Cannabis News Roundup

A Selection of Cannabis News from Around the Net.

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Cannabis News Roundup 2021

A selection of Cannabis News items from around the internet that have recently crossed our screens.  Note that the links to the full articles were current when they were added to this page... due to the nature of the internet, the links may have changed.

   

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JANUARY 2021  

A Happy and Healthy New Year to All!
Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home

Nearly 500K marijuana arrest records expunged in Illinois
Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday 492,129 non-felony cannabis related arrest records have been expunged at the state level by the Illinois State Police (ISP).
The announcement comes four years in advance of the deadline set in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA), the most equity-centric cannabis legislation in the country signed into law by Gov. Pritzker in 2019.
Additionally, the governor announced that he issued pardons on Thursday for 9,219 low-level cannabis conviction records, for a total of over 20,000 cannabis convictions now pardoned since the signing of the legislation.
More: https://wgem.com/2020/12/31/nearly-500k-marijuana-arrest-records-expunged-in-illinois/

He loved weed. Then the vomiting began. Months later, he died
The doctors told Regina Denney and her son Brian Smith Jr. what was causing his severe vomiting and abdominal pain.
Neither the teenager nor his mother believed what they said: smoking weed. Smoking marijuana, the two knew, was recommended to cancer patients to spur the appetite. How could it lead to Brian's condition?
More: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/20/indiana-boy-17-died-smoking-weed-chs-blame-what-chs/2387571001/

$3 million of cannabis seized at Quebec/Vermont border
On Monday, December 28, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers seized a shipment containing more than 1,400 pounds (635kg) of cannabis at the Quebec/Vermont border.
Such seizures at the Canada and US border have increased significantly in the past year, especially since its closing to all but essential traffic on March 21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June of this year, US officials seized a record $20 million worth of cannabis at the Ontario border. The majority of these seizures have been at the Peace Bridge connecting New York and Ontario.
The value of the cannabis in this most recent seizure was estimated at just over $3 million and is the largest seizure by US CBP officers in New England in recent years.
More: https://stratcann.com/2020/12/29/3-million-in-cannabis-seized-at-quebec-vermont-border/

Marijuana legalization begins, in part, as new year starts
While much is not done yet before cannabis hits the shelves following Montana's vote to approve recreational marijuana use, beginning Jan. 1 it is officially legal to possess, grow and purchase.
Dispensaries and providers can't apply for a marijuana business license through the Department of Revenue until October, and won't be able to sell cannabis commercially until January 2022. But starting Friday, residents can possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana or 8 grams of concentrates. They'll be able to grow up to four marijuana plants at their homes and transport it freely within the state. On the same date, those with misdemeanor possession convictions will be able to begin the process of expunging the marijuana charge from their records. It wasn't clear Monday how many people are eligible to apply for expungement.
More: https://helenair.com/news/state-and- regional/govt-and-politics/marijuana-legalization-begins-in-part-as-new-year-starts/article_f1321e17-1438-5501-9e36-a578300e57ae.html

Maine marijuana shops report brisk business despite pandemic
Maine's rollout of legal marijuana sales has been muted compared with other states because of the coronavirus pandemic, but shops are reporting brisk business nonetheless.
Maine wasn't able to replicate the grand opening scenes that have followed the first sales in other states. But regulators reported more than $1 million in sales in October, more than $1.2 million in November and nearly $2 million in December. The number of retail businesses also continues to grow.
More: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/maine-marijuana-shops-report-brisk-business-pandemic-75149065?cid=clicksource_4380645_11_heads_posts_headlines_hed

Cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis does not impair driving, landmark study shows
Scientists from the Lambert Initiative have shown that a medically active component of cannabis does not impact driving ability and moderate THC intoxication lasts a few hours, with implications for drug-driving laws and managing medical cannabis.
More: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/12/02/Cannabidiol-CBD-in-cannabis-does-not-impair-driving-landmark-study-shows.html

Study: Effect of Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Driving Performance - A Randomized Clinical Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2773562

Cannabis stocks soar as Georgia Senate elections boost investor hopes for decriminalization
Pot stocks rallied on Wednesday as the results of Georgia's Senate runoff elections lifted investors' hopes for nationwide decriminalization.
Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won their races, according to projections from Decision Desk HQ and Insider, giving Democrats a slim majority in the Senate and unified control of the government for the first time since 2011.
More: https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/pot-stocks-democrat-georgia-senate-victories-decriminalization-acb-tlry-cgc-2021-1-1029937827?utm_campaign=browser_notification&utm_source=desktop

Amsterdam wants to restrict tourists from its marijuana shops
In an effort to clean up its image, Amsterdam aims to restrict a key tourist attraction: its coffee shops.
Only Dutch residents would be allowed to enter the cannabis-dealing outlets under a proposal by Mayor Femke Halsema. The plan, backed by local police and prosecutors, is aimed at tackling the flow of hard drugs and organized crime linked to the marijuana trade.
"The cannabis market is too big and overheated," Halsema said in emailed comments. "I want to shrink the cannabis market and make it manageable. The residence condition is far-reaching, but I see no alternative."
More: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/amsterdam-wants-to-restrict-tourists-from-its-marijuana-shops-1.1545558

Review of over 50,000 people finds no link to cannabis use and an increase in cardiovascular disease
A recent retrospective study of over 50,000 people concludes that, contrary to other research, there is little evidence to suggest cannabis use has an association with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease.
The review, posted in December, 2020, surveyed individuals who used the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) database and answered all the questions in the survey in relation to cannabis use and the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in 2017. The analysis included 56,742 subjects.
More: https://stratcann.com/2021/01/08/review-of-over-50000-us-cannabis-users-finds-no-link-to-cannabis-use-and-an-increase-in-cardiovascular-disease/

Annual Colorado pot sales surpass $2 billion for first time
Marijuana sales in Colorado in November pushed the industry's annual revenue over $2 billion for the first time since cannabis was legalized for recreational use by a 2012 ballot measure.
Recreational and medical sales for marijuana accounted for about $175 million of revenue in November, according to data released Tuesday by the state Department of Revenue.
More: https://sentinelcolorado.com/orecent-headlines/annual-colorado-pot-sales-surpass-2-billion-for-first-time/

Researchers Are Looking At Cannabis As A Potential Way To Prevent COVID-19
Two Canadian researchers think that a special strain of cannabis might potentially be a valuable tool in the fight against COVID-19.
The researchers, Olga and Igor Kovalchuck have reportedly been developing and testing a novel cannabis strain for years, except with the goal of creating a strain that helps to combat cancer and inflammation. When the pandemic hit, the duo started to focus their efforts on how the strain might be used to help fight COVID-19.
The duo's work was published in an April issue of the online medical journal Preprints.
More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilyprice/2020/06/27/researchers-are-looking-at-cannabis-as-a-potential-way-to-prevent-covid-19/?sh=4ea9aba1d885

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Promises State Will Legalize Recreational Weed
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo believes the need for funding and the ongoing struggles associated with the COVID-19 pandemic will give him and his team the momentum necessary to get recreational use of marijuana legalized in the state.
"We will legalize adult-use recreational cannabis, joining 15 states that have already done so," Gov. Cuomo said on Monday. "This will raise revenue and end the failed prohibition of this product that has left so many communities of color over-policed and over-incarcerated."
More: https://www.complex.com/life/2021/01/new-york-governor-andrew-cuomo-promises-state-will-legalize-recreational-weed

Study Finds New Evidence of Health Threat From Chemicals in Marijuana and Tobacco Smoke
Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have uncovered new evidence of the potential health risks of chemicals in tobacco and marijuana smoke.
In a study published online today by EClinicalMedicine, the researchers report that people who smoked only marijuana had several smoke-related toxic chemicals in their blood and urine, but at lower levels than those who smoked both tobacco and marijuana or tobacco only. Two of those chemicals, acrylonitrile and acrylamide, are known to be toxic at high levels. The investigators also found that exposure to acrolein, a chemical produced by the combustion of a variety of materials, increases with tobacco smoking but not marijuana smoking and contributes to cardiovascular disease in tobacco smokers.
More: https://www.newswise.com/articles/study-finds-new-evidence-of-health-threat-from-chemicals-in-marijuana-and-tobacco-smoke
Study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30441-7/fulltext

California regulators say cannabis billboards along interstate highways must come down
Cannabis businesses can no longer advertise on billboards anywhere along a highway that crosses state borders, after a judge ruled in favor of a central California dad who sued to block such ads.
The ruling won't impact stretches of in-state freeways populated with marijuana billboards, such as the 55 in Orange County or the 215 in the Inland Empire.
But the Bureau of Cannabis Control said Thursday that billboard companies must immediately stop selling space to marijuana shops and start taking down existing ads near roadways that at any point cross state borders. This will mean no cannabis billboards near heavily used freeways such as Interstate 10 in the Inland Empire, the 5 freeway in Orange County, and Highway 101 in Los Angeles.
More: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/01/22/california-regulators-say-cannabis-billboards-along-interstate-highways-must-come-down/

New Study Shows Cannabis Reduces Inflammatory 'Storms' Caused By Covid-19
A promising new study out of Canada offers data that some cannabis strains help reduce a specific type of inflammatory distress - called a "cytokine storm" - that proceeds severe cases of acute respiratory distress due to Covid-19.
More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lindseybartlett/2021/01/21/new-study-shows-cannabis-reduces-inflammatory-storms-caused-by-covid-19/?sh=7f9cdee6d0a3

Study: Fighting the storm: could novel anti-TNFα and anti-IL-6 C. sativa cultivars tame cytokine storm in COVID-19? - https://www.aging-us.com/article/202500/text

Feeling your pain
Michelle St. Pierre had just had dental surgery, and she was curious how cannabis would work as an alternative to opioid painkillers. As a Ph.D. candidate studying clinical psychology at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, St. Pierre was familiar with cannabis' pain-alleviating qualities. After all, her area of focus is mental health and pain, and the lab she works in regularly experiments with cannabis, psychedelics and human behavior.
However, when St. Pierre used cannabis after her surgery, when she was experiencing acute pain in her gums, she felt like her pain actually intensified. She could feel the blood rushing through her body, and pulsating in her jaw, and couldn't focus on anything except her mouth ache.
More: https://www.boulderweekly.com/features/weed-between-the-lines/feeling-your-pain/

Police Find 1st 'Cannabis Factory' In London's Financial District, Destroy 826 Plants
Home to the London Stock Exchange, the Bank of England and scores of corporations, the financial district, known as the City, is normally teeming with activity.
But the scenes, sounds and scents of the normally busy City have been restrained thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, people in the area noticed something else in the air. The smell of cannabis.
More: https://www.npr.org/2021/01/21/959192086/police-find-1st-cannabis-factory-in-londons-financial-district-destroy-826-plant

   

   

   

 
FEBRUARY 2021  

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home

Cherokee Consider Legalizing Medical Marijuana, a First for the Carolinas
In the western tip of North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is getting ready to consider what could be the first legal medical marijuana in the region. Next month, the Tribal Council will consider a measure to legalize pot for medicinal purposes, which could be part of a broader legalization effort on tribal land.
"The people want cannabis, the world is changing, society is changing," says Jeremy Wilson, a former Tribal Council member and the government affairs liaison for the principal chief.
"We want to have dispensaries here on the Qualla Boundary and to be able to sell, but we have to start with this phase first," he says.
More: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2021/01/29/cherokee-in-nc-consider-legal-medical-marijuana--a-first-for-the-carolinas

US seized more than 70,000 pounds of cannabis at Canadian border in 2020
US Border authorities seized more than 70,000 pounds of cannabis coming into the country from Canada in 2020, nearly ten times as much as was seized in 2019. New numbers released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection show a significant increase in seizures coinciding with the closure of the U.S./Canada border to all non essential traffic on March 21, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, only 7,672 pounds of cannabis were seized at the northern US border with Canada, and 6,006 pounds were seized in 2018.
More: https://stratcann.com/2021/01/29/us-seized-more-than-70000-pounds-of-cannabis-at-canadian-border-in-2020/

Cannabis Shown to Relieve Parkinson Disease Symptoms
A recent survey on community perceptions of cannabis use in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) found that patients reported cannabis to be effective at reducing symptom severity.
Results also show a lack of knowledge on the different types and administration routes among patients. Researchers said that this is the largest study analyzing the view of patients on cannabis therapy in PD.
The study, published in Journal of Parkinson's Disease, took place in Germany, which in 2017 approved medical cannabis (MC) as a therapy for patients with severe symptoms of PD when other therapies were unsuccessful or not tolerable. MC is eligible for reimbursement in these cases.
More: https://www.ajmc.com/view/cannabis-shown-to-relieve-parkinson-disease-symptoms

Hong Kong police seize HK$10 million worth of cannabis, arrest suspected dealer in drugs raid on industrial building
Hong Kong police arrested a suspected drug trafficker and seized nearly HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) worth of cannabis when they raided an industrial building on Thursday night.
Detectives believed the Kwai Cheong Road unit in Kwai Chung had been used as a base for storing and distributing drugs for at least a month.
More: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3119738/hong-kong-police-seize-hk10-million-worth-cannabis

Legal pot shop license fees too pricey, Vancouver councillor says
A Vancouver city councilor is calling for legal cannabis retail licence fees in the city to be slashed.
Independent Coun. Rebecca Bligh says the current annual fee that cannabis retailers pay, $33,958, is incentivizing illegal pot shops and is out of scale with other similar businesses in the city.
More: https://globalnews.ca/news/7625267/vancouver-pot-shop-fees/

Results of Clinical Trial Show Potential Benefits of Cannabis For Children With Autism
A new clinical trial offered encouraging signs for the use of cannabis extracts on children with autism.
The clinical trial, the results of which were published this month in the journal Molecular Autism, sought to assess the effects of "whole-plant cannabis extract" containing both CBD and THC at a 20:1 ratio and a placebo on a group of young children with autism.
For 12 weeks, the 150 participants received either the extract or the placebo, which was then "followed by a 4-week washout and predetermined cross-over for another 12 weeks to further assess tolerability."
More: https://hightimes.com/news/results-clinical-trial-show-potential-benefits-cannabis-children-autism/

Jamaica faces marijuana shortage as farmers struggle
Jamaica is running low on ganja.
Heavy rains followed by an extended drought, an increase in local consumption and a drop in the number of marijuana farmers have caused a shortage in the island's famed but largely illegal market that experts say is the worst they've seen.
"It's a cultural embarrassment," said Triston Thompson, chief opportunity explorer for Tacaya, a consulting and brokerage firm for the country's nascent legal cannabis industry.
More: https://apnews.com/article/world-news-jamaica-kingston-coronavirus-pandemic-marijuana-2d9e9c6dbc4d311e7b7085708eca0571

Sri Lanka to Legalise the Use of Cannabis?
Sri Lanka may take steps to legalise the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said a policy decision must be taken to legalise cannabis and develop it as a medicinal crop in the future.
Many urge the Government to legalise cannabis. This includes academic in natural sciences Dr Wasantha Weliange, and Ven Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero, Chairman of The Federation of Traditional Medical Practitioners of Sri Lanka.
More: https://www.desiblitz.com/content/sri-lanka-to-legalise-the-use-of-cannabis

Attorney General's office will not appeal South Dakota legal marijuana decision
Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg's office will not participate in an appeal of a judge's ruling that South Dakota's legal marijuana amendment violated the state constitution, the Argus Leader has confirmed.
Circuit Court Judge Christina Klinger ruled this week in Hughes County that Amendment A, passed by voters in November, violated the state constitution because it ran afoul of a provision that amendments deal with only one subject. She further argued that Amendment A was not an amendment, but a revision to the constitution and thus violated procedural rules for its implementation.
More: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2021/02/12/south-dakota-attorney-general-jason-ravnsborg-office-legal-marijuana-decision/6744685002/

The failings of per se limits to detect cannabis-induced driving impairment: Results from a simulated driving study
Many jurisdictions use per se limits to define cannabis-impaired driving. Previous studies, however, suggest that THC concentrations in biological matrices do not reliably reflect cannabis dose and are poorly correlated with magnitude of driving impairment. Here, we first review a range of concerns associated with per se limits for THC. We then use data from a recent clinical trial to test the validity of a range of extant blood and oral fluid THC per se limits in predicting driving impairment during a simulated driving task.
Study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15389588.2020.1851685?journalCode=gcpi20

The Half-Legal Cannabis Trap
Everything about Kelvin's job in a neighborhood southwest of downtown seemed like any other assignment, if not a little more exciting. The 40-year-old, who had previously worked as an electrician, had been employed since 2015 by a private security company that contracted him out to guard marijuana dispensaries.
In 2019, he was protecting one of the thousand or so cannabis stores in California's biggest city - part of an industry that has grown less and less underground since 1996, when the state first legalized medical marijuana.
More: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/02/09/los-angeles-legalization-cannabis-criminalization-467572

Study Shows Cannabis Lowers Blood Pressure in Hypertension Patients
A new study that looks at blood pressure in older adults with hypertension saw a connection between cannabis use and a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, findings that are significant for those who suffer from the two ailments.
More: https://hightimes.com/health/study-shows-cannabis-lowers-blood-pressure-hypertension-patients/
Study: Cannabis is associated with blood pressure reduction in older adults - A 24-hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring study https://www.ejinme.com/article/S0953-6205(21)00005-4/fulltext

Amsterdams loss to be a gain for cannabis tourism in Toronto?
The doors of Amsterdam's cannabis coffee shops have long been open to Canadians and other tourists.
But that may change. Femke Halsema, mayor of the Netherlands' capital, wants to restrict tourist access to its 166 cannabis-selling coffee shops, according to Bloomberg News.
Under Halsema's proposal - supported by police and prosecutors - only Dutch residents would be allowed to enter the shops in an attempt to tackle problems associated with hard drugs, organized crime linked to the marijuana trade, and the city being overrun by tourists on the weekends.
More: https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/amsterdams-loss-to-be-a-gain-for-cannabis-tourism-in-toronto

Norway seeks to decriminalize recreational drug use
Norway's government on Friday proposed a bill aimed at decriminalizing the possession and use of small amounts of narcotics, saying users should be offered treatment rather than face jail.
"Decades of repression have taught us that punishment doesn't work. On the contrary, punishment can make things worse," Education Minister Guri Melby told a press conference. "Drug addicts need help, not punishment," she added.
More: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/norway-seeks-to-decriminalize-recreational-drug-use-1.5315899

Cannabis and national decriminalization: The story so far
Cannabis legalization or decriminalization (we'll get to the difference in a bit) is one of several issues set to test Democrats' slim majority in Congress, along with a $15 minimum wage hike and making Washington, DC, the 51st state.
At the federal level, cannabis continues to be prohibited across the board, resulting in a legally dubious gray market operating in the 42 states with loosened marijuana laws. In contrast, about a third of all adults in the US have access to recreational marijuana, thanks to a patchwork of state and local regulations that have legalized or decriminalized the substance to some degree.
More: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/cannabis-and-national-decriminalization-the-story-so-far/

Will London's budding cannabis market turn the EU green with envy?
One after the other, medical cannabis companies are listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), and investors are piling in cash, keen to be early investors in what they hope will become a major industry in the UK.
It is an exciting time for the medicinal cannabis industry. In September, City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) allowed medicinal cannabis companies to list on the LSE, opening up the UK market to a growing sector already popular in North America.
More: https://www.cityam.com/will-londons-budding-cannabis-market-turn-the-eu-green-with-envy/

Malta set to decriminalize cannabis, Prime Minister announces
The Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, today announced that cannabis users may soon be able to grow their own plants and avoid police arrests for possession, as the government moves to legalise "responsible use" of the substance.
The proposals were outlined by the Prime Minister on Thursday morning while speaking to journalists at a business breakfast on employment.
"The reform proposes the elimination of police arrest on cannabis for personal use," the Prime Minister's office told Lovin Malta in a written statement.
More: https://www.leafie.co.uk/news/malta-set-to-decriminalise-cannabis-prime-minister-announces/

Sustainability In The Cannabis Industry: Truly Going Green
Thanks to a decades-long association with "hippies" and "tree-huggers," cannabis has largely been considered a green (no pun intended) industry by the masses. Many may not realize that cannabis has never really been a sustainable industry, and with the commercialization of cannabis, things have continued to move in the wrong direction. As the co-founder of an investment and operating firm in the cannabis space, I am concerned about the sustainability of this industry.
Commercial growers have turned to artificial pesticides and harmful growing practices and modes of distribution to bolster sales and increase crop yields. These practices contribute heavily to waste and pollution.
More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/02/02/sustainability-in-the-cannabis-industry-truly-going-green/?sh=6b4a4f465e24

You cannabis serious: Gauteng to become SA's weed capital?
This takeaway from the Gauteng State of the Province (SOPA) address on Tuesday 23 February may 'spliff' opinion - Premier David Makhura has once again indicated that he wants to see the province become the country's leading processor of cannabis in order to stimulate economic growth and development.
He said that the Eastern Cape is in pole position to become the country's largest producer of the plant, but that Gauteng is well-positioned to lead the industrialisation of the agricultural sector and blaze a trail towards recovery in the province by putting it on the market.
More: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/gauteng-sopa-2021-cannabis-david-makhura-tuesday-23-february/

(Albuquerque) Senate committee holds hearing on recreational marijuana legislation
A House bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in New Mexico was presented to the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee Saturday morning.
This comes one day after House lawmakers passed HB 12 by a vote of 39 to 31 Friday. The bill would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for recreational use by adults 21 and over.
More: https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/senate-committee-holds-hearing-on-recreational-marijuana-legislation/6025786/?cat=513

Cannabis-based antibiotics could be available on NHS within five years
A compound of cannabis which can kill drug resistant 'super-gonorrhoea' could be prescribed by the NHS in just five years, a leading neurologist says.
Research by the University of Queensland has found CBD, the main non-psychoactive component of weed, can kill superbugs that have developed resistance to current antibiotics. The findings have been hailed as a medical breakthrough, given that the UN have warned drug-resistant diseases could kill 10million people per year by 2050 unless a solution is found.
More: https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/25/cannabis-antibiotics-could-be-prescribed-by-nhs-in-five-years-14139541/?ito=newsnow-feed?ito=cbshar

Virginia joins 15 other states in legalizing marijuana
The Virginia Legislature approved adult-use marijuana legalization Saturday in a historic vote marking the first state in the Old South to embrace full legalization.
The House passed the measure in a 48-43 vote, and the Senate approved it in a 20-19 vote. Not a single Republican voted for the bill in either chamber.
"This, to me, is a justice bill," Del. Charniele Herring, a sponsor of the legalization bill and the Democratic majority leader, said on the floor. "While it has flaws and it is not the perfect bill ... I think this moves us a step in the right direction."
More: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/27/virginia-legalizes-marijuana-471840 

   
MARCH 2021  

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - Get Vaccinated ASAP

Former soldier who 'grew and smoked cannabis to help him cope with PTSD' is spared jail (UK)
A "distinguished" old soldier who grew and smoked his own cannabis to help him cope with his memories of serving in Northern Ireland during the Troubles has been spared jail.
John Hoey, 64, was found with a "plantation" of herbal cannabis, estimated by police to be worth nearly £12,500, at his home in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.
More: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/former-solider-who-grew-smoked-23615483

Not all THC analysis is created equal
In Canada, many licensed producers have built their business models around high THC cannabis, for the simple reason that the system is skewed to reward elevated percentages. The result has been that some licensed providers may be shopping around for the labs that offer the best results.
"It's been one of the issues that labs in general run into," says Luther Smallwood, Business Development Manager at Pathogenia Lab in Montreal. "A licensed provider will come to a lab, get a certain percentage, then shop to another lab and get another percentage."
This practice is perhaps understandable given the market incentives that favour higher THC. There are entire brands - and stock valuations - that are dependent on cannabis testing above 25% THC.
More: https://stratcann.com/2021/02/24/not-all-thc-analysis-is-created-equal/

U.S. Cannabis Sales Hit Record $17.5 Billion As Americans Consume More Marijuana Than Ever Before
The coronavirus was good for some industries and ruinous for others. For cannabis, 2020 was a breakout year. Legal sales across the U.S. - 14 states allow adult use, 36 allow for medical sales - hit a record of $17.5 billion, a 46% increase from 2019, according to a new report.
Most of the sales growth came from adult-use markets, especially mature markets like Colorado, which grew sales by 26% to reach $2.2 billion, and Oregon, which saw sales hit $1.1 billion, a 29% increase over 2019, according to the report published by BDSA, a cannabis sales data platform.
More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2021/03/03/us-cannabis-sales-hit-record-175-billion-as-americans-consume-more-marijuana-than-ever-before/?sh=747c42c82bcf

Cannabis farm receipts up by nearly 75% (Canada)
Cannabis continues to grow as a Canadian crop.
Statistics Canada released 2020 farm receipt numbers Tuesday, and they show cannabis crops have grown steadily over the past three years. In 2020, cannabis farm receipts totalled just over $4 billion, that compares to $2.3 billion in 2019 and $564 million in 2018.
"In the second full year of legalized recreational cannabis use, cannabis receipts rose by almost three-quarters (+73.9%)- accounting for almost one-third of the increase in total crop receipts," says the federal agency.
More: https://okanaganz.com/oz/news/cannabis-farm-receipts-up-by-nearly-75/

Deal near on legalizing recreational marijuana, officials say
New York lawmakers are nearing agreement on legalizing recreational marijuana and could act soon rather than waiting on the state budget, officials said Friday.
If finalized, lawmakers could vote on a bill as soon as next week, officials said.
The disagreements among Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the state Senate and state Assembly largely have been how to allocate tax revenue generated by marijuana sales rather than simple opposition to legalization.
More: https://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/marijuana-cuomo-legislature-1.50181146

CBD reduces plaque, improves cognition in model of familial Alzheime's
A two-week course of high doses of CBD helps restore the function of two proteins key to reducing the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and improves cognition in an experimental model of early onset familial Alzheimer's, investigators report.
The proteins TREM2 and IL-33 are important to the ability of the brain's immune cells to literally consume dead cells and other debris like the beta-amyloid plaque that piles up in patients' brains, and levels of both are decreased in Alzheimer's.
More: https://jagwire.augusta.edu/cbd-reduces-plaque-improves-cognition-in-model-of-familial-alzheimers/

Mexico lawmakers approve bill to legalize recreational marijuana
Mexican lawmakers on Wednesday night green-lighted a bill to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
The Mexican legislature's lower chamber, the Chamber of Deputies, passed the legislation by a 316-129 vote, with 23 abstentions. The ruling followed a decision by the Mexican Supreme Court in 2018 ruling that the federal prohibition of recreational use of the drug is unconstitutional.
More: https://thehill.com/policy/international/542710-mexico-lawmakers-approve-bill-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana?rl=1

Combining terpenes and cannabidiol may be highly active against human coronaviruses
A group of researchers from a well-known technology company in Israel showed a significant antiviral effect of a combination of terpenes and cannabidiol against a human coronavirus strain 229E. This exciting and first-of-its-kind report is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.
While we are still heavily preoccupied with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we have to acknowledge four non-zoonotic and endemic human coronaviruses that cause mild upper respiratory tract infections and also warrant our attention.
More: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210304/Combining-terpenes-and-cannabidiol-may-be-highly-active-against-human-coronaviruses.aspx

Study: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.01.433501v1

FDA-regulated study shows promise for using marijuana to treat veterans with PTSD
The first FDA-regulated, placebo-controlled, double-blind study on smoked cannabis among veterans with diagnosed PTSD revealed improvements among those receiving doses with higher levels of THC, an active component in the herbal drug.
Published March 17 in the journal PLOS ONE, the peer-reviewed paper compares results of PTSD treatment in three cannabis combinations, as well as a placebo control group.
More: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2021/03/19/fda-regulated-study-shows-promise-for-using-marijuana-to-treat-veterans-with-ptsd/

Study: The short-term impact of 3 smoked cannabis preparations versus placebo on PTSD symptoms: A randomized cross-over clinical trial - https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0246990

Why New York Legalizing Recreational Cannabis Won't Kill The Illicit Market
Russell, a 60-something marijuana grower and distributor who lives in the New York suburbs, makes about $200,000 a year in the illicit cannabis market. He has a nice roster of clients who live along the Hudson River, from the quaint towns of the Hudson Valley to the cacophonous neighborhoods in Manhattan, and he offers free delivery. Ounces of New York's favorite strain, Sour Diesel, is $200, a pre-rolled joint for is $10, gummies with a mind-melting 420 milligrams of THC go for $30 and vape cartridges made by legal operators in California are $30.
Since New York legalized medical marijuana in 2016, Russell says his annual revenue has gone up 200% and he expects a sales spike once New York passes its adult-use law. (The New York Assembly says the passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act is imminent.)
More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2021/03/19/why-new-york-legalizing-recreational-cannabis-wont-kill-the-illicit-market/?sh=209b460d6bb5

SAFE Banking Act for Cannabis Industry Reintroduced in House
A bipartisan group of representatives reintroduced a cannabis banking reform bill to the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act is expected to pass the Democrat-controlled House, where it passed before in 2019 and 2020, but could face a tougher battle in the split Senate.
"Thousands of employees and businesses across this country have been forced to deal in piles of cash for far too long, and it is the responsibility of Congress to step up and take action to align federal and state laws for the safety of our constituents and communities," Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo. 7th District) said in a statement.
More: https://cheddar.com/media/safe-banking-act-for-cannabis-industry-reintroduced-in-house.amp

Have Canadian cannabis users increased their usage during the pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many Canadians' mental health and spurred on boredom due to lockdowns.
While multiple studies have looked at the increased consumption of alcohol during lockdown, what about cannabis?
According to a study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 52 per cent of existing cannabis users reported an increase in their consumption during the first wave of the pandemic.
More: https://globalnews.ca/news/7693366/canadian-cannabis-users-increased-habit-coronavirus-pandemic/amp/

France launches 2-year experiment with medical marijuana
France's government launched a two-year nationwide experiment with medical marijuana Friday with a view to its eventual legalization.
Some 3,000 patients around the country will be given medical cannabis treatments and their health will be monitored by the national medicines watchdog, the Health Ministry said in a statement. The first prescription was issued Friday at the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital in southern France.
The goal is to gather data about the effectiveness and safety of therapeutic marijuana, and to prepare eventual logistical circuits for future distribution, the ministry said.
More: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/france-launches-year-experiment-medical-marijuana-76706584

High anxiety over federal weed loophole
Paul ImOberstag's small hemp farm in Banner, Ill., survived the bottoming out of prices in the CBD market and the pandemic.
Then, Delta-8 THC came along.
In the span of a few months, Banner Harvest went from selling about 15 pounds of CBD-rich hemp flower a month to "basically zero" pounds. The reason: All of the wholesale customers were now stocking Delta-8 THC, a close cousin of the chief psychoactive compound in marijuana, Delta-9 THC.
More: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/27/rise-of-delta-8-thc-478215

Himachal to legalise cannabis cultivation to boost economy
Himachal Pradesh hopes to earn ₹18,000 crore annually by undertaking the controlled cultivation of cannabis to ease its debt burden that has grown to ₹60,500 crore in the Covid-19 pandemic year besides generating job opportunities.
Announcing the decision during the recent budget session of the assembly, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said, "The cannabis produced in the state is of high quality and there is potential to undertake its controlled cultivation. Under the NDPS Act, 1985, there are provisions for the cultivation, production, maintenance and transportation of cannabis."
More: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/himachal-to-legalise-cannabis-cultivation-to-boost-economy-101616413074575.html

Scotland to open its first brick and mortar cannabis clinic
Sapphire Medical Clinics has been given the green light from Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to open the nation's first cannabis clinic. The clinic's aim is to provide access to cannabis for Scottish patients who suffer from a range of conditions from back pain to anxiety.
The UK government changed the law in November 2018 after a review that concluded that evidence showed cannabis had therapeutic benefits in certain cases. Medicinal cannabis clinics have been operating in England since 2019 when the Care Quality Commission approved Sapphire to operate their first clinic in Manchester, with clinics in London and Bristol following shortly.
More: https://www.leafie.co.uk/news/scotland-first-cannabis-clinic/



APRIL 2021  
 

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - Get Vaccinated ASAP

The key details every cannabis investor needs to know about New York marijuana legalization
New York just legalized marijuana for adults over the age of 21.
The state Senate and Assembly passed the bill late on Tuesday, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law on Wednesday morning. New York is now the latest state to legalize cannabis, following in the footsteps of its neighbor New Jersey.
It's the third time state legislators have tried to legalize marijuana, though hang-ups over taxation, impaired driving, and social-equity provisions prevented earlier iterations from passing. Medical cannabis is already legal in New York.
More: https://marketbuzz.ca/new-york-cannabis-legalization/

New Mexico lawmakers send recreational marijuana bills to governor
New Mexico's Democratic-controlled state legislature on Wednesday sent a package of bills to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) that would legalize recreational marijuana.
Lawmakers used a two-day marathon legislative session to push through marijuana legalization for adults 21 and over, according to The Associated Press. A companion bill was also passed that would erase past marijuana convictions. Lujan Grisham has signaled support for the legislation, the AP notes.
More: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/545928-new-mexico-lawmakers-send-recreational-marijuana-legislation-to-governor?amp

Swiss Government Releases Details on Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Schemes The Swiss parliament passed regulations in September 2020 which allow for the initiation of pilot schemes wherein adult-use cannabis can be legally produced, imported and distributed to registered users. The FOPH released a draft of the regulation today, the 31st of March, divulging further details on the schemes.
Along with the trial schemes for adult-use supply in The Netherlands, Switzerland will be the first region in Europe to allow for a fully legalised adult-use cannabis supply chain. As explained in the recently released European Report, it is possible several other countries on the continent will soon legalise adult-use cannabis at least on a trial basis.
More: https://prohibitionpartners.com/2021/03/31/swiss-government-releases-details-on-adult-use-cannabis-pilot-schemes/

Schumer: Senate will act on marijuana legalization with or without Biden
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer really likes to talk about weed.
Schumer has been making waves on cannabis policy since he first introduced a bill to legalize marijuana in April 2018. It was part of his pitch for voting Democrat in the 2020 election, and now - with the majority in hand - he is putting together new federal marijuana reform legislation with Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
More: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/03/schumer-senate-marijuana-legalization-478963

Legal marijuana movement builds as more states change laws
In the last four months, five states have legalized recreational marijuana, meaning now 30% of the country allows its adult residents to possess and use cannabis.
At least two more states are poised to be added to that list following the passage of cannabis legalization bills this year.
More: https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/legal-marijuana-movement-builds-states-change-laws/story?id=76907902&id=76907902&

States Keep Repeating the Same Mistake With Marijuana Legalization
In the 50 years since President Richard Nixon initiated the war on drugs, politicians of both major parties have endorsed aggressive police tactics and harsh punishments to combat substance abuse, and minority communities have disproportionately suffered. Black Americans are several times more likely than whites to be arrested for low-level marijuana offenses, despite comparable usage rates. Now with federal marijuana legalization a real possibility, and the drug war widely regarded as a failure, one of the central questions is how to compensate its victims.
More: https://slate.com/business/2021/04/marijuana-cannabis-legaization-new-york-new-jersey-equity-businesses.html

Marijuana users work out even more than their nonsmoking counterparts, study suggests
Smoking may not get in the way of working out, according to new research.
Regular cannabis users don't exercise any less than their nonsmoking counterparts, and in fact tend to be more active, per a study published online March 9 in Preventative Medicine.
Researchers from the University of Miami and the Brookings Institute looked at data from 20,745 Americans, from their teenage years through their 20s and 30s, between 1994 through 2018.
More: https://www.insider.com/marijuana-weed-users-might-exercise-more-new-research-suggests-2021-4

Study: The relationships between marijuana use and exercise among young and middle-aged adults https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009174352100102X?via%3Dihub

Why Virginia legalizing marijuana could be a catalyst for federal legalization
Virginia made history this week by becoming the 16th state in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana and the first south of the Mason-Dixon line. The move not only marks a somewhat unexpected win for legal cannabis advocates, but could prove to be an even more important catalyst for changes at the national level given somewhat of a stall in momentum.
More: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-virginia-legalizing-marijuana-could-shift-the-federal-discussion-203719031.html

Who is Getting Rich From Cannabis Legalization?
The growing number of states with legal cannabis has experts optimistic that the market will reach $100 billion by 2030, reports Businesses Insider.
But many wonder what the industry will look like in the future and who will profit most from the emerging multi- billion dollar market.
More: https://theemeraldmagazine.com/who-is-getting-rich-from-cannabis-legalization/

STUDY - Cancer patient's attitudes of using medicinal cannabis for sleep
Purpose: Poor sleep is one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. One increasingly popular approach to manage side effects of cancer treatment is use of medicinal cannabis (MC).
Design: Cancer patients using MC participated in semi-structured interviews to assess their experiences with MC (n = 24). A multi-stage thematic analysis was applied to interview transcripts. Themes related to use of MC for sleep were extracted.
More: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07347332.2021.1910396?journalCode=wjpo20

Canada Cannabis Sales Doubled In 2020, Hitting $2.6 Billion: Here's What's Next
Last year brought triple-digit growth to Canada's legal cannabis market. According to the Brightfield Group's latest "Canadian Cannabis Market" report, this was largely driven by:
  *  Increased brick-and-mortar retail access - especially in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec;
  *  An expansion in e-commerce and click-and-collect offerings;
  *  Pricing that was more competitive with the illicit market;
  *  Retailers adapting to a pandemic context, helping prompt vast growth despite an unprecedented backdrop of lockdowns and store closures.
More: http://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2021/04/14/canada-cannabis-sales-doubled-in-2020-hitting-26b-heres-whats-next/?sh=40756de8494f

Cannabis on the ISS
In 2019, Front Range Biosciences (FRB) teamed up with SpaceCells USA Inc. and BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) to take cannabis (and coffee) plants to the final frontier.
On March 6 of that year, hundreds of plant cell cultures were loaded onboard the SpaceX CRS-20 cargo flight, which was bound for the International Space Station (ISS). U.S. astronauts would tend to the cannabis and coffee plants for the next 30 days, becoming the first of their genera (cannabis sativa and coffea, respectively) to grow 248 miles above the Earth.
But the mission wasn't intended to provide astronauts with fresh bud and beans. The zero-gravity conditions of the ISS offered the researchers at FRB a unique opportunity to observe how space conditions affect cannabis and coffee genetics.
More: https://www.boulderweekly.com/features/cannabis-on-the-iss/

Montana Senate passes bill legalizing recreational marijuana
Montana's Senate on Friday passed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana and direct taxes on the drug to support addiction treatment and conservation programs.
The bill passed out of the House earlier this month and was passed in the upper chamber by a 34-16 margin. It will go back to the House so it can approve the legislation with the Senate's amendments.
More: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/550086-montana-senate-passes-bill-legalizes-recreational-marijuana

Legal marijuana movement builds as more states change laws
In the last four months, five states have legalized recreational marijuana, meaning now 30% of the country allows its adult residents to possess and use cannabis.
At least two more states are poised to be added to that list following the passage of cannabis legalization bills this year.
Marijuana policy experts and advocates say this national trend is indicative of a shift in Americans' perspectives on marijuana.
More: https://abcnews.go.com/US/legal-marijuana-movement-builds-states-change-laws/story?id=76907902

Germany: Greens campaign for legal cannabis on 4/20
April 19 will go down in German political history as the day Annalena Baerbock was elected the Green Party's first-ever chancellor candidate. Assuming the party is ready to govern, the very next day may well be remarkable as well.
April 20, referred to among marijuana enthusiasts as 4/20, has become an international counterculture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis. Many such events have a political nature to them, too, advocating the legalization of cannabis.
More: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-greens-campaign-for-legal-cannabis-on-4-20/a-57262392

Why robots just can't grow good weed
Cannabis farm production is at an all-time high, but it's unlikely that robots will take over the process anytime soon.
The stereotypical weed farm is either a sprawling expanse of crop tended to by free-spirited stoners, or a clandestine basement operation built on information gleaned from online forums. Modern cannabis farm facilities, with their climate controlled grow rooms and automatic irrigation techniques, are a stark departure from pop culture's preconceived notions of what a weed farm looks like. Though far more clinical than its cliche predecessor, the modern cannabis farm still does the bulk of cultivation by hand. Few, if any, other agricultural spaces use human labor over that of a machine's to the degree that cannabis farms do, but the quality-driven nature of weed requires fine motor skills and age-old intuition that technology hasn't adapted to yet.
More: font color="#0000FF">https://sea.mashable.com/culture/15396/why-robots-just-cant-grow-good-weed

 



MAY 2021  
 

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - Get Vaccinated ASAP

Revealed: The Canadian Cannabis Export Market for 2020
For the first time, export data for Canadian cannabis is made available via Prohibition Partners new data and insights platform for the cannabis industry: Atalis. This new data shows a huge increase in the exports of cannabis from the country in 2020, as well as a changing network of countries that are importing from established producers in Canada.
More: https://prohibitionpartners.com/2021/04/30/revealed-the-canadian-cannabis-export-market-for-2020/

Ban on cultivating medicinal CBD oil from cannabis 'unfair' and 'insane', UK farmers say
British farmers and small businesses have described current legislation that prohibits them from cultivating CBD oil from cannabis plants - while it remains legal to import it from abroad - as "unfair", "ridiculous" and "insane".
It comes as a second report in just two weeks, backed by farmers, industry bodies and MPs, has called for a liberalisation of "nonsensical" restrictions around the production of CBD in the UK.
More: https://news.sky.com/story/ban-on-cultivating-medicinal-cbd-oil-from-cannabis-unfair-and-insane-farmers-say-12289791

New Mexico marijuana legalization could hurt Colorado's cannabis industry
Earlier this month, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
While marijuana and criminal justice reform advocates say it's a huge win, it could mean big losses for dispensaries in Colorado.
Since 2014, when recreational marijuana went on sale in the Centennial State, business has boomed for Colorado dispensary owners with more than $10 billion in marijuana sales and billions more reaped in tax revenue.
More: https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/new-mexico-marijuana-legalization-could-hurt-colorados-cannabis-industry

Marlboro-Maker Philip Morris Keeps Cannabis Options Open
After keeping its distance from cannabis, Marlboro-maker Philip Morris International Inc. is beginning to take a closer look at the suddenly hot market.
The company is assessing factors like the toxicity of cannabis, efficacy and differences between pharmaceutical and consumer options, Chief Executive Officer Andre Calantzopoulos told Bloomberg News Tuesday. The company is still analyzing the industry because the market is so young and there isn't robust regulation yet, he said.
More: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-28/marlboro-maker-philip-morris-keeps-cannabis-options-open

Indigenous sovereign cannabis dispensaries band together to create a 'Red Market'
Thomas Tyler Bob is working with other Indigenous dispensary owners across different territories to establish a "Red Market" - an economically-viable industry by and for Indigenous Peoples.
"This is modern-day First Nations business, understanding the complexities in laws and opportunities within nations," he tells IndigiNews in an interview on April 15.
Bob is Snaw-naw-as, a member of Nanoose First Nation. His traditional name is Hulp'put stun, which he says means "to bring it home to the family." He's also the owner of Mary Jane's Pure Cure (MJPC).
More: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/indigenous-sovereign-cannabis-dispensaries-band-together-to-create-a-red-market/

Is growing weed sustainable? The answer is complicated.
In March, New York legalized cannabis, making it one of a handful of states that have decided to legalize recreational marijuana just this year. Cannabis, including medicinal and recreational, is legal in more states than illegal now, which means more state-regulated grow operations are popping up around the country.
Researchers across the country, including at the University of California Berkeley's Cannabis Research Center, are interested in examining how cannabis cultivation impacts the land and environment. Ariani Wartenberg, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley, is an author of a recent article that reviewed all studies that have looked at the environmental impacts of cannabis. "I was surprised, actually, at how few I found. I expected there would be more," Wartenberg says of the studies they were able to include in the review paper.
More: https://www.popsci.com/environment/sustainable-cannabis-farming/

[UK] 'Accidental' boom in cannabis products could see annual sales hit £690m
Sales of consumer cannabis products have undergone an "accidental" boom during the pandemic that will see the popularity of cannabinoids exceed the market for Vitamins B and C combined, according to industry groups.
More: https://news.sky.com/story/accidental-boom-in-cannabis-products-could-see-annual-sales-hit-690m-12297963

'Clean cannabis' program wants more Mainers choosing pesticide-free pot
Six years after the creation of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association's Certified Clean Cannabis program to certify synthetic chemical-free cannabis growers, Maine cannabis farmers say their product is healthier and less susceptible to disease.
But the program has been slow to catch on - so far, only 20 growers have been certified out of nearly 700 providers in the state.
More: https://bangordailynews.com/2021/05/05/homestead/clean-cannabis-program-wants-more-mainers-choosing-pesticide-free-pot/

Illinois to Record $1 Billion Marijuana Sales by Year's End, Surpassing Liquor
Illinois is set to record more than $1 billion in sales of adult-use marijuana products this year, with first quarter cannabis tax revenue already surpassing that of alcohol.
The state of Illinois, whose lawmakers are eyeing bankruptcy options amid a huge budget deficit, generated more than $86 million from adult-use marijuana tax revenue between January and March 2021. Illinois received $72 million in revenue from liquor sales. The state has repeatedly broken its own monthly weed sales records, with both in- and out-of-state adult sales hitting $28 million in March alone. During the last quarter, the state Department of Revenue took in more tax dollars from marijuana receipts than alcohol for the first time ever. Adults spent nearly $110 million on recreational cannabis products during just the month of March.
More: https://www.newsweek.com/illinois-record-1-billion-marijuana-sales-years-end-surpassing-liquor-1588354

Colorado Marijuana Sales Over $560 Million From January through March
Colorado dispensaries set another record in March, according to the state Department of Revenue, accounting for over $207 million in marijuana sales that month.
So far in 2021, January, February and March have each set sales records for their respective months, with the highest totals since recreational dispensaries opened in 2014. Sales for the three months combined add up to over $561.7 million - which is almost 22 percent ahead of the pace for the first quarter of 2020.
More: https://www.westword.com/marijuana/colorado-marijuana-sales-hit-over-560-million-from-january-to-march-11967665

Widely assumed phenotypic associations in Cannabis sativa lack a shared genetic basis [Study]
The flowering plant Cannabis sativa, cultivated for centuries for multiple purposes, displays extensive variation in phenotypic traits in addition to its wide array of secondary metabolite production. Notably, Cannabis produces two well-known secondary-metabolite cannabinoids: cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), which are the main products sought by consumers in the medical and recreational market.
Cannabis has several suggested subspecies which have been shown to differ in chemistry, branching patterns, leaf morphology and other traits. In this study we obtained measurements related to phytochemistry, reproductive traits, growth architecture, and leaf morphology from 297 hybrid individuals from a cross between two diverse lineages.
More: https://peerj.com/articles/10672/

Medicinal cannabis research receives $1.5m boost [Australia] A new University of Adelaide trial will explore the use of personalised medicinal cannabis dosing to prevent common and impactful symptoms of treatment in advanced cancer thanks to Federal Government funding of $1.5 million.
The Medical Research Future Fund investment was awarded to Dr Hannah Wardill for the CANCAN trial - a large clinical study which aims to guide clinical practice.
"Cancer therapies are highly toxic and cause a constellation of physical and psychosocial symptoms that negatively impact quality of life, dose intensity and survival," Dr Wardill said.
More: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/newsroom/news/list/2021/05/13/medicinal-cannabis-research-receives-15m-boost

Canadian soldier charged with feeding cannabis cupcakes to artillery unit during live-fire exercise
A Canadian army gunner is facing more than a dozen charges after she allegedly served cannabis-laced cupcakes to her unsuspecting artillery unit during a live-fire exercise.
Court documents allege a sudden onset of paranoia, fatigue and confusion among the troops who ate the cupcakes, unaware of their psychoactive contents.
More: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/canadian-soldier-charged-with-feeding-cannabis-cupcakes-to-artillery-unit-during-live-fire-exercise-1.5436410

Cannabigerol Is a Potential Therapeutic Agent in a Novel Combined Therapy for Glioblastoma [Study]
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive cancer among primary brain tumours. As with other cancers, the incidence of glioblastoma is increasing; despite modern therapies, the overall mean survival of patients post-diagnosis averages around 16 months, a figure that has not changed in many years. Cannabigerol (CBG) has only recently been reported to prevent the progression of certain carcinomas and has not yet been studied in glioblastoma.
More: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33562819/

Can Medical Cannabis Help End The Opioid National Crisis? Another Study Confirms Its Potential
Every year, more and more people in the U.S. and Canada die from opioid-involved overdoses. In 2019 alone, nearly 50,000 people in the U.S. lost their lives due to opioid misuse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The opioid epidemic is real and is considered a public health crisis.
Healthcare practitioners and researchers are continually searching for ways to help those suffering from chronic pain by coming up with alternative treatments to highly addictive opioids.
More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/can-medical-cannabis-help-end-the-opioid-national-crisis-another-study-confirms-its-potential/ar-BB1gUQ5r?ocid=msedgdhp

Japanese gov't to ease prohibition of cannabis-derived medicines
Following months of discussion, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is set to approve the use of pharmaceuticals containing cannabis as an ingredient in Japan, according to public broadcaster NHK.
The Japanese legal system takes a particularly hardline stance against drugs, and even the possession of a small amount of marijuana is generally treated as a major crime. However, following the approval of cannabis-based medicines in many other nations, at the beginning of the year the ministry formed a committee to discuss whether Japan should follow suit, with the effectiveness of such medications in treating sufferers of refractory epilepsy and as a pain suppressant for cancer patients.
More: https://japantoday.com/category/national/japanese-government-to-ease-prohibition-of-cannabis-derived-medicines

After 50 Years, U.S. Opens The Door To More Cannabis Crops For Scientists
After more than 50 years, the federal government is lifting a roadblock to cannabis research that scientists and advocates say has hindered rigorous studies of the plant and possible drug development.
Since 1968, U.S. researchers have been allowed to use cannabis from only one domestic source: a facility based at the University of Mississippi, through a contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
More: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/05/30/1000867189/after-50-years-u-s-opens-the-door-to-more-cannabis-crops-for-scientists

US has seized more than 13,000 pounds [5,897 Kg] of cannabis at US/Canada border this year
US border authorities have seized more than 13,000 pounds (6,000+ kg) of cannabis entering the country from Canada in 2021, according to reports from US Customs and Border Protection.
This is in addition to the more than 70,000 lbs of cannabis seized entering the US from Canada in 2020. These types of large seizures have become more common since the US and Canada closed their shared border to non-essential traffic in March 2020, due to the covid-19 pandemic.
More: https://stratcann.com/2021/05/26/us-has-seized-more-than-13000-pounds-of-cannabis-at-us-canada-border-this-year/

The US cannabis industry's one big problem: Too much cash
The US cannabis business has a very particular cash flow problem - too much of it.
Marijuana can be sold legally in 36 US states and the District of Columbia (DC) for medical use and in 15 of them and in DC for recreational purposes. But it is still illegal on a federal level, meaning most banks refuse to service the industry in case they fall afoul of money laundering laws.
More: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/5/24/the-us-cannabis-industrys-one-big-problem-too-much-cash

Cannabis Is the Latest Battlefield in the Republican War on Democracy
Ken Newburger felt like he'd been blindsided.
He knew a legal challenge had been mounted against the medical cannabis ballot initiative he'd worked on last year in Mississippi. He knew the state's Supreme Court had taken up the case. But the argument against Initiative 65 was so nonsensical that Newburger had zero doubt the court would rule to uphold the measure. He was wrong: The court overturned it, and with it the will of the 74 percent of Mississippi voters who approved it last fall.
More: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/marijuana-ballot-initiatives-mississippi-south-dakota-1171659/

Losses grow at David Beckham-backed cannabis business Cellular Goods
Losses have widened at Cellular Goods (CBX.L), the London-listed cannabis business backed by David Beckham.
Cellular Goods on Tuesday said its losses hit £2.1m ($3m) in the six months to the end of February 2021. The business lost just £140,000 in the same period a year earlier.
More: https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/cellular-goods-david-beckham-cannabis-cannaboid-interim-results-2021-wellness-cbd-073512023.html

 



JUNE 2021  

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - Get Vaccinated ASAP

Tilray and Sundial embark on 2-day rally after Amazon says it stands behind federal marijuana legalization
Canadian cannabis companies Tilray and Sundial are on a two-day rally after Amazon announced it would support a federal bill to legalize marijuana - and retail traders are celebrating.
Shares of Tilray jumped 12% to $19 Wednesday and rose 9% in early morning trading Thursday. Last month, Tilray completed its acquisition of Aphria, making the combined business the largest cannabis company in the world by revenue.
As for Sundial, the stock closed 13% higher at $1.13 Wednesday and jumped another 17% Thursday morning.
More: https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tilray-sundial-stock-rally-amazon-backs-marijuana-bill-retail-traders-2021-6-1030491675?utm_source=reddit.com

Over 20 tonnes of cannabis resin seized in Canary Islands
Spanish police have seized almost €250m worth of cannabis resin on foot of information from the Irish authorities.
Over 20 tonnes of the drug were found when a large shipping vessel from Morocco was boarded approximately 90 nautical miles off the coast of the Canary Islands.
The Maritime Analysis Operations Centre, the international agency that co-ordinates European anti-drug trafficking operations, said today it is the largest seizure of cannabis resin in Europe in years.
More: https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0604/1226074-drugs-spain/

Charlotte's Web and University of Colorado-Boulder Collaborating on Sleep and Anxiety Studies
Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. ("Charlotte's Web" or the "Company"), the market leader in hemp CBD wellness products and a Certified B Corporation, today announced the collaboration of its CW Labs division on a preclinical sleep and anxiety study with the University of Colorado-Boulder's REACH (Research and Education Addressing Cannabis and Health) Center. The scientific investigation uses the Company's full spectrum hemp formulations with CBN (cannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) and levels of THC below 0.3% to examine the impact on anxiety and sleep quality. The Company is the only hemp CBD brand supporting the University of Colorado REACH Center's milestone study.
More: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charlottes-web-and-university-of-colorado-boulder-collaborating-on-sleep-and-anxiety-studies-301304019.html

What experts say you need to know about 'diet weed'
Legal in 17 states, but still considered illegal at the federal level, marijuana is going through a complicated rebirth. For those living in the states where partaking in the drug comes with the risk of a fine or imprisonment, CBD is typically the only safe option. That is, until recently. A number of pot lovers have found another way to legally buy and sell a less-potent version of marijuana using a legal loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill, which inadvertently legalized a potent and popular cannabinoid known as Delta-8 THC
More: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/diet-weed-is-taking-over-heres-what-experts-say-you-need-to-know-213645458.html

he Need for Well-Established Laboratory Testing Methods for Cannabis Products is Increasing
The cannabis industry is growing relatively faster, mainly because of its pharmaceutical advantages. Since the consumption of cannabis is increasing rapidly, more and more products are coming into the market.
But unfortunately, the consumers are not well educated about these products, nor the companies' labels are accurate regarding the contents and their credibility.
Nevertheless, the users must have valid information about the product and its contents. The label must provide detailed information about the product inside. Yet, the information should be scientifically verified for its benefits.
More: https://www.todayshealthscience.com/latest-news/the-need-for-well-established-laboratory-testing-methods-for-cannabis-products-is-increasing/

Start Spreading The News: New York Could Displace California As Cannabis Capital Of The World
I'm not a fan of the adult-use legalization framework in California known as Prop. 64. Voters passed this ballot measure in 2016 by a large majority of 56%, which is unheard of in modern politics, even in deep-blue California. Five years later, much of California does not have dispensaries - or cannabis retail, manufacturing, or cultivation - as local officials have banned cannabis businesses.
Many stakeholders, myself included, have tried to persuade Democratic lawmakers in Sacramento to reform Prop. 64, and yet all of those efforts have failed, despite one-party rule. If there was ever a poster child for how NOT to legalize cannabis, it looks like the Golden State.
More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewdeangelo/2021/06/09/start-spreading-the-news-new-york-may-displace-california-as-cannabis-capital-of-the-world/?sh=44d5db0a6aa6

Ontario company receives Health Canada approval to make cannabis pharmaceuticals
An Ontario pharmaceutical company claims to be the first in the country to have a certified good manufacturing practices (GMP) facility that will be wholly dedicated to making CBD tablets and capsules.
Burlington's EmpowerPharm, a new clinical-stage, Canadian-owned drug company, made the announcement this week.
More: https://thestarphoenix.com/cannabis-health/ontario-company-receives-first-ever-health-canada-approval-to-make-cannabis-pharmaceuticals

Poke and toke: Washington offering free joints as new vaccine incentive
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board announced Monday it will offer free marijuana joints as an incentive for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to a notice, the LCB received multiple requests from marijuana retailers to offer the promotion.
Starting Monday, marijuana retailers who host COVID-19 vaccination clinics at their stores will be allowed to offer one joint at no cost to customers.
More: https://www.kxly.com/poke-and-toke-washington-offering-free-joints-as-new-vaccine-incentive/

Can Cannabis Treat Concussions?
It's the year of weed. The plant has taken everyone by storm following the latest cannabis legalization stories across the globe. Whether it's research, recreational use, or medicine, cannabis seems to be everywhere. But, it all makes sense.
Among others, cannabis is making its way through the sports circles too. In the latest developments, the National Hockey League surprisingly relaxed its regulations regarding the use of marijuana.
According to the league rules, players caught using marijuana won't be suspended or fined. However, it goes a step further by taking on board a Cannabis company. They both will partner for the marijuana study.
More: https://www.todayshealthscience.com/latest-news/can-cannabis-treat-concussions/

Cannabis driving less risk than some drugs [AUS]
The risks of driving after taking medicinal cannabis are the same or lower than for many other prescription drugs, research shows.
"The risk is probably considerably less than with many medications such as antidepressants, opioids and benzodiazepines," Professor Iain McGregor from The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney told AAP.
More: https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/medicine/cannabis-driving-less-risk-than-some-drugs-c-3088754

Boy walks 1000 miles to highlight medical cannabis injustice [UK]
A boy who was one of the first people to receive an NHS medical cannabis prescription will today complete a 1000 mile walk to raise awareness and funds for other people who desperately need access to medical cannabis in the UK.
Billy Caldwell and his mother Charlotte will reach their final destination of Westminster after a 1000-mile walk from their home in Belfast via the British Crown Dependency Islands. They are seeking a roundtable meeting with Matt Hancock and the National Institute for Health Research and propose a specially designed study for medical cannabis.
More: https://www.leafie.co.uk/news/boy-walks-1000-miles-to-highlight-medical-cannabis-injustice/

California offers $100 million to rescue its struggling legal marijuana industry
The California Legislature on Monday approved a $100-million plan to bolster California's legal marijuana industry, which continues to struggle to compete with the large illicit pot market nearly five years after voters approved sales for recreational use.
Los Angeles will be the biggest beneficiary of the money, which was proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to be provided as grants to cities and counties to help cannabis businesses transition from provisional to regular licenses.
More: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-14/california-struggling-marijuana-industry-cash-grants-budget


 

JULY 2021  
 

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - Get Vaccinated ASAP

Activists see momentum as three new states legalize marijuana
New laws legalizing marijuana for recreational or medical use take effect in three states on Thursday, significantly expanding the number of Americans who will have access to consumable cannabis products.
The new laws may give new momentum to the push to legalize marijuana across the country as supporters begin circulating new ballot petitions and legislators drop their historical reluctance to marijuana reform.
More: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/561136-3-new-states-legalize-marijuana

Richardson ban reignites debate on cannabis rules in sport
American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson's one-month ban on Friday after her positive test for cannabis has reignited the debate about the logic behind the drug's inclusion on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) banned list.
Richardson was among the favourites to win gold in the 100 metres at this year's Tokyo Olympics but her positive test for a banned substance, which the 21-year-old said she used to deal with the death of her mother, crushed those dreams.
Her suspension, which leaves open the possibility that she could still compete in the women's 4x100m relay event in Tokyo, comes as the legalisation of adult recreational use of marijuana is spreading around the United States.
More: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/richardson-ban-reignites-debate-cannabis-rules-sport-2021-07-02/

Rapid growth of Ontario cannabis stores will likely result in some closures: OCS
The head of the Ontario Cannabis Store is warning that the soaring number of pot shops in the province will likely result in so much competition that some will close.
David Lobo, the interim president and chief executive of the province's pot distributor, said in an annual report released this week that shops will encounter plenty of rivals as 1,000 new cannabis stores are expected to open by September.
"Unfortunately, this rapid growth will likely result in some retailers being faced with increased competition and a crowded marketplace, which could result in some closures and market rightsizing," he wrote.
More: https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/rapid-growth-of-ontario-cannabis-stores-will-likely-result-in-some-closures-ocs-1.5493086

Recreational Marijuana Now Legal in Connecticut
As of Thursday, it is now legal for adults in Connecticut to possess and even consume small amounts of marijuana.
The new law allows individuals age 21 and older to possess or consume up to 1.5 ounces (42.5 grams) of "cannabis plant material" and up to 5 ounces (141.7 grams) in a locked container in a home or in the trunk or locked glove box in the person's vehicle. There's a series of fines and other measures for violators, including mandatory referral to youth services bureaus for 2nd-time juvenile offenders.
More: https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/recreational-marijuana-now-legal-in-connecticut/2519293/

Mexico's supreme court decriminalizes recreational use of cannabis
Mexico's Supreme Court struck down laws which criminalized the recreational use of cannabis on Monday evening.
The decisive 8-3 ruling comes after advocates pushed for decriminalization as a means to reduce drug-fueled cartel violence in the country. The court declared the prohibition of cannabis unconstitutional in 2018, leading lawmakers to move forward on passing a bill.
More: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/29/americas/mexico-cannabis-decriminalization-intl/index.html

Cannabis-Growing Gathers Momentum in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe recently scrapped rules requiring sole state ownership for cannabis farming to encourage investment in the plant for industrial and medicinal uses. Zimbabwe is Africa's largest tobacco producer, but authorities expect hemp export earnings to start replacing tobacco as farmers seek higher earnings from the crop.
Farmer Jesper Kirk has been growing mainly tobacco since he moved to a 250-hectare farm five years ago. He now plans to increase his hectarage of hemp, a type of cannabis plant that has very low levels of THC - the intoxicating substance in marijuana - when the growing season begins in a few months.
More: https://www.voanews.com/africa/cannabis-growing-gathers-momentum-zimbabwe

Lawsuit challenges constitutionality of Colorado law limiting the sale of medical marijuana concentrates
A 19-year-old medical marijuana patient has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a new Colorado law limiting how much marijuana concentrate medical cannabis patients can buy, alleging the measure violates the state constitution.
More: https://coloradosun.com/2021/07/09/lawsuit-constitutionality-medical-marijuana-concentrates/

Germany is producing state sponsored marijuana
Germany is starting to produce and sell medical cannabis so it can provide consumers with lower prices in pharmacies. The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, BfArM (Bundesinstitut fur Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte) announced on 7 July that they have commissioned three companies Aphria RX GmbH, Aurora Produktions GmbH and Demecan GmbH to grow the plant on its behalf. The Institute will later distribute it to pharmacies for 4.30 euros per gram.
The prescription of medical marijuana has been legal in Germany since 2017, however, pharmacies have been getting their supply from imports, leading to unpredictable fluctuations in prices and variety of the product. This move does not ban the importation of cannabis, as BfArM does not have the legal power to do so, but, according to them, it will improve patient care.
More: https://www.themayor.eu/en/a/view/germany-is-producing-state-sponsored-marijuana-8383

How the heatwave is supercharging cannabis growth - special report
Fruit and vegetable crops across Canada's British Columbia have been badly hit by a record-breaking heatwave, but one plant seems to be thriving in the hot, smoky conditions: cannabis.
Large swathes of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District in BC's interior remain shrouded in smoke, as dozens of wildfires continue to rage across the region after last week's period of extreme heat.
More: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/canada-wildfires-heatwave-weed-b1880544.html

Novel study of high-potency cannabis shows memory effects
Even before the pandemic made Zoom ubiquitous, Washington State University researchers were using the video conferencing app to research a type of cannabis that is understudied: the kind people actually use.
More: https://news.wsu.edu/2021/07/08/novel-study-high-potency-cannabis-shows-memory-effects/
Study: Acute effects of high‑potency cannabis flower and cannabis concentrates on everyday life memory and decision making - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-93198-5.epdf

New Study Suggests Cannabis' Wild Ancestors Likely Came from China
Whether you think it's the devil's lettuce, nature's medicine or a conduit to the divine, cannabis and humans have a relationship stretching back thousands of years that has now spawned hundreds of varieties. But millennia of cultivation, breeding and the plant's relatively recent status as a cultural taboo have obscured where exactly cannabis went from being a wild weed to being picked up by humans and put on a path toward becoming the multi-billion-dollar crop it is today.
Now, after sequencing and analyzing more than 100 whole Cannabis sativa genomes, researchers say that the wild plants that gave rise to today's psychoactive strains as well as the fibrous varieties used in textiles likely came from East Asia - or present-day China.
More: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/new-study-suggests-cannabis-wild-ancestors-likely-came-china-180978201/

Senate Marijuana Bill Would Open Up Banking, Stock Exchanges
A new Senate proposal to legalize marijuana would let cannabis companies use banking services and trade on major stock exchanges, according to a person involved in negotiations on the legislation, a potentially dramatic breakthrough for an industry long stymied by federal restrictions.
The sweeping new legislation, a draft of which Senate Democrats plan to release Wednesday, would also direct some tax revenue from marijuana sales to minority communities, which faced disproportionate arrests for marijuana possession, keep some federal drug testing provisions, and give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversight of cannabis regulation, the person said.
More: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-13/schumer-s-pot-bill-said-to-open-up-banking-stock-exchanges

Research finds Cannabis terpenes as a promising new target for pain therapies
When it comes to the medicinal and therapeutic properties of Cannabis sativa, an unsolved mystery is whether there exists an "entourage effect," whereby the pain-relieving effects of the plant as a whole are greater than any of its individual parts. New research from the University of Arizona Health Sciences has found evidence that favors the entourage effect theory and positions Cannabis terpenes, the part of the plant that provides flavor and aroma, as a promising new target for pain therapies that would require lower doses and produce fewer side effects.
More: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210714/Research-finds-Cannabis-terpenes-as-a-promising-new-target-for-pain-therapies.aspx

Arizona set to outpace Colorado in marijuana sales
Arizona is on track to outpace Colorado in marijuana sales just months after it became legal for recreational use in the Copper State, with total annual sales expected to surpass $1 billion by the end of this year, according to state data.
The Arizona Department of Revenue in its latest report on marijuana revenue revealed that total sales have nearly doubled since January, when the recreational sale of marijuana to anyone 21 and older officially became legal in the state.
More: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/564032-arizona-set-to-outpace-colorado-in-marijuana-sales

'An entourage effect': new clues on how low-dose CBD products work
Research from the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics shows that hemp extracts deliver high concentrations of cannabinoid acids in mice due to a 'pharmacokinetic entourage' mechanism.
More: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2021/07/22/entourage-effect-clues-how-low-dose-cannabinoid-cbd-products-work.html

Study - The antimicrobial potential of cannabidiol
Antimicrobial resistance threatens the viability of modern medicine, which is largely dependent on the successful prevention and treatment of bacterial infections. Unfortunately, there are few new therapeutics in the clinical pipeline, particularly for Gram-negative bacteria. We now present a detailed evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of cannabidiol, the main non-psychoactive component of cannabis.
More: http://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-020-01530-y

Scientists discover the ancient birthplace of marijuana
For thousands of years, humans have lit up around the world, enjoying the high that comes from cannabis.
But the controversial politics surrounding the drug has made it difficult for scientists to figure out its genetic origins. Where did cannabis come from and how did it evolve into the potent green that brings us pleasure?
More: https://www.inverse.com/science/scientists-discover-the-birthplace-of-marijuana?utm_source=GetTheElevatordotcom

 


 

AUGUST 2021  
 

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - Get Vaccinated ASAP

Illinois Reports 55 Winners of Marijuana Lottery Licenses
There are 55 winners of Illinois' lottery for licenses to operate marijuana retail stores officials said Thursday, but the licenses can't be awarded until a judge rules on a challenge to the process.
Awarding of the licenses by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation have been delayed for more than a year, initially because of COVID-19-related issues. Problems with scoring the applications added to the delay.
More: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-reports-55-winners-of-marijuana-lottery-licenses/2572458/

Billionaire Charles Koch: 'Cannabis Prohibition Is Counterproductive,' Uses $25M To Support For Legalization
More and more powerful people, whether because of their wealth, celebrity status or their positions as corporate leaders and politicians, have begun to express their views in support of ending marijuana prohibition.
One such person is Charles Koch, a billionaire businessman and philanthropist who shared his views on cannabis legalization and spoke openly of his support in a recent Forbes interview by Will Yakowicz.
Koch, a passionate libertarian, has already donated a fortune to various political causes and is now spending impressive sums to support cannabis advocates who are pushing for federal legalization.
More: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/billionaire-charles-koch-cannabis-prohibition-154204792.html

Cannabis part of the future says UK tobacco giant
The UK's largest tobacco firm says it sees cannabis as part of its future as it tries to move away from selling traditional cigarettes.
British American Tobacco said it wanted to "accelerate" its transformation by reducing the health impact of its products.
In March, BAT took a stake in Canadian medical cannabis maker Organigram.
More: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57995285

No More Cannabis Tourism In Barcelona? Court Overturns Regulations On 'Clubes Cannábicos'
From the start, there's been a loophole in the legislation regulating where people in Barcelona can freely buy and smoke marijuana, better known as "clubes cannábicos" or "asociaciones cannábicas.'
Now that loophole is being closed via a decision by Catalonia's Superior Court overturning a 2016 regulation approved by the Barcelona City Council permitting the clubs to operate in the city.
More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2021/07/27/the-end-of-barcelonas-cannabis-tourism-court-overturns-regulations-on-clubes-cannbicos/?sh=1ddebcdd272d

Cannabis Sales Are Surging, Green Thumb CEO Says. More Americans Are Turning to Pot for Wellness.
American cannabis firm Green Thumb Industries earlier this week reported positive net income for its fourth-straight quarter. CEO Ben Kovler told Barron's the secret to rising sales was simple.
"American consumers are choosing cannabis for well-being," Kovler said, "and that's driving a surge in this industry - not growth, it's a surge."
More: https://www.barrons.com/articles/marijuana-sales-green-thumb-ceo-51628812742?refsec=hp_INTERESTS_earnings-report&tesla=y

Court awards plaintiff $26,267 for medical cannabis following auto accident (Canada)
A BC court recently sided with a plaintiff who was seeking damages from a car accident, including a payment of $26,267 for medical cannabis.
The payment, part of a larger settlement of over $1.1 million, is intended to cover the plaintiff's use of medical cannabis oil at a rate of $1,095 a year, annually, up to the age of 75. The plaintiff was 42 at the time of this year's trial.
More: https://stratcann.com/2021/08/05/court-awards-plaintiff-26267-for-medical-cannabis-following-auto-accident/

Association Between Marijuana Exposure and Pulmonary Function Over 20 Years (study) Exposure to tobacco smoke causes lung damage with clinical consequences that include respiratory symptoms, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer are leading causes of death, and smoking tobacco cigarettes is the most important preventable cause of death in the United States.
Marijuana smoke contains many of the same constituents as tobacco smoke,6 but it is unclear whether smoking marijuana causes pulmonary damage similar to that caused by tobacco. Prior studies of marijuana smokers have demonstrated consistent evidence of airway mucosal injury and inflammation as well as increased respiratory symptoms such as cough, phlegm production, and wheeze, similar to that seen in tobacco smokers.
More: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/1104848

Cannabis firms catch a whiff of opportunity in Brazil International cannabis companies are showing interest in Brazil, both its large consumer market for medicinal products and a proposal that could legalize planting of the crop.
Major producers like Colombia's Clever Leaves (CLVR.O) and Canada's Canopy Growth (WEED.TO) are developing and selling medicinal cannabis products to a Brazilian consumer segment estimated at 10 million to 13 million people. This results from a 2019 regulatory change allowing the import, sale and manufacturing of such products.
More: https://www.reuters.com/business/cannabis-firms-catch-whiff-opportunity-brazil-2021-08-20

Britain's legal cannabis market booms on Covid demand
Britain's legal cannabis market has boomed during the coronavirus pandemic to become the second biggest after the United States, as consumers rushed to alleviate Covid-linked symptoms, industry experts say.
Cannabidiol or CBD, which is most commonly sold as oil at high street retailers, is one of the active ingredients of non-psychoactive cannabis.
CBD is touted as have relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties, but experts argue the market has long suffered from questions about its efficacy and a lack of regulation.
More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/britain-s-legal-cannabis-market-booms-on-covid-demand/ar-AANudEC?ocid=msedgntp

New study finds cannabis could reduce chances of COVID-19 infection
While it's proven that cannabis can be effective in treating things like cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, as well as making watching the Cats movie more bearable, researchers are toying with another use for the Devil's lettuce: defeating COVID-19.
Well, almost.
As reported by Interest Engineering, researchers at the University of Lethbridge in Canada have found that certain cannabis strains may reduce COVID-19's ability to infect the lungs, as well as other susceptible tissues along the intestines and oral cavity.
More: https://m.metrotimes.com/detroit/new-study-finds-cannabis-could-reduce-chances-of-covid-19-infection/Content?oid=24568851

Man attempts to grow cannabis to treat back pain, but mother-in-law has other plans
A 44-year-old U.K. man who grew cannabis to treat chronic back pain had his plans upended after his mother-in-law alerted police to the grow, reports Chronicle Live.
Liam Jones, a former taxi driver, cultivated 75 plants, which were just about ready for harvest before the police came knocking.
More: https://winnipegsun.com/cannabis-news/man-attempts-to-grow-cannabis-to-treat-back-pain-but-mother-in-law-has-other-plans

Cannabis lounges expected to hit Nevada market in 2022 after a funding boost from Legislature
Cannabis consumption lounges are on track to set up shop in Nevada by mid-2022 and shake up the state's marijuana industry after the Interim Finance Committee greenlit new funding on Wednesday that will help the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) oversee a brand new breed of business.
Legal consumption at locations outside the home comes more than four years after Nevada legalized recreational cannabis use. Lounges were effectively authorized in July under AB341, legislation that prioritized diversity among new entrants in the predominantly white industry and made the CCB (the state agency that regulates Nevada's legal marijuana businesses) responsible for licensing and regulation.
More: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/cannabis-lounges-expected-to-hit-nevada-market-in-2022-after-a-funding-boost-from-legislature

N.B. soldier found guilty of secretly feeding troops cannabis-laced cupcakes
A New Brunswick soldier accused of giving cannabis-laced cupcakes to troops on a live-fire training exercise has been found guilty of nine charges.
Bombardier Chelsea Cogswell was convicted Wednesday of eight counts of administering a noxious substance to soldiers without their consent and one count of behaving in a disgraceful manner, a charge under the National Defence Act, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, according to the prosecution.
More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/soldier-cannabis-cupcakes-guilty-chelsea-cogswell-gagetown-1.6144883

Morocco's Cabinet Approves Draft Decree Legalizing Cannabis
Morocco is one step closer to a legal cannabis industry, after draft decree 2.21.642 was approved by the country's lead executive body.
The Cabinet, consisting of top ministers within Morocco's government, approved the new decree, in a huge step in progress toward cannabis legalization. The meeting, which was conducted via videoconference, was led by Prime Minister Saad-Eddine El Othmani.
More: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/08/344046/moroccos-cabinet-approves-draft-decree-legalizing-cannabis

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2021  

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - Get Vaccinated ASAP

How will legal cannabis firms navigate Mexico's business risks?
Legal cannabis is coming to Mexico, and many foreign investors are chomping at the bit.
Mexico has been inching closer and closer to full legalisation ever since its Supreme Court of Justice ruled in 2018 that banning the drug was unconstitutional. In January, the country's health ministry laid out regulations for its use for medical purposes.
More: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/9/3/how-will-legal-cannabis-firms-navigate-mexicos-business-risks

Panama legalizes medical marijuana use
Panama legalized medical marijuana use on Monday, joining at least seven other Latin American countries.
After a five-year struggle, Panama's national assembly unanimously passed Bill 153 during the bill's third debate. Some members of the assembly shared that they were swayed by the initiative's motto, "for a day without pain."
National Assembly President Crispiano Adames, joined by Marcos Castillero, championed Bill 153 to promote and ensure responsible access to medicinal cannabis products. He said that the bill was drafted in a way that seeks to prevent future smuggling by requiring a controlled environment. Adames believes the new law's most significant achievement will be providing relief to deserving patients.
More: https://www.jurist.org/news/2021/08/panama-legalizes-medical-marijuana-use/

Federal Taxation of Cannabis Under Proposed Legislation
On July 14, 2021, U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released a long-anticipated bill that would provide for comprehensive federal cannabis reform.
The Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act (CAOA or the Act) is a discussion draft rather than legislation that has been formally introduced. The sponsors seek comment from stakeholders about the discussion draft by Sept. 1, 2021. The Act, in its current form, would legalize and regulate cannabis federally, similarly to the way alcohol and tobacco are currently regulated.
More: https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-state/federal-taxation-of-cannabis-under-proposed-legislation

Weed for vax: Outlier encourages COVID shot with cannabis giveaways (Jamaica)
Montego Bay-based medical cannabis dispensary, Outlier has joined the ranks of companies offering discounts and/or giveaways to vaccinated people.
Granted their CLA license in 2019, the dispensary falls under the Outlier Biopharma group of biotechnology companies focused on research, development and manufacturing of cannabis and cannabinoid-based products.
"We want to do our part to inspire both Jamaicans and tourists to be safe and stay healthy," said Brian Thelwell, managing director of Outlier.
More: https://jamaica.loopnews.com/content/weed-vax-outlier-encourages-covid-shot-cannabis-giveaways

Italy to allow small-scale cannabis growing at home
Italy is set to allow the small-scale cultivation of cannabis plants at home after a reform was approved by the Lower House's justice committee on Wednesday.
The reform decriminalises the growth of up to four female cannabis plants at home.
More: https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2021/09/08/italy-to-allow-small-scale-cannabis-growing-at-home_824cda06-7f4a-4738-970d-5cbdce661cce.html

Canada's marijuana legalization provides lessons to the world on selling cannabis
In October 2018, Canada became the first G20 country to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. Over the past three years, the province of Ontario - to name just one Canadian jurisdiction - has moved away from having a significantly under-serviced retail market to one that is heavily saturated.
The Cannabis Act (Bill C-45) provided the rules and regulations around the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis. However, there are significant differences in each province's and territory's retail framework - private, public or hybrid - and the legal age for consumption, purchasing options and personal possession limits.
More: https://theconversation.com/canadas-marijuana-legalization-provides-lessons-to-the-world-on-selling-cannabis-166645

Why are children still being denied life-changing medical cannabis on the NHS?
Optimism. You have to have it in politics. In fact, given the challenges people up and down the country have faced over these past 18 months, you might just say a little bit of optimism is what we all need right now.
In my years as an Edinburgh MP, it has been my constituents that have been the source of my optimism. Take Karen Gray's story, for example.
Gray is the mother of a boy, Murray, who has a rare form of epilepsy that, unmedicated, causes him to suffer life-threatening seizures every single day. The one source of relief in Murray's life comes from medicinal cannabis oil.
More: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/medical-cannibis-nhs-sajid-javid-b1913724.html?utm_source=reddit.com

Olympic marijuana ban to be re-examined after Sha'Carri Richardson's disqualification
The World Anti-Doping Agency announced Tuesday it would review the status of cannabis on its prohibited substances list, according to a press release from the agency.
While cannabis will remain prohibited in 2022, any changes that stem from the agency's review would not take effect until the following year. This comes after the agency received "requests from a number of stakeholders," the release said.
More: https://thehill.com/homenews/news/572283-olympic-marijuana-ban-to-be-re-examined-after-shacarri-richardsons

Greens call for end to cannabis 'prohibition'
The Greens have become the first party in the Finnish government - and Parliament - to call for legalisation of marijuana.
On Sunday, the second day of a virtual party conference, the Greens approved various initiatives, including one calling on the government to declare a climate emergency. Another - potentially more controversial - one called for the legalisation of cannabis in Finland.
More: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/greens_call_for_end_to_cannabis_prohibition/12096442

Report: U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx Opposes Marijuana Legalization But Invests in Cannabis Stock
Between Madison Cawthorn and Ted Budd, North Carolina's Republican congressional delegation doesn't add up to a whole lot for the constituency to be proud about.
This week, we can go ahead and add another shameless grifter to the list: Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, whose voting record suggests she opposes cannabis legalization, and yet, is out there cashing in on marijuana stocks.
More: https://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/u-s-rep-virginia-foxx-opposes-marijuana-legalization-invests-in-cannabis-stock/

Italy will likely hold a referendum on decriminalizing cannabis next year
Italy will likely decide whether or not to decriminalize cannabis in a referendum next year, after campaign groups managed to gather the required 500,000 signatures in a week.
Popular referendums in Italy can be called if 500,000 signatures are obtained, and campaigners were able to obtain the necessary amount well before the September 30 deadline.
If the public votes to decriminalize cannabis, the purchase, sale and cultivation of the drug will all become legal under Italian law.
More: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/18/europe/italy-cannabis-referendum-scli-intl/index.html

Amazon lobbying Biden administration to make cannabis legal
Amazon is pushing for cannabis to be federally legalized, the online commerce giant has announced.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, the company said: "Given our previous support for legalizing cannabis at the federal level, as well as expunging certain criminal records and investing in impacted businesses and communities, Amazon recently announced our support for, and began actively lobbying on, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2021 (MORE Act)."
More: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/amazon-cannabis-marijuana-weed-biden-b1924225.html

40 mayors call on next Dutch government to legalise marijuana
Almost 40 Dutch mayors, mainly from the south of the Netherlands, have signed a manifesto calling on the government to legalise soft drugs as part of a campaign to tackle organized crime and the infiltration of legitimate companies and organisations by drugs criminals. The issue must have a prominent place in the next cabinet's plans, the mayors say. 'By removing the criminals' earnings model, vulnerable citizens can be protected,' the manifesto states.
More: https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/09/40-mayors-call-on-next-dutch-government-to-legalise-marijunana/

Cannabidiol Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Promotes the Host Innate Immune Response
The rapid spread of COVID-19 underscores the need for new treatments. Here we report that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound produced by the cannabis plant, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection. CBD and its metabolite, 7-OH-CBD, but not congeneric cannabinoids, potently block SARS-CoV-2 replication in lung epithelial cells. CBD acts after cellular infection, inhibiting viral gene expression and reversing many effects of SARS-CoV-2 on host gene transcription.
More: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7987002/

Cannabis retail experts say sales could one day hit $1 billion a month [Canada]
As it release its monthly figures, Statistics Canada also provided a breakdown of retail cannabis sales by most provinces this week. As they have since legalization in October 2018 - when they clocked in at just about $50 million a month for the entire country - sales have been on a rapid climb.
Cannabis retail experts remain bullish, even as their industry continues to take some hard knocks during COVID-19.
More: https://torontosun.com/news/cannabis-retail-experts-say-sales-could-one-day-hit-1-billion-a-month

 

 

 

OCTOBER 2021  
 

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - Get Vaccinated ASAP

The Cannabis Question
NOVA investigates the story of cannabis from the criminalization that has disproportionately harmed communities of color to the latest medical understanding of the plant. What risks does cannabis pose to the developing brain? How much do we know about its potential medical benefits? As cannabis becomes socially accepted, scientists are exploring its long-term health consequences. (Premiered September 29, 2021)
More: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/the-cannabis-question/

German would-be kingmaker sees legal cannabis but little else with SPD/Greens alliance
Legalising cannabis is about the only thing Germany's Free Democrats (FDP) could easily agree with the centre-left Social Democrats and Greens, the FDP leader has said, sounding cool on the possibility of forming a so-called "traffic light" coalition.
Christian Lindner wants his business-friendly FDP to be kingmakers after Germany's national election on Sunday, at which the future course of Europe's largest economy is at stake after 16 years of steady, centre-right leadership under Angela Merkel.
More: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-would-be-kingmaker-sees-legal-cannabis-little-else-with-spdgreens-2021-09-22/

Pot Firms' Bags of Cash May Soon Be History: Cannabis Weekly
Cannabis companies, forced to deal in cash only due to the federal illegality of their product, saw some legislative headway toward change last week. But there's still a long way to go before they can bank like regular companies.
The so-called SAFE Banking Act, which would let banks deal with cannabis companies without fear of penalty, was approved by voice vote in the lower house last week as part of the broader National Defense Authorization Act. Now its fate depends largely on the Senate.
More: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/pot-firms-bags-of-cash-may-soon-be-history-cannabis-weekly-1.1657886

Considerations For Early Movers In Cannabis E-Commerce
As I write this in September 2021, 19 U.S. states have completely legalized cannabis for recreational and medical use. That's over one-third of the country.
This steady legalization - and destigmatization - isn't just benefiting cannabis users but entrepreneurs in the space, too. In particular, we're beginning to see a rapid push for app-based cannabis purchases that are as fast and easy as shopping on Amazon.
More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/10/01/considerations-for-early-movers-in-cannabis-e-commerce/?sh=3dfca837689b

CBD for Alcohol Use Disorder: Can Taking CBD Help Decrease Alcohol Consumption?
Alcohol use disorder occurs when a person isn't able to limit or control how much they use alcohol, despite experiencing negative consequences. Overusing alcohol can result in changes to the brain, making it harder to stop the behavior.
More: https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-for-alcoholism

How A Hudson Valley Town Turned A Defunct Prison Into A Thriving Cannabis Hub
Just over an hour's drive from New York City, Warwick is one of those Hudson Valley towns perfect for perusing boutiques filled with aromatic candles after a hike to take in the fall foliage. The town was built upon farms, small businesses, and until about a decade ago, a medium-security prison.
The grounds of the shuttered Mid-Orange Correctional Facility, which once counted people locked up on drug offenses among its inmates, have now become populated by cannabis companies that are promising to vitalize economic activity in the area.
More: https://gothamist.com/news/how-hudson-valley-town-turned-defunct-prison-thriving-cannabis-hub

'Mother of all cannabinoids': anti-seizure compounds found in cannabis
Research from pharmacologists at the University of Sydney provides new insights into how cannabis extracts may work to treat epilepsy.
The study for the first time reports that three acidic cannabinoids found in cannabis reduced seizures in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome, an intractable form of childhood epilepsy.
More: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2021/10/05/mother-of-all-cannabinoids-anti-seizure-compounds-cannabis.html

The boom of cannabis growers in Oklahoma is straining rural utilities
Oklahoma has some of the nation's loosest marijuana regulations. Rural utilities say the large greenhouses popping up across the state is straining water and electric infrastructure beyond capacity.
More: https://www.npr.org/2021/10/08/1044542063/the-boom-of-cannabis-growers-in-oklahoma-is-straining-rural-utilities

A Singaporean man was given the death penalty after he was found with 2 pounds of cannabis
A man in Singapore was given the death penalty after authorities found him with 2 pounds of cannabis.
Omar Yacob Bamadhaj, 41, was sentenced to death in February, and a court dismissed his appeal on Tuesday, Channel News Asia reported. He was sentenced to death by hanging, the outlet said.
More: https://www.insider.com/singapore-man-given-death-penalty-2-pounds-cannabis-2021-10

A roundup of countries that permit recreational cannabis
Marijuana may be an issue of easy agreement in the ongoing coalition talks between Germany's leading parties. Despite numerous points of contention, the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens can find themselves aligned when it comes to cannabis legalization.
The FDP emphasizes the revenue that the state could earn from taxing prerolled joints, cannabis flower and edibles. The Greens say legalization would put an end to illegal sales and reduce organized crime.
On Wednesday, Social Democrat health expert Karl Lauterbach urged the next government to legalize cannabis.
More: https://www.dw.com/en/a-roundup-of-countries-that-permit-recreational-cannabis/a-59510115

CBD isolate may reduce symptoms and progression of Parkinson's disease - study
New research has shown that CBD may have therapeutic effects on disease progression and treating symptoms in Parkinson's Disease.
Exploratory research using an accepted, yet experimental, model of Parkinson's disease found that CBD isolate may improve the symptoms associated with the condition.
It also discovered it is potentially neuroprotective which could decrease disease progression.
More: https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2021/10/12/cbd-isolate-may-reduce-symptoms-and-progression-of-parkinsons-disease-study-finds/

Is Canada a model for German cannabis legalization? [Video]
Some German mainstream parties are in favor of regulating the cultivation, trade in and sale of cannabis. Pharmaceutical companies stand to profit.
More: https://www.dw.com/en/is-canada-a-model-for-german-cannabis-legalization/av-59586885

Cronos Group launches first cultured cannabinoid product
The latest cannabis gummies to hit the market were made without a cannabis plant.
The 2:1 THC/CBG (cannabigerol) gummies, branded SPINACH FEELZ Chill Bliss, were made using proprietary biosynthesis and fermentation processes.
More: https://theprovince.com/cannabis-news/cronos-group-launches-first-cultured-cannabinoid-product

Luxembourg first in Europe to legalise growing and using cannabis
Adults in Luxembourg will be permitted to grow up to four cannabis plants in their homes or gardens under laws that will make it the first country in Europe to legalise production and consumption of the drug.
The announcement on Friday by Luxembourg's government was said to deliver fundamental changes in the country's approach to recreational cannabis use and cultivation in light of the failure of prohibition to deter use.
More: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/22/luxembourg-first-in-europe-to-legalise-growing-and-using-cannabis

Choosing Cannabis Over Booze
Here's the billion-dollar question.
As more & more consumers turn to cannabis, how is this impacting the alcohol industry? Currently, with legal cannabis sales being limited to North America it's difficult to quantify in dollar terms the impact.
More: https://www.fourpm.co/p/cannabis-vs-booze-

Police aided illegal marijuana operation in Maine, feds say
Two sheriff's deputies accepted new cars and an ownership stake in an operation that illegally sold more than $13 million in pot grown for Maine's medical marijuana program, federal prosecutors said.
Two other law enforcement officers and a prosecutor aided the operation by providing intelligence and tipping off participants, prosecutors said.
More: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/police-aided-illegal-marijuana-operation-in-maine-feds-say-1.5642547

Cannabis is one industry that's actually coming out of Covid even stronger
When members of the cannabis industry descended upon Las Vegas last week for the biggest trade show in the business, there was something stirring in the air. It wasn't the aroma of a freshly lit joint, but rather a sense that everything seems to be coming up roses for the industry.
Despite a global pandemic, discombobulated supply chains, ballooning inflation and an ongoing fight to legalize marijuana on a federal level, the cannabis industry in America is flourishing.
More: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/28/business/cannabis-booming-industry-mjbizcon/index.html

Cannabis Products Really May Have an Antidepressant Effect, Small Study Hints
While antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication have been literal lifesavers for many people throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, for a smaller subset the treatments don't always work or can cause substantial side effects.
This is why "an increasing number of people struggling with anxiety and/or depression are trying cannabis products for symptom management," explains a new study, led by Medical University of South Carolina neuroscientist Erin Martin.
More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/cannabis-products-really-may-have-an-antidepressant-effect-small-study-hints/ar-AAPUIiL?ocid=msedgntp

 

 

NOVEMBER 2021  

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - Get Vaccinated ASAP

New Research Fails to Show a Correlation Between Marijuana, Suicide, and Mental Illness
Some critics of marijuana legalization point to studies suggesting that regular use might increase the risk of mental illness or suicide. In 2013, research by Anderson, et al found no such relationship in states that had legalized medicinal marijuana. My colleagues Jacob J. Rich, Michael Schemenaur, and Robert Capodilupo and I did research to see if Anderson's findings are still valid in 2021.
More: https://www.cato.org/blog/new-research-fails-show-correlation-between-marijuana-suicide-mental-illness
Study: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.25.20201848v2.full.pdf

California legalized weed five years ago. Why is the illicit market still thriving?
Five years after cannabis legalization, California is awash with signs of an apparently booming industry. Californians can toke on Justin Bieber-branded joints and ash their blunts in Seth Rogen's $95 ceramics. They can sip on THC-infused seltzers, relax inside a cannabis cafe, and get edibles delivered to their doors.
But behind the flashy facade, the legal weed industry remains far from the law-abiding, prosperous sector many had hoped for. In fact, it's a mess.
More: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/02/california-legal-weed-cannabis-industry-economy

As Overdose Deaths Skyrocket, Study Finds 93% of Pain Patients Quit Opioids When Given Cannabis
Despite the state spending thousands of dollars a second - ticketing, kidnapping, caging, and killing evil drug users, the rate of lethal drug overdoses in the last 15 years has skyrocketed at near-exponential rates.
According to the most recent data on overdose deaths, despite the states immoral war on drugs, 2020 went down as the deadliest year in history for overdoses.
In fact, according to data from the federal government: More Americans died from drug overdose in a 12-month period than at any other point in history.
More: https://thefreethoughtproject.com/opioid-use-plummets-cannabis-study/

Amsterdam cannabis cafes fear foreign tourist ban amid COVID recovery
As Amsterdam's tourism industry slowly begins to recover from the impact of the pandemic, its famous cannabis cafes could be facing a new hurdle, in the form of a ban on foreign tourists.
Earlier this year, the city's mayor, Femke Halsema, touted a proposal to ban foreign tourists from entering cannabis-serving establishments as a way to reinvent the city's image. Banning foreigners from cafes, supporters say, would help to stop the influx of rowdy tourists who crowd the city's streets and annoy some locals.
More: https://www.dw.com/en/amsterdam-cannabis-cafes-fear-foreign-tourist-ban-amid-covid-recovery/a-59638155

Weed-legal states 'seeing more cannabis tax dollars than alcohol tax dollars,' Green Thumb CEO says
Green Thumb Industries CEO Ben Kovler discusses the cannabis company's ability to grow in an ever-expanding market that anticipates future legalization in more states as cannabis tax dollars are outpacing alcohol tax dollars in states that have already endorsed legalizing the substance.
More: https://finance.yahoo.com/video/weed-legal-states-seeing-more-174323224.html

A Dumb Scare Story Could Lead to the Creation of Europe's Largest Legal Weed Market
Germany's incoming coalition government is close to setting up a deal that would legalise recreational weed in the EU's most populous country.
The coalition parties, under Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, are in talks to make Germany - population of 83 million - one of the biggest single legal cannabis markets in the world.
More: https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgpjk/legal-weed-germany-unfounded-fears-can?

CBD for Lung Cancer: Can it Help?
With cannabidiol showing potential in treating cancer, let's find out how CBD for lung cancer can help. Keep reading.
Throughout the years, cannabidiol has been found to have beneficial effects on health, even resulting in the FDA approval of Epidiolex, a medication for rare types of seizures with CBD as the main ingredient.
Researchers continue to work to know more about what this cannabinoid has to offer. Along the way, a study published in the medical journal Cancers concluded that CBD can help in treating cancer by inhibiting its proliferation and promoting cancer cell death in animal subjects and cultured cancer cells. This applies to different types of cancers such as glioblastoma, breast, colon, gastric, and prostate.
More: https://plantsbeforepills.com/cbd-for-lung-cancer-can-it-help/

Germany moves to legalise cannabis in economy-boosting bid after Merkel departure
The political parties known as the "traffic light" coalition are pushing for a change in legislation meaning the sale of cannabis will be legal for consumption purposes, it is suggested. According to German news outlet Der Spiegel, also citing a report by Funke, a representative of the working group tasked with evaluating the policy change said: "We are introducing the controlled distribution of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes in licensed shops."
More: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1523645/germany-news-legalise-cannabis-economy-angela-merkel

Three years after it was legalized, marijuana sales in Mass. reach $2.3 billion
With the state's three-year anniversary of legal non-medical marijuana sales approaching Saturday, Cannabis Control Commission Chairman Steven Hoffman took stock Thursday of his agency's accomplishments, the legal industry's growth and the challenges that remain ahead.
The first two recreational marijuana retailers - New England Treatment Access in Northampton and Cultivate in Leicester - opened their doors to consumers on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018 and the industry that voters legalized on Nov. 8, 2016 has since grown to include hundreds of businesses, thousands of employees and, as of Monday, roughly $2.3 billion in cannabis sales.
More: https://www.berkshireeagle.com/statehouse/marijuana-sales-in-massachusetts-reach-two-billion/article_35ccf87e-493b-11ec-99fc-eb8ecc1ccbe8.html

Opinion: Cannabis contributes almost as much to Canada's GDP as the dairy industry. Why isn't the government taking it seriously?
The cannabis sector contributed $17 billion to Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) for the year ending July 2021. In the space of three years, adult-use and medical cannabis' contribution to Canada's GDP has grown to rival the dairy industry's $20 billion GDP.
The growth shows no signs of slowing. Sales of legal cannabis products by licensed dispensaries will eclipse $4 billion on an annualized basis in 2021 and is projected to surpass $5 billion in 2022 . Illicit cannabis sales, brazenly marketed and distributed to Canadians, are estimated to be at least as big as the legal market (another $4 billion or so per year).
More: https://leaderpost.com/cannabis-news/opinion-cannabis-contributes-almost-as-much-to-canadas-gdp-as-the-dairy-industry-why-isnt-the-government-taking-it-seriously

Rep. Nancy Mace on cannabis: 'The only place this is controversial is in Washington D.C'
video: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/rep-nancy-mace-cannabis-only-222024974.html

High Holiday? This Thanksgiving, Cannabis Is a Family Affair
Cannabis has finally earned a seat at the table in America. According to a new survey, one in two Green Wednesday shoppers intend to gift cannabis products to a friend or family member this year, while 77% will consume cannabis with others on Thanksgiving. In fact, data suggests American cannabis consumers have become increasingly open about their cannabis habits, with 40% planning on consuming openly with family and friends this season, and 37% planning to incorporate cannabis into their annual Thanksgiving meal. One thing is clear: this Thanksgiving, cannabis is a family affair.
More: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/11/23/2339758/0/en/High-Holiday-This-Thanksgiving-Cannabis-Is-a-Family-Affair.html

Ontario: Testing result of illicit cannabis products show high levels of pesticides, inaccurate THC levels
The OPP have shared testing results from vape products and dried flower seized from the illicit market, showing high levels of pesticides and much lower than advertised THC levels.
The testing results were provided by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), using samples from OPP raids in 2020. In addition to testing for THC, the NRC tested for 96 pesticides in samples of vape products, with high levels detected in all samples with myclobutanil being the most prominent, ranging from 0.3 parts-per-million (ppm) to over 500 ppm. That is several thousand times higher than the detection limits set by Health Canada.
More: https://stratcann.com/2021/11/25/ontario-testing-result-of-illicit-vapes-dried-flower-show-high-levels-of-pesticides-inaccurate-thc-levels/

THC "breathalyzers" are getting better, but will they do more harm than good?
It's illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana, but that influence is hard to prove.
If you are and you're pulled over and asked to pass a breathalyzer test, nothing will be detected.
More: https://www.inverse.com/innovation/the-trouble-with-thc-tech

This Thailand Fast Food Chain Is Selling 'Crazy Happy Pizza' Which Is Made With Cannabis
The Pizza Company, a major fast food chain in Thailand, is selling its 'Crazy Happy Pizza', which is made with real cannabis but won't get customers high. It's because the fresh cannabis plant leaf used is deep fried.
The "Crazy Happy Pizza" has a combination of toppings inspired by the flavours of Thailand's famous Tom Yum Gai soup, as well as a deep-fried cannabis leaf on top. Cannabis is also infused into the cheese crust and an accompanying dipping sauce, the Associated Press reported.
More: https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/wtf/thailand-fast-food-chain-is-pizza-made-with-cannabis-555308.html



 

 

DECEMBER 2021  

Stay Safe - Wash Hands Frequently With Soap - Follow stay-at-home & Social Distancing Guidelines - Wear a mask when outside your home - GET VACCINATED ASAP

Perceived Efficacy, Reduced Prescription Drug Use, and Minimal Side Effects of Cannabis in Patients with Chronic Orthopedic Pain
Although cannabis is widely used for the treatment of chronic pain, most research relies on patient self-report and few studies have objectively quantified its efficacy and side effects. Extant inventories for measuring cannabis use were not designed to capture the medically relevant features of cannabis use, but rather were designed to detect problematic use or cannabis use disorder. Thus, we sought to capture the medically relevant features of cannabis use in a population of patients with orthopedic pain and pair these data with objective measures of pain and prescription drug use.
More: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/can.2021.0088

San Francisco Suspends Cannabis Tax To Combat Illegal Marijuana Sales
San Francisco supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance to suspend the city's Cannabis Business Tax through the end of next year, in an attempt to curb illegal marijuana sales.
According to Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, the legislation's author, suspending the city business tax through Dec. 31, 2022, would help support legal cannabis retailers as they struggle to compete with illegally sold cannabis.
More: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/12/01/san-francisco-suspends-cannabis-tax-to-combat-illegal-marijuana-sales/

THC in blood and saliva are poor measures of cannabis impairment
A new study suggests these biomarkers are inconsistent indicators
The findings contrast with the much stronger relationship between blood alcohol concentrations and driving impairment, with implications for the application of drug-driving laws globally.
More: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2021/12/02/thc-blood-saliva-poor-measures-cannabis-impairment-lambert-study.html

Mexican Court Allows Subsidiary Of Canadian Company To Grow Cannabis
Mexico's Supreme Court on Wednesday issued the country's first-ever authorization for planting, cultivating and harvesting cannabis for industrial purposes.
It granted the right to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canadian firm Xebra Brands, which cultivates hemp and produces products such as cannabis-infused drinks.
More: https://www.barrons.com/amp/news/mexican-court-allows-subsidiary-of-canadian-company-to-grow-cannabis-01638405907

Alberta cannabis stores will be able to deliver cannabis by March 2022
New rules in Alberta that are moving online sales of cannabis from a government store to private retailers will take effect in early March.
A representative for The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Corporation (AGLC) says private cannabis retailers have 90 days before the legislation takes effect and retailers will be able to launch new online cannabis sales and delivery options for their customers.
More: https://stratcann.com/2021/12/10/alberta-cannabis-stores-will-be-able-to-deliver-cannabis-by-march-2022/

Geneticists reveal the evolutionary origins of Cannabis sativa
Whether smoked, eaten, or merely smelled wafting in through an open window, cannabis enjoys a special kind of fame - it is used all over the world, it is instantly recognizable, and it provokes as much controversy as it does enthusiasm. This distinct spot in the human psyche is to do with the fact people have used the plant for thousands of years. Yet despite these ancient roots, we knew surprisingly little about its birthplace and evolution - then in July, scientists announced they had solved the mystery.
More: https://www.inverse.com/science/evolution-cannabis-sativa

Is it high time for Canadian cannabis tourism?
Dave Dormer isn't who you'd expect to find at the forefront of Canada's budding cannabis tourism industry. The veteran Calgary-based journalist has covered everything from crime stories for Sun Media to culture and politics for the CBC and CTV. He's a reporter passionate about the truth - and that passion has flowed into educating everyone about the history of cannabis.
"We were lied to for 94 years about an amazing plant that has aided humans for millennia," he tells me over Zoom. "There's a lot of reprogramming to do, a lot to learn, and a lot of fun to be had."
More: https://cangeotravel.ca/article/is-it-high-time-for-canadian-cannabis-tourism/

Illinois' weed tax windfall tops $560 million. Here's where the money goes.
First-time recreational cannabis buyers often feel the sticker shock.
With hefty taxes, an eighth of an ounce of fresh cannabis flower typically costs around $80 - far more than the price of black market weed.
But sales have continued to boom despite the sky-high taxes and prices, totaling over $1.9 billion since the drug was fully legalized last January. As a result, total tax collections on pot sales have now jumped to nearly $563 million. And since February, pot sales have brought in a whooping $100 million more in taxes than booze.
More: https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2021/12/7/22812374/illinois-marijuana-taxes-recreational-pot-sales-state-boxing-out-negativity-day-simp-derek-brown

Malta becomes first EU nation to legalise cannabis
Malta has become the first EU country to legalise the cultivation and personal use of cannabis.
Adults will be allowed to carry up to seven grams of cannabis, and grow no more than four plants at home. But smoking it in public or in front of children will be illegal.
Several other nations have similar plans, such as Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Countries like the Netherlands tolerate cannabis use in certain circumstances.
More: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59660856

Cannabis Buds and Flowers Will Soon Be Legalized in Thailand. Here's What That Means.
The first country in Southeast Asia to legalize marijuana for medical use and research in 2018, Thailand is set to loosen its laws around cannabis further as it advances towards full legalization - with plans to remove the plant's flowers and buds from its banned narcotics list announced last week.
More: https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/epxvdj/cannabis-buds-and-flowers-will-soon-be-legalized-in-thailand-heres-what-that-means

In Genius Move, Berlin Public Transit Company Introduces Edible Hemp Tickets
BVG, the public transit company responsible for Berlin, has announced its latest product. Instead of a new subscription or bus line, the company will offer edible tickets made with hemp oil. Before you get on bus line 420, you should know that it is not meant to get passengers high.
More: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/in-genius-move-berlin-public-transit-company-introduces-edible-hemp-tickets-176592.html

Epileptic seizure frequency fell by 86% in kids treated with whole plant medicinal cannabis
Epileptic seizure frequency fell by an average of 86% among 10 children treated with whole plant medicinal cannabis, reveals a case series, published in the open access journal BMJ Paediatrics Open.
None of the children had responded to other treatments, including the only cannabidiol (CBD) product licensed for their condition.
More: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-12-epileptic-seizure-frequency-fell-kids.html