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
With eye on election and beyond, marijuana industry spends millions on lobbying
10/12/20--According to an article published in Marijuana Business Daily, if Congress moves closer to passing a bill to legalize marijuana, it’s likely lobbying efforts and spending will intensify, given that a crucial question is how the federal government would regulate a national cannabis industry. Read IPCI, Decriminalize Nature, and Peyote Dialogues
9/20/20--In recent months, the IPCI and NAC have demanded public apologies from Decriminalize Nature (DN) National and DN local groups for use of the word Peyote in their resolution. They’ve also demanded that they stop using the word Peyote altogether in any literature, or showing photographs of Peyote in their education material. Beyond removing the word Peyote, the Decriminalize Nature agreed to work with the IPCI in September 2019 to spread the word about the need for conservation and preservation of Peyote, using materials the IPCI leadership said they wanted us to share with followers. Read Pharma company, supplement chain retailer weigh in on CBD during White House meetings
9/28/20--As the hemp industry awaits guidance from food and drug regulators on whether CBD will be permitted to be used as an ingredient in food and dietary supplements, the White House Office of Management and Budget continues to meet with companies and industry advocates to gain insight. Two of those meetings discussing the future of cannabidiol were with CBD drug maker GW Pharmaceuticals and chain retailer General Nutrition Centers (GNC). Read Impact evaluations of drug decriminalisation and legal regulation on drug use, health and social harms: a systematic review
9/28/20--A study designed to review the metrics and findings of studies evaluating effects of drug decriminalization or legal regulation on drug availability, use or related health and social harms globally concludes, in part, that studies evaluating drug decriminalization and legal regulation are concentrated in the USA and on cannabis legalization. Despite the range of outcomes potentially impacted by drug law reform, extant research is narrowly focussed, with a particular emphasis on the prevalence of use. Read The case against legalization and decriminalization of marijuana
8/24/20--The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives and Democratic Party leaders have seemingly offered their support for marijuana legalization and decriminalization policies. On Friday, the House passed legislation that, if enacted, would block the Department of Justice from enforcing the federal marijuana ban in states that have legalized recreational use. Read Marijuana & Health
Study finds older adults using cannabis to treat common health conditions
10/7/20--University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers report that older adults use cannabis primarily for medical purposes to treat a variety of common health conditions, including pain, sleep disturbances and psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that of 568 patients surveyed, 15 percent had used cannabis within the past three years, with half of users reporting using it regularly and mostly for medical purposes. Read Youth’s proximity to marijuana retailers and advertisements: Factors associated with Washington state adolescents’ intentions to use marijuana
10/8/20--The current study explored the influences of advertising exposure, numbers of marijuana retailers, distance to retailers, and constructs from the integrative model of behavioral prediction, including outcome beliefs, perceived norms, and efficacy, on youth’s intentions to use marijuana in a state in which the use of recreational marijuana is legal. Read Is cannabis being used as a substitute for non-medical opioids by adults with problem substance use in the United States?
10/8/20--According to a prospective cohort study, among US adults with problem substance use who use non‐medical opioids, the odds of opioid use appear to be approximately doubled on days when cannabis is used. This relationship does not appear to differ between people with moderate or more severe pain versus less than moderate pain, suggesting that Cannabis is not being used as a substitute for illegal opioids. Read Genetics: The Blueprint of Health and Disease
10/12/20--Family studies that include identical twins, fraternal twins, adoptees, and siblings suggest that as much as half of a person's risk of becoming addicted to nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs depends on his or her genetic makeup. Finding the biological basis for this risk is an important avenue of research for scientists trying to solve the problem of drug addiction. Read Assessment of Changes in Alcohol and Marijuana Abstinence, Co-Use, and Use Disorders Among US Young Adults From 2002 to 2018
10/12/20--The findings of this study suggest that US colleges and communities should create and maintain supportive resources for young adults as the substance use landscape changes, specifically as alcohol abstinence, marijuana use, and co-use increase. Interventions for polysubstance use, alcohol use disorder, and marijuana use disorder may provide valuable opportunities for clinicians to screen for prescription drug misuse. Read Marijuana & Safety
Investing and Prosecution of Cannabis-Impaired Driving Cases
10/14/20--The National District Attorneys Association’s National Traffic Law Center(NTLC), a resource designed to benefit prosecutors, law enforcement, judges, and criminal justice professionals, has prepared the Investigation and Prosecution of Cannabis-Impaired Driving Cases Monograph. Given that cannabis-impaired driving is becoming increasingly prevalent, this guide offers information to educate about the signs and symptoms of cannabis impairment so they law enforcement officers and prosecutors may effectively prosecute these types of impaired driving cases. Read Pesticide products registered for use on hemp
9/22/20--Since December 2019, EPA has approved adding hemp to the use sites of 47 pesticides. Forty-six of the products are biopesticides and one is a conventional pesticide. As EPA receives additional applications to amend product labels to add use on hemp, the agency will process those applications on an ongoing basis and update this list. Read Workforce drug testing positivity climbed to highest rate in 16 years
8/25/20--New Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ Analysis finds that marijuana positivity climbed by double digits across nearly all employee testing categories, while opiate and heroin positivity decline. Additionally, analysis of more than nine million workplace drug test results showed cocaine and methamphetamine positivity surges in Midwest. Read Marijuana Regulatory Agency recalls contaminated pre-rolls, suspends processor licenses pending investigation
8/6/20--The Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) issued a public health and safety bulletin today, notifying the public of a marijuana product recall of contaminated “pre-rolls” from retail outlets located in Bay City, Hazel Park, Detroit, Traverse City, Ann Arbor, Lansing, River Rouge, Ferndale, Quincy, Lowell, Negaunee, and Lapeer. In addition, the MRA stipulated and agreed to a 14-day suspension of the medical and adult-use processor licenses of 3843 Euclid LLC in Bay City, pending further MRA investigation. Read National Governors Association selects 10 states for data-driven strategies to address impaired driving
8/10/20--As state and local governments adjust to the changing landscape of drug use, the National Governors Association will assist 10 states in developing and executing action plans to improve data collection and standardization efforts related to impaired driving. The states selected are: Colorado, Connecticut, Hawai‘i, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming. Read Marijuana & Commerce
A PBR seltzer spiked with THC hits shelves, aiming at the ‘canna-curious’
10/7/20--Cans of lemon seltzer spiked with the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis – and branded with the famous Pabst Blue Ribbon logo — are rolling out in California, in a new sign of the growth of THC-infused drinks. The new seltzer is non-alcoholic, but it contains 5mg of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, along with purified water, lemon concentrate, sugar and other flavors. Read Interstate commerce in 2021 | States Can’t Wait
9/22/20--Sensible Markets is calling on governors of legal and soon-to-be-legal states to join an interstate compact to regulate commerce in legal cannabis between them, and to seek Congressional approval in 2021. Read Investigating THC syrup: Cannabis with the consistency of cough medicine
9/24/20--THC syrup, essentially weed in liquid form, has the same thickness and consistency as cough syrup. It's typically made by mixing cannabis concentrate with vegetable glycerine or coconut oil and sugar. The logic is that by putting high levels of THC, the psychoactive chemical in cannabis, into liquid form you will get a faster and longer-lasting high than a conventional edible, partly due to the speed in which it is absorbed into your bloodstream. Read Cresco Labs launched Good News Cannabis Brand
9/9/20--Cresco Labs, one of the largest vertically integrated multistate cannabis operators in the United States, announced the launch of its newest cannabis brand to its growing portfolio of national cannabis brands, Good News. Read 
Charlotte’s Web swings to loss in Q2, citing pandemic and operating expenses
9/14/20--Charlotte’s Web Holdings, a CBD manufacturer in Boulder, Colorado, lost $14.4 million last quarter as the coronavirus pandemic slowed retail sales and operating expenses rose 82% from the same period a year ago. The company announced a plan to reduce operating expenses by 10% by the end of 2020, without elaborating. Read Marijuana & Culture
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 How legal weed destroyed a counterculture icon
9/4/20--Constantly running afoul of authorities, High Times magazine became an icon of the counterculture and an indispensable guide to the underground world of cannabis. It also survived the suicide of its outlaw founder, the war on drugs, and three federal grand jury investigations, as reported in a Politico article. But now that cannabis has become legal across much of the country, High Times finds itself in a different kind of trouble. Read Twitter partners with feds on campaign flagging ‘marijuana’ searches while giving ‘alcohol’ a pass
9/10/20--Twitter is partnering with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a federal drug agency, to promote substance misuse treatment resources when users of the social media platform search for “marijuana” or certain other substance-related keywords—but no such health warning appears with results for alcohol-connected terms. Read Commend Biden for resisting Big Marijuana | opinion
7/14/20--The Biden-Sanders joint presidential task force recently issued recommendations for a unity platform to move forward on a number of hot button issues. Among them: marijuana legalization, which the task force notably chose not to endorse, siding instead with decriminalization and research. Several commentators—from publications like National Review to The Atlantic and The Nation—chided Biden for not endorsing pot. But, according to a Newsweek op-ed by president and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Kevin Sabet, the former vice president should be commended for siding with science, not politics. 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 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 Scientists and veterans file lawsuit challenging DEA’s marijuana rescheduling denials
5/28/20--Researchers and veterans are challenging the DEA's denial of prior cannabis rescheduling requests. The Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI) filed suit last week in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, asking for a review of DEA’s scheduling determinations in 2020, 2016 and 1992. In all cases, the agency denied the petitions, citing statutory obligations to maintain the status of cannabis as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Read