Dec 04 2022

CB2R Activation Ameliorates Pseudomonas Aeruginosa-Induced Lung Injury and Inflammation

According to a new study published by the journal Respiratory Research, activation of the body’s cannabinoid-2 receptor ameliorates (makes better) pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced lung injury and inflammation, “thus paving the path for new therapeutic avenues against PA pneumonia.”

Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

As noted by the study’s abstract, bacterial pneumonia is a major risk factor for acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), an opportunistic pathogen with an increasing resistance acquired against multiple drugs, “is one of the main causative agents of ALI and ARDS in diverse clinical settings.”

Given the anti-inflammatory role of the cannabinoid-2 receptor (CB2R), “the effect of CB2R activation in the regulation of PA-induced ALI and inflammation was tested in a mouse model as an alternative to conventional antibiotic therapy.” CB2R activation is done naturally through the consumption of cannabis and cannabinoids.
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Dec 03 2022

Public Cannabis Consumption Lounges Given Initial Approved by New Jersey Officials

New Jersey regulators have given initial approval to rules that would allow marijuana to be consumed publicly.

At their monthly meeting on Friday New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission proposed rules and regulations allowing licensed marijuana retail outlets to have indoor and outdoor marijuana consumption lounges.

Based on the approved rules, anyone 21 and older with a valid photo ID would be authorized to use these lounges to consume marijuana and marijuana products. Similar to rules for bars, consumption-area workers would be prohibited from “overselling” to consumers, and they would be required to ensure that people are using cannabis safely on their premises. No alcohol or tobacco would be permitted, and the lounges must be enclosed.
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Dec 02 2022

Study: Cannabis Exposure Decreases Need for Blood Pressure Support During General Anesthesia

The prior use of cannabis “results in a decreased need for blood pressure support during general anesthesia”, finds a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoids Research, with the full text of the study published on the website for the National Library of Medicine.

According to researchers, this retrospective study “focuses on the orthopedic trauma population presenting through an emergency department (ED) and receiving a urine drug screen (UDS) with subsequent urgent surgical intervention.” Researchers aimed “to evaluate differences in response to general anesthesia in patients with exposure to THC, a major cannabinoid, compared to controls that screened negative for THC.”

All ED visits at UC Irvine, a level 1 trauma center between November 4, 2017 and January 7, 2020, were evaluated in this study. Only adult patients who received a urine drug screen and underwent urgent orthopedic trauma surgery within 48 h of ED visit were included in this study. Additional inclusion criteria required an anesthesia time greater than 1 h as well as anesthesia induction and intubation while in the operating room. Overall, researchers analyzed a total of 221 adult patients.
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Dec 02 2022

President Biden Signs Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act Into Law

President Biden has officially signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act into law, making it the first standalone piece of marijuana legislation to ever be signed into law by a U.S. president.

H.R. 8454 was signed into law today by President Biden, a little over two weeks after it passed the Senate. It passed the House of Representatives in July.

“Thank you to Representatives Blumenauer, Harris, Griffith, Joyce, Mace, and Perlmutter, Delegate Norton, and Senators Feinstein, Grassley, Schatz, Durbin, Klobuchar, Tillis, Kaine, Ernst, Tester, and Murkowski for their leadership”, President Biden said in a statement following signage of the bill.
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Dec 01 2022

Study: THC and CBN Induced Cell Death in Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer)

According to a new peer-reviewed study the cannabis compounds THC and CBN (cannabinol) induced apoptosis (cell death) in an animal model of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer).

The study was published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and was conducted by researchers at Rangsit University, Bumrungrad International Hospital and Thammasat University, all in Thailand.

As noted by the study, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a very aggressive tumor. Although it’s rare worldwide, it is one of the most common cancers in northeast Thailand. Given it’s highly resistant to chemotherapy, “the development of a new therapeutic drug for CCA is required.”

This study aimed “to evaluate the antitumor effect of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive component of marijuana (Cannabis sativa), and cannabinol (CBN), a minor, low-psychoactive cannabinoid, on CCA cells and xenograft mice.”
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Dec 01 2022

Legal Marijuana Sales Now Underway in Rhode Island

Legal marijuana sales are now taking place in Rhode Island for the first time.

Although just five retail marijuana outlets opened their doors today in Rhode Island, that number is expected to grow to 33 in the coming months.

The five outlets currently opened are:

  • Aura of Rhode Island (Central Falls)
  • Thomas C. Slater Center (Providence)
  • Mother Earth Wellness (Pawtucket)
  • Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center (Portsmouth)
  • RISE Warwick (Warwick)

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Nov 30 2022

Poll: U.S. Adults Support Ending Federal Marijuana Ban by a 50-Point Margin

According to a new Data for Progress poll, 74% of American adults support ending the federal ban on marijuana, with just 24% opposed to the idea.

Support for ending the nation’s ban on marijuana was highest among Democrats at 81%, but there was still widespread support among Independents (76%) and Republicans (65%).

Of those who support ending marijuana prohibition, 47% “strongly support” the move, while 27% “somewhat support” it. For those opposed, it’s split 12% to 12% among those who “strongly oppose” it and those who “somewhat oppose” it. Just 4% remain undecided.
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Nov 29 2022

D.C. Council Committee Votes to Significantly Expand Medical Marijuana Law

The Washington D.C. Committee on Business and Economic Development has passed legislation to expand the district’s medical marijuana law.

The proposal, which now goes to the D.C. Committee of the Whole, would make several changes to liberalized the district’s medical marijuana program. This includes eliminating the cap on marijuana businesses (allowing the free market, rather than an arbitrary cap, to decide the number of marijuana stores in the district) and creating new business categories within the industry including on-site consumption facilities and marijuana cooking classes.

Possibly the biggest change would allow medical marijuana patients to self-certify that they’re qualified to purchase, possess and use medical marijuana and marijuana products.
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Nov 29 2022

California has Garnered $4.4 Billion in Marijuana Taxes Since Legal Sales Began in 2018

Legal recreational marijuana sales began in Q1, 2018 in California, and since that period the state has garnered billions in new tax revenue.

According to data released by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, there has been $19,262,487,673 in marijuana and marijuana products sold between Q1, 2018 and Q3, 2022. This has resulted in $4,397,112,676 in new tax revenue for the state.

A slight majority of this tax revenue came from the state’s excise tax on marijuana, followed by revenue earned from the state’s standard sales tax. A smaller, but still considerable portion of the revenue was garnered from California’s marijuana cultivation tax.
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Nov 28 2022

Study: CBD has Direct Antineoplastic Effects on Lung Cancer Cells

Cannabidiol (CBD) has “direct antineoplastic [cancer treating] effects on lung cancer cells”, according to a new study being published in the upcoming issue of the Iranian Biomedical Journal.

The study was epublished ahead of print on the website for the U.S. National Institute of Health.

“Lung cancer remains a major factor contributing to morbidity and mortality worldwide”, states the study’s abstract. “Apart from the chemotherapeutic agents in routine use, factors targeting novel molecular pathways are in clinical trials and provide hope for terminal lung cancer patients.”

Researchers note that the endocannabinoid system has recently become a popular field of study, with many experimental studies showing that CBD and THC could be used outside of palliative care, as they play a major role in lung cancer cell apoptosis. The objective of this study was to “evaluate the antitumorigenic mechanisms of CBD in lung cancer cells.”
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