Aug 22 2024

Study Finds THC Reverses Brain Aging and Enhances Cognition in Animal Model

According to researchers at the University of Bonn and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the long-term, low-dose administration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can reverse aging processes in the brain and may have broader anti-aging effects.

The study, recently published in the journal ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, sheds light on the complex role of the protein switch mTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) in aging and cognitive decline.

The research team, led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Zimmer, Director of the Institute of Molecular Psychiatry at the University Hospital Bonn, discovered that the mTOR protein is crucial in regulating metabolism and cognitive performance across the body. As a central hub for cell growth and metabolism, mTOR’s activity is highly responsive to intracellular energy levels. In higher organisms, mTOR activity significantly influences aging by regulating cellular metabolism.
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Aug 22 2024

Prenatal CBD May Block Autism Traits in At-Risk Babies, Finds Study

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have uncovered a potential breakthrough in autism prevention.

A new study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health and also published online by the National Institute of Health, found that administering broad-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) oil during pregnancy may prevent the development of autism-like behaviors in male offspring exposed to maternal stress.

“Recently, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased from 1 in 150 to every 1 in 36 children in the United States, warranting a need for novel prevention and therapeutic strategies”, states the study’s abstract. “Broad-spectrum cannabidiol oil, free from delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of cannabis, may be one such therapeutic. It has a high safety profile and is frequently used as a complementary and integrative intervention by persons experiencing symptoms of anxiety, stress, and inflammation.”
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Aug 22 2024

Study: CBD Shows Promise in Treating Symptoms of Gulf War Illness

A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Military Medical Research shows that the use of cannabidiol (CBD) may be useful in treating chronic Gulf War Illness (GWI).

The study focused on Epidiolex®, a CBD medication that’s FDA-approved, and its effects on cognitive and mood dysfunction, hyperalgesia, and neuroinflammation in a rat model of GWI.

GWI, a condition affecting many veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War, is characterized by persistent cognitive and mood impairments, along with chronic neuroinflammation. In this study, rats exposed to chemicals related to GWI, such as pyridostigmine bromide, DEET, and permethrin, and moderate stress were treated with either a vehicle or Epidiolex® over a 16-week period.
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Aug 21 2024

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Endorses Florida’s Amendment 3 to Legalize Marijuana

The Florida chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has announced their support for Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

“SEIU proudly endorses Amendment 3 on the November ballot as a significant step toward true justice and freedom in Florida,” said SEIU Florida Vice President Coyuca Jones. “Legalizing recreational marijuana will not only end the unjust criminalization that has disproportionately affected our communities, but it will also benefit workers by creating new job opportunities and fostering economic growth. By supporting Amendment 3, we are advocating for a fairer, more prosperous future for all Floridians.”

SEIU Florida represents over 80,000 employees across the state.
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Aug 21 2024

Massachusetts Recreational Marijuana Sales Set New Monthly Record in July

Massachusetts’ legal marijuana market broke the record for the most recreational marijuana sales in a single month with $142 million.

According to data released by the research firm Headset, there was a total of $142 million in recreational marijuana sales in July, beating the previous monthly record of $140 million set in December. Medical marijuana sales added another approximately $17 million, bringing the monthly total to nearly $160 million.

Sales figures for July bring the year-to-date total to around $860 million, with all-time sales reaching $6.5 billion.
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Aug 21 2024

South Dakota Committee Approves Increasing Medical Marijuana License Fees by $4,000

South Dakota’s Legislative Rules Review Committee has approved a significant increase in the annual fee for medical marijuana business licenses.

By a vote of 4 to 1, the committee agreed to raise the fee by nearly $4,000, bringing the total annual cost to $9,000. This move comes in response to the state’s rapidly growing number of medical marijuana cardholders, which has far surpassed initial projections. While the state anticipated 6,000 cardholders by 2024, there were approximately 13,000 as of July.

The Department of Health (DOH) requested the fee increase to amend a 2021 law that originally set the fee at $5,310. Emily Kerr, Program Administrator for the DOH Medical Cannabis Program, explained that the additional funds are necessary to meet the department’s legal obligations, which include the thorough review of applications, providing technical guidance, customer service, and conducting inspections.
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Aug 20 2024

Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) Releases New Hampshire Voter Guide Ahead of Primary Election

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) has released their 2024 New Hampshire Cannabis Policy Voter Guide to help inform voters where candidates, as well as incumbent legislators, stand on a variety of cannabis issues.

MPP was founded in 1995 and has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 14 successful cannabis legalization campaigns. The group created this primary voting guide based on incumbent lawmakers’ records, public comments, and responses to questions we emailed. The full voter guide is available by clicking here.

“This year’s elections will be key in shaping New Hampshire’s prospects for legalization in the following years”, said Karen O’Keefe, MPP’s director of state policies. “All of New Hampshire’s neighbors have already legalized cannabis for adults, and a majority of voters believe cannabis should be legal. Our goal is to educate voters on where candidates stand on cannabis policy reform so that they can cast informed votes”.
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Aug 20 2024

Second GOP Senator Backs Federally Taxing Marijuana

A second Republican member of the US Senate has endorsed taxing marijuana at the federal level.

In an interview with AskAPol, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said “let’s tax it”, when it comes to legal marijuana. The comments come just three weeks after Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced his support for a comprehensive regulatory framework for marijuana, similar to that of tobacco.

During the interview, Senator Cassidy also said “that’s a good thing” in regards to the Biden Administration’s effort to reschedule marijuana. Cassidy also expressed support for federal marijuana banking legislation, saying “I’ve supported that in the past, because just I think it’s better not to have millions of dollars beneath the mattress.” Let’s tax it.”
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Aug 20 2024

Morocco Pardons 5,000 Marijuana Cultivation Charges

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has issued a pardon approximately 5,000 individuals previously convicted or wanted for illegal growing marijuana, a move aimed at encouraging lawful cultivation of the crop.

Rabat, the capital of Morocco.

Since 2021, Morocco has allowed the licensed the cultivation, export, and use of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes, though recreational use remains illegal. This royal pardon is seen as a push for farmers to transition into the legal cannabis market, which would “improve their livelihoods”, according to Mohammed El Guerrouj, head of the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC).

In 2023, Morocco’s first legal cannabis harvest yielded 294 tons, though only 225 kilograms were legally exported, El Guerrouj told Reuters. This figure pales in comparison to the estimated 100,000 tons harvested annually in the Rif mountains, much of which is illegally exported.
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Aug 20 2024

Study: CBD Boosts Effectiveness of Chemotherapy in Prostate Cancer Treatment

A new study conducted by researchers at Suleyman Demirel University in Türkiye has found that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound derived from cannabis, may significantly enhance the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug etoposide in treating prostate cancer.

Published in the US National Library of Medicine, the study suggests that CBD could play a vital role in improving therapeutic outcomes for patients with this common cancer.

The study focused on the effects of combining CBD with etoposide on prostate cancer cells, specifically evaluating the impact on cell growth, survival, and various cancer-related signaling pathways. The researchers found that “CBD strongly enhanced the etoposide-mediated suppression” of key factors involved in cancer progression, including androgenic signaling, angiogenic factors, and the proto-oncogene c-Myc.
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