Jul 06 2024

Study: THC Shows Promise in Alleviating Pain in Sickle Cell Disease

A recent study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics highlights the potential of the marijuana compound THC in managing pain associated with sickle cell disease.

The study, titled “Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Alleviates Hyperalgesia in a Humanized Mouse Model of Sickle Cell Disease,” was published online ahead of print by the US National Library of Medicine.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by chronic pain and unpredictable episodes of acute pain, severely affecting patients’ quality of life and life expectancy. Traditional pain management for SCD relies heavily on opioid analgesics, which often have limited efficacy and significant adverse effects. Researchers note that “Cannabis has emerged as a potential alternative, yet its efficacy remains uncertain.”
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Jul 06 2024

Psilocybin “Demonstrated Pronounced Pro-Social and Antidepressant Effects” in New Study

A newly published study investigated the mechanisms behind the efficacy of psilocybin in treating treatment-resistant depression.

The study was published in the journal Psychopharmacology as well as published online by the US National Library of Medicine with the title Unraveling psilocybin’s therapeutic potential: behavioral and neuroplasticity insights in Wistar-Kyoto and Wistar male rat models of treatment-resistant depression.

“Our study aimed to unravel the unknown mechanisms behind the exceptional efficacy of Psilocybin (PSI) in treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD)”, states the study’s abstract. “Focusing on Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with a TRD phenotype and Wistar (WIS) rats as a normative comparison, we investigated behavioral and neuroplasticity-related responses to PSI, striving to shed light on the distinctive features of its antidepressant effects.”
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Jul 06 2024

The 10 States Next in Line to Legalize Marijuana

With marijuana legalization continuing to gain traction across the United States, several states are positioning themselves to join the ranks of those that have already embraced this shift.

This year, three states have marijuana legalization initiatives on the November ballot, while others are gearing up for potential legalization in 2025. Here’s a look at the ten states that are next in line to legalize marijuana, along with current polling data where available.
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Jul 05 2024

Study: Marijuana Oil Shows Potent Anti-Cancer Effects Against Acute Myeloid Leukemia

A recent study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology has highlighted the potential anti-cancer properties of cannabis oil extract (COE) in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The study, published online this week by the US National Library of Medicine, explores the effectiveness of COE in both cellular and animal models.

Researchers focused on WEHI-3 cells and a WEHI-3-induced leukemia mouse model to evaluate the efficacy of COE. The cells were treated with various concentrations of COE. The results were promising, with the extract demonstrated significant cytotoxicity.
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Jul 05 2024

Washington State Sold $600 Million in Legal Marijuana in First Half of 2024

Washington State saw another nearly $100 million in legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in June.

According to data released by the Liquor and Cannabis Commission, there was approximately $100.2 million in legal marijuana sales in June. This is a slight decrease from the $101.8 million sold in May, and it’s around $9 million less than the record-breaking $109.6 million sold in June 2022.

The yearly total for marijuana sales is now $600 million, putting the state on track for $1.2 billion in total sales for 2024. This would be nearly identical to the $1.25 billion in marijuana sales for 2023.
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Jul 05 2024

Arkansas: Enough Signatures Submitted to Put Marijuana Initiative on November Ballot

An initiative campaign in Arkansas to expand medical marijuana and create a trigger for the legalization of recreational marijuana has submitted well more than enough signatures to put their measure to a vote this November.

Today, Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) submitted 111,402 signatures for their initiative, with signatures spread across 62 counties. This is well above the 90,704 signatures required across 50 counties in order to make the November Ballot.

The initiative would expand the state’s medical marijuana law, passed in 2016, to allow patients to grow their own marijuana at a private residence, with the limit set at seven mature plants and seven immature plants, and it would remove the retail prohibition on certain smokeable marijuana products such as pre-rolls.
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Jul 05 2024

Florida Poll: 64% of Likely Voters Support Amendment 3 to Legalize Marijuana, Third Poll to Find Support Above 60%

According to newly released polling, a strong majority of likely Florida voters support Amendment 3 which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

The poll, first reported by Florida Politics, found that 64% of Florida likely voters support Amendment 3. Given Amendment 3 is a constitutional amendment, it requires 60% support to be enacted into law.

The survey was conducted using 1,065 respondents, all registered voters who said they were likely to vote this November, from June 26–June 29. The poll has a margin of error of +/-2.9 percentage points.
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Jul 04 2024

Study Finds Outdoor Marijuana Cultivation 50 Times Greener Than Indoor Cultivation

A recent study published in ACS Agricultural Science & Technology found that outdoor marijuana cultivation has a significantly lower environmental impact compared to indoor cultivation.

“Environmental impacts of cannabis production are of increasing concern because it is a newly legal and growing industry”, states the study’s abstract. “Although a handful of studies have quantified the impacts of indoor production, very little is known about the impact of outdoor cannabis agriculture.”

Researchers from the University of Michigan and McGill University (Canada) note that “Outdoor production typically uses little direct energy but can require significant fertilizer and other inputs due to dissipative losses via runoff and mineralization. Conversely, fertilizer high in nitrogen can be counterproductive, as it produces flowers with decreased cannabinoid content.”
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Jul 04 2024

Missouri Sees $700 Million in Licensed Marijuana Sales in First Half of 2024

There was another $120 million in legal marijuana sales in Missouri in June, bringing the yearly total to around $700 million.

In June, there was $120.9 million worth of legal marijuana sold, a slight decrease from the $123.7 million sold in May and nearly identical to the $121 million sold in June 2023.

Cumulative sales have reached $2.66 billion, with the total for the first half of 2024 standing at approximately $696 million. Continue reading

Jul 04 2024

This July Fourth, I’m in My 26th Year Behind Bars for Marijuana

By Edwin Rubis, Truthout , republished with special permission

When the clock strikes 10:00 pm, I’ll be sitting in the darkness gazing out a grimy, metal barred window. Miles away, the starlit sky will explode with cheerful colors. Two seconds after each rocket reaches its apex point, the blast will resonate through the walls. The city of Talladega, Alabama, will be celebrating, and in 10 minutes it will be all over. The illuminating colors will turn into an ashen graying smoke, disappearing into the night sky.

For the past 26 years, I’ve watched this same so-called Independence Day celebration from afar, staring out a barred window and wishing I was free. But my days go by with no hint of freedom: without a patriotic flag to wave, eating the same cold mystery meat, the stale bread and over-sugared cereal, using the same aerobic exercise equipment and cheap rubber basketballs and soccer balls which keep me playing like a pet in a cage to stay fit, surrounded by metal fences topped with razor wire and armed guards surveilling the perimeter of the ground I’ve learned to call home.
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