Dec 10 2023

Study: Cannabichromene (CBC) Has “Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects”

The cannabis compound cannabichromene (CBD) “has potential anti-inflammatory effects and may be useful for preventing or treating inflammation”, according to a new study published in the journal Plants.

CBC is a widely unknown non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana. The compound has “recently been shown to possess several medicinal properties”, notes the abstract of the study. However, “how CBC produces anti-inflammatory effects and the mechanisms of this remain poorly studied.”

Therefore, researchers “extracted and purified the CBC from the Cannabis sativa cv. pink pepper”, and the “efficacy of CBC in reducing inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages and a λ-carrageenan-induced mouse model was then evaluated.”
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Dec 08 2023

Study Finds CBD May Improve Heart Regeneration Following Heart Attack

According to a new study, cannabidiol (CBD) “promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration” following heart attacks.

Titled Cannabidiol represses miR-143 to promote cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration after myocardial infarction, the study is being publishing in the upcoming issue of the European Journal of Pharmacology, and it was published online ahead of print by the US National Library.

According to researchers, the study “was conducted to investigate the pharmacological effects of CBD on heart regeneration in post-myocardial infarction (MI) mice.”
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Dec 08 2023

Maine: $17.6 Million in Marijuana Sold in November, Prices Continue to Drop

Although marijuana sales dropped between October and November, so did marijuana prices.

There was $17,635,649 worth of legal marijuana purchased in November, spread out among 315,978 different transactions. This is according to new data released by Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy.

Although sales were down slightly from the $18.9 million sold in October, the average cost per gram dropped to an all-time low of $7.52, down from the $7.67 average in October and the $7.81 average for the year as a whole. This is the third straight month where the average price per gram dropped to a record low.
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Dec 08 2023

Federal Legislation to Fully Deschedule Marijuana Gains Three New Sponsors, Now Has 76

Legislation in the House of Representatives that would decriminalize and fully deschedule marijuana now has 76 sponsors.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act was filed in September by US Representative Jerrold Nadler (D) along with four cosponsors. By the end of November the number of cosponsors climbed to 73.

On Wednesday, Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Jesús García (D-IL) and Mark Takano (D-CA) signed on as cosponsors, bringing the total number to 76. This represents 17% of the entire House of Representatives, and over a third of all House Democrats.
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Dec 07 2023

New Oklahoma Bill Would Extend Medical Marijuana Licenses for Disabled Veterans From Two Years to 10

Newly filed legislation would extend the renewal period for medical marijuana licenses held by disabled veterans by 500%.

Oklahoma Senate Bill 1219 was filed by Senator Brenda Stanley (R). It’s been assigned to the Senate Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee.

According to the bill, “An applicant for a medical marijuana patient license who can demonstrate his or her status as a one-hundred-percent-disabled veteran as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.. [shall have their licenses] valid for up to ten (10) years from the date of issuance.”
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Dec 07 2023

US Department of Health Releases Documents Explaining Why It Wants Marijuana Rescheduled

The United States Health and Human Services Department has released an over 250 page document explaining their rationale for wanting the DEA to reschedule marijuana.

In August the Department sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officially requesting marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act, which would effectively legalize it for prescription use across the United States. The letter came in response to a request by President Biden last year for the government to research and consider rescheduling marijuana.

Now, the agency has released documents – albeit heavily redacted documents – that explain why the Department believes marijuana should be moved to schedule III. The release of the documents came after a pair of attorneys requested them through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
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Dec 07 2023

US Congress: Bipartisan Bill Filed to Protect State Marijuana Laws, Allow Interstate Commerce

A bipartisan group of lawmakers have refiled the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act.

Filed by Representative Dave Joyce (R) and cosponsored by Representatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R), Brian Mast (R), Troy Carter (D) and Earl Blumenauer (D), the measure would fully allow states to legalize marijuana without fear of federal persecution, while protecting those that already have.

Specifically, it would amend the Controlled Substances so that those acting in compliance with state marijuana laws would no longer be committing a federal crime. This includes both marijuana consumers and those operating marijuana businesses.
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Dec 07 2023

California Bill Banning Employers From Asking About Past Marijuana Use Takes Effect Soon

Two pieces of legislation designed to help end workplace discrimination against marijuana consumers take effect soon in California.

Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in October, Senate Bill 700 takes effect in less than a month, on January 1. The new law makes it unlawful “for an employer to request information from an applicant for employment relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis.”

The measure would not apply to applicants or employees hired for positions that require a federal government background investigation or security clearance in accordance with regulations “issued by the United States Department of Defense pursuant to Part 117 of Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or equivalent regulations applicable to other agencies.”
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Dec 06 2023

Illinois Marijuana Sales: $164 Million in November, $1.7 Billion Year-to-Date

November marijuana sales were over $164 million in Illinois.

There was $164.7 million in marijuana purchased through legal outlets in November, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. These numbers are very similar to the $164.9 million in marijuana sales in October.

Recreational marijuana sales actually saw a slight uptick between October and November, increasing to $139.1 million from $138.7 million. Medical marijuana sales, on the other hand, decreased slightly from $26.2 million to $25.6 million.
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Dec 06 2023

Texas City Schedules Marijuana Decrim Vote for May 4

Lawmakers in Lubbock, Texas have scheduled a vote on an initiative that would decriminalize marijuana possession.

The Lubbock City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to place the initiative, put forth by the group Lubbock Compact, on the ballot during a May 4 special election. The vote comes roughly a month after the council rejected the initiative following Lubbock Compact submitted over double the required signatures to force a vote.

“The heart of our ordinance is pretty simple. We just don’t think people should go to jail for personal use of marijuana in Lubbock”, ” says Adam Hernandez, communications chair for Lubbock Compact.
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