Mar 12 2024

Study: Cannabinoids Led to Symptom Improvements in Over 70% of Cancer Patients

According to a new study about one in four cancer patients use cannabinoids to assist in symptom control, and a strong majority saw a “subjective alleviation of treatment-related symptoms”.

“Limited studies have described the utilization of cannabinoids among cancer patients”, states the study, published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. “This survey study aimed to characterize utilization patterns and perceptions of cannabinoid use for treatment-related side effects among patients receiving radiation treatment.”

This was an “anonymous survey study of patients who were undergoing or recently completed radiation treatment at a comprehensive cancer center. Data on cannabinoid use during cancer treatment, reasons for the use of cannabinoids, perceived effects of cannabinoids, and formulations of usage were collected and summarized using descriptive statistics.”
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Mar 12 2024

Study: Marijuana Can Make it Easier for Women to Achieve an Orgasm and Can Improve Frequency and Satisfaction

According to a new study of hundreds of women, marijuana made it easier to achieve an orgasm in a majority of participants, while also improving orgasm frequency and satisfaction.

“Up to 41% of women experience female orgasm disorder/difficulty (FOD), a statistic unchanged for 50 years”, states the study, published in the March issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine. “Despite this, there is a paucity of validated treatments.”

The study notes that research “has suggested cannabis as a treatment for female sexual disorders for more than 50 years. Yet a literature review revealed no studies evaluating cannabis as a treatment specifically for FOD and no studies comparing women with and without FOD.”
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Mar 12 2024

Colorado: Over $22 Million in Marijuana Taxes Made in February, $2.6 Billion Since 2014

Colorado made well over $20 million in tax revenue from legal marijuana sales in February.

Colorado made $22,002,884 in taxes from the licensed distribution of marijuana, according to data compiled and released by the Colorado Department of Revenue. This marks a slight increase over the $21.5 million sold in January, despite February have two fewer days.

The yearly total for marijuana taxes in Colorado is now $43,549,755, while all-time tax revenue is now at $2,661,707,488
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Mar 12 2024

Arizona House Health Committee Passes Senate-Approved Bill to Legalize Psilocybin Therapy Centers

A key House committee had given approval to psilocybin legislation that’s already been approved by the full Senate.

Dried psilocybin.

The House Health & Human Services Committee has voted 8 to 2 to pass Senate Bill 1570, which has already been approved by the full Senate in a 24 to 4 vote. If the measure passes the full Senate, it will be sent to Governor Josh Green for consideration.

If enacted into law, the measure would legalize psilocybin therapy centers where individuals can legally consume psilocybin in a medical, supervised setting, with trained staff constantly available. Licensing for these centers would be handled by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
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Mar 12 2024

Bipartisan US Lawmakers “Deeply Troubled” Over Barriers to Marijuana Research, Send Letter to Biden Administration

A pair of bipartisan lawmakers in the US Congress have sent a letter to the Biden Administration saying they are “deeply troubled” with a lack of progress following Biden’s 2022 executive order meant to streamline marijuana research and remove barriers.

The letter was signed by Congressmembers Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Andy Harris (R-MD), and sent to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Anne Milgram, Chief Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“President Biden signed our Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (Public Law No. 117-215) into law on December 2, 2022 – representing a historic breakthrough in addressing the federal government’s misguided restriction of research on the impacts of cannabis”, begins the letter. “At a time when more than half of Americans reside in a place where adult-use of cannabis is legal at the state or local level, and there are four million registered medical marijuana users with many more likely to self-medicate, it is essential that we are able to fully study the impacts of cannabis use.”
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Mar 11 2024

Massachusetts Governor to Pardon Tens of Thousands Convicted of Marijuana Possession

Following in the footsteps of federal marijuana pardons issued in late 2022 by President Biden, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey plans to issue thousands of pardons for those convicted of marijuana possession.

Governor Maura Healey (photo credit: Steven Senne/Associated Press).

Specific details of the plan will be announced at a Wednesday press conference. What we do know is that the pardons will cover charges related to possessing up to an ounce of marijuana, which was legalized in 2016.

Under Massachusetts marijuana law, those 21 and older are allowed to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants for personal use. The first licensed marijuana store opening in 2018.
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Mar 11 2024

Virginia Bill to Legalize Marijuana Sales Officially Delivered to Governor, Deadline for Response is April 8

Today, legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales was officially delivered to Governor Glenn Youngkin.

In February Virginia lawmakers passed legislation to legalize the licensed distribution of recreational marijuana, with sales beginning May 1, 2025. Today, the measure was delivered to Governor Youngkin, who now faces an April 8 deadline to decide how he’s going to approach the measure. Governor Youngkin has the option of signing it into law, vetoing it, or allowing it to become law on April 9 without a signature.

Under the proposed law, those 21 and older would be allowed to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana per transaction from a licensed marijuana store. They could also purchase up to 100mg of THC in edible form.
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Mar 11 2024

President Biden Releases FY 2025 Budget Proposal, Includes Provision Blocking DC Marijuana Sales

President Biden has released to Congress his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, and it again includes a provision that blocks Washington DC from allowing licensed marijuana sales. The budget does, however, propose keeping a provision that protects state medical marijuana laws.

Washington DC legalized recreational marijuana in 2014. However, due to a provision passed by US Congress each year since then, licensed marijuana stores are unable to open in the district; although medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed.

Now, President Biden has released his Fiscal Year 2025 draft budget, and it again incudes a provision by Congressmember Andy Harris (R-MD) that prevents DC from allowing marijuana sales. Biden’s inclusion of the provision isn’t incredibly surprising, given he’s included it in each of his past budget requests. However, proponents of marijuana law reform were hopeful that Biden could finally propose removing the provision, especially fresh of becoming the first US President to promote marijuana reform during a State of the Union address.
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Mar 11 2024

Connecticut: $23.6 Million in Marijuana Sales in February

There was over $23 million in legal marijuana sold in February in throughout Connecticut.

According to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, there was $15,049,229 in recreational marijuana sold in February, in addition to $8,627,769 in medical marijuana sales. The combined total of $23,676,998 is lower than the $24,990,207 made in January, although the per day average is higher; $816,448 compared to $806,135

Total sales for 2024 now stand at just shy of $50 million In 2023, the yearly total came to $274 million, averaging $22.8 million a month.
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Mar 11 2024

DEA Reportedly At Odds With Biden Administration Over Marijuana Rescheduling

According to a recent report, officials at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are resisting calls to reschedule marijuana.

Despite calls from the Biden Administration to reschedule marijuana, including a recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, officials at the DEA remain opposed to – or are at least skeptical of – rescheduling marijuana. This is according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal.

Citing anonymous sources “familiar with the matter”, the report states that some top DEA officials are disputing HHS’s scientific analysis of marijuana. The analysis by HHW came to the conclusion that since marijuana has known medical value, it should not remain a Schedule I drug, and instead should be moved to Schedule III which would legalize it for prescription use nationwide.
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