Jan 08 2025

Cannabinol (CBN) and Cannbigerol (CBG) Show Promise in Fighting Leukemia, Study Finds

A study published in the journal Molecules highlights the potential of two cannabis-derived compounds, cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG), in combating acute myeloid leukemia.

“Several cannabis plant-derived compounds, especially cannabinoids, exhibit therapeutic potential in numerous diseases and conditions”, states the study’s abstract. “In particular, THC and CBD impart palliative, antiemetic, as well as anticancer effects. The antitumor effects include inhibition of cancerous cell growth and metastasis and induction of cell death, all mediated by cannabinoid interaction with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).”

However, “the exact molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. In addition, their effects on leukemia have scarcely been investigated.”
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Jan 07 2025

Delaware and Minnesota Remain On Track to Launch Recreational Marijuana Markets This Year.

Since the start of the new year, marijuana agency heads in both Delaware and Minnesota have stepped down. Even so, both states remain on track to launch licensed recreational marijuana sales in the coming months.

Currently, 21 states have active recreational marijuana markets, with Delaware and Minnesota set to join that list later this year. Of the 24 legal marijuana states, only Virginia does not allow licensed sales.

In Delaware, the state’s first-ever marijuana commissioner, Robert M. Coupe, recently stepped down to join the private sector as Chief of Staff at CRx Construction. The move comes just as the state’s legal marijuana market is about to launch, and comes just two weeks after the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) conducted a public license lottery to select applicants in the Open Retail category for Delaware’s regulated marijuana industry.
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Jan 07 2025

Illinois House Rejects Bill to Tighten Hemp Regulations, Including Delta-8 THC

Legislation that would have imposed strict regulations on hemp-derived THC products has failed to advance in the final moments of the 103rd General Assembly’s lame-duck session.

Gummies made with hemp-derived Delta-8 THC.

Despite passing the state Senate 54 to 1 in May, and despite the backing of Governor J.B. Pritzker, the bill encountered resistance within the House’s Democratic supermajority.

The legislation, known as the Hemp Consumer Products Act, proposed limiting sales to licensed cannabis dispensaries, banning synthetic THC production, and introducing age restrictions, testing, and labeling requirements.
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Jan 07 2025

Florida Senate Bill Filed to Protect Parental Rights of Medical Marijuana Patients

State Senator Tina Polsky (D), Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development, filed Senate Bill 146 today, aiming to protect the parental rights of qualified medical marijuana patients in Florida.

The proposed legislation would amend section 39.806 of the Florida Statutes to prohibit courts from denying or restricting a parent’s custody, visitation, or parenting time solely because of their status as a qualified medical marijuana patient. It also ensures that such status cannot create a presumption of child neglect or endangerment. If passed, this measure would take effect on July 1, 2025, providing greater security for parents using medical marijuana under Florida law.

Florida legalized medical marijuana in 2016 through a constitutional amendment, allowing patients with qualifying conditions to access cannabis as a treatment. The law, governed by section 381.986 of the Florida Statutes, allows patients with conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, and chronic pain to use medical marijuana with a physician’s recommendation. Patients must obtain a state-issued Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card to legally purchase and use cannabis products through the state’s
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Jan 07 2025

U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Again Rules Prosecuting Marijuana Users for Gun Possession Violates Second Amendment

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has once again ruled that prosecuting individuals for gun possession based solely on marijuana use violates the Second Amendment.

This decision, issued by a three-judge panel, reverses the conviction of Patrick Darnell Daniels Jr., a Mississippi resident sentenced to nearly four years in prison under 18 USC 922(g)(3), a law that prohibits firearm possession by users of controlled substances. In August, the court ruled that a Texas resident cannot be prosecuted under a federal law that prohibits drug users from owning firearms, stating that the law is unconstitutional when applied to individuals with past drug use.

When it comes to Daniels, he was arrested in Hancock County, Mississippi, during a routine traffic stop in April 2022. Officers found firearms in his vehicle along with the remnants of marijuana joints. He was convicted of illegal gun possession and subsequently lost his Second Amendment rights permanently. However, the 5th Circuit overturned his conviction in 2023, ruling that the federal statute did not align with the Supreme Court’s test for gun regulations, established in the 2022 case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.
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Jan 07 2025

Maine Marijuana Sales Pass $20 Million in December, Bringing 2024 Total to Over $240 Million

In Maine, the over $20 million in legal marijuana sold in December brought the total for 2024 to above $240 million.

There was $20,154,122 worth of legal marijuana sold in December in Maine, including $11.28 million in “usable cannabis” (flower, pre-rolls and shake/trim), $5.6 million in concentrates and $3.25 million in infused products (edibles, drinks, capsules, etc.), according to data released by the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy. This brings 2024’s total to $243,876,905.

2024’s sales were split across 4,559,786 different transactions, with an average price per gram of dried flower standing at $7.24. The average price for December was lower than the yearly average, at $7.09.
In October, $11.9 million of marijuana sales was attributed to “usable cannabis,” $5.7 million to marijuana concentrates, and $3.2 million to “infused products.”
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Jan 07 2025

FLUENT Unveils Bag-O, a New Value Brand for Florida Medical Marijuana Patients, Launching Today

Cansortium Inc., a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis company operating under the FLUENT brand, today announced the launch of Bag-O, a new value-focused line of premium cannabis flower, available to Florida medical marijuana patients starting today, January 7.

“With an emphasis on quality and affordability, Bag-O offers patients access to cannabis at competitive prices, expanding FLUENT’s product offerings and reinforcing its commitment to accessibility”, states a press release.

“Bag-O was developed in direct response to patient feedback, addressing the growing demand for larger quantities of high-quality cannabis at an affordable price point,” said Robert Beasley, CEO of FLUENT. “Thanks to our vertically integrated operations, we maintain strict quality control throughout the entire process—from cultivation to packaging—ensuring that our patients receive premium cannabis in larger quantities without the premium price tag. We’re proud to meet this demand and look forward to expanding Bag-O to new markets.”
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Jan 07 2025

Nevada: $800 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in 2024, $120 Million in Taxes Garnered

Nevada had another strong year of legal marijuana sales, topping $800 million for the third straight year.

Data from the Nevada Cannabis Information Portal shows that there was $636,604,252 worth of marijuana sold legally in Nevada between January and September. According to the research firm Headset, the state sold an additional $165,276,918 between October and December, bringing the yearly total to $801,881,170.

Around 75% of these sales came from Clark County, around 13% came from Washoe County, and the remaining 12% came from “all other counties”.
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Jan 07 2025

Cannabis Testing Market to Grow in Value From $2.5 Billion in 2024 to $12 Billion in 2034

The global cannabis testing services market is projected to expand from $2.5 billion in 2024 to over $12 billion by 2034, reflecting a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.26%.

This growth is fueled by the increasing legalization of cannabis worldwide, heightened awareness of safety and quality standards, and advancements in testing technologies, according to a new Research and Markets report.

Legalization for medical and recreational cannabis in regions such as the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe and Asia has led to a surge in demand for comprehensive testing services, notes the report. Currently, 39 U.S. states allow medical marijuana, with 24 states also legalizing recreational use. These changes underscore the importance of reliable testing to meet evolving regulatory requirements.

Among testing services, potency testing leads in revenue generation, driven by the need to accurately measure THC and CBD levels for compliance and consumer safety. Innovations like the Trust in Testing Certification, introduced by ACT Laboratories and SC Labs, highlight the industry’s push for standardized testing protocols. Meanwhile, flower testing dominates sample types due to its prevalence in the market, with extracts showing the fastest growth, thanks to their use in edibles and concentrates.

Regionally, North America commands the largest market share due to established testing labs and stringent regulations. The Asia Pacific region, however, is expected to grow at the fastest rate, spurred by the adoption of medical cannabis in countries like Thailand and Japan.

As cannabis legalization continues to spread, the industry’s focus on rigorous testing will remain essential to ensure product quality, consumer safety, and regulatory compliance. For more information on this report, click here.

Jan 07 2025

Clinical Trial: Psilocybin Shows Sustained Benefits in Treating Depression Over Six Months

A phase 2 clinical trial published in eClinicalMedicine and the US National Library of Medicine shows that psilocybin may be effective in treating severe depression.

The study, conducted by researchers from Imperial College London, University of California San Francisco, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and McGill University, involved 59 participants. Patients were randomly assigned to either two 25 mg doses of psilocybin combined with psychological support or a six-week course of escitalopram with matched psychological support. The primary outcome assessed changes in depressive symptoms using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (QIDS-SR-16).

At the six-month follow-up, both treatments showed sustained improvements in depressive symptom severity, with no significant differences between the groups in primary outcomes (mean difference in QIDS-SR-16: 1.51, p = 0.311). However, secondary outcomes highlighted advantages in the psilocybin group, which showed greater improvements in social functioning, psychological connectedness, and meaning in life.
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