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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Nov 18 2024

Missouri Appeals Court Rules Cities and Counties Can’t Stack Taxes on Marijuana Products

A recent Missouri Court of Appeals ruling will reduce taxes on marijuana products in St. Louis County, following a decision that prohibits local governments from layering additional cannabis taxes on top of one another.

The ruling clarifies that while local governments can impose a 3% cannabis tax, the state constitution prevents cities and counties from stacking those local taxes. Under the law, a locality cannot impose multiple local taxes on the same product.

According to the Missouri Independent, 90 of Missouri’s 114 counties have added a 3% local cannabis tax on top of the state’s 14.98% sales tax. However, in 74 of those counties, individual cities or towns have also levied their own 3% tax on top of the county tax. This practice was at the center of the legal challenge, with the appeals court declaring it unconstitutional.
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Nov 18 2024

The Most Popular Marijuana Strains in Texas Right Now

Here’s a look at the most popular marijuana strains in Texas.

Although marijuana remains illegal in Texas, the state still has a thriving market. This is fueled by the availability of marijuana from nearby New Mexico—where recreational use is legal—as well as online sources, home cultivation, and other means. Last week legislation was filed in both the House of Representatives and Senate that would make marijuana legal for everyone 21 and older.

Using data from our readers and Leafly, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular marijuana strains in Texas for November 2024.
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Nov 18 2024

Study: Hemp Extract With CBD and CBDA May Counteract Cognitive Impairments Caused by Chronic Stress

According to a new study, hemp extract containing cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) may help mitigate the cognitive impairments and brain inflammation associated with chronic stress.

Published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology and conducted by researchers at Mae Fah Luang University, the study provides new insights into hemp’s potential neuroprotective properties.

The researchers explored the effects of CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract on male Wistar rats subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS), a widely used model for studying the impact of prolonged stress on the brain. Stress was induced by immobilizing the rats for six hours a day over 21 days.
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Nov 18 2024

Vermont: Over $100 Million in Legal Marijuana Sales in 2024, Generating Over $20 Million in Taxes

For the third consecutive month marijuana sales in Vermont topped $12 million.

July was the first month in Vermont where marijuana sales reached $12 million. In the months since, the market has maintained sales levels above $12 million.

According to the Vermont Department of Taxes, there was $12.08 million in marijuana and marijuana products sold in September, a decrease from the $13 million sold in August, but a substantial increase from the $10.4 million sold last September. September sales resulted in $1.7 million in tax revenue.
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