Jan 13 2025

Montana Senate Resolution Urging Federal Government to Pass SAFER Banking Act Scheduled for Public Hearing On January 16

A resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 5) encouraging the federal government to approve the SAFER Banking Act has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Montana.

The hearing will take place on Thursday, January 16, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 422 of the Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee. The resolution, if passed, would officially express Montana’s support for approving the SAFER Banking Act, which would allow banks and other financial institutions to provide financial services to state-legal marijuana businesses. This would allow state-licensed marijuana stores to move away from a dangerous cash-only model, while also giving them access to other traditional banking services such as loans and lines of credit.

Montana’s U.S. Senators, Steve Daines and Jon Tester, have both sponsored the SAFER Banking Act. The proposal was given bipartisan support by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in September 2023, but failed to receive a vote of the full Senate.
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Jan 13 2025

Nine Washington State Senators Introduce Bill to Legalize Psilocybin for Therapeutic Use

A group of Washington State lawmakers, led by Senator Jesse Salomon, has introduced Senate Bill 5201, which would legalize the use of psilocybin for therapeutic purposes.

The bill, backed by eight cosponsors, has been referred to the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee for further consideration.

If enacted, the legislation would establish a regulated framework allowing licensed facilitators to administer psilocybin in controlled, supervised settings. The proposed program is modeled after Oregon’s pioneering psilocybin therapy law and aims to provide a pathway for individuals seeking treatment for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
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Jan 13 2025

Brian Cuban, Mark Cuban’s Brother, to Represent CBIH in DEA Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing

Cannabis Bioscience International Holdings (CBIH) announced today that Brian Cuban, Esq., a distinguished attorney, best-selling author, and mental health advocate, has officially joined the Reclassification Team and will play a crucial role in representing CBIH at the upcoming DEA hearings on marijuana rescheduling.

Brian Cuban, the younger brother of entrepreneur Mark Cuban, “brings a unique combination of personal recovery experience and professional advocacy to the effort”, according to a CBIH press release. A graduate of Penn State University and The University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Mr. Cuban has been a vocal champion for individuals battling addiction, mental health challenges, and societal stigma.

According to CBUH, Mr. Cuban has established himself as a thought leader in the mental health space, authoring the best-selling book The Addicted Lawyer: Tales of The Bar, Booze, Blow & Redemption and captivating audiences across North America as a keynote speaker. His work has been featured in esteemed publications such as The New York Times, CNN.com, and The Huffington Post. His most recent release, Body Brokers, sheds light on the dark and exploitative practices within the addiction recovery industry, exposing unethical behaviors that prey on vulnerable individuals seeking treatment.
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Jan 13 2025

Study: Cannabidiol Found to Alleviate Intestinal Fibrosis in Ulcerative Colitis

A study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research reveals that cannabidiol (CBD) has therapeutic potential for combatting intestinal fibrosis in ulcerative colitis.

For the study, researchers from Jiamusi University, Tianjin First Central Hospital, and Nankai University in China investigated the effects of CBD on in an animal model, utilizing various techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot, and immunofluorescence. They also conducted cell-level experiments by transfecting si-RNA into CCD-18Co cells.

The study found that CBD significantly alleviated intestinal inflammation by upregulating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression and suppressing the Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κb) pathway. This regulation reduced the release of inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Additionally, CBD demonstrated antioxidant properties by modulating the Nrf2/Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway and enhancing HO-1 activity.
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Jan 13 2025

Legal Marijuana Sales in 2024 Surpass $22 Billion Across 20 States, Led by California and Michigan

In 2024, states that allow licensed recreational marijuana sales combined to sell over $20 billion in product.

According to an analysis by The Marijuana Herald, which utilized data from state regulatory agencies and the research firm Headset, legal marijuana states sold $22.1 billion in product throughout 2024, with California and Michigan leading in sales.

The combined total for 2024 includes data from 20 of the 24 legal marijuana states. Delaware and Minnesota were excluded because their legal marijuana markets are not set to launch until later this year. Data for Virginia was also excluded, as it is the only legal marijuana state without licensed sales. Additionally, Alaska’s sales data was not included because the state has yet to release its 2024 figures, nor has Headset or any other research firm deemed reliable enough for inclusion.

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Jan 12 2025

Study: Combining Bixa Orellana and Cannabis Demonstrates Effective Pain Relief

A new study from Universidade Federal do Amapá in Brazil reveals that combining extracts from Bixa orellana (also known as achiote) and cannabis significantly reduces pain in experimental models.

Bixa orellana and cannabis.

The findings, published in the journal Pharmaceuticals, suggest that these formulations could provide a powerful option for managing pain.

“The present study aimed to evaluate the potential synergy between pharmaceutical formulations containing Bixa orellana L. (granulated-CHR OR and injectable nanodispersion-CHR IN) in conjunction with a cannabidiol (CBD)-rich extract of Cannabis sativa L. (CSE) on experimental pain models in Wistar rats”, states the study’s abstract.

Researchers found that the “results from the experimental pain tests indicated that the combined administration of formulations containing Bixa orellana and C. sativa, such as the granulated CHR OR (400 mg/kg, orally) with CSE (40 mg/kg, orally) or the nanodispersion CHR IN (10 mg/kg, intramuscularly) with CSE (40 mg/kg, orally), demonstrated significant results in pain reduction.”
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Jan 12 2025

Study Finds Early Cannabis Use Does Not Increase Risk of Substance Abuse

A new systematic review published in the journal Addictive Behaviors challenges the longstanding claim that cannabis acts as a gateway drug to other substances.

Researchers from the University of Montreal, The University of Queensland, and McGill University conducted an extensive analysis of prospective studies to explore the relationship between the age of cannabis use onset and later substance use issues.

The review examined 16 studies published between 2000 and 2024, focusing on adolescents and controlling for individual, social, and substance-related factors. While an earlier age of cannabis use onset was linked to an increased risk of developing what some researchers call “cannabis use disorder”, the findings did not support the notion that cannabis use leads to significant problems with other substances, such as alcohol or harder drugs.
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Jan 11 2025

Colorado Garnered $255 Million in Marijuana Taxes in 2024, Over $2.8 Billion Since 2014

In December, Colorado garnered over $19 million in marijuana tax revenue, bringing 2024’s total to over a quarter billion.

According to data released today by the Colorado Department of Revenue, the state made $19,141,932 in taxes from December’s roughly $95 million in sales. This brings the total for 2024 to $255,364,952. The all-time total since 2014 is now $2,873,522,685

Most of Colorado’s marijuana tax revenue comes from a 15% retail sales tax on recreational marijuana and a 15% excise tax on the initial transfer of marijuana from a wholesaler to a retailer. In contrast, medical marijuana is only subject to the statewide sales tax of 2.9%. Additional local taxes of up to 2.9% may also be applied to retail sales.
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Jan 11 2025

Study Finds Cannabinoid-Based Supplement Reduces Pain and Improves Life for Dogs With Osteoarthritis

A new study has revealed the potential of a cannabinoid-based dietary supplement, Pain ReliefTM, to significantly alleviate chronic pain and improve the quality of life in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis.

Conducted by researchers from Columbia University, the University of Naples Federico II, and the University of Milano, the study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Animals.

For the study, 21 adult crossbreed dogs with severe osteoarthrosis participated. Researchers compared the effects of Pain Pain ReliefTM, a cannabis-based medicine produced by Giantec in Italy, to a placebo.
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Jan 11 2025

Dallas Police Now Prohibited from Arresting for Possession of Four Ounces or Less of Marijuana, Odor No Longer Probable Cause for Searches

Dallas Police Department officers are now under new guidelines regarding marijuana possession enforcement

In November, Dallas voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition R, which decriminalizes the possession of up to four ounces of marijuana. Now, Dallas officers are no longer allowed to make arrests or issue citations for marijuana possession up to four ounces, according to a police memo that was sent to The Marijuana Herald. The memo was issued by Interim Police Chief Michael Igo.

Additionally, the memo states that the odor of marijuana can no longer serve as probable cause for searches or seizures, except in cases involving violent felonies or high-priority narcotics investigations.
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