Oct 26 2022

Germany Government Unveils Plan to Legalize Marijuana

Germany’s health minister unveiled a plan today to legalize the possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis and to allow it to be sold through licensed retail outlets.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach says he will check with the European Union’s executive commission whether the plan approved by the German government is in line with EU laws and will proceed with legislation “on this basis” if it gets the green light. Lauterbach said the new rules could serve as “a model for Europe”, and will likely take effect in 2024.

The plan calls for cannabis to be grown under license and sold to adults at licensed outlets to combat the black market, Lauterbach said. Individuals would be allowed to grow up to three plants, and to buy or possess 20 to 30 grams of marijuana.
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Oct 25 2022

Canada: Infused Pre-Roll Sales Grew 1,000% Between September, 2021 and September, 2022

In Canada sales of marijuana pre-rolls infused with hash, kief and/or oil rose a jaw dropping 1,000% between September, 2021 and September, 2022.

An infused pre-roll from Canada’s General Admission.

The growth marks “the most significant growth of any segment within the cannabis industry over the last year or two, given that it is growing very quickly and it is also very large,” says Cooper Ashley, analytics manager for the cannabis analytics firm Headset.

According to Headset, which tracks sales in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan, sales of infused pre-rolls represented 2.4% of the country’s legal marijuana market in September of last year. As of last month, that has grown to nearly one fifth (19.2%) with 16.6 million Canadian dollars worth of sales during the 12-month period.
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Oct 24 2022

Poll: 68% of Americans Believe Marijuana Should be Legal

A large majority of adults in the United States, including a majority of Republicans, believe marijuana should be legal according to a new Monmouth University Poll.

Overall, two-thirds (68%) of the American public supports legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, finds the new poll. This includes 76% of Democrats and 73% of independents, along with 52% of Republicans. By age, support is highest among those under 35 years old (87%) but also includes a majority of those age 55 and over (53%). Support levels for legalizing marijuana are similar by parental status and by race.

Similarly, 69% of Americans approve of Biden issuing pardons for people convicted on federal charges for simple marijuana possession. This comes even though few know how many pardons were actually issued. About one-fifth to one-quarter think this number is either less than 1,000 convictions (25%), between a 1,000 and 10,000 (26%), or over 10,000 (21%). Another 29% don’t hazard a guess.
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Oct 24 2022

Study: Marijuana Oil “Significantly Reduced Agitation” in Dementia Patients

According to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Medicine, marijuana oil significantly reduced agitation and aggression and reduced sleep disturbances in patients with dementia.

According to its abstract, the objective of the study was to “evaluate the safety and efficacy of the medical cannabis oil “Avidekel” for the reduction of behavioral disturbances among patients with dementia.”

In this randomized, double-blind, single-cite, placebo-controlled trial conducted in Israel, patients aged at least 60 with dementia were randomized 2:1 to receive either “Avidekel,” a broad-spectrum cannabis oil with a 30 to 1 cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ratio, or a placebo oil. Participants were administered the oils three times a day for 16 weeks.
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Oct 24 2022

New Report Details the Best and Worst Cities for a Cannabis Vacation

A new report details the best and worst U.S. cities for a ‘Canna-cation,’ including the most and least expensive for marijuana.

Upgraded Points, a travel information industry leader, analyzed 50 major cities where recreational marijuana is legal to find the best cities for a cannabis vacation. The researchers considered 10 ranking factors strongly related to marijuana tourism, including marijuana-friendly rentals, guided cannabis tours, 420-experiences, dispensaries, costs, and more.

Three Colorado cities rounded out the top 10 list, with Denver leading the way at No. 1, followed by Boulder (4), and Colorado Springs (8). Additionally, two California cities scored high, with Oakland and San Jose coming in at No. 3 and 9, respectively. Nevada made an appearance with both Henderson (7) and Las Vegas (10) making the list. Portland, ME was the only Eastern city to make the top 10.
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Oct 23 2022

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Who Use Marijuana Report Decreased Emergency Room Visits

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology has found that those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) report improved symptoms and fewer emergency room visits following marijuana use.

Conducted by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Northwestern University and Stony Brook University Hospital, the objective of the study according to its abstract was to “investigate medical cannabis (MC) use patterns and adverse effects in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).”

A cross-sectional anonymous survey was conducted (October 23, 2020 to January 24, 2021) among patients accessing medical cannabis (MC) dispensaries in New York and Minnesota. The eligibility criteria was those age 18 years or older with a IBD diagnosis and who purchases marijuana from a dispensary.
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Oct 21 2022

CBD Mitigated Neuronal Damage Induced by Kainate In an In-Vitro Seizure Model

Cannabidiol (CBD) mitigated the neuronal damage caused by kainate in an in-vitro seizure model, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Neurobiology of Disease.

The study states that epilepsy “is one of the most common brain disorder and, despite the possible use of several therapeutic options, many patients continue to have seizures for their entire lifespan and they need new therapeutic approaches.” In recent years “the interest on the non-psychoactive compounds present in Cannabis sativa has massively increased, and cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of different types of neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as epilepsy, ischemia, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease.”

For the study researchers “investigated the effects of the selected cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD and cannabigerol (CBG) in rat organotypic hippocampal slices exposed to kainate, an in vitro seizure model.”
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Oct 21 2022

Report: Global Legal Marijuana Market Valued at $27 Billion, to Grow to $82 Billion by 2027

Despite marijuana remaining illegal in many parts of the world, the global legal marijuana market is now valued at $27.7 billion and is expected to grow to over $80 billion by 2027.

The global cannabis market is estimated to be valued at $27.7 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $82.3 billion by 2027, recording a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.3% in terms of value, according to the Global Cannabis Market Report by Research and Markets.

The growing marijuana market is “driven by the rise in the use of cannabis for recreational and medical use.” Moreover, “there has been an increased legalization of cannabis in the US in states like Virginia in 2021 and Rhode Island in 2022 and in other countries like in Malta in 2021, and Thailand in 2018.”
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Oct 21 2022

Cannabis Extracts May Help Treat Dermatophytosis and Other Skin Diseases

A new study has found that cannabis extracts “may be of value to treat dermatophytosis and other skin diseases caused by various microorganisms.”

Published in the journal  Frontiers in Microbiology, the study was conducted by researchers at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and Charles University, both in Czechia.

“Cannabis preparations are gaining popularity among patients with various skin diseases. Due to the lack of scientific evidence, dermatologists remain cautious about their prescriptions”, states the study. “So far, only a few studies have been published about the effects of high-potency cannabis extracts on microorganisms (especially dermatophytes) causing skin problems that affect more than 25% of the worldwide population.”
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Oct 21 2022

Some Cannabinoids Have Toxic Effect on Colon Polyps, Says New Study

An International Journal of Molecular Sciences study has found that cannabinoids have a toxic effect on colon polyps, indicating therapeutic potential in battling colon cancer cells.

“Purified cannabinoids have been shown to prevent proliferation and induce apoptosis in colorectal carcinoma cell lines”, claims the abstract of the study. The primary objective was to “assess the cytotoxic effect of cannabinoid extracts and purified cannabinoids on both colorectal polyps and normal colonic cells, as well as their synergistic interaction.”

For the study, various cannabinoid blends were tested to identify the optimal synergistic effect.  Biopsies from polyps and healthy colonic tissue were obtained from 22 patients undergoing colonic polypectomies.
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