Dec 19 2024

Lawmakers in New Mexico’s Largest County Vote Unanimously to End Marijuana Testing for Most Public Employees

In a unanimous decision, the commissioners of Bernalillo County, home to approximately 672,000 residents including the city of Albuquerque, have updated the county’s Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Policy.

The policy now excludes cannabis from the list of illegal drugs when it is used legally outside of work hours for either medical or recreational purposes. This change means that the majority of county employees will no longer face pre-employment or random drug tests for cannabis use.

This move by Bernalillo County mirrors similar actions taken by various cities and counties across the U.S., such as Atlanta, Cleveland, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and St. Louis, where restrictions on cannabis testing for public sector employees have been implemented.
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Dec 19 2024

Michigan Regulators Fined 67 Marijuana Businesses in November

In November, Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) imposed fines on 67 licensed marijuana businesses for a variety of regulatory infractions. Penalties ranged from $333.33 to as much as $19,000, reflecting the seriousness of the violations.

The largest fine, totaling $19,000, was issued to Blue Fox Brands in Lansing for failing to comply with Metrc, the state’s tracking system, as well as for breaches of security and surveillance requirements. Other cited infractions among marijuana operators included noncompliance with annual financial statement submissions, failure to report significant operational or structural changes, and issues related to general operations.

Additionally, some businesses were penalized for improper handling and production practices, noncompliant sales, inadequate waste disposal, and violations of packaging, advertising, sampling, and testing standards.
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Dec 19 2024

Illinois Department of Public Health Approves Adding Female Ogasmic Disorder to List of Medical Marijuana Conditions

The Illinois Department of Public Health has approved a petition to add female orgasmic disorder (FOD) to the list of conditions eligible for medical marijuana.

With the department’s approval, Female Orgasmic Disorder will be immediately added to the state’s list of ailments that allow an individual to become a legal medical marijuana patient. In October, New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Board voted 7 to 2 to add the same condition to their state’s medical marijuana program, roughly four months after Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana Program Board of Physicians voted to do the same.

According to a study published in May in the journal Sexual Medicine, marijuana significantly improves the sexual experiences of women facing orgasmic disorders.
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Dec 19 2024

Study: CBD May Aid in Dental Tissue Regeneration

Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown promising results in supporting dental stem cell regeneration and combating inflammation, according to a study by researchers from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and the University of Hong Kong.

The study, published in the International Endodontic Journal, investigated how CBD impacts human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) under both normal and inflamed conditions.

The researchers aimed to explore CBD’s effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and odonto/osteogenic differentiation. Using hDPSCs harvested from dental pulp tissue, the cells were exposed to varying concentrations of CBD, ranging from 1.25 to 50 μg/mL, in both standard conditions and inflammatory environments induced by P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
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Dec 19 2024

Cannabidiol Found to Suppress Aggressive Prostate Cancer Progression and Recurrence in New Study

A new study suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may offer a promising approach to controlling metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

CBD tincture.

Researchers from the University of Louisiana and Mansoura University conducted the study, published in ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science and published online by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is driven by the dysregulation of the IDO1-Kynurenine-AhR axis, which facilitates tumor progression. This pathway involves the breakdown of tryptophan, an essential amino acid, into kynurenine, a molecule that activates tumor-promoting pathways. CBD, a nonpsychoactive compound derived from cannabis, was found to interfere with this process.
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Dec 19 2024

Clinical Trial Finds Psilocybin Increases Emotional Empathy in Patients With Major Depression

A study published in the peer reviewed journal Molecular Psychiatry has found that psilocybin-assisted therapy significantly improves emotional empathy in patients with major depression.

The study, titled Psilocybin increases emotional empathy in patients with major depression, explored the enduring effects of psilocybin on social cognition, using a randomized, placebo-controlled design involving 51 depressed patients.

Participants were assigned to receive either a single dose of psilocybin (0.215 mg/kg body weight) or a placebo, both embedded in a four-week psychological support program. Empathy levels were assessed using the Multifaceted Empathy Test at baseline and at intervals of two days, one week, and two weeks post-administration.
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Dec 19 2024

New Jersey Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Ban Kratom Sales

New Jersey lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills to criminalize the manufacture, distribution, and possession of kratom under certain conditions.

Kratom products.

Senate Bill 3981, sponsored by State Senator Teresa Ruiz (D), and Assembly Bill 5129, introduced by Representative Alexander Schnall, were filed on December 16 and referred to their respective Judiciary Committees.

If enacted, the legislation, titled “CJ’s Law,” would categorize kratom as a controlled dangerous substance. Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, has been used medicinally and therapeutically for thousands of years.
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Dec 18 2024

Colorado Will Begin Accepting Applications for Psilocybin Service Centers on December 31

Colorado is set to begin accepting applications for psilocybin service centers on December 31, 2024, marking a significant step forward in the state’s journey toward offering psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

This development comes as part of the framework established following the 2022 passage of Proposition 122, which legalized regulated psilocybin therapy and the personal use of certain psychedelics for adults aged 21 and older.

Under the program, licenses will be available for businesses involved in psilocybin therapy, cultivation, and testing. The program introduces two categories of therapy providers: standard healing centers and micro-healing centers. Healing centers will be standalone facilities dedicated to psilocybin therapy, while micro-healing centers are designed to integrate these services into existing healthcare practices, such as therapist offices or wellness retreats. This dual licensing system aims to make psilocybin therapy more accessible and affordable, addressing some of the challenges seen in Oregon’s psilocybin program.
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Dec 18 2024

Report: Industrial Hemp Market Valued at $5.6 Billion, to Reach $13.9 Billion by 2028

The global industrial hemp market, valued at $5.6 billion in 2024, is projected to grow to $13.9 billion by 2028, according to a report by Technavio.

Hemp plants.

This marks a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.25% over the forecast period. The report attributes this growth to increased demand across industries such as textiles, food and beverages, personal care, and biofuels. Asia-Pacific (APAC) is expected to lead this expansion, contributing 39% of the global market growth. Countries such as China, India, and Japan are key players, bolstered by their strong agricultural base and recent legalization of hemp cultivation, states the report.
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Dec 18 2024

Vireo Growth Inc. Announces $75 Million Financing and Acquisitions of Four Single State Operators

Vireo Growth Inc. has announced a series of transactions, including a $75 million equity securities offering and the acquisition of four single-state cannabis operators.

The equity securities offering is priced at $0.625 per subordinate voting share, with the closing subject to applicable notice periods, according to a press release sent today.

The acquisitions, collectively referred to as the “Merger Transactions,” are valued at approximately $397 million in all-stock deals. Upon completion, Vireo’s operational footprint will expand to include Florida, Missouri, Nevada, and Utah, bringing the company’s total reach to seven states. The combined entity will oversee approximately 1,043,500 square feet of cultivation and manufacturing space across nine facilities and operate 48 retail dispensaries.
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