Aug 27 2023

Missouri: Emergency Rules Allow Foster Parents to Possess and Grow Marijuana at Home

The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) has filed emergency rules that explicitly allow foster parents to grow and possess marijuana at their private residence.

Marijuana was legalized in Missouri in November, 2022 through the passage of Amendment 3, a citizens initiative. The law allows those 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of marijuana, while also allowing them to grow up to six flowering plants, six immature plants, and six plants under 14 inches. Marijuana is purchasable through state-licensed marijuana retail outlets, the first of which opened in February.

Despite marijuana being legalized, foster parents up until this point were prohibited from possessing or growing marijuana in a home where a foster child is housed. The new rules filed recently would change this by allowing foster parents to possess and grow the same legal limits as anyone else. However, smoking marijuana in the same room as a foster child would remain prohibited.
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Aug 26 2023

Bahamas Attorney General and Health Minister Introduce Marijuana Legalization Proposal

Attorney General Ryan Pinder and Health and Wellness Minister Michael Darville have announced legislation that would make marijuana legal for medical and religious use through the Bahamas.

The Bahamas, officially referred to as the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. Although their population is only around 400,00 (less than any US state), around seven million tourists visit the area on an annual basis.

The measure introduced by the two officials would allow marijuana to be used for medical and religious purposes, while also allowing for an expansion of marijuana research. Although recreational marijuana would not be legalized under the proposed law, personal possession of up to 30 grams (one ounce plus two grams) would be decriminalized. The proposal also allows past marijuana possession convictions to be expunged.
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Aug 26 2023

Study Finds Cannabis Extracts “Have Great Ability for Preventing Breast Cancer” Growth

According to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Toxicology in Vitro, cannabis-based extracts “have great abilities for preventing breast cancer cell metastasis in in vitro experiments.”

“Breast cancer is the highest incidence of all types of cancer in women, and the cancer metastasis process accounts for a majority of cancer deaths”, states the study’s abstract. “Two major cannabinoids, Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), from Cannabis sativa are expected to have anti-cancer activity.”

This study “aimed to investigate the effects of THC, CBD, and standardized cannabis extracts (F1, F2, and F3) on migration, invasion, and apoptosis of human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells.” The study was conducted by researchers at Prince of Songkla University in Thailand.
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Aug 25 2023

There’s Over 100 Legal Marijuana Strains in Massachusetts, a 900% Increase From 2018

There’s currently over 100 active marijuana strains in Massachusetts’ legal marijuana industry, according to the state’s Cannabis Control Commission.

As of earlier this month, there was 101 active marijuana strains being sold in Massachusetts. This is a 910% increase over the number of active strains when legal marijuana sales first began in November, 2018. At that point there was 10, with the number jumping to 23 the following month and 33 the following year.

By January of this year the number of active strains had ballooned to 83, a 36% increase from the number of active strains in January of the previous year (61). Licensed marijuana growers have introduced 18 new strains so far this year.
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Aug 24 2023

Court Rules New Jersey Police Department Must Reinstate Another Officer Fired for Marijuana

A court has ruled that the Jersey City Police Department must reinstate a second officer fired for marijuana and must give them backpay.

Administrative Law Judge Joann Lasala Candido has ruled that the Jersey City PD must reinstate, with backpay, Omar Polanco. Polanco was fired by the department for off-the-job marijuana use. Earlier this month Administrative Law Judge Kimberly Moss gave a similar ruling, declaring that the police department must reinstate Norhan Mansour, another former officer fired for marijuana he used while off duty. The Civil Service Commission subsequently confirmed Judge Moss’ ruling, stating that firing the officer violated state law.

“I agree with the Mansour analysis by ALJ Moss and adopted by the Civil Service Commission that the federal law cited by the respondent in its brief does not preempt the [legalization law] as it applies to police officers in New Jersey,” said Judge Candido.
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Aug 24 2023

Mississippi: Over $4 Million in Medical Marijuana Sold in July

Despite having one of the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the nation, Mississippi dispensaries sold over $4 million in medical marijuana products in July.

The $4.4 million sold in July marks a 15.3% increase over the sales total for June, according to data released by MJBizDaily. The increase in July marks the sixth straight month of increased sales since the state launched medical marijuana retail sales in late January.

The total sales number for July was $4,429,093.
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Aug 24 2023

Ohio Ballot Board Unanimously Gives Approval to Marijuana Legalization Initiative

The Ohio Ballot Board has voted unanimously to advance an initiative to legalize marijuana, the last step necessary for it to be placed on the November, 2023 ballot.

Last week Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose notified the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol that the group had submitted enough signatures to qualify for the November, 2023 ballot. Now, the Ohio Ballot Board has voted 5 to 0 to approve the initiative’s draft ballot language, the last step necessary for the measure to make the November ballot.

If approved by voters this November, the initiative would legalize the possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates, for those who are at least 21 years old. The proposal would also allow for the personal cultivation of up to six marijuana plants.
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Aug 23 2023

California Bill to Legalize Marijuana Cafes Moved to Second Reading in Senate, Already Passed Assembly

Legislation to legalize marijuana cafes in California has been amended in the second and ordered to a second reading.

In June the California Senate passed a bill to legalize marijuana cafes through its second reading, moving it to its third and final reading. Yesterday the Senate amended the bill and ordered it back to its second reading. The proposal has already been passed by the full Assembly, but will need to go back for one final vote if it’s passed by the Senate through a third reading, given it was amended.

Assembly Bill 374 would authorize locations where marijuana and marijuana products, as well as other food and drink products, can be purchased and consumed. The measure would also allow marijuana stores to hold live entertainment events.
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Aug 23 2023

New Jersey: $185 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold During Q2, 2023

In the second quarter of this year licensed New Jersey marijuana stores sold $185.19 million in product.

According to data compiled and released by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, there was $160.2 million in recreational marijuana sold between April and June of this year. During that same period there was $24.98 million in medical marijuana sold, bringing the total amount of legal marijuana sold to $185.19 million.

This marks a slight increase from the $180.3 million sold during the first quarter of this year. Although recreational marijuana sales were noticeably higher this quarter ($160 million compared to $145 million), medical marijuana sales were down this quarter (about $25 million compared to $34 million).
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Aug 23 2023

Study: THC/CBD Can Help Combat Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

A combination of the cannabis compounds THC and CBD is “an appropriate adjuvant agent to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with gynecologic cancer who received high-emetogenic chemotherapy”, according to a newly published study.

Conducted by researchers at the Royal Thai Air Force and Thammasat University Hospital, the objective of the study was to “evaluate the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC):cannabinoid (CBD) (1:1) oil in reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in gynecologic cancer patients who received moderate-to-high emetogenic chemotherapy.”

This was a randomized, double-blinded, crossover and placebo-controlled trial. Participants had gynecologic cancer and received moderate-to-high emetogenic chemotherapy. Subjects were randomized and divided into two groups (A and B) based on the block of four randomization method.
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