ohio way.”
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Nov 10 2023

Former FDA Official Would Be “Shocked” if Marijuana is Not Rescheduled By 2024 Election

A former official with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says he’d be “shocked” if marijuana is not moved to schedule III prior to the 2024 presidential election.

Howard Sklamberg, former FDA Deputy Commissioner for global regulatory operations / compliance, says he would be “really shocked if it took the DEA longer than the second quarter of next year to come up with its final rule. Even when I was at FDA, we knew that important regulations that you wanted to get done in an election year, you want to get done by the summer before.”

Sklamberg, who chaired the FDA’s Marijauna Working Group for several years, says he believes the DEA will approve the Department of Health’s recommendation to move marijuana to schedule III, which would effectively legalize it for prescription use across the United States.
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Nov 09 2023

Study: CBD Reduces Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drug Use, May Improve General Health

According to a recently published study, the use of oral CBD products is associated with a reduction in over-the-counter and prescription drug use and “significantly improves self-perception of general health”.

The study was published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids and it was published online by the US National Library of Medicine. It was conducted by researchers at Tarleton State University in Texas, the University of Chicago, and Syzygy Research Solutions in Florida.

According to researchers, “This study examined the relationship between long-term self-dosing of CBD and (a) indications and, when a verified concentration of CBD is being consumed, (b) the daily CBD dosage, (c) the impact on general health and symptoms, and (d) over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription (Rx) drug usage.”
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Nov 09 2023

“Nothing Has Changed”: President Biden’s Views on Marijuana Remain the Same Following Ohio Legalizing Marijuana

On Tuesday Ohio became the 24th state in the US to legalize recreational marijuana, but it apparently has had no impact on President Biden’s views.

(Photo credit: Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters).

On Wednesday White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked during a press conference whether or not Biden believes that “marijuana restrictions should be loosened on the federal level”, following Ohio voters choosing to legalize.

“The president put out his stance on marijuana about a year and a half ago”, said Jean-Pierre. “Nothing has changed there. I will leave it to the people of Ohio to decide on how they’re going to move forward with their own Constitution, but I’m just not going to speak to it further”.
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Nov 08 2023

National Cancer Institute Awards Millions of Dollars to Study Medical Marijuana to Treat Breast Cancer

The National Cancer Institute has awarded millions of dollars to a Florida university to study medical marijuana.

University of Miami has been given a $3.2 million government grant to study the potential medical benefits of marijuana in combatting breast cancer.

The funding is being used to aid the research of Yan Wang, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of epidemiology in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Jennifer J. Hu, Ph.D., a professor in the department of public health sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, who will be overseeing a 12-member team.
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Nov 08 2023

Maryland: $90 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in October

There was around $90 million worth of legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in October throughout Maryland.

According to the Maryland Cannabis Administration, there was exactly $89,997,762 in marijuana sold legally through licensed retail outlets in October. This includes the sale of dried marijuana flower and shake as well as marijuana concentrates, edibles, tinctures, topicals and vape products.

$55,133,991 of these sales were purchased by recreational consumers, while $34,863,771 was purchased by medical marijuana patients.
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Nov 08 2023

US Support for Legalizing Marijuana Reaches 70% for the First Time, Finds New Gallup Poll

According to a new Gallup poll, seven in 10 Americans think marijuana use should be legal, the highest level ever recorded after holding steady at 68% for three years.

The Gallup poll, conducted between October 2 and 23, found that just 29% of U.S. adults think marijuana should not be legal, while 1% are unsure.

Twelve percent of Americans backed legalizing marijuana when Gallup first asked about it in 1969. Support cracked the 50% threshold in 2013, jumping 10 percentage points to 58% after Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
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Nov 07 2023

Ohio Republicans Have Enough Votes to Overturn or Alter Marijuana Legalization Initiative, But Barely

Ohio voters have legalized recreational marijuana, but some fear it could be repealed by the state’s legislature

With around 56% support, voters have approved Issue 2. The portion of the law legalizing the possession of marijuana and marijuana concentrates, as well as the personal cultivation of marijuana plants, takes effect on December 7. The state will have nine months to issue licensed for marijuana growers, processors and distributors, with regulations overseen by a newly-crated Division of Cannabis Control.

Earlier this month Senate President Matt Huffman said that if voters approve Issue 2, it will be “coming right back before this body”, indicating the measure could be altered or repealed in the legislature. Huffman later walked back his comment slightly, saying that there are no “immediate plans” to fully repeal the initiative if it passes, but it could be altered.
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Nov 07 2023

Virginia Democrats Take Control of State Legislature Making Legal Marijuana Sales a Possibility

Although Virginia legalized recreational marijuana in 2021, they are the only legal marijuana state to prohibit marijuana retail outlets. Tonight’s election could change that.

Earlier this year legislation to legalize marijuana sales – Senate Bill 1133 – was approved by the state’s full Senate by a vote of 24 to 16. However, the measure stalled in the House of Delegates, which is controlled by Republicans in a 48 to 46 split. Several Democrats have campaigned this election with a platform that includes the idea that if they take over the House, they will legalize marijuana sales.

In tonight’s election Democrats appear to have achieved the first part of that two-pronged plan, winning enough seats to take control of the House while retaining control of the Senate.
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Nov 07 2023

Ohio Becomes 24th State to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Ohio voters have chosen to approve Issue 2, legalizing recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

marijuana

Once Issue 2 takes effect on December 7 of this year, those 21 and older will be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates (wax, oil, etc.). In addition, they will be allowed to cultivate, for personal use, up to six marijuana plants.

Issue 2 will soon lead to the creation of the Division of Cannabis Control, which will be established as a branch of the Department of Commerce. The agency will be tasked with handling the licensing and regulations for the new marijuana industry. Issue 2 mandates the agency to issue at least 50 retail marijuana licenses, though they do have the authority to issue more. Licenses for growers, processors and retail outlets must be issued within nine months.
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