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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Aug 22 2024

Prenatal CBD May Block Autism Traits in At-Risk Babies, Finds Study

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have uncovered a potential breakthrough in autism prevention.

A new study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health and also published online by the National Institute of Health, found that administering broad-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) oil during pregnancy may prevent the development of autism-like behaviors in male offspring exposed to maternal stress.

“Recently, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased from 1 in 150 to every 1 in 36 children in the United States, warranting a need for novel prevention and therapeutic strategies”, states the study’s abstract. “Broad-spectrum cannabidiol oil, free from delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of cannabis, may be one such therapeutic. It has a high safety profile and is frequently used as a complementary and integrative intervention by persons experiencing symptoms of anxiety, stress, and inflammation.”
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Aug 22 2024

Study: CBD Shows Promise in Treating Symptoms of Gulf War Illness

A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Military Medical Research shows that the use of cannabidiol (CBD) may be useful in treating chronic Gulf War Illness (GWI).

The study focused on Epidiolex®, a CBD medication that’s FDA-approved, and its effects on cognitive and mood dysfunction, hyperalgesia, and neuroinflammation in a rat model of GWI.

GWI, a condition affecting many veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War, is characterized by persistent cognitive and mood impairments, along with chronic neuroinflammation. In this study, rats exposed to chemicals related to GWI, such as pyridostigmine bromide, DEET, and permethrin, and moderate stress were treated with either a vehicle or Epidiolex® over a 16-week period.
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Aug 21 2024

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Endorses Florida’s Amendment 3 to Legalize Marijuana

The Florida chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has announced their support for Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

“SEIU proudly endorses Amendment 3 on the November ballot as a significant step toward true justice and freedom in Florida,” said SEIU Florida Vice President Coyuca Jones. “Legalizing recreational marijuana will not only end the unjust criminalization that has disproportionately affected our communities, but it will also benefit workers by creating new job opportunities and fostering economic growth. By supporting Amendment 3, we are advocating for a fairer, more prosperous future for all Floridians.”

SEIU Florida represents over 80,000 employees across the state.
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Aug 21 2024

Massachusetts Recreational Marijuana Sales Set New Monthly Record in July

Massachusetts’ legal marijuana market broke the record for the most recreational marijuana sales in a single month with $142 million.

According to data released by the research firm Headset, there was a total of $142 million in recreational marijuana sales in July, beating the previous monthly record of $140 million set in December. Medical marijuana sales added another approximately $17 million, bringing the monthly total to nearly $160 million.

Sales figures for July bring the year-to-date total to around $860 million, with all-time sales reaching $6.5 billion.
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Aug 21 2024

South Dakota Committee Approves Increasing Medical Marijuana License Fees by $4,000

South Dakota’s Legislative Rules Review Committee has approved a significant increase in the annual fee for medical marijuana business licenses.

By a vote of 4 to 1, the committee agreed to raise the fee by nearly $4,000, bringing the total annual cost to $9,000. This move comes in response to the state’s rapidly growing number of medical marijuana cardholders, which has far surpassed initial projections. While the state anticipated 6,000 cardholders by 2024, there were approximately 13,000 as of July.

The Department of Health (DOH) requested the fee increase to amend a 2021 law that originally set the fee at $5,310. Emily Kerr, Program Administrator for the DOH Medical Cannabis Program, explained that the additional funds are necessary to meet the department’s legal obligations, which include the thorough review of applications, providing technical guidance, customer service, and conducting inspections.
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