Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced legislation that would triple the legal THC threshold for hemp while tackling several regulatory issues that have been an issue since federal legalization in 2018. The Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act would raise the federal definition of legal hemp from 0.3% THC by dry weight to 1%. The …
Tourist Denied Entry to U.S. Based on Past Cannabis Use Where it Was Legal
A Norwegian tourist was recently denied entry to the United States after admitting to past marijuana use, despite consuming it in countries where the substance isn’t illegal. Mads Mikkelsen was stopped at a port of entry in New Jersey earlier this month by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. He told Norwegian outlet Nordlys …
Oregon Initiative to Legalize Cannabis Cafes Clears First Signature Milestone
An initiative campaign to legalize cannabis cafes in Oregon has officially cleared its first hurdle, receiving over 1,400 verified signatures—more than the 1,000 required to obtain a ballot title from the state. Organizers are now preparing to launch the next and much larger phase of their campaign: gathering more than 117,000 additional signatures to qualify …
New Zealand Study Recruiting Dogs for First-Ever THC and CBD Arthritis Trial
More than 100 dogs are being enrolled in what’s being called the first regulated clinical trial of its kind, testing a combination of THC and CBD for treating osteoarthritis in canines. The trial is being conducted by Hale Animal Health, a veterinary pharmaceutical company based in New Zealand. The study is taking place across multiple …
Study: New Method Efficiently Removes THC From Cannabis Extracts While Preserving Other Cannabinoids at Industrial Scale
Researchers from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia have developed a method for removing nearly all THC from cannabis extracts using scalable chromatography. A study published online today by the Journal of Chromatography A details the development of a process that effectively separates tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from cannabis extracts while preserving cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids. Researchers …
Clinical Trial Finds Psilocybin Therapy More Effective Than Escitalopram in Reducing Negative Thinking in Depression
A new clinical trial finds that psilocybin therapy may offer a more powerful remedy for negative thought patterns in people with major depressive disorder than the commonly prescribed antidepressant escitalopram. Researchers from Imperial College London and the University of California analyzed data from a randomized, controlled study comparing two high-dose psilocybin therapy sessions to six …
Federal Court Clears Way for Arkansas to Enforce Ban on Hemp THC Products
An Arkansas law banning hemp-derived THC can now be enforced, following a ruling today from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court lifted a previous injunction that had blocked enforcement of Act 629, a 2023 law that classifies certain hemp products—like those containing delta-8 and THCA—as controlled substances similar to marijuana. Attorney General Tim …
Study: THC and CBD May Suppress Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Human Monocytes
A new clinical study from Michigan State University concludes that THC and CBD may help suppress key inflammatory responses in human monocytes, a type of immune cell involved in both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. Published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, the study evaluated how THC, CBD, and a cannabinoid receptor 2 …
Attorney Says Just One Signature Could Federally Reschedule Cannabis
In a newly published legal analysis, Denver-based attorney and international drug policy expert Jason Adelstone outlines a compelling case that the U.S. Attorney General has the authority to unilaterally reschedule marijuana—without needing approval from Congress or input from health agencies. Adelstone points to a rarely discussed provision of federal law, 21 U.S.C. § 811(d)(1), that …
Clinical Trial Finds Cannabis Extract Reduces Pain and Improves Sleep, Breathing in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer
A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial has found that cannabis sativa extract may help alleviate pain and improve certain aspects of quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer. Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the phase III trial involved 40 patients with locally advanced or metastatic lung cancer confirmed by histopathology. Participants were …
