Aug 29 2023

Study: Medical Marijuana Legalization Associated With 18% Reduction in Foster Care Cases Related to Drug Abuse

States that legalize medical marijuana see a significant reduction in foster care cases related to drug abuse in the years that follow, according to a new study.

Published by Research Square, the study was conducted by researchers at Georgia College and State University.

For the study researchers investigated whether or not “states that legalize marijuana experience an increase in foster care entries related to drug abuse”. They utilized “multiple difference-in-difference approaches to exploit the state level variation in recreational and medical marijuana laws”, examining data from over 3.4 million foster care cases starting in 2007.
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Aug 28 2023

Arkansas: $23 Million in Medical Marijuana Sold in July

In July medical marijuana patients purchased over $23 million worth of product in Arkansas.

In total licensed medical marijuana dispensaries sold $23.2 million and 5,157 pounds worth of medical marijuana products. This includes dried marijuana flower as well as products infused with medical marijuana such as edibles and tincture.

According to the Arkansas Department of Finance, overall sales for 2023 now stand at $164.6 million in total revenue with 34,214 pounds sold.
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Aug 27 2023

Missouri: Emergency Rules Allow Foster Parents to Possess and Grow Marijuana at Home

The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) has filed emergency rules that explicitly allow foster parents to grow and possess marijuana at their private residence.

Marijuana was legalized in Missouri in November, 2022 through the passage of Amendment 3, a citizens initiative. The law allows those 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of marijuana, while also allowing them to grow up to six flowering plants, six immature plants, and six plants under 14 inches. Marijuana is purchasable through state-licensed marijuana retail outlets, the first of which opened in February.

Despite marijuana being legalized, foster parents up until this point were prohibited from possessing or growing marijuana in a home where a foster child is housed. The new rules filed recently would change this by allowing foster parents to possess and grow the same legal limits as anyone else. However, smoking marijuana in the same room as a foster child would remain prohibited.
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Aug 26 2023

Bahamas Attorney General and Health Minister Introduce Marijuana Legalization Proposal

Attorney General Ryan Pinder and Health and Wellness Minister Michael Darville have announced legislation that would make marijuana legal for medical and religious use through the Bahamas.

The Bahamas, officially referred to as the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. Although their population is only around 400,00 (less than any US state), around seven million tourists visit the area on an annual basis.

The measure introduced by the two officials would allow marijuana to be used for medical and religious purposes, while also allowing for an expansion of marijuana research. Although recreational marijuana would not be legalized under the proposed law, personal possession of up to 30 grams (one ounce plus two grams) would be decriminalized. The proposal also allows past marijuana possession convictions to be expunged.
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Aug 26 2023

Study Finds Cannabis Extracts “Have Great Ability for Preventing Breast Cancer” Growth

According to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Toxicology in Vitro, cannabis-based extracts “have great abilities for preventing breast cancer cell metastasis in in vitro experiments.”

“Breast cancer is the highest incidence of all types of cancer in women, and the cancer metastasis process accounts for a majority of cancer deaths”, states the study’s abstract. “Two major cannabinoids, Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), from Cannabis sativa are expected to have anti-cancer activity.”

This study “aimed to investigate the effects of THC, CBD, and standardized cannabis extracts (F1, F2, and F3) on migration, invasion, and apoptosis of human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells.” The study was conducted by researchers at Prince of Songkla University in Thailand.
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Aug 25 2023

There’s Over 100 Legal Marijuana Strains in Massachusetts, a 900% Increase From 2018

There’s currently over 100 active marijuana strains in Massachusetts’ legal marijuana industry, according to the state’s Cannabis Control Commission.

As of earlier this month, there was 101 active marijuana strains being sold in Massachusetts. This is a 910% increase over the number of active strains when legal marijuana sales first began in November, 2018. At that point there was 10, with the number jumping to 23 the following month and 33 the following year.

By January of this year the number of active strains had ballooned to 83, a 36% increase from the number of active strains in January of the previous year (61). Licensed marijuana growers have introduced 18 new strains so far this year.
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Aug 24 2023

Court Rules New Jersey Police Department Must Reinstate Another Officer Fired for Marijuana

A court has ruled that the Jersey City Police Department must reinstate a second officer fired for marijuana and must give them backpay.

Administrative Law Judge Joann Lasala Candido has ruled that the Jersey City PD must reinstate, with backpay, Omar Polanco. Polanco was fired by the department for off-the-job marijuana use. Earlier this month Administrative Law Judge Kimberly Moss gave a similar ruling, declaring that the police department must reinstate Norhan Mansour, another former officer fired for marijuana he used while off duty. The Civil Service Commission subsequently confirmed Judge Moss’ ruling, stating that firing the officer violated state law.

“I agree with the Mansour analysis by ALJ Moss and adopted by the Civil Service Commission that the federal law cited by the respondent in its brief does not preempt the [legalization law] as it applies to police officers in New Jersey,” said Judge Candido.
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Aug 24 2023

Mississippi: Over $4 Million in Medical Marijuana Sold in July

Despite having one of the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the nation, Mississippi dispensaries sold over $4 million in medical marijuana products in July.

The $4.4 million sold in July marks a 15.3% increase over the sales total for June, according to data released by MJBizDaily. The increase in July marks the sixth straight month of increased sales since the state launched medical marijuana retail sales in late January.

The total sales number for July was $4,429,093.
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Aug 24 2023

Ohio Ballot Board Unanimously Gives Approval to Marijuana Legalization Initiative

The Ohio Ballot Board has voted unanimously to advance an initiative to legalize marijuana, the last step necessary for it to be placed on the November, 2023 ballot.

Last week Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose notified the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol that the group had submitted enough signatures to qualify for the November, 2023 ballot. Now, the Ohio Ballot Board has voted 5 to 0 to approve the initiative’s draft ballot language, the last step necessary for the measure to make the November ballot.

If approved by voters this November, the initiative would legalize the possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates, for those who are at least 21 years old. The proposal would also allow for the personal cultivation of up to six marijuana plants.
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Aug 23 2023

California Bill to Legalize Marijuana Cafes Moved to Second Reading in Senate, Already Passed Assembly

Legislation to legalize marijuana cafes in California has been amended in the second and ordered to a second reading.

In June the California Senate passed a bill to legalize marijuana cafes through its second reading, moving it to its third and final reading. Yesterday the Senate amended the bill and ordered it back to its second reading. The proposal has already been passed by the full Assembly, but will need to go back for one final vote if it’s passed by the Senate through a third reading, given it was amended.

Assembly Bill 374 would authorize locations where marijuana and marijuana products, as well as other food and drink products, can be purchased and consumed. The measure would also allow marijuana stores to hold live entertainment events.
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