Tag: United States
Marijuana reform finds bipartisan support during House hearing
7/11/19--Federal marijuana reform found broad bipartisan support Wednesday on Capitol Hill during a first-of-its-kind hearing held by members of the House Judiciary Committee. The hearing marked the first time Congress has specifically convened to consider ending marijuana prohibition since federally outlawing pot decades earlier. Read Teen marijuana use drops amid legalization
7/12/19--Legalizing recreational marijuana has lead to a decrease in teen use in many states, according to a study published this week that contradicts previous research of how legalization affects teen pot use. The study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, found that recreational marijuana laws were associated with an 8% decrease in teen pot use, and a 9% decrease in frequent use. Read
Hawaii becomes 26th state to decriminalize marijuana
7/10/19--Hawaii has become the 26th state in the nation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana -- but its governor cautioned it does not mean the state is ready to say aloha to legalizing recreational use of the drug. Under the new law, people caught with small amounts of marijuana will no longer face a misdemeanor charge that had been punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Now people caught with 3 ounces or less of weed can still be hit with a citation carrying a $130 fine, but no jail term. Read Former Canopy CEO likely headed to United States next
7/9/19--Bruce Linton, former co-chief executive officer of Canopy Growth Corp., is already working at another firm, and plans to spend more time at tiny software-services company Martello Technologies Group Inc. Linton may also be exploring some of the US opportunities, according to Greg Taylor, chief investment officer at Purpose Investments Inc. and manager of the $38 million Canadian ($29 million) Purpose Marijuana Opportunities Fund, which holds Canopy stock. Read Lawmakers and witnesses clash on strategy during congressional hearing on ending federal marijuana prohibition
7/10/19--Members of a key congressional committee convened for a first-ever hearing on ending marijuana prohibition on Wednesday, engaging in informed conversations about the issue that largely embraced evidence and avoided resorting to fear mongering, demonstrating a broad consensus that major marijuana reforms are needed. During this hearing, there was some disagreement and debate over what reform legislation should look like and the best strategy to advance it. Read Presidential candidate and congresswoman to speak at panel on ending marijuana prohibition
7/12/19--Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, spoke alongside Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and others on a panel aimed at discussing the path to ending federal marijuana prohibition on Saturday at the Netroots Nation conference. Although Inslee currently supports legalization, that wasn’t always the case. Read Youth marijuana use declined in states that legalized, study finds
7/8/19--Legalizing marijuana is associated with a decline in youth cannabis consumption, according to a new study in a journal published by the American Medical Association. The research, which analyzed federal data on marijuana use trends among 1.4 million high school students from 1993 to 2017, showed that self-reported past-month youth cannabis use declined by an average of 8 percent in states that legalized recreational marijuana. Read Opioid use is reduced in patients treated with NSAIDS
7/11/19--According to a recent study, patients receiving a post-surgery prescription of ibuprofen with a rescue prescription of Percocet used less opioids than a group of similar patients who were prescribed just Percocet. The research was presented by a group from the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City today at the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting. Read Tom Hanks denies fake quote promoting CBD company
7/11/19--In a tweet posted on Wednesday morning, Hanks denied a quote attributed to him that described advances in the CBD industry as “remarkable” and stating that he was “feeling like a new me” after using a cannabidiol product from a company called Cali Naturals. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, Hanks has been featured in several dubious articles in recent years casting him as a champion of the non-intoxicating cannabis compound. Read JUUL use and reasons for initiation among adult tobacco users
7/9/19--JUUL is marketed as an alternative to cigarettes intended for current adult smokers, but evidence suggests that a majority of ENDS users are concurrently current cigarette smokers. Although some tobacco users may be initiating JUUL to decrease combustible use, most were using the product infrequently and concurrently with other products. Findings have significant implications for cessation intervention efforts and policy development to help smokers quit. Read Recreational marijuana legalization tied to decline in teens using pot, study says
7/9/19--Marijuana use among young people in the United States overall has climbed in recent years, but a new study suggests that in states where recreational marijuana has been legalized, marijuana use among youth may actually be falling. The study involved analyzing data, from 1993 to 2017, on about 1.4 million high school students in the United States from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Read New weed study suggests brain’s individual sensitivity to THC determines happy or paranoid high
7/9/19--A recent study out of Western University in Ontario, published in Scientific Reports, is one of the few to explore what it deems the “divergent psychological effects” that marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), produces — and to offer explanations for why this happens. The study found evidence that psychological reactions to weed depend on which part of an individual’s brain is most sensitive to THC. Read Jay-Z joins cannabis company as chief brand strategist
7/10/19--Billionaire rapper Jay-Z is entering the fast-growing marijuana industry, taking a role with California company Caliva as a strategist. Privately-owned Caliva, formed in San Jose in 2015, said that Jay-Z had entered a long-term partnership in which he will focus on outreach and the creative direction of the company. Read Safety concerns: Herbal supplement used to treat addiction and pain
7/9/19--The herb kratom is increasingly being used to manage pain and treat opioid addiction, but it's not safe to use as an herbal supplement, according to new research led by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York. Read Cannabis company supplier GrowGeneration adds ex-Home Depot CEO Nardelli as strategic adviser
7/10/19--GrowGeneration Corp., an owner and operator of specialty retail hydroponic and organic gardening stores serving the cannabis sector, has appointed Bob Nardelli, a former chief executive of Home Depot as a senior strategic adviser. Nardelli will work with management to explore potential partnerships, advising the company's CEO Darren Lampert and board on matters relating to the supply chain, merchandise, branding, distribution, new product launches, pricing and channel selection. Read Why hacktivists say you should invest in Zig-Zags
7/10/19--Anonymous Analytics, the financially-minded faction of the hacktivist group Anonymous, is encouraging investors to buy shares in Turning Point Brands (TPB), the company behind Zig-Zag rolling papers. The group describes the company as “highly profitable, but woefully under-covered and under-valued,” making it a promising investment. Read Why marijuana affects different people differently
7/8/19--The psychological effects of marijuana can differ between individuals: some experience highly rewarding effects which may lead to dependence on the drug, while others may experience paranoia, cognitive problems or an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. The study, led by Laviolette and postdoctoral fellow, Christopher Norris, Ph.D., is newly published in Scientific Reports and reveals critical new insights into how marijuana can produce such highly diverse psychological effects in different individuals. Read Marijuana or hemp: FDA says beware of CBD for these reasons
7/7/19--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants the American public to know that cannabidiol (CBD), the non-intoxicating component of the cannabis sativa plant, might not be as safe and effective in the grand scheme of their overall health and wellness as they are being told. The agency wants to clarify a couple of critical points surrounding CBD before more of the public jumps on the bandwagon. Read Teen odds of using marijuana dip with recreational use laws, study finds
7/8/19--New research suggests legalizing recreational marijuana for U.S. adults in some states may have slightly reduced teens' odds of using pot. The researchers analyzed national youth health and behavior surveys from 1993 through 2017 that included questions about marijuana use. Responses from 1.4 million high school students were included. Read Teens abusing painkillers are more likely to later use heroin
7/8/19--A USC study in the July 8 issue of JAMA Pediatrics shows that teens who use prescription opioids to get high are more likely to start using heroin by high school graduation. To further confirm their results, the researchers also evaluated whether marijuana, alcohol, and methamphetamine use were linked to later heroin use. But the association between prescription opioids and heroin use was stronger than the associations for heroin use with other substances. Read Why so many Americans now support legalizing marijuana, in 4 charts
7/5/19--American views on marijuana have shifted incredibly rapidly. In 1988, only 24 percent of Americans supported legalization, but by 2018, 66 percent of U.S. residents offered their approval. Many state laws have changed as well. Over the last quarter-century, 10 states have legalized recreational marijuana, while 22 states have legalized medical marijuana. Read Marijuana use by U.S. teens has jumped 10-fold since 1990s
6/20/19--A study looked at 1991-2017 U.S. federal health data on more than 200,000 high school students. It found that the number who said they'd used pot at least once over the past month rose 10-fold -- from 0.6% in 1991 to 6.3% by 2017. Many are becoming "dual users" of both marijuana and alcohol: The number of teens who admit to using both substances at least once a month has almost doubled -- from 3.6% in 1991 to 7.6% in 2017. Read Trends and related factors of cannabis-associated emergency department visits in the United States
6/1/19--Based on a study to examine national trends and contributing factors of cannabis-associated emergency department visits in the United States, cannabis-associated emergency department visits increase monotonically over time. Although vulnerable persons were identified, additional policy or regional factors should explore risks of emergency department visits associated with cannabis use. Read Potent pot, vulnerable teens trigger concerns in first states to legalize marijuana
6/16/19--The first two states to legalize recreational marijuana are starting to grapple with teenagers’ growing use of highly potent pot. Parents, educators, and physicians say youths are easily getting hold of edibles infused with tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive component that causes a high, and concentrates such as “shatter,” a brittle, honey-colored substance that is heated and then inhaled through a special device. Read
Medical cannabinoids for cancer cachexia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
6/23/19--Cancer cachexia (CCA), an intractable and ineffective metabolic syndrome that attacks 50–80% of cancer patients, reduces patient’s life quality, affects the efficacy of treatment, and then increases their mortality. However, there are no established therapeutic strategies for CCA in the world. In this study, the positive and negative effects of cannabinoid in the treatment of CCA are assessed. Results showed cannabinoid is effective in increasing appetite in cancer patients; however, it declines the quality of life, which may be due to the side effects of cannabinoid. Read Modes of cannabis use: A secondary analysis of an intensive longitudinal natural history study
6/24/19--There is a paucity of research on modes of marijuana use (e.g., joint vs. blunt), and further, little consensus on how to accurately assess both modes of use and route of administration. A secondary analysis used a longitudinal design with data collected daily to characterize mode of marijuana use. Although the major limitation of this study was use of a convenience sample and lack of detailed data on vaporizer use, results indicate that joint use is no longer the most common mode of use in either White or Black participants and exclusive use of a single modality is uncommon. Read Barred from online ads, CBD sellers throw what they can at SEO and see what works
6/28/19--Facing restrictions from major ad players such as Google and Facebook Inc., companies selling products containing cannabidiol, or CBD, are looking for other avenues in which to market their goods — by amping up their search engine optimization, turning to third-party services, and leaning on social media influencers for promotional purposes. Read The first card for the cannabis industry; Amazon launches more cards
6/14/19--Columbia Care, a multi-state operator for medical marijuana, is launching the first credit card for the cannabis industry. Whereas, major credit card issuers like Mastercard and Visa are hesitant about entering the cannabis industry until federal laws change. As a result, many dispensaries are unable to process credit card payments for their products. Read Two congressional hearings next week on marijuana
6/14/19--Next week, the two key committees will hold hearings on various aspects of federal marijuana policy. The first will be held on Wednesday, June 19th, in the Small Business Committee, entitled Unlocked Potential? Small Businesses in the Cannabis Industry. The second hearing is to be held on Thursday, June 20th, in the Veterans Affairs Committee to discuss various bills that are pending regarding medical cannabis programs and veterans access. Read Potent pot, vulnerable teens trigger concerns in first states to legalize marijuana
6/16/19--The first two states to legalize recreational marijuana are starting to grapple with teenagers’ growing use of highly potent pot, even as both boost the industry and reap huge tax windfalls from its sales. As more than a dozen states from Hawaii to New Hampshire consider legalizing marijuana, doctors warn of an urgent need for better education — not just of teens but of parents and lawmakers — about how the products being marketed can significantly affect young people’s brain development. Read Marijuana damages young brains
6/16/19--Numerous studies show that marijuana can have a deleterious impact on cognitive development in adolescents, impairing executive function, processing speed, memory, attention span and concentration. The reason the adolescent brain is so vulnerable to the effect of drugs is that the brain is still developing in adolescents and young adults until age 25. Read How cannabis advocates are turning bad science into the next anti-vaccination movement
5/10/19--According to marijuana advocate Steve DeAngelo, marijuana is the most effective medicine for most elderly health complaints and most other health complaints for every age group. However, as Dr. Francis Keefe, of Duke University Medical Center’s Pain Management Program noted almost 20 years ago, pain perception is influenced by mitigating factors, including psychological, social, and cultural norms. An article published in Pot Network states, in part, that marijuana advocates have an anti-science problem. It’s not that they don’t believe the science, it’s that they pick and choose which science to accept. Read This school Is teaching a “Safety-First” drug class
4/17/19--Public schools in America tend to focus their drug education around a seemingly simple idea: "just say no" “ that instructs teenagers to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Now, there is a different approach to drug curriculum — telling teenagers the truth about illegal substances with a "safety first" mentality. Read ‘I’m too high. Something’s wrong.’ Teens caught vaping marijuana in scary new trend
5/3/19--Students are vaping in the presence of teachers, and they typically don’t realize a student has indulged until the teen confesses. There is no telltale odor, and the handheld devices used are small enough that a surreptitious student can indulge in class. Compounding the trouble, experts say, is the potency the devices can deliver, giving a student a much more intense high than expected. Read Opioids: Leading cause of pregnancy-related death in new Utah moms
5/9/19--A new study at the University of Utah Health found that drug-induced death is the most common cause of pregnancy-associated death in Utah. Postpartum women who have previously or currently struggle with substance abuse are at greater risk of overdosing. Read Walmart, Target quietly exploring CBD product lines
5/12/19--Big-box retailers aren’t selling CBD yet, but they’re busy getting ready for the day when they can. The New York Post has learned that top executives at major chains such as Walmart and Target have been quietly meeting with makers of drinks, gummy bears, topical creams and oils that are infused with cannabidiol, or CBD. Read NY lawmakers race the clock, Minnesotans mobilize for adult use, earnings watch & more
5/13/19--This week, Marijuana Business Daily featurs notable stories and events to watch for in the coming days: New York adult-use marijuana legalization supporters are working feverishly to get a final bill together by June 19. In Minnesota, the push to legalize adult-use marijuana ramps up this week. And, Canadian risk-management and security services firm 3 Sixty RiskSolution plans to release its earnings results for the first quarter. Read Cassidy puffs up what stats say about teen marijuana use
5/12/19--Among the issues taking center stage in Springfield is whether Illinois should join a growing number of states in lifting a prohibition on recreational marijuana. One Democratic lawmaker who is in support of the plan is state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat. She believes marijuana should be sold in venues that are highly regulated. Furthermore, Cassidy stated, "In states that have legalized, you see steady decreases in youth use if you do it right." Read Design’s new leaf
5/7/19--Marijuana-inspired objects and décor are becoming more elite. With dozens of states having legalized marijuana for medicinal or recreational use, or both, in recent years, designers are seizing the opportunity to define the look of a growing industry and lifestyle. And as the drug loses its outlaw, déclassé status, going from “weed” to a “flower”. Read It’s all the rage! Exploring the nuances in the link between vaping and adolescent delinquency
5/6/19--The findings of a study examining the relationship between vaping different substances and adolescent delinquency while accounting for traditional forms of nicotine and marijuana use suggest that there may be something criminogenic about vaping among adolescents. However, the strength of the relationship between vaping and delinquency is contingent on what is being vaped, with marijuana vaping being most heavily correlated with delinquency. Read Sarasota family sues JUUL and tobacco giants
5/6/19--Sarasota County county residents Jared and Erin NesSmith and their daughter are suing e-cigarette maker JUUL Labs and two tobacco giants for allegedly breaking federal laws by intentionally targeting teenagers while falsely denying doing so. The family is seeking damages under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and for fraud, product liability, and deceptive trade practices for themselves and potentially thousands of other unnamed plaintiffs in the suit. Read Mitch McConnell’s campaign team is selling cocaine-themed t-shirts
5/9/19--Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) reelection campaign team is raising money by selling a cocaine-themed T-shirt. The garment features a depiction of McConnell alongside what appears to be a cloud of coke dust. “Cartel Member,” is emblazoned on the back. Read Hepatotoxicity of a cannabidiol-rich cannabis extract in the mouse model
4/30/19--The goal of this study was to investigate Cannabidiol (CBD) hepatotoxicity in 8-week-old male B6C3F1 mice. CBD exhibited clear signs of hepatotoxicity, possibly of a cholestatic nature. The involvement of numerous pathways associated with lipid and xenobiotic metabolism raises serious concerns about potential drug interactions as well as the safety of CBD. Read Charlotte’s Web announces appointment of Deanie Elsner
4/29/19--Adrienne "Deanie" Elsner, former President of U.S. Snacks division at Kellogg Company, will join the Charlotte's Web Holdings as its Chief Executive Officer effective May 15, 2019. The leadership addition is one of several appointments made to support Charlotte's Web's growth and evolution into a dominant global CPG brand. Read Why are big insurance companies pushing for the SAFE Banking Act?
4/25/19--The Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019, commonly referred to as the SAFE Banking Act, would provide banks and federally-regulated creditors with ties to state-legal marijuana businesses with legal protection from prosecution. A number of large insurance companies and industry associations are chiming in because they see the “exploding” marijuana market, yet the insurance industry is grappling with risks associated with federal illegality. Read Who’s who in your local cannabis industry? That may be a secret
4/24/19--Depending on where marijuana-based businesses are located, publicly available information on who’s selling legal marijuana in select cities can be scarce, as is information about how they were approved to operate. Proponents of access to information, certain members of the media, and some interested citizens maintain that the public should know who’s profiting from this highly regulated industry. Read Mike Tyson launching marijuana company
4/12/19--Planet 13, one of the leading Nevada cannabis companies, announced it has signed an agreement with Mike Tyson's cannabis venture, Tyson Ranch, to be the exclusive launch partner of Tyson Ranch products in Nevada. Read Andy Capp’s Fries get 4/20 buzz
4/12/19--Conagra Brands, the food company widely admired in the industry for its track record of turning around aging brands, sees opportunity for the Andy Capp’s line of snacks, named after the layabout star of the British comic strip. Read
Joe Biden applauds anti-marijuana speech at opioid forum
4/15/19--During an opioid forum, professor Bertha Madras claimed that patients who consume marijuana experience the same levels of pain and don’t decrease their opioid use, and she also characterized legislative efforts to allow patients with opioid use disorder to access medical marijuana as “disrespectful”—a rant that Biden enthusiastically applauded. The tacit endorsement of the panelist’s anti-cannabis speech appears to signal that Biden remains opposed, or at least skeptical about, changing marijuana policies. Read The leader of the DOJ marijuana working group has a message for regulators: Slow down
4/13/19--In an exclusive interview, US Attorney Billy Williams weighs in on banking, hemp, overproduction, black-market diversion—and marijuana regulators who fail to think things out. Williams’ advice to lawmakers and regulators considering legalization? “Slow down, wake up, and get serious about what you’re doing.” Read Regular cannabis users require up to 220% higher dosage for sedation in medical procedures
4/15/19--Researchers in Colorado examined medical records of 250 patients who received endoscopic procedures after 2012, when the state legalized recreational marijuana. They found patients who smoked or ingested cannabis on a daily or weekly basis required 14% more fentanyl, 20% more midazolam, and 220% more propofol to achieve optimum sedation for routine procedures, including colonoscopy. Read Indicators of despair rising among Gen X-ers entering middle age
4/15/19--Indicators of despair -- depression, suicidal ideation, drug use and alcohol abuse -- are rising among Americans in their late 30s and early 40s across most demographic groups, according to new research. These findings suggest that the increase in 'deaths of despair' observed among low-educated middle-aged white Baby Boomers in recent studies may begin to impact the youngest members of Generation X more broadly in the years to come. Read The Marijuana Policy Project helped bring the US to the brink of legalization. Now what?
4/16/19--During a one-on-one interview with Cannabis Wire co-founder Alyson Martin, Steve Hawkins, the new executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, talks equity, federal legalization, and the organization’s role in the booming, multibillion dollar global cannabis industry, while also discussing the future of the Marijuana Policy Project organization, which has been on the ground floor of marijuana legalization in the US since the 1990s. Read Acute illness associated with cannabis use, by route of exposure
4/16/19--According to an observational study conducted to describe and compare adult emergency department (ED) visits related to edible and inhaled cannabis exposure, visits attributable to inhaled cannabis are more frequent than those attributable to edible cannabis, although the latter is associated with more acute psychiatric visits and more ED visits than expected. Read Was ‘Reefer Madness’ right?
3/21/19--Reefer Madness portrayed cannabis as a powerful drug capable of sending users into psychotic, violent rages. In Alex Berenson's book Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence, he argues that the connections between marijuana and mental health are being ignored amidst the headlong rush to legalization. Read Beyond Massachusetts, states struggle to limit marijuana behemoths
3/21/19--Massachusetts is not the only state struggling to limit the dominance of large marijuana companies. Maryland bars companies from owning more than one store. In December, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission expressed concern about a “proliferation” of management agreements, saying it had objected to at least a half-dozen that appeared to skirt state regulations. But the commission announced in January it will wait for guidance from the state’s Legislature before taking further action. Read Doctors oppose legalizing marijuana in New York and three other states
3/22/19--Groups representing doctors in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware released a rare joint statement opposing the legalization of recreational marijuana in their states. “We have serious concerns about the lack of scientific evidence that supports recreational marijuana use by adults and young adults. Most importantly, not enough research has been done to prove marijuana is safe,” the presidents of the four state medical societies said. Read Marijuana motifs go from hippie to high (jewelry, that is)
3/22/19--With the legalization of marijuana in Canada, as well as in 10 states and the District of Columbia in the United States — and with every state but Idaho having passed some sort of marijuana legalization law — it was only a matter of time before jewelers picked up the vibe. Read History of lifetime marijuana use is associated with better cognition and worse real-world functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
3/20/19--According to a study designed to examine the effect of cannabis on psychopathology, cognition and real-world functioning in SSD patients, lifetime cannabis use is associated with better working memory and processing speed and worse real-world functioning in the area of socially useful activities in patients with schizophrenia-related disorders. Clinicians should, therefore, be aware of it to provide patient-centered care in their daily clinical practice. Read Highway Accident Brief: Collision between passenger train and refuse truck at active grade crossing, Crozet, Virginia
3/20/19--The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the crash in Crozet, Virginia, was the truck driver’s decision to enter an active grade crossing and his inaction when he encountered obstacles while attempting to cross the railroad tracks, most likely due to his impairment from the combined effects of the drugs marijuana and gabapentin. Read