Dec 20 2022

D.C. Legislation to Expand Medical Marijuana Program Receives Final Council Approval

By a vote of 13 to 0 the Council of the District of Columbia has given final approval to legislation that will significantly expand the district’s medical marijuana program.

The legislation (Bill 24-0113) was introduced by Council Chair Phil Mendelson on behalf of Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is expected to quickly sign it into law now that it has passed the full council.

The proposed law removes the cap on the number of plants that a cultivation center can grow and significantly increases the number of permitted dispensaries in the District. The law also creates new business categories within the industry including on-site consumption facilities and marijuana cooking classes, and it makes permanent the option for patients to self-certify that they’re qualified medical marijuana patients.
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Dec 20 2022

Study: CBD May Improve Muscle Recovery

The marijuana compound cannabidiol (CBD) “has the prospective to become an adequate supplement that may improve muscle recovery”, according to a new study epublished by the National Library of Medicine.

The full text of the study, which is published in the December, 2022 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, can be found by clicking here.

“Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonintoxicating constituent of the cannabis plant, recently gained a lot of interest among athletes, since it is no longer considered as a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency”, states the study. “The increasing prevalence of CBD use among athletes is driven by a perceived improvement in muscle recovery and a reduction in pain. However, compelling evidence from intervention studies is lacking and the precise mechanisms through which CBD may improve muscle recovery remain unknown.”
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Dec 19 2022

Chicago Announces Launch of New Cannabis Research Institute

The City of Chicago and the Discovery Partners Institute today announced the launch of the Cannabis Research Institute, a first-of-its-kind center in the Midwest.

The CRI will be a joint effort by the State and City housed within DPI, which is part of the University of Illinois System, to “provide a robust body of research and data to advance public knowledge on scientific and socio-economic impacts of cannabis usage and production.”

The arrangement will allow the new institute to leverage DPI’s offices, personnel, and resources in Chicago. With a scheduled rollout of the CRI in the next few months, DPI has begun a search for an executive director.
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Dec 17 2022

Kansas City Dismisses Over 500 Marijuana Cases Following Missouri Legalization

Following Missouri voters legalizing marijuana in last month’s election Kansas City has officially dismissed over 500 pending marijuana cases.

Kansas City.

“Kansas City Municipal Court has dismissed over 500 old marijuana cases since the effective date last week of Amendment 3 (legalized marijuana) in Missouri”, says Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. “Glad to see not just proactive action for legal weed, but removal of past challenges affecting hundreds of our neighbors.”

According to a recent report government officials have provided nearly 2 million marijuana-related pardons and expungements in the U.S. since 2018.
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Dec 17 2022

New Mexico Adds Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders as Qualifying Medical Marijuana Condition

New Mexico health officials have officially added anxiety to the list of conditions that qualify an individual to become a legal medical marijuana patient.

The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Advisory Board has approved adding anxiety as a qualifying medical cannabis condition. The change officially takes effect on January 1st.

“Anxiety isn’t always completely alleviated by the medications that we have available now, and being able to utilize cannabis to treat anxiety disorder is something that is in alignment with the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act to relieve symptoms,” said Stephanie Richmond, a physician assistant and advisory board member who petitioned the board in March with fellow board member Dr. Jean-Paul Dedam to add anxiety as a qualifying condition.
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Dec 15 2022

Study: Cannabis Use Associated With Significant Symptom Improvements in Those With PTSD

Patients with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) experience symptom improvements following the use of cannabis and cannabis products, according to a study published n the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.

PTSD word cloud.

For the study researchers examined the safety and efficacy of cannabis products in 162 PTSD patients with a physician’s authorization to use medical cannabis. Study subjects were participants in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry who consumed either cannabis extracts or THC-dominant flowers for a period of six-months.

The study claims that PTSD patients saw “statistically significant improvements” in a variety of domains, including sleep, anxiety, and stress. Adverse events were found to be mild in severity.
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Dec 15 2022

Ohio Marijuana Expungement Bill Passed by Legislature, Sent to Governor

A legislative proposal that would, among other changes, make it so that the possession of marijuana paraphernalia does “not constitute a criminal record” has been passed by Ohio’s full legislature.

Senate Bill 288 would also establish a process that allows marijuana possession charges to be sealed from public view after six months and expunged entirely after three years. It was passed by the Senate 29 to 2, and passed by the House of Representatives 86 to 8.

Introduced by Senator Nathan Manning, it will now go to the desk of Governor Mike DeWine who has three options: Sign it into law, allow it to become law without a signature, or veto it. If Governor DeWine chooses the latter, the legislature could override the veto with a 2/3rds vote of the House and Senate.

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Dec 15 2022

Survey: Plurality of Cannabis Consumers Prefer Edibles Over Other Marijuana Products

A new survey has found that a very slight plurality of cannabis consumers prefer edibles over other methods of consuming cannabis such as dried flower and pre-rolls.

Conducted by Pollfish and commissioned by Jushi Holdings Inc., the Cannabis Consumer Insights Holiday Poll included 1,000 participants in states that have legalized recreational marijuana. The survey found that edibles just barely edged out flower for the top spot, 24.58% to 23.68%. In third is “vapes” at 18.84%, followed closely by pre-rolls at 17.41%.

Tablets or capsules was favored by a considerably lower percentage of cannabis consumers at 6.31%, but they still top tinctures (4.83%) and infused drinks (4.34%).
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Dec 14 2022

Legislation to Encourage Businesses to Use Hemp Products Signed into Law by New York Governor

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law legislation that’s designed to promote hemp use among the state’s businesses.

Introduced by Senator Michelle Hinchey, Senate Bill S8496 was signed by Governor Hochul yesterday. The measure mandates that the agriculture commissioner work with business partners to determine how they can incorporate hemp products into their operations.

The legislation mandates the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets Urban Development Corporation to collaborate with the NYS Hemp Workgroup, and industry representatives, to develop a plan to expand market opportunities for industrial hemp that would increase its use in manufacturing and construction materials, including packaging, textiles, and hempcrete.
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Dec 14 2022

Almost 2 Million Marijuana Pardons and Expungements Have Been Issued Since 2018

Government officials have provided nearly 2 million marijuana-related pardons and expungements in recent years, according to an analysis released today by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

According to publicly available data, state and local officials have issued over 100,000 pardons and more than 1.7 million marijuana-related expungements since 2018. States that have been most active in providing relief to those with past convictions include Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and California.

“Hundreds of thousands of Americans unduly carry the burden and stigma of a past conviction for behavior that most Americans, and a growing number of states, no longer consider to be a crime,” says NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano. “Our sense of justice and our principles of fairness demand that public officials and the courts move swiftly to right the past wrongs of cannabis prohibition and criminalization.”
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