Nov 11 2022

Study Finds Increased White Matter Coherence Following Several Months of Medical Cannabis Treatment

Medical cannabis treatment was associated with increased white matter coherence in a new peer-reviewed study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School and published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

As noted by the study’s abstract, which was published online ahead of print by the National Institute of Health, previous studies have demonstrated abnormal white matter (WM) microstructure in recreational cannabis consumers. However, “the long-term impact of medical cannabis (MC) use on WM coherence is unknown.”

Accordingly, “this study assessed the longitudinal impact of MC treatment on WM coherence.”

As part of a larger, longitudinal investigation, patients interested in treating at least one medical condition with commercially available cannabis products of their choosing were assessed before initiating medical cannabis use and following three and six months of treatment.
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Nov 11 2022

Marijuana Decriminalized in 5 Texas Cities With Support Between 60% and 82%

During Tuesday’s general election five cities in Texas overwhelmingly passed initiatives to decriminalize the personal possession of marijuana.

Voters in five Texas cities on Tuesday not only approved initiatives to decriminalize marijuana, but they did so with overwhelming support.

For example, the city of San Marcos passed their initiative with 82% voting  in favor, coming close to the 85%  support for Austin’s marijuana decrim bill that passed earlier this year.

In Denton, the home of several university campuses, passed with 71% support, which is roughly the same as the support for a similar initiative in Fort Hood.
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Nov 10 2022

Harvard Study: CBD May Significantly Reduce Anxiety With Minimal Side Effects

A new study provides evidence “supporting efficacy and tolerability of a full-spectrum, high-CBD product for anxiety.”

Published in the journal Communications Medicine and conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School, the study is titled Clinical and cognitive improvement following full-spectrum, high-cannabidiol treatment for anxiety: open-label data from a two-stage, phase 2 clinical trial.

The study notes that although “evidence suggests cannabidiol (CBD) has anxiolytic properties, indicating potential for novel treatment strategies… few clinical trials of CBD-based products have been conducted, and none thus far have examined the impact of these products on cognition.”
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Nov 09 2022

21 States With a Combined Population of 130 Million Have Now Legalized Marijuana

With Maryland and Missouri legalizing marijuana this election, there are now 21 states in the U.S. with legal marijuana.

Despite marijuana remaining illegal federally, 21 states with a combined 130 million residents have now legalized marijuana. 11 years ago, this number was zero.

The rapid pace of marijuana reform across the United States, and the now bipartisan nature of its support, puts pressure on the federal government to legalize or at least decriminalize the plant on the national level.  Although legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate to do both, they have failed to garner enough among lawmakers to be passed into law.
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Nov 09 2022

25 Rhode Island Cities Vote to Allow Marijuana Businesses

33 Rhode Island cities voted yesterday on initiatives to allow marijuana businesses and sales within their jurisdictions, and a large majority were approved.

(AP Photo/Matthew Brown)

In total 25 of the 33 cities voted in favor of allowing marijuana businesses to operate within the limits of the city.

Specifically, voters were asked “Shall new cannabis-related licenses for businesses involved in the cultivation, manufacture, laboratory testing and for the retail sale of adult recreational use cannabis be issued in the city (or town)?”
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Nov 08 2022

Missouri Marijuana Legalization Initiative Approved by Voters

An initiative to legalize marijuana in Missouri by establishing it as a constitutional right has been passed tonight by the state’s voters.

Amendment 3 legalizes the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacturing, and sale of marijuana for all uses for adults who are at least 21 years old. In addition, the initiative allows individuals previously convicted of non-violent marijuana-related offenses to petition to be released from incarceration and/or have their records expunged.

The proposal allows licensed marijuana retail outlets to sale marijuana, marijuana concentrates and other marijuana products such as edibles and topicals. A 6% excise tax will be placed on sales.
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Nov 08 2022

Colorado Voters Legalize Magic Mushrooms and Other Hallucinogenics

Voters in Colorado have passed an initiative to legalize hallucinogenics including magic mushrooms, DMT and ibogaine.

Proposition 122 legalizes the personal use and possession of several hallucinogenic/entheogenic plants and fungi for those 21 and older. Those include:

  • dimethyltryptamine (DMT);
  • ibogaine;
  • mescaline (excluding peyote);
  • psilocybin; and
  • psilocyn.

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Nov 08 2022

Maryland Legalizes Marijuana

Maryland voters have given approval to an initiative to legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older, making their state the 20th to do so.

Question 4 amends the Maryland Constitution to add a new article, Article XX, which authorizes individuals 21 years of age or older to use and possess marijuana for all uses. The initiative also directs the Maryland General Assembly to “provide for the use, distribution, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the state”, which they have already done.

During the 2022 legislative session the state legislature passed legislation to implement legalization if the initiative were to pass, including a system to regulate licensed retail outlets. The proposal sets the legal possession limit at 1.5 ounces and two plants.
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Nov 07 2022

Study: Cannabis May Improve Quality of Life and Comorbidities in Tourette’s Syndrome Patients

According to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and epublished ahead of print by the National Institute of Health, “medical cannabis may improve their quality of life and comorbidities” in those with Tourette’s syndrome.

The study, titled Use of Medical Cannabis in Patients with Gilles de la Tourette’s Syndrome in a Real-World Setting, was conducted by researchers at Tel-Aviv University.

“Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by vocal and motor tics and other comorbidities”, states the study. “Clinical recommendations for the use of medical cannabis are established, yet further guidance is needed.” The aim of this study “was to describe the experience of patients with TS with medical cannabis.”
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Nov 07 2022

Study: Cannabidiol “Markedly Alleviates Skin and Liver Fibrosis”

Cannabidiol (CBD) may alleviate liver and skin fibrosis according to a new study published by the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.

“Cannabidiol (CBD) has been suggested as a potential therapy for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases”, states the study’s abstract. “Cannabidiol was demonstrated to reduce alcohol-induced liver inflammation and steatosis but its specific activity on the fibrotic process was not investigated.”

For this study “the antifibrotic effects of cannabidiol in the skin were analysed in vitro using NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and human dermal fibroblasts and in vivo using the bleomycin-induced model of skin fibrosis.”
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