Dec 28 2022

Certain Psychedelics Including Magic Mushrooms Now Legal in Colorado

The possession of several types of psychedelic drugs is now legal in Colorado.

Last month Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 to legalize the possession and use of certain psychedelic drugs. Yesterday Governor Jared Polis issued a proclamation officially allowing the law to take effect a week prior to when the constitution requires him to do so. Governor Polis, who has long supported the reformation of drug laws, expressed excitement following the initiative’s passage.

Under Proposition 122 the personal use and possession of several hallucinogenic/entheogenic plants and fungi is now legal for those 21 and older, including: Continue reading

Dec 27 2022

There Were More Cannabis Studies Published in 2022 Than Any Year Prior

2022 was a record-breaking year for cannabis-related research.

Researchers across the globe published a record-breaking 4,300 scientific papers on the subject of cannabis, according to an analysis of studies published by the National Library of Medicine/PubMed.gov website.

This exceeds the previous record of around 4,200, set just last year. There’s strong potential for this to increase even further given President Biden signed legislation earlier this year to greatly expand marijuana research in the United States.
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Dec 26 2022

The Top 10 Cannabis Studies of 2022

The number of legitimate, peer-reviewed cannabis-related studies released each year has grown at a rapid pace in recent years, and 2022 was no different.

Although there were hundreds of studies released in 2022 related to cannabis and/or its many chemical compounds, there are some that rise above the rest in terms of their importance and impact. With that in mind, those of us at The Marijuana Herald have compiled a list of what we believe to be the top 10 cannabis studies of 2022, in addition to a few honorable mentions.

Below is our list of the Top 10 Cannabis Studies of 2022, in no particular order (click on the titles for more information on each study):

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Dec 25 2022

CBD-Antibiotic Inhibits Salmonella Growth, According to New Study

An interesting new study  published in the peer-reviewed journal Microorganisms has found that low-doses of CBD inhibits the growth of Salmonella typhimurium.

Salmonella typhimurium illustration.

Salmonella Typhimurium is one of the most common and prevalent foodborne pathogens worldwide leading to diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps. Effecting up to 1.3 million people each year with over 400 annual deaths in the U.S., the infection often results in hospitalization (an average of 26,500 a year).

For this new study researchers “utilized fluorescence microscopy, biological assays, and bacterial growth kinetics to determine the effectiveness of CBD-broad-spectrum antibiotic co-therapy against S. typhimurium.”
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Dec 23 2022

Arkansas: $251 Million in Medical Marijuana (45,677 Pounds) Sold This Year, $29.4 Million in Taxes Garnered

According to new data released by state officials, there was over a quarter of a billion dollars worth of medical marijuana and medical marijuana products sold in the state so far in 2022.

According to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, medical marijuana patients spent $23.2 million on medical marijuana in November. In total patients purchased 4,489 pounds of medical marijuana from 38 dispensaries. This brings the total between January, 2022 and November to $251 million spent on 45,677 pounds of medical marijuana

“Medical marijuana card holders have spent $251.7 million in 2022 to obtain 45,677 pounds,” says Scott Hardin, spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration “This will certainly be the largest year for sales since the industry launched in 2019.”
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Dec 22 2022

Study Finds Cannabidiol May Be a Valuable Tool in Treating Pain From Digital Ulcers

A study published in the most recent issue of the journal Advances in Skin & Wound Care has found that topical CBD “may be a valuable tool to treat pain related to digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis.”

A digital ulcer is a break in the skin of a finger or toe, which can be extremely painful and can become infected. The objective of this new study was to “explore the effect of topical cannabidiol (CBD) in treating digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).”

 In total, 45 patients with SSc who had digital ulcers were consecutively enrolled between January 2019 and December 2019. Of the participants, 25 were treated with CBD during surgical debridement and 20 were treated with standard local therapy. A numeric rating scale for pain and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index were administered at the baseline and at the end of treatment.
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Dec 22 2022

Automatic Marijuana Expungements Passed Unanimously By D.C. Council

A criminal justice reform bill that includes a provision for the automatic expungement of marijuana charges has been passed in a unanimous vote by the Washington D.C. Council.

The Second Chance Amendment Act was passed by the council by a vote of 13 to 0. This sends the proposal to Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is expected to quickly sign the measure into law.

The act initially stated that a criminal charge for the simple possession of up to two ounces of marijuana would be automatically expunged by the court from people’s records. However, the council approved an amendment by Councilmember Christina Henderson to change the two ounce limit to include “any quantity of marijuana”.
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Dec 21 2022

Vermont: $2.6 Million in Marijuana Sold in First Month of Legal Sales, $520,000 in New Taxes

In Vermont’s first month of legal marijuana sales consumers purchased $2.6 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products.

Although Vermont legalized marijuana in October, 2020 following the govern signing Senate Bill 54, the first legal marijuana sales taking place at licensed retail outlets didn’t begin until October of this year.

Now, we have the first data on the state’s legal marijuana market. According to data released by the state’s state Department of Taxes, $2.6 million in marijuana was sold in October, a number that is likely to grow substantially in the following months as more outlets open their doors (for example, there are 36 licensed marijuana retailers now compared to seven on October 1st).
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Dec 21 2022

CBD Associated With Sustained Seizure Reduction in 4-Year Study of Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy

A long-term study of those with treatment-resistant epilepsy has found that the cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) is directly associated with a reduction in seizures over a 192-week period.

The study, published by the journal Epilepsia, was conducted by researchers affiliated with the University of Alabama, NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Augusta University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Idaho Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.

“Cannabidiol (CBD) expanded access program (EAP), initiated in 2014, provided add-on CBD to patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE) at 35 US epilepsy centers”, states the study. “Prior publications reported results through December 2016; herein, we present efficacy and safety results through January 2019.”
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Dec 21 2022

Study Finds Medical Cannabis Improves Sleep in Insomnia Patients

A new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study being published in the upcoming issue of the Journal of Sleep Research has found that medical cannabis improves sleep in those with Insomnia.

The study was conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Torrens University and The University of Adelaide, all in Australia, and was epublished ahead of print on the website for the National Library of Medicine. The study’s full text can be found by clicking here.

Insomnia or difficulty falling and or staying asleep is experienced by up to 30% of the general population, notes the study’s abstract. “This randomised crossover double-blind placebo-controlled 6-week trial aimed to assess the tolerability and effectiveness of the Entoura-10:15 medicinal cannabis oil on sleep in adults with insomnia.”
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