Jul 07 2023

Study Finds Marijuana Use Associated With Reduced Inflammation in Head Trauma Patients

Adults with a history of marijuana use exhibit greater protections against subconcussive head trauma in comparison to non-users, according to a study published in the journal Cell and epublished by the National Library of Medicine.

For the study researchers from Indiana University examined the relationship between marijuana use and subconcussive head impacts in a cohort of 43 soccer players. Researchers “aimed to test whether chronic cannabis use would be neuroprotective or exacerbating against acute subconcussive head impacts.”

This trial included 43 adult soccer players (Cannabis group using cannabis at least once a week for the past 6 months, n = 24; non-cannabis control group, n = 19).
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Jul 07 2023

Study: Cannabis Legalization in WA Led to Fewer Fatal, Serious, and Minor Injury Collisions

According to a new study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention, marijuana legalization in Washington State “led to fewer fatal, serious, and minor injury collisions.”

The study also found “no statistically significant impact of cannabis sales on serious injury/fatal crashes” following the opening of marijuana retail outlets, although the study did find a correlation between marijuana sales and a “small increase in less severe crashes”.

As noted by the study’s abstract, Washington State was among the first states in the US to legalize recreational consumption and retail sales of marijuana. Recreational use of cannabis was legalized December 6, 2012, following the passage of Initiative 502. Roughly 19 months later the first retail cannabis stores opened their doors for public sales (“commercialization”). For the study researchers “measure the impact of cannabis legalization and commercialization on traffic collisions in Washington State.”
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Jul 06 2023

New Bipartisan Bill to Legalize Marijuana Introduced in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Senators Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) have introduced bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill 846, to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania for those 21 and older.

The proposal is cosponsored by Senators Wayne Fontana and John Kane, and it was quickly assigned to the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

“Legalized adult use of marijuana is supported by an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians and this legislation accomplishes that while also ensuring safety and social equity,” said Laughlin. “With neighboring states New Jersey and New York implementing adult use, we have a duty to Pennsylvania taxpayers to legalize adult-use marijuana to avoid losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars of new tax revenue and thousands of new jobs.”
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Jul 06 2023

Maine Bill Allowing Marijuana Use and Cultivation While on Probation and Parole Becomes Law

Legislation in Maine that prevents those on probation, parole or release pending trial from being prohibited from taking part in the state’s legal recreational marijuana program has become law.

LD 1311 has become law without the signature of Governor Janet Mills, who chose to neither sign it into law or veto it. The measure was filed by State Representative David Boyer along with a tripartisan group of lawmakers.

According to the measure’s official summary, it “prohibits an individual’s legal cultivation, possession or use of cannabis or testing positive for cannabis from being a violation of probation, parole or release pending trial unless the court finds that the cultivation, possession or use of cannabis by the individual creates a risk of danger to the individual or others.”
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Jul 05 2023

Maryland: Over $10 Million in Marijuana Sold in First Two Days of Legal Sales

Legal marijuana sales began in Maryland on July 1, with millions of dollars worth sold in the first two days.

According to data released by the Maryland Cannabis Administration, there was $10,429,736 in legal marijuana and marijuana products sold between July 1 and July 2. This is over double the $3,985,527 worth of medical marijuana sold during the same period last year.

Under the new law those those 21 and older are allowed to purchase up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana from a licensed marijuana retail outlet. They are also allowed to grow up to four plants for personal use.
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Jul 04 2023

Study: All Analyzed Cannabis Varieties “Showed Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities”

In a new study researchers examining five different cannabis varieties found that all of them “showed antibacterial and antifungal activities.”

Titled Antifungal and antibacterial activities of Cannabis sativa L. resins, the study is published in the July issue of the journal Journal of Ethnopharmacology and it was published online ahead of print by the US National Library of Medicine.

“Increasing resistance to traditional antimicrobial agents demands finding new strategies to fight against microbial infections in medical therapy and agricultural activities”, states the study’s abstract. “Upon legalization in many countries, Cannabis sativa is gaining attention as a new source of active components, and the evidence for new applications of these compounds is constantly increasing.”
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Jul 04 2023

Ohio Group to Submit Enough Signatures to Put Marijuana Legalization to a Vote

Tomorrow the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Ohio will submit well more than total number of signatures required to put their marijuana legalization initiative to a vote this November.

The group on Wednesday will submit 220,000 signatures, almost 100,000 more than the 124,000 they were required to collect. They were given just 90 days to do so.

If passed by voters, the initiative would legalize the possession and personal cultivation of marijuana for those 21 and older. The initiative would also establish a legal marijuana industry, with licensed retail outlets authorizes to sell marijuana and marijuana products including concentrates and edibles.
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Jul 04 2023

Here Are Seven Founding Fathers Who Grew and Advocated for Hemp and/or Marijuana

By Benjamin M. Adams, High Times

On July 4, 1776 (247 years ago) the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain.

Many of them not only grew hemp but insisted how important the plant is to the foundation of American agriculture. Sorting through rumors about the Founding Fathers and hemp is another story, with invented quotes and misinformation.

The Declaration’s blanket assertion, “all Men are created equal,” should be taken with a grain of salt given that many Founding Fathers owned slaves, and Thomas Jefferson’s and Henry Clay’s slaves also grew hemp. It would take a lot longer for actual equal rights to materialize.
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Jul 03 2023

Study: Marijuana Has 566 Chemical Compounds, 125 Different Cannabinoids

Marijuana has over 550 various compounds and “has enormous potential for biological and industrial uses, as well as traditional and other medicinal uses”, according to a new study.

Conducted by researchers at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Western Ontario, the study is titled Cannabis: a multifaceted plant with endless potentials. The study is published in the newest issue of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, with the abstract epublished by the US National Library of Medicine.

This study “attempts to evaluate the available literature on the ecology, chemical composition, phytochemistry, pharmacology, traditional uses, industrial uses, and toxicology of Cannabis sativa.”
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Jul 03 2023

Nebraska: Signature Gathering Underway for Initiatives to Legalize Medical Marijuana

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana are now actively collecting signatures for a pair of initiatives that would legalize medical marijuana and provide protections for physicians who recommend it.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana (NMM) filed the initiatives last month with plans to place the proposals on the November, 2024 ballot. This is the group’s third attempt to put a medical marijuana initiative before voters of the state, with advocates falling less than 1,000 signatures short last year.

The group has until next July to collect 125,000 signatures from registered Nebraska voters. Dozens of signature gatherers were seen gathering signatures over the weekend, including multiple at the Omaha Farmer’s Market on Sunday.
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