Sep 18 2024

U.S. Senate Committee Passes DOOBIE Act to Prevent Denial of Jobs and Security Clearances Over Marijuana Use

Today, the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee gave approval to the DOOBIE Act, which would “limit the consideration of marijuana use when making an employment suitability or security clearance determination”.

The DOOBIE Act was filed in July by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The Dismantling Outdated Obstacles and Barriers to Individual Employment (DOOBIE) Act (Senate Bill 4711), which would “ensure applicants for federal positions or security clearances are not being denied solely on the basis of past recreational and medical marijuana use”, was passed by a vote of 9 to 5.

Under current law, qualified candidates may be denied federal employment or security clearances due to past use of marijuana or cannabis products, despite legalization of these products at the state level throughout the nation. While federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), have issued guidance stating that past marijuana use alone should not disqualify candidates, many potential applicants remain hesitant to pursue federal positions due to a fear of automatic disqualification.
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Sep 17 2024

Missouri Recalls 23,000 Marijuana Products, Bringing Total to Over 150,000 Since August

Missouri cannabis regulators have recalled over 23,000 marijuana products due to improper testing by ClearWater Science, a lab based in Fulton.

(Photo credit: KTTN Radio).

The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) stated that the products were not tested in compliance with state standards, making it impossible to confirm if they meet health and safety requirements.

Although no reports of adverse reactions have been received, the DCR advises anyone who experiences possible side effects to seek medical attention. Patients and consumers are urged to stop using the recalled products and either dispose of them or return them to the dispensary where they were purchased.
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Sep 17 2024

Aurora Cannabis Reveals Auto-Flowering Insights, Calling Them a “Gamechanger” for Higher Yields

Aurora Cannabis Inc., a Canadian based global medical cannabis company, is pioneering ground-breaking research in auto-flowering technology.

Auto-flowering is a genetic characteristic that automatically transitions the plant from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage rather than relying on changes in light cycles.

The new research provides foundational insight on flowering mechanism in cannabis, which will support future breeding strategies, and can be leveraged to revolutionize outdoor cannabis cultivation in high-latitude regions, such as Canada, according to a press release sent today.
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Sep 17 2024

DEA Quietly Endorses New Two-Part Test for Drug Rescheduling

The DEA has officially recognized a new two-part test for determining whether a substance has an accepted medical use, which was used to determine whether marijuana should be rescheduled.

This acknowledgment was quietly included in a footnote within a recent notice about the scheduling of two synthetic opioids under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

In past scheduling rulings, the government followed a five-part test to evaluate whether a substance met this definition, considering factors such as its chemical composition, health data, and other relevant information. However, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently adopted a more streamlined two-part test while reviewing the proposed rescheduling of marijuana, concluding that cannabis fits under Schedule III.
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Sep 17 2024

Study: Medical Marijuana Leads to “Rapid and Significant Improvements” in Health-Related Quality of Life

A new study of hundreds of people using medical marijuana reported “rapid and significant improvements” in health-related quality of life over the first three months, according to new research led by Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM).

The study, published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, followed nearly 400 adults who were new to using medical marijuana to treat any of the more than 20 qualifying conditions in Pennsylvania. Study participants, with an average age of about 46 years old, were most commonly prescribed medical marijuana to treat anxiety disorders or “severe chronic or intractable pain.” From baseline, respondents improved in all areas of health-related quality of life that researchers evaluated, including less pain, more energy, and better emotional, social, and physical functioning.

“Little is known about what happens to individuals who use cannabis products for medicinal purposes in regard to functioning and health,” said lead author Michelle R. Lent, PhD, a professor in PCOM’s School of Professional and Applied Psychology and director of psychosocial research in the PCOM Medical Marijuana Research Program, in a press release. “This study, one of the largest to date, captured how their lives and health status changed after using these products. In the era of precision medicine, understanding which type of patient may benefit from which type of therapy is of high importance.”
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Sep 17 2024

North Carolina Marijuana Superstore: Thriving Sales and No Arrests After 10 Days

Ten days after it opens its doors to everyone 21 and older, the Great Smoky Cannabis Company in Cherokee, North Carolina, continues to see thriving sales without a single reported arrest of patrons or employees.

Located on the tribal land of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the store has welcomed thousands of visitors since opening its doors to the public on September 7, offering a wide range of marijuana products to anyone 21 and older, regardless of tribal membership or medical status.

Initial concerns that law enforcement might target customers leaving tribal land with marijuana—since it remains illegal outside of the reservation in North Carolina—have proven unfounded. Despite fears of potential legal complications, local law enforcement has not intervened, and no arrests have been made in connection with purchases from the store. This lack of enforcement has helped contribute to the store’s success and high attendance in the days following its opening.
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Sep 17 2024

Study Finds Psilocybin May Be an Effective Treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

A new case report, published in the journal Clinical Case Reports and available online through the National Institutes of Health, suggests that psilocybin may offer a promising treatment option for patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

Dried psilocybin.

The study was conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the University of California San Diego, REMAP Therapeutics Astoria, and New York University, with the title Refractory CRPS pain treated with psilocybin: A case report.

CRPS is a debilitating neuropathic condition often triggered by trauma but can also occur spontaneously. It is characterized by severe, persistent pain and various other symptoms, such as temperature fluctuations, skin discoloration, and muscle weakness. Conventional treatments for CRPS, including medications and invasive procedures like spinal cord stimulation, are often ineffective, leading to a growing interest in alternative therapies like psychedelics.
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Sep 17 2024

Ohio: Over $100 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold Since August 6

Ohio dispensaries have sold over $100 million worth of marijuana since the start of legal recreational marijuana sales on August 6.

According to the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC), there has been exactly $103,411,274 in legal marijuana sold between August 6 and September 14. $65,345,620 of these sales were purchased by recreational marijuana consumers, with $38,065,654 sold to licensed medical marijuana patients.

The average price per gram of dried marijuana continues to drop. The price was $8.57 on September 14, compared to $8.95 on September 7 and $9.41 on August 6.
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Sep 16 2024

Arkansas Poll: Majority of Voters Likely to Vote in November Support Issue 3 to Expand Medical Marijuana Program

According to new polling, a strong majority of likely Arkansas voters support significantly expanding the state’s medical marijuana program.

The poll, commissioned by Talk Business & Politics and conducted by Hendrix College, was conducted between September 5 and 6, with a margin of error of +/- 4.6%. All participants were registered to vote and said they were “likely” to vote in the November 5 election.

Issue 3, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024, is supported by 54% of likely voters, with 35.5% opposed, and 10.5% undecided.
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Sep 16 2024

North Carolina Poll Finds 70% of Voters Support Legalizing Medical Marijuana

A new WRAL News poll reveals that 70% of North Carolina voters support the legalization of medical marijuana.

The survey, conducted with 771 registered voters, found that support for medical marijuana spans across all demographics, including age, race, income, and political affiliation. Even among voters identifying as very conservative or over the age of 65, a majority expressed support.

Despite such widespread support, North Carolina remains one of just 12 states that haven’t legalized medical marijuana.
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