Aug 14 2024

Ohio: Over $11 Million in Recreational Marijuana Sold During First Four Days of Legal Sales

Ohio’s recreational marijuana market kicked off with a strong start, bringing in over $11.5 million in sales during the first week, according to data from the state’s Division of Cannabis Control released on Wednesday.

Dispensaries across Ohio moved 1,285 pounds of marijuana flower and sold 173,043 units of other cannabis products, including edibles and topicals, totaling $11,530,708 in revenue during the first four days of legal sales. Additionally, medical marijuana sales added $8.3 million to the state’s cannabis market, bringing the total over the four-day period to nearly $20 million.

The average price for an ounce of marijuana flower spiked by approximately 20%, reaching $266 last week, compared to $222 the previous week, reflecting the demand surge as recreational sales began.
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Aug 14 2024

University of Minnesota Launches State’s First Cannabis Research Program

The University of Minnesota School of Public Health has launched the state’s first Cannabis Research Center (CRC), funded by a $2.5 million state appropriation.

The center’s mission is to provide, interpret, and share research to inform cannabis-related policy and practice in Minnesota, while also conducting innovative research on the public health impacts of cannabis legalization.

Minnesota joins several other states, including California, Colorado, and Florida, that have established or are establishing state-sponsored cannabis research centers. Some of these programs have led FDA-approved clinical trials on cannabis efficacy.
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Aug 14 2024

Olympia (WA) City Council Unanimously Approves Ordinance to Decriminalize Psychedelics

The Olympia, Washington City Council has unanimously approved a resolution to decriminalize psychedelics including psilocybin mushrooms.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

This action makes Olympia the latest jurisdiction in the state to move toward decriminalization, joining Seattle, Port Townsend, and Jefferson County.

The resolution passed by the City Council designates the enforcement of laws against entheogen-related activities as a low priority for local law enforcement. It also advocates for the “full decriminalization of these activities” at both the state and federal levels.
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Aug 14 2024

Florida Poll Finds 63% of Likely Voters Favor Amendment 3 to Legalize Marijuana

A new poll conducted by the Suffolk University Political Research Center, USA TODAY and WSVN-TV finds that a strong majority of likely voters in Florida support Amendment 3 to legalize recreational marijuana.

According to the poll, 63% of voters in Florida support Amendment 3, compared to 33% who are opposed. Just 3% remain undecided on the issue.

The poll found majority support among all political affiliations, with Democrats unsurprisingly having the most support at 73%, followed by independents at 69% and Republicans at 51%. The poll found majority support among all age groups.
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Aug 14 2024

University of California Needs Participants for Five Different Marijuana-Related Clinical Trials

The University of California in San Diego (UCSD) currently has seven active marijuana-related clinical trials, and they are seeking participants for five of them.

Of the seven cannabis clinical trials the UCSD has “in progress”, five of them are “open to eligible people”.

These studies are part of the university’s ongoing efforts to explore the medical applications of marijuana, which is becoming increasingly relevant as more states legalize its use for both recreational and medicinal purposes, and as marijuana is rescheduled at the federal level.
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Aug 13 2024

Nebraska Committee Advances Bill to Establish a 30% Tax on CBD and Hemp Products

A key committee in the Nebraska Legislature has given approval to legislation that would place a substantial tax on the distribution of CBD and consumable hemp products.

Hemp.

Legislative Bill 34, sponsored by Senator Lou Ann Linehan (R), would place a 30% sales tax on CBD and consumable hemp products. Yesterday, the Revenue Committee, which is chaired by Senator Linehan, voted 6 to 1 to advance the measure.

If enacted, the bill would impose the sales tax on hemp products intended for consumption, which are defined as those containing up to 0.3% THC. The tax would not apply to hemp products made from stalks or seeds for fiber or food purposes, nor to federally approved pharmaceuticals.
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Aug 13 2024

The 10 States Leading in Per Capita Marijuana Sales

As the legal marijuana industry continues to grow and mature across the United States, some states are experiencing notably high sales per capita.

Using marijuana sales data from January to July 2024, this analysis highlights the top 10 states with the highest legal marijuana sales per person. Data was collected via state regulatory agencies, as well as the research firm Headset. Population data was garnered from US Census data.

Below are the 10 States with the most legal marijuana sales per capita:
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Aug 13 2024

The 5 States With the Highest Percentage of Medical Marijuana Patients

With medical marijuana now legal in 38 states, some states have witnessed particularly high enrollment in their cannabis programs as acceptance continues to grow across the United States.

Based on the most recent data from state regulatory agencies and the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), five states stand out for having the highest percentage of their populations registered as medical marijuana patients. Below are those five, ranked by the percentage of patients, from highest to lowest.
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Aug 13 2024

Illinois Legal Marijuana Sales Reached $168 Million in July, Year-to-Date Marijuana Tax Revenue Tops $250 Million

The legal marijuana market in Illinois generated $168 million in sales in July.

This figure is slightly above the $166 million in sales recorded in the previous month and marginally higher than the $166.8 million reported in July 2023, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Consistent with previous months, about 85% of July’s marijuana sales in Illinois were from recreational consumers, while 15% came from licensed medical marijuana patients. Of the recreational sales, approximately $145 million, around 25% was purchased by out-of-state residents.
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Aug 13 2024

Study Finds Medical Cannabis Improves Quality of Life, Reduces Prescription Use

A new study set to be published in the October 2024 issue of The Journal of Nurse Practitioners finds that medical cannabis can significantly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain.

Conducted at a medical cannabis clinic in rural Appalachia, Virginia, by researchers from Old Dominion University, the study surveyed 31 individuals. An online simultaneous pre-post–cross-sectional survey was used.

“Generally, respondents were informed about medical cannabis use but lacked knowledge about cannabis varieties and medicinal properties”, notes the study’s abstracr. “Respondents were more likely to obtain information about medical cannabis from nurse practitioners. Moreover, health and well-being improved significantly after medical cannabis was added to the treatment regimen.”
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