Mar 22 2023

Illinois Committee Votes to Ban Police From Using Marijuana Odor as Probable Cause for Vehicle Searches

A bill that would explicitly prohibit law enforcement from using the smell of marijuana as probable cause for a vehicle search has been passed by a key Senate committee in Illinois.

Probable CauseSenate Bill 125 was filed by Senator Rachel Ventura along with eight cosponsors, all Democrat. It was passed today by the Senate Special Committee on Criminal Law and Public Safety in a 9 to 1 vote.

The proposed law states that the Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 11-502.15 as follows:

The odor of burnt or raw cannabis in a motor vehicle by itself shall not constitute probable cause for the search of a motor vehicle or person.
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Mar 22 2023

Oregon Grants First Ever License for Magic Mushroom Production

Almost two and a half years after Oregon voters approved the legalization of psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”), the state has issued the first license for its production.

Psilocybin mushrooms.

The Oregon Health Authority announced today that it has issues its first psilocybin manufacturing license, which was awarded to the Portland-based company Satori Farms PDX LLC The company is owned by Tori Armbrust.

“We congratulate Tori Armbrust of Satori Farms PDX LLC for being issued the first psilocybin license in Oregon’s history and for representing women leading the way for the emerging psilocybin ecosystem,” said Oregon Psilocybin Services Section Manager Angie Allbee following the announcement. “We are committed to fostering an inclusive partnership with our regulated community to ensure safe, effective and equitable psilocybin services throughout the state.”
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Mar 22 2023

Legislation to Prevent Marijuana Odor From Being Used as Probable Cause Passed by Maryland Senate Committee

A Maryland Senate committee has given approval to a bill that would prevent law enforcement from using marijuana odor as the sole evidence for probable cause or reasonable suspicion.

Filed by Senator Jill P. Carter, Senate Bill 51 has received approval from the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committees, sending it towards a vote by the full Senate.

“Providing that, with a certain exception, a finding or determination of reasonable suspicion or probable cause relating to possession of contraband or other criminal activity may not be based solely on evidence of the odor of certain cannabis, the possession of or suspicion of possession of cannabis, or the presence of money in proximity to cannabis”, states the bill’s official synopsis.
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Mar 22 2023

Vermont Bill to Expand Medical Marijuana Law Passed in Committee

A Vermont proposal that would expand the state’s medical marijuana law, including doubling the number of plants a patient can grow, has been passed in its initial House committee.

House Bill 270 was filed by State Representatives Matt Birong and Mike McCarthy. It recently received approval by the House Ways and Means Committee. It has now been assigned to the House Appropriations Committee, the last step before it can be heard by the full House of Representatives.

The bill would increase the THC cap on packaged marijuana products from 50 mg to 100 mg, and would alter the number of plants a patient can grow for personal use from a total of nine to instead be six mature plants and 12 immature plants.
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Mar 22 2023

Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Calls for Federal Marijuana Legalization

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) has endorsed the legalization of marijuana and released a model federal regulatory framework for the legal marijuana industry.

The WSWA, a trade association founded 80 years ago in 1943, says their framework is rooted in the near century of experience the industry has in transporting and regulating socially sensitive products.

“Americans have confidence in our regulated alcohol system and our experience can benefit lawmakers creating a U.S. adult-use cannabis market,” said WSWA CEO and President Michelle Korsmo. “WSWA members have successfully partnered with suppliers and distributed socially sensitive products to locally licensed retailers for the last century.”
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Mar 22 2023

CBD Was Efficient in Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain in New Study

Cannabidiol (CBD) was efficient in preventing chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain in a new study published by the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.

The study “aimed to investigate the effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on type 4 Toll-like receptors (TLR4), glial cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines during the neuropathic pain induced by the chemotherapy agent paclitaxel (PTX), as well as the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in this process”, states the study’s abstract, which was authored by researchers at the Federal University of Alfenas and the University of Sao Paulo (both in Brazil).

For the study male mice were subjected to PTX-induced neuropathic pain. To evaluate the involvement of the TLR4, glial cells and cannabinoid CB2 receptor, specific inhibitors or antagonists were intrathecally administered.
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Mar 22 2023

Study Finds CBD May Help Patients With Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

The marijuana compound cannabidiol “may help manage patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome regarding seizure control and improve other aspects of the clinical spectrum of the disease”, according to new research.

The research was published in the recent issue of the journal Epileptic Disorders. It was conducted by researchers at the University of Rome and the University Hospital of Rome, and is titled Highly purified cannabidiol improves stability and postural tone in adult patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome: a case series.

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) is a severe developmental epileptic encephalopathy associated with numerous neurological signs and symptoms, notes the study. Altered postural tone and the need for a caregiver-assisted wheelchair are features characterizing patients with LGS.
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Mar 22 2023

New Hampshire House Approves Measure Legalizing Personal Marijuana Cultivation for Patients

New Hampshire’s full House of Representatives has given approval to House Bill 431 to legalize the personal cultivation of medical marijuana.

Filed by Representative Wendy Thomas, House Bill 431 was passed today in a voice vote as part of the House’s consent calendar. No lawmaker chose to pull the item from the consent calendar which would have forced a roll-call vote.

The proposed law would legalize the personal cultivation of up to three mature marijuana plants, three immature plants and 12 seedlings for those who are qualified medical marijuana patients. All plants would be required to be grown in an “enclosed, locked space”. Patients would need to inform the Department of Health and Human Services if they decide to grow marijuana plants.
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Mar 21 2023

Arizona House Committee Passes Senate-Approved Bill to Expand Medical Marijuana Program

Legislation to expand Arizona’s medical marijuana program has been passed by a key House committee the same month it was approved by the full Senate.

Senate Bill 1466, filed by Senator Thomas Shope, has been given approval by the House Health and Human Services Committee. The vote was 7 to 2, sending it towards a vote by the full House of Representatives.

The proposal would add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and autism spectrum disorder as conditions that qualify an individual to become a legal medical marijuana patient. It would also reduce the price of medical marijuana cards to just $50 (a third of the current cost), while making them entirely free for veterans.
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Mar 21 2023

Using a Cell Membrane Bionic Delivery System for CBD May Help Alleviate PTSD Symptoms

A cell membrane bionic delivery system for CBD assisted with ultrasound “had good therapeutic effect against PTSD mice”, and may help to “alleviate the symptoms of PTSD.”

Photo credit: Forbes

This is according to a new study published by the International Journal of Pharmaceutics. The study was conducted by researchers at the Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Henan University, Hebei University and the General Hospital of Western Theater Command. The study is titled Cannabidiol–loaded biomimetic macrophage membrane vesicles against post–traumatic stress disorder assisted by ultrasound.

“Our previous studies proved the effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD) against PTSD, but low water solubility, low brain targeting efficiency and poor bioavailability restricted its applications”, states the study. “Here, a bionic delivery system, camouflage CBD–loaded macrophage–membrane nanovesicles (CMNVs), was constructed via co–extrusion of CBD with macrophage membranes, which had inflammatory and immune escape properties.”
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