May 30 2024

Marijuana Use Linked to Lower Prostate Cancer Rates, Study Finds

Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Florida, and the University of Connecticut have published a study that suggests marijuana use may be linked to lower prostate cancer prevalence.

Utilizing data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health spanning 2002 to 2020, the study involved a significant sample size of 2,503 participants across the United States. The participants were categorized based on their marijuana use status: current users, former users, and those who have never used. The researchers also incorporated eleven demographic variables as covariates to ensure the accuracy of their findings.

Researchers found that prostate cancer prevalence was notably lower in current marijuana users (31.7%) and former users (31.6%) compared to those who have never used marijuana (39.9%). This difference was statistically significant, suggesting a protective effect of marijuana against prostate cancer. Further analysis revealed that this trend was particularly pronounced among the elderly (aged 65 and above) and non-Hispanic whites, with current and former users showing significantly lower rates of prostate cancer compared to non-users in these groups.
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May 30 2024

New Hampshire House Rejects Senate Amendments to Marijuana Legalization Bill, Calls for Conference Committee

The New Hampshire House of Representatives has voted to reject Senate amendments to a bill aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana and is requesting the establishment of a conference committee.

The House’s decision to reject the Senate’s amendments comes a week after the Senate passed the bill with a vote of 14 to 10. This marked the first time in US history that Republican-led state Senate passed a marijuana legalization bill.

The House passed HB 1633 in March with a vote of 239 to 136. However, due to amendments made by the Senate, the bill required final concurrence from the House. Today, the House voted 261 to 108 against concurring with the Senate’s version of the bill. Instead, they are seeking to establish a conference committee consisting of members from both the Senate and House to address the differences between the two chambers’ versions of the bill.
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May 30 2024

President Biden Says the Thousands of Marijuana Charges He Pardoned Should Also Be Expunged

President Biden has issued thousands of federal marijuana pardons. Now, he says these charges should also be expunged.

President Biden speaking at a campaign event in Philadelphia on May 29.

In October 2022, President Joe Biden announced a sweeping pardon for all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. The pardon applied to thousands of individuals convicted on federal charges since 1992.  Following the initial pardons, over a year later the administration expanded the scope of marijuana-related clemency efforts to include thousands of additional charges.

Now, President Biden says that these charges should also be expunged.
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May 30 2024

New York Senate Passes Bill Allowing Cannabis-Related Employment for Individuals on Parole

The New York Senate has passed a bill allowing individuals under parole, probation, or other state supervision to be employed by cannabis licensees.

The bill, introduced by Senator Kevin Parker in February, was approved yesterday with a vote of 45 to 16. The measure amends the existing cannabis law, specifically targeting Section 127, subdivision 6, to expand employment opportunities for those under state supervision.

Under the revised law, individuals on parole, probation, or other state supervision will not face punishment or penalties for engaging in conduct allowed under the cannabis law, provided their supervision terms do not explicitly prohibit such activities.
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May 30 2024

Louisiana Legislature Approves Bill Allowing Automatic Pardons for Marijuana Possession Convictions

Legislation that allows for the automatic expungement of first-time marijuana possession convictions has been given approval by Louisiana’s full legislature.

House Bill 391 “Removes eligibility for a pardon by the governor without the necessity of completion of sentence and without a recommendation of the Board of Pardons for a person convicted of possessing more than 14 grams of marijuana.” The measure was filed by State Representatives Delisha Boyd, Tehmi Chassion and Alonzo Knox.

Yesterday the measure was given final approval in the House of Representatives by a vote of 63 to 30. The Senate passed the bill eight days prior 31 to 7. It will now be sent to Governor Jeff Landry.
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May 30 2024

Marijuana’s Move to Schedule III: 15 Changes and 15 Constants

The DEA is moving marijuana to Schedule III, officially proposing the change on May 21. Here’s a breakdown of the 15 most significant changes this will bring, and the top 15 changes it won’t bring.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has taken a significant step by proposing to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act, established in 1970. This proposal was officially published in the Federal Register on May 21, initiating a 60-day public comment period. If approved, this reclassification will bring notable changes and implications.

Here are fifteen key consequences of this potential shift, followed by fifteen things that will remain unaffected.
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May 29 2024

Study: CBD-Rich Cannabis Oil Enhances Social Interaction in Animal Model

Cannabis oil “promotes social behavior by acting on oxytocin pathway”, according to the results of a new study.

Titled Cannabis Sativa Oil Promotes Social Interaction and Ultrasonic Communication by Acting on Oxytocin Pathway, the study was published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, and it was published online by the US National Library of Medicine. It was conducted by researchers at the Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine at the University of Brescia in Italy.

“Cannabis sativa is the most used recreational drug worldwide. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis to treat a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions”, states the study’s absgtract. “In particular, cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive cannabis constituent, has been investigated for its potential prosocial effects on behavior, although the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are still largely unknown.”
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May 29 2024

Head of Oklahoma’s Medical Marijuana Program Chosen to Lead Rhode Island’s Recreational Marijuana Program

Michelle Reddish, who has been the chief operating officer of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority for the past year, has been selected to lead Rhode Island’s new cannabis agency.

Michelle Reddish.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary is set to review Reddish’s nomination to head the state’s Cannabis Office, as reported by the Rhode Island Current. Governor Dan McKee, a Democrat, has put forth Reddish for the position, which comes with an annual salary of $162,270, according to the Current.

If confirmed, Reddish will be responsible for managing marijuana use and the commercial market in Rhode Island. She would report directly to the state’s Cannabis Control Commission, a three-member body that oversees and issues marijuana business licenses.
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May 29 2024

New Hampshire House Rejects Senate Changes to Medical Marijuana Bill, Votes to Establish Conference Committee

The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted today against concurring with the Senate amendments to a bill that would allow medical marijuana to be prescribed for any condition.

The House’s decision to reject the Senate’s amendments to House Bill 1278 comes six days after the Senate passed the bill.

The House had previously passed HB 1278 in March with a strong majority. However, due to amendments made by the Senate, the bill required a final concurrence from the House. Instead of agreeing to the Senate’s changes, the House voted to establish a conference committee to address the differences between the two chambers’ versions of the bill.
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May 29 2024

Louisiana Legislature Approves Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana Paraphernalia, Sends it to Governor Jeff Landry

Legislation to decriminalize the possession of marijuana paraphernalia throughout Louisiana has been given approval by the state’s full legislature.

Louisiana’s full legislature has voted to pass House Bill 165, sending it to Governor Jeff Landry. The bill received final approval by the House of Representatives today by a vote of 69 to 24. It passed the Senate on May 21 by a vote of 24 to 14.

Governor Landry now has 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it or allow it to become law on the 11th day without his signature.
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