Tag: United States

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/5/20--The National Association of Attorneys General is asking several major Hollywood talent unions to help "protect young audiences from tobacco use" by limiting its exposure in streaming shows. Support from the Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, Screenwriters Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees has been requested for this effort. Read

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

10/12/20--Between 2002 and 2018, the number of adults aged 18-22 in the U.S. who abstained from alcohol increased from 20% to 28% for those in college and from about 24% to 30% for those not in school, say researchers at the University of Michigan and Texas State University. And alcohol abuse among both groups decreased by roughly half. Read

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

10/14/20--Using data from a nationally representative sample of veterans, a study was conducted to evaluate associations of lifetime cannabis use and CUD with psychiatric problems, suicidality, and treatment utilization. It has been concluded that cannabis use and CUD are associated with substantial psychiatric and suicide-related burden among veterans, highlighting the need for screening, education, and treatment to mitigate potential cannabis-related harm. Read

10/14/20--According to a new study by neuroscientists in Washington State University’s Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience unit that provides a rare look at the effects of using cannabis during pregnancy, regular cannabis exposure in rats during pregnancy may cause their offspring to have long-term cognitive deficiencies, asocial behavior, and anxiety later in adulthood. Read

9/18/20--Dear Abby was presented with a question from a mother who recently stopped smoking after 20 years. She regrets all the time she missed with her family during that time and is seeking advice to establish a good relationship with family members. In response, Dear Abby states: You have already taken the first step in making it up to your family by admitting your smoking was hurting them and quitting. The next step will be to apologize to each of your family members for your behavior and let them know you know it was wrong and hurtful and that it won’t continue. Read

9/15/20--Epidiolex, is the only FDA-approved drug with CBD as an active ingredient, was approved to treat seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients aged 1 year or older. TSC is a genetic disease that causes benign tumors to grow throughout the body. Read

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

9/21/20--The objective of this Industry Watch article is to describe how Puff Bar e-cigarettes, a leading disposable e-cigarette brand among youth,3 are portrayed on the popular Beijing-based video-sharing social media platform TikTok. The focuse was on TikTok specifically because 60% of the platform’s 26.5 million active users in the USA in 2019 were between the ages of 16 and 24.6. Read

9/21/20--According to a study using Twitter data to understand salient themes regarding JUUL, sentiment towards JUUL, and underage JUUL use, findings suggest that a vast majority of Twitter users are not using JUUL to aid in smoking cessation nor do they mention the potential health benefits or detriments of JUUL use. Using machine learning algorithms to identify tweets containing underage JUUL mentions can support the timely surveillance of JUUL habits and opinions, further assisting youth-targeted public health intervention strategies. Read

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

9/20/20--The “Tobacco Transformation Index” (TTI) is a project of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW). It describes itself as an “objective” index for measuring the corporate transformation of the tobacco industry. Read

9/21/20--Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have released data showing an alarming surge in opioid-related overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonfatal opioid overdose visits to the VCU Medical Center emergency department in Richmond increased from 102 between March and June 2019 to 227 between March and June 2020. That's an increase of 123%. Read

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

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

9/3/20--A study designed to examine whether moderate adolescent cannabis use has neurocognitive effects that are unexplained by familial confounds indicates that moderate adolescent cannabis use may have adverse effects on cognitive functioning, specifically verbal memory, that cannot be explained by familial factors. Read

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

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

9/17/20--Young people with high exposure to tobacco images in television shows were three times as likely to start vaping compared to peers with no exposure, according to landmark Truth Initiative research that is the first to establish the link. Read

9/24/20--A new study found women who use marijuana while pregnant may increase psychotic-like behaviors in children. The study, published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry, analyzed data on 11,489 children who were followed as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which says it's the "largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States." The children's cognitive and behavior patterns were evaluated in middle childhood, around age 9. Read

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

9/27/20--Smart Approaches of Marijuana (SAM) has compiled publicly available state-level data, reports, and investigatory findings, peer-reviewed studies, and government health surveys to assemble the Lessons Learned From State Marijuana report, and they have attempted to be as transparent as possible in their evaluation. Read

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

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

9/23/20--Wholistic Research and Education Foundation (Wholistic), a federally approved public non-profit (501c3) dedicated to cannabis research, education and advocacy, is sponsoring a first-of-its-kind exploratory survey on CBD and cannabis efficacy in reducing anxiety, to be conducted by University of California, Irvine (UCI), in partnership with UC Institute for Prediction Technology (UCIPT). Read

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

9/1/20--Big Pot is pushing hard for Congress to hold a full vote on the MORE Act, a bill to federally legalize and commercialize marijuana under the auspices of social justice. Read

9/2/20--A recent Viewpoint in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that legalizing cannabis may be associated with increased incidence and prevalence of psychosis. Assuming an increase in use, epidemiologic research supports the association of cannabis with psychosis because there is convincing evidence that high-potency (>10% tetrahydrocannabinol) cannabis taken at frequent doses may be associated with nontransient cases of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Read

9/3/20--E-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc. is planning to lay off more than half its employees, according to people familiar with the matter, and is considering halting its sales across Europe and Asia. That could mean pulling out of as many as 11 countries and shrinking the startup’s footprint to its core markets, the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Read

9/1/20--Dr. Bronner’s, family-owned maker of the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America, has launched its Heal Soul campaign to support public education efforts, advocacy organizations, and political campaigns around the country working to mainstream psychedelic-assisted therapy and medicines to treat depression, PTSD, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety. The company has donated over $3 million this year to support these efforts and created a special limited edition “Heal Soul!” Read

8/7/20--According to a study, menthol cigarette market share increased by nearly 10 percentage points from 2000 to 2018. Overall, cigarette consumption declined 46.0% from 2000 (435.6 billion cigarettes) to 2018 (235.3 billion cigarettes), but the decline was greater among nonmenthol cigarettes (52.9%; 322.8 billion to 152.0 billion cigarettes) than for menthol cigarettes (26.1%; 112.8 billion to 83.3 billion cigarettes in 2018). Read

9/6/20--Increased anxiety sensitivity (AS), defined as the fear of anxiety-related cognitive, social, and physical symptoms which are misinterpreted as having harmful implications, has shown a relationship with substance use disorders. People with substance use disorders also experience addiction-related problems across several domains of life functioning. Read

9/3/20--This study aims to examine whether moderate adolescent cannabis use has neurocognitive effects that are unexplained by familial confounds, which prior family‐controlled studies may not have identified. Results indicate that moderate adolescent cannabis use may have adverse effects on cognitive functioning, specifically verbal memory, that cannot be explained by familial factors. Read

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

9/6/20--Kevin Zeese, who played a major role in fighting the War on Drugs, died of a heart attack this month at the age of 64. The executive director of NORML from 1983-1986, he also founded the Drug Policy Foundation (DPF) with Arnold Trebach in 1987. Read

9/10/20--Marijuana—or more specifically, a compound in the plant that produces its intoxicating effects called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—can have adverse effects when combined with some prescription drugs and vice versa, warns a new report from the University of Toronto. Read

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

9/9/20--Two new reports published earlier today by the FDA and CDC show that while youth e-cigarette use decreased in a meaningful way, it remains at epidemic levels driven by a dramatic increase in the use of menthol and disposable e-cigarettes, two categories of products exempted from federal restrictions. Reads

9/9/20--In 2020, 19.6% of high school students (3.02 million) and 4.7% of middle school students (550,000) reported current e-cigarette use. Among current e-cigarette users, 38.9% of high school students and 20.0% of middle school students reported using e-cigarettes on 20 or more of the past 30 days; 22.5% of high school users and 9.4% of middle school users reported daily use. Among all current e-cigarette users, 82.9% used flavored e-cigarettes, including 84.7% of high school users (2.53 million) and 73.9% of middle school users (400,000). Read

9/9/20--During September 2014–May 2020, e-cigarette sales increased by 122.2%. Sales of prefilled cartridges increased during September 2014–August 2019; since then, sales of disposable products have increased. Prefilled mint cartridge e-cigarette sales increased from September 2014 to August 2019, then decreased, as menthol sales increased during August 2019–May 2020. Read

9/10/20--May, June and July have been the worst months in B.C. history for drug overdoses, with approximately 526 dead — more than double the 213 British Columbians who have died from coronavirus. At present rates, B.C. will again pass 1,000 overdose-related deaths by December. Read

9/13/20--NSDUH’s latest annual report focuses on substance use and mental health in the United States based on NSDUH data from 2019 and earlier years. The annual report presents estimates that meet the criteria for statistical precision and facilitate stable examination of trends over time to study changes in society and emerging issues. Read

9/10/20--Although significant progress has been made since the creation of the initiative – Protect Kids: Fight Flavored E-Cigarettes led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, youth e-cigarette use remains at epidemic levels and bold action is needed at all levels of government to prohibit flavored e-cigarettes and stop tobacco companies from addicting a new generation of kids. Read

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

9/13/20--Many things remain uncertain as a new school year begins, but the proven, science-backed information on the risks of using e-cigarettes can protect the minds and lungs of youth from harm caused by e-cigarettes and nicotine, and keep them from starting to use these products in the first place. Read

9/13/20--The Centers for Disease Control presents quick facts on the risks of e-cigarettes for kids, teens, and young adults. Some of which include: The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe; most e-cigarettes contain nicotine; nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s, and young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future. Read

9/13/20--Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service, VADM Jerome Adams, is emphasizing the importance of protecting children from a lifetime of nicotine addiction and associated health risks by immediately addressing the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use. The recent surge in e-cigarette use among youth, which has been fueled by new types of e-cigarettes that have recently entered the market, is a cause for great concern. Read

9/8/20--Rigorous empirical studies of the effect of a policy intervention seek to consider (or estimate) what outcomes are (or would be) with the policy compared with what outcomes are (or would be) without the policy. Read

9/3/20--A new study compares adolescent siblings to determine the impact of early and frequent use of marijuana on cognitive function. This study contrasts with previous studies by finding that moderate adolescent cannabis use may have adverse effects that cannot be explained by the genetic or environmental factors that siblings may have in common. Read

9/12/20--Vaping increases the risk of developing breast cancer, a new study suggests. According to scientists from a group of American universities, including Yale, Johns Hopkins and Princeton, exposure to e-cigarette vapor creates a 'tumor-promoting environment' in the breast and elsewhere in the body. Read

9/14/20--According to this report, the rapidly increasing use of e-cigarettes is currently outpacing the accumulation of evidence regarding its harms versus its benefits. These may be largely generational: the harms of addicting an entirely new generation to nicotine versus the immediate and long-term morbidity and mortality benefits to an older generation who may already be suffering the consequences of its own addiction. The FDA has the herculean task of sorting this out while protecting everyone. Read

10/28/20--This study provides the first robust scientific evidence to raise awareness regarding the risks of vaping. Read

9/11/20--This serial cross-sectional study using US mortality data from 2000 to 2017, including 1,446 ,177 drug poisoning, suicide, and alcohol-induced premature deaths found that demographic characteristics and geographic patterns varied by cause of death, suggesting that increasing death rates from these causes were not concentrated in 1 group or region. Specialized interventions tailored for the underlying drivers of each cause of death are urgently needed.. Read