Oct 02 2024

Arizona Court Rules Driver’s Licenses Can’t Be Suspended Solely for Marijuana in Blood

The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled today that merely having marijuana in a driver’s system is insufficient for the state to suspend their license.

The court dismissed arguments from the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) that a blood test showing marijuana metabolites constituted sufficient evidence of being “under the influence.”

Appellate Judge Andrew Jacobs, writing for the unanimous court, clarified that when voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2020, Arizona law specified that penalties could only be imposed if the state demonstrated the driver was “impaired to even the slightest degree by marijuana.” He stated, “But that was not the case here. Instead, the state claims it can suspend Kirsten’s privilege of driving for his prior use of marijuana, as evidenced by metabolites of cannabis in his blood, without any impairment.”
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Oct 02 2024

Oregon Marijuana Sales Top $75 Million for 20th Straight Month

August marked the 20th consecutive month where Oregon’s legal marijuana sales were above $75 million.

Data compiled and released by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission shows that there was $78,565,729 worth of marijuana sold legally in August, a roughly $5 million decrease from the $84 million sold in July. All-time sales are now over $6.9 billion, with the year-to-date total standing at around $725 million.

The average price of dried marijuana flower stayed exactly the same in September compared to August, at $3.75. However, the price of concentrates dropped slightly, from $16.48 to $16.25.
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Oct 02 2024

Public Hearing on Marijuana Rescheduling Will Take Place in Two Months on December 2

The public hearing for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) proposal to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I, to Schedule III, will take place in exactly two months, on December 2.

“This is notice that the Drug Enforcement Administration will hold a hearing with respect to the proposed rescheduling of marijuana into schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act”, states the notice, which was published in the Federal Register in August. “The proposed rescheduling of marijuana was initially proposed in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2024.”

The notice says “Interested persons desiring to participate in this hearing must provide written notice of desired participation as set out below, on or before September 30, 2024. The hearing will commence on December 2, 2024, at 9 a.m. ET at 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.”
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Oct 02 2024

Study Says Nanotechnology Could Revolutionize Marijuana-Based Medicine

A new study published in the journal Recent Advances in Drug Delivery and Formulation suggests that nanotechnology could be key to overcoming the challenges of effectively administering cannabis-based medicines.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and the University at Buffalo, the study explores how nanotechnology could improve the bioavailability, solubility, and targeted delivery of cannabis compounds, potentially enhancing their therapeutic effects.

“Medical cannabis has potential therapeutic benefits in managing pain, anxiety, depression, and neurological and movement disorders”, states the study’s abstract. “Phytocannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant are responsible for their pharmacological and therapeutic properties. However, the complexity of cannabis components, especially cannabinoids, poses a challenge to effective medicinal administration.”
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Oct 02 2024

Illinois Marijuana Company Launches “Doobies for Boobies” Fundraiser to Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 nuEra, a leading cannabis brand, says it’s “proud to announce the launch of its “Doobies for Boobies” Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) fundraiser to support Gilda’s Club, a nonprofit organization that provides free programs to support individuals impacted by cancer.”

Running from October 1st to 31st, nuEra will donate $1 from every sale of its BCA pre-rolls and BCA wristbands to Gilda’s Club.

“Breast cancer awareness is a cause that resonates deeply with our team and our customers. We are thrilled to partner with Gilda’s Club for this important initiative,” said Laura Jaramillo Bernal, COO at nuEra. “Every purchase made during October helps support cancer patients and their families, and we hope to raise significant funds for this incredible organization.”
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Oct 02 2024

Next Month Three Texas Cities Will Vote on Marijuana Decriminalization Proposals

On November 5, voters in three Texas cities have the opportunity to join a handful of others that have decriminalized marijuana possession.

During the November 2022 election, voters in five cities —San Marcos, Austin, Denton, Fort Hood, and Elgin— approved ordinances to decriminalize marijuana, with support ranging between 60% and 82%. This November, voters in Lockhart, Bastrop, and Dallas will have the opportunity to do the same.

All three proposals would prevent law enforcement from arresting individuals found with up to four ounces of marijuana. Instead, they would receive a citation similar to a traffic ticket.
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Oct 02 2024

New Hampshire Committee to Vote Next Week on Legislation to Legalize Psychedelics for Therapeutic Use

A committee in the New Hampshire House of Representative is expected to vote next week on a bill that would legalize the therapeutic use of certain psychedelics.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms (left), mescaline (middle), and LSD (right). All three would be legalized for therapeutic use if House Bill 1693 is passed into law.

House Bill 1693, filed in December by State Representative Kevin Verville (R), would require the Department of Health and Human Services to create and administer a new program regulating the use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes.  The bill models the proposed statute after the state’s law that established the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.

The New Hampshire House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs has scheduled to an executive session on the bill for October 9 at 1pm. Executive session are generally only held when a committee is expected to take a vote on a particular measure.
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Oct 01 2024

New Mexico Marijuana Sales Top $50 Million in September, Nearly $400 Million So Far in 2024

For the fifth time this years, monthly marijuana sales in New Mexico passed $50 million.

There was $50,097,212.57 worth of marijuana and marijuana products sold legally in New Mexico in August, according to the state’s Regulation & Licensing Department. Adult-use sales for August were $38,018,830.10, with medical marijuana sales making up the other $12,078,382.44.

There were 1,206,438 marijuana transactions in August: 959,066 adult-use transactions, and 247,372 transactions by medical marijuana patients.
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Oct 01 2024

NORML Files Notice of Intent to Participate in DEA’s December 2 Hearing on Marijuana Rescheduling

Yesterday, NORML filed a Notice of Appearance and Notice of Intent to Participate in the upcoming DEA hearing on marijuana rescheduling, which will take place on December 2.

In its filings, NORML maintained that its “representation of its members and millions of other cannabis consumers, combined with its historical involvement and expertise, makes it uniquely positioned to provide essential testimony in this administrative hearing. The organization satisfies the criteria for ‘associational standing,’ ensuring that the interests and concerns of a significant portion of the public are adequately represented and considered in the decision-making process.”

Founded in 1970, the nonprofit NORML is the nation’s oldest marijuana advocacy group focused on legalizing marijuana and reforming cannabis laws in the United States. Since its founding, NORML “has been a party to virtually every prior administrative petition to remove cannabis from its Schedule I classification under federal law”, according to a press release.
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Oct 01 2024

Congressional Lawmakers Urge DEA to Finalize Proposal to Reschedule Marijuana to Schedule III

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a letter today to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) urging them to move swiftly on implementing their proposed rule to transfer marijuana from schedule I to schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

The letter was sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.

“We value the Department of Justice’s steadfast commitment to prevent the misuse and diversion of controlled substances that pose a threat to public health. Amidst a devastating opioid and overdose crisis, it is imperative that law enforcement and public health agencies focus efforts on the biggest threats to Americans,” Nadler and Pallone wrote. “When Congress passed the CSA, it recognized that our scientific and medical understanding is constantly evolving and granted the Attorney General and the Secretary of [Health and Human Services] important responsibilities in ensuring that the law reflects this knowledge.”
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