Aug 15 2024

Poll: Voters in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan Strongly Favor Legalizing Marijuana and Federal Marijuana Banking Reform

A recent poll conducted by The Tarrance Group shows strong support among likely voters in the key swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin for legalizing marijuana.

According to the poll, a significant majority of voters across these states, regardless of political affiliation, are in favor of legalization. Specifically, 64% of voters in Michigan, 58% in Pennsylvania, and 62% in Wisconsin support legalizing marijuana for adults. Of these states, only Michigan has passed a law legalizing marijuana.

When it comes to medical marijuana, support was much higher, at 83% in both Michigan and Wisconsin, and 79% in Pennsylvania. In each state, 20% of less said they support keeping marijuana as a Schedule I drug federally.
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Aug 15 2024

Study: Cannabinoids Show Promise in Treating Periodontal Disease

A study published in the latest issue of the journal Pharmaceutics indicates that cannabinoids may be useful in treating periodontal disease.

CBD tincture.

Titled The Role of Different Types of Cannabinoids in Periodontal Disease: An Integrative Review, the study explores the involvement of cannabinoid receptors in both healthy and inflamed periodontal tissues. In addition to the journal Pharmaceutics, the study was published online by the National Library of Medicine.

The review reveals that healthy periodontal cells express higher levels of CB1 receptors, while inflamed sites show an increase in CB2 receptors. This dynamic expression suggests that the endocannabinoid system (ES) may play a crucial role in the inflammatory response associated with periodontal disease (PD).
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Aug 15 2024

North Dakota Voters to Decide on Marijuana Legalization This November with Measure 5

North Dakota voters will have the chance to legalize recreational marijuana this November, as Measure 5 has officially qualified for the ballot.

New Economic Frontier, the organization behind the initiative, successfully gathered over 22,000 valid signatures, exceeding the required threshold of 15,582. This gives voters the opportunity to consider the measure this November 5.

Measure 5, if passed, 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.
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Aug 15 2024

Maryland Achieves Record-Breaking Marijuana Sales in July

There was more legal marijuana sold in July in Maryland than in any previous month.

There was a total of $97,917,735 worth of marijuana and marijuana products sold through legal means in July, according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Around $70 million of these sales were recreational marijuana products, with medical marijuana patients purchasing the remaining $27 million.

The $97.9 million sold in July breaks the previous monthly record of $96.8 million set in May of this year. The year-to-date total for marijuana sales in Maryland is now $655 million.
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Aug 14 2024

New Jersey Commission Mandates Reinstatement and Backpay for Third Jersey City Officer Fired Over Marijuana Use

In a continuing saga over marijuana consumption among law enforcement, Jersey City has faced another legal setback in its attempt to punish officers over their off-the-job marijuana use.

On Wednesday, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission mandated the reinstatement of Police Officer Mackenzie Reilly, who was dismissed in August 2023 after a random drug test detected cannabis in his system. Alongside his reinstatement, Reilly is to receive back pay and benefits.

This decision marks the third time the commission has overruled Jersey City’s attempts to terminate officers for off-duty cannabis use. Despite the state attorney general’s clear stance that police officers cannot be disciplined for legally consuming cannabis while off duty, Jersey City has terminated at least five officers on these grounds. The city’s legal team contends that federal laws prohibiting cannabis users from purchasing and possessing firearms and ammunition extend to police officers, thereby justifying the dismissals.
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Aug 14 2024

Federal Legislation Would Protect State Psilocybin Laws

Federal legislation that would protect state laws legalizing psilocybin is gaining renewed interest as Massachusetts may soon become the third state to do so.

Dried psilocybin.

House Resolution 5592, officially titled the “Validating Independence for State Initiatives on Organic Natural Substances (VISIONS) Act,” was introduced last September by Congressmembers Robert Julio Garcia (D-CA), with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) as a co-sponsor. The bill aims to protect state laws on psychedelics by amending the federal Controlled Substances Act, allowing for the use of certain psychedelic substances, including psilocybin, under state regulations without federal interference.

“Current federal law lags behind the growing body of evidence that suggests that the psychedelic treatment that psilocybin offers can provide relief for those suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders”,  says Congressmember Garcia. “Here in the U.S. we have countless military and law enforcement veterans who have seen their lives improve thanks to these groundbreaking treatments. The potential benefits of psilocybin have been overlooked for years and my aim is to protect the areas and states that want to delve into the real progress this treatment can offer for people in their communities.”

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Aug 14 2024

UC San Francisco Seeks Participants for Three Psilocybin Studies

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is actively recruiting participants for three clinical trials exploring the effects of psilocybin on various mental health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and depressions/anxiety associated with advanced cancer.

Psilocybin mushrooms.

The first study, titled “Psilocybin for Depression and Anxiety in Patients With Advanced Cancer“, will investigate the potential of psilocybin to alleviate depression and anxiety in patients with advanced cancer. Participants will receive psilocybin or a placebo alongside psychotherapy sessions to assess the compound’s efficacy.

Another study, “Exploring Psilocybin as a Treatment for Depression in Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment“, focuses on adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The trial aims to determine if psilocybin can reduce symptoms of depression in this population, with results expected to offer insights into potential new treatments for those with MCI.
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Aug 14 2024

Psilocybin and ADHD: Johns Hopkins Recruiting for New Clinical Trial

Johns Hopkins Medicine is currently seeking participants for a groundbreaking clinical trial investigating the potential effects of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in “magic mushrooms”, on adults diagnosed with ADHD.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

The study, led by Principal Investigator Roland Griffiths, PhD, is open to individuals aged 18-65 who meet the criteria for ADHD.

This research aims to explore whether psilocybin can provide therapeutic benefits for those struggling with ADHD, a condition often characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Psilocybin has garnered significant attention in recent years for its potential to treat various mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. This study represents one of the first efforts to examine its effects on ADHD.
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Aug 14 2024

New Hampshire Committee Schedules Work Session on Marijuana Legalization Bill

New Hampshire’s House Bill 544, which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older, is set for a “full committee work session” on September 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building, Rooms 302-304.

This work session marks a significant step in the legislative process, coming just three months after the New Hampshire House narrowly rejected a similar legalization measure (House Bill 1633), which passed the full Senate 14 to 10. The final House vote was 178 to 173.

House Bill 544 was first filed in January 2023 by five Democrats. The measure would legalize marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, including a putting control of the legal marijuana market in the hands of the state liquor commission.
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Aug 14 2024

Report Finds Over 70% of Legal Marijuana Businesses Are Not Profitable

A new report conducted by Whitney Economics (WE), a global leader in cannabis and hemp business consulting, data, and economic research, finds that cannabis operators remain optimistic despite averaging only 27.3% overall profitability.

The survey was conducted in June in order to compile data on the potential impact that cannabis rescheduling would have on small and minority-owned businesses, according to a press release. The initial findings were included in a Minority Cannabis Business Association submission to the Drug Enforcement Agency on the impacts that the current scheduling policy is having on cannabis operators, particularly those who are minority-owned or small businesses. The survey results indicated that while on average 33.7% white operators in cannabis profitably, only 17.5% of their non-white counterparts are profitable.

“The cannabis industry is under economic distress, primarily due to the confluence of heavy federal taxes, lack of access to financial services and heavy state and federal regulation,” WE founder and Chief Economist Beau Whitney said. “Although states have programs dedicated to social equity in cannabis, the fact that most regulators do not track data related to social equity’s impact makes it difficult for regulators to know what is working and what is not. State legislatures will need to support and fund regulators to collect this type of data”
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