Oct 10 2024

Northern Mariana Islands Ends Pre-Employment Marijuana Testing for Most Government Jobs

The Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Arnold Palacios, has signed into law legislation eliminating pre-employment marijuana screening for most government positions.

(Photo credit: Emily Koonce)

Public Law 23-2 exempts safety-sensitive roles and those under federal drug testing regulations from this change.

This move comes after the US territory, with a population of around 56,000, legalized the sale and use of cannabis in 2018. The CNMI joins a growing list of states and cities, including Michigan, Nevada, Washington, and major municipalities like Atlanta, Philadelphia, and St. Louis, that have also ended pre-employment marijuana screening for most public employees.
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Oct 10 2024

Poll: Over 60% of Pennsylvania Voters Across Five Districts Support Legalizing Marijuana

New polling conducted by Change Research shows strong support for marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania, with more than 60% of voters in five key House districts backing the move to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis.

The poll, conducted between September 3 and 11, 2024, surveyed 1,695 likely voters in districts across the state and revealed consistent support across all demographics.

In districts like HD16 (Beaver County) and HD151 (Montgomery County), support was particularly strong, with 72% of voters favoring legalization. Other districts, such as HD72 (Cambria County) and HD144 (Bucks County), also showed robust support, ranging from 64% to 65%. Across these districts, voters cited public safety, economic benefits, and criminal justice reform as key reasons for backing legalization.
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Oct 10 2024

Nebraska: Legalizing Medical Marijuana Projected to Generate Over $925 Million in Economic Benefits Through 2030

Legalizing and regulating medical cannabis will benefit Nebraska patients and generate over $925 million in new economic activity for local communities according to research from Vicente LLP, a nationally-recognized law firm and leader on cannabis law and policy.

Together, Initiative 437 and Initiative 438 will establish legal protections for patients and their caregivers and create a safe and regulated medical marketplace for Nebraska patients. The initiatives would establish the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee the registration and regulation of individuals involved in the possession, manufacture, distribution, delivery, and dispensing of medical cannabis.

Nebraska Families 4 Medical Cannabis (NF4MC), led by a coalition of families, patients, state senators, and other allies, is working with nationally renowned experts to quantify the economic benefits of legal, regulated medical cannabis in the state.
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Oct 09 2024

Florida: Miami Herald Endorses Amendment 3 to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

The Miami Herald has come out in strong support of Amendment 3, a ballot initiative that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Florida for everyone 21 and older.

“For more than half a century, America has been fighting a war on drugs that most people agree has failed”, states the Miami Herald. “It focused too often on street arrests of young people of color who spent years in prison for small amounts of marijuana while violent cartels bringing in opioids, cocaine and fentanyl — among the most dangerous drugs — continued doing business.”

They continue: “Now Floridians have a chance to help police direct their resources to where they will matter more — to combat killer drugs — and allow the legal use of marijuana products for adults 21 and older. This can be done with proper monitoring, just as the state oversees the sale of alcohol and tobacco products. Constitutional Amendment 3 proposes to expand Florida’s already legal use of medical marijuana (38 states allow it) to recreational use for adults.”
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Oct 09 2024

Analysis of Legal Marijuana States: Dried Marijuana Remains Most Popular Category, Followed by Prerolls, Concentrates, and Edibles

In an analysis of the legal marijuana market across multiple states, dried flower remains the most dominant category, maintaining its popularity as consumers’ go-to product.

According to data from ten state marijuana regulatory agencies (between January and September of this year), including California, Massachusetts, Maine, Illinois, Oregon and Washington, as well as industry insights from the research firm Headset.io, dried marijuana consistently ranks as the top-selling category across the United States. In nearly all states, it maintains a majority of all marijuana and marijuana products sold.

Prerolls follow closely as the second most popular category, with strong sales growth reported in most legal marijuana states. Prerolls make up around 20% to 25% of the overall market, depending on the state. This trend is driven in part by convenience, as more consumers are seeking ready-to-use options that require minimal effort, as well as a boom in popularity for infused prerolls.
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Oct 09 2024

Study: Psilocybin Reduces Brain Damage and Aids Recovery in Stroke Animal Model

A recent study published in BMC Neuroscience highlights psilocybin’s potential neuroprotective effects.

Conducted by researchers from Taiwan National Health Research Institutes, China Medical University, and University Hospitals of Cleveland, the study explored how psilocybin—a 5HT2A receptor agonist found in “magic mushrooms”—can reduce brain damage and enhance neurological recovery after stroke.

The study involved adult male and pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats, which were subjected simulated stroke conditions. Psilocybin was administered either before or shortly after the induced stroke.
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Oct 09 2024

Study: Edible Cannabis Provides Short- and Long-Term Relief From Chronic Low Back Pain

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado Boulder has found that edible cannabis may provide both short-term and extended relief for individuals suffering from chronic low back pain.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, examined the effects of edible cannabis products containing varying levels of THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).

The research tracked 249 participants with a mean age of 46 over two weeks as they self-administered edible cannabis products. The participants used products classified as either THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, or a combination of both, based on their preferences. Pain relief, mood changes, and intoxication effects were evaluated throughout the study.
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Oct 09 2024

Cayman Islands Voters to Get Opportunity in 2025 to Ease Marijuana Possession Laws

In 2025, voters in the Cayman Islands will have the chance to decide whether to relax the country’s marijuana possession laws through a referendum.

The proposed changes, announced by Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan during a press conference, seeks to reclassify the possession of small amounts of marijuana as a minor offense. If passed, the new law would treat minor marijuana possession similarly to a traffic violation, which means it would not result in a criminal record or prison time.

“This government is committed to hearing the will of the people because this subject is more about changing lives than changing laws,” said Bryan.
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Oct 08 2024

A Look at Live Resin, a Potent Marijuana Concentrate Booming in Popularity

Live resin, a relatively new addition to the growing list of marijuana concentrates, has gained substantial traction due to its potency, flavor, and aromatic profile.

Live resin (photo credit: Newt Brothers).

Unlike traditional cannabis extracts, live resin is produced by flash-freezing freshly harvested plants and extracting cannabinoids and terpenes while they remain in their original, undried form. This preserves the full spectrum of compounds, resulting in a more flavorful and potent product. While the process is more complex than that of other concentrates, leading to higher prices compared to wax or shatter, many consumers believe the quality justifies the cost.

The origins of live resin trace back to around 2013 when cannabis concentrate pioneer William “Kind Bill” Fenger and Emotek Labs began experimenting with the process. They developed the technique specifically to enhance terpene retention, a key factor that distinguishes live resin from other concentrates. These terpenes contribute significantly to the taste and smell of the final product, offering consumers a richer experience that closely mimics the flavor of the raw plant material.
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Oct 08 2024

Baltimore to Vote Next Month on Cannabis Reparations Fund for Communities Impacted by Prohibition

Baltimore voters will decide on November 5 whether to establish a city fund aimed at compensating communities disproportionately impacted by past cannabis arrests and prosecutions.

This charter amendment, known as Question G, would utilize state funds, which stem from Maryland’s recreational marijuana sales tax, to support these communities.

Maryland imposes a 9% tax on recreational cannabis, with 35% of the revenue directed to the state’s Community Repair and Reinvestment Fund. Baltimore is set to receive the largest share, as the city accounted for 30% of all marijuana possession prosecutions between July 1, 2002, and Jan. 1, 2023.
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