Aug 23 2024

Study: High-Dose Psilocybin May Be Effective in Treating Depression

A new study published this week by The British Medical Journal and the US National Institute of Health reveals that high-dose psilocybin may offer benefits in treating depression.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Conducted by a team of researchers from multiple hospitals and universities in Taiwan, the study systematically reviewed and analyzed the performance of various psychedelics, including LSD and MDMA, against escitalopram, a widely used antidepressant.

The study found that while “most psychedelics were better than placebo in psychedelic trials”, only high-dose psilocybin was more effective than placebo in antidepressant trials that included escitalopram.
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Aug 23 2024

Federal Marijuana Banking Legislation Has 166 Bicameral and Bipartisan Sponsors

Support for federal marijuana banking legislation continues to grow, despite no legislative progress being made since the Senate Banking Committee approved the measure last September.

In the US House of Representatives, the SAFE (Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act) Banking Act (H.R. 2891) has 129 sponsors, including 102 Democrats and 27 Republicans, making it the most widely supported marijuana-related bill in the US Congress. The legislation would provide clear federal protections for banks and credit unions offering financial services to state-legal marijuana businesses, which include medical marijuana dispensaries in 38 states and recreational marijuana stores in 23 states.

On the Senate side, the SAFER (Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act) Banking Act (S.2860) has gained 37 sponsors following the recent endorsement by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the fifth Republican to back the bill.
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Aug 23 2024

Study Finds Weak Correlation Between THC Blood Levels and Impairment

A new study published in Forensic Science International reveals that while alcohol and benzodiazepines have a clear and significant impact on driver impairment as their blood concentrations rise, the effects of THC are much less consistent and harder to predict, calling into question per se THC driving limits.

The research, which examined over 15,000 cases of impaired driving, highlights the complexity of assessing impairment from different substances, with alcohol and benzodiazepines showing a strong correlation between concentration and impairment, unlike THC and amphetamines.

The study aimed to determine how blood concentrations of ethanol, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) correlate with the severity of driver impairment, as measured by a Clinical Test of Impairment (CTI). Researchers utilized data from a national database, analyzing 15,514 individual mono-drug cases collected over nine years. The study population was predominantly male, with a median age of 34 years. In addition to these cases, 3,684 drug-free drivers with similar age and gender distribution were included as a reference group.
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Aug 23 2024

Oregon and its Cities Have Garnered Over $1.3 Billion in Tax Revenue From Nearly $7 Billion in Marijuana Sales Since 2016

Since the start of legal recreational marijuana sales in Oregon, the state has garnered well over $1 billion in tax revenue, with localities garnering an additional over $150 million.

Oregon was the third state to legalize recreational marijuana in 2014, following Colorado and Washington’s lead in 2012. Due to bureaucratic delays, the first licensed marijuana store didn’t open until October, 2016.

The law allows those 21 and over to possess up to two ounces of marijuana in public and eight ounces at home, in addition to up to one ounce of marijuana extracts, 16 ounces of marijuana-infused solids, and 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquids are allowed. Licensed retailers are authorized to sell marijuana and marijuana products.
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Aug 23 2024

Study: Cannabinoids May Enhance Treatment for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology explores the potential role of cannabinoids in treating triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that accounts for 10-20% of all cases.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Ljubljana and the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana in Slovenia, the study examines how cannabinoids could influence standard therapies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which has historically been treated primarily with chemotherapy.

TNBC is known for its poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a promising systemic treatment, yet there remains a need for tumor-specific biomarkers to enhance patient outcomes. The researchers highlight that cannabinoids, which have “demonstrated antitumor activity in preclinical TNBC models”, may not only complement chemotherapy but could also serve as potential biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
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Aug 23 2024

Missouri Court Rules THC Possession Convictions Must be Expunged

The Missouri Court of Appeals has overturned a judge’s decision to deny expungements for individuals convicted of THC possession.

The Western District of the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled that convictions for THC possession must be expunged, following an amendment to the Missouri Constitution passed by voters in November 2022.

The court clarified that while THC possession can be charged separately from marijuana possession, under Article XIV, THC is now legal for adult possession. Therefore, offenses involving THC possession must be expunged in the same manner as marijuana offenses. A Lafayette County judge had initially denied expungement for defendants convicted of THC possession.
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Aug 22 2024

Nevada Issues Six Additional Licenses for Marijuana Consumption Lounges

Today, the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) issued six prospective licenses for cannabis consumption lounges reserved for social equity applicants.

(Photo credit: GreenNV.com).

According to a press release sent today by the CCB, the applications were selected using random number generator software, which can be viewed here. This comes after an internal audit found that 6 previously selected applicants failed to meet the residency requirement established by the bright-line criteria and were ineligible to proceed.

In July, the CCB contacted 8 previously undrawn applicants to determine if they wished to be entered into the random number generator selection event. All 8 applicants opted in. Winners of the lottery were Kora Cannabis Lounge LLP, Nevada Consumption Lounge LLP, and four others.
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Aug 22 2024

North Carolina Tribe to Open Marijuana Superstore to Everyone 21 and Older in Two Weeks

In two weeks and two days, on Saturday, September 7, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will open their marijuana superstore to everyone 21 and older, regardless of whether or not they’re a patient or tribal member.

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company, located on tribal land in the town of Cherokee (around three hours from Charlotte and 4.5 hours from Raleigh), officially opened their doors on April 20 of this year. However, to start, the store was only accessibly by tribal members who are medical marijuana patients. On July 4, the store opened for recreational sales, but still required a tribal membership. Now, on September 7, the store will be open to everyone 21 and older, no tribal membership or qualifying medical condition required.

The store is one of the largest marijuana outlets in the nation. It’s located at a former bingo hall that cost over $50 million to refurbish. The store will offer a wide array of cannabis products, including flower, edibles, and concentrates.
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Aug 22 2024

Alberta Now Offers Marijuana Delivery Through Uber Eats, Joining Two Other Canadian Provinces

Uber Eats has partnered with Leafly to deliver cannabis to customers in Alberta, Canada.

(Photo credit: Robert Anasch/Unsplash).

Albertans aged 18 and older can now use the Uber Eats app to place orders with licensed cannabis retailers and have the products delivered by the store’s certified staff, according to a news release from Uber Canada, first reported by MJBizDaily.

This collaboration with the online marijuana platform Leafly aims to provide “retailers with safe, convenient options for people in Alberta” to purchase cannabis products, a move anticipated to reduce impaired driving and enhance road safety, according to Klaas Kineriem, Uber Eats’ general manager of grocery and retail in Canada.
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Aug 22 2024

Study Finds THC Reverses Brain Aging and Enhances Cognition in Animal Model

According to researchers at the University of Bonn and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the long-term, low-dose administration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can reverse aging processes in the brain and may have broader anti-aging effects.

The study, recently published in the journal ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, sheds light on the complex role of the protein switch mTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) in aging and cognitive decline.

The research team, led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Zimmer, Director of the Institute of Molecular Psychiatry at the University Hospital Bonn, discovered that the mTOR protein is crucial in regulating metabolism and cognitive performance across the body. As a central hub for cell growth and metabolism, mTOR’s activity is highly responsive to intracellular energy levels. In higher organisms, mTOR activity significantly influences aging by regulating cellular metabolism.
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