Aug 15 2023

As Ohio Prepares to Vote on Legalization, Report Says State Could Make $403 Million In Annual Marijuana Taxes

With it looking likely that marijuana legalization will be on the ballot this November in Ohio, a new report shows just how much the state could gain from legalizing and taxing the plant.

According to a new report released by researchers from Ohio State University, the state could gain up to $403 million in new tax revenue from the legal distribution of marijuana and marijuana products to those 21 and older.

The report examined marijuana sales data in a variety of other legal marijuana states between 2018 and 2023, including in Michigan which has a similar population as Ohio.
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Aug 15 2023

Report: Cannabis Infused Edibles Market Worth $9.68 Billion, to Grow to $20 Billion by 2028

According to a new report, the global market for legal cannabis infused edibles is worth almost $10 billion as of the start of 2023, and it’s expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.

The Cannabis Infused Edible Products Market size is expected to grow from $9.68 billion in 2023 to $20.60 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate of 16.30% during the forecast period (2023-2028).

“The fact that edibles are inconspicuous and allow consumers to devour unknowingly, has shifted consumer preferences from smoking towards edibles”, states the report, released by ReportLinker. “This growing popularity has led edibles to penetrate most of the United States retails, where the state must have some specific cannabis or marijuana regulated laws.”
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Aug 15 2023

Study: Medical Cannabis Decreases Symptoms of Neurological Disorders in 96% of Patients

In a new study the vast majority of patients with neurological disorders receive symptom relief from marijuana use.

According to researchers “the purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of life of patients receiving medical cannabis.” One hundred patients receiving medical cannabis were given (a) a socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire, and (b) the SF-36 Health Survey scale for assessing quality of life.

“The majority of our patients who received medical cannabis to treat their neurological disorders (58%) reported decrease in their symptoms (96%), better energy and vitality (68%), ability to perform their professional duties (88%), and an improvement in sleeping and appetite (79% and 71%, respectively) after receiving medical cannabis”, states the study.
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Aug 15 2023

Marijuana Use Not Associated With Negative Survival Outcomes in Liver Transplant Patients, Finds Study

According to a new study a history of using marijuana is not associated with a decrease in survival rates among liver transplant patients, despite some marijuana users being denied such transplants.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Ottawa and the University of British Columbia, and is published in the Canadian Liver Journal and the US National Library of Medicine.

With the “aim to investigate liver transplantation candidacy and outcomes among cannabis users”, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of eight peer-reviewed studies involving over 5,000 patients.
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Aug 15 2023

Oregon Bill to Study State-Run Bank, Potentially Useable by Marijuana Businesses, Vetoed by Governor

Legislation that would study the creation of a state-run bank that could potentially be useable by marijuana businesses has been vetoed by Governor Tina Kotek.

House Bill 2763 was filed by State Representatives Mark Gamba and Jules Walters in the House and Senator Jeff Golden in the Senate. It was passed by the full legislature in June. The proposal would establish a 19-member task force designed to study the idea of the state operating a public bank.

Specifically they would be responsible for examining the “potential benefits and harms from the bank to state and local jurisdictions and private industries, including potential benefits and harms of a state bank engaging in lending, payments or providing other public financial infrastructure”, including “financial services for cannabis businesses.” A report would have been required by September, 2024.
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Aug 14 2023

Alaska Made Over $2.2 Million in Marijuana Taxes in June

According to data released by the Alaska Department of Revenue, the state made over $2.2 million in taxes from the legal distribution of marijuana in June.

In total the state with a population of less than 750,000 people made $2,282,147 in marijuana tax revenue in June, a slight decrease from the $2,398,053 made in May. The high point for the year was in March, with $2.5 million in taxes made from legal marijuana. The low point was in February, with $2.1 million in marijuana taxes.

The year-to-date marijuana tax total for Alaska is now $28,154,513.
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Aug 14 2023

DEA Official Clarifies Delta-8 THC is Illegal Even When Extracted From Legal CBD

A top official at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has clarified that delta-8 THC is a federally illegal substance.

Gummies made with delta-8 THC.

The official notes that delta-8 THC is illegal even when it is derived from legal cannabidiol (CBD). This is likely to have a chilling effect on the growing industry of delta-8 distributors. Currently there are hundreds of stores selling delta-8 THC products in states where delta-9 THC (derived from marijuana) is illegal.

“Arriving at delta-8-THC by a chemical reaction starting from CBD makes the delta-8-THC synthetic and therefore, not exempted’ by any federal law, says Terrence Boos, DEA’s Drug & Chemical Evaluation Section Chief.
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Aug 14 2023

Study Finds 79% of Americans Believe Marijuana is As Safe or Safer Than Tobacco

A higher percentage of Americans than ever before believe marijuana is safer than tobacco, according to new research published in the journal JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Network Open.

“While rates of cigarette use are declining, more US adults are using cannabis”, states the study’s abstract. “Perceptions of safety are important drivers of substance use and public policy; however, little is known about the comparative views of US adults on tobacco and cannabis safety.”

With that in mind, the objective of this study was to “compare public perceptions of safety of cannabis vs tobacco smoke and evaluate how perceptions may be changing over time.” The study was conducted by researchers at the University of California San Francisco, the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Columbia University in New York, the Northern California Institute for Research and Education and the University of Kansas.
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Aug 14 2023

Study: Medical Marijuana Laws Significantly Reduce Health Insurance Premiums

Legalizing medical marijuana reduces the cost of health insurance, according to a new peer-reviewed study.

Titled simply Medical cannabis laws lower individual market health insurance premiums, the study is being published in the September issue of International Journal of Drug Policy, and it was published online ahead of print by the National Library of Medicine. It was conducted by researchers at Bowling Green State University, Illinois State University and Eastern Michigan Green State University.

For the study researchers examined “whether cannabis legalization significantly impacts aggregate health insurer premiums in the individual market.”
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Aug 14 2023

More Illinois Marijuana Workers Vote to Unionize

Just a few weeks after unions declared victory at marijuana businesses in Illinois and New Jersey, workers at two additional Illinois dispensaries have voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first collective bargaining agreements with Teamsters Local 777.

According to a press release cannabis consultants and agents-in-charge at two dispensaries operated by Zen Leaf, a subsidiary of Verano, have both voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first collective bargaining agreements with Teamsters Local 777.

“Trade unionism is a full contact sport, and just like anything you train for, you get out of it what you put into it,” said Jim Glimco, Local 777 President. “The workers at the Pilsen and Lombard locations worked incredibly hard and demonstrated remarkable tenacity, and that’s why they both secured great collective bargaining agreements for themselves.”
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