Jul 08 2023

Study: Medical Cannabis Improved Quality of Life in 91% of Veterans, Reduced Opioid Use

According to a new study 91% of veterans “reported that medical cannabis helped them to experience a greater quality of life”, and a considerable percentage say it reduced their use of opioids and over-the-counter medications.

(Photo credit: Getty Images Plus)

The study is published in the journal Clinical Therapeutics and was conducted by researchers at the University of Utah, Rider University in New Jersey and the University of Massachusetts. The full text of the study can be found by clicking here.

“Mental and other physical health concerns and substance use disorder are common and co-occurring events experienced by US veterans”, states the study’s abstract. “Treatment with medicinal cannabis is a potential alternative to unwanted medication use for veterans, but more clinical and epidemiologic research is needed to understand the risks and benefits.”
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Jul 07 2023

CA Committees Pass Senate-Approved Bill to Ban Employers From Asking About Marijuana Use

Two California Assembly Committees have voted in favor of legislation that would provide legal protections to marijuana consumers who are seeking employment.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 8 to 2 on Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 700, a week after the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee passed it unanimously 7 to 0. The measure has already been approved by the full Senate 29 to 9.

Filed by Senator Steven Bradford, the proposal “would make it unlawful for an employer to request information from an applicant for employment relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis”.
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Jul 07 2023

Marijuana Workers in California and Missouri Vote to Unionize

Workers at legal marijuana stores in California and Missouri have voted to join the Teamsters union in what is becoming a growing trend among those working in the marijuana industry.

According to a pair of press releases, 81 workers at Growpacker have organized with Teamsters Local 1932 in San Bernardino, Calif. The company is the largest bottling facility in the California cannabis industry, as well as one its the largest providers of supply chain, manufacturing, and distribution services.

In Missouri, Patient Care Advocates and Dispensary Supervisors at Bloc Dispensary, a subsidiary of Justice Cannabis Company, have voted to join Teamsters Local 618. They are the first group of cannabis workers to unionize with the Teamsters in Missouri.
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Jul 07 2023

Study Finds Marijuana Use Associated With Reduced Inflammation in Head Trauma Patients

Adults with a history of marijuana use exhibit greater protections against subconcussive head trauma in comparison to non-users, according to a study published in the journal Cell and epublished by the National Library of Medicine.

For the study researchers from Indiana University examined the relationship between marijuana use and subconcussive head impacts in a cohort of 43 soccer players. Researchers “aimed to test whether chronic cannabis use would be neuroprotective or exacerbating against acute subconcussive head impacts.”

This trial included 43 adult soccer players (Cannabis group using cannabis at least once a week for the past 6 months, n = 24; non-cannabis control group, n = 19).
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Jul 07 2023

Study: Cannabis Legalization in WA Led to Fewer Fatal, Serious, and Minor Injury Collisions

According to a new study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention, marijuana legalization in Washington State “led to fewer fatal, serious, and minor injury collisions.”

The study also found “no statistically significant impact of cannabis sales on serious injury/fatal crashes” following the opening of marijuana retail outlets, although the study did find a correlation between marijuana sales and a “small increase in less severe crashes”.

As noted by the study’s abstract, Washington State was among the first states in the US to legalize recreational consumption and retail sales of marijuana. Recreational use of cannabis was legalized December 6, 2012, following the passage of Initiative 502. Roughly 19 months later the first retail cannabis stores opened their doors for public sales (“commercialization”). For the study researchers “measure the impact of cannabis legalization and commercialization on traffic collisions in Washington State.”
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Jul 06 2023

New Bipartisan Bill to Legalize Marijuana Introduced in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Senators Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) have introduced bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill 846, to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania for those 21 and older.

The proposal is cosponsored by Senators Wayne Fontana and John Kane, and it was quickly assigned to the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

“Legalized adult use of marijuana is supported by an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians and this legislation accomplishes that while also ensuring safety and social equity,” said Laughlin. “With neighboring states New Jersey and New York implementing adult use, we have a duty to Pennsylvania taxpayers to legalize adult-use marijuana to avoid losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars of new tax revenue and thousands of new jobs.”
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Jul 06 2023

Maine Bill Allowing Marijuana Use and Cultivation While on Probation and Parole Becomes Law

Legislation in Maine that prevents those on probation, parole or release pending trial from being prohibited from taking part in the state’s legal recreational marijuana program has become law.

LD 1311 has become law without the signature of Governor Janet Mills, who chose to neither sign it into law or veto it. The measure was filed by State Representative David Boyer along with a tripartisan group of lawmakers.

According to the measure’s official summary, it “prohibits an individual’s legal cultivation, possession or use of cannabis or testing positive for cannabis from being a violation of probation, parole or release pending trial unless the court finds that the cultivation, possession or use of cannabis by the individual creates a risk of danger to the individual or others.”
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Jul 05 2023

Maryland: Over $10 Million in Marijuana Sold in First Two Days of Legal Sales

Legal marijuana sales began in Maryland on July 1, with millions of dollars worth sold in the first two days.

According to data released by the Maryland Cannabis Administration, there was $10,429,736 in legal marijuana and marijuana products sold between July 1 and July 2. This is over double the $3,985,527 worth of medical marijuana sold during the same period last year.

Under the new law those those 21 and older are allowed to purchase up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana from a licensed marijuana retail outlet. They are also allowed to grow up to four plants for personal use.
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Jul 04 2023

Study: All Analyzed Cannabis Varieties “Showed Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities”

In a new study researchers examining five different cannabis varieties found that all of them “showed antibacterial and antifungal activities.”

Titled Antifungal and antibacterial activities of Cannabis sativa L. resins, the study is published in the July issue of the journal Journal of Ethnopharmacology and it was published online ahead of print by the US National Library of Medicine.

“Increasing resistance to traditional antimicrobial agents demands finding new strategies to fight against microbial infections in medical therapy and agricultural activities”, states the study’s abstract. “Upon legalization in many countries, Cannabis sativa is gaining attention as a new source of active components, and the evidence for new applications of these compounds is constantly increasing.”
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Jul 04 2023

Ohio Group to Submit Enough Signatures to Put Marijuana Legalization to a Vote

Tomorrow the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Ohio will submit well more than total number of signatures required to put their marijuana legalization initiative to a vote this November.

The group on Wednesday will submit 220,000 signatures, almost 100,000 more than the 124,000 they were required to collect. They were given just 90 days to do so.

If passed by voters, the initiative would legalize the possession and personal cultivation of marijuana for those 21 and older. The initiative would also establish a legal marijuana industry, with licensed retail outlets authorizes to sell marijuana and marijuana products including concentrates and edibles.
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