United States
Higher than US
Lower than US
US Average
Past-month marijuana use ages 12 and older, 2017-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health State Estimates.
Marijuana & Legalization
20-year-old Kansas lawmaker files drug decriminalization bill
2/12/21--Rep. Aaron Coleman (D), a 20-year-old Kansas lawmaker, introduced a bill on Tuesday to broadly decriminalize drug possession in the state. He stated that told he was inspired by a voter-approved initiative in Oregon that ends the threat of jail time for simple drug possession. This bill’s introduction comes as Kansas lawmakers and the governor step up their push to legalize medical cannabis in the state. Read IDPC’s Strategic Plan 2021-2023
2/10/21--The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) Strategic Plan for 2021-2023 cements IDPC's position as the global drug policy reform network and will guide the network as it builds on the irreversible global momentum for drug policy reform, strengthens partnerships, and deepens bonds of solidarity with like-minded movements against oppression. Read Confidence Interval: Will marijuana be legal everywhere in the U.S. by 2024?
2/10/21--In this episode of Confidence Interval, senior writer Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux makes the case that marijuana won’t be federally legalized in the next four years, even though Democrats have control of Congress and the White House. Read Drug Fiends and Fools
1/27/21--In a review of the book, Drug Use for Grown-Ups by Carl L. Hart, Charles Fain Lehman, an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute and staff writer with the Washington Free Beacon, covers this publication as the latest in a series of titles arguing that illegal drugs are good, and the only reason they are considered bad is due to internalized oppression. Yet, apparently according to Lehman's review, Hart offers thin evidence for his case that fear of drugs is mostly moral panic. Read FDA withdraws pending CBD enforcement proposal
1/25/21--The FDA has withdrawn their proposal to regulate over-the-counter CBD, handing the industry another setback after years of delay from the Food and Drug Administration. The proposal in question was withdrawn because of the changing administration. The delay was widely anticipated but still frustrating for CBD operators awaiting the rules. Read Marijuana & Health
Drinking, smoking, and drug use linked to premature heart disease in the young
2/15/21--Recreational drinking, smoking, and drug use is linked to premature heart disease in young people, particularly younger women, finds research published online in the journal Heart. Read Commonwealth Fund survey, 2020
2/10/21--The Commonwealth Fund’s International Health Policy surveys fill important information gaps by polling patients and providers in 11 developed countries. For the first time, the survey included comparable information about behaviors affecting health (use of alcohol, tobacco, electronic vaping devices, cannabis and illicit drugs). Read Meet Carl Hart: parent, Columbia professor – and heroin user
2/6/21--In a startling new book, Drug Use for Grown-Ups, Carl Hart, an Ivy League professor and five year regular heroin user, argues that the dangers of recreational drug use have been wildly overstated. Furthermore, Hart states that he's actually better for his drug use, and believes that when used in an informed and responsible manner, they fulfill a purpose with only the smallest risks.. Read Association between county level cannabis dispensary counts and opioid related mortality rates in the United States
1/27/21--This study was conducted to examine county level associations between the prevalence of medical and recreational cannabis stores (referred to as dispensaries) and opioid related mortality rates. Findings indicate that higher medical and recreational storefront dispensary counts are associated with reduced opioid related death rates, particularly deaths associated with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Read GW Pharmaceuticals soars 46% after Jazz Pharma agrees to $7.2 billion acquisition of the CBD biopharma company
2/3/21--GW Pharmaceuticals soared as much as 46% on Wednesday after Jazz Pharma said it would acquire the company for $7.2 billion in cash and stock. According the press release announcement, the merger is expected to accelerate double-digit top-line revenue growth and will be accretive in the first full year of combined operations, and "substantially accretive thereafter." Read Marijuana & Safety
Can green energy power the cannabis boom?
1/28/21--According to an article by Bill McKibben published in The New Yorker, it was estimated that one per cent of the country’s electricity was used for raising pot as early as 2012. Many growers apparently pair their bright lights with high-powered air-conditioning in order to “shorten a plant’s growing cycle.” While energy use desperately needs to be reduced, seemingly it is greatly being used in marijuana production. As stated by McKibben in his article, "It’s an especially ironic use of power because of marijuana’s history in the otherwise green counterculture and because you can grow it outdoors—in the sunlight." ReadThe dangers of drugged driving are outpacing drunk driving
1/26/21--A recent study of drugged driving, by a team of University of Cincinnati researchers, shows that a sizable percentage of individuals reported the use of marijuana and other illicit drugs while operating behind the wheel. The study found that while 8.52% of adults reported driving under the influence of alcohol, compared to 4.49% who drove under the influence of marijuana, a sizable number of adults used both marijuana and other drugs while under the influence of alcohol. Read NIST study will help labs distinguish between hemp and marijuana
1/14/21--The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is inviting labs to participate in a study that will help them get the accurate measurements they need to distinguish between hemp and marijuana. This study is part of NIST’s Cannabis Quality Assurance Program, or CannaQAP. For this study, NIST will send hemp and marijuana plant samples to labs, which will measure the concentration of various compounds and report back to NIST. This type of interlaboratory study helps labs diagnose technical issues and increases measurement consistency across labs. Read Analysis of US teen driving marijuana, 2017
12/23/20--This study aiming to estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with driving after using marijuana (DAUM) among US teenaged drivers found that almost half (48.8%) of teen drivers who currently use marijuana reported DAUM, which is 17% higher than the rate found in a study of first-year college students in 2012. The study also found that the prevalence of DAUM (12.7%) was more than double the prevalence of drinking and driving (5.0%), perhaps reflecting teens’ perception that DAUM is less dangerous and more acceptable than driving after using alcohol. Read Impaired driving
12/28/20--CDC reports that every day 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.1 This is one death every 50 minutes.1 The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $44 billion. Fortunately, there are effective measures that can help prevent injuries and deaths from alcohol-impaired driving. Read Marijuana & Commerce
Radical technological breakthroughs in drugs and drug markets: The cases of cannabis and fentanyl
2/12/21--This essay explores possible future consequences of trends related to cannabis legalization and the arrival of nonmedical fentanyl fundamentally altering North American drug markets. Read Terpene-infused Saturday Cannabis 510-thread vapes reach #1 status on Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) during first month of sales
2/4/21--WeedMD announced its terpene-infused, one-gram Saturday Cannabis (“Saturday”) vaporizer (“vapes”) was recently named “Top Selling Vape” for the month of January, 2021 at the Ontario Cannabis Store (“OCS”), Canada’s largest cannabis retail distributor. According to OCS-provided data, Saturday ranked first in the one-gram category and when compared to all other vapes sizes, it ranked in the “OCS Top 4”. Read On Brand: The hunt is on for “newbie” consumers
1/26/21--According to Kyle Porter, CEO of San Diego-based cannabis public relations and marketing firm CMW Media, there are two main types of neophyte consumer: younger buyers entering the market and older people buying legally for the first time. Wanda James, founder and CEO of Colorado-based Simply Pure, believes it makes sense that as cannabis becomes more mainstream, the concept of a specific ideal customer becomes more muddied. Read ATACH forms cannabis beverage council aimed at expanding canna-drinks segment
1/27/21--The American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH) announced the formation of ATACH's Cannabis Beverage Council. The Council will bring together the most established cannabis and beverage leaders focused on expanding the cannabis beverage market. Read St. Paul man charged with threatening U.S. representative five days after attack on Capitol
1/22/21--Five days after the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol, a marijuana industry activist living in St. Paul called and threatened an unnamed U.S. representative, saying he planned to cause the person pain "in every way possible," according to charges filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota and announced Friday. Read Marijuana & Culture
Dana White says UFC is looking into research on micro-dosing psychedelics to combat brain trauma
1/14/21--With the rise of brain injuries in mixed martial arts and following a devastating MMA Fighting article about former UFC veteran Spencer Fisher’s condition, UFC president Dana White revealed that he wants to see if micro-dosing psychedelics help with traumatic brain injury, addiction, and mental-health problems. Reportedly, the UFC could become a benefactor of a psychedelic study, with the possibility of recruiting current or former UFC fighters to take part. Read A marijuana pioneer changes course: Q&A with Harborside co-founder Steve DeAngelo
1/15/21--Steve DeAngelo, one of the marijuana industry’s most high-profile pioneers, formally parter ways with the medical dispensary he co-founded, Harborside. Moreover, the role of chair emeritus, which DeAngelo held starting in 2018, was eliminated. The announcement closed a significant chapter for the longtime cannabis activist-turned-businessman, who proudly notes Harborside was among the first medical marijuana dispensaries to secure a commercial cannabis license in the United States. Read Opinion/Letter: Science ignored on marijuana legalization
12/6/20--A commentary, authored by Carol Formica of Middletown, discusses Newport Planning Board’s rejection of the ban on marijuana sales in Newport. She questions how can the same government leaders in Newport who have used science to support their positions on climate change, advocated for a brighter future and better education for their students, and pointed to statistical guidelines to address issues of public health and safety during the pandemic, simply turn away from the science and evidence-based data regarding the societal impacts of marijuana legalization. Read The Schedule I Status of Marijuana
9/11/20--The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) places various substances in one of five schedules based on their medical use, potential for abuse, and safety or risk for dependence. Marijuana is listed as a Schedule I controlled substance under the CSA, and has been on Schedule I since the CSA was enacted in 1970 (P.L. 91-513). The Schedule I status of marijuana means that the substance is strictly regulated by federal authorities. Read IRS sweetens the pot with new marijuana industry web page
9/14/20--The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a new marijuana business webpage to help business owners understand and meet their tax responsibilities. The IRS says that it “understands this is a new and growing industry and provided frequently asked questions about record keeping, cash payment options, large cash amounts, and other related topics to help promote voluntary compliance in the industry.” Read Marijuana & Enforcement
9 amicus briefs filed with Supreme Court in support of removing cannabis from Controlled Substances Act
9/17/20--Plaintiffs in the Washington v. Barr case, which seeks to declare the federal law that criminalizes marijuana unconstitutional, have received impressive support in the form of several amicus briefs from cannabis industry organizations, researchers and current federal lawmakers. The case, brought by former NFL player and current cannabis business owner Marvin Washington, claims that the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is unconstitutional by blocking patient access to the medication and sits in contradiction with the U.S. government’s own statements. Read “False and Misleading:” Suit claims select vapes contain less THC than labelled
7/31/20--A new class action lawsuit against Oregon cannabis company Cura CS LLC seeks more than $10M over claims that its Select Elite vape cartridges contained much less THC than labeled. Read Court Denies DEA’s attempt to dismiss medical marijuana case
8/21/20--On Tuesday, the Ninth Circuit filed a one-page order denying the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s motion to dismiss in a lawsuit in which the Scottsdale Research Institute and its president, Dr. Suzanne Sisley, are attempting to reschedule medical marijuana. Read
SEC files charges in $25 million cannabis-related offering fraud
7/29/20--The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against six individuals and their companies for defrauding investors in connection with unregistered securities offerings that raised over $25 million. Read Cannabis companies facing proposed class-action lawsuit over alleged mislabelling
6/18/20--Some major cannabis companies in Canada are facing a multi-million dollar proposed class-action lawsuit over allegations the potency of their products is “drastically different” than advertised. The statement of claim filed in Calgary on Tuesday accuses the companies of failing to properly label their products and alleges negligence on their part. Read