Jul 23 2024
Marijuana’s active compound, THC, and its metabolites can linger in the system, with urine tests being the most common method of detection. Here’s what the science says about marijuana detection in urine, hair, and saliva tests, and how CBD factors into this.
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Jul 23 2024
With 40,000 comments submitted, the public comment period on the DEA’s plan to move marijuana to Schedule III is now complete. The agency had the option of extending the comment period, but chose against it. All 40,000+ comments to the DEA can be viewed by clicking here.
The DEA is now required by law to analyze every comment. Once this is complete, the agency will decide whether or not to hold a public hearing. Last month, nine former DEA administrators sent a letter to the agency asking them to hold a hearing before making a final decision.
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Jul 22 2024
The DEA’s proposal, published in the Federal Register on May 21, initiated a public comment period that concludes at 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 22. While the DEA has the option to extend the comment period, there has been no indication they will do so.
As the deadline approaches, it appears the comment period will close with 40,000 comments. Approximately 54% of these comments urge the DEA to go further by descheduling marijuana altogether, which would decriminalize the plant nationwide and effectively end its prohibition.
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Jul 22 2024
In a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration, the ANA highlighted its long-standing support for evidence-based compassionate therapeutic use of cannabis, noting that “Since 1996, ANA has supported nurses caring for their patients with evidence-based compassionate therapeutic cannabis and advancement of research into this area.”
The ANA says that “In these comments ANA agrees with the analysis that cannabis has numerous therapeutic qualities and should be moved to Schedule III. Further, ANA urges the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration to act expeditiously to have cannabis decontrolled under the CSA.”
Jul 22 2024
This is according to a report titled The Economic Impact of Cannabis Scheduling Reform on Small and Minority-Owned Businesses, commissioned by the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) and conducted by Whitney Economics. The report was posted as a public comment to the DEA today, the deadline for doing so.
The MCBA surveyed 206 marijuana licensees across 32 states, uncovering concerning trends within the industry. Only 27 percent of respondents reported profitability, while 41 percent were breaking even, and 36 percent were operating at a loss.
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Jul 22 2024
This comment period, a legally required 60-day window, was initiated on May 21 when the DEA published their proposal in the Federal Register. The comment period officially closes today, July 22, at 11:59 EDT. Comments can be submitted by clicking here.
Currently there are over 36,000 comments submitted. An analysis reveals that more than 50% of these comments advocate for the DEA to fully deschedule marijuana. When combined with those urging the DEA to legalize or decriminalize marijuana, the support rises to over 70%. In contrast, only 8% of comments oppose the proposal, arguing to maintain marijuana as a Schedule I drug.
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Jul 21 2024
With Harris being the only candidate eligible to inherit the administration’s campaign funds, and with Biden endorsing her, it is unlikely any other candidate will gain enough support by the 2024 Democratic National Convention in August in order to replace Harris at the top of the ticket.
If Kamala Harris becomes the nominee and is elected president, she will be the first U.S. president to support legalizing marijuana. While she opposed California’s 2014 marijuana legalization initiative as Attorney General, her stance changed by 2019.
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Jul 21 2024
This decision clarifies that expectant mothers holding medical marijuana cards are not committing child neglect by using marijuana, as it does not qualify as exposing their unborn child to illegal drugs under state law.
The ruling establishes a new legal standard in Oklahoma, where numerous women have faced child neglect charges for using marijuana during pregnancy, despite having legal authorization. The court stressed that while it does not endorse marijuana use during pregnancy, it acknowledges its legality for medical cardholders.
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Jul 20 2024
As the deadline approaches, the proposal has garnered significant attention, with over 35,000 comments submitted by individuals and organizations. The vast majority (over 70%) call for marijuana to be descheduled, decriminalized, or legalized, with less than 10% in support of keeping marijuana a Schedule I drug. The DEA does have the option of extending the public comment period beyond July 22 via a public notice, but thus far there’s been no indication they will do so.
The DEA’s proposal would move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, which would not legalize marijuana but would significantly impact research and the prescribed use of marijuana medicines.
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Jul 20 2024
In the US House of Representatives, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, first introduced in April 2023, currently has 93 sponsors. In the Senate, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), filed in April of this year, has 18 sponsors.
Both measures would remove marijuana as a controlled substance (referred to as descheduling), effectively decriminalizing it nationwide. Both measures would also allow for the expungement of past marijuana convictions, and they would establish a federal excise tax on state-level licensed marijuana sales. The CAOA would go a step further by establishing federal guidelines for marijuana sales, including establishing a Center for Cannabis Products within the FDA to oversee “the production, labeling, distribution, sales and other manufacturing and retail elements of the cannabis industry.”
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