Jul 24 2023

Study: 7.4% of Military Members and 20.3% of Former Members Recently Used Marijuana

A new study gives details on how many military service members in the US are using marijuana both while on active duty and following their leave.

(Photo credit: Bumble Dee/Shutterstock)

The study’s abstract notes that there “is little data on cannabis use among military service members, particularly when examining the period after separation from military service.” This new research, published online by the National Library of Medicine, “examines cannabis-related perceptions and use among U.S. Army Reserve/National Guard (USAR/NG) current and former soldiers.” The study was conducted at the University at Buffalo’s Department of Community Health and Health Behavior.

For the study researchers used data from Operation: SAFETY (Soldiers And Families Excelling Through the Years), an ongoing study examining health among male and female USAR/NG soldiers. The current sample was comprised of 401 current and former USAR/NG soldiers.
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Jul 24 2023

Detroit to Issue 50 More Marijuana Licenses, Application Process Starts August 1

The city of Detroit has announced that it will soon begin accepting applications for marijuana business licenses roughly seven months after the city issued the first 33 licenses.

City officials say on August 1 they will reopen the application process for marijuana retail outlets, microbusinesses and consumption lounges, with a plan to issue dozens more licenses. Those interested will need to apply by August 31. A decision will be made within six to eight weeks.

In total Detroit plans to issue 10 microbusiness licenses, 10 licenses for consumption lounges and 30 licenses for marijuana stores.
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Jul 24 2023

California Initiative to Legalize Psilocybin Clears Key Hurdle

A group seeking to legalize psilocybin has been given approval by the state to begin collecting signatures on their initiative.

Decriminalize California is seeking to place their psilocybin initiative on the 2024 general election ballot. The group has until January 10th, 2024 to submit at least 546,651 valid signatures. This is almost 80,000 signatures less than was required in previous election cycles because there was roughly 2 million less voters in the recent gubernatorial election.

The proposed law would legalize, for those 21+, the possession, cultivation and distribution of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms.
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Jul 24 2023

Randomized, Controlled Trial Finds CBD Provides Symptom Relief for Gastroparesis Patients

According to a new randomized, controlled trial, the marijuana compound cannabidiol (CBD) “provides symptom relief in patients with gastroparesis and improves the tolerance of liquid nutrient intake”.

The study is published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and is conducted by researchers at the Mayor Clinic. The objective of the study was “compare effects of 4 weeks’ treatment with pharmaceutical CBD vs. placebo in patients with idiopathic (IG) or diabetic (DM) gastroparesis.”

For the study researchers “performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of CBD b.i.d. (Epidiolex® escalated to 20mg/kg/day) in patients with nonsurgical gastroparesis with delayed gastric emptying of solids (GES).”
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Jul 24 2023

Seattle Law Giving Marijuana Workers Stronger Labor Protections Takes Effect

A Seattle ordinance giving marijuana workers in the city stronger labor protections has officially taken effect.

The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announced the City of Seattle’s Cannabis Employee Job Retention (CEJR) Ordinance went into effect on July 19.

This ordinance requires covered outgoing cannabis business employers to “Post written notice of a change in control” and “Provide a preferential hiring list to the incoming cannabis employer”.
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Jul 24 2023

Albania Parliament Votes 69 to 23 to Legalize Medical Marijuana

The Albania Parliament on Friday voted to legalize medical marijuana.

By a vote of 69 to 23 with three members abstaining, the Albanian Parliament has passed a law that allows for the legal cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes. is a country on Southeastern Europe’s Balkan Peninsula with a population of around 2.8 million.

The new law creates the National Agency for the Control of Cannabis which will serve as the primary regulatory body for medical marijuana. They will handle the processing and production of medical marijuana products.
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Jul 21 2023

Canada Legal Marijuana Sales Reach CA$415 Million in May

Canada saw a slight increase in legal marijuana sales between April and May, according to new data released by Statistics Canada, a government entity.

According to Statistics Canada, legal marijuana stores throughout the nation sold CA$415.6 ($314.7 million) worth of marijuana and marijuana products. This is a 1.2% increase over April, despite April typically being  a busy month for marijuana sales due to the 4/20 marijuana holiday. The CA$415 million sold is also a11.2% increase over the total sales numbers for May, 2022.

In May, Ontario had the largest number of sales at CA$162.5 million, a 1.5% increase from April. This is followed by Alberta with CA$74.3 million (2.3% increase from May) and British Columbia CA$64.8 million (a 5.4% decrease from April).
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Jul 21 2023

Marijuana Possession, Cultivation Now Legal in Luxembourg

For those 21 and older, recreational marijuana is now legal in Luxembourg.

As of today, July 21, Luxembourg joins Malta as the only countries in the European Union to have officially legalized recreational marijuana. The change is law is due to legislation passed last month by Luxembourg’s Parliament in a 38 to 22 vote.

Under the new law adults are allowed to grow up to four plants at a private residence and possess the marijuana it produces. However, in public settings the possession limit is set at just three grams.
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Jul 21 2023

Study: Marijuana Consumers Use Fewer Opioids Following Neck Fusion Surgery

According to a new study marijuana consumers who undergo a neck fusion surgery use fewer opioids following than surgery than those who don’t use marijuana.

For the study, published in the North American Spine Society Journal, researchers with the University of Connecticut School of Medicine examined opiod use following neck fusion surgery in over 2,600 patients with and without a history of using marijuana. Participants were monitored for 60 days following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery.

Researchers found that not only were marijuana consumers less likely to immediately fill their opioid prescription, they were also considerably less likely to be using them at the 60 day mark.
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Jul 21 2023

New York Opens Application Process for Marijuana Farmers Markets

Just two days after New York officials voted to allow marijuana farmers markets, the state has opened up the application process.

On Wednesday the state Cannabis Control Board (CCB) passed a handful of new rules including legalizing marijuana farmers markets. These are referred to as “Cannabis Growers Showcases” where growers and retailers can “bring their product to market and allow licensees to sell such products simultaneously.” Today, the application process opened for businesses wanting to take part in the new rules.

“The Cannabis Growers Showcase (CGS) initiative allows licensed cannabis growers and processors to showcase New York cannabis products to consumers at events where consumers can purchase those cannabis products from licensed retailers”, states the Office of Cannabis Policy’s website. “Licensed Adult-Use Conditional Cultivators (AUCC), Adult-Use Conditional Processors (AUCP), and Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) who have been approved for licensed activities by the Office of Cannabis Management can participate in a CGS.”
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