Mar 18 2025

Trulieve to Open Cannabis Dispensary in North Miami Beach on March 21, Its 163rd in Florida and 231st in the U.S.

Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a leading cannabis company in the U.S., today announced the opening of a new medical cannabis dispensary in North Miami Beach, Florida.

A grand opening celebration will be held Friday, March 21, beginning at 9 a.m., featuring music, specials, discounts, and opportunities to register for upcoming patient education sessions, according to a press release sent today.

“We are proud to expand access to medical cannabis in Miami-Dade County,” said Trulieve’s Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. “We look forward to serving patients and caregivers at this new location with our affordable, high-quality products and elite customer experience.”
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Mar 18 2025

Study: CBD May Protect Against Epilepsy-Related Neuronal Death by Blocking Toxic Astrocytes

New research published in Journal of Neurochemistry finds that cannabidiol (CBD) may protect against neuronal death in epilepsy by inhibiting neurotoxic reactive astrocytes, a subtype of astrocytes implicated in the disease’s progression.

In a kainic acid-induced mouse model of epilepsy, researchers found that neurotoxic reactive astrocytes, triggered by microglia-secreted cytokines such as IL-1α, TNFα, and C1q, emerge as early as seven days after stimulation. These cells exhibit a distinct molecular profile, including elevated expression of complement 3 and adenosine 2A receptor.

Analysis of human brain tissues from temporal lobe epilepsy patients and epileptic mice revealed that these astrocytes contribute to neuronal damage through lipid-related mechanisms.
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Mar 18 2025

Study: Mouthwash With CBD and Spilanthol Significantly Improves Oral Health Markers in Gingivitis Patients

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that mouthwash containing cannabidiol (CBD) and spilanthol significantly improved oral health markers in patients with plaque-associated gingivitis.

Researchers from the Medical University of Silesia conducted a double-blind study involving 40 participants, comparing the effects of an oral rinse containing CBD, spilanthol, and tea tree oil (TTO) with a rinse containing only TTO. Participants used their assigned mouthwash twice daily for 42 days, with researchers measuring changes in oral microbiota, bleeding on probing (BOP), and approximal plaque index (API).

Results showed that while both groups experienced reductions in API and BOP, the most significant improvements occurred in the group using the CBD and spilanthol formulation. The decrease in BOP scores was particularly notable, and API improvement was also significantly greater in test groups compared to controls.
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Mar 18 2025

Study: One-Third of Cancer Patients Report Marijuana Use, Most Discuss With Healthcare Providers

A significant portion of cancer patients regularly consume cannabis, according to new research.

“Given the potential positive and negative impacts of cannabis use during cancer care, more information is needed to understand how changes in cannabis legalization and social norms have affected cannabis use and clinical disclosure among cancer survivors”, states the abstract of the study, published by the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. “The purpose of this research was to explore cannabis behaviors, disclosure, and information needs among cancer survivors.”

For the study, researchers “conducted cross- sectional analyses using descriptive statistics to assess data collected via an online survey distributed through online health communities.”
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Mar 18 2025

Study Finds Psilocybin Linked to Significant Reduction in Suicidal Ideation

According to a systematic review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, psilocybin use is associated with a significant reduction in suicidal ideation.

Researchers from over a dozen research hospitals and universities across the U.S., London and Canada analyzed data from multiple studies to assess the impact of psychedelic therapies on suicide-related outcomes.

Four clinical trials tested whether psychedelics affect suicidal thoughts, with three finding that psilocybin significantly reduced suicidal ideation. Two additional trials monitored suicidal thoughts as part of evaluating the overall safety of psychedelic treatments, reporting a decrease in suicidal ideation among psilocybin users, while another study found minimal impact. Three additional studies linked psilocybin use to a 40% to 75% lower likelihood of experiencing suicidal thoughts, suggesting it may help reduce suicide risk. Continue reading

Mar 18 2025

Tennessee Legislature Approves Bill to Extend Medical Cannabis Commission 118 to 1, Sends Measure to Governor

The Tennessee Legislature has approved a bill to extend the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission until June 30, 2029, sending it to Governor Bill Lee for consideration.

House Bill 255 passed the Senate in a 28 to 1 vote after previously clearing the House with a unanimous 90 to 0 vote last month.

The commission, originally set to expire in July of this year, was established to study and provide recommendations on medical cannabis policy in Tennessee. While the state does not have a comprehensive medical marijuana program, the commission has been tasked with examining how such programs operate in other states and advising lawmakers on potential legalization efforts.
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Mar 17 2025

U.S. Legal Marijuana Sales Reach $1.97 Billion in February, With Per-Day Sales Up 6% From January

The legal recreational cannabis industry across the United States garnered $1.97 billion in total sales in February.

February’s sales reflect a slight decrease from the $2.05 billion reported in January. However, the average daily sales rate actually increased in from approximately $66.1 million per day in January to $70.3 million per day in February—an increase of about 6%.

Sales numbers were provided by state regulatory agencies and cannabis commissions, as well as the research firm Headset.
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Mar 17 2025

Mississippi Senate Finance Committee Approves House-Backed Bill to Impose 15% Excise Tax on Kratom

Mississippi House Bill 1896, which would impose a 15% excise tax on kratom products, has been approved by the state’s Senate Finance Committee.

Kratom products.

The measure, filed by State Representative Kevin Horan (R), previously passed the full House with unanimous support in a 114 to 0 vote.

HB 1896 would establish a tax on kratom products, which include any food or dietary supplements containing kratom leaf or kratom leaf extract. The tax would be levied at 15% of the manufacturer’s list price and would apply to sales, use, consumption, handling, or distribution within Mississippi. Under the proposal, the tax burden would ultimately fall on consumers, as businesses would be allowed to pass the cost on at the point of sale.
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Mar 17 2025

Maryland Senate Approves Bill Protecting Fire and Rescue Workers From Employment Penalties for Medical Marijuana Use

The Maryland Senate has approved legislation to protect fire and rescue workers from employment penalties for medical marijuana use, passing Senate Bill 1023 with a vote of 36 to 8.

Filed by Senator Carl Jackson (D), the bill prohibits employers from taking adverse actions against fire and rescue public safety employees who are certified medical marijuana patients.

SB 1023 safeguards firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other fire and rescue personnel from discrimination based on their legal medical marijuana use. The measure prevents employers from disciplining, discharging, or penalizing employees solely for possessing a valid medical marijuana certification or testing positive for marijuana components or metabolites. However, it does not permit employees to work while impaired or use marijuana within 12 hours of a work shift.
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Mar 17 2025

Illinois Lawmakers Schedule Public Hearing on Kratom Consumer Protection Act

A key committee in the Illinois House of Representatives has scheduled a public hearing on a bill dubbed the “Kratom Consumer Protection Act”.

A bowl of kratom powder, kratom pills, and kratom leaves.

Filed on January 13 by Representative Curtis Tarver, Illinois House Bill 1303 has since garnered three bipartisan sponsors. The bill would prohibit the distribution of kratom to individuals under 21, including establishing “online age verification”, and it would ban products that are deemed “attractive to children”.

The measure states that “no person shall offer for sale any kratom product that contains synthesized or semi-synthesized kratom alkaloids or kratom constituents.. or certain chemical compositions”
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