Dec 06 2024

North Carolina Marijuana Megastore Celebrates Three Months Open

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company in Cherokee, North Carolina, will mark three months of operation as of tomorrow, December 7.

Located at 91 Bingo Loop Rd on the tribal land of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the store has become the first and only place in North Carolina where anyone 21 and older can legally purchase marijuana and marijuana products.

Since it opened its doors to nontribal members on September 7, the store has attracted tens of thousands of patrons. It offers a wide array of marijuana products, including dried flower, prerolls, concentrates such as wax and live resin, topicals like body creams and pain salves, and various edibles, including gummies, brownies, chocolate bars, cookies, and drinkable shots.
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Dec 06 2024

Kentucky Governor Keeps Medical Marijuana Dispensary Applicants Secret, Exempting Them From Open Records Requests

The Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis has chosen not to release a list of applicants for its recently concluded dispensary lottery in nine regions, citing exemptions from open records laws.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

This decision by Governor Andy Beshear’s administration comes despite the announcement of 36 winners last month.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Office of Medical Cannabis rejected a public records request from Kentucky Public Radio for details on applicants in regions 3 through 11. Officials argue the information is part of a “master list” that includes applicants for the final two regions, whose lottery results will be determined on Dec. 16. General Counsel Matthew Lynch stated the list remains “preliminary” and therefore exempt from disclosure.
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Dec 06 2024

Missouri: November Breaks Monthly Marijuana Sales Record With $128 Million Sold

Missouri’s legal marijuana market continues to set milestones, with November breaking the monthly sales record.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, $128.07 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products were sold in November, surpassing all previous monthly totals. Of this, $113.03 million came from recreational sales, while medical marijuana sales accounted for $15.04 million.

With November’s figures included, year-to-date sales for 2024 have reached approximately $1.23 billion. Cumulative all-time marijuana sales in Missouri now total $3,150,040,000, underscoring the strong demand in the state since the legalization of recreational marijuana.
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Dec 06 2024

Illinois’ Most Popular Marijuana Strains as of December 2024

As Illinois’ recreational marijuana market continues to thrive, certain strains have emerged as clear favorites among consumers.

Runtz.

Below is a list of the ten most popular marijuana strains in Illinois as of December 2024, using data compiled by our readers, Leafly and the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office. Although the list is similar to the most popular strains in other states like Ohio and New York, there are a couple strains whose popularity seems to be exclusive to Illinois.
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Dec 06 2024

United Nations Human Rights Chief Says “War on drugs has failed, completely and utterly”, Endorses Decriminalization

The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, highlighted the urgent need for a human rights-based approach to drug regulation, saying the war on drugs has been “completely and utterly” a failure.

Volker Türk.

Speaking at the ‘Dealing with Drugs II’ conference in Warsaw on Thursday, Türk said “Criminalisation and prohibition have failed to reduce drug use and failed to deter drug-related crime. These policies are simply not working – and we are failing some of the most vulnerable groups in our societies”.

The High Commissioner’s address comes amid a surge in illicit drug production and distribution.
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Dec 05 2024

Louisiana: Good Day Farm Opens the South’s Largest Medical Marijuana Dispensary

Good Day Farm has unveiled the largest medical cannabis dispensary in the Southern United States.

Good Day Farm’s flagship store located in Lake Charles, LA.

Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the nearly 10,000-square-foot flagship store represents a significant expansion for the company and a milestone for the region’s cannabis industry.

The dispensary, situated at 3005 L’Auberge Boulevard, combines an extensive product selection with a modern shopping experience that the company says is tailored to both first-time users and seasoned consumers. According to a press release, “Good Day Farm is Louisiana’s largest medical cannabis grower and most trusted brand, well known for its award-winning gummies, premium flower, flavorful vapes and convenient, bestselling pre-rolls.”
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Dec 05 2024

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Outlines Vision for Marijuana Social Consumption Venues, Including Cafés and Tasting Rooms

Members of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) are exploring the possibility of allowing public marijuana consumption in designated settings, similar to alcohol consumption in bars.

The CCC has been collecting input from local governments and stakeholders on the idea of establishing cannabis cafes.

“This is exciting. This is a massive opportunity in a lot of areas,” said Commissioner Kimberly Roy during today’s meeting, which focused on proposed concepts for marijuana-friendly cafés , tasting rooms, and events.
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Dec 05 2024

Clinical Trial Finds Psilocybin Effective at Combatting COVID-19-Related Depression in Healthcare Workers

A randomized clinical trial conducted by researchers from the University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, and the Yale School of Medicine has found that psilocybin therapy significantly reduces symptoms of depression in clinicians who developed moderate to severe symptoms while providing frontline care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aim of the study was to “investigate whether psilocybin therapy could improve symptoms of depression, burnout, and PTSD in US clinicians who developed these symptoms from frontline clinical work during the pandemic.”

The double-blind trial included 30 participants, all physicians, advanced practice practitioners, or nurses, who had no prior mental health diagnoses but experienced burnout, depression, or PTSD due to their work during the pandemic. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either psilocybin or niacin. The psilocybin group showed a substantial reduction in symptoms of depression, with their Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores improving by an average of 21.33 points compared to 9.33 points in the niacin group (P < .001).
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Dec 05 2024

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick Launches “Major Legislative Initiative to Ban All THC”

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has announced a sweeping legislative effort to ban all forms of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the state.

Senate Bill 3, introduced in collaboration with State Senator Charles Perry, aims to eliminate the sale of consumable THC products, which Patrick claims pose a significant threat to public health and safety.

Patrick linked the proposal to concerns over unregulated THC products proliferating in Texas communities. “Since 2023, thousands of stores selling hazardous THC products have popped up across the state. These stores not only sold to adults but targeted Texas children and exposed them to dangerous levels of THC”, said Patrick.
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Dec 05 2024

Clinical Trial: Transdermal Cannabinoid Oil Found Effective at Treating Diabetic Neuropathy

Clinical data published in the peer reviewed journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids shows that a transdermal cannabinoid oil significantly reduces pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

The study, conducted at Don Chan Hospital in Thailand, involved 100 participants in a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Researchers evaluated the effects of a novel THC:CBD:CBN transdermal formulation on pain in the lower extremities caused by DPN.

Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the cannabinoid oil or a placebo. Pain levels were assessed using the Thai version of the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI-T). The results showed a marked decrease in pain scores for those using the cannabinoid formulation, dropping from an average of 25.60 to 5.57. In contrast, the placebo group saw only a slight reduction in scores, from 25.24 to 22.85. Pain reduction was statistically significant across all dimensions at weeks 4, 8, and 12.
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