Jan 03 2023

Legislation to Legalize Marijuana Filed in Kentucky

At a press conference Representative Nima Kulkarni of Louisville announced that she has filed legislation that would legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

House Bill 47 is a constitutional amendment that would make it legal for those 21+ to possess up to an ounce of marijuana for any use they deem appropriate. It would also allow them to grow up to five marijuana plants.

If it were to be passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, it would be placed on the 2024 general election ballot in order to give voters the final say on the matter.
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Jan 03 2023

New York Lawmakers File Bill to Legalize Certain Psychedelics Including Magic Mushrooms

Lawmakers in New York have filed legislation to legalize certain psychedelics such as magic mushrooms.

Bill A00114 would legalize the “possession, use, cultivation, production, creation, analysis, gifting, exchange, or sharing by or between natural persons of twenty-one years of age or older of a natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogen.” The measure has been -prefiled for the 2023-2024 session, which begins tomorrow, and is co-sponsored by Assemblymembers Linda Rosenthal, Jo Anne Simon, and Karines Reyes

According to the text of the measure, “natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogen” refers to DMT, ibogaine, mescaline, psilocybin, and psilocin. These same substances became legal just days ago in Colorado due to voters passing a citizen’s initiative the month before.
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Jan 03 2023

Study: Cannabidiol Shows “Promising Results for the Treatment of COVID-19”

The cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) “is showing promising results for the treatment of COVID-19”, according to a new study.

Photo: CDC.gov

Published in the journal Life, the study was conducted by researchers at the Universidad Santo Tomas and the Universidad de La Frontera, both in Chile, as well as the Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil.

“Cannabinoids, especially CBD, appear to be promising in the treatment of COVID-19, as an adjuvant of current antiviral drugs, reducing lung inflammation by decreasing chemokines and cytokines secreted by the cells of the immune system or mediating in the CNS reducing morbidity as fear, anxiety, stress, sleep disorders”, states the study’s abstract. “However, more research and clinical studies are necessary, especially to establish the effects of their long-term use.”
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Jan 03 2023

Study: Feeding Goats Hemp Enhances the Health, Flavor Profile and Shelf-Stability of Their Meat

A new study published in the journal Meat Science has found that  feeding goats hempseed cake instead of soy results in significant improvements in the overall quality of the goat’s meat.

For the study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases and Stellenbosch University’s Department of Animal Sciences, wether goats were fed finishing diets containing either 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100 g/kg DM of hempseed cake (HSC) substituting soybean meal to evaluate chevon fatty acid, volatile and oxidative profiles.

“Feeding HSC diets linearly decreased chevon c9–16:1, 16:0, total saturated FA (SFA) and protein oxidation but linearly increased t9–18:1, t11–18:1, conjugated linoleic acids, n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), individual long-chain n-6 PUFA and antioxidant activity”, states the study.
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Jan 03 2023

Maryland Law Decriminalizing 1.5 Ounces of Marijuana Now in Effect

Possessing up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana is no longer punishable by jailtime in Maryland.

In November voters gave approval to an initiative (Question 4) that legalizes the possession, use and licensed distribution of up to an ounce and a half of marijuana through a change in the state’s constitution. Although the full law doesn’t take effect until July, as a gradual step forward as of January 1st it’s now punishable by no more than a civil fine of $100 for possessing up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis.

Prior to this taking effect possessing up to 10 grams was decriminalized, with higher amounts remaining a misdemeanor.

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Jan 03 2023

Study: CBD Suppresses Cytokine Storm and Protects Against Cardiac and Renal Injury Associated with Sepsis

According to the results of a new study cannabidiol (CBD) “could be repurposed to reduce morbidity in patients with cytokine storm particularly in severe infections such as sepsis.”

The study, titled Cannabidiol Suppresses Cytokine Storm and Protects Against Cardiac and Renal Injury Associated with Sepsis, is published in the most recent issue of the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoids Research and was epublished online ahead of print by the National Institute of Health. It was conducted by researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada and Qatar University in Quatar.

“Cytokine release syndrome, also termed “cytokine storm,” is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with various conditions such as sepsis”, states the study’s abstract. “While cytokine storm is associated with multiple organ damage, acute cardiac and renal injury represents a hallmark of cytokine storm.”
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Jan 01 2023

Over 40,000 Marijuana Convictions Automatically Erased in Connecticut

As of today, January 1, over 40,000 convictions for marijuana possession have been automatically expunged (erased) from people’s records.

“As of this morning, our administration has marked 42,964 cannabis convictions erased, as planned”, said Governor Ted Lamont in a public statement. “It’s one step forward in ending the War on Drugs and giving our citizens a second chance to achieve their dreams.”

As part of the expungements, those who have had a marijuana conviction erased may now tell employers, landlords, and schools that the conviction never occurred.

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Dec 30 2022

U.S. Virgin Islands Senate Votes 11 to 1 to Legalize Marijuana Sending it to Supportive Governor

Lawmakers from the U.S. Virgin Islands have passed legislature to legalize marijuana.

The legislation, filed by Senator Janelle Sarauw, was passed by the Senate in an overwhelming 11 to 1 vote. This sends the measure to Govenor Albert Bryan Jr., who has been a longtime proponent of legalizing marijuana and is expected to quickly sign it into law.

“Although there have been many politically driven false narratives about this cannabis legislation, I am proud of the work done by the Senators of the 34th Legislature, community stakeholders and advocates, all of who contributed to the structuring of the final bill voted upon in today’s Session,” said Senator Sarauw in a press release. “The body did its due diligence in protecting the masses and the best interest of our residents by ensuring that locals and minorities are not locked out of industry and have any opportunity to participate in its economic potential.”
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Dec 29 2022

Cannabis Products Associated With Reductions in Depression Severity at 1, 3, and 6 Months

Cannabis-based medicinal products are associated with a significant reduction in depression severity over the course of a six month examination period.

This is according to the findings of a study being published in the newest issue of the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. The study was conducted by researchers at Kings College London, Imperial College London, St. George’s Hospital NHS Trust and the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The full text of the study can be found by clicking here.

The study included 129 patients treated with medicinal cannabis for depression at Sapphire Medical Clinics. The results showed that “medicinal cannabis was associated with improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as health-related quality of life, and sleep quality after 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment.”

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Dec 29 2022

Study Finds CBD “Has a Strong Inhibitory Effect Against Cariogenic Bacteria”

A new International Journal of Molecular Sciences study has found that the cannabis compound cannabidiol “has a strong inhibitory effect against cariogenic bacteria”.

Cariogenic bacteria is caused by biofilm-forming acidogenic bacteria that attacks dental enamel by converting sugar and starch into acids that dissolve out calcium from the enamel. This is one of the most prevalent human bacterial diseases.

Given that the “potential use of cannabidiol (CBD) in anti-bacterial therapies has recently emerged”, researchers “studied the anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activity of CBD against S. mutans.”
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