Jan 26 2023

Study: Long-Term Marijuana Inhalation Does Not Impair Lung Function

According to a new study published in the journal Respiratory Medicine the long-term inhalation of marijuana smoke does not impact lung function.

For the study Australian researchers examined “whether cigarette smoking or cannabis use and co-use are each associated with lung function in a population sample of young adults.”

The data used by researchers is from a prospective cohort study of cigarette smoking, cannabis use and co-use at 21 and 30 years of age and lung function measured at 30 years.
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Jan 26 2023

Study Examining 63 Million Medicare Recipients Finds Marijuana Legalization Does Not Increase Psychosis Diagnoses

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open has found that “states with legalization policies experienced no statistically significant increase in rates of psychosis-related diagnoses”.

As noted by the study’s authors, psychosis is a hypothesized consequence of cannabis use. Legalizing cannabis “could therefore be associated with an increase in rates of health care utilization for psychosis.”

The objective of this study, which was conducted by researchers at Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, New York University and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System evaluated “the association of state medical and recreational cannabis laws and commercialization with rates of psychosis-related health care utilization.”
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Jan 25 2023

Medical Marijuana Sales Begin in Mississippi

Licensed medical dispensaries in Mississippi began selling marijuana and marijuana products today to qualified patients.

In February of last year state lawmakers passed a law regulating the medical marijuana industry, which came roughly 15 months after an initiative to legalize medical marijuana was passed by voters and subsequently struck down by the courts. Nearly a year later, and legal medical marijuana sales are now underway.

“Marijuana access has been long overdue for Mississippi’s patients,” says NORML’s State Policies Manager Jax James. “The overwhelming majority of voters decided in favor of this policy change over two years ago, and lawmakers had an obligation to ensure that the process of providing access faced no further undue delays.”
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Jan 25 2023

Report: Global Hemp Market Valued at $4.13 Billion, to Grow to $16.75 Billion by 2030

The global market for industrial hemp is anticipated to grow at a tremendous pace in the coming years according to a new report conducted by Million In$ights.

The global industrial hemp market was valued at $4.13 billion in the year 2021 and is expected to value at $16.75 billion by 2030, projecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.8% from 2022 to 2030, states the report. The market is driven by “the surging use of industrial hemp in various industries such as personal care items, food and beverages, pharmaceutical, and animal care solutions.”

Based on product insights, hemp seeds is expected to dominate the segment, registering a CAGR of over 20% from 2022 to 2030. The growing demand for hemp seeds “may be due to their growing use in food and nutraceutical products. Additionally, high demand for personal care and cosmetic items worldwide has also steered the use of hemp seeds in body lotions, bath gels, shampoos, and various others.”
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Jan 24 2023

Minnesota Marijuana Legalization Bill Given Approval by Third House Committee

Minnesota’s House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee has voted to pass legislation to legalize marijuana.

Passage of measure through this third committee comes less than two weeks after it passed its first committee – the House Commerce, Finance and Policy Committee – and less than a week after its passage through the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. Companion legislation sponsored by Senator Lindsey Port will receive its first hearing tomorrow.

“As I’ve said in other committees, Minnesotans are ready”, said Representative Zack Stephenson, the bill’s prime sponsor, following the vote. “This is the year that we should legalize adult-use cannabis in the state of Minnesota. Minnesotans deserve the freedom and respect to make their own decisions about cannabis, and we also need to recognize that our current laws are doing more harm than good.”
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Jan 24 2023

Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed in Iowa Senate

Legislation to legalize marijuana has been filed in Iowa’s Senate.

Senate File 73 was filed by Senator Janet Peterson along with a coalition of 12 other lawmakers. It has been assigned to a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.

If passed into law Senate File 73 would legalize marijuana possession, manufacturing, delivery, and retail sale of marijuana for everyone 21 and older. Possession of up to 30g of marijuana flower, 5g of marijuana concentrate, and 500mg of THC in an infused product would be authorized, and licensed retail outlets would be allowed to sell marijuana and marijuana products. Non-Residents would be able to possess up to half of those amounts.
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Jan 23 2023

Study Finds Current and Past Marijuana Use Not Associated With Increased Hypertension Risk

In a study that will come as little surprise to cannabis consumers but nevertheless is an important clarification, researchers found that marijuana use is not associated with an increase in the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure).

Conducted by researchers at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the University of Missouri and the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, the study was published by the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.

For the study researchers examined the relationship between marijuana use and blood pressure in a cohort of 4,565 adults. They “retrospectively evaluated data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2017 to 2018.” Cannabis use was measured with five metrics: (1) sustained use at any point in the past, (2) sustained use within the past year, (3) frequency of use, (4) age of first cannabis use, and (5) current use.
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Jan 20 2023

Systematic Review: Medical Marijuana Reduces the Length and Frequency of Migraine Headaches

The use of medical marijuana “has a significant clinical response by reducing the length and frequency of migraines”, according to a systematic review published in The Cureus Journal of Medical Science.

Conducted by researchers at the California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, the study is titled Efficacy and Safety of Medical Marijuana in Migraine Headache: A Systematic Review.

“Medical marijuana treatment for migraine is becoming more common, although the legality and societal acceptance of marijuana for medical purposes in the United States have been challenged by the stigma attached to it as a recreational drug”, states the study. “These substances function to reduce nociception and decrease the frequency of migraine by having an impact on the endocannabinoid system.”
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Jan 19 2023

Public Hearings Scheduled for Two Marijuana Legalization Bills in New Hampshire Legislature

Two different legislative proposals that would legalize marijuana have both received public hearing dates in the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee.

House Bill 639 has been scheduled for a public hearing in the committee on January 25th at 1:15pm at Legislative Office Building 302-304. House Bill 544 is scheduled at practically the same time, five minutes later.

House Bill 639 was introduced by House Majority Leader Jason Osbourne, a Repubican, along with a bipartisan coalition of 10 other lawmakers. The proposed law would allow those 21 and older to possess and consume up to four ounces of marijuana and up to 20 grams of marijuana concentrates. They would also be allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants for personal use, and it would establish a system of taxed and regulated marijuana retail outlets to sell marijuana and marijuana products.
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Jan 19 2023

Oral THC May Reduce Agitation, Apathy, Irritability and Sleep/Eating Disturbances in Those With Alzheimer Disease

Oral THC with a small amount of CBD may be effective in reducing a host of negative symptoms associated with Alzheimer disease, according to a study published in the recent issue of the journal Clinical Therapeutics.

As noted by the study’s abstract, ten million new cases of dementia are recorded annually worldwide, with agitation and idiopathic weight loss being the most common symptoms. Although several pharmacological therapies have emerged in recent years, “the clinical use of cannabis extracts in older patients with AD is constantly growing.”

This retrospective, analytical, observational, spontaneous trial “aimed to enhance the clinical action of THC: CBD cannabis extract administration in AD patients with severe symptoms such as agitation, weight loss, cognitive impairment, and sleep disturbance.”
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