Oct 13 2023

Alabama Commission to Issue Medical Marijuana Licenses by Year’s End

After months of legal issues and delays, Alabama regulators have vowed to issue medical marijuana licenses by the end of the year.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is aiming to award licenses to growers and distributors by the end of the year after an issue-filled roll out of the state’s medical marijuana program. The rollout has included multiple lawsuits, numerous licenses being issued and then voided, and a circuit judge placing a mortarium on licenses being issued.

The commission yesterday adopted an emergency rule approving a new process for selecting license winners. Companies will make presentations to the commission. Commissioners can also consider scores that were previously awarded to submitted applications.
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Oct 12 2023

Study Finds CBD May Help Combat Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

The cannabis compound  cannabidiol (CBD) may be useful in fighting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to a new peer-reviewed study.

The study, conducted by researchers at Wuyi University in China and the University of Rhode Island in the US, is being published in the December issue of the journal Bioorganic Chemistry. It’s been epublished online ahead of print.

“Drug-resistant bacterium infections are a severe threat to public health and novel antimicrobial agents combating drug-resistant bacteria are an unmet medical need”, states the study. “Although cannabidiol (CBD) has been reported to show antibacterial effects, whether its antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can be improved remains unclear.”

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Oct 12 2023

Study Finds Licensed Marijuana Stores Are Not Linked to Increased Crime

According to a new study the “presence of a [marijuana] dispensary has no significant impact on local crime in the average neighborhood.”

The study was published in the recent issue of the journal Annals of Regional Science, and it was conducted by researchers at John Hopkins University and the University of Hawaii.

“Many North American jurisdictions have legalized the operation of recreational marijuana dispensaries”, states the study. “A common concern is that dispensaries may contribute to local crime. Identifying the effect of dispensaries on crime is confounded by the spatial endogeneity of dispensary locations.”
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Oct 12 2023

Ohio Senate Passes Resolution Urging Voters to Reject Marijuana Legalization Initiative

The full Ohio Senate has passed a resolution encouraging voters to reject an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana that will be voted on next month.

Senate Resolution 216 was filed by Senators Mark Romanchuk and Terry Johnson with 14 cosponsors, all Republicans.

“[Issue 2] does not serve the best interests of the people of Ohio, will bring unacceptable threats and risks to the health of all Ohioans, especially children, will create dangers in the workplace and unacceptable challenges and costs to employers, will make Ohio’s roads more dangerous, will impose significant new, unfunded costs to Ohio’s public social services, and serves only to advance the financial interests of the commercial marijuana industry and its investors”, states the resolution.
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Oct 12 2023

D.C. Mayor Signs Bill Allowing 1-Year Medical Marijuana Cards for Non-Residents

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has signed into law ordinance that would make several changes to the district’s medical marijuana law.

Today Mayor Bowser signed Bill 25-0368, the Medical Cannabis Clarification and Non-Resident Patient Access Temporary Amendment Act of 2023, into law. The proposal was filed in July by Councilmembers Phil Mendelson and Kenyan McDuffie and was approved overwhelmingly by the full council earlier this month.

The ordinance will allow those who live outside of Washington D.C. to obtain a temporary, one-year medical marijuana authorization. This will give them the same legal protections as medical marijuana patients who live in D.C., and it will allow them to purchase marijuana at licensed dispensaries.
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Oct 11 2023

Most City Workers in Anchorage, Alaska Will No Longer Be Fired for Off-the-Job Marijuana Use

The Anchorage Assembly has voted to loosen the city’s policy regarding marijuana use among city workers.

Anchorage is by far Alaska’s largest city, making up about 40% of the state’s population. Under a rules change approved by city lawmakers marijuana use would no longer be a fireable offense among those employed by the city, as long as it didn’t occur during work hours.

This change, put forth by Assembly Chair Christopher Constant and cosponsored by Assembly Member George Martinez, will officially take effect in 30 days.
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Oct 11 2023

Nevada: In July, $71 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold, Half a Billion Year-to-Date

Nevada marijuana stores sold over $70 million in marijuana and marijuana products in July.

There was $71,615,363 in legal marijuana sold throughout Nevada in July, according to data released by the Nevada Department of Taxation. This is a $3 million increase over the total for June, and is similar to the total for July, 2022 ($71.9 million).

Of the $71.6 million sold in July, $55 million was sold in Clark County, $9.9 million was sold in Washoe County and $6.9 million was sold in “all other counties”.
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Oct 11 2023

Trulieve Has Donated $40 Million to Florida’s Marijuana Legalization Campaign

Trulieve Cannabis Corp has donated an additional $500,000 to a Florida initiative campaign that would legalize recreational marijuana, bringing its total donations to an eye-opening $39.55 million.

The nearly $40 million was donated to Smart & Safe Florida, a nonprofit political organization sponsoring an initiative to legalize marijuana that will be voted on during the November, 2024 general election. The initiative would allow those 21 and older “to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise.”

Under the proposed law, licensed marijuana retail outlets would be allowed to distribute the plant, with any of the state’s licensed medical-marijuana dispensaries allowed to “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute such products and accessories.”
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Oct 11 2023

Rhode Island Comes Just $40k Short of Breaking Monthly Marijuana Sales Record for Fifth Straight Month

Marijuana sales in Rhode Island fell just short of breaking the monthly record in September, something it had done for four straight months prior.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations, in September there was $9,633,351.50 in marijuana purchased through licensed marijuana retail outlets. This is less than $40k less than the record-breaking $9,672,793 sold in August. In July there was $9.46 million sold, and $9.1 million in June.

$2.5 million of the marijuana purchased in September was done by an authorized medical marijuana patient. The remaining $7.1 million was purchased by recreational consumers.
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Oct 11 2023

Study: During COVID-19 Pandemic, “Marijuana Smokers Had Better Outcomes and Mortality”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, “Marijuana smokers had better outcomes and mortality compared to non-users”, according to a new study.

Researchers introduced the study this week at The American College of Chest Physicians’ (CHEST) annual conference, and it was published in the October issue of the Chest Journal.

“Marijuana use is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, yet the full spectrum of its effects largely remains unknown”, states the study’s “purpose” section. “Although cannabinoids have immunomodulatory properties, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of the potential impact of marijuana use on COVID-19 outcomes.”
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