Poll: Plurality of Voters in North Dakota Support Measure 5 to Legalize Marijuana

According to new polling, a plurality of North Dakota voters support Measure 5 to legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older, though support falls short of a majority.

The poll, commissioned by the North Dakota News Cooperative and conducted by WPA Intelligence, found that 45% of likely voters support Measure 6, with 40% opposed and 15% undecided. The poll shows a considerably drop in opposition compared to July, when polling showed 43% to be in support and 57% opposed.

Measure 5 was put forth by the group New Economic Frontier. If passed, the proposal would legalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, four grams of marijuana concentrates, and 1,500 milligrams of adult-use cannabinoid products for individuals aged 21 and older. The measure also includes provisions for residents to cultivate up to three marijuana plants for personal use. Additionally, it would establish a regulated market for the sale of marijuana products through licensed retailers.

With Measure 5 on the ballot, North Dakota joins South Dakota and Florida as states considering legalization initiatives this November. If all three are approved by voters, there will be 27 legal marijuana states.

For the full text of Measure 5, click here.

California: $334 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in September, Over $3.1 Billion So Far in 2024

California marijuana sales saw a slight dip in September compared to August and July, but remained steady with over $330 million in total sales.

Licensed marijuana stores in California sold approximately $334 million worth of marijuana and related products (edibles, concentrates, etc.) in September, according to data from the research firm Headset. This represents a $9 million drop from the $343 million sold in August, and a 7% decline from September 2023.

Year-to-date marijuana sales in California have surpassed $3.1 billion. Recently, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration reported that the state collected $263.1 million in marijuana tax revenue during the second quarter of this year.

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Federal Government Seeks Contractors to Roll Hundred of Thousands of Marijuana Joints

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has issued a new request for proposals seeking contractors capable of producing hundreds of thousands of marijuana joints.

According to the agency, demand for “marijuana cigarettes” and other controlled substances has surged in recent years, driven by an increase in drug abuse research. Because of this, NIDA is now searching for suppliers that can produce joints in bulk, with a particular emphasis on those able to hand-roll smaller batches with specific levels of delta-9-THC, cannabidiol (CBD), or both, as needed for research purposes.

In NIDA’s 141-page document they mention “sample task orders”, including manufacturing tens of thousands of standardized joints, along with thousands of hand-rolled joints. The THC and CBD concentrations for these samples will be relatively low compared to the legal marijuana market. For example, THC content ranges from 1% to 5%.
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Germany Grants 14 More Licenses for Marijuana Social Clubs

German officials have granted licenses to 14 additional marijuana social clubs across four states.

Germany’s cannabis cultivation social clubs saw continued growth in both applications and licenses throughout September, although the pace has slowed compared to previous months.

Recent data shows that 14 licenses have now been granted across four federal states, as more regions and regulatory bodies refine their application processes.
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Missouri Allocates $5 Million to Research if Psilocybin Can Treat Drug Addiction

Missouri officials are preparing to award $5 million in grant funding to explore whether psilocybin could be an effective treatment for opioid use disorders and help reduce overdose deaths.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

The state’s Department of Mental Health released a memo on Monday seeking expert assistance from contractors to help shape the competitive grant process for this research.

The memo explains, “This request for information (RFI) allows vendors to provide us with ideas, suggestions, and relevant information specifically related to opioid research and its potential to treat opioid addiction.”
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Nearly $10 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in Rhode Island in September, $88 Million Year-to-Date

In Rhode Island, marijuana sales nearly reached $10 million for the third straight month.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations, legal marijuana stores and dispensaries sold a combined $9.52 million in product in August. The vats majority of these sales, $7.70 million, were purchased for recreational use, with medical marijuana patients purchasing $1.83 million in product during the same period.

These figures are nearly identical to the $9.63 million sold in September of last year, but are a slight drop from the record-setting $10.25 million sold last month.
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Arizona Court Rules Driver’s Licenses Can’t Be Suspended Solely for Marijuana in Blood

The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled today that merely having marijuana in a driver’s system is insufficient for the state to suspend their license.

The court dismissed arguments from the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) that a blood test showing marijuana metabolites constituted sufficient evidence of being “under the influence.”

Appellate Judge Andrew Jacobs, writing for the unanimous court, clarified that when voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2020, Arizona law specified that penalties could only be imposed if the state demonstrated the driver was “impaired to even the slightest degree by marijuana.” He stated, “But that was not the case here. Instead, the state claims it can suspend Kirsten’s privilege of driving for his prior use of marijuana, as evidenced by metabolites of cannabis in his blood, without any impairment.”
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Oregon Marijuana Sales Top $75 Million for 20th Straight Month

August marked the 20th consecutive month where Oregon’s legal marijuana sales were above $75 million.

Data compiled and released by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission shows that there was $78,565,729 worth of marijuana sold legally in August, a roughly $5 million decrease from the $84 million sold in July. All-time sales are now over $6.9 billion, with the year-to-date total standing at around $725 million.

The average price of dried marijuana flower stayed exactly the same in September compared to August, at $3.75. However, the price of concentrates dropped slightly, from $16.48 to $16.25.
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Public Hearing on Marijuana Rescheduling Will Take Place in Two Months on December 2

The public hearing for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) proposal to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I, to Schedule III, will take place in exactly two months, on December 2.

This is notice that the Drug Enforcement Administration will hold a hearing with respect to the proposed rescheduling of marijuana into schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act”, states the notice, which was published in the Federal Register in August. “The proposed rescheduling of marijuana was initially proposed in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2024.”

The notice says “Interested persons desiring to participate in this hearing must provide written notice of desired participation as set out below, on or before September 30, 2024. The hearing will commence on December 2, 2024, at 9 a.m. ET at 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.”
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Study Says Nanotechnology Could Revolutionize Marijuana-Based Medicine

A new study published in the journal Recent Advances in Drug Delivery and Formulation suggests that nanotechnology could be key to overcoming the challenges of effectively administering cannabis-based medicines.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and the University at Buffalo, the study explores how nanotechnology could improve the bioavailability, solubility, and targeted delivery of cannabis compounds, potentially enhancing their therapeutic effects.

“Medical cannabis has potential therapeutic benefits in managing pain, anxiety, depression, and neurological and movement disorders”, states the study’s abstract. “Phytocannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant are responsible for their pharmacological and therapeutic properties. However, the complexity of cannabis components, especially cannabinoids, poses a challenge to effective medicinal administration.”
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