Jun 13 2024

THC Edibles Show Little Effect on Driving, Study Finds

Subjects exhibited minimal changes in simulated driving performance after consuming THC-infused edibles, according to research published in the Journal of Cannabis Research and online by the US National Library of Medicine.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the University of Toronto and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, involved 22 participants who underwent simulated driving tests before and after ingesting edibles containing an average of 7.3 mg of THC. Assessments were made at two, four, and six hours post-consumption, with participants primarily being frequent recreational cannabis users.

The findings indicated a slight decrease in average speed two hours after consuming the edibles, with no significant changes in weaving, maximum speed, speed variability, or reaction time at any assessment point. Additionally, some subjects reported a reduced willingness to drive after ingesting cannabis.
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Jun 13 2024

The Four States Still on Track to Legalize Marijuana in 2024

After New Hampshire’s recreational marijuana law was narrowly defeated in the House, despite support from the governor and Senate, we explore the four states still on track to legalize recreational marijuana next.

Both New Hampshire and Hawaii saw their legalization efforts narrowly miss success this year, with no further progress expected in the current year. Despite these setbacks, it’s not all doom and gloom for legalization advocates. Several states are still poised to legalize marijuana this year.

Below are the four states on track to achieve this:
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Jun 13 2024

New Hampshire House Kills Marijuana Legalization Bill Following Senate Passage

The New Hampshire House of Representatives has voted to table a marijuana legalization bill, effectively killing it for the session after disagreements over amendments made by the Senate.

By a vote of 178 to 173, the House voted today to table House Bill 1633, despite the Senate voting earlier today to give it final approval after agreeing with changes proposed by a conference committee. Although the conference committee and Governor Chris Sununu supported the measure, it was ultimately blocked by the House.

The proposed legislation would have allowed those 21 and older to possess and use up to two ounces of marijuana, 10 grams of marijuana concentrates, and marijuana products containing up to 2,000 milligrams of THC. Additionally, it would create a system for licensed and regulated marijuana retail outlets, operated by the state, with a cap of 15 stores statewide and no more than one store per municipality.
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Jun 13 2024

Michigan: $280 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in May, All-Time Sales Near $10 Billion

In Michigan, May’s legal marijuana sales exceeded $279 million, continuing the robust performance seen in recent months.

Data from the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency indicates that recreational marijuana sales totaled $278,005,199.31, slightly higher than April’s $276,685,182.93. Medical marijuana sales reached $1,607,871.79 in May, contributing to a combined total of $279,613,071.10 in sales for the month.

The cumulative total sales for recreational marijuana since its legalization in December 2019 have now soared to $8,279,708,339.69. Alongside this, medical marijuana sales have contributed an additional $1,613,819,981.22, combining for $9,893,528,320.91. The thriving sales have generated substantial tax revenues, with recreational sales alone bringing in over $1.4 billion.
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Jun 13 2024

American Medical Association Officially Endorses Drug Decriminalization

Members of the American Medical Association (AMA) have voted overwhelmingly in favor of endorsing the decriminalization of drug possession.

At their annual meeting yesterday in Chicago, the AMA voted 345 to 171 to adopt a new policy calling for the “elimination of criminal penalties for drug possession for personal use as part of a larger set of related public health and legal reforms designed to improve carefully selected outcomes.” This marks the first time the group has ever supported drug decriminalization.

Ryan Englander, an MD/PhD candidate who is a delegate from Hartford, Connecticut, said “The war on drugs is quite reminiscent of the phrase, ‘The beatings will continue until morale improves. We have tried for decades to criminalize our way out of a substance use crisis in this country, and it has not worked.”
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Jun 13 2024

Get Free Joints and Pay to Participate in “Science of Smokeability” Study

A new study, titled the Science of Smokeability (SOS), is seeking those interesting in receiving free joints and pay in order to take part in a study designed to help improve the smoking experience of marijuana consumers.

DaySavers, who describes themselves as “the most compliant and tested pre-rolled cone and rolling paper brand on the market”, is partnering with the Cannabis Research Coalition and The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP) on a first-of-its-kind study called.

The SOS is a 2+ year series of scientific experiments focusing on analyzing cultivation and processing metrics to evaluate which variables produce the most pleasant and least harmful smoking experience.
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Jun 12 2024

Texas Judge Throws Out Attorney General’s Lawsuit Against Austin Marijuana Ordinance

A county judge in Texas has dismissed a lawsuit from Attorney General Ken Paxton filed against the City of Austin.

AG Paxton sought to have the courts throw out a voter approved ordinance that decriminalized the possession of marijuana. Travis County District Court Judge Jan Soifer rejected the challenge, and has dismissed the lawsuit from Paxton. This allows Austin’s marijuana ordinance to stay in effect indefinitely.

“This is a great victory, not only to protect the will of Austin voters, but also to encourage voters in places like Dallas to support our campaigns this year,” said Ground Game Texas, the group behind the marijuana ordinance, in an e-mail.
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Jun 12 2024

Vermont Records $11 Million in Legal Marijuana Sales in April

In April, Vermont’s legal marijuana sales reached nearly $11 million, marking the fifth consecutive month with sales surpassing $10 million and the ninth time in the past ten months it’s reached that milestone.

According to the Vermont Department of Taxes, there was $10.94 million in legal marijuana sales in April, bringing the yearly total to around $45 million. Marijuana sales brought in $1.53 million in tax revenue for April, and around $6 million for the year.

Although marijuana sales in April slightly declined from March’s $11.31 million, they were still nearly $3 million higher than the previous April.
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Jun 12 2024

US House: Second Committee Approves Ending Marijuana Testing for Military Recruits

The Rules Committee in the United States House of Representatives has passed a federal defense bill that includes a provision to end marijuana testing for military recruits and prospective officers.

Approval of the provision through the Rules Committee comes roughly three weeks after it passed the House Armed Services Committee as part of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and it comes a day after the White House announced its opposition to the move. The NDAA is a massive defense bill necessary for funding national defense and military operations.

Included in the NDAA is a provision that prohibits marijuana testing of military recruits and potential officers. An amendment by Congressmembers Mary Miller (R-IL), Pete Sessions (R-TX) , Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Gary Palmer (R-GA) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY) to remove the provision ending military marijuana testing was rejected by the committee, as was a flurry of other marijuana-related amendments.
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Jun 11 2024

Study Finds “Psilocybin Reduces Heroin Relapse”

A new study published online by the US National Library of Medicine provides promising evidence that psilocybin, a psychedelic compound known for its profound effects on the mind, may help reduce heroin relapse rates.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

This groundbreaking research focuses on the substance’s potential to diminish the persistent and maladaptive behaviors associated with opioid addiction, a major contributor to overdose deaths which account for more than 50% annually.

In the study, researchers utilized a rat model of heroin self-administration to test the effects of psilocybin. Unlike other studies focusing on nicotine and alcohol, this research is pioneering in its application to opioid addiction. Psilocybin, acting as an agonist at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R), a key target in the modulation of drug-seeking behavior, was administered to rats. The findings revealed that while psilocybin did not affect heroin intake, a single dose administered 4-24 hours before a relapse test significantly blunted the cue-induced heroin-seeking behavior.
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