Dec 21 2022

Vermont: $2.6 Million in Marijuana Sold in First Month of Legal Sales, $520,000 in New Taxes

In Vermont’s first month of legal marijuana sales consumers purchased $2.6 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products.

Although Vermont legalized marijuana in October, 2020 following the govern signing Senate Bill 54, the first legal marijuana sales taking place at licensed retail outlets didn’t begin until October of this year.

Now, we have the first data on the state’s legal marijuana market. According to data released by the state’s state Department of Taxes, $2.6 million in marijuana was sold in October, a number that is likely to grow substantially in the following months as more outlets open their doors (for example, there are 36 licensed marijuana retailers now compared to seven on October 1st).
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Dec 21 2022

CBD Associated With Sustained Seizure Reduction in 4-Year Study of Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy

A long-term study of those with treatment-resistant epilepsy has found that the cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) is directly associated with a reduction in seizures over a 192-week period.

The study, published by the journal Epilepsia, was conducted by researchers affiliated with the University of Alabama, NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Augusta University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Idaho Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.

“Cannabidiol (CBD) expanded access program (EAP), initiated in 2014, provided add-on CBD to patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE) at 35 US epilepsy centers”, states the study. “Prior publications reported results through December 2016; herein, we present efficacy and safety results through January 2019.”
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Dec 21 2022

Study Finds Medical Cannabis Improves Sleep in Insomnia Patients

A new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study being published in the upcoming issue of the Journal of Sleep Research has found that medical cannabis improves sleep in those with Insomnia.

The study was conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Torrens University and The University of Adelaide, all in Australia, and was epublished ahead of print on the website for the National Library of Medicine. The study’s full text can be found by clicking here.

Insomnia or difficulty falling and or staying asleep is experienced by up to 30% of the general population, notes the study’s abstract. “This randomised crossover double-blind placebo-controlled 6-week trial aimed to assess the tolerability and effectiveness of the Entoura-10:15 medicinal cannabis oil on sleep in adults with insomnia.”
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Dec 21 2022

New York’s First Legal Recreational Marijuana Store Opens December 29

New York Governor Kathy Hochul Announced today that the first licensed recreational marijuana store will open on December 29th.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that sales of legal, regulated adult-use cannabis will start on December 29 at a dispensary in Manhattan, operated by Housing Works, the nation’s largest minority-controlled HIV/AIDS service organization and largest community-based HIV/AIDS service organization. The non-profit, based in New York City, operates a range of direct and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS, the homeless, formerly incarcerated, and justice involved individuals. It also operates a network of charitable retail storefronts.

“We set a course just nine months ago to start New York’s adult-use cannabis market off on the right foot by prioritizing equity, and now, we’re fulfilling that goal,” Governor Hochul said. “The industry will continue to grow from here, creating inclusive opportunity in every corner of New York State with revenues directed to our schools and revitalizing communities.”
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Dec 20 2022

D.C. Legislation to Expand Medical Marijuana Program Receives Final Council Approval

By a vote of 13 to 0 the Council of the District of Columbia has given final approval to legislation that will significantly expand the district’s medical marijuana program.

The legislation (Bill 24-0113) was introduced by Council Chair Phil Mendelson on behalf of Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is expected to quickly sign it into law now that it has passed the full council.

The proposed law removes the cap on the number of plants that a cultivation center can grow and significantly increases the number of permitted dispensaries in the District. The law also creates new business categories within the industry including on-site consumption facilities and marijuana cooking classes, and it makes permanent the option for patients to self-certify that they’re qualified medical marijuana patients.
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Dec 20 2022

Study: CBD May Improve Muscle Recovery

The marijuana compound cannabidiol (CBD) “has the prospective to become an adequate supplement that may improve muscle recovery”, according to a new study epublished by the National Library of Medicine.

The full text of the study, which is published in the December, 2022 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, can be found by clicking here.

“Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonintoxicating constituent of the cannabis plant, recently gained a lot of interest among athletes, since it is no longer considered as a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency”, states the study. “The increasing prevalence of CBD use among athletes is driven by a perceived improvement in muscle recovery and a reduction in pain. However, compelling evidence from intervention studies is lacking and the precise mechanisms through which CBD may improve muscle recovery remain unknown.”
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Dec 19 2022

Chicago Announces Launch of New Cannabis Research Institute

The City of Chicago and the Discovery Partners Institute today announced the launch of the Cannabis Research Institute, a first-of-its-kind center in the Midwest.

The CRI will be a joint effort by the State and City housed within DPI, which is part of the University of Illinois System, to “provide a robust body of research and data to advance public knowledge on scientific and socio-economic impacts of cannabis usage and production.”

The arrangement will allow the new institute to leverage DPI’s offices, personnel, and resources in Chicago. With a scheduled rollout of the CRI in the next few months, DPI has begun a search for an executive director.
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Dec 17 2022

Kansas City Dismisses Over 500 Marijuana Cases Following Missouri Legalization

Following Missouri voters legalizing marijuana in last month’s election Kansas City has officially dismissed over 500 pending marijuana cases.

Kansas City.

“Kansas City Municipal Court has dismissed over 500 old marijuana cases since the effective date last week of Amendment 3 (legalized marijuana) in Missouri”, says Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. “Glad to see not just proactive action for legal weed, but removal of past challenges affecting hundreds of our neighbors.”

According to a recent report government officials have provided nearly 2 million marijuana-related pardons and expungements in the U.S. since 2018.
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Dec 17 2022

New Mexico Adds Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders as Qualifying Medical Marijuana Condition

New Mexico health officials have officially added anxiety to the list of conditions that qualify an individual to become a legal medical marijuana patient.

The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Advisory Board has approved adding anxiety as a qualifying medical cannabis condition. The change officially takes effect on January 1st.

“Anxiety isn’t always completely alleviated by the medications that we have available now, and being able to utilize cannabis to treat anxiety disorder is something that is in alignment with the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act to relieve symptoms,” said Stephanie Richmond, a physician assistant and advisory board member who petitioned the board in March with fellow board member Dr. Jean-Paul Dedam to add anxiety as a qualifying condition.
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Dec 15 2022

Study: Cannabis Use Associated With Significant Symptom Improvements in Those With PTSD

Patients with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) experience symptom improvements following the use of cannabis and cannabis products, according to a study published n the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.

PTSD word cloud.

For the study researchers examined the safety and efficacy of cannabis products in 162 PTSD patients with a physician’s authorization to use medical cannabis. Study subjects were participants in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry who consumed either cannabis extracts or THC-dominant flowers for a period of six-months.

The study claims that PTSD patients saw “statistically significant improvements” in a variety of domains, including sleep, anxiety, and stress. Adverse events were found to be mild in severity.
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