Dec 04 2024

Study: CBD-Rich Cannabis Oil Boosts Social Interaction in Animal Model

According to the results of a new study using an animal model, CBD-rich cannabis oil “promotes social behavior by acting on oxytocin pathway”.

The aim of the study, conducted by researchers at the University of Brescia and published in the December issue of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, “was to investigate the effect of a C. sativa oil CBD rich (CS oil) on social interaction and ultrasonic communication”, according to the study’s abstract.

For the study, 27 adult male mice were treated daily with vehicle or cannabis oil for two weeks. At Day 14, mice were tested for behavior using social interaction test and ultrasonic communication.
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Dec 04 2024

Missouri Senator Introduces Bill to Shield Marijuana Patient Data, Regulate Intoxicating Cannabinoids

Missouri State Senator Nick Schroer (R) has introduced legislation that would strengthen privacy protections for medical marijuana patients, and to ensure that intoxicating cannabinoids are classified and regulated in the same manner as marijuana.

Senate Bill 54, prefiled on December 1 for the 2025 session, introduces provisions to protect patient and consumer data while refining oversight of intoxicating cannabinoid products and dispensary operations.

Under SB 54, state agencies and employees would be prohibited from sharing personally identifying information of medical marijuana patients or caregivers with the federal government, federal employees, or any unauthorized third parties. Violating this provision would constitute a Class E felony.
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Dec 04 2024

Clinical Trials Show Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Outperforms Standard Treatments for Depression

A newly systematic review of clinical trials reveals psilocybin-assisted therapy may provide substantial relief for individuals with major depressive disorder, including treatment-resistant cases.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Published in the psychiatry journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, the study consolidates findings from six randomized controlled trials, involving 427 participants, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this emerging treatment.

Researchers from India’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, and Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences spearheaded the analysis.
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Dec 03 2024

Illinois Marijuana Sales Pass $160 Million in October, Prices Reach New Lows

In Illinois, legal marijuana sales topped $160 million in October, an increase from the previous month.

In October, licensed marijuana stores sold $164.4 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products, including concentrates, edibles, tinctures and topicals, according to the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer. This is a noticeable increase from the $158 million sold in September.

Of the $164 million in marijuana sold in October, $142.2 million came from recreational consumers, with $22.2 million purchased by medical marijuana patients. 78% of the recreational marijuana purchased came from Illinois residents, with 22% coming from those living outside the state.
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Dec 03 2024

Trump’s Pick to Head the DEA, Sheriff Chad Chronister, Withdraws From Consideration

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, who was chosen by President Trump to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has withdrawn from the race.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.

Chronister, who has supported decriminalizing marijuana possession, was nominated by Trump on Saturday, and withdrew from the race Tuesday. Chronister was chosen to replace Anne Milgram, a Biden administration appointee and former New Jersey attorney general.

Chronister, a lifelong law enforcement officer, has served as sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, since 2018, overseeing Tampa and its surrounding areas.
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Dec 03 2024

California Reports $250.5 Million in Cannabis Tax Revenue for Third Quarter of 2024

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) reported cannabis tax revenue today for the third quarter of 2024.

As of November 18, total cannabis tax revenue from third-quarter returns is $250.5 million. This figure includes $148.4 million in cannabis excise tax and $102 million from sales tax collected from cannabis businesses. These figures do not include outstanding returns or returns that still are being processed.

Reported revenue for the second quarter of 2024 returns has been revised to $269 million. This includes $157.7 million attributed to cannabis excise tax and $111.3 million to sales tax. These revisions are a result of amended and late returns, as well as other tax return adjustments.
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Dec 03 2024

Massachusetts: $151 Million in Marijuana Sold in November, Prices Drop to All-Time Low of $4.58 Per Gram and $129 Per Ounce

There was over $150 million in legal marijuana sold in Massachusetts in November, with prices continuing to drop.

According to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), there was $137.2 million in recreational marijuana sold in November, nearly identical to the $138 million sold in October. When combined with the $14.6 million in medical marijuana sales, there was $151.8 million in marijuana sold legally in November.

The year-to-date total for 2024 is now nearly $1.6 billion, with the all-time total standing at $7.04 billion.
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Dec 03 2024

VA Funds First Study on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Veterans Since the 1960s

Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will fund a study on Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted, or MDMA-assisted, therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder among Veterans.

MDMA tablets, often referred to as “ecstasy”.

This is the first VA-funded study for psychedelic-assisted therapy since the 1960s.

VA researchers affiliated with Brown University and Yale University will evaluate the potential of MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment option for Veterans with both PTSD and AUD. Participants will receive psychotherapy sessions enhanced by MDMA, a psychedelic compound believed to increase emotional openness, reduce fear, and promote introspection during therapy. Some participants will be randomly chosen to receive an active placebo, which will be a lower dose of MDMA.
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Dec 02 2024

Ohio: Legal Marijuana Prices Drop to Below $7 Per Gram, Down 26% Since August

The average cost of recreational marijuana in Ohio has dropped substantially since the start of legal sales on August 7.

According to data released today by the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Cannabis Control (DCC), the average cost of recreational marijuana as of November 30 is $6.99 per gram. This is down 26% from the $9.40 average on August 7.

Between August 7 and November 30, there was $191,339,920 worth of recreational marijuana sold across 2,537,211 transactions. During the same period, there was $111.6 million in medical marijuana sold, combining for over $300 million.
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Dec 02 2024

Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to Open State-Operated Testing Laboratory in February

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) is set to open a state-operated marijuana testing laboratory in Oklahoma City by February 2025.

Renovations for the facility, located at Reno and Meridian avenues, began in mid-November and are expected to last 90 days. The lab, authorized by Senate Bill 813 in 2023, received $4.9 million in funding, including $3.5 million for start-up costs and $1.4 million for ongoing operations.

OMMA Chief Science Officer Lee Rhoades highlighted its importance in ensuring product safety, saying “Independent testing allows us to double-check the quality of products and protect the public”.
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