Arkansas legislation that codifies gun rights for medical marijuana patients has officially taken effect.

House Bill 1784, which took effect today, alters Arkansas’ laws related to concealed carry licenses to state that officials “shall not consider a person’s status as a qualifying patient or designated caregiver under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016, Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 98, § 2, in determining whether an applicant is eligible to be issued a license to carry a concealed handgun under this subchapter.”

House Bill 1784 was passed through the full Senate by a vote of 26 to 3, and was passed by the House of Representatives 82 to 5. It was signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
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According to the the 2023 Cannabis Global Price Index, New Yorkers consume the most marijuana in the world.

The study found that New York City residents consume an average of 62.3 metric tons of marijuana each year, the highest amount in the world. Sydney, Australia came second with 45.8 metric tons per year, despite marijuana remaining illegal in Australia.

At 35 metric tons per year Los Angeles ranked third, followed by Chicago at 24.9 metric tons and Rome, Italy at 21.9 metric tons per year.
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In just three days, on August 1, marijuana will become legal in Minnesota.

Starting Tuesday those 21+ will be allowed to possess up to two ounces of marijuana in public, and up to two pounds at a private residence. They will also be allowed to possess up to eight grams of marijuana concentrates and 800mg of marijuana edibles, and they can grow up to eight marijuana plants at a private residence (given it’s in an enclosed location).

All of this is possible due to the passage of legislation that was signed into law by Governor Tim Waltz in May. The law went through an extensive process that included over 30 committee hearings.
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According to a recently published study, in patients with chronic neck and back pain a spray containing both CBD and THC “showed clinically significant reductions in pain compared to baseline pain scores.”

The study is published in the peer-reviewed journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids, with the abstract also published by the National Library of Medicine. It was conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, St Vincent’s Hospital, Holdsworth House Medical Practice, the Australian Clinical Research Network, Cymra Life Sciences and the University of Technology at Sydney.

The aim of the study “was to demonstrate the safety and tolerability of cannabidiol (CBD) with Δ9-THC in patients with moderate to severe chronic back or neck pain unresponsive to over-the-counter non-opioid analgesics.”
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Legislation filed today in Pennsylvania’s Legislature would legalize the cultivation of marijuana for patients.

Senate Bill 869 was introduced by Senator Sharif Street along with a bipartisan coalition of seven other lawmakers.

Under the proposed law an authorized medical marijuana patient who has “been a resident of this Commonwealth for a period of at least 30 days may cultivate cannabis for personal use”. Patients would be allowed to grow up to six plants at a private residence, in an “enclosed, locked space”.
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The United States House of Representatives has given approval to a proposal that would allow physicians with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to recommend medical marijuana to veterans.

The amendment was made to a bill that covers spending for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. It was passed on the House floor in a voice vote. The House also approved an amendment that would promote the research of psychedelics such as magic mushrooms and MDMA.

The medical marijuana amendment was introduced by the bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, Representatives Brian Mast, Earl Blumenauer, Dave Joyce and Barbara Lee. It would explictly prohibit the use of government funds to enforce current law which prohibits doctors from recommending medical marijuana to veterans.
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