Dec 01 2023

National Institute of Health Announces “Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research”

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and National Cancer Institute have issued a funding opportunity for a Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

“There’s growing interest in potential therapeutic uses of cannabis and its constituents among both health care providers and the public”, states a blog post on the National Institute of Health’s website. “Substances in cannabis have a variety of pharmacologic effects, and rigorous research is needed to understand their mechanisms of action and investigate their possible value in helping to manage health conditions.”

However, “investigators working in this field have encountered barriers that have hampered their research.”
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Dec 01 2023

Study Finds Marijuana Use Associated With Increased Empathy

Those who consume marijuana have higher levels of emotional comprehension and empathy compared to non-users, according to a study published by the Journal of Neuroscience Research.

“It has been reported that cannabis consumption affects the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a structure with a central role in mediating the empathic response”, notes the study’s researchers. “In this study, we compared psychometric scores of empathy subscales, between a group of regular cannabis users (85, users) and a group of non-consumers (51, controls).”

Researchers found that “users have a greater Emotional Comprehension, a cognitive empathy trait involving the understanding of the “other” emotional state.”
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Dec 01 2023

South Carolina Bill Prefiled to Tax and Regulate Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids, Limit Them to Those 21+

Legislation prefiled in the South Carolina Legislature would both tax and regulate products containing delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived cannabinoids.

(Photo credit: Plants for Persephone/Unsplash)

House Bill 4628 was prefiled recently by State Representative Rosalyn Henderson-Myers (D), preparing it for consideration in the upcoming legislative session that begins in January. The measure has been assigned to the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee.

The proposed law would limit the purchase of cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC to those who are 21 and older, while establishing a 5% tax on products containing it. Outlets wanting to sell delta-8 THC would be required to receive a license from the state, and all products must be tested for things such as pesticides.
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Nov 30 2023

Study: Most Cancer Patients Say Marijuana “Significantly Improves Their Ability to Cope With Their Illness”

According to a new study published in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, the majority of cancer patients suffering from refractory pain say medical marijuana helps them cope with their illness.

For the study researchers from the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Tel Aviv University, both in Israel, as well as the Hospital Quirónsalud de Tenerife in Spain, examined 252 cancer patients. Of these, 126 are authorized to use medical cannabis in Israel.

“Medical cannabis [MC] was mainly started for pain relief, sleep difficulties and anorexia”, states the study. “About 70% of patients reported subjective improvement from MC, with almost 40% reporting a significant improvement in coping with their illness.”

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Nov 30 2023

Arizona: In October Marijuana Sales Pass $25 Million For Just the Third Time

October marked just the third month since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2020 where marijuana sales surpassed $25 million in Arizona.

There was $25,409,775 in legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in October throughout Arizona, according to data released by the state’s Department of Revenue. This is a roughly $3 million increase over the sales for September, and it’s the second highest sales in a given month in the state’s history.

The largest amount of marijuana sold in a given month remains the $28,423,424 sold in May of this year. The only other month where sales were over $25 million was January of this year with $25.1 million sold.
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Nov 30 2023

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Sales Pass $1 Billion

Since Arkansas legalized medical marijuana in 2019, sales have surpassed $1 billion.

According to data released by the Arkansas  Department of Finance and Administration, medical marijuana sales were at $988 million as of the end of October. Although November sales totals have not been released, there has been well more than enough medical marijuana sold this month to surpass the $1 billion mark.

“We’re totally confident we’ve surpassed that,” says Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the department.
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Nov 30 2023

Poll: 67% of Florida Voters Support Initiative to Legalize Marijuana

According to new polling 67% of voters in Florida want the state to legalize recreational marijuana.

The University of North Florida’s  Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL)  poll found support for legalizing marijuana is well above the 60% threshold required to pass a constitutional amendment into law.

“Respondents were asked if they would vote yes or no on another proposed state constitutional amendment to that would allow adults in Florida to purchase and possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use”, states the poll. “Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they would vote yes, with 28% indicating a vote of no. In Spring of 2023, 70% of respondents said they would support recreational marijuana in Florida, either strongly or somewhat, and 76% said they supported it in Spring of 2022.”
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Nov 29 2023

Florida Judge Rules in Favor of $1.3 Million Renewal Fee for Medical Marijuana Licenses

An administrative law judge in Florida has ruled that the state’s drastic increase in the cost of renewing medical marijuana licenses is legal and valid.

Late last year the Florida Department of Health increased the state’s $60,000 biennial renewal fee for those running medical marijuana businesses to $1.33 million, an increase of over 2,000%.

Judge William Horgan ruled that the fee is representative of the “plain language” that was intending by lawmakers, saying that it “carries out to the letter” a legislative mandate that states the department must adopt rules establish procedures for “the issuance and biennial renewal of licenses… including initial application and biennial renewal fees sufficient to cover the costs of implementing and administering [the state’s medical marijuana program]”.
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Nov 29 2023

Study Finds Cannabis Associated With Weight Loss and Lower BMI, May Be Useful in Obesity Treatment

According to a meta-analysis of clinical trials, those who consume cannabis or cannabis products often experience weight loss and reduced BMIs, indicating that they may be useful in treating obesity.

The study was published in the recent issue of the International Journal of Obesity, with its abstract published online ahead of print by the National Library of Medicine.

“Obesity poses a significant public health challenge”, states the study’s abstract. “Research has examined the impact of cannabis and subproducts on health but varying results have hindered a consensus.”
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Nov 29 2023

“Stop Pot Act” to Withhold Funds from Legal Marijuana States “Has No Chance”, Says Democratic House Leader

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) says a Republican-led bill to punish states that legalize marijuana “has no chance” of being passed into law.

The Stop Pot Act was filed in September in the House of Representatives by North Carolina Representative Chuck Edwards, and it now has five sponsors, all Republican. The proposal would withhold federal funding from states and tribes that have legalized marijuana.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says he opposes the measure, and believes “it has no chance” of becoming law.
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