A Senate committee is urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to explore medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids for veterans, and it’s also asking the agency to consider allowing its doctors to formally recommend cannabis to their patients in light of the Biden administration’s rescheduling push.
In a series of reports attached to spending bills that moved through the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, lawmakers included a variety of marijuana, psychedelics and hemp sections—including a directive for VA to account for a little-known policy that blocks veterans from receiving GI benefits for educational courses aimed at preparing them to participate in the cannabis industry.
The appropriations legislation was approved by the Senate panel just days after a GOP-led House committee passed its versions, with <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-congressional-panel-directs-biden-admin-to-explain-marijuana-rescheduling-decision-saying-its-concerned-about-deviations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports that include sections critical of the marijuana rescheduling move</a> and raising concerns about impaired driving and intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids.
For the Senate’s Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA) spending bill, however, the attached report notably urges VA to conduct a study on the medical marijuana as a possible opioid alternative and report back with findings within one year of enactment.
“Reducing Opioid Use Through Medical Marijuana.—The Committee encourages VA to conduct a study on the relationship between treatment programs involving medical marijuana that are approved by States, the access of veterans to such programs, and a reduction in opioid use and abuse among veterans, as data is available to do so. Findings should be provided to the Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 1 year of enactment of this act.”
It also says that if the federal government does move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as the Justice Department has proposed, VA should “consider” allowing its doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations to veterans living in legal states.
“Medical Marijuana.—The Committee recognizes that the Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Agency has concurred with the Department of Health and Human Services’ 2023 recommendation to reschedule cannabis in the Controlled Substances Act from its current placement in Schedule I to the less restrictive Schedule III. Should cannabis be rescheduled to a lower Schedule, VA should consider issuing guidance allowing VHA doctors and other personnel to discuss, recommend, and facilitate access to medical marijuana in States with state-legal medical marijuana programs to the extent allowable under Federal law.”
The underlying MilConVA bill that the committee approved would go a step further by <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/senators-approve-bill-to-let-va-doctors-recommend-medical-marijuana-to-veterans-in-legal-states/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requiring that flexibility for VA doctors</a> under an amendment from Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) that was adopted on Thursday, rather than simply urging consideration of the policy change as in the report language.
Another section of the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/118th-congress/senate-report/191" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> addresses a VA <a href="https://www.berkshirecc.edu/student-engagement/clubs-and-organizations/Medical-Marijuana-PA-final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">policy</a> instituted in 2022 that hasn’t previously been widely reported, barring the use of GI  bill benefits for educational courses that “have the objective to prepare someone to participate in the cultivation, sale, or distribution of marijuana.’’ The committee said VA must submit a report to Congress within 90 days of enactment of the legislation.
“Availability of GI Bill Benefits.—The Committee notes that VA policy determinations have restricted the ability of veterans to access their earned benefits, including GI Bill Benefits. In particular, the Committee is aware of the VA Policy Advisory, dated September 2, 2022 and entitled ‘‘State-Legalized Cannabis Training and GI Bill Benefits and Related Addendum,’’ which changed VA policy to no longer allow the use of GI Bill Benefits for courses of study determined to ‘‘have the objective to prepare someone to participate in the cultivation, sale, or distribution of marijuana.’’ The Advisory came despite the offering of such courses in States in which either the recreational or medicinal use of marijuana is legally permissible. The Committee directs VA to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 90 days after enactment of this act regarding the number of veterans who this effected.”
The VA secretary would also be required to provide congressional appropriators with a report on the status of studies exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for certain mental health conditions within 180 days of enactment under the legislation. And it would be further mandated to “initiate a longitudinal study of veterans participating in such therapies and track outcomes over a period of 5 years.”
“Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.—The Committee understands that VA and other relevant Federal agencies are undertaking research to evaluate the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies in treating PTSD, major depressive disorder, and other conditions. The Committee directs the Secretary to submit a report no later than 180 days after enactment of this act to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, on current research and activities related to these therapies.
Further, the Department is directed to initiate a longitudinal study of veterans participating in such therapies and track outcomes over a period of 5 years. The study should include: the number of individuals receiving psychedelic-assisted therapies treatment in the last year, the average number of months such individuals served on active duty if available, the distribution of disability ratings of such individuals, the gender distribution of individuals receiving treatment, the number of individuals receiving psychedelic-assisted therapies treatment who suspended participation in such treatment, the average number of treatment sessions and dosages each individual received, the percentage of individuals who experienced a clinically significant reduction in symptoms, and the number of such individuals who experienced a recurrence of their diagnosis after previously receiving this treatment. The Department is directed to report annually on the progress of the study and provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on outcomes, at the conclusion of the study.”
A separate report attached to the appropriations legislation covering Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (Ag/FDA) similarly speaks to psychedelics research, urging FDA to work with VA and other agencies on studies exploring the medical potential of substances such as MDMA, psilocybin and ibogaine.
“Psychedelics.—The Committee recognizes the increased interest and need to study psychedelics, including MDMA, psilocybin, ibogaine, and 5–MeO–DMT, and their potential therapeutic effects. The Committee encourages FDA to work with the VA, DoD, and NIH on leveraging clinical trials to improve our understanding of psychedelics The Committee also encourages FDA and VA, DoD, and NIH to work together in developing and supporting public-private collaborations to advance psychedelic research for therapeutic purposes, with FDA maintaining its independent regulatory authority as an observer. The Committee requests a report on such efforts within 180 days of enactment of this act.”
Unlike the House version of the Ag/FDA bill, there’s no language in the Senate bill that would <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-led-congressional-committee-approves-bill-to-ban-most-consumable-hemp-products-such-as-delta-8-thc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impose a ban on most consumable hemp products</a>—a contentious issue that’s embroiled the cannabis industry in recent weeks.
The Senate <a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/118th-congress/senate-report/193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> for the Ag/FDA bill does contain several other hemp provisions, though. That includes one that urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to “conduct biotechnology and genomics research” into cannabis in order to “facilitate cultivar development.”
“Hemp Cultivar Development.—The Committee encourages ARS to conduct biotechnology and genomics research in collaboration with capable institutions to elucidate the genetic control of key production and product quality traits in hemp to facilitate cultivar development. In addition, the Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2024 level for ARS to partner with institutions already engaged in such research to conduct hemp genetic improvement research and breeding with new breeding and editing techniques.”
Another section directs USDA to “maintain a hemp germplasm repository,” noting the increased demand for different cannabis varieties and the destruction of hemp germplasm in the 1980s.
“Hemp Germplasm.—The Committee recognizes the increasing demand for hemp for a variety of uses and its growing importance as a crop for U.S. farmers. When the Nation’s hemp germplasm was destroyed in the 1980s, researchers lost access to publicly available germplasm for plant breeding purposes. The Committee directs ARS to establish and maintain a hemp germplasm repository at the Plant Genetics Resources Research Unit and provides no less than the fiscal year 2024 level for this purpose. The Committee also encourages ARS and the Plant Genetics Resources Research Unit to partner with 1890 institutions that have existing institutional capacity on hemp germplasm research, education, and extension capabilities.”
The committee also included language recognizing the “emerging market potential for U.S. hemp and hemp-based products for a variety of uses” and directing USDA to conduct research and aimed at improving “agronomic and agro-economic understanding of effectively integrating hemp into existing agricultural cropping, processing, and marketing systems.”
“Hemp Production Systems.—The Committee recognizes the emerging market potential for U.S. hemp and hemp-based products for a variety of uses. The Committee directs ARS to conduct regionally-driven research, development, and stakeholder engagement to improve agronomic and agro-economic understanding of effectively integrating hemp into existing agricultural cropping, processing, and marketing systems. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2024 level for this purpose. Research, engagement, and technology transfer shall be conducted in strict accordance with all applicable Federal and State authorities and regulations.”
Finally, the report says that the Farm Credit Administration must work with various institutions under its purview in order to “provide access to guaranteed loans for hemp producers and businesses.”
“Hemp-Based Products.—The Committee recognizes the growing interest for U.S. hemp and hemp-based products for a variety of uses and directs FCA to work with the institutions under its jurisdiction to provide access to guaranteed loans for hemp producers and businesses.”
The Ag/FDA <a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/full-committee-markup-of-the-milcon-va-agriculture-fda-and-legislative-branch-appropriations-acts-and-fiscal-year-2025-subcommittee-allocations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> itself also includes a rider that prevents the use of appropriated funds for covered agencies to interfere in state hemp programs.
“SEC. 740. None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act may be used—
(1) in contravention of section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940), subtitle G of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, or section 10114 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018; or
(2) to prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or use of hemp, or seeds of such plant, that is grown or cultivated in accordance with section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 or subtitle G of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, within or outside the State in which the hemp is grown or cultivated.”
— Marijuana Moment is <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills</a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patreon supporters</a> pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-9128 size-medium" src="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300"></a> Learn more about our <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marijuana bill tracker</a> and become a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supporter on Patreon</a> to get access. 
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Meanwhile, the House Rules Committee last month <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/key-house-committee-blocks-all-marijuana-amendments-to-three-spending-bills-from-getting-floor-votes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">rejected multiple marijuana-related amendments to a series of spending bills</a>, including proposals to ban certain federal agencies from testing job applicants for cannabis and prevent border patrol agents from seizing marijuana from state-licensed businesses.
The Appropriations Committee separately passed another spending bill last month that was amended to remove provisions <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/congressional-committee-votes-to-continue-blocking-d-c-from-legalizing-marijuana-sales/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">safeguarding banks that work with state-licensed cannabis businesses</a>. Members also reattached a section blocking Washington, D.C. from legalizing marijuana sales that was omitted from the base bill.
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="87bibTJdHn"><a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-governor-signs-budget-bill-excluding-marijuana-legalization-provision-he-requested-but-with-280e-tax-relief-for-industry/">Pennsylvania Governor Signs Budget Bill Excluding Marijuana Legalization Provision He Requested, But With 280E Tax Relief For Industry</a></blockquote>

Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/senate-committee-pushes-va-to-consider-medical-marijuana-as-opioid-alternative-for-military-veterans/">Senate Committee Pushes VA To Consider Medical Marijuana As Opioid Alternative For Military Veterans</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

A Senate committee is urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to explore medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids for veterans, and it’s also asking the agency to consider allowing its doctors to formally recommend cannabis to their patients in light of the Biden administration’s rescheduling push. In a series of reports attached […]
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/senate-committee-pushes-va-to-consider-medical-marijuana-as-opioid-alternative-for-military-veterans/">Senate Committee Pushes VA To Consider Medical Marijuana As Opioid Alternative For Military Veterans</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

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Senate Committee Pushes VA To Consider Medical Marijuana As Opioid Alternative For Military Veterans

<h4>Florida’s hemp industry has allegedly pledged to donate $5m to the state’s Republican Party after Governor Ron DeSantis moved to veto a bill that would decimate the sector.</h4>
Last month, <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/florida-governor-could-become-unlikely-savior-of-states-hemp-industry-as-reports-suggest-he-will-veto-controversial-bill/">Business of Cannabis reported</a> that DeSantis, an outspoken opponent of cannabis legalization, may have become an unlikely savior of the state’s hemp industry.
In March this year, Senate Bill 1698 was passed by Florida lawmakers, and is set to be enforced in October.
Designed to regulate the flourishing intoxicating hemp market, the bill would ban the sale of products like Delta-8 and Delta-10, but hemp businesses in the state have warned that this would also severely impact their industry, thought to be worth around $10bn in Florida in 2022.
CBS News Miami reported that DeSantis planned to veto the controversial bill in the hopes of garnering support from the hemp industry against adult-use legalization, and bringing them on side to finance his campaign against it.
After successfully vetoing Senate Bill 1698, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/hemp-execs-pledge-millions-to-republican-party-of-florida-texts-reveal/">CBD News Miami</a> has now published messages from a WhatsApp group with over 1000 members titled ‘Save Hemp Florida’, suggesting that millions of dollars were pledged by industry executives to fund the move.
On June 27th, some three weeks after the veto, messages were published in the group stating: “Our lobby team made promises to rally some serious funding to stand with him on this. He chose Hemp as his champion, and now we’ve got to deliver.”
Introductory messages are understood to list a bank routing number for the Republican Party of Florida, while several members have suggested that his office was closely monitoring the account to see which businesses were donating funds.
“We have to pay $5 million to keep our end of the veto,” one hemp executive wrote.
Further messages suggest that $2m has already been donated in sums ranging from $500 to $250,000.
In a statement to CBS News Miami, a spokesman for DeSantis said any suggestion that he vetoed the bill for donations to the party was ‘false’, adding that the bill was vetoed because it would impose ‘debilitating regulatory burdens on small businesses’.
They also denied that the office was monitoring donations.
 
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/florida-hemp-industry-allegedly-pledged-5m-in-exchange-for-veto-on-crackdown-bill/">Florida Hemp Industry Allegedly Pledged $5m in Exchange for Veto on Crackdown Bill</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Florida’s hemp industry has allegedly pledged to donate $5m to the state’s Republican Party after Governor Ron DeSantis moved to veto a bill that would decimate the sector. Last month, […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/florida-hemp-industry-allegedly-pledged-5m-in-exchange-for-veto-on-crackdown-bill/">Florida Hemp Industry Allegedly Pledged $5m in Exchange for Veto on Crackdown Bill</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Business of Cannabis

Florida Hemp Industry Allegedly Pledged $5m in Exchange for Veto on Crackdown Bill

Curaleaf Holdings almost exited hemp but instead decided to go all in, joining a growing trend among marijuana multistate operators.
<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/curaleaf-joins-large-marijuana-operators-pivoting-to-hemp-derived-thc/">Curaleaf joins marijuana multistate operators pivoting to hemp-derived THC</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

MJBizDaily

Curaleaf joins marijuana multistate operators pivoting to hemp-derived THC

PA gov signs 280E fix; Lawmakers push FDA to approve MDMA; MO marijuana revenue funds services; Casinos &amp; cannabis op-ed; NH medical expansion
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<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bipartisan-congressional-lawmakers-push-fda-to-approve-mdma-therapy-for-ptsd/">Bipartisan members of Congress held an event to press the Food and Drug Administration to approve MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD</a>—joining advocates in launching an art installation featuring 150,000 military dog tags to symbolize the number of veterans lost to suicide since 9/11. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-governor-signs-law-adding-anxiety-as-qualification-for-medical-marijuana-vetoes-adjustments-on-commercial-cultivation/">New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed a bill adding generalized anxiety disorder as a medical cannabis qualifying condition</a>—but vetoed separate legislation that would have allowed medical marijuana companies to cultivate in greenhouses. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/missouri-officials-transfer-11-million-in-marijuana-revenue-to-fund-drug-treatment-veterans-health-and-legal-services/">The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services disbursed another batch of nearly $11 million in marijuana revenue</a> to fund veterans programs, drug treatment and public defender services. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/las-vegas-casinos-would-be-smart-to-consider-legal-marijuanas-opportunities-former-top-nevada-cannabis-official-says-op-ed/">Former Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board Executive Director Tyler Klimas argues in a new op-ed that casinos would be “smart” to consider the “opportunities and obvious interplay between” gaming and marijuana</a>, while taking steps to become “leaders in this burgeoning marketplace.” <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusetts-psychedelics-legalization-campaign-seeks-to-build-on-lessons-learned-in-oregon-and-colorado/">Organizers behind a Massachusetts psychedelics legalization initiative that will be on the November ballot</a> are taking into account lessons learned from prior similar efforts in Colorado and Oregon. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusetts-marijuana-regulators-propose-leadership-changes-amid-ongoing-tensions/">The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission released a draft governance charter amid accusations it has a disjointed and ineffective management structure</a> and in the face of calls for the agency to be placed into receivership. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/alabama-medical-marijuana-regulators-discuss-challenges-updates-to-new-licensing-rules/">The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission met to discuss new changes to cultivation licensing rules and ongoing litigation</a> that has delayed the launch of the market. / FEDERAL <a href="https://www.askapol.com/p/sen-todd-young-supports-safer-banking">Sen. Todd Young (R-IN)</a> said he supports marijuana banking legislation but that he needs to “look at the particulars” of rescheduling. <a href="https://x.com/CPEARCoalition/status/1811191482704900512">Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)</a> attended a dinner hosted by the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation. The Senate <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2860/cosponsors?pageSort=lastToFirst">marijuana banking bill</a> got one new cosponsor for a total of 36. The House <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2891/cosponsors?pageSort=lastToFirst">marijuana banking bill</a> got one new cosponsor for a total of 127. / STATES <a href="https://cannabislawblog.incba.org/2024/07/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-set-to-keynote-cli2024.html">Illinois</a> Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at an International Cannabis Bar Association event on July 25. A <a href="https://www.nepm.org/therundown/2024-07-12/biden-candidacy-support-cannabis-industry-smalltown-commerce-ai-development">Massachusetts</a> representative said the state’s marijuana regulatory body is “a trainwreck.” <a href="https://x.com/nys_cannabis/status/1811894894018932753">New York</a> regulators announced a recall of certain cannabinoid hemp products. <a href="https://mailchi.mp/cannabis.ca.gov/successfully-transitioning-to-annual-licensure-17007414">California</a> regulators are accepting applications to serve on the Cannabis Advisory Committee. Separately, officials extended the deadline to apply for vacancies on the <a href="https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/press_releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=24-069">Industrial Hemp Advisory Board</a>. <a href="https://dsd.maryland.gov/MDRIssues/5114/Assembled.aspx">Maryland</a> regulators are repealing prior medical cannabis rules. <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WALCB/bulletins/3a81396">Washington State</a> regulators are conducting a survey on draft rules related to the Cannabis Social Equity Program. The <a href="https://www.wthr.com/article/news/investigations/13-investigates/citing-new-test-results-indiana-prosecutors-threaten-criminal-charges-if-businesses-dont-stop-selling-delta-8-13-investigates/531-3b6132a2-b77d-4ef2-b096-e07cb72b2310">Indiana</a> State Police is cracking down on delta-8 THC products. The <a href="https://www.cca.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/Agenda_Minutes/CPHACAgenda7.15.2024.pdf">Virginia</a> Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council will meet on Monday. <a href="https://ccb.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Agenda07182024.pdf">Nevada</a> regulators will consider marijuana business issues on Thursday. — Marijuana Moment is <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills</a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patreon supporters</a> pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-9128 size-medium" src="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300"></a> Learn more about our <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marijuana bill tracker</a> and become a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supporter on Patreon</a> to get access. 
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/ LOCAL <a href="https://mailchi.mp/denvergov.org/fifth-natural-medicine-work-group-meeting-july-18-8253457-8326106">Denver, Colorado</a> officials will host a Natural Medicine Work Group meeting on Thursday. / INTERNATIONAL <a href="https://x.com/lafm/status/1811430372162281967">Colombian</a> President Gustavo Petro said that if cocaine were legalized under international treaties, “tomorrow the war in Colombia will be over, it’s as simple as that.” <a href="https://elplanteo.com/multan-a-canal-de-tv-por-entrevistar-a-experto-en-cannabis/">Chile’s</a> National Television Council fined a station for broadcasting a program that allegedly promoted marijuana use at a time of day it could be seen by minors. / SCIENCE &amp; HEALTH A review concluded that “cannabidiol demonstrated potential in treating and preventing different conditions, such as <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/6/748">glaucoma, atopic dermatitis</a>, epidermolysis bullosa, and pyoderma gangrenosum.” A study found that “in patients with active <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770724003865?via%3Dihub">neoplasia</a>, cannabinoids increase weight, restore hunger and appetite.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION &amp; ANALYSIS / BUSINESS <a href="https://www.greenmarketreport.com/nasdaq-delists-lucy-scientific-stock-is-essentially-worthless/">Lucy Scientific Discovery</a> has been delisted by Nasdaq. <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/im-cannabis-shares-commence-trading-on-61-consolidated-basis-302194984.html">IM Cannabis Corp.</a> shares began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market LLC on a 6:1 post-consolidated basis. <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240710014380/en">Cresco Labs Inc.</a> shareholders elected board of directors members. / CULTURE <a href="https://valahia.news/wiz-khalifa-police-custody-romania/">Wiz Khalifa</a> was taken into custody by Romanian police after appearing to smoke marijuana on stage.
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The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/elizabeth-warren-wants-cannabis-market-with-fairness-and-competition-newsletter-july-15-2024/">Elizabeth Warren wants cannabis market with “fairness and competition” (Newsletter: July 15, 2024)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

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The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/elizabeth-warren-wants-cannabis-market-with-fairness-and-competition-newsletter-july-15-2024/">Elizabeth Warren wants cannabis market with “fairness and competition” (Newsletter: July 15, 2024)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Elizabeth Warren wants cannabis market with “fairness and competition” (Newsletter: July 15, 2024)

The Czech government looks to be pursuing a full commercial adult-use cannabis market as part of its ‘Cannabis Management Act’, according to leaked documents seen by Business of Cannabis. 
It came just days after the architect and driving force behind the cannabis legalisation project, National Drug Coordinator Jindřich Vobořil, announced that he was resigning from his role but continuing to work on the project as an expert advisor.
This effort now represents the best chance a country in the European Union has had yet to pass legislation that would allow for a fully regulated commercial cannabis market, as seen in Canada and certain US states.
While there are still potential roadblocks ahead for the legislation, both internally and from the European Commission, which has effectively derailed efforts from Germany and Luxembourg to do the same, it will set a precedent and provide a workable model for other countries to follow suit.
<h4>What happened?</h4>
In late May, <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/czech-cannabis-reform-anticipation-builds-as-dual-bills-await-government-review/">Business of Cannabis reported that</a> Mr Vobořil, who was was officially commissioned by the Czech government to prepare a law for the regulation of cannabis in November last year, had completed two separate versions of the bill.
One of these, which was made public in January, sparked outrage among cannabis advocates due to the apparent omission of plans for a full commercial market.
However, this omission was actually a calculated political strategy to put pressure on the bill’s opponents and attempt to prove the extent of public support for the regulated commercial market.
As such, a second extended bill was prepared by Mr Vobořil and the government, which includes plans for such a market.
Until now, there has been little indication of which of the bills the government would choose to pursue.
With its next-door neighbour and close trading partner Germany passing its own cannabis reform bill through the Bundestag last month, choosing not to pursue a full commercial market, some had suggested this could have encouraged the Czech Republic to follow in its more cautious footsteps.
<h4>What’s in the draft bill?</h4>
The submitted draft of the Cannabis Management Act would seek to legalise self cultivation of cannabis for personal use, establish a licencing and seed-to-sale tracking system, and set up German-style cultivation associations.
Crucially, however, the bill also goes a step further than its German counterpart, suggesting in the opening paragraphs that in order to effectively tackle the illicit market, a ‘regulated cannabis market’.
“From the point of view of the National Drug Policy Coordinator, this proposal is insufficient and I consider the Cannabis Management Act, which contains three pillars: self-growth, delegation and a regulated cannabis market, to be effective in minimising the illicit cannabis market,” it reads.
“I therefore take the liberty of submitting to the political representation a comprehensive bill on the management of cannabis, which extends the present proposal to include the pillar of the regulated cannabis market. In doing so, I am also meeting the expectations of some coalition partners.”
The proposal can be broken down into what it refers to as ‘chapters’, including decriminalisation of the possession of small quantities of cannabis, self cultivation of cannabis for personal use, and shared cannabis associations or ‘specialised cannabis establishments’, understood to effectively be dispensaries.
To effectively monitor and regulate these separate chapters, a ‘seed-to-sale’ tracking system, similar to the one currently being tested in Switzerland, has been proposed.
This system will be ‘highly anonymised’ with only the administrator given access to the raw data. To handle cannabis in any form, a person is required to register with the system and be issued a card containing a ‘unique identifier’ which proves their authorisation to handle cannabis.
Persons authorised to handle cannabis will be split into three groups, those cultivating for personal use, registered members of cannabis associations, and users obtaining cannabis in specialised establishments.
Licence holders must pay an application fee of CZK 2,000, which will be put towards the state budget, must be over 18, and can only hold a licence for one of these groups at a time.
Strict limits will be placed on where dispensaries or associations can be placed, while a ban on cannabis-related advertising will be imposed. Furthermore, the Government Office is proposed as the main controlling authority due to its ‘competance in the field of drug policy’.
It also proposes the decriminalisation of up to 10 grams of cannabis for personal use for all citizens, defined as ‘cannabis dry matter, cannabis extract and tincture or other form of processed cannabis plant, in aggregate equivalent to not more than 10 grams of cannabis dry matter containing 10 % of substances of the tetrahydrocannabinol group’.
For licensed card holders in the first category, home cultivation, this limit is increased to 30 grams in public or 1500g in their home. A maximum cultivation area of 3sq metres will also be imposed.
Licence holders of the other two categories, cannabis association members and customers of dispensaries, will also be able to possess 30g in public, or up to 180g in their homes. Cannabis dispensaries must also only distribute cannabis to those specific licence holders.
Any person who breaches these legal obligations will be liable to pay a maximum fine of CZK 100,000, rising to CZK 10 million for cannabis businesses.
Campaign group <a href="https://www.racionalniregulace.cz/">Rational Regulation (RARE)</a> said of the proposed regulations: “With the new legislation, which will replace the current prohibitionist approach with control and regulation for the benefit of the state and citizens, the Czech Republic would join the changes that have recently taken place in Germany and the United States, opening the way to rational regulation and addressing the negative impacts resulting from the current prohibitionist practice.”
Despite their positive view of the proposed bill, they also raised concerns about the recent resignation of its architect, Mr Vobořil, stating: “We consider the departure of Jindřich Vobořil, a key expert on addiction, to be unfortunate and risky, especially in view of the fact that his position in the negotiation of a comprehensive drug policy reform will change, because from the position of national drug coordinator he could have addressed the issue not only professionally, but also in a non-partisan manner, which is now threatened.”
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/czech-republic-will-pursue-full-adult-use-commercial-cannabis-market-leaked-documents-suggest/">Czech Republic Will Pursue Full Adult-Use Commercial Cannabis Market, Leaked Documents Suggest</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

The Czech government looks to be pursuing a full commercial adult-use cannabis market as part of its ‘Cannabis Management Act’, according to leaked documents seen by Business of Cannabis.  It […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/czech-republic-will-pursue-full-adult-use-commercial-cannabis-market-leaked-documents-suggest/">Czech Republic Will Pursue Full Adult-Use Commercial Cannabis Market, Leaked Documents Suggest</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Czech Republic Will Pursue Full Adult-Use Commercial Cannabis Market, Leaked Documents Suggest

The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/marijuana-video/cannabis-clubs-allowed-to-open-in-germany/">Cannabis clubs allowed to open in Germany</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/marijuana-video/cannabis-clubs-allowed-to-open-in-germany/">Cannabis clubs allowed to open in Germany</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

AZ Marijuana

Cannabis clubs allowed to open in Germany

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1144839" src="https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Alien.png" alt="Alien" width="715" height="415" srcset="https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Alien.png 715w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Alien-600x348.png 600w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Alien-150x87.png 150w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Alien-610x354.png 610w" sizes="(max-width: 715px) 100vw, 715px">
Alien Labs, a cult classic cannabis brand in California, is gaining a following in the Arizona marijuana market since launching its products at Arizona dispensaries a couple years ago. The brand breeds their own proprietary strains that can be experienced as flower or in vapes and edibles.
Over the years, <a href="https://alienlabs.org/pages/store-locator">Alien Labs</a>‘ flower has won 4 first place awards in Arizona.
Some of Alien Labs most popular products are:
– Zkittlez Flower 
– Zkittlez Vape 
– Baklava Flower 
– Xeno Flower 
– Area 41 Flower
“Alien Labs was one of the first California brands to enter the Arizona market in 2020, bringing a legacy of cultivation experience that didn’t exist then,” said Ted Lidie, Founder of Alien Labs. “Unlike other out-of-market brands that partner with local cultivators, we put boots on the ground to ensure we’re growing the same connoisseur-quality flower in Arizona as in California. Typically, when we enter a market this way, we raise the bar on consumers’ expectations for quality, which forces everyone to level up—and that’s a good thing all around.”
The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/arizona-medical-marijuana-news/alien-labs-cannabis-following-growing-in-arizona/">Alien Labs’ Cannabis Following Is Growing in Arizona</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

Alien Labs, a cult classic cannabis brand in California, is gaining a following in the Arizona marijuana market since launching its products at Arizona dispensaries a couple years ago. The brand breeds their own proprietary strains that can be experienced as flower or in vapes and edibles. Over the years, Alien Labs‘ flower has won ...
The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/arizona-medical-marijuana-news/alien-labs-cannabis-following-growing-in-arizona/">Alien Labs’ Cannabis Following Is Growing in Arizona</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

Alien Labs’ Cannabis Following Is Growing in Arizona

“We agree that there was a need for some clarity and this is our way of addressing some of that.”
By Bhaamati Borkhetaria, CommonWealth Beacon
The Cannabis Control Commission, which has come under fire for a disjointed and ineffective management structure, released a draft document on Thursday that attempts to clarify the responsibilities of key players at the agency.
The draft governing document has been in the works for more than two years. It was released at a meeting that followed close on the heels of a <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusetts-lawmakers-weigh-proposal-to-place-troubled-marijuana-regulatory-body-under-receivership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legislative hearing</a> this week where Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro urged lawmakers to place the agency in receivership while the Legislature develops a new governing structure for it, particularly in relation to the duties of the commission chair and its executive director.
Lawmakers seemed hesitant to pursue receivership, which they called the “nuclear option.” And a proposed amendment to a Senate economic development bill that would have paved the way for receivership was defeated on a voice vote.
Ava Callender Concepcion, the acting chair of the commission, <a href="https://commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/ccc-acting-chair-balks-at-igs-call-for-receiver/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reiterated her view</a> that a receivership is unnecessary because the agency is capable of sorting out its leadership issues on its own.
“We’ve all watched the [legislative] hearing and listened to the IG’s perspective around the need for clarity,” Concepcion said. “This is us first recognizing that we agree that there was a need for some clarity and this is our way of addressing some of that and providing clarity in terms of who does what…and also informing the staff of what expectations are for commissioners and the [executive director].”
The commission has been working on the governance charter since May 2022, before the inaugural chair of the commission, Steven Hoffman, resigned. The process was started with the express goal of the defining distinctions in roles, responsibilities and processes between commissioners and staff members.
The governance charter document designates the commission chair as the head of the agency but puts the executive director in charge of all of the staff. It states that the chair “has and exercises supervision and control over all affairs of the Commissioners.” Meanwhile, the executive director is set to be the executive and administrative head of the commission and is tasked with managing all of the work of the commission’s staff. The chair and the executive director are supposed to work “cooperatively,” according to the charter.
The governance charter has not been available to the public before now because the commission worked on it in private executive sessions with a mediator present to smooth any conflict. The mediation has cost the agency $160,000 since the commission first began the effort to clarify its governance.
It’s been no secret that there has been friction between the people who have occupied the roles of commission chair and executive director at the state agency.
Hoffman resigned only several months before his term was set to end without giving a reason.
Shannon O’Brien, the suspended chair of the commission, has made it public that there is bad blood between her and the past executive director of the commission, Shawn Collins. In fact, part of the reason for her suspension was her alleged mistreatment of Collins.
In a court filing arguing for a chance to defend herself against allegations against her, O’Brien claimed that Hoffman resigned due to “unsubstantiated allegations” lodged against him, and that a cannabis commission employee told her that she would be “Hoffman 2.0.”
The commission has been criticized by Shapiro and others for its slow pace in releasing regulations addressing agency problems. One example is the two-driver rule, which requires that two agents be in the car every time a cannabis delivery is made. Delivery companies say the high cost of using two drivers to make deliveries has made their business untenable.
The commission voted to eliminate the <a href="https://commonwealthbeacon.org/marijuana/cannabis-control-commission-drags-its-feet-on-two-driver-rule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two-driver rule</a>, and allow deliveries with just one driver, in December 2023. But new regulations implementing that decision <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusetts-marijuana-delivery-rule-requiring-two-drivers-per-vehicle-remains-in-force-despite-vote-to-repeal-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">haven’t been approved yet</a>, and commissioners indicated on Thursday that the new regulations would not be finished for several more months, October at the earliest.
Delivery licenses are currently restricted for an “exclusivity period” to social equity applicants, those who qualify for one of two license types targeted toward individuals impacted by the war on drugs. The aim of the “exclusivity period” is to give businesses time to get off the ground and start making profits before bigger companies enter the market. At Thursday’s public meeting, the commission kicked off the process of considering extending that exclusivity period.
The CCC was slammed by Somerville City Councilor Willie Burnley Jr., who sponsored a resolution rebuking the agency for slow-walking social consumption, which he said has caused the city to lose commercial tax revenue and tourism dollars. Social consumption is one goal that the CCC has yet to deliver on. Last summer, members of the commission took a <a href="https://commonwealthbeacon.org/marijuana/cannabis-regulators-kicking-the-tires-on-social-consumption-sites/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trip</a> out to states where social consumption is already possible but, based on public meetings, social consumption is still a distant dream.
Commissioner Nurys Camargo defended the commission and said that regulations take time and manpower.
“We are always getting yelled at for something but when you see the work that goes into every single word within our regulations, [you see that] today is a historical day,” said Camargo.
This <a href="https://commonwealthbeacon.org/marijuana/cannabis-commission-unveils-proposed-leadership-changes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> first appeared on <a href="https://commonwealthbeacon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CommonWealth Beacon</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/commonwealthbeacon.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cropped-Icon_Red-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1"><img decoding="async" src="https://commonwealthbeacon.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=269099&amp;ga4=G-1X7ZBDTLR0">
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusetts-marijuana-regulators-propose-leadership-changes-amid-ongoing-tensions/">Massachusetts Marijuana Regulators Propose Leadership Changes Amid Ongoing Tensions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

“We agree that there was a need for some clarity and this is our way of addressing some of that.” By Bhaamati Borkhetaria, CommonWealth Beacon The Cannabis Control Commission, which has come under fire for a disjointed and ineffective management structure, released a draft document on Thursday that attempts to clarify the responsibilities of key […]
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusetts-marijuana-regulators-propose-leadership-changes-amid-ongoing-tensions/">Massachusetts Marijuana Regulators Propose Leadership Changes Amid Ongoing Tensions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Massachusetts Marijuana Regulators Propose Leadership Changes Amid Ongoing Tensions

Generalized anxiety disorder will be added as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in New Hampshire under a bill signed into law by Gov. Chris Sununu (R) on Friday. The governor vetoed separate legislation, however, that would have allowed medical marijuana businesses to open second cultivation locations, including in greenhouses.
Currently all cannabis grown under the state’s medical program must be cultivated indoors.
The anxiety bill approved by Sununu, HB 1349, from Rep. Heath Howard (D), adds “generalized anxiety disorder” to the state’s list of qualifying conditions for its medical marijuana program. The new law takes effect 60 days after passage.
Earlier in the session, Howard told fellow lawmakers that the proposal builds on the “tremendous amount of success in especially <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-lawmakers-weigh-medical-marijuana-expansion-bills-amid-recreational-legalization-debate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">veterans and their treatment of PTSD with medical cannabis</a>” and added that marijuana may also provide a less risky alternative to benzodiazepines, “which are pills like Xanax, and they can be highly addictive.”
Matt Simon, director of public and government relations at medical marijuana provider GraniteLeaf Cannabis, welcomed the addition to the program.
“Many patients report that cannabis is effective in treating their anxiety,” he told Marijuana Moment. “This change will give patients with anxiety disorders a reason to discuss cannabis with their medical providers, and ultimately it will allow more Granite Staters to benefit from therapeutic cannabis.”
(Disclosure: Simon supports Marijuana Moment’s work through a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monthly Patreon pledge</a>.)
The vetoed cultivation bill—<a href="https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1291" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HB 1581</a>, sponsored by Rep. Suzanne Vail (D)—would have made the state’s medical marijuana businesses, known as alternative treatment centers (ATCs), eligible to be considered for a second cultivation location, “which may be a greenhouse.”
Under current law, ATCs in New Hampshire are required to grow marijuana in secure, indoor locations. The use of semi-outdoor structures, including greenhouses, is prohibited.
In his veto <a href="https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-and-media/governor-chris-sununu-signs-33-bills-law-vetoes-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, Sununu said the bill “provides scant detail regarding safety, security and location requirements.”
“These details are necessary to ensure appropriate controls on a regulated substance,” he said.
Two other <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-medical-marijuana-expansion-bills-head-to-governors-desk-as-recreational-legalization-measure-fails/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lawmaker-approved bills regarding medical marijuana</a> are still pending: one to allow doctors to recommend it for any condition they believe would be improved through cannabis use, and the other to expand the pool of healthcare professionals who can recommend the drug.
The qualifying conditions bill, HB 1278, was sponsored by Rep. Wendy Thomas (D), a cancer survivor and medical marijuana patient. The bill would add to the state’s qualifying conditions for medical marijuana “any debilitating or terminal medical condition or symptom for which the potential benefits of using therapeutic cannabis would, in the provider’s clinical opinion, likely outweigh the potential health risks for the patient.”
“If the governor signs this bill, it opens up the therapeutic program to more residents of New Hampshire who could benefit from having access to cannabis medicine,” Thomas told Marijuana Moment in an email last month.
Earlier this month, Thomas told Marijuana Moment she’s “waiting on pins and needles” to see what happens with the bill, which is still awaiting formal transmittal to the governor’s desk.
Thomas said at a Senate committee earlier this year that cannabis has helped her manage chronic pain, insomnia, eating issues, gastrointestinal issues, PTSD and anxiety.
“I found relief from all of these symptoms,” she said, “some of which are not covered in the program.”
The other measure, SB 357, from Sen. Becky Whitley (D), would expand the authority to recommend medical marijuana to any New Hampshire healthcare provider “who is licensed to prescribe drugs to humans and who possesses an active registration from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] to prescribe controlled substances.” Those providers would need to be “primarily responsible for the patient’s care related to his or her qualifying medical condition.”
As for more far-reaching reforms, lawmakers at the last minute this year <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-senate-approves-marijuana-legalization-bill-with-final-house-vote-expected-later-today/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">narrowly shot down legislation that would have legalized marijuana for adults</a> in the state. A poll released last month showed <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-residents-support-marijuana-legalization-bill-that-lawmakers-killed-last-week-poll-shows/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">61 support for that bill among New Hampshire residents</a>—just a few percentage points below the 65 percent support that respondents to a separate poll said they have for legalization generally.
Last month, House Democrats—including Howard, who sponsored the recently approved anxiety <a href="https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=1284" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a>—tabled the measure, effectively killing it. Many said their opposition was based on the plan to legalize through a state-controlled franchise model, which would have given the state unprecedented sway over retail stores and consumer prices.
The move to table the legislation <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-lawmakers-and-advocates-blame-each-other-over-marijuana-legalization-bills-defeat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">sparked accusations that politicians were using the issue to earn the party votes at the ballot box in November</a>, but most who voted against the bill said they were opposed to the plan on its merits.
One reason some believe the vote to table could be especially consequential is because Sununu is not seeking re-election, and his replacement could significantly impact the likelihood of reform during the next legislative session.
Two top Republican gubernatorial contenders, former U.S. Rep. Kelly Ayotte and former state Sen. Chuck Morse, have already said they would oppose the reform if elected.
New Hampshire lawmakers worked extensively on marijuana reform issues last session and attempted to reach a compromise to enact legalization through a multi-tiered system that would include state-controlled shops, dual licensing for existing medical cannabis dispensaries and businesses privately licensed to individuals by state agencies. The legislature ultimately <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-lawmakers-punt-on-state-run-marijuana-legalization-proposal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">hit an impasse on the complex legislation</a>.
Bicameral lawmakers also convened the state commission tasked with studying legalization and proposing a path forward last year, though the group <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-marijuana-legalization-commission-fails-to-reach-consensus-votes-against-recommending-bill-for-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">ultimately failed to arrive at a consensus or propose final legislation</a>.
The Senate <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-senate-rejects-house-passed-marijuana-legalization-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">defeated a more conventional House-passed legalization bill last year, HB 639, despite its bipartisan support</a>.
Last May, the House defeated marijuana legalization language that was included in a Medicaid expansion bill. The Senate also moved to table another piece of legislation that month that would have allowed patients and designated caregivers to cultivate up to three mature plants, three immature plants and 12 seedlings for personal therapeutic use.
After the Senate rejected the reform bills in 2022, the House included legalization language as an amendment to separate criminal justice-related legislation—but <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-senate-rejects-marijuana-legalization-again-as-part-of-amended-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">that was also struck down in the opposite chamber</a>.
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="uKIK0ncWfs"><a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/elizabeth-warren-warns-of-amazon-and-big-tobacco-entering-marijuana-market-at-anti-monopoly-event/">Elizabeth Warren Warns Of Amazon And Big Tobacco Entering Marijuana Market At Anti-Monopoly Event</a></blockquote>

Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-governor-signs-law-adding-anxiety-as-qualification-for-medical-marijuana-vetoes-adjustments-on-commercial-cultivation/">New Hampshire Governor Signs Law Adding Anxiety As Qualification For Medical Marijuana, Vetoes Adjustments On Commercial Cultivation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Generalized anxiety disorder will be added as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in New Hampshire under a bill signed into law by Gov. Chris Sununu (R) on Friday. The governor vetoed separate legislation, however, that would have allowed medical marijuana businesses to open second cultivation locations, including in greenhouses. Currently all cannabis grown under […]
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-governor-signs-law-adding-anxiety-as-qualification-for-medical-marijuana-vetoes-adjustments-on-commercial-cultivation/">New Hampshire Governor Signs Law Adding Anxiety As Qualification For Medical Marijuana, Vetoes Adjustments On Commercial Cultivation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

New Hampshire Governor Signs Law Adding Anxiety As Qualification For Medical Marijuana, Vetoes Adjustments On Commercial Cultivation

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) delivered remarks at a cannabis event this weekend, emphasizing the need to legalize marijuana in a manner that prevents domination by big business and aims to repair what the senator called “a century of racist policy” under prohibition.
Warren was among a number of speakers who addressed attendees at an event organized by Parabola Center, an equity-focused cannabis advocacy group. The two-day conference includes an “anti-monopoly cannabis crash course” on Saturday and a leadership training session on Sunday. She was joined by others, including TV personality Jonathan Van Ness of the Netflix show Queer Eye.
“Legalizing marijuana is about more than just allowing recreational use or the money that can be made from this new market, or even about the potential medicinal benefits,” the senator and former presidential candidate from Massachusetts said in a prerecorded video played at the event. “It’s about undoing a century of racist policy that disproportionately targeted Black and Latino communities.”
But it’s also clear, Warren added, that “legalization alone is not enough.” She warned that “industry giants will try their best to swoop in before small businesses and those most harmed by the war on drugs have a chance to enter the market.”
“We must make sure that the communities that have been harmed most by the war on drugs are at the front of the line for reaping the benefits of legalization,” she urged. “And we need to make sure that legalization doesn’t just pave the way for big tobacco or big alcohol companies or retail giants to come in and dominate the cannabis market.”
“Let’s keep this in mind <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/uber-colorado-governor-amazon-paypal-and-others-report-marijuana-lobbying-on-banking-rescheduling-and-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">when we see companies like Amazon lobbying for cannabis legalization</a>,” Warren continued. “I’m deeply skeptical that their lobbying is anything more than a self-interested move to monopolize yet another market, blocking Black and Latino entrepreneurs from breaking into the industry.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Elizabeth Warren Warns Of Amazon And Big Tobacco Entering Marijuana Market At Anti-Monopoly Event: "Industry giants will try their best to swoop in before small businesses and those most harmed by the war on drugs have a chance to enter the market."<a href="https://t.co/nXkzpAtm0Z">https://t.co/nXkzpAtm0Z</a> <a href="https://t.co/wUNl1j1Twh">pic.twitter.com/wUNl1j1Twh</a>
— Marijuana Moment (@MarijuanaMoment) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarijuanaMoment/status/1812137060825698601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2024</a>
</blockquote>

The current moment presents “a rare opportunity to shape how a new industry develops from the ground up,” she continued. “And that means we have a chance to avoid repeating the same old story of big corporations pushing out small businesses and dominating markets.”
“Massachusetts has already taken important steps to tackle these injustices, but we have more work to do,” Warren said of her home state’s approach to legalization. “Now is the time to get creative and think big about how we can ensure fairness and competition in the cannabis industry.”
Shaleen Title, director of Parabola Center, said Warren is “one of the leading public officials in America when it comes to curbing corporate greed.”
“She knows a thing or two about how hard it is to reign in big monopolistic corporations once they’ve consolidated and metastasized,” Title told Marijuana Moment. “But she’s right that with cannabis, we have a chance to prevent that before it happens—to focus on fairness and justice instead. That’s what our crash course and leadership training is all about.”
The group’s <a href="https://www.parabolacenter.com/crashcourse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">event</a> was held at Providence Public Library in Rhode Island.
Van Ness, of Queer Eye, thanked conference attendees “for showing up for marijuana legalization in a way that puts people over profits.”
“The marijuana industry is at such a crossroads,” he said in a video message. “While we have made so much progress, we have so much further to go. And now the cannabis industry really finds itself at such a pivotal place. We have alcohol [and] tobacco that are seeking to make this industry even more corporatized and exploitative. That really doesn’t help small businesses and doesn’t help individuals. We have an opportunity here with marijuana to help heal so much injustice and help people get ahead honey.”
“Marijuana can not only make you feel so much better, but it also is really an opportunity for us to create a more equitable, fair, just world through the lens of marijuana,” Van Ness added. “Remember, this is a long fight, and we need our resilience, we need our patience.”
It’s not the first time Parabola Center has hosted big-name speakers—or even Warren herself. About a year ago, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/elizabeth-warren-wants-marijuana-laws-that-block-amazon-and-big-tobacco-from-monopolizing-the-legal-industry/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Warren and her fellow senator from Massachusetts, Ed Markey (D), addressed attendees</a> at an earlier Parabola event.
Warren’s latest comments echo the earlier ones, with warnings about the influence of Amazon and other big businesses and a call to prioritize equity in cannabis policies.
Markey, for his part, said last year that “we know all too well that the war on drugs was a failure,” adding that the same communities that have been disproportionately criminalized under prohibition “stood up and fought for a different future.”
“It is because of their leadership that we are seeing a significant change to cannabis law all across the United States,” he said.
Like Warren, however, Markey emphasized that “our work is only just beginning.”
“A patchwork of local and state laws creates confusion and barriers that big business exploits to make big bucks at the expense of communities already decimated by the war on drugs,” he said at the time. “Congress must legalize cannabis and prioritize equity.”
Meanwhile, a new survey released by Parabola Center in May indicates that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/americans-want-marijuana-legalization-to-prioritize-equity-and-benefit-workers-poll-from-advocacy-group-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Americans in general want to limit the influence of big business on the cannabis market</a>. In it, nearly two thirds of American adults said they wanted legalization laws to prioritize social equity (68 percent), end cannabis arrests (68 percent) and ensure that people have legal access to marijuana products (65 percent).
The vast majority—85 percent—also thought legalization should benefit people who use marijuana as medicine, while 63 percent said the policy change should benefit those who use cannabis for pleasure.
Fewer than a quarter of respondents, meanwhile, trusted pharmaceutical company executives (24 percent), the federal government (22 percent) or tobacco (18) or alcohol (13 percent) executives to make good policy.
“These survey results refine the idea that most Americans support legalization—it’s because they support people, not because they care about corporate profits,” Parabola Center co-founder Shaleen Title told Marijuana Moment when the survey was published. “As policymakers navigate the evolving cannabis landscape, if they want to be responsive to voters, then they should prioritize the needs and concerns of the public, particularly those communities most harmed by the War on Drugs, over the financial interests of large corporations.”
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="CLl5iBmTHq"><a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-use-linked-to-better-and-more-frequent-sex-study-finds-but-dosage-is-critical/">Marijuana Use Linked To Better And More Frequent Sex, Study Finds—But Dosage Is Critical</a></blockquote>

Photo element courtesy of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/47699360772/in/album-72157708323428584/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gage Skidmore</a>.
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/elizabeth-warren-warns-of-amazon-and-big-tobacco-entering-marijuana-market-at-anti-monopoly-event/">Elizabeth Warren Warns Of Amazon And Big Tobacco Entering Marijuana Market At Anti-Monopoly Event</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) delivered remarks at a cannabis event this weekend, emphasizing the need to legalize marijuana in a manner that prevents domination by big business and aims to repair what the senator called “a century of racist policy” under prohibition. Warren was among a number of speakers who addressed attendees at an event […]
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/elizabeth-warren-warns-of-amazon-and-big-tobacco-entering-marijuana-market-at-anti-monopoly-event/">Elizabeth Warren Warns Of Amazon And Big Tobacco Entering Marijuana Market At Anti-Monopoly Event</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Elizabeth Warren Warns Of Amazon And Big Tobacco Entering Marijuana Market At Anti-Monopoly Event

StratCann’s weekly round-up of cannabis industry news for the week ending July 13, 2024.
The post <a href="https://stratcann.com/news/week-in-weed-july-13-2024/">Week in Weed – July 13, 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://stratcann.com/">StratCann</a>.

StratCann

Week in Weed – July 13, 2024

What if we told you that there’s a perfect blend of mouthwatering, delicious chocolate, nutraceuticals and cannabinoids that can help you enjoy things like sleep, relax and relieve stress? What if this harmonious combination was easily accessible, affordable and entirely delectable? Good news for you—<a href="https://www.blueplanetchocolate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blue Planet Chocolate</a> ticks all those boxes!



This cannabis chocolate brand has been perfecting their chocolatier craft for 30 years and counting. Blue Planet Chocolate is a family-run business based in Ohio and they’re continuing to push the boundaries of cannabis edibles and chocolate making. Boasting a team of graduates from Cleveland’s School of Cannabis Studies, life-long chocolatiers and chemistry experts, this small cannabis edible company is truly on its way to answering the question: What is the best chocolate in the world? 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">From Fantasy Chocolate to Healthy Chocolate and Everything in Between</h4>



The concept for Blue Planet Chocolate began as a childhood dream for Joel Fink.



His heart was set on one day owning a candy store with quality chocolate, fudge, gummy candy and more. This fantasy turned reality in 1990 with the opening of Fantasy Candies. This is where Fink found his love for the chocolatier life, leading him in various directions within the world of chocolate making.



You don’t often hear of FDA studies as catalysts for newfound devotion, but for Joel, this was the case. In 2007, the FDA published a list of foods with high ORAC or oxygen radicals absorbance capacity. Foods on this list have <a href="https://www.blueplanetchocolate.com/pages/why-it-works" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">large quantities of antioxidants</a> and can improve conditions such as insulin resistance and poor blood flow. Cocoa landed at the top of the list. “Oh man,” thought Joel. “Something as tasty as chocolate can be good for you?” This concept soon became the center of his brand. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Chocolate and Cannabis: A Love Story</h4>



In 2013, Fantasy Candies built a wine-tasting room and launched their “Fine Wine and Fine Chocolate” venture, inviting Ohioans to participate in tastings and learn to select flavors from a lineup. The focus turned to the celebration of high-quality chocolate. 



Two years later, Fink founded Blue Planet Chocolate as a partner of the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Center. The new frontier for Joel was to make well-crafted chocolate with a high percentage of pure cocoa powder and probiotics. Sights were set on creating an enjoyable, “better for you” dark chocolate.



Medical cannabis became legal in Ohio the following year, in 2019, and Fink was called up to create the state’s first medical marijuana edible chocolate bar. This additional offering opened his business to a whole new audience. Not only could chocolate lovers indulge in hand-crafted, healthier chocolate, but they could also reap the benefits of cannabis at the same time.



In 2020, Blue Planet Chocolate received a hemp processing license, adding more beneficial cannabinoids, such as CBD, CBN and hemp-derived THC to their range of chocolates. These cannabis-infused chocolates certainly stand out not only for their effects, but also for the taste and quality. Despite the company’s expansion into cannabis, Blue Planet Chocolate prioritizes using traditional chocolate-making methods utilizing the most advanced equipment while also incorportating the latest approaches to cannabinoid infusion. 



After adult-use cannabis was<a href="https://cannabisnow.com/week-in-review-ohio-becomes-latest-state-to-legalize-adult-use-cannabis/"> legalized in Ohio</a> just last year, the door to the cannabis edible industry has opened even wider, allowing Fink and his team to take bigger leaps and experiment more with their Delta-8 and <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/deltas-dawn-thc-isomers/">Delta-9 edibles</a>, CBD edibles and THC edibles. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cannabis-infused-chocolate-bar.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1000" height="600" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cannabis-infused-chocolate-bar.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69100" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cannabis-infused-chocolate-bar.jpg 1000w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cannabis-infused-chocolate-bar-300x180.jpg 300w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cannabis-infused-chocolate-bar-768x461.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cannabis-infused-chocolate-bar-400x240.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></a></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading">Our Favorite THC and CBD Edibles from Blue Planet Chocolate</h4>



Blue Planet Chocolate had to twist our arm to try some of their heavenly cannabis-powered chocolate creations. Just kidding! We willingly gorged ourselves.



We tried <a href="https://www.blueplanetchocolate.com/collections/delta-9-treats/products/ball-busters-delta-9-delta-8-malted-milk-balls-375mg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ball Busters</a> before attending a local spring concert with a group of pals. One malted milk ball lasted through the sweet tunes and didn’t give any semblance of social angst. The head was clear, the breeze was fresh, and we were floating through the start of the long weekend. 



<a href="https://www.blueplanetchocolate.com/collections/delta-9/products/nano-delta-9-chocolate-bar" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nano + Delta 9 Bar</a> is a lovely little spark of energy. Think of it as an afternoon relaxer and pick-me-up combo meal. Perfect for a weekend stroll with friends or a slight edge for the day’s final hour of work if you’re into that sort of thing. A little bit goes a long way with this one. In fact, all of Blue Planet’s products are potent, so keep that in mind when consuming. (It tastes so good, it can be hard not to have more!)



<a href="https://www.blueplanetchocolate.com/collections/cbd-chocolate-bars/products/cbd-nighttime-bar" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The CBD Nighttime Bar</a> is a steady lullaby that helps you drift slowly into sleep. We started with half a square a few hours before bedtime and found this to be just the right amount for a sleep aid that doesn’t leave you rolling over in bed the next morning wondering where you are and how you got there. 



<a href="https://www.blueplanetchocolate.com/collections/chocolate-squares/products/delta-9-25mg-chocolate-squares-6-pack" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Delta 9 25mg Chocolate Squares</a> provide a happy, manageable, fog-less high. Take the aforementioned “little goes a long way” advice. One-fourth of this square was plenty to put us in a focused, inspired mood. Watch a documentary, do some research on your favorite topic or go enjoy the sunset. These edible chocolate squares are good for any occasion. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The World’s Best Chocolate Keeps Getting Better</h4>



This chocolate is delicious, effective and has the potential to help you find a bit of relief from physical and mental distresses like injuries or insomnia. It’s been engineered by a family of expert chocolatiers and cannabis school graduates. Their cannabis chocolate craft permeates two generations, and these people have mastered the art of mixing chocolate with cannabinoids and nutraceuticals. The Planet’s Best Chocolate is, well, getting better! We love this statement from Founder Joel Fink: “We believe that great chocolate can change your world while amazing your taste buds.”



Blue Planet Chocolate is offering 25% off your first online order using our code CANNABISNOW. The only caveat is that they want to hear how you like it, so share your experiences with them once you give some of their chocolate delights a try.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/blue-planet-chocolate-may-be-the-worlds-best-chocolate/">Blue Planet Chocolate May Be The World’s Best Chocolate</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

With a wide selection of cannabis and CBD chocolates to choose from—think malt balls, chocolate bars and more—Blue Planet Chocolate is a delicious testament to the power of tasty pure chocolate with a touch of THC and CBD.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/blue-planet-chocolate-may-be-the-worlds-best-chocolate/">Blue Planet Chocolate May Be The World’s Best Chocolate</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

Cannabis Now

Blue Planet Chocolate May Be The World’s Best Chocolate

<a href="https://azmarijuana.com/eblast/071324"><img decoding="async" src="https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mairgold_AZMMJ_Email_240710_reference.jpg" alt="Marigold" width="600" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1144882" srcset="https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mairgold_AZMMJ_Email_240710_reference.jpg 700w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mairgold_AZMMJ_Email_240710_reference-170x600.jpg 170w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mairgold_AZMMJ_Email_240710_reference-436x1536.jpg 436w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mairgold_AZMMJ_Email_240710_reference-581x2048.jpg 581w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mairgold_AZMMJ_Email_240710_reference-610x2150.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"></a>
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HOTTEST deals on AZ’s HOTTEST brand: Aeriz!

The North American cannabis industry has a high volume of events, workshops and meetups that all vie for our attention. What the industry could use more of are events that bridge the gap and marry social impact causes allowing attendees—especially those who are victims of trauma and struggle in social settings—to feel welcome and encouraged to share their stories, ideas and connect with others in a safe group setting. This was the premise of last month’s Beads &amp; Buds jewelry-making workshop in support of This Is Jane Project (TIJP).



Founded in 2019, TIJP began as a photo-activism campaign to de-stigmatize conversations around trauma, healing and medicating with cannabis. After seeing how much they could help lives through media, they were determined to do more. This led to the transition of TIJP into a 501c3 nonprofit in 2021. According to their website, the group’s mission is “to offer robust healing-centered programming to support their growing community of Janes while continuing to document stories of hope and healing with cannabis.”



A “Jane” is a woman or non-binary trauma survivor who uses cannabis as medicine. As TIJP Executive Director Shannon DeGrooms says, “We’re all surviving something, and TIJP has created a trauma-aware community curated for an often-underrepresented population: women and non-binary people.”



The Beads &amp; Buds workshop was a fun way to bring Janes together for healing and connection in a safe, group therapy-like space. The one-day, sold-out event took place June 30 at the Astor Club in West Hollywood, California, produced by <a href="https://www.nancychains.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nancy Chains</a>, a cannabis accessories brand, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/socialsbybb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By BB</a>, a plant-medicine based marketing agency run by Addie Babcock. Capped at 35 Janes, participants gathered together to create beaded necklaces or bong bracelets (yes, apparently they’re a thing). To sign up, those interested in attending were asked over Instagram stories to DM <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thisisjaneproject/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This Is Jane Project on Instagram</a>, and then selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Needless to say, the workshop filled up quickly.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">A Holistic Approach to Trauma</h4>



DeGrooms, who’s known Nancy Chains Founder Gal Bar El since the early days of Nancy Chains, says a collaboration like this has been years in the making. “She’s been involved with TIJP both as a ‘Jane,’ and as an unwavering supporter, hosting fundraisers, donating unique Nancy Chains necklaces, and now this—hosting a healing-centered Beads &amp; Buds experience just for survivors.”



Gal Bar El echoed DeGrooms sentiments: “I’m so excited to bring together a community that has also helped me heal. I, too, am a trauma survivor who has been helped by This Is Jane Project in the past. Having the ability to give back is absolutely incredible for me.”


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NancyChains-beads-buds.jpg"><img decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NancyChains-beads-buds-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69084" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NancyChains-beads-buds-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NancyChains-beads-buds-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NancyChains-beads-buds.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Each Jane chose very personal beads, charms and color palettes. PHOTO Orly Lavi Travish</figcaption></figure>
</div>


The Beads &amp; Buds event flowed organically; groups naturally formed, and Janes connected with one another while creating their one-of-a-kind Nancy Chains piece. “I personally engaged in conversations about different healing modalities, astrology and the use of cannabis for PTSD while stringing my bracelet,” DeGrooms shared. 



As the event leader, Bar El said she loved seeing the different creative processes, the varied outcomes and the joy that combining creativity and community brings.



“The conversations happening within organically formed groups of people were so beautiful and inclusive,” she said. “The safe space that was created let us spread our wings, let go a little, and create something new and unique—something we can use to ground ourselves when needed, as each Jane chose very personal beads, charms and color palettes.”



Most of the Janes that TIJP serves unequivocally credit cannabis with helping them confront, manage and heal trauma. So, it made sense that cannabis was supplied at Beads &amp; Buds (thanks to event sponsor Cream of the Crop), and many Janes chose to consume while making their jewelry. Cannabis can also help amplify the creative experience by relaxing the mind and body, making it easier to tap into one’s creativity.



“Janes rely on holistic approaches to healing trauma,” DeGrooms said. Art and cannabis certainly fall within this category, and when paired together, they can do wonders. Bar El knows this well—after all, it’s what inspired her to form the Nancy Chains brand. 



“Creating art can be therapeutic, allowing us to process emotions and find a sense of calm. Cannabis, with its relaxing properties, can help reduce stress and anxiety, making the healing process smoother and more enjoyable,” Bar El explained. “Together, art and cannabis create a unique space where we can explore our creativity while supporting our well-being. It’s the best of both worlds.”



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Sponsors Add Special Touches</h4>



Attendees got to not only take home their creations, but they were also given swag bags. “The goodie bags were a thoughtful touch, especially the branded iSpire device and the Cream of the Crop flower,” DeGrooms said.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Necklace-beads-buds.jpg"><img decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Necklace-beads-buds-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69086" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Necklace-beads-buds-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Necklace-beads-buds-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Necklace-beads-buds.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">PHOTO Orly Lavi Travish</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<a href="https://www.creamofthecropgardens.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cream of the Crop</a> played an important role, donating flower that Bar El used to lead the one-day class and lend tricks of her trade in creating the perfect cannabis-inspired jewelry built around the idea that made her so well known in cannabis as Nancy Chains.



iSpire’s graphic designers created a custom branded <a href="https://www.getispire.com/pages/dzd-v900-v400">DZD400 battery</a> for the event, giving the Janes something to remember the special occasion by (and enjoy using, of course).



“We chose to sponsor this event because Buds &amp; Beads expressed their commitment to the healing and creative powers of the plant, which align with our own mission,” said Nakisa Motamed, iSpire’s Sr. Global Marketing Manager. “We want to provide our brands and the community with safe and useful vape hardware products that stay true to the plant.”



Motamed also noted she’s aware that the partnership between Nancy Chains and TIJP is a special one: “I’ve seen the events Gal and TIJP have done in the past and know that they put their heart into it and really care for our community. A lot of companies are in it for themselves, and we make it a point to support the brands that truly care and give back to the community in this industry.”



To date, This Is Jane Project has hosted over 100 events, facilitated the donation of over 100,000 units of compliant cannabis and supported nearly 2,000 “Janes” on their healing journey. “It’s through thoughtful partnerships with companies like Nancy Chains that help us do this work,” DeGrooms said.  
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/beads-buds-workshop-heals-through-art-cannabis-and-community/">Beads &amp; Buds Workshop Heals Through Art, Cannabis and Community</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

Led by Nancy Chains Founder Gal Bar El, the recent jewelry-making workshop supported This Is Jane Project and offered women and non-binary people a way to express themselves in a safe space. 
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/beads-buds-workshop-heals-through-art-cannabis-and-community/">Beads &amp; Buds Workshop Heals Through Art, Cannabis and Community</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

Beads &amp; Buds Workshop Heals Through Art, Cannabis and Community

California's cannabis regulatory agency has extended the state's contract with Florida-based marijuana track-and-trace software company Metrc.
<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/metrc-secures-cannabis-track-and-trace-contract-extension-in-california/">Metrc secures $113M cannabis track-and-trace contract extension in California</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

Metrc secures $113M cannabis track-and-trace contract extension in California

The number of medical marijuana patients in Colorado is the lowest it’s been since 2014, when adult-use sales in the state began.
<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/colorado-medical-marijuana-patient-numbers-hit-new-low/">Colorado medical marijuana patient numbers hit new low</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

Colorado medical marijuana patient numbers hit new low

<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/district-of-columbia-launches-crackdown-on-unlicensed-cannabis-operators/">District of Columbia launches crackdown on unlicensed cannabis operators</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

District of Columbia launches crackdown on unlicensed cannabis operators

Missouri officials transferred nearly $11 million in revenue from adult-use marijuana sales this week, routing the money toward veterans healthcare, legal assistance for low-income people and drug treatment and recovery services.
News of the latest transfer of cannabis funds was announced on Thursday by the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The state’s voter-approved legalization amendment in 2022 specified that fees and taxes from the adult-use cannabis system go to the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC), the Missouri State Public Defender and DHSS itself.
Of the total $10,918,344 being disbursed, each of the three agencies received $3,639,448. MVC must use the funds exclusively for healthcare and other services by military veterans and their families, while the State Public Defender must use the money to fund legal assistance for low-income Missourians.
DHSS will use its share of the revenue to fuel a grant program aimed at increasing access to “evidence-based, low-barrier drug addiction treatment prioritizing medically proven treatment and overdose prevention and reversal methods” as well as “an emphasis on reintegrating recipients into their local communities.” To that end, the proceeds will also support overdose prevention education, job placement, housing and counseling for people with substance use disorders, according to the DHHS <a href="https://health.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/84f7c690-98a6-47fc-a7b2-c7a46308dc82/funds-transferred-to-beneficiaries-of-state-s-adult-use-cannabis-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a>.
In May, state regulators announced that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/missouri-marijuana-revenue-is-funding-veterans-programs-drug-treatment-and-public-defender-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Missouri had put more than $19 million in cannabis revenue</a> toward veterans, legal services and drug treatment since legalization took effect in the state in 2022.
“It is so rewarding to see the impact of this voter-approved program on organizations that provide vital services to Missourians,” Amy Moore, director of the Division of Cannabis Regulation, part of DHHS, said at the time.
Moore told lawmakers in January, meanwhile, that altogether, taxes and fees from recreational cannabis had generated $58 million in state revenue. That top-level amount first pays for operational costs and court expungements of past marijuana offenses, with the remainder going to veterans, substance use treatment and public defenders.
An earlier <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/missouri-spends-17-million-in-marijuana-revenue-to-fund-veterans-services-drug-treatment-and-legal-aid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$17 million transfer was released last November</a>, with a large portion going to the Veterans Commission. At the time, Paul Kirchhoff, MVC’s executive director, said the funds “will help MVC continue to support the existing infrastructure of our seven Veterans Homes.”
Missouri launched its medical marijuana program in 2018. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/missouri-launches-medical-marijuana-sales-at-states-first-dispensaries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">Dispensary sales began two years later, in 2020.</a> Under the law, medical marijuana products sold at licensed dispensaries are taxed by the state at a rate of 4 percent, and a provision requires that any money collected that exceeds the cost of administering the program be disbursed to the Veterans Commission. Adult-use cannabis purchases, meanwhile, are subject to a 6 percent state tax.
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="jI4hlhPr6W"><a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-governor-signs-budget-bill-excluding-marijuana-legalization-provision-he-requested-but-with-280e-tax-relief-for-industry/">Pennsylvania Governor Signs Budget Bill Excluding Marijuana Legalization Provision He Requested, But With 280E Tax Relief For Industry</a></blockquote>

Photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/schattenraum/16043513285/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philip Steffan</a>.
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/missouri-officials-transfer-11-million-in-marijuana-revenue-to-fund-drug-treatment-veterans-health-and-legal-services/">Missouri Officials Transfer $11 Million In Marijuana Revenue To Fund Drug Treatment, Veterans Health And Legal Services</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Missouri officials transferred nearly $11 million in revenue from adult-use marijuana sales this week, routing the money toward veterans healthcare, legal assistance for low-income people and drug treatment and recovery services. News of the latest transfer of cannabis funds was announced on Thursday by the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The state’s […]
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/missouri-officials-transfer-11-million-in-marijuana-revenue-to-fund-drug-treatment-veterans-health-and-legal-services/">Missouri Officials Transfer $11 Million In Marijuana Revenue To Fund Drug Treatment, Veterans Health And Legal Services</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Missouri Officials Transfer $11 Million In Marijuana Revenue To Fund Drug Treatment, Veterans Health And Legal Services

“Every day we draw closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with litigation.”
By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) convened Wednesday to discuss ongoing legal challenges and administrative updates in the state’s medical cannabis program.
The procedural meeting, which included updates on ongoing litigation that has largely halted the process, was held to update regulatory rules to conform with <a href="https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2024RS/HB390-enr.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HB 390</a>, sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford (R-Athens), which shifted licensing powers for cultivators from the Department of Agriculture and Industries to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.
“We’re pretty much handling some housekeeping measures addressing things for the Alabama Department of Ag and Industries, [which] had asked to withdraw from some of their responsibilities and put that back on the commission,” said Rex Vaughn, chair of the AMCC.
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries commissioner, Rick Pate, was named as a defendant in an amended lawsuit filed in March. The plaintiffs—medical cannabis companies denied a license—allege that Pate “unlawfully abdicated his statutory duty to exercise decision-making authority over the cultivation aspects of integrated facility applicants.”
The state’s medical cannabis law, passed in 2021, originally stated that “The Department of Agriculture and Industries shall license and regulate the cultivation of cannabis” and that for “integrated facility licenses, the commission and the [Department of Agriculture and Industries] shall enter into a memorandum of understanding relating to the sharing of regulatory and licensing and enforcement authority over licensees with regard to the cultivation function.”
The lawsuit from the medical cannabis companies claimed that a memorandum of understanding had not been entered.
The law has since been amended to say the “commission may seek and shall receive the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture and Industries.”
The proposed regulations will go to the Legislative Council Agency, and once they’re published, the public will have 35 days to provide comments. According to Brittany Peters, a spokesperson for the AMCC, cultivator license responsibilities remain with the Department of Agriculture and Industries until the regulations are approved.
Pate has since asked the court to dismiss the claims against him in his official capacity as commissioner, but the court has not taken it up yet.
The Legislature approved in 2021 a medical marijuana program, allowing certified patients to use medical cannabis for 15 conditions, including cancer and chronic pain. Patients need a card to obtain cannabis from licensed dispensers. The law prohibits smoking or consuming cannabis in food, offering it instead in forms like tablets, oils, creams and peach-flavored gummies.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) began <a href="https://alabamareflector.com/2023/06/12/alabama-medical-cannabis-commission-expected-to-grant-production-distribution-licenses/">accepting applications</a> in late 2022, but the licensing process faced delays due to <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/divided-alabama-medical-cannabis-commission-votes-to-delay-licenses-as-application-scoring-process-is-reviewed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scoring inconsistencies</a> in the June licensing attempt and administrative issues in August. Despite <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/facing-multiple-lawsuits-alabama-medical-marijuana-regulators-overhaul-business-licensing-process/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new rules issued in October</a> and another round of licenses in December, litigation <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/alabama-medical-marijuana-regulators-offer-update-on-ongoing-legal-fights-and-licensing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">halted the process again in January</a>. The program remains stalled as there is a temporary stay on dispensary and integrated facility licenses.
“Every day we draw closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with litigation. We cannot make courts move any quicker than they are, but we are committed to addressing these challenges as transparently and proactively as possible,” Vaughn said after the meeting.
<a href="https://alabamareflector.com/2024/07/11/amcc-discusses-legal-challenges-updates-medical-cannabis-licensing-rules/">This story was first published by Alabama Reflector.</a>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="a3a3iXdYcZ"><a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/alabama-judge-further-delays-states-stalled-medical-marijuana-licensing-process/">Alabama Judge Further Delays State’s Stalled Medical Marijuana Licensing Process</a></blockquote>

Photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/schattenraum/15857489879/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philip Steffan</a>.
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/alabama-medical-marijuana-regulators-discuss-challenges-updates-to-new-licensing-rules/">Alabama Medical Marijuana Regulators Discuss Challenges, Updates To New Licensing Rules</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

“Every day we draw closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with litigation.” By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) convened Wednesday to discuss ongoing legal challenges and administrative updates in the state’s medical cannabis program. The procedural meeting, which included updates on ongoing litigation that has […]
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/alabama-medical-marijuana-regulators-discuss-challenges-updates-to-new-licensing-rules/">Alabama Medical Marijuana Regulators Discuss Challenges, Updates To New Licensing Rules</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Alabama Medical Marijuana Regulators Discuss Challenges, Updates To New Licensing Rules

Pennsylvania’s governor has approved a package of budget legislation that excludes provisions to legalize adult-use marijuana that he had requested. One of the bills does, however, include a section allowing certain medical cannabis businesses to take state-level tax deductions as a partial workaround to the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E.
The 2025 budget legislation officially passed both chambers on Thursday and was signed into law the same day. While Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) had <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-governor-proposes-marijuana-legalization-in-budget-so-state-can-catch-up-with-friggin-ohio/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed recreational marijuana legalization as part of his budget request</a> that was submitted in February, the reform did not materialize in the measure that’s been now enacted.
This comes amid heightened discussions about legalization cannabis in the legislature, with hearings, bill introductions and press conferences highlighting the need to enact the policy change, especially as surrounding states move ahead.
“The legislature left a critical issue behind as they crafted a budget that did not include adult-use cannabis,” Brit Crampsie, spokeswoman for the advocacy organization ResponsiblePA, said in a press release on Friday. “Pennsylvanians are demanding action on the legalization of adult-use cannabis. An adult-use market can bring more than a billion dollars to the state in its first year, and every moment Pennsylvania waits to legalize, we are losing money and business to the 90 percent of our neighboring states who have chosen to act.”
“As Pennsylvanians go on vacation this summer to New York, New Jersey, Maryland and even ‘friggin’ Ohio, they will witness these states rake in millions, as our state legislature fails to act,” she said. “We are hopeful that with the progress made in this budget, that adult-use legalization is at the top of the legislative agenda when the legislature returns in September.”
At a press briefing on Tuesday, the chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus seemed to <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/black-pennsylvania-lawmakers-lay-out-marijuana-legalization-framework-emphasizing-equity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temper expectations about the potential timeline of passing legalization legislation</a>, pointing out that the rest of the session will likely be too politically charged heading into the November election to get the job done this year.
Sen. Sharif Street (D), who has long championed legalization, was among those who participated in the event. In response to the budget development, he said on Friday that adult-use cannabis “is coming, but every week and month that we delay, we fall further behind our neighboring states in revenue.”
“We delay the opportunity to correct years of disparate enforcement of our cannabis laws that have criminalized Black and brown communities, poor white communities and patients,” he said. “We’ve seen what works in other states and have prepared policy to end the prohibition of cannabis in Pennsylvania. We have a Governor who supports this. All we need is a vote.”
Rep. Emily Kinkead (D), <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bipartisan-pennsylvania-lawmakers-announce-marijuana-legalization-bill-as-neighboring-ohio-readies-market-launch-across-border/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who is sponsoring a separate legalization proposal</a>, said it’s “disappointing that we could not get adult-use done with this budget but it is without question that a legalization bill must be the priority when we return to Harrisburg.”
“The governor is behind cannabis legalization, our state needs the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue, and we have robust options to vote on including the bill I co-authored with Rep. Kaufer,” she said. “I look forward to bringing a bill to a vote this fall and ensuring Pennsylvania can benefit from more jobs, fixing the past harms of our criminal justice system, investing in social equity, and bringing Pennsylvania from behind the curve to the gold standard of legalization in our nation.”
To that end, the Legislative Black Caucus also made clear this week that its members will not stand behind any cannabis reform measure that omits core social equity provisions such as relief for people currently incarcerated due to marijuana convictions.
What did make it into the <a href="https://www.pa.gov/en/governor/newsroom/2024-press-releases/governor-shapiro-signs-bipartisan-2024-25-budget--investing-in-e.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">budget</a>, however, is a <a href="https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/BillInfo.cfm?syear=2023&amp;sind=0&amp;body=S&amp;type=B&amp;bn=654" target="_blank" rel="noopener">section</a> that would allow medical marijuana grower-processors to take state tax deductions in an amount that equivalent to what they would’ve received at the federal level were it not for the IRS 280E policy, which precludes deductions for businesses that work with Schedule I and Schedule II substances.
The section appears <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-house-approves-280e-tax-cut-for-marijuana-businesses-over-gop-objections/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more limited than a standalone bill that advanced through the House</a> in 2022 that would have more broadly extended the tax relief to the state cannabis industry. The newly enacted reform defines an eligible “medical cannabis business” as one that possesses an “active grower/processor permit,” seemingly excluding dispensaries from taking the tax deductions.
An attached fiscal note says the tax cut will cost the state $2.1 million in revenue over each of the next two fiscal years.
Multiple states have moved to provide the state-level tax relief to licensed marijuana businesses as Congress continues to stall on the issue. That said, if the Biden administration’s proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) comes to fruition, it would resolve the 280E problem.
Pennsylvania’s prior governor did separately <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-governor-signs-marijuana-banking-and-insurance-reform-bill-into-law/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sign a bill into law in July 2022 that included provisions to protect banks and insurers</a> in the state that work with licensed medical marijuana businesses.
In any case, advocates are hoping to see legislators respond to the budget’s lack of legalization provisions with action on standalone proposals.
And while the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus seemed to doubt the prospects of enacting legalization this year, other lawmakers have <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-lawmakers-suggest-marijuana-legalization-could-advance-imminently-as-neighboring-state-markets-add-urgency-to-reform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emphasized the urgency of legalizing as soon as possible given regional dynamics</a>, while signaling that legislators are close to aligning House and Senate proposals.
“As the debate around this year’s budget focused on the long-term sustainability of new spending, it is critical that the legislature pass comprehensive adult-use legislation as a means of a new, recurring revenue source,” Meredith Buettner, executive director of the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition, said. “Every day that we wait to legalize adult-use cannabis, tax revenue is crossing our borders and deposited into coffers of other states. Our message to policymakers is to ensure that PA tax dollars stay in our state. The priority in September must be adult-use legalization.”
Meanwhile, a recent report commissioned by activists projected that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-could-see-up-to-2-8-billion-in-marijuana-sales-in-first-year-of-legalization-and-create-45000-jobs-analysis-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">Pennsylvania would see up to $2.8 billion in adult-use marijuana sales in the first year</a> of implementing legalization, generate as much as $720 million in tax revenue and create upwards of 45,000 jobs.
Street and Sen. Dan Laughlin (R) also recently participated in an X Spaces event where <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bipartisan-pennsylvania-senators-say-they-have-the-votes-to-legalize-marijuana-but-governor-needs-to-step-up-engagement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">they said the votes are there to pass a marijuana legalization bill as soon as this year</a>, though they stressed that the governor needs to work across the aisle to get the job done—and argued that it would be helpful if the federal government implemented its proposed cannabis rescheduling rule sooner rather than later.
Street was also among advocates and lawmakers who <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-lawmakers-step-up-push-for-marijuana-legalization-with-emphasis-on-social-equity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">participated in a cannabis rally at the Pennsylvania State Capitol last month</a>, where there was a significant emphasis on the need to incorporate social equity provisions as they move to advance legalization.
Laughlin, for his part, also said an event in May that the state is “getting close” to legalizing marijuana, but <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-gop-senator-says-state-is-getting-close-to-legalizing-marijuana-but-lawmakers-must-work-it-out-with-governor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">the job will only get done if House and Senate leaders sit down with the governor and “work it out.”</a>
Warren County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Robert Greene, a registered medical cannabis patient in the state, filed a lawsuit in federal court in January seeking to <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-district-attorney-sues-federal-government-over-gun-ban-for-medical-marijuana-patients/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">overturn a ban preventing medical marijuana patients from buying and possessing firearms</a>.
Two Pennsylvania House panels <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-lawmakers-press-liquor-regulator-about-states-ability-to-run-marijuana-shops-during-joint-legalization-hearing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">held a joint hearing to discuss marijuana legalization in April</a>, with multiple lawmakers asking the state’s top liquor regulator about the prospect of having that agency run cannabis shops.
— Marijuana Moment is <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills</a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patreon supporters</a> pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-9128 size-medium" src="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300"></a> Learn more about our <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marijuana bill tracker</a> and become a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supporter on Patreon</a> to get access. 
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Also in April, members of the House Health Committee had a <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-lawmakers-talk-marijuana-justice-and-equity-issues-at-hearing-following-new-legalization-bills-introduction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">conversation centered on social justice and equity considerations for reform</a>.
At a prior meeting in March, members focused on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-joint-committee-takes-up-marijuana-legalization-as-governor-renews-push-for-reform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">criminal justice implications of prohibition and the potential benefits of reform</a>.
At another <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-lawmakers-take-marijuana-industry-testimony-on-market-launch-timing-equity-and-taxes-at-legalization-hearing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">hearing in February, members looked at the industry perspective</a>, with multiple stakeholders from cannabis growing, dispensing and testing businesses, as well as clinical registrants, testifying.
At the subcommittee’s previous cannabis meeting in December, members <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-marijuana-legalization-hearing-features-testimony-from-expert-on-regulatory-systems-in-other-states/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">heard testimony and asked questions about various elements of marijuana oversight</a>, including promoting social equity and business opportunities, laboratory testing and public versus private operation of a state-legal cannabis industry.
And during the panel’s first meeting late last year, Frankel said that state-run stores are “certainly an option” he’s considering for Pennsylvania, similar to what New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-governor-signs-bill-creating-marijuana-legalization-commission-to-prepare-state-run-sales-model/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">recommended for that state last year</a>, though a state commission later <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-marijuana-legalization-commission-issues-final-report-after-failing-to-reach-consensus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-google-interstitial="false">shied away from that plan</a>.
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The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-governor-signs-budget-bill-excluding-marijuana-legalization-provision-he-requested-but-with-280e-tax-relief-for-industry/">Pennsylvania Governor Signs Budget Bill Excluding Marijuana Legalization Provision He Requested, But With 280E Tax Relief For Industry</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Pennsylvania’s governor has approved a package of budget legislation that excludes provisions to legalize adult-use marijuana that he had requested. One of the bills does, however, include a section allowing certain medical cannabis businesses to take state-level tax deductions as a partial workaround to the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E. The […]
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-governor-signs-budget-bill-excluding-marijuana-legalization-provision-he-requested-but-with-280e-tax-relief-for-industry/">Pennsylvania Governor Signs Budget Bill Excluding Marijuana Legalization Provision He Requested, But With 280E Tax Relief For Industry</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Pennsylvania Governor Signs Budget Bill Excluding Marijuana Legalization Provision He Requested, But With 280E Tax Relief For Industry

“You don’t need to be a cannabis advocate to see the opportunities and obvious interplay between these two markets.”
By Tyler Klimas, Former Executive Director of Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board
The Justice Department made headlines when it took the unprecedented step of <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-agrees-to-reschedule-marijuana-under-federal-law-in-historic-move-following-biden-directed-health-agencys-recommendation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moving forward with removing cannabis from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act</a>, where it was listed alongside heroin, ecstasy, and peyote, and reclassifying it to Schedule III, a category reserved for substances with low abuse potential and accepted medical benefits.
This is, by all accounts, one of the most significant policy advancements for legal cannabis since states first <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/colorado-governor-and-activists-celebrate-10-year-anniversary-of-first-legal-recreational-marijuana-sales/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">began to legalize it for adult use in 2014</a>.
And while the rescheduling of cannabis does not make it federally legal, it does send yet another significant signal affirming cannabis’s normalization and status, not only as a legitimate industry, but also one that is viewed as such by the highest levels of the federal government.
Given this significant development, should Nevada’s gaming industry take this opportunity to reconsider its prohibitionist stance on engaging with the legal cannabis industry? Is this a chance to lead and mold a new market segment that is clearly in demand and sought by the newest generation of tourists and travelers?
Nevada gaming set its policy in 2018, shortly after the state voted to legalize cannabis for adult use, basing its decision on very real concerns both at a state and federal level. A significant portion of that policy was based on the realities of the legal cannabis markets at the time, which operated in the shadow of unclear federal guidance and enforcement. The hesitancy was justified, particularly in light of the Nevada gaming industry’s storied past.
However, many of those concerns have been mitigated, not only by the natural evolution of the industry but also because of successful regulation of cannabis markets by individual states, just like we have seen in Nevada.
The concerns have all but faded, just as society’s acceptance and interest in cannabis continues to grow. According to a recent Gallup poll, the percentage of U.S. adults who consume marijuana has <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/young-americans-are-five-times-more-likely-to-smoke-marijuana-than-cigarettes-gallup-poll-shows/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than doubled in the previous decade</a>, increasing from 7 percent in 2013 to 17 percent by 2023. During the same time period, the percentage of those who said they had tried it at least once increased from 38 percent to 50 percent.
The majority of cannabis users within that group are between the ages of 18 and 34, with more than 25 percent reporting frequent usage.
In Las Vegas, a city that attracts visitors from across the world and provides the kind of tailored experiences that strive to keep generations of travelers coming back, major resorts and casinos do not offer cannabis products or experiences and strictly prohibit their possession and use on property.
But consider this: According to a recent Forbes article, a 2020 nationwide poll by market research firm MMGY Travel Intelligence revealed that nearly 18 percent of American leisure travelers are interested in cannabis-related vacation activities. If we restrict the poll sample to adults over 21 who consume cannabis and have an annual family income of $50,000 or more, the figure increases to 62 percent.
Concurrently, gaming establishments across the world are grappling with how to attract the new generation of gamblers, who are much more interested in internet gaming and online sports betting, back to the casino floor. When looking at the demographics of online gambling, it’s the same 18- to 34-year-old age group that makes up the largest segment, with over 30 percent owning an online sports betting account.
Embracing cannabis does not mean unleashing clouds of marijuana smoke throughout the hotel and casino. Cannabis products outside of traditional joints and smokeable flower have evolved significantly since the start of state legalization. The cannabis-infused beverage category specifically has seen exponential growth recently, as younger generations are ditching alcohol in record numbers and <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-legalization-linked-to-decline-in-beer-sales-indicating-substitution-effect-canadian-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seeking other adult alternatives</a> to enjoy in a social setting.
In fact, recent research by Heineken 0.0 shows that Gen Z alcohol consumption has decreased by 25 percent in the last four years. Simply embracing low-dose cannabis-infused beverages could be a huge opportunity to meet new consumer demand and recapture any lost revenue from non-alcoholic drinkers.
What we also know, and what is clear just by walking down Las Vegas Boulevard, is that consumers are going to make cannabis a part of their experience either way. The biggest players on the Strip, resorts and casinos where consumption is already taking place, are the ones missing out on capturing this revenue.
You don’t need to be a cannabis advocate to see the opportunities and obvious interplay between these two markets. Nevada gaming establishments would be smart to begin revisiting their concerns, investing in the proper infrastructure, and positioning themselves to be leaders in this burgeoning marketplace.
Tyler Klimas is the former executive director of Nevada’s Cannabis Compliance Board and former president of the Cannabis Regulators Association. He is currently principal of Leaf Street Strategies, a Las Vegas-based cannabis and hemp consulting firm. 
(Disclosure: Klimas supports Marijuana Moment’s work through a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monthly Patreon pledge</a>.)
This op-ed was previously published by Las Vegas Weekly and <a href="https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/business/2024/jul/01/should-gaming-take-advantage-of-the-latest-develop/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2gw65uHw3rco5sEohlsYHg7adv5b6UFr7DcVHHhhmxOGwsm-ii3k607Zc_aem_ycTSkSfchN_qyIoveqA3iw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Las Vegas Sun</a>. It is republished here with the author’s permission.
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Photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vardolath/7691494420/">Carlos Gracia</a>.
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/las-vegas-casinos-would-be-smart-to-consider-legal-marijuanas-opportunities-former-top-nevada-cannabis-official-says-op-ed/">Las Vegas Casinos Would Be ‘Smart’ To Consider Legal Marijuana’s Opportunities, Former Top Nevada Cannabis Official Says (Op-Ed)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

“You don’t need to be a cannabis advocate to see the opportunities and obvious interplay between these two markets.” By Tyler Klimas, Former Executive Director of Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board The Justice Department made headlines when it took the unprecedented step of moving forward with removing cannabis from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, […]
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/las-vegas-casinos-would-be-smart-to-consider-legal-marijuanas-opportunities-former-top-nevada-cannabis-official-says-op-ed/">Las Vegas Casinos Would Be ‘Smart’ To Consider Legal Marijuana’s Opportunities, Former Top Nevada Cannabis Official Says (Op-Ed)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Las Vegas Casinos Would Be ‘Smart’ To Consider Legal Marijuana’s Opportunities, Former Top Nevada Cannabis Official Says (Op-Ed)

<h4>The US Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Agriculture-FDA spending bill unanimously this week, placing the future of the country’s hemp industry in serious danger.</h4>
The 2025 US Farm Bill, a piece of legislation passed every year to fund farming programmes, has now been approved by both chambers of congress following a vote earlier this week.
In May, <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/hemp-killing-amendment-which-would-make-95-of-hemp-products-illegal-added-to-farm-bill-but-war-is-far-from-over/">Business of Cannabis reported</a> that the ‘Mary Miller’ amendment had been added to the Farm Bill via a procedural tactic whereby all amendments were passed as a block, meaning there was no chance to vote on each amendment individually.
This amendment is designed to regulate the flourishing intoxicating hemp industry.
Compounds like HHC and Delta-8 THC have proliferated across the US in recent months, and while a number of individual states have moved to regulate them, they remain legal and sparsely regulated at a federal level.
However, the amendment to the Farm Bill would also have a major impact on the country’s hemp and CBD industries, making 90-95% of hemp products on the market, including FDA approved animal feed, banned.
The amendment in question contains language that would effectively ban most consumable hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including delta-8 THC and CBD items containing any ‘quantifiable’ amount of THC.
According to the US Hemp Roundtable, a similar tactic has been used to shoehorn the amendment, into the Agriculture/FDA Appropriations bill, which funds all agriculture programs.
Following a vote earlier this week, this legislation has now passed with little debate through the GOP dominated congressional committee.
<a href="https://hempsupporter.com/news/compromise-brewing-on-capitol-hill-hemp-roundtable-reaction-to-mary-miller-amendment-language-added-to-house-appropriations-bill/">Despite tireless efforts from the US Hemp Roundtable</a> to lobby members of congress, seeing their lobbyists and allied groups hold over 100 meetings, they failed to secure a change to the language of the bill.
One small silver lining, however, came from Rep. Dan Newhouse, who was able to negotiate with Chairman Harris the following report language into the bill.
“Intoxicating Cannabinoids.—The Committee directs the FDA to evaluate the public health and safety implications of ingestible, inhalable, or topical products on the market that contain intoxicating cannabinoids. The Committee encourages the FDA to assert a stronger commitment to identifying lawful federal regulatory parameters that will protect the public health, such as labeling requirements on all hemp-derived products; testing procedures and standards to ensure product compliance and adverse event reporting; packaging requirements to prevent marketing to minors; and mandatory age limits for these products at the point of purchase. FDA should provide a briefing to the committee within 180 days of the passage of this bill on the authorities needed to adequately regulate cannabinoid hemp products, including authorities to support consumer safety.”
While this language is not binding, the US Hemp Roundtable remains optimistic that having language on record calling for regulation, not prohibition, will prove critical as the fight continues.
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/hemp-killing-us-farm-bill-approved-by-congressional-committee-putting-entire-industry-at-risk/">‘Hemp Killing’ US Farm Bill Approved by Congressional Committee, Putting Entire Industry at Risk</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

The US Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Agriculture-FDA spending bill unanimously this week, placing the future of the country’s hemp industry in serious danger. The 2025 US Farm Bill, a […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/hemp-killing-us-farm-bill-approved-by-congressional-committee-putting-entire-industry-at-risk/">‘Hemp Killing’ US Farm Bill Approved by Congressional Committee, Putting Entire Industry at Risk</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

‘Hemp Killing’ US Farm Bill Approved by Congressional Committee, Putting Entire Industry at Risk

<h4>The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the release of a new hemp reference material designed to help laboratories accurately measure key components in cannabis products.</h4>
This development aims to aid law enforcement, cannabis regulators, and companies in distinguishing between hemp and cannabis, while ensuring product safety and accurate labeling.
The hemp reference material will enable labs to verify their measurement methods, allowing researchers to more accurately measure dosages in studies and ensuring product labels reflect true content.
Colleen Bryan, a biologist at NIST, emphasized the importance of trust in product labeling, particularly for CBD dosage claims, stating: “If you buy a product that claims to have 25 milligrams of CBD per dose, you should be able to trust that number.”
Hemp, defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC, was legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, whereas cannabis, with higher THC content, remains a controlled substance.
This distinction necessitates precise THC measurements, which the NIST reference material facilitates by providing standardized samples with known THC, CBD, and toxic element levels.
Walter Brent Wilson, a NIST chemist, added: “A farmer’s crop or a company’s product can be seized or potentially destroyed if it turns out to be a ‘hot’ material, so it’s important to make the correct determination.”
The new material also includes measurements for toxic elements like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium, ensuring product safety for consumers, particularly those using cannabis for medical reasons.
The NIST hemp reference material is available for purchase on their website for $783 for three 1.5-gram samples, which equates to $174 per gram. 
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/national-institute-of-standards-and-technology-launches-new-materials-to-help-labs-accurately-distinguish-hemp/">National Institute of Standards and Technology Launches New Materials to Help Labs Accurately Distinguish Hemp</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the release of a new hemp reference material designed to help laboratories accurately measure key components in cannabis products. This development […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/national-institute-of-standards-and-technology-launches-new-materials-to-help-labs-accurately-distinguish-hemp/">National Institute of Standards and Technology Launches New Materials to Help Labs Accurately Distinguish Hemp</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

National Institute of Standards and Technology Launches New Materials to Help Labs Accurately Distinguish Hemp

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers staged an event at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, calling for the approval of MDMA as a therapeutic option for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and joining activists who launched an art installation memorializing military veterans who die by suicide.
About a month after a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel rejected an application to authorize MDMA-assisted therapy, four members of Congress along with veterans advocates organized the event to raise awareness about the need for alternative treatment options, including psychedelics.
Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) took part in the ceremony, where 150,000 military dog tags were displayed to symbolize the number of veterans who’ve been lost to suicide since 9/11. Each of the veteran participants individually hung 17 dog tags to mark the 17+ veterans who die by suicide per day on average.
The art installation was meant to draw attention to the PTSD and suicide crisis among veterans, but the lawmakers and advocates also stressed that this epidemic underscores the need for lawmakers and the administration to act boldly when it comes to exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.
“What we’re asking for the FDA to recognize is the science,” said Luttrell, who last month criticized the FDA Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-congressman-who-used-psychedelics-for-mental-health-slams-fda-panels-mdma-rejection-op-ed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for recommending against against MDMA-assisted therapy</a> in an op-ed for Marijuana Moment. The agency itself is expected to make a decision on approving the application next month.
“The word ‘psychedelics’ scares everyone. I get it. It terrified me when I first got into the research on this,” he continued. “The treatments we have in place, some are exceptional, but the human body is very different for every single person. The brain is different, cognitive instabilities are different for every single human being, and we need tools in our proverbial toolbox to effect change, to decrease symptomatic issues, to increase quality of life. And MDMA is so perfectly positioned to do that.”
Luttrell also discussed his own personal experience <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-congressman-talks-psychedelics-therapy-journey-bipartisan-military-research-win-and-future-of-plant-based-medicine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">using psychedelic medicines to treat mental health conditions</a> following his service-related trauma.
“I have gone through psychedelic treatments, and I did have to go overseas in order to do that,” he noted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Today, 150,000 dog tags will be arranged on the U.S. Capitol grounds representing veterans who have died by suicide since 9/11 to serve as a reminder to <a href="https://twitter.com/US_FDA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@US_FDA</a> why approving MDMA-AT for PTSD is so urgent.
Thankful for my colleagues <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJackBergman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJackBergman</a> , <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLouCorrea?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepLouCorrea</a>, and… <a href="https://t.co/XcTBu0JAhN">pic.twitter.com/XcTBu0JAhN</a>
— Congressman Morgan Luttrell (@RepLuttrell) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuttrell/status/1811039808648523808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote>

Bergman, a veteran of the Vietnam War, also said the issue is close to his heart.
“Our nation is facing an ongoing PTSD, mental health and suicide epidemic,” he said, “one that especially impacts those who served in uniform. Fortunately, there are new, groundbreaking treatments, as you’ve heard, that have offered hope to those afflicted by the invisible wounds of war.”
“Psychedelic-assisted therapies have the potential to be the first genuine advancement in the treatment of veterans’ mental health in decades—in decades,” Bergman went on. “I have had the opportunity to personally meet with many of the researchers studying these treatments, and the veterans whose lives have been forever changed for the better by receiving them.”
Correa, who co-founded of the Congressional Psychedelic Advancing Therapy Caucus alongside Bergman, said the group had a simple message: “FDA, do your job.”
“We have a proven cure for PTSD,” he said. “What’s the problem? What is going on here? We owe it to our veterans to give them the medicines that they need, and the FDA is essentially stalling.”
He asked for a show of hands for how many veterans in the audience had to travel to another country to obtain psychedelic-assisted treatment.
“These veterans had to leave the United States to get therapy because it was not available, and it was essentially illegal to do so in the United States,” Correa said. “Something’s wrong here, ladies and gentlemen.”

Fellow Californian Panetta said that for all the work the country has done so far to address PTSD and suicide among veterans, “we all acknowledge that we have a major health problem in our society when it comes to suicides. And sadly, a quarter of all suicides that are in the United States are from veterans. So we’re here today not just to highlight this disturbing dilemma. We are here today to say that something has to change.”
Juliana Mercer, a Marine Corps veteran and the director of veteran advocacy and public policy for the nonprofit Healing Breakthrough, was a speaker and the emcee at the event.
“I’ve lost more veteran brothers and sisters than I care to count to PTSD and suicide,” she said. “I’m here today because I have committed my life to bringing the veteran PTSD and suicide epidemic to an end.”
“The lack of innovation in PTSD treatment over the past 20 years has contributed to rising veteran suicide rates, with estimates ranging between 17 and 44 veterans taking their own lives each day,” continued Mercer. “Let that sink in for a minute. Since 9/11, we’ve lost 21 times more veterans at home to suicide than we’ve lost to combat. That’s not a statistic, it’s a national tragedy.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Today, on the steps of the US Capitol alongside many other advocates, Juliana Mercer spoke about the importance of the FDA following the science and approving MDMA-AT for PTSD <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/veterans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#veterans</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/WeHeroicHearts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WeHeroicHearts</a> <a href="https://t.co/dD42Cmcu1B">pic.twitter.com/dD42Cmcu1B</a>
— Healing Breakthrough (@HBveterans) <a href="https://twitter.com/HBveterans/status/1811155981457314147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote>

 
Dakota Meyer, a fellow Marine Corps veteran and a recipient of the Medal of Honor, said that upon returning home from service, “I frequently experienced nightmares, anxiety attacks so intense that sometimes they made life feel unbearable,” causing pain not only to himself but those he cared about most. He said he spent years of his children’s lives avoiding letting them see him sleep “because of the fear of them seeing the other side of who I was.”
“The good news,” he continued, “is that the innovations in PTSD treatment continue to advance. MDMA-assisted therapy in particular has shown great promise in addressing the root cause of PTSD symptoms. It is rare in life to find something that has the potential to help everyone, and MDMA-assisted therapy is one of those things.”
“Treating the trauma of PTSD helps veterans reconnect with their loved ones and support systems,” Meyer said. “When you heal a veteran, you heal a family, and where there is healing, there is hope.”
While he was clear to say that MDMA-assisted therapy “is not a cure-all,” he insisted that for some people, it can help transform them “from the chaos in a Downtown New York City rush hour into the calmness of a quiet country road.”
Dr. Barbara Rothbaum, a PTSD expert, director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program and past president of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, said that as a “mainstream PTSD researcher,” MDMA has long felt outside her realm, “but I have embraced it.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
I joined <a href="https://twitter.com/WeHeroicHearts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WeHeroicHearts</a> to underscore the necessity of psychedelic therapies to treat combat-related cognitive injuries.
I’m proud to be a voice effecting change in this space. 
We have to continue to push forward to get our veterans &amp; service members the help they deserve. <a href="https://t.co/mKK7qRHPMZ">pic.twitter.com/mKK7qRHPMZ</a>
— Congressman Morgan Luttrell (@RepLuttrell) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuttrell/status/1811389593570115663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2024</a>
</blockquote>

“I stand before you not only as someone who’s been developing and studying treatments for PTSD almost as long as PTSD has been an official diagnosis, but as a witness to a national crisis that demands our attention.”
The few available FDA-approved medications for PTSD are “weak coffee,” Rothbaum said. “Nobody thinks that those are the answer to PTSD.”
Prolonged exposure therapy appears more effective, she continued, but combining therapy with MDMA appears to be a promising innovation.
“Randomized clinical trials with MDMA-assisted therapy have shown impressive results,” she said, noting that “71 percent of participants no longer met PTSD criteria” and “86 percent experienced significant symptom reduction with almost no dropout from the studies, which is unheard of with PTSD.”
“Most of the research with medications occurs after FDA approval,” Rothbaum concluded. “We have to do better. Our veterans deserve the best care that we can provide. We need more effective treatment options for PTSD to save lives. We think MDMA-assisted therapy can help. We need your help to make it an option.”
Jesse Gould, served as an Army Ranger before founding the organization Heroic Hearts Project, which he heads. The group has helped more than 1,500 veterans obtain psychedelic-assisted therapy, Gould said, “but there are millions more out there yearning for just a glimmer of hope.”
MDMA-assisted therapy is twice as effective as other treatments available to veterans, he said. “This is why we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all the veterans of this great nation demanding access to effective treatements. This is why we stand here today at the forefront of change, demanding an end to the status quo and advocating for FDA approval for MDMA-assisted therapy. Enough is enough.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/US_FDA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@US_FDA</a> has the opportunity to follow the science and support veterans by approving MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. This week, Medal of Honor recipient <a href="https://twitter.com/Dakota_Meyer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dakota_Meyer</a>, bipartisan members of Congress, and veterans gathered to remind this country what is at stake in this… <a href="https://t.co/HOXPCN2Lrd">pic.twitter.com/HOXPCN2Lrd</a>
— Heroic Hearts Project (@WeHeroicHearts) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeHeroicHearts/status/1811794663986044941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2024</a>
</blockquote>

Amid growing calls among veterans advocacy groups and lawmakers, especially Republicans, to speed research and access to psychedelic-assisted therapy, House lawmakers last month approved amendments to a large-scale spending bill that would authorize U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to issue medical marijuana recommendations to military veterans <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/house-passes-veterans-focused-marijuana-and-psychedelics-amendments/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and support psychedelics research and access</a>.
The psychedelics-focused provision would encourage VA to support research into the benefits of psychedelics in treating medical conditions commonly affecting military veterans.
“As we saw last year, demonstrating clear congressional approval for these innovative efforts can motivate real action within the federal bureaucracy,” Bergman said on the floor ahead of the vote. “We owe it to our veterans to do everything we can in support of these breakthrough therapies.”
Correa said at the time that “we’ve seen our nation’s veterans continue to needlessly suffer suicides, mental health, opioid overdoses—and it’s crucial that the VA do everything in its power to ensure that they have safe and scientifically sound and potentially life-saving therapies as soon as they are available and approved in the United States.”
The House also accepted separate amendment from the most of the same lawmakers that urges VA to report to Congress on possible incorporation of MDMA-assisted therapy into the department’s formulary following federal approval of the drug.
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="o5JIELL33d"><a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/federal-health-agency-acknowledges-psilocybins-therapeutic-potential-and-touts-forthcoming-psychedelic-research/">Federal Health Agency Acknowledges Psilocybin’s Therapeutic Potential And Touts Forthcoming Psychedelic Research</a></blockquote>

The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bipartisan-congressional-lawmakers-push-fda-to-approve-mdma-therapy-for-ptsd/">Bipartisan Congressional Lawmakers Push FDA To Approve MDMA Therapy For PTSD</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers staged an event at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, calling for the approval of MDMA as a therapeutic option for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and joining activists who launched an art installation memorializing military veterans who die by suicide. About a month after a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) […]
The post <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bipartisan-congressional-lawmakers-push-fda-to-approve-mdma-therapy-for-ptsd/">Bipartisan Congressional Lawmakers Push FDA To Approve MDMA Therapy For PTSD</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/">Marijuana Moment</a>.

Bipartisan Congressional Lawmakers Push FDA To Approve MDMA Therapy For PTSD

A new quarterly report from the New Zealand Ministry of Health shows a significant uptick in the volume of cannabis products supplied for medical purposes...
The post <a href="https://stratcann.com/news/large-increase-in-volume-of-medical-cannabis-products-supplied-in-new-zealand/">Large increase in volume of medical cannabis products supplied in New Zealand</a> appeared first on <a href="https://stratcann.com/">StratCann</a>.

Large increase in volume of medical cannabis products supplied in New Zealand

Bankruptcy hasn’t been an option for most marijuana companies, but restrictions do not apply to Chapter 15, or foreign, insolvency proceedings.
<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/is-chapter-15-foreign-bankruptcy-an-option-for-marijuana-businesses/">What to do when your marijuana business goes up in smoke</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

What to do when your marijuana business goes up in smoke

Earlier this week, the Czech Government announced that the driving force behind its pioneering cannabis legalisation project, Jindřich Vobořil, will be stepping down in August.
The Czech Republic’s National Coordinator for Drug Policy and the architect of what is now Europe’s most ambitious cannabis liberalisation initiative, has agreed to resign from his position at the end of August, but is set to remain an advisor to the government moving forward.
Coming just weeks after speaking at <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/cannabis-europa-2024-day-2/">Cannabis Europa 2024</a> on the progress made in the Czech Republic during his tenure, where he suggested his aim was to ‘regulate addictive products according to their risks’, his departure represents a blow to activists throughout the industry.
However, members of <a href="https://www.racionalniregulace.cz/">Rational Regulation (RARE)</a>, a campaign group formed by a number of the country’s leading cannabis voices that work closely with Mr Vobořil, informed Business of Cannabis this will have little impact on the project, and that his position as a scientific advisor will actually give him more freedom and power to influence policy.
<h4>What happened?</h4>
Mr Vobořil worked as the country’s drug coordinator from 2010-2018, and was reinstated to the position in February 2022.
Since then, he and his team have put together two pioneering proposals for legislative drugs reform in the Czech Republic. One aims to <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/czech-republics-revolutionary-legislation-to-regulate-psychoactive-substances-such-as-hhc-clears-first-hurdle/">regulate so called ‘psychomodulating substances’</a>, creating a new category that sits in between the current binary of either banned narcotics or food. This is expected to include substances such as HHC.
The second would regulate adult-use cannabis, and now represents the only project within the European Union that could push for a full commercial market, as seen in Canada and certain states in the US.
According to <a href="https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/domaci-voboril-konci-jako-narodni-protidrogovy-koordinator-40479562">local news sources</a>, Mr Vobořil, already a frequent target of politicians who disagree with his liberal stance on drug policy, tendered his resignation following a backlash over comments he made about drug use within the Czech parliament.
Asked recently by a journalist about traces of cocaine that were discovered in the parliament’s toilets around a year ago, Mr Vobořil said that this was ‘not surprising’, suggesting that it was something that has been the reality for many years.
Crucially, he added that the really surprising thing was that politicians representing Czech citizens were inadvertently supporting the Russian mafia by using cocaine purchased on the illicit market, a statement that created a media storm.
However, according to RARE, this internal pressure is just one of a myriad of reasons Mr Vobořil chose to depart, adding that his resignation had been planned for months.
“It was very sensitive thing to hear for some of the MPs and they used it against him. But to say that his decision to leave was based on this particular incident or situation is plainly wrong,” RARE’s Chairman and publisher magazine <a href="https://magazin-legalizace.cz/">Legalizace</a>, Robert Veverka, said.
<h4>New freedoms</h4>
RARE have reportedly been putting plans in place for Mr Vobořil departure since last year, as they wanted to ensure ‘this didn’t interrupt the planned regulation in any way’.
After the two draft bills were finalised and submitted around two months ago, Mr Vobořil’s obligations in regards to cannabis reform ‘were finished’.
“His power to influence things from the position of drug coordinator became very limited from the moment the bills were submitted to the government office,” Dr Tomas Ryska, Managing Director of Astrasana Czech s.r.o., and member of RARE explained.
“Since that moment, it has become more political and more about the various ideologies and negotiations between various political parties and interests. Its a political problem, not an expert problem.”
Mr Ryska argues that in his new role as an expert advisor, Mr Vobořil will have ‘less political responsibility’, enabling him to spend more time developing the landmark drug policy.
“What it means is that he can influence things, say things and act in a way that wouldn’t be possible from the position of drug coordinator. He was, and he still is, the symbol of change in the Czech Republic.”

He is also supported by the Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, who told local media: “Because I respect Jindřich Vobořil and am aware of his professional knowledge, I am pleased that he will continue to act as an expert advisor and that we will be able to use his knowledge in the field of addictions in the future.”
It is understood that no official drug coordinator will be appointed in his place, and his work on the project will continue largely unchanged.
In a resignation statement, Mr Vobořil suggested that he has also faced increasing pressure from powerful lobbyists and the political parties they support, largely from industries that are set to suffer if his plans are brought into law, including tobacco, alcohol and big pharma.
“In the last year, I have dealt with many complex topics and faced pressure from some large industries,” Mr Vobořil said in a statement.
“Of course, I have been used to pressure, unfair games and underhanded behavior or personal threats, which in the last year have not been few, from individuals and from various legal and illegal industries in previous years, and I am done with fear.”
This was mirrored by RARE’s Lukáš Hurt, the manager of CzechHemp and editor-in-chief of Cannabis magazine, who said: “There is the tobacco industry, there is the alcohol industry, there is the pharma industry, and there is also the gambling industry, which all fall under addiction issues. With big money behind these industries, they have made it a very hard situation for him personally.”
 
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/jindrich-voboril-architect-of-pioneering-czech-cannabis-legislation-steps-down-as-drug-coordinator/">Jindřich Vobořil, Architect of Pioneering Czech Cannabis Legislation, Steps Down as Drug Coordinator</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Earlier this week, the Czech Government announced that the driving force behind its pioneering cannabis legalisation project, Jindřich Vobořil, will be stepping down in August. The Czech Republic’s National Coordinator […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/jindrich-voboril-architect-of-pioneering-czech-cannabis-legislation-steps-down-as-drug-coordinator/">Jindřich Vobořil, Architect of Pioneering Czech Cannabis Legislation, Steps Down as Drug Coordinator</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Jindřich Vobořil, Architect of Pioneering Czech Cannabis Legislation, Steps Down as Drug Coordinator

<div class="bw-release-story">
<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cannatrols.com%2F&amp;esheet=54092931&amp;newsitemid=20240711844879&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Cannatrol&amp;index=1&amp;md5=1aaa6d04176a665ad7ef75e9562e36fa" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" shape="rect">Cannatrol</a>, the creators of the only total dry, cure and store system for the cannabis industry, announced today an exclusive partnership with <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fparalab-green.com%2F&amp;esheet=54092931&amp;newsitemid=20240711844879&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Paralab+Green&amp;index=2&amp;md5=b5b2ecd97a63348cceeaa04a1b1c6366" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" shape="rect">Paralab Green</a>, Europe’s premier distributor of cannabis processing solutions, establishing distribution of the company’s patented <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cannatrols.com%2Fvaportrol%2F&amp;esheet=54092931&amp;newsitemid=20240711844879&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Vaportrol%26%23174%3B+Technology&amp;index=3&amp;md5=cbec534b05201e688e7a541bf72f63f6" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" shape="rect">Vaportrol® Technology</a> throughout Europe.
“This partnership truly represents the best of cannabis processing,” said Jane Sandelman, CEO and Co-Founder of Cannatrol. “Paralab Green has established relationships within the European cannabis industry and has a unique understanding of the rapidly growing market. We look forward to opening international access to Cannatrol’s science-backed technology that will benefit cultivators—and ultimately consumers.”
Paralab Green supplies over 70% of licensed production facilities throughout the European Union, offering a range of instrumentation for the cannabis industry, from production to quality control.
“The European market continues to lead the way in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliance, and this partnership with Cannatrol is a pivotal addition that enhances our portfolio at Paralab Green,” said Rui Soares, CEO of Paralab Green. “The Cannatrol team brings invaluable scientific expertise to optimize and simplify the drying and curing process. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to excellence, raising industry standards and delivering exceptional value to our customers.”
Cannatrol systems ensure consistent water activity and vapor pressure, delivering elevated product quality, increased yields, GMP regulatory compliance and bottom-line improvements. Cannatrol’s patented postharvest technology is proven to increase curing efficiency, and delivers on average <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cannatrols.com%2Fresearch%2F&amp;esheet=54092931&amp;newsitemid=20240711844879&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=16%25+higher+terpene+retention&amp;index=4&amp;md5=319726b1f06daecfbf63b69e985e24ff" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" shape="rect">16% higher terpene retention</a> when compared to traditional drying and curing methods, according to independent testing by The Cannabis Research Coalition.
In addition to Europe, Paralab Green operates in Israel, North Africa and Latin America—opening the door for operators in those regions to access Cannatrol technology.
To learn more about Cannatrol’s Vaportrol® Technology, visit <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cannatrols.com%2F&amp;esheet=54092931&amp;newsitemid=20240711844879&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=cannatrols.com&amp;index=5&amp;md5=c88819ed8f89469abda8b692a7ba1a7d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" shape="rect">cannatrols.com</a>.
<h4>About Cannatrol</h4>
Cannatrol supports commercial cannabis cultivation by streamlining and tightly controlling the critical drying, curing processes as well as postharvest storage. With patented Vaportrol® Technology, the system controls water loss by regulating the vapor pressure and ensures the correct final water activity, critical for terpene preservation, maximized potency, increased yield and premium quality. Cannatrol’s environmental control solution ensures consistent results for every climate and geography, taking the guesswork and risk out of seasonal humidity and temperature swings. Learn more at <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cannatrols.com%2F&amp;esheet=54092931&amp;newsitemid=20240711844879&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=cannatrols.com&amp;index=6&amp;md5=8345452d5a81c1f2c66de248d78d9913" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" shape="rect">cannatrols.com</a>.
<h4>About Paralab Green</h4>
Paralab Green, a division of Paralab with 32 years of industry leadership, specializes in providing innovative equipment solutions tailored for the cannabis industry. With a background in serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, energy, and chemical sectors, Paralab Green brings extensive expertise to cannabis cultivation, extraction, and production. Operating from offices in Portugal and Spain, we are the trusted solution provider for the majority of licensed producers in Europe. Paralab Green combines technical prowess with exceptional customer support to drive innovation and set new standards in the cannabis sector. Learn more at <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fparalab-green.com%2F&amp;esheet=54092931&amp;newsitemid=20240711844879&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=paralab-green.com&amp;index=7&amp;md5=cd25a8a2758cdfaad64f3bbadad2bdca" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" shape="rect">paralab-green.com</a>.
</div>
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/cannatrol-brings-breakthrough-postharvest-cannabis-tech-to-europe-in-partnership-with-paralab-green/">Cannatrol Brings Breakthrough Postharvest Cannabis Tech to Europe in Partnership With Paralab Green</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Cannatrol, the creators of the only total dry, cure and store system for the cannabis industry, announced today an exclusive partnership with Paralab Green, Europe’s premier distributor of cannabis processing solutions, […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/cannatrol-brings-breakthrough-postharvest-cannabis-tech-to-europe-in-partnership-with-paralab-green/">Cannatrol Brings Breakthrough Postharvest Cannabis Tech to Europe in Partnership With Paralab Green</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Cannatrol Brings Breakthrough Postharvest Cannabis Tech to Europe in Partnership With Paralab Green

<a href="https://azmarijuana.com/eblast/071224"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1144872" src="https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GT_Safe-Stash_AZMJ-Email_600x1647px.jpg" alt="GT" width="600" height="1647" srcset="https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GT_Safe-Stash_AZMJ-Email_600x1647px.jpg 600w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GT_Safe-Stash_AZMJ-Email_600x1647px-219x600.jpg 219w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GT_Safe-Stash_AZMJ-Email_600x1647px-55x150.jpg 55w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GT_Safe-Stash_AZMJ-Email_600x1647px-560x1536.jpg 560w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a>
The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/images/is-your-stash-safe/">Is your stash safe?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/images/is-your-stash-safe/">Is your stash safe?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

Is your stash safe?

Plantlife Cannabis will be the first to sell cannabis products at the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival, showcasing some of the biggest comedians at Kinsmen Park.

: Cannabis

Alberta dispensary becomes first to sell cannabis at Edmonton comedy festival

An investigation team seized 123 kg of cannabis, along with 11.5 kg of cocaine, ready for export at the Port of Montreal in May.
The post <a href="https://stratcann.com/enforcement/us-canadian-law-enforcement-seizes-123-kg-of-cannabis-in-montreal/">US/Canadian law enforcement seizes 123 kg of cannabis in Montreal</a> appeared first on <a href="https://stratcann.com/">StratCann</a>.

US/Canadian law enforcement seizes 123 kg of cannabis in Montreal

Total cannabis sales in Illinois surpassed $1 billion for the second consecutive year.
But it happened faster this year.
<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/illinois-reaches-1-billion-dollars-in-cannabis-sales-faster-this-year-than-in-2023/">Illinois races to $1 billion in cannabis sales faster this year than in 2023</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

Illinois races to $1 billion in cannabis sales faster this year than in 2023

New York state’s ongoing quest to squash the illicit market and rescue its failed adult-use cannabis launch continued this week as regulators issued 109 more marijuana business licenses.
<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/new-york-touts-legal-marijuana-sales-spike-as-new-licenses-issued/">New York touts legal marijuana sales spike as new licenses issued</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

New York touts legal marijuana sales spike as new licenses issued

Lucid Green, a cannabis supply-chain service provider based in New York, said it has raised $1.4 million to fund expansion into new markets.
<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-tech-provider-lucid-green-raises-1-4-million-for-expansion/">Cannabis tech provider Lucid Green raises $1.4 million for expansion</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

Cannabis tech provider Lucid Green raises $1.4 million for expansion

RCMP in Red Deer, Alberta, say they recovered some $19,000 worth of stolen cannabis, along with firearms, ammunition, and other stolen property, while executing a...
The post <a href="https://stratcann.com/enforcement/red-deer-rcmp-recover-19000-worth-of-stolen-cannabis/">Red Deer RCMP recover $19,000 worth of stolen cannabis</a> appeared first on <a href="https://stratcann.com/">StratCann</a>.

Red Deer RCMP recover $19,000 worth of stolen cannabis

<h4>New York’s Cannabis Control Board (CCB) yesterday approved 109 new licenses alongside long-awaited amendments to advertising, labelling and packaging rules.</h4>
As the state cannabis regulator continues its efforts to tackle the monumental backlog of license applications and make a dent in the flourishing illicit market, its new management and extended powers are seemingly making some headway.
On July 10, the CCB’s board unanimously approved nearly 110 new licenses, including 21 new dispensaries, 23 growers, 20 distributors, 23 microbusinesses and 22 processors.
Director of the Office for Cannabis Management (OCM), John Kagia, said during the meeting that the authorities new efforts to crackdown on the illicit market, thought to total 3000 dispensaries throughout the state, were beginning to bare ‘very green shoots’.
Under the new <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/new-york-mayor-leads-effort-to-shut-down-illegal-cannabis-sales-in-citys-neighborhoods/">‘Operation Padlock and Protect’</a>, launched in May, some 160 illicit shops have now been padlocked.
This drove a 54% increase in legal sales in June, topping $71m, bringing the total since legalization to $421 million.
“We have seen material impact on our retailers as we have shut down illicit operators,” Kagia said.
While the number of licenses issued this year is now thought to be just under 750, less than 150 legal dispensaries are operating throughout the state.
Despite the increased speed of license approvals, following the issue of a further 105 last month, there is still a significant backlog for the regulator to address.
According to <a href="https://www.greenmarketreport.com/tension-filled-meeting-as-new-york-cannabis-regulators-approve-new-licenses-rules/">Green Market Report</a>’s coverage of the meeting, one staffer suggested that 1306 of the 1850 applications submitted by mid-November have now been reviewed, but another suggested reviews were taking roughly 60 days to complete.
How the organization aims to tackle the 4000+ retail license applications backed up from December is currently unclear, with Kagia stating ‘it’s still a little bit premature to determine the strategy we’re going to implement for the December queue’.
Alongside the new licenses, the OCM also voted to push through a number of amendments aimed at easing restrictions on businesses ability to market their products.
The board proposed new advertising rules for cannabis shops, allowing bright colors, price promotions, loyalty programs, and more digital and billboard ads, aiming to compete with the illicit market. These regulations will undergo a 45-day public comment period before implementation.
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/new-york-cannabis-control-board-approves-109-new-licenses-and-eases-advertising-rules/">New York Cannabis Control Board Approves 109 New Licenses and Eases Advertising Rules</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

New York’s Cannabis Control Board (CCB) yesterday approved 109 new licenses alongside long-awaited amendments to advertising, labelling and packaging rules. As the state cannabis regulator continues its efforts to tackle […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/new-york-cannabis-control-board-approves-109-new-licenses-and-eases-advertising-rules/">New York Cannabis Control Board Approves 109 New Licenses and Eases Advertising Rules</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

New York Cannabis Control Board Approves 109 New Licenses and Eases Advertising Rules

Active Canadian hemp licenses declined for the third year in a row with all provinces or territories showing double-digit permit declines from 2022.
<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/canadian-hemp-license-numbers-decline-for-third-straight-year/">Canadian hemp license numbers decline for third straight year</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

Canadian hemp license numbers decline for third straight year

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1144858" src="https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tumble.png" alt="Tumble" width="715" height="401" srcset="https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tumble.png 715w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tumble-600x337.png 600w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tumble-150x84.png 150w, https://azmarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tumble-610x342.png 610w" sizes="(max-width: 715px) 100vw, 715px"> 
Tumble, an Arizona cannabis pre-rolls brand, has partnered with cannabis accessories brand, Summerland, on a limited-edition waterpipe and ashtray to be won by lucky Tumble customers.
Customers who purchase a pack of Tumble Traveler’s infused pre-rolls in Chemistree strain <a href="https://smoketumble.com/pages/store-locator">from a dispensary</a> between July 1st – October 4th could receive a Golden Ticket hidden in the product’s packaging for a chance to win the Tumble x Summerland branded waterpipe or ashtray.
Winners will be announced in October.
<a href="https://smoketumble.com/pages/store-locator">Find Tumble products in Arizona</a>
 
The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/arizona-medical-marijuana-news/win-a-waterpipe-or-ashtray-with-tumbles-new-giveaway/">Win a Waterpipe or Ashtray with Tumble’s New Giveaway</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

Tumble, an Arizona cannabis pre-rolls brand, has partnered with cannabis accessories brand, Summerland, on a limited-edition waterpipe and ashtray to be won by lucky Tumble customers. Customers who purchase a pack of Tumble Traveler’s infused pre-rolls in Chemistree strain from a dispensary between July 1st – October 4th could receive a Golden Ticket hidden in ...
The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/arizona-medical-marijuana-news/win-a-waterpipe-or-ashtray-with-tumbles-new-giveaway/">Win a Waterpipe or Ashtray with Tumble’s New Giveaway</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

Win a Waterpipe or Ashtray with Tumble’s New Giveaway

Written by Ben Stevens and Alex Khourdaji
On July 01, the next phase of Pillar 1 of Germany’s CanG project got underway, seeing states open up the application process for cultivation associations.
To date, 10 German federal states have reported that a total of around 65 applications for cultivation associations have now been officially received, according to publicly available data.
The northern state of Lower Saxony, which has the second largest number of applications submitted so far, has now become the first and only state to approve an application.
Despite the growing number of applications, participants and politicians alike are still calling for the complex and cumbersome process to be streamlined.
 
<table><tbody>
<tr>
<td>Federal State</td>
<td>Number of Applications</td>
<td>Source Date</td>
<td>Number of Permits</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Baden-Württemberg</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>09/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bavaria</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>02/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Berlin</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>06/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brandenburg</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>02/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bremen</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>09/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hamburg</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>08/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hesse</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>06/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>04/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lower Saxony</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>08/07/2024</td>
<td>1 in Oldenburg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>North Rhine-Westphalia</td>
<td>&gt;5</td>
<td>03/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rhineland-Palatinate</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>07/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Saarland</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>09/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Saxony</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Saxony-Anhalt</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Schleswig-Holstein</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thuringia</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>08/07/2024</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Baden-Württemberg has so far received the most applications, <a href="https://www.bietigheimerzeitung.de/inhalt.kreis-ludwigsburg-cannabis-clubs-stehen-in-den-startloechern.abbf7aec-cf60-45d4-b1a3-a5fbf1db5e4b.html">according to the Regional Council (RP) in Freiburg</a>, which is responsible for issuing cultivation licenses in the region.
Since July 01, there have been eight applications in the Freiburg administrative district, six from Karlsruhe, four from Stuttgart and two from Tübingen.
According to the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture, 16 applications have now been received from the cities of Hanover, Osnabrück, Oldenburg, Braunschweig and Emden as well as from the districts of Harburg, Uelzen, Friesland, Emsland, Oldenburg, Wesermarsch, Peine, Vechta, Lüchow-Dannenberg, Cuxhaven and the Hanover region.
Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte granted the country’s first permit to the ‘<a href="https://www.csc-ganderkesee.de/neuigkeiten/landesweit-erste-genehmigung/">Cannabis Social Club Ganderkesee’</a> in Oldenburg.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, <a href="https://www.die-glocke.de/lokalnachrichten/erst-wenige-antraege-fuer-cannabis-anbauvereinigungen-1719984487">the first applications have been received in the Düsseldorf </a>administrative district, but the authority is not yet able to give a specific number. The Cologne district government had received three applications by Tuesday, and one in Detmold.
The Arnsberg district government initially received ‘three incomplete applications’ a spokeswoman said, while the Münster district government initially did not record a single application.
 
 
<figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-31171" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-31171 size-full" src="https://businessofcannabis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your-paragraph-text-1.png" alt="" width="1400" height="1920" srcset="https://businessofcannabis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your-paragraph-text-1.png 1400w, https://businessofcannabis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your-paragraph-text-1-219x300.png 219w, https://businessofcannabis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your-paragraph-text-1-747x1024.png 747w, https://businessofcannabis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your-paragraph-text-1-768x1053.png 768w, https://businessofcannabis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your-paragraph-text-1-1120x1536.png 1120w, https://businessofcannabis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your-paragraph-text-1-600x823.png 600w, https://businessofcannabis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your-paragraph-text-1-750x1029.png 750w, https://businessofcannabis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your-paragraph-text-1-1140x1563.png 1140w" sizes="(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Figures are based on information made publicly available at the time of writing.</figcaption></figure> 
In Saarland six clubs have so far applied, <a href="https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/saarland/sechs-vereine-stellen-antrag-auf-cannabis-anbau-im-saarland_aid-115852607">according to the Ministry of the Environment</a>, which is responsible for the cultivation permits. However, it is unlikely that any of these will be approved in the near future.
The state’s ministry has stipulated that it will only process applications when all the documents and evidence listed in the government’s cannabis law have been ‘completely submitted’, including the appointment of a trained prevention officer. Training will reportedly not be offered in Saarland until at least August.
Associations across the states have complained about the excessive red tape involved in the application process. Shortly before July 01, the federal government announced that the states would be given the powers to largely set their own regulations for cannabis cultivation associations.
This allocation of responsibility took many state governments by surprise, and has meant some have formulated regulations much more quickly than others, and has opened the door for some states to impose even stricter requirements on applicants.
<a href="https://www.msn.com/de-de/nachrichten/politik/zum-auftakt-nur-sieben-antr%C3%A4ge-f%C3%BCr-cannabis-anbau-in-bayern/ar-BB1pgZFp">Bavarian State Chancellery Chief Florian Herrmann (CSU) said</a>: “We already regulated some time ago by ordinance that no more than one cultivation association per district or independent city and 6,000 inhabitants is possible…Bavaria is committed to protecting people from the health risks of consuming cannabis. We will stick to this course – that is why we are implementing the law as restrictively as possible.”
 
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/germany-approves-first-cultivation-association-as-patchwork-of-applications-roll-in/">Germany Approves First Cultivation Association as Patchwork of Applications Roll In</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Written by Ben Stevens and Alex Khourdaji On July 01, the next phase of Pillar 1 of Germany’s CanG project got underway, seeing states open up the application process for […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/germany-approves-first-cultivation-association-as-patchwork-of-applications-roll-in/">Germany Approves First Cultivation Association as Patchwork of Applications Roll In</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Germany Approves First Cultivation Association as Patchwork of Applications Roll In

The Israeli Government has issued a preliminary decision on accusations that Canadian cannabis companies are dumping low-cost products in Israel's medical cannabis market.
The post <a href="https://stratcann.com/news/preliminary-report-israel-might-apply-import-fees-on-canadian-cannabis/">Preliminary report: Israel might apply import fees on Canadian cannabis</a> appeared first on <a href="https://stratcann.com/">StratCann</a>.

Preliminary report: Israel might apply import fees on Canadian cannabis

An influential Republican-controlled House of Representatives committee passed a spending bill on Wednesday that addresses the proliferation of hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/congress-asks-fda-for-hemp-derived-cannabinoid-powers-in-spending-bill/">Congress asks FDA for hemp-derived cannabinoid powers in spending bill</a> is a post from: <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/">MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal &amp; Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs</a>

Congress asks FDA for hemp-derived cannabinoid powers in spending bill

With a new cannabis renaissance dawning, more and more people are making moves to put the plant front and center as a way to build a more sustainable and just future. Meanwhile, an estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers end up in landfills across America annually (according to the folks at RealDiaper.org). Clearly, it was only a matter of time before the worlds of pot and poop collided.



Enter <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://billiewonder.nl/" target="_blank">Billie Wonder</a>, a Dutch retailer providing eco-friendly and adorable washable diapers and training pants to the masses made from green materials such as organic cotton, bamboo and yes, hemp. The company features both an online shop and brick and mortar showroom in <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/?s=amsterdam">Amsterdam</a>, and is aiming to spread awareness of the benefits of reusable diapers while simultaneously working towards creating the world’s first nappy made completely from cannabis.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="600" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51132" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-3.jpg 1000w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-3-300x180.jpg 300w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-3-768x461.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-3-400x240.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></figure>“I think hemp is the plant of the future in many, many ways, but also when it comes to diapers,” explains Amsterdam native Steef Fleur, co-founder of Billie Wonder, which means “little bottom miracle” in Dutch.



Fleur, an urban developer-turned-photographer-turned-entrepreneur, may have grown up in a country known for its tolerant stance on so-called “soft drugs” such as marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, but it took spending time away from coffeeshop culture to truly understand cannabis and the multitude of powers it may possess.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="600" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51134" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-4.jpg 1000w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-4-300x180.jpg 300w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-4-768x461.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-4-400x240.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"><figcaption>( Steef Fleur (right) and her business partner Manon Klosterman join their children in sorting their line of reusable diapers.) </figcaption></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading">A Seed Is Planted</h4>



Despite growing up in Amsterdam, Fleur had no idea what a pot plant looked like up close until visiting a friend who had moved to California’s Emerald Triangle. A two month stint in the Humboldt hills turned into a <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/capturing-cannabis/">successful photography career </a>and a lifelong passion for the plant.



“It opened my eyes very much to the possibilities of the plant, because here [in the Netherlands] although everybody thinks we’re super liberal, we’re super narrow-minded when it comes to cannabis,” Fleur said.



It was also during a trip to California when Fleur first discovered washable diapers, something that was nearly unheard of at the time in her native country. After spending time studying informal settlements in Brazil during her university career, Fleur understood the dire need to decrease landfill waste. She committed immediately to embracing reusable diapers should she ever be blessed to become a mom.



“Not very long after, I got pregnant,” she laughed.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="600" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder-Steef-Fleur.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51136" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder-Steef-Fleur.jpg 1000w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder-Steef-Fleur-300x180.jpg 300w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder-Steef-Fleur-768x461.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder-Steef-Fleur-400x240.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading">Two Babies and a Business</h4>



Fleur started Billie Wonder alongside her friend and officemate Manon Klosterman, a Brazillian-born accountant who was due to have her own bundle of joy only months apart from Fleur. The two had begun researching washable diapers only to come up short.



“What we were missing is a place where you can actually go to and ask your questions about reusable diapers,” Fleur said. “I also realized that the imagery that exists around the product right now is a little old-fashioned, and I believe an old-fashioned product actually gets confirmed by the imagery that exists.”



Utilizing sleek and modern photography mixed with an inviting user experience, the Billie Wonder website was designed with the busy mom in mind. Deciding which washable diaper makers to partner with, however, meant getting down and dirty with any potential products.



“That was the good thing about starting it straight away,” Fleur says. “We would just buy sh*tloads of new brands and put them on our children!”



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="700" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-3-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51144" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-3-1.jpg 500w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Billie-Wonder_Steef-Fleur-3-1-214x300.jpg 214w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure></div>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">From the Bottom to the Top</h4>



With her photography background, Fleur set out to change the perception of reusable diapers in Europe and beyond. Her time documenting the cannabis culture in Humboldt however, is what has Billie Wonder’s sights set even higher. Knowing <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/category/cannabis/hemp/">hemp</a> is easier on the environment to grow than cotton — while also being an overall more absorbent material — the company has applied for and received subsidies from the Dutch government to develop a diaper made from 100% hemp.



“The structure of hemp is still a little bit too rough to use by itself in diaper material. The fashion industry is having troubles with this as well,” she laments, adding the initial government partnership inquiry will last until the spring of 2020.



Despite the daunting research ahead of them, the duo behind Bille Wonder are encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response to their business. In addition, Fleur is expecting baby number two this winter, marking a new chapter in the company’s history.



“We curated [our collection] on our kids. They’re both potty-trained now, but we have a new one coming that we can test the hemp on next year!”



TELL US, are you a parent who has tried reusable diapers?



Originally published in Issue 40 of Cannabis Now. <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/print-digital-magazine/">LEARN MORE</a>
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/nappy-dread/">Nappy Dread</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

A Dutch company founded by mothers is working to revolutionize the way people think about washable diapers and cannabis at the same time.
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Nappy Dread

A man from Moncton, New Brunswick, has received a $3,250 fine for selling cannabis without a licence after recently entering a guilty plea.
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Man fined for possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling following 2023 raid

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710 in Arizona with The Pharm and Grow Sciences

<h4>Tilray’s medical cannabis division has today published a new scientific study showing significant improvements in pain, sleep and quality of life in patients over 50.</h4>
Its <a href="https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/view/239">‘Medical Cannabis in Older Patients Study’ </a>comprised 299 participants over 50 who used medical cannabis under the guidance of healthcare providers.
The multi-site, prospective, observational study collected data on participant characteristics, medical cannabis use, co-medication use, and health outcomes across Canada over six months
It used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Levels questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and the Medical Cannabis and Prescription Drug Questionnaire (MCPDQ) to measure progress.
Just over 60% of participants were female, and around 90% used medical cannabis to treat chronic health conditions such as pain (60.5%), arthritis (20.5%), and insomnia (11.9%).
The study found that 45% of patients experienced clinically meaningful improvements in pain interference and sleep quality, while nearly 50% of patients reduced their use of co-medications by the end of the study period.
Quality of life improved significantly from baseline to 3 months and from baseline to 6 months.
The incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) was $25,357.20, significantly less than many traditional pharmaceuticals, making cannabis a cost-effective therapeutic option.
José Tempero, Tilray’s Medical Director, stated, “Our involvement in this initiative underscores our unwavering commitment to advancing medical research and highlights our dedication to providing products that supports the findings to the comprehensive research that bring us one step closer to unlocking the full therapeutic potential of medical cannabis, especially reinforcing its role as a treatment option for an aging population.”
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/new-tilray-study-shows-significant-pain-and-sleep-improvements-with-medical-cannabis-in-seniors/">New Tilray Study Shows Significant Pain and Sleep Improvements with Medical Cannabis in Seniors</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Tilray’s medical cannabis division has today published a new scientific study showing significant improvements in pain, sleep and quality of life in patients over 50. Its ‘Medical Cannabis in Older […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/new-tilray-study-shows-significant-pain-and-sleep-improvements-with-medical-cannabis-in-seniors/">New Tilray Study Shows Significant Pain and Sleep Improvements with Medical Cannabis in Seniors</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

New Tilray Study Shows Significant Pain and Sleep Improvements with Medical Cannabis in Seniors

<h4>The landmark US cannabis rescheduling project was dealt a major blow this week, as a controversial spending bill aimed at blocking the bill was passed by a key House Committee.</h4>
On Tuesday, July 09, the House Appropriations Committee, which is led by the GOP, approved proposals which would prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using any funds to reschedule or deschedule cannabis.
As it stands, the bill states that ‘none of the funds appropriated or other wise made available by this Act may be used to reschedule marijuana or to remove marijuana from the schedules established under Section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act’, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-congressional-committee-approves-bill-to-block-marijuana-rescheduling-while-rejecting-state-cannabis-protections-amendment/">Marijuana Moment </a>reported.
It comes just months after <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/dea-doj-officially-submit-proposal-for-cannabis-rescheduling-setting-comment-period-in-motion/">DOJ published its formal proposal for cannabis rescheduling</a>, officially putting what is set to be the most meaningful overhaul of cannabis regulation in 50-years into motion.
Following the publication of the proposals on May 21, 2024, all interested parties were given 60 days to submit their comments on the proposals, giving them until July 22.
The Republican-led House has so far passed four of the 12 annual spending bills so far this year, but the Democratic-led Senate has so far passed none.
All four bill that have been passed have also received threats of being vetoed by the White House and have seen major pushback from Democrats, meaning there is little chance any of these bills will make it through the Senate in their current form.
It is now likely that a long and protracted battle will play out, requiring stopgap spending bills to keep the government functioning when the new fiscal year starts on October 01.
The result will also come as further bad news for the embattled President Biden, who is facing increasing pressure from his own party to step aside following his poor performance at a recent presidential debate.
Biden had been counting on the cannabis reform to secure support from younger voters, and his administration has repeatedly cited their action on the topic in their campaign.
While the bill would keep rules dating back to 2014 that would prevent the federal government using funds to interfere with state medical cannabis programs, new language was added enabling the DOJ to increase penalties for distributing cannabis within 1000ft of schools, colleges, playgrounds or public housing. 
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/cannabis-rescheduling-dealt-blow-as-house-committee-passes-bill-aimed-at-blocking-progress/">Cannabis Rescheduling Dealt Blow as House Committee Passes Bill Aimed at Blocking Progress</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

The landmark US cannabis rescheduling project was dealt a major blow this week, as a controversial spending bill aimed at blocking the bill was passed by a key House Committee. […]
The post <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/cannabis-rescheduling-dealt-blow-as-house-committee-passes-bill-aimed-at-blocking-progress/">Cannabis Rescheduling Dealt Blow as House Committee Passes Bill Aimed at Blocking Progress</a> appeared first on <a href="https://businessofcannabis.com/">Business of Cannabis</a>.

Cannabis Rescheduling Dealt Blow as House Committee Passes Bill Aimed at Blocking Progress

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The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/images/new-brand-alert-session-has-arrived/">New Brand Alert! Session Has Arrived</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

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New Brand Alert! Session Has Arrived

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The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/images/get-50-off-storewide-tomorrow-at-story-cannabis/">Get 50% off storewide tomorrow at Story Cannabis!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

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Get 50% off storewide tomorrow at Story Cannabis!

The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) is reducing its payment processing timelines for products sold through its Flow-Through ordering program. 
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OCS shortens payment processing timelines for Flow-Through products

A reported explosion and fire at a cannabis facility near London, Ontario, took over an hour to get under control the night of Monday, June...
The post <a href="https://stratcann.com/news/fire-at-jc-green-cannabis-in-ontario/">Fire at JC Green Cannabis in Ontario</a> appeared first on <a href="https://stratcann.com/">StratCann</a>.

Fire at JC Green Cannabis in Ontario

While some micro cultivators see little need for an expanded canopy, some micro processor believe the changes could benefit smaller craft producers. 
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Expanding micro processing can benefit all micros

You can’t talk about cannabis without giving the vape a fair mention. Over the last few years portable vaporizers have made a name for themselves in the cannabis world, and they’ve certainly earned a rightful place in the “most loved” category when it comes to the myriad of ways one can consume the mighty plant. No one could have imagined the shape vapes would take down the road. However, a few brainy cannabis lovers with a vision for the future believed the current vaporizers on the market held a lot of untapped potential.



Included in this group is Roland Szegi, the founder of <a href="https://airvapeusa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AirVape</a>. As an early fan of portable weed vaporizers, Szegi couldn’t help but notice some major flaws in design and functionality. Among these flaws were bulkiness, user difficulty and lack of aesthetic. Lucky for us, AirVape has taken portable vaporizers to another level. These sleek, high tech, self-regulating, versatile, dry-herb and wax vaporizers embody everything that the early dreamers envisioned.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Apollo Team</h4>



The team behind AirVape is referred to as Apollo. A group of co-founders and cannabis pros started Apollo in 2013 looking to revolutionize the dry herb vaporizer space and create affordable, luxury products with bold electronic design elements. They began at just the right moment in time; cannabis vaporizers were beginning to make a splash in the market as a convenient <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/five-reasons-to-vape/">method of smoking</a> that’s easier on the lungs.



Apollo released its first AirVape in the spring of 2015. Then came the AirVape XS in 2016, the AirVape X in 2017, the AirVape XS Go in 2019. Last but not least, the AirVape Legacy Pro hit the streets in 2022. With each new model, the Apollo team stretched the limits of possibility.



Apollo also made a <a href="https://airvapeusa.com/pages/save-the-planet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">commitment to sustainability</a> in 2021. They began packaging with recyclable materials like bamboo; created a special edition Legacy Pro vaporizer where a portion of the proceeds was given to One Tree Planted; and they also started a “recycle your vape” program. But they didn’t stop there. Next, they set their sights on incorporating technology such as long-lasting batteries and self-regulated heating systems. Throughout their journey, Apollo has stayed true to their promise, “We will never cease to innovate.” 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Let’s Talk About Vape Tech</h4>



What do we mean when we say “high-tech?” This isn’t some nod to the days of the “totally tubular” or “righteous brother” catch phrases that could literally mean anything. AirVape’s vaporizers include a variety of design aspects that utilize quality technology. So, here are some specs that are elevating AirVape to “best portable vaporizer” status:



1 – Precision Temperature Control: AirVape has several dry-herb vaporizers with easy-to-use temperature control buttons. The up-arrow button raises the heat, and the down-arrow button lowers it. We love a self-explanatory feature. The temperature ranges from 212 degrees to 445 degrees, starting and capping at optimal air vaporizing temperatures so that you never have to worry if it will be too hot or too cold.



2 – Fast Heating Times: These vaporizers heat up and cool down in no time. Once you set your optimal temperature, the device will automatically heat to that temperature once turned on. Just count to three and your device will be fully heated and ready to use.



3 – Customizable Settings: For those of us who are super particular about our temperatures, AirVape makes setting customized temps easy. You prefer 356 degrees over 350? No problem. Just use the arrows to find your perfect temperature. A few products like the AirVape Legacy Pro have pre-set modes for flower and wax vaporizing. This way, you can easily navigate to the proper temps for whatever input you prefer.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/airvape-vaporizer.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/airvape-vaporizer-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69068" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/airvape-vaporizer-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/airvape-vaporizer-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/airvape-vaporizer-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/airvape-vaporizer.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px"></a></figure>
</div>


<h4 class="wp-block-heading">It’s All About You</h4>



The biggest concern for the folks over at AirVape is the user experience. From packaging to design to settings, this portable vaporizer is made with you in mind. They’ve created a product that looks good, is highly functional and fits in with your lifestyle. Not to mention that each vape comes with replacement filters, a charging cable and a cleaning kit. It’s created for seasoned cannabis enjoyers and beginners alike.



AirVape is not simply a vape company—it’s a lifestyle brand dedicated to elevating your experience. Do you prefer wax or flower? Low temp or high temp? Little hits or long pulls? Are you a nighttime partaker or a daytime enjoyer? Sativa or indica? You name it, this vaporizer can do it. With over 120 five star <a href="https://airvapeusa.com/products/legacy-pro-steampunk-edition#looxReviews" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reviews</a>, it’s clear that the customers are impressed with this product.



Speaking of reviews, keep reading to find out exactly how we feel about AirVape’s Legacy Pro.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Air Vape Legacy Pro: Let’s Talk Details</h4>



Let’s start from the outside and work our way in. The <a href="https://airvapeusa.com/products/airvape-legacy-pro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Legacy Pro</a> is packaged with precision in a swanky, navy blue, bamboo-based box with gold lettering. It feels like you’re about to open pandora’s box of secrets or lay eyes on a new Range Rover. You open the box to find a plethora of replacement parts, sweetly branded stickers and cleaning tools, highlighting attention to detail and product care.



Also included in your box is a little sheet with a QR code. When scanned, you are led directly to the user guide, which includes detailed directions on the set up and care of your Legacy Pro, along with how-to videos and diagrams pointing out the various technologies and elements. Having a paperless set up guide helps the Apollo/AirVape team stay committed to sustainability.



The device is pretty straightforward, you place grinded flower into the designated chamber or use the “wax filter” to set your wax, close the chamber, press the on button three times and it’s ready to go. The temperature mode screen even greets you when it turns on and off with a friendly “ciao.” You can’t help but say “ciao” right back. You can choose one of the vapes pre-set modes or use the up and down arrows to find your baseline temperature. We set ours to 350 for dry herb.



The immediate effect that the portable vaporizer has once taking a puff allows for a more subtle, gradual experience. Since you feel the cannabis right away, it’s easy to determine if you want a bit more or are good to go. We also appreciated the quick ware off rate. Unlike intaking cannabis in edible or joint form, the Legacy Pro tends to facilitate a lighter effect that doesn’t last for hours. The chamber and release of the air vaporizer allows more flavor to pass through, which means every hit tastes great. An added bonus is that there isn’t a strong lingering cannabis smell—it’s gone as quickly as your worries! Did we mention it looks like a beautiful remote that will open the doors to the luxury spa hiding behind your living room wall? Well, it does.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">What’s Next For This Luxury Vape Company?</h4>



Thought that the technology couldn’t get any better? Think again. AirVape has recently developed an electric desktop hookah called <a href="https://airvapeusa.com/products/enso" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shisha</a>. This portable hookah vaporizer is made of zinc alloy coating and ceramic chambers, can be used without being plugged in, and has an LED temperature indicator. Plus, the Legacy Pro is getting an upgrade this summer. New specs include an updated heating technology with even faster heat up times.



Looking to own an “everything in one” portable vaporizer that looks good in your hand, is easier on the lungs, tastes delicious and has technology that does all the heavy lifting for you? AirVape has it, and you can get 25% off simply because you’re reading this article. The code is CN25OFF.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/airvape-revolutionizes-cannabis-consumption/">AirVape Revolutionizes Cannabis Consumption</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

At the pinnacle of portable vaping lies AirVape's innovative designs, eco-friendly materials and unmatched functionality. Discover how this luxury brand redefines cannabis consumption with cutting-edge technology and user-centric features. 
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/airvape-revolutionizes-cannabis-consumption/">AirVape Revolutionizes Cannabis Consumption</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

AirVape Revolutionizes Cannabis Consumption

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The post <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/images/find-7-10-deals-on-timeless-here/">Find 7/10 Deals on Timeless Here!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://azmarijuana.com/">AZ Marijuana</a>.

Find 7/10 Deals on Timeless Here!

Chinook Cannabis is hosting its third cannabis consumption space at the Badlands Music Festival, July 4-14, 2024.
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Cannabis consumption space at Calgary music festival grows into its third year

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When it comes to cannabis photography, Marvin Lee Stohs is a name worth remembering.



Working out of Washington State, the 30-year-old, better known online as Surface Area, has quickly become an in-demand photographer of buds, batters and all things weed. Known for his insanely detailed shots — what Stohs calls “a glimpse into an alien world” — the lensman’s indelible work has netted him more than 35k followers on Instagram alone. Stohs’ success isn’t a simple matter of luck, however and it doesn’t come from simply pointing a camera and hitting the shutter. His rocky journey to the top has been paved with hard work at every step along the way.



A self-taught photographer, Stohs launched his professional career nearly a decade ago when he found work with international clients, as well as several Burlington, VT-area head shops that hired him to photograph vaporizers. But, starting in 2017, the success of Initiative 502 in <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/washington-state-interstate-cannabis-commerce/">Washington State</a> (passed in 2012) inspired Stohs to switch gears and test his talents in the then-nascent legal cannabis industry. Long before deciding to focus on super macro cannabis photography, Stohs says that he listened to his gut and combined his dual passions — photography and cannabis — and that proved to be extraordinarily valuable.



“Vaping was becoming kind of unpopular at that time, and as soon as weed became legal, I knew there was going to be some type of market for photographers in the industry,” Stohs said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Plane.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Plane-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-64549" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Plane-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Plane-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Plane-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Plane.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stohs’ photography contains many creative cannabis works such as this nug in the sky.</figcaption></figure>Stohs says his own approach and ultimate aesthetic in much of his work is inspired by some of the biggest names in cannabis photography, including Sean Moore (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dankshire_/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dankshire</a>) and Erik Christiansen (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nugshots/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nugshots</a>). At the same time, the budding photographer also knew it was vital that he get a body of relevant work under his belt as quickly as possible.



“I basically did what every beginning cannabis photographer does,” Stohs said of his first attempt at establishing a name for himself. “I went to the weed shop, bought one of my favorite products sold by the company, took pictures of it, and posted it on social media and tagged them. Then you hope that they’ll take the bait and send you a direct message the next day asking about your pictures.”



He was an instant hit. Almost immediately a popular Washington cannabis brand reached out to Stohs and commissioned him for work — some of which was later featured in High Times. It was, according to Stohs, exactly the type of recognition and cache he was hoping for. And things have only gotten better from there.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-zoz-cannabis.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-zoz-cannabis-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-64552" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-zoz-cannabis-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-zoz-cannabis-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-zoz-cannabis-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-zoz-cannabis.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jelly Biscuit from Solfire Gardens.</figcaption></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading">Instagram Troubles</h4>



Today, Stohs’ work is collected on Instagram, where a scroll through his feed reveals a veritable kaleidoscope of far-out, expertly captured images of cannabis in all forms. Whether he’s soliciting followers to guess the weight of a jar of badder or sharing his latest shots from Washington’s top cultivators and extractors, the business of being a cannabis photographer is one Stohs conducts exclusively through the ubiquitous social media platform.



But as legions of influencers, brand and content creators can attest, life as a cannabis-affiliated Instagram poster is also one frequently fraught with fear and anxiety, due to the platform’s seemingly never-ending crusade against weed.



“It’s really difficult to be a content creator in today’s age, especially with how many restrictions are being put on cannabis content shared on Instagram and Facebook,” Stohs weighs. “I constantly live in a state of anxiety every time I press ‘share’ on any posts, on any account that I work with. I’m worried that my posts might get flagged or that my account may be deleted for the tenth time.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Jar-of-Seeds.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="853" height="1024" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Jar-of-Seeds-853x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-64548" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Jar-of-Seeds-853x1024.jpg 853w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Jar-of-Seeds-250x300.jpg 250w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Jar-of-Seeds-768x922.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-Jar-of-Seeds.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A close-up look at a jar of seeds from Cloneworld Northwest.</figcaption></figure>In total, Stohs says his main Instagram handle <a href="https://www.instagram.com/surface_area999/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@surface_area999</a> has already been pulled a staggering 15 times. Though he’s been able to successfully recover it in each instance, Stohs explained that cannabis photographers relying on the platform remain in an anxiety-inducing situation, without much hope for change.



“That’s my entire business,” he says. “I don’t have any other websites or social media platforms. I run my entire business on Instagram, so it’s very, very stressful for me to be living like this all the time. I’ve also seen a lot of social influencers who are switching to different apps and kicking themselves in the butt because they lost their 60k follower-strong account that they’d worked more than a decade to build. I hope it gets better, but I just don’t think it will.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-cat-piss-zoz-cannabis.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-cat-piss-zoz-cannabis-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-64550" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-cat-piss-zoz-cannabis-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-cat-piss-zoz-cannabis-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-cat-piss-zoz-cannabis-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-cat-piss-zoz-cannabis.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Trichomes sparkle on a Cat Piss plant from ZOZ Wellness.</figcaption></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading">Flower Power</h4>



While Stohs’ nerves surrounding Instagram show no signs of waning, he’s on firmer ground — almost upbeat — when it comes to the issue of destigmatizing cannabis. Recalling his own upbringing, Stohs shared that his mother was once fervently anti-cannabis, going so far as to tell him that anyone who smoked weed would “never amount to anything.”  Though the process wasn’t easy, Stohs says his mom has subsequently come around on the subject. Now, as a father himself, he’s enjoying the results of taking a decidedly different approach to cannabis with his own daughter.



“When I was growing up, I always felt afraid to get in trouble because of weed,” he said. “So, today, being able to sit on my back porch and watch my daughter run around with pot leaves from weed plants we’re growing and showing her how to grow and how to trim… it’s just a super remarkable feeling. In my daughter’s young mind, it’s got to be the complete opposite of how we felt as children. I come home with weed, and she tells me it’s beautiful because I’ve taught her that weed is, in fact, a flower.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-gold-n-grams.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-gold-n-grams-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-64551" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-gold-n-grams-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-gold-n-grams-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-gold-n-grams-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Surface-Area-gold-n-grams.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">GMO Terps on the Rocks by Gold N’ Grams.</figcaption></figure>Beyond his efforts to normalize cannabis within his own immediate family, Stohs’ striking photography also gives the rest of us another medium to appreciate the plant’s natural qualities and transcendent beauty. One of his new favorite approaches is objective microscopic photography, in which fields of glistening trichomes and rich globs of concentrate are revealed in detail unavailable to the naked eye. Even though Stohs is the one taking the photos, he says he’s still personally blown away by what his camera reveals.



“At this point, a lot of us are getting into objective microscopic photography. We’re taking pictures that you can’t see unless you’re using a fucking microscope!” he says incredulously. “Look, a lot of people might think that they’re ‘just taking pictures’ but I disagree. No, I don’t take pictures; I take super-macro pictures of alien worlds within plants. The moment I saw how otherworldly this stuff looks in this format, it just immediately had me hooked.”



This story was originally published in issue 42 of the <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/subscribe">print edition</a> of Cannabis Now.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/marvin-lee-stohs/">Marvin Lee Stohs’ Cannabis Photos Are ‘Out of This World’</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

Photographer Marvin Lee Stohs captures cannabis under a microscope, revealing alien lands and unfathomable beauty.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/marvin-lee-stohs/">Marvin Lee Stohs’ Cannabis Photos Are ‘Out of This World’</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

Marvin Lee Stohs’ Cannabis Photos Are ‘Out of This World’

If you’ve been looking for a book on the basics of cannabis and CBD, there are almost too many options to choose from. It can be overwhelming to sort through the volumes of books, blogs and websites dedicated to educating consumers about this important topic.



Still, not all cannabis educational material is helpful, or even accurate. As a cannabis consultant who helps new patients, I’m always curious to check out these books and see for myself whether they are worth recommending to my clients. It’s sad to see how much of the material out there just isn’t worth the read.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="700" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cannabisandcbdforhealth.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50422" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cannabisandcbdforhealth.jpg 500w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cannabisandcbdforhealth-214x300.jpg 214w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure>
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So, I was pleasantly surprised reading through the natural medicine guide <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/607559/cannabis-and-cbd-for-health-and-wellness-by-aliza-sherman-with-dr-junella-chin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cannabis &amp; CBD for Health &amp; Wellness</a> by Aliza Sherman and Dr. Junella Chin. While similar in kind to many of the 101 guides on cannabis, their approach blends the scientific and practical aspects of cannabis use into a book that’s both approachable and grounded in objective data. And although the text was published in 2019, it’s still relevant today. 



The 167-page book begins like many others, with a brief explanation of cannabis’s history, science and medical potential, before launching into the practical details of using cannabis. The descriptions are written for the everyday reader and the book guides consumers through many essential pieces of information that are important to know when using cannabis.



On top of that, there are also a few places where this guide sets itself apart from the crowd.



For one thing, this guide has medical bona fides that many others don’t — it was co-written by a doctor who actually specializes in cannabis.



“Writing the book with a doctor was a no-brainer, since I’m a journalist and author, but not a medical professional,” co-author <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://alizasherman.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aliza Sherman</a> explains. “I had already spent two years researching cannabis as real medicine and having a doctor as my co-author meant that I could finally understand all of the research I was finding.”



To Sherman’s point, a lot of the information found online lacks the insight of a trained medical professional, and misinterpretations of scientific data can lead to many misconceptions about how to use cannabis effectively.



Another place where this guide differs from most is in the section that deals with the treatment of specific medical conditions with cannabis. While most guides discuss a given condition, review the science behind it and offer recommendations, the authors of this book instead use a real patient’s story for each ailment or symptom they discuss. The book describes a patient’s situation, treatment plan and what actually worked before making broader suggestions based on the data. This provides information that I haven’t seen in many other beginner cannabis guides which could really help patients understand how to most effectively treat their conditions.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="525" height="700" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cannabisandcbdforhealth2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50424" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cannabisandcbdforhealth2.jpg 525w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cannabisandcbdforhealth2-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px"></figure>
</div>


Throughout the book, I found clear and easy-to-follow writing coupled with interesting <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/category/medical/">medical</a> insights. It’s clear why a seasoned reporter/researcher and a respected doctor make such a dynamic duo of cannabis writers.



While informative and well-researched, this book is far from a scientific textbook on cannabis. Though it does have a large bibliography at the end, there are few references within the text to the scientific literature, and no footnotes or direct citations to support the claims being made. This could be a positive or negative, depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re one of those patients (like me) who likes to track down the research being referenced as you go, this book could be a little bit frustrating. But if you are just looking for an accessible, thorough and readable guide to using cannabis, Cannabis &amp; CBD for Health &amp; Wellness is a great pick.



Originally published in issue #40 of Cannabis Now’s <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/subscribe">print edition</a>.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/an-actually-helpful-guide-to-using-cannabis/">An Actually-Helpful Guide to Using Cannabis</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

An educational book offers practical advice for new users.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/an-actually-helpful-guide-to-using-cannabis/">An Actually-Helpful Guide to Using Cannabis</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

An Actually-Helpful Guide to Using Cannabis

The history of Europe’s cannabis reform movement will forever be measured by adult-use legalization in Germany. Germany, which implemented the first provisions of its new adult-use cannabis law on April 1 , will never hold the title of being the first to legalize cannabis nationwide on the European continent. However, German legalization is undeniably the most significant cannabis reform victory in Europe’s history, and possibly the world.



Adults in Germany can now possess up to 25 grams when away from their homes, and the domestic medical cannabis industry is more streamlined than ever thanks to the removal of cannabis from Germany’s Narcotics list. Declassifying cannabis is a major component of Germany’s <a href="https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2024-04-18/germany-new-cannabis-act-enters-into-force/">CanG law</a>.



Additionally, adults can cultivate up to three plants in their private residences in Germany, and according to a recent survey by <a href="https://internationalcbc.com/44-of-german-adult-cannabis-consumers-plan-to-join-a-social-club/">Pronova BKK</a>, 51% selected “Yes, I can imagine having my own cannabis to grow at home” when asked about home cultivation. Another 40% of “occasional” cannabis consumers also selected that option in the survey. A separate survey by <a href="https://internationalcbc.com/cannabis-clones-and-seeds-are-already-becoming-a-huge-industry-in-germany/">YouGov</a> found that 7% of surveyed German adults have already purchased cannabis seeds or clones, and another 11% reported that they will in the future.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Time to Modernize</h4>



When the doomsday scenarios that cannabis opponents inside and outside of Germany have predicted fail to materialize, and German legalization inevitably succeeds, it will provide a major boost to Europe’s cannabis movement. Cannabis advocates across the continent will be able to point to Germany as proof that recreational cannabis policy modernization works and be in a better position to advocate for their own countries to do the same.



A recent example of this concept can be found in Slovenia where voters recently approved two referendum measures, both of which contained policy components that are already implemented in Germany. One referendum measure asked Slovenian voters if <a href="https://internationalcbc.com/voters-approve-adult-use-cannabis-legalization-measure-in-slovenia/">personal use and cultivation</a> by adults should be legalized. The other referendum measure asked voters if Slovenia should permit <a href="https://internationalcbc.com/slovenia-voters-overwhelmingly-approve-medical-cannabis-referendum-measure/">domestic medical cannabis production</a>. The approval of both measures, while not binding, sends a resounding message to lawmakers in Slovenia that it’s time for the Central European country to follow Germany’s lead and modernize its own policies.



In Czechia, lawmakers have long stated that the country plans to follow in Germany’s footsteps. While adult-use legalization isn’t necessarily imminent in Czechia, national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil re-confirmed in a recent email to <a href="https://krautinvest.de/cannabis-in-tschechien-weiter-alle-szenarien-denkbar/">European media</a> that “a final decision is still pending and that all options are conceivable.”



Smaller policy modernization victories are piling up elsewhere in Europe, with the Netherlands serving as a great example. <a href="https://internationalcbc.com/cannabis-pilot-trial-program-expands-in-the-netherlands/">The Netherlands</a> recently expanded its regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot projects to eight more municipalities.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Pilot Programs</h4>



Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot projects are also underway in several Switzerland municipalities and pilot projects will eventually serve as a key component in Germany’s legalization model. Pilot programs are expected to launch in Germany by the end of the year and are likely to be more widespread compared to the Netherlands and Switzerland. Successful pilot projects in all three nations will collectively encourage more European nations to launch their own pilots.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">
Regressive Policies in Japan and Thailand
</h4>



Increasing momentum for policy modernization in Europe comes at the same time that countries in Asia are proposing regressive cannabis policies. Japan is set to enact a policy that punishes cannabis consumers for simply having THC in their system. THC use in Japan will become punishable by up to 7 years in prison by the end of this year. In Thailand, lawmakers are planning to <a href="https://internationalcbc.com/thailand-issues-draft-regulation-to-reclassify-cannabis-as-a-narcotic/">re-criminalize cannabis</a> after having decriminalized it in 2022. Cannabis policy modernization efforts succeeding in Europe provides a vital contrast to what is going on in Japan and Thailand, demonstrating that modernized policies yield better public health outcomes than prohibition.



The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) compiles reported cannabis usage data from most European nations and publishes findings in an annual report. EMCDDA recently published its report for 2024, and found that <a href="https://www.cannabisindustrydata.com/monthly-cannabis-usage-rates-by-european-country/">8% of European adults</a> (over 22 million people) have consumed cannabis at least once in the last year. A vast majority of those consumers presumably used unregulated products given how many European countries still prohibit cannabis commerce. People are going to consume cannabis in Europe whether it is legal or not, and transitioning those customers from the unregulated market to a regulated market is a more sensible public policy approach compared to prohibition.



The International Cannabis Business Conference is hosting several conferences and forums in 2024 and 2025 on the European continent, including the upcoming <a href="https://internationalcbc.com/slovenia/">International Cannabis Business Conference’s event in Slovenia</a> on September 13. The September conference marks the first major cannabis event in Slovenia after the historic June votes and is dedicated to emerging science and technology.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/has-europes-cannabis-movement-hit-a-tipping-point/">Has Europe’s Cannabis Movement Hit a Tipping Point?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

As German cannabis legalization inevitably succeeds, it will provide a major boost to the rest of Europe’s outlook on cannabis reform. 
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/has-europes-cannabis-movement-hit-a-tipping-point/">Has Europe’s Cannabis Movement Hit a Tipping Point?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

Has Europe’s Cannabis Movement Hit a Tipping Point?

City of Kawartha Lakes OPP initially responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle on a private property. However, officers located nearly five dozen marijuana plants on the site.

OPP seize dozens of marijuana plants at property in Kawartha Lakes

My father busted me smoking cannabis exactly once, on the Fourth of July, 2003. I say “busted” in the sense that I was trying to not draw attention. Though I was a legal adult, this was in New Hampshire in the early 2000s, so nothing marijuana-related was legal.



I had always been a nerdy kid (adding to the invisible forcefield that shields white dudes like myself from all suspicion) but had discovered cannabis a few years earlier, I found out I really enjoyed cannabis the summer I turned 17. That year, when my dad found me smoking weed on his porch on the Fourth of July, was the year that I discovered I really, really enjoyed smoking cannabis on the Fourth of July.



Let me try to explain to you why, and let me try to explain why, almost 20 years and a <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/illinois-becomes-11th-state-to-legalize-cannabis/">legalization wave later</a>, I cherish both this memory and this activity. Some people go camping or boating or do outside stuff on the Fourth; it’s nice to have that privilege and those that do should enjoy it. Some other people use the occasion to pursue still-illegal drugs; I know folks who whip out the cocaine bullet or drop some acid on special holidays like the Fourth of July.



For me, apology-free marijuana use is the chemical intervention for this holiday, which every thinking American should greet with deep ambivalence, if not solemnity. Celebrating the power of an empire on a holiday originally meant to mark righteous rebels’ success over an empire is more than a little dissonant. Smoking weed is less and less a rebellious activity every year, but at least (for me) it triggers reflection. The Fourth of July is as good as time as any to celebrate the death of bad laws outlawing a personal choice that, for most people, is mostly free of consequences — aside from those imposed by society as means of control.



Not that I could have quite articulated all this on that day. At this particular time, I was in that awkward liminal space familiar to middle-class white America, a legal adult with a (menial) job, but still living in my parents’ house in the summers between years of college.



I had just turned 21. Some friends were pursuing prestigious internships and some very close friends were off doing NOLS in Alaska, soil-sampling in Montana, or working on a camp in Minnesota — adulting. As for me, I was living at home and stocking shelves in the same grocery store I’d been working at since I was 18.



I felt a bit of a loser and was feeling even more trod upon than usual. That particular Fourth, I had drawn the bad straw and ended up on shift at the store (as I recall, it was particularly dead and I was particularly salty about hanging out in a supermarket pretending to work hard when everyone else I knew was out enjoying FREEDOM!) and so had to do without the cookout and pretending not to enjoy the fireworks, things I very earnestly enjoyed.



But since I was 21, and since I was at least working and hadn’t dropped out of school, I could have a beer with the old man.



(We were very straight shooters, our family, and with reason; if you must know, the old man spent about 20 years judging in the local <a href="https://www.nccourts.gov/learn/types-of-courts#district-court-division-3613" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">district court</a>.)



I remember coming home from work that night and sitting on the porch. Everyone else was somewhere else; it was just the men of the house. I don’t remember what we talked about, but I remember it was an adult conversation — insofar as nobody was being patronized — and I remember thinking how nice it was to be treated like an adult.



By then, the daytime heat had dissipated and a cool breeze had kicked up. I was playing the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-9cqKvcMhI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Pearl Jam cover of Jackson Browne’s “Patriot</a>” on the boom box. “I am a patriot, and I love my country/because my country is all I know,” Eddie Vedder warbled. “Wanna be with my family/people who understand me/I got no place else to go.”



“What a great song,” we agreed. “What a nice night,” my dad said. I agreed. The only thing that was missing was getting stoned.



Some time earlier, I had bought a quarter-ounce from one of the “bad kids” I worked with at the grocery store. Every “bad kid” has at least a couple good kids like me keeping him in business. It was one of those magic bags that seemed to last ages, no matter how much I smoked (which wasn’t that much).



I thought it would be really fun to get stoned with my dad. We had talked about it, but always in the negative. For him, the last time was about 25 to 30 years prior, sometime in the 1970s. He was okay with cannabis in principle, he said, and didn’t agree with prohibition on any level — regulation, sure, but outlawing it was dumb — but there was too much at risk for him under the letter of the law. (All true!)



After a while, my dad excused himself to retire for the night. My parents’ bedroom was on the second floor above the porch, something I knew very well. Whether it was the beer, the nice night, or the nice conversation, I was feeling loose and free and felt it was the time. I restarted the Pearl Jam CD and lit up a joint. I think I had maybe five minutes of serene bliss before the screen door to the porch swung open.



“Chris!” my dad said, but not in the “here comes trouble” tone I was so used to. “Dad?” I croaked, trying not to cough or laugh, <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/otto-perfect-joint/">joint</a> still smoldering in my hand, <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/aromatherapy-steroids-power-cannabis-terpenes/">terpenes</a> on my lips and fingers. “Are you smoking dope?” he asked. “Uh, yeah,” I said. He sighed — a good sigh. Amused, resigned. “Don’t let your mother find out,” he said, and then disappeared back into the house. I had a few more puffs and then put it out.



I don’t really view this story as widely relatable. The fact I had a parental home to smoke pot on is evidence enough of my own privilege. I share it mostly because I think about it at this time of year, and I think the sentiment is widely shared. A plant grown in the ground that provides momentary release from physical and psychic stress is a gift from whatever goddesses guide the universe; the ability to enjoy that plant without stress and consequence is the fruit of human labor and suffering, the victory of a political struggle.



You could fill a phone book with essays on what the Fourth of July means, or what patriotism means, or whether either is any good. This isn’t that. This is about small moments of personal freedom, of enjoying measures of self-determination that harm no one else and bring you joy. That joy is probably best shared collectively. I hope you’ll have someone else with whom you can share this joy today. If not, enjoy the solace and reflect. Much has been accomplished but there is much yet to be done.



TELL US, what strain are you smoking to celebrate the holiday?
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/cannabis-is-the-best-fourth-of-july-drug/">Cannabis Is the Best Fourth of July Drug</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

The Independence Day holiday is the best time to smoke weed.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/cannabis-is-the-best-fourth-of-july-drug/">Cannabis Is the Best Fourth of July Drug</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

Cannabis Is the Best Fourth of July Drug

Let’s face it, every Fourth of July, we all celebrate — hard. Those of us hosting backyard barbeques across the nation will be whipping up traditional American foods, including hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, macaroni salad, potato chips, strawberry shortcakes, barbeque pork and chicken, lemonade,  flag-colored desserts, and spiked drinks of every concoction. While eating healthy food seems to be almost impossible on the Fourth of July,  this recipe for cannabis-infused overnight oats with strawberries is both indulgent and nutritious.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and not everyone makes good decisions early in the morning. This festive holiday treat is wholesome and decadent, but will keep you going with your hunger in check by the time you hit the <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/tag/fourth-of-july/">Fourth of July</a> festivities later in the day. It will allow you to enjoy the delicious celebratory food, but not be filled with deep regret the next day for going overboard after bad breakfast decisions
With an infusion of the Strawberry Cough strain to complement the fresh strawberries, the high provided by these overnight oats can inspire feelings of motivation, euphoria and creativity. This strain also gives relief from mood disorders and migraines. Meanwhile, oatmeal contains dietary fiber in amounts that keep you full and satiated throughout the day. Overnight oats pack a medicinal punch as they promote healthy digestion, stop inflammation, provide energy and build bone density. Plus, the addition of chia seeds, almonds, bananas, blueberries, strawberries and Greek yogurt helps keep your appetite satiated.
And of course, this <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/category/edibles/">cannabis-infused</a> breakfast incorporates the colors of red, white, and blue! As you dig into your overnight oats, you can start your day on the right note by starting your celebration with breakfast.
<h4>Ingredients:</h4>
1 cup almond milk or cow milk
½ cup organic gluten-free old fashioned oats
½ cup plain Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon chia seeds
3/4 cup sliced strawberries
¼ cup blueberries
½ banana
6 almonds
1 tablespoon honey infused with Strawberry Cough
<h4>Directions:</h4>
Step 1: Mix the dry oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds and vanilla extract in a Tupperware container. Stir until fully combined and let sit covered overnight in the fridge (at least 8 hours).
Step 2: In the morning, wash and slice the strawberries. Add some to the bottom of a bowl or a canning jar. Pour half of the overnight oats over the strawberries and spread evenly. Repeat one more time. Finish with the remaining strawberries on top.
Step 3: Add the blueberries then the bananas on top of the strawberries next. Add the almonds and then garnish with the honey on top. Enjoy one of the most refreshing ways to wake up in the morning!
<h4>Dosage:</h4>
If you buy your infused honey, please follow the dosage instructions. You can buy honey infused with a strain of your choice, <a href="https://www.thecannabist.co/strains/marijuana-review-stawberry-cough-indica-energy-pain-relief-strain-theory/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strawberry Cough</a>, or a strain similar to the terpene profiles of Strawberry Cough.
If you make your own honey, one gram of Strawberry Cough usually tests at about 22 percent THC. So, if you added a quarter of a gram of this strain into your honey recipe at 22 percent
THC, it would contain 55 mg of THC total. If you want a smaller dose, either cut the cannabis down to a smaller amount or add more honey to your recipe. If you want a higher dose, add more Strawberry Cough or use less honey. Either way you chose to medicate, <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/decarboxylation/">make sure to decarboxylate your weed</a> in the oven before making your honey. You can also use extract or alcohol tincture.
As always, it’s best to know your proper edibles dosage before you try an edible to avoid being unpleasantly high.
<h4>Strain Suggestions:</h4>
I would recommend strains that possess fruity terpenes that would pair well with the flavors of strawberries themselves. The following strains would be ideal if you didn’t have Strawberry Cough: Fruity Pebbles, Haze Berry, Juicy Fruit or Strawberry Kush. If you cannot find these strains, don’t panic — just follow your nose and taste buds to finds strains that would complement the dish. Have fun with it! And don’t forget, any cannabis honey will do if you cannot find anything strain-specific!
TELL US, are you incorporating cannabis into your Fourth of July celebrations?
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/fourth-of-july-cannabis-recipe-strawberry-cough-infused-overnight-oats/">Fourth of July Cannabis Recipe: Strawberry Cough-Infused Overnight Oats</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

This marijuana-infused breakfast is a great way to start your Fourth of July with a kick of color and cannabis.
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/fourth-of-july-cannabis-recipe-strawberry-cough-infused-overnight-oats/">Fourth of July Cannabis Recipe: Strawberry Cough-Infused Overnight Oats</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

Fourth of July Cannabis Recipe: Strawberry Cough-Infused Overnight Oats

Summertime is here which means it’s a good idea to get outside and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts — the days are only getting shorter from here on out. For cannabis the enthusiasts, we’ve put together a guide of all things summer. The best strains, essential edibles, summer sesh ideas, a cannabis grower’s account of the Summer of Love and even cultivation tips for your grow in the summer months. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="600" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ziablo.jpg" alt="strains of summer" class="wp-image-46974" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ziablo.jpg 1000w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ziablo-300x180.jpg 300w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ziablo-768x461.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ziablo-400x240.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"><figcaption>PHOTO IC Collective<a href="https://cannabisnow.com/category/cannabis/grow/strains/"></a></figcaption></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/strains-of-summer/">READ: Strains of Summer</a></h4>



Gear up for the summer with this fantastic list of sunny strains. All of these picks are absolute heavy hitters, and we’re sure you’ll love any of them you’re able to get your hands on.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="600" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/guacamole.jpg" alt="A tortilla chip is dipped into a heaping bowl of super lemon haze Mexican guacamole." class="wp-image-35037" srcset="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/guacamole.jpg 1000w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/guacamole-300x180.jpg 300w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/guacamole-768x461.jpg 768w, https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/guacamole-400x240.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"><figcaption>PHOTO Tyler Kittock</figcaption></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/perfect-picks-for-summer-picnics-potlucks/">READ: Perfect Picks for Summer Picnics &amp; Potlucks</a></h4>



 Picnics are a fun way to get all your friends together to spend time soaking up the warm weather while eating and drinking delicious stuff that everyone has brought to share with one another.



Check out some of these ideas for things you can make to bring to a picnic, potluck or social occasion where bringing edible to share is appreciated.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="661" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Cannabis-Watermelon-Summer-Sesh@2x-1024x661.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20100"><figcaption>PHOTO Joey Ito<a href="https://cannabisnow.com/category/cannabis/concentrates/"></a></figcaption></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/three-ways-spice-summer-sesh/">READ: Three Ways to Spice Up Your Summer Sesh</a></h4>



It’s summer — the perfect time to explore new things, starting with seshing strategies! With so many options available in some places and so few in others, cannabis can definitely inspire creativity starting with the ways that it can be consumed. Here are a few simple suggestions to get started. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="661" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/summeroflove@2x-1024x661.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22924"><figcaption>PHOTO Mona</figcaption></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/discovering-cannabis-the-summer-of-flowers/">READ: Discovering Cannabis: The Summer of Flowers</a></h4>



The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/may/27/escape" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Summer of Love</a> sets the stage for a lifelong relationship with cannabis. Read grower Nikki Lastreto’s experience during 1967’s Summer of Love in San Francisco and how it altered her life’s trajectory. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="661" src="https://cannabisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Cannabis-LemonPie-Summer-Care@2x-1024x661.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21701"></figure><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://cannabisnow.com/summer-care-pest-management-and-crop-maintenance/">Summer Care: Pest Management and Crop Maintenance</a></h4>



Just because plants are safely in the ground does not mean the grower’s work is done. <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/spider-mites-public-enemy-1-of-the-indoor-garden/">Molds, fungi, insects and harmful bacteria</a> can ruin a crop long before harvest, but with a little extra planning in the hot months the organic horticulturalist can create a miniature ecosystem filled with beneficial organisms to fend off the worst garden offenders. Follow these tips during the summer months to ensure a problem-free garden in the fall.



TELL US, how are you adding cannabis to your summer?
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/the-cannabis-now-guide-to-summer/">The Cannabis Now Guide to Summer</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

Curious about the best summer strains, ideas for edibles to beat the heat or ways to spice up your summer sesh? We've got you covered. 
The post <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/the-cannabis-now-guide-to-summer/">The Cannabis Now Guide to Summer</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cannabisnow.com/">Cannabis Now</a>.

The Cannabis Now Guide to Summer

A Waterloo councilor considers herself “lucky” after only being singed by a firework that someone shot at her on Canada Day in the Uptown area of the city.

Fireworks shot at Ontario councillor on Canada Day, hit ‘right in the ear’

If you’re planning a trip to Canada soon and you’d like to know how to shop for cannabis while traveling in Canada, especially British Columbia, this article will explain where to shop for all cannabis products including where to find products like CBD. I’ll also go over some of the laws so you know what to expect.



I visited Parksville B.C in June 2024 and while I was there I headed over to <a href="https://cweedoceanside.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oceanside Cweed</a>, a cannabis store owned by my friend Unity Marguerite. In the video below, I spoke with her about what the laws are for cannabis, and what products she suggests you buy when you’re traveling in Canada.



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</div></figure><h2 class="wp-block-heading">The laws for cannabis in Canada</h2>



The laws in Canada for cannabis all fall under the <a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-24.5/">c</a><a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-24.5/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">annabis act</a>. The cannabis act regulates everything cannabis related including CBD, hemp and topicals. This is why you can only buy cannabis products in cannabis stores in Canada, including CBD. This is quite different from the United States where hemp, and hemp-based products like CBD are sold everywhere, including gas stations.



In Canada the law for edibles allows for a maximum of 10mg of THC for food products such as beverages and gummies. However edible extracts like lozenges, and oils can have higher doses of THC. 



Each province has their own laws. For example in Quebec you can’t buy sweet edibles, only savoury so you can buy infused sausage and ramen, just not gummies or brownies. However you can buy beverages like lemonade in Quebec. You also can’t buy topicals or CBD in Quebec, those products are only sold through the medical side and are not available in cannabis stores.


<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="500" height="530" src="https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/quebec-cannabis.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7130" srcset="https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/quebec-cannabis.jpg 500w, https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/quebec-cannabis-283x300.jpg 283w, https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/quebec-cannabis-100x106.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An example of cannabis products available in Quebec, Canada</figcaption></figure>
</div>


The age for consumption is different per province. Alberta: 18 yrs old BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, PEI, Yukon: 19 yrs old Quebec: 21 yrs old (however you can be 18 years old to buy liquor in Quebec)



Minors are not allowed in cannabis stores, even when accompanied by an adult. In B.C all cannabis products, including accessories have to be locked up behind glass. 



You can’t cross the Canada/U.S border with any cannabis product, that includes CBD and topicals. Which is why I’m going to give you some product suggestions for traveling in Canada so you can use up what you buy while you’re here.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cannabis products to buy in Canada while travelling</h2>



As I mentioned, you can’t leave the country with any cannabis product so here’s a few suggestions on what to buy when you’re travelling in Canada, so you can easily consume it before you have to cross the border. 



*Note- every province carries different cannabis products. Ontario has the biggest selection as they have the largest population in Canada.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Prerolls </h3>



Prerolls are simply prerolled joints you can buy either as flower only, or infused with extracts like kief and diamonds. Prerolls are sold individually or in packs. This is a great way to smoke cannabis while travelling in Canada, depending on the length of your stay and how much you consume, you can simply buy 1 joint or packs of 3 to 20 and this saves you from buying bigger jars of cannabis, rolling papers and a grinder.


<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="376" height="663" src="https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cannagar.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7138" srcset="https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cannagar.jpg 376w, https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cannagar-170x300.jpg 170w, https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cannagar-100x176.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 376px) 100vw, 376px"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Panama Gold CBG infused Cannagar preroll</figcaption></figure>
</div>


You can buy 1 gram of dried flower however it’s harder to find, mostly you’ll find 3.5 grams or 7 grams in jars. Not many of the really good brands sell 1 gram. This is why prerolls are perfect for travelling. You can also buy a preroll if you use a dry herb vaporizer as you can simply empty the contents into the bowl.



Watch the video above as Unity recommends her favourite prerolls to try here in B.C.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Vape Pens</h3>



There’s many options for vaping products on the market however when you’re traveling disposable vape pens are the best option. In B.C we have a 25% vape tax so be prepared to pay a lot over sticker price in this province for vapes.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Beverages</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="319" height="524" src="https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/senorita.jpg" alt="senorita cannabis beverage" class="wp-image-6302" srcset="https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/senorita.jpg 319w, https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/senorita-183x300.jpg 183w, https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/senorita-100x164.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Senorita is a cannabis infused beverage that tastes like a real margarita, highly recommend.</figcaption></figure>
</div>


I love cannabis beverages, most are fast-acting which means there’s a shorter onset and duration than a standard edible. Usually 15 to 30 min onset and duration of 1 to 2 hours. You can buy many different kinds of drinks from alcohol inspired, sodas, iced teas and more.



Visit my <a href="https://weedmama.ca/reviews/edibles/edibles-reviews-of-beverages/">reviews for beverages</a> to see my favourite beverages on the market



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Edibles</h3>



There are a lot of edibles to choose from, if you need a higher dose look for ingestible extracts like Edison Jolts or <a href="https://weedmama.ca/reviews/edibles/edibles-review-pineapple-coconut-glitches-by-drift/">Aurora Drift Gummies</a> which have higher doses of THC in the package. If you need lower dose look for edibles that have more pieces per package like <a href="https://weedmama.ca/reviews/edibles/edibles-review-blue-razzleberry-31-cbgthc-pearls-by-gron/">Pearls by Gron</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">CBD Only</h3>



If you aren’t staying long, and you don’t want to buy a whole bottle of capsules, you can buy CBD edibles in smaller packages that can be consumed while you’re here. Also there’s several CBD beverages you can buy, including individual tea bags.



Some suggestions: <a href="https://weedmama.ca/reviews/edibles/edible-review-real-fruit-mixed-berry-cbd-chews-by-wyld/">Wyld CBD Mixed Berry </a>gummies have 30 x 25mg of CBD per bag however they’re hemp derived CBD, so there’s no THC in the gummy. This means you can eat a few at a time and not worry about it, they’re also quite tasty!



<a href="https://weedmama.ca/reviews/edibles/edibles-review-cbd-creamer-by-okanagan/">Okanagan CBD Creamer</a>, there’s 50mg of CBD per packet and there’s 10 packets per bag. I love this creamer in coffee, it’s a great way to get your CBD in your morning coffee or tea when you’re on vacation.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Topicals</h3>



Unless you need CBD cream for pain, I don’t recommend buying creams when you’re here unless you’re planning a longer trip. Same for facial products like lip balms or face washes. These products can be costly and usually take about a month to use up, so I don’t recommend it if you’re not here for long.


<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="198" height="200" src="https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/noonandnightbaththumb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4647" srcset="https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/noonandnightbaththumb.jpg 198w, https://weedmama.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/noonandnightbaththumb-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Noon and Night Lavender fizz bath bomb</figcaption></figure>
</div>


I do recommend the bath bombs or salts as you can easily use those up while you’re here.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Online cannabis shopping in Vancouver BC</h2>



One of the good things that came out of the pandemic was being able to order cannabis online for pickup at the store, or free delivery. Many cannabis stores offer free same day delivery in Vancouver, just do a Google search for one within the delivery zone for where you’re staying. This makes it more convenient when you have a busy day planned!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cannabis lounges in Canada</h2>



Depending on when you’re reading this article, there’s very few lounges where you can consume Canada as in none, with the exception of B.C. There was a revision to the provincial laws in 2024 allowing for the consumption of cannabis on existing patios that also allow smoking. However indoor consumption lounges are not yet available in Canada but I expect this to change in the near future.



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If you’re planning a trip to Canada soon and you’d like to know how to shop for cannabis while traveling in Canada, especially British Columbia, this article will explain where ...

Weed Mama

Planning a trip to Canada? Your insider guide to cannabis shopping in beautiful BC! (and across Canada)

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has voted to <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ncaa-division-i-to-vote-on-removing-marijuana-from-banned-substances-list-for-student-athletes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remove marijuana from its banned substances list for Division I players</a>, effective immediately.



About five months after the NCAA's Division I Council proposed the rule change, the body adopted the policy on Tuesday, emphasizing that cannabis is not a performance-enhancing drug and that it should be treated the same way as alcohol.



The reform builds on a 2022 change that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ncaa-moves-to-lower-marijuana-penalties-for-student-athletes-and-increase-thc-threshold-in-drug-tests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increased the allowable THC threshold for college athletes</a>, aligning the NCAA's rules with those of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).







<div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/in/united-states" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find cannabis on Weedmaps</a></div>
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The newly adopted <a href="https://web3.ncaa.org/lsdbi/reports/getReport/90007" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rule</a>, which <a href="https://web3.ncaa.org/lsdbi/search/proposalView?id=107454" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amends</a> the NDAA's drug testing policies for student sports championships and postseason football participation, will also be retroactively applied, discontinuing any penalties players are currently facing for a cannabis-related violation.



“The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on the integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage,” Josh Whitman, chair of the council, <a href="https://www.ncaa.org/news/2024/6/25/media-center-division-i-removes-some-restrictions-on-countable-coaches-in-football.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> in a press release. “The council's focus is on policies centered on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.”



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Cannabinoids will be addressed like other non-performance enhancing drugs like alcohol. NCAA members will focus on harm-reduction strategies problematic cannabis use, centering health of student-athletes.— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAA_PR/status/1805721211915174142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2024</a>
</blockquote>
</div></figure>“Cannabinoids will be addressed like other non-performance enhancing drugs like alcohol,” the NCAA said in a social media post. “NCAA members will focus on harm-reduction strategies problematic cannabis use, centering health of student-athletes.”



This reform follows a preliminary recommendation last June from NCAA's Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) that each of the organization's three governing bodies <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ncaa-panel-recommends-removing-marijuana-from-banned-substances-list-for-college-athletes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remove marijuana from the banned substances list</a>. Divisions II and III are yet to vote on the proposal.



“Slowly, surely, America is coming to its senses after 50 years of the failed war drugs,” Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, said in a statement on Wednesday.



“It is only fitting that the NCAA remove cannabis from its list of banned substances as Sha'Carri Richardson qualifies for the 2024 Olympics—an accomplishment she earned years ago but was wrongly taken away. Common sense is finally prevailing,” he added, referencing the qualification of a US runner <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/white-house-declines-to-defend-runner-suspended-from-olympics-over-marijuana-test-while-lawmakers-step-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously suspended from participating in Olympics events due to a positive THC test</a> in 2021.



Historically, college athletes have been subject to testing during postseason play. Positive tests could mean an entire season of lost eligibility. Officials have said the changes are intended to focus more on problematic use than penalizing players for a single mistake.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180413_MJDC_Stock-6-1024x683.jpg" alt="Cannabis nug next to basebal" class="wp-image-15033 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180413_MJDC_Stock-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180413_MJDC_Stock-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180413_MJDC_Stock-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180413_MJDC_Stock-6-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180413_MJDC_Stock-6-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>In <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ncaa-panel-formally-recommends-removing-marijuana-from-banned-substances-list-for-college-athletes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">formally recommending the policy shift last September</a>, the NCAA committee said that ending the cannabis ban “acknowledges the ineffectiveness of existing policy (banning, testing and penalizing),” affirms the body's belief that cannabis is not a “performance-enhancing drug” promotes the “importance of moving toward a harm-reduction strategy.”



“The timing of discussion and adoption of possible legislation is a decision that will be made by each of three NCAA divisional governance structures,” the panel said. “This recommendation is based on extensive study informed by industry and subject matter experts (including doctors, substance misuse experts and membership practitioners).”



Multiple sports organizations have moved to amend their marijuana testing policies for athletes amid the state legalization movement.



For example, the NFL and its players union agreed to <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-nfl-policy-would-end-suspensions-for-testing-positive-for-any-drug-not-just-marijuana/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">end the practice of suspending players over marijuana</a> or other drugs as part of a collective bargaining agreement in 2020.



NFL has committed significant funding to research into <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/nfl-is-putting-more-money-into-research-on-cbd-as-an-opioid-alternative-for-players-with-concussions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whether CBD can serve as an effective opioid alternative</a>, and it's also explored the <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/nfl-partnering-on-new-study-using-cbd-to-treat-pain-and-protect-from-concussions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">therapeutic potential of the non-intoxicating cannabinoid for pain management and neuroprotection</a> from concussions.



The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced in December that it is formally <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ufc-formally-removes-marijuana-from-banned-substances-list-for-professional-fighters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">removing marijuana from its newly modified banned substances list</a> for athletes, also building on an earlier reform.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-1024x683.jpg" alt="Pipe full of cannabis on table with jar of weed and lighter" class="wp-image-14476 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>However, ahead of a UFC event in February, a California athletics commission said they could still <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ufc-warns-fighters-to-stop-using-marijuana-immediately-so-they-arent-punished-under-california-athletics-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">face penalties under state rules for testing positive for THC over a certain limit</a>, as the state body's policy is based around WADA guidance.



Nevada sports regulators voted last year to <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/nevada-sports-regulators-send-proposal-to-stop-penalizing-fighters-over-marijuana-to-the-governor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">send a proposed regulatory amendment to the governor</a> that would protect athletes from <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/nevada-sports-regulators-move-to-formally-stop-penalizing-fighters-over-marijuana/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">being penalized over using or possessing marijuana</a> in compliance with state law.



While advocates have welcomed these changes, there's been criticism of WADA over its ongoing cannabis ban. Members of a panel within the agency said in an opinion piece last August <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/world-anti-doping-agency-experts-say-marijuana-use-violates-the-spirit-of-sport-and-makes-athletes-unfit-role-models/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">that marijuana use by athletes violates the “spirit of sport,”</a> making them unfit role models whose potential impairment could put others at risk.



Advocates strongly urged WADA to enact a reform after <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/white-house-declines-to-defend-runner-suspended-from-olympics-over-marijuana-test-while-lawmakers-step-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. runner Sha'Carri Richardson was suspended</a> from participating in Olympics events due to a positive THC test in 2021.



Following that suspension, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/top-u-s-sports-regulator-says-marijuana-policy-must-change-as-white-house-pursues-global-meeting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the international rules on marijuana “must change,”</a> the White House and <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/biden-suggests-anti-marijuana-rules-banning-athletes-like-shacarri-richardson-could-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">President Joe Biden himself signaled</a> <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/white-house-and-u-s-anti-doping-agency-criticize-marijuana-ban-after-richardson-suspension/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">that it was time for new policies</a>, and <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/how-u-s-bullying-in-the-1990s-led-to-the-olympics-marijuana-ban-behind-richardsons-suspension/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">congressional lawmakers amplified that message</a>.



Meanwhile, an NFL player recently sued the league and his former team, the Denver Broncos, for alleged employment discrimination after he was <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/nfl-sued-by-player-who-was-fined-over-500000-for-positive-thc-tests-caused-by-prescribed-cannabis-medication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fined more than half a million dollars for testing positive for THC</a> that he says was caused by his prescribed use of a synthetic cannabinoid.



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The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has voted to remove marijuana from its banned substances list for Division I players, effective immediately.
About five months after the NCAA's Division I Council…
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NCAA Votes To Remove Marijuana From Banned Substances List For College Athletes

This year's California State Fair will make history, with marijuana sales and on-site consumption being allowed for the first time.



While the annual fair has <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/california-state-fair-announces-winners-of-first-ever-state-sanctioned-cannabis-competition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">featured cannabis competitions and educational booths</a> in recent years, this will be the first time that the state-sanctioned event will permit adults to consume and purchase marijuana.



“Hosting cannabis sales and consumption is a groundbreaking milestone in destigmatization by facilitating a deeper connection between consumers and the farmers who cultivate their products with such care,” Lauren Carpenter, co-founder of the cannabis company Embarc, which is the fair's partner on the expanded marijuana offerings, said in a press release.







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At the event, which takes place from July 12 to 28, adults 21 and older will be able to review different cannabis products, add them to a virtual shopping cart, and pick them up at one of Embarc's off-site dispensaries.



The fair will also feature a 30,000-square-foot consumption area.



“This initiative spotlights the significant role of cannabis in California's agricultural industry, marking a major milestone in the state fair's 170-year history,” James Leitz, executive producer of the Cannabis Competition and Exhibit, said. “Expanding the competition to include all form factors and providing patrons the opportunity to engage with and consume winning brands directly is transformational for public understanding of the plant.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-1024x683.jpg" alt="Two people lighting up a joint" class="wp-image-15009 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-300x200.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-768x512.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>While this is a first for California, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-yorkers-can-smoke-marijuana-at-this-years-state-fair-post-legalization-officials-confirm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on-site cannabis use and sales were allowed at the New York State Fair</a> in 2021 after adult-use legalization was enacted. However, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-farmers-market-opens-alongside-new-york-state-fair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the fair stopped permitting public consumption at last year's event</a>—though attendees could buy marijuana products from nearly a dozen local growers at a cannabis farmers market held in conjunction with the event.



In California, this year's cannabis awards <a href="https://castatefaircannabisawards.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">competition</a> is also being expanded to include product categories other than flower, such as pre-rolls, concentrates, and edibles. There are more than 500 entries, which is double the number compared to last year.



“The California State Fair took a historic leadership position in 2022 with the introduction of a cannabis exhibit and competition,” Tom Martinez, CEO of the California State Fair, said. “This year, we've expanded our offerings to include onsite sales and consumption in a designated area to provide a platform to amplify California's rich agricultural bounty and facilitate storytelling for farmers from diverse backgrounds and experiences.”



“We have partnered with the City of Sacramento, the State of California, James Leitz, and Embarc—alongside our robust on-site public health and safety infrastructure—to ensure a responsible and community-sensitive event,” he said. We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the state and beyond to this informative experience.”



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The submission window for the 2024 CA State Fair Cannabis Awards has officially closed. A big thank you to all the participants who entered this year’s competition! <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f44f.png" alt="👏" class="wp-smiley"> Stay tuned for more details and updates on the awards! <a href="https://t.co/FpLgM3QeMM">pic.twitter.com/FpLgM3QeMM</a>— CA State Fair Cannabis Awards (@CalCannaAwards) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalCannaAwards/status/1792586560157679866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2024</a>
</blockquote>
</div></figure>The California Exhibition &amp; State Fair is an independent state agency established by law under California's Food and Agriculture Code. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is an ex-officio member of the fair's board of directors, as are several state lawmakers.



The expanded cannabis features of this year's fair are made possible in part by a bill that was enacted in 2018. The bill allows regulators to issue temporary marijuana event licenses in jurisdictions where the local government permits it.



Meanwhile, the California Assembly <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/california-lawmakers-approve-bill-to-legalize-marijuana-cafes-months-after-governors-veto-of-earlier-measure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">approved a bill to legalize cannabis cafes in the state last month</a>, sending it to the Senate months after the governor vetoed a previous iteration of the proposal.



The legislation would also allow live musical or other performances on the premises of a cannabis retailer in areas where on-site consumption is allowed.



Separately, bipartisan state lawmakers filed legislation last week to <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bipartisan-california-senators-file-bill-to-create-psilocybin-therapy-pilot-program-for-veterans-and-first-responders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">authorize a pilot program that would provide psilocybin treatment</a> to military veterans and first responders.



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This year's California State Fair will make history, with marijuana sales and on-site consumption being allowed for the first time.
While the annual fair has featured cannabis competitions and educational booths in…
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California State Fair Will Allow Marijuana Sales And On-Site Consumption For First Time

One in four marijuana consumers use the plant for pain management, and most say they prefer “fruity” tasting strains that they indulge in “anytime” rather than a set time of day, according to a new poll.



The survey from the cannabis company NuggMD asked more than 6,500 marijuana consumers about their preferences and habits around use intentions, flavor profiles, desired effects, and time of consumption.



Asked about the “main goal” of consuming marijuana, 25 percent of respondents said they used it for pain management, followed by anxiety (23 percent), stress (18 percent), recreation (13 percent), depression (12 percent), and insomnia (seven percent).







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About half of respondents (48 percent) said they use cannabis “anytime,” while 29 percent said they use it in the evening, and 11 percent said they consume it at bedtime. Another five percent said they indulge in the afternoon, and four percent said they use it in the morning.



The survey also inquired about the types of flavors and aromas cannabis consumers prefer, and a plurality (27 percent) said they liked “fruity” varieties. That was followed by “sweet” (19 percent), “earthy” (18 percent), “citrus” (18 percent), “diesel” (10 percent), “vanilla” (six percent) and “spicy” (two percent).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1440" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0410-edited-scaled.jpg" alt="Hash set-up next to a carton of various berries" class="wp-image-15023 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0410-edited-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0410-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0410-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0410-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0410-edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0410-edited-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0410-edited-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Alice Reis/Weedmaps</cite></figure>Finally, respondents were asked about the effects of cannabis they look for in a given variety. Most said they want to feel “relaxed” (30 percent) and “euphoric” (24 percent). Fifteen percent said they seek an “energetic” effect, and 13 percent want to feel “uplifted.” Another 10 percent said they prefer a “creative” effect, and just eight percent said they want to feel “sleepy.”



“The data suggests that many millions of U.S. adults are using cannabis for health and wellness reasons, even when they do not have a medical cannabis recommendation,” Deb Tharp, head of legal and policy research at NuggMD, told Marijuana Moment.



In line with those results, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that “while most patients (76.1 percent) reported using cannabis to manage a health symptom, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/most-consumers-use-marijuana-to-treat-health-issues-but-very-few-call-it-medical-ama-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">very few patients identified as medical cannabis users.”</a>



Tharp of NuggMD said that “cannabis retail is new in most places, and there's still a lot of consumer education that needs to be done in the space.”



“Eventually, cannabis marketing will be more robust and nuanced, similar to how coffee is positioned around its country of origin or a whiskey around its mash bill,” she said. “For now, I think polling is a better assessment of what customers prefer than data on inventory and sales. Our insight should be useful to both cannabis retailers and suppliers.”



The <a href="https://www.nuggmd.com/blog/strain-preferences-poll-results" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poll</a>, which was conducted last month, involved interviews with 6,550 cannabis consumers. NuggMD commissioned the survey but says none of its customers directly participated in it.



NuggMD is behind a number of recent polling initiatives focused on cannabis consumer and policy issues.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited-1024x576.jpg" alt="Outdoor grown cannabis at Sunroots Farm" class="wp-image-14999 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>For example, the cannabis company released another survey in April that found a majority of likely U.S. voters who identify as regular marijuana consumers <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/democrats-have-better-ideas-for-marijuana-policy-than-the-gop-poll-of-cannabis-consumers-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">believe Democrats have “better ideas” for cannabis policy</a>. And most would also be more likely to support political candidates if they endorse legalization, regardless of party.



It also published a survey in January that found about <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/one-third-of-marijuana-consumers-would-return-to-illicit-market-if-rescheduling-restricts-access-to-pharmacies-new-poll-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one-third of marijuana consumers say they would go back to the illicit market</a> if cannabis is rescheduled and only made legally available as a Food and Drug Administration- (FDA) approved prescription drug.



A separate survey from YouGov that was released last month <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/most-americans-who-have-tried-marijuana-or-psychedelics-had-positive-experiences-survey-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">found that a majority of Americans have tried marijuana</a>—and most say they had a positive experience.



Meanwhile, a recent report from an equity-focused marijuana advocacy organization finds that nearly <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/americans-want-marijuana-legalization-to-prioritize-equity-and-benefit-workers-poll-from-advocacy-group-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two-thirds of American adults want legalization laws to prioritize social equity</a> (68 percent), end cannabis arrests (68 percent), and ensure that people have legal access to marijuana products (65 percent).



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The post <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news/2024/06/most-people-use-marijuana-for-pain-management-and-prefer-fruity-strains-poll-finds/">Most People Use Marijuana For Pain Management And Prefer 'Fruity' Strains, Poll Finds</a> appeared first on <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news">Weedmaps News</a>.

One in four marijuana consumers use the plant for pain management, and most say they prefer “fruity” tasting strains that they indulge in “anytime” rather than a set time of…
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Most People Use Marijuana For Pain Management And Prefer 'Fruity' Strains, Poll Finds

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté was originally taken into custody by authorities in Tahiti in 2019 over claims of cannabis cultivation.

Guy Laliberté fined $24,000 in Tahiti over cannabis use

A new study suggests that using marijuana before sleep has minimal, if any, effect on a range of performance measures the next day, including simulated driving, cognitive and psychomotor function tasks, subjective effects, and mood.



The report, which drew data from a larger study investigating the effects of THC and CBD on insomnia, looked at outcomes from 20 adults with physician-diagnosed insomnia who infrequently used marijuana.







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“The results of this study indicate that a single oral dose of 10 mg THC (in combination with 200 mg CBD) does not notably impair 'next day' cognitive function or driving performance relative to placebo in adults with insomnia who infrequently use marijuana,” says the paper, from researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney, the University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Gold Coast-based Griffith University and Johns Hopkins University.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="450" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CRTV-3754_10_2020_Oct_CBD-Bed_523-1-edited.jpg" alt="Cannabis products next to bed" class="wp-image-15016 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CRTV-3754_10_2020_Oct_CBD-Bed_523-1-edited.jpg 800w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CRTV-3754_10_2020_Oct_CBD-Bed_523-1-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CRTV-3754_10_2020_Oct_CBD-Bed_523-1-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CRTV-3754_10_2020_Oct_CBD-Bed_523-1-edited-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>“The use of cannabis by night as a sleep aid is highly prevalent, and there are legitimate concerns that this may lead to impaired daytime ('next day') function, particularly on safety-sensitive tasks such as driving,” the 11-author team wrote in the report published last week in the journal Psychopharmacology.



Results, however, showed “no differences in 'next day' performance in 27 out of 28 tests of cognitive and psychomotor function and simulated driving tests relative to placebo.”



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<h5 class="wp-block-heading">“We found a lack of notable 'next day' impairment to cognitive and psychomotor function and simulated driving performance.”</h5>
</blockquote>



Participants were randomly given either a placebo or 2 milliliters of cannabis oil containing 10 milligrams of THC and 200 mg CBD. Researchers said the THC amount was selected “based on prior studies showing that 10 mg oral THC produced discriminable subjective drug effects (e.g., increased 'drowsiness') without altering cognitive and psychomotor performance among infrequent cannabis users”—in other words, the amount someone might take if their goal was to use cannabis as a sleep aid.



In a second lab visit, participants who received the placebo were given the THC–CBD mixture, while those who had the cannabis oil were given the placebo.



Cognitive tests were administered within two hours of participants waking while driving performance, which was measured through a fixed-base driving simulator, was tested 10 hours after administration. Subjects were also asked how they experienced effects—for example, how “stoned,” “sedated,” “alert,” “anxious,” or “sleepy” they felt—at baseline and then after 30 minutes, 10 hours, 12 hours, 14 hours, 16 hours and 18 hours.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bowl_2-1-edited-1024x576.jpg" alt="Bowl of cannabis" class="wp-image-14968 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bowl_2-1-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bowl_2-1-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bowl_2-1-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bowl_2-1-edited-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bowl_2-1-edited-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bowl_2-1-edited-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>“Almost all of the cognitive tests conducted, involving attention, working memory, speed of information processing, and other domains, showed no 'next day' effects of THC/CBD,” the report says.



No significant differences were seen between the THC–CBD and placebo results in 27 of the 28 cognitive performance tasks. There was what researchers described as “a small reduction in percentage accuracy”—about 1.4 percent—in the so-called Stoop color and word test, a measure of cognitive interference, however, but researchers said that finding was “not clinically meaningful” because both groups demonstrated “a very high percentage of accuracy (i.e., &gt;97%)” on the test.



“Importantly, no significant difference in accuracy was observed on the more difficult 'hard/incongruent condition' of the Stroop-Word Test, which requires participants to match the meaning of the word presented, not the printed color of the word,” the authors added. “For comparison, the morning after alcohol consumption (i.e., the hangover state) produced significantly greater interference on the Stroop-Word Test, but not the Stroop-Colour Test, relative to the alcohol-free control group (i.e., no hangover state).”



No differences were observed in terms of driving performance, meanwhile.



“None of the simulated driving outcome measures were significantly different between THC/CBD and placebo,” the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-024-06595-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> says, adding: “This is consistent with our recent meta-regression analysis, which concluded that driving-related skills in occasional cannabis users recover within ~8 h after ingesting 20 mg oral THC.”



“There were no impairing effects of THC/CBD given by night on simulated driving performance assessed the following morning at ~10 h post-treatment; coinciding with a time that many people might commute on roads (e.g., driving to work in 'rush-hour'),” the authors wrote.



By contrast, they noted that ”commonly prescribed sedative-hypnotics are known to impair next-day function,” pointing as examples to benzodiazepine and zopiclone.



The researchers acknowledged the relatively small sample size of the study and that the findings were based on only a single dose of cannabis oil.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1439" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180828_Social_Tincture_147-edited-scaled.jpg" alt="Woman with tincture bottle" class="wp-image-15018 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180828_Social_Tincture_147-edited-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180828_Social_Tincture_147-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180828_Social_Tincture_147-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180828_Social_Tincture_147-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180828_Social_Tincture_147-edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180828_Social_Tincture_147-edited-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/180828_Social_Tincture_147-edited-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>“This precludes any conclusions regarding the effects of repeated dosing with THC, with or without CBD, on daytime function in insomnia disorder, which is more representative of how some people use medical cannabis for sleep in the community,” they wrote. “However, it is hypothesized that the chances of detecting 'next day' impairment are less likely with repeated dosing due to the development of at least partial tolerance to the impairing effects of THC.”



Though some cannabis users anecdotally report feeling residual effects of cannabis use the day afterward, another recent study found <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/frequent-marijuana-use-doesnt-make-people-less-motivated-or-cause-paranoia-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">no evidence that marijuana consumption causes a hangover the next day</a>.



A report published last December, meanwhile, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/study-finds-no-evidence-that-medical-marijuana-causes-cognitive-impairment-in-patients-with-chronic-health-problems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">examined neurocognitive effects in medical marijuana patients</a>, finding that “prescribed medical cannabis may have minimal acute impact on cognitive function among patients with chronic health conditions.”



Another report, published in March in the journal Current Alzheimer Research, linked marijuana use to lower odds of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), with <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-consumers-have-significantly-decreased-odds-of-cognitive-decline-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consumers and patients reporting less confusion and memory loss compared to non-users</a>.



A separate 2022 study on marijuana and laziness found <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-doesnt-turn-people-into-lazy-stoners-as-stereotyped-on-tv-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">no difference in apathy or reward-based behavior between people who used cannabis on at least a weekly basis</a> and non-users.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-6151_NYC-Lifestyle_Employees_024_16x9-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="Man lighting a joint in front of a city scape" class="wp-image-14468 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-6151_NYC-Lifestyle_Employees_024_16x9-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-6151_NYC-Lifestyle_Employees_024_16x9-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-6151_NYC-Lifestyle_Employees_024_16x9-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-6151_NYC-Lifestyle_Employees_024_16x9-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-6151_NYC-Lifestyle_Employees_024_16x9-1-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-6151_NYC-Lifestyle_Employees_024_16x9-1-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>A Washington State University study published late last year found that most cannabis consumers with sleep issues <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-helps-people-quit-using-prescription-sleep-aids-and-allows-them-to-wake-up-more-focused-and-refreshed-study-indicates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preferred to use marijuana instead of other sleep aids</a> to help get to bed, reporting better outcomes the next morning and fewer side effects. Smoking joints or vaping products that contained THC, CBD, and the terpene myrcene were especially popular.



“Unlike long-acting sedatives and alcohol, cannabis was not associated with a 'hangover' effect,” an author of that study said, “although individuals reported some lingering effects such as sleepiness and changes in mood.”



Quality of sleep often arises in other studies into the potential benefits of marijuana, and generally, consumers say it enhances their rest. Two other 2023 recent studies, for example—one <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/medical-marijuana-patients-see-improved-quality-of-life-and-lower-pain-anxiety-and-depression-after-three-months-of-use-study-shows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">involving people with chronic health conditions</a> and another looking at <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/medical-marijuana-use-linked-to-improved-quality-of-life-and-better-job-performance-for-people-with-neurological-disorders-new-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">people diagnosed with neurological disorders</a>—found that sleep quality improved with cannabis use.



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Written by <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/author/benadlin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Adlin</a> for Marijuana Moment | Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
The post <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news/2024/06/cannabis-use-before-bedtime-does-not-cause-next-day-impairment-of-cognitive-ability-or-driving-performance-study-shows/">Cannabis Use Before Bedtime Does Not Cause Next-Day Impairment Of Cognitive Ability Or Driving Performance, Study Shows</a> appeared first on <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news">Weedmaps News</a>.

A new study suggests that using marijuana before sleep has minimal, if any, effect on a range of performance measures the next day, including simulated driving, cognitive and psychomotor function…
The post <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news/2024/06/cannabis-use-before-bedtime-does-not-cause-next-day-impairment-of-cognitive-ability-or-driving-performance-study-shows/">Cannabis Use Before Bedtime Does Not Cause Next-Day Impairment Of Cognitive Ability Or Driving Performance, Study Shows</a> appeared first on <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news">Weedmaps News</a>.

Cannabis Use Before Bedtime Does Not Cause Next-Day Impairment Of Cognitive Ability Or Driving Performance, Study Shows

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have filed a series of new amendments that seek to authorize U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to issue medical marijuana recommendations to military veterans, prevent marijuana testing for federal job applicants in legal states, prohibit the denial of security clearances over cannabis use and support research on the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.







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As part of a large-scale spending bill covering Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA) for the 2025 fiscal year as well as the separate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), lawmakers filed several cannabis- and psychedelics-related amendments.



Two separate proposals from Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Dave Joyce (R-OH), who together are the co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, would allow veterans to access state medical marijuana programs and eliminate a VA directive barring the department's doctors from issuing cannabis recommendations.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-1024x576.jpg" alt="Nugs poured into hands" class="wp-image-14956 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>The MilConVA version of the amendment reads:



SEC. 419. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act may be used to enforce Veterans Health Directive 1315 as it relates to—



(1) the policy stating that ''VHA providers are prohibited from completing forms or registering Veterans for participation in a State-approved marijuana program'';



(2) the directive for the ''Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management'' to ensure that ''medical facility Directors are aware that it is VHA policy for providers to assess Veteran use of marijuana, but providers are prohibited from recommending, making referrals to or completing paperwork for Veteran participation in State marijuana programs''; and



(3) the directive for the ''VA Medical Facility Director'' to ensure that ''VA facility staff are aware of the following'' ''[t]he prohibition on recommending, making referrals to or completing forms and registering Veterans for participation in State-approved marijuana programs''.



The NDAA version states:



SEC. 17__. PROVISION BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND OPINIONS REGARDING VETERAN PARTICIPATION IN STATE MARIJUANA PROGRAMS.



(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall authorize physicians and other health care providers employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to



(1) provide recommendations and opinions to veterans who are residents of States with State marijuana programs regarding the participation of veterans in such State marijuana programs; and



(2) complete forms reflecting such recommendations and opinions.



(b) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term ''State'' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.



The amendment is based on a standalone bill, the Veterans Equal Access Act, that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/military-veterans-could-get-medical-marijuana-recommendations-from-government-doctors-under-new-bipartisan-congressional-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blumenauer has championed across multiple sessions</a>. It's advanced several times in committee and on the floor but has yet to be enacted into law.



Both the House and Senate <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/senate-votes-to-allow-va-doctors-to-recommend-medical-marijuana-to-veterans-similar-to-house-passed-version/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">included provisions in their respective MilConVA measures last year</a> that would <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/house-approves-veterans-medical-marijuana-access-and-psychedelics-research-amendments-as-part-of-spending-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">permit VA doctors to make medical cannabis recommendations</a>, but they were not included in the final package for the 2024 version that was signed into law in March.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sunbolt-Farm_072-edited-1024x576.jpg" alt="Sungrown cannabis" class="wp-image-14961 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sunbolt-Farm_072-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sunbolt-Farm_072-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sunbolt-Farm_072-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sunbolt-Farm_072-edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>Another measure that was filed ahead of Wednesday's amendment deadline for the appropriations legislation comes from Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA). It would block the VA from subjecting job applicants to marijuana screenings as a condition of their employment if they live in a legal state.



SEC. 423. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to test an applicant for marijuana (as defined in section 102(16)(A) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(16)(A)), except for positions listed as Presumptive Testing Designated Positions by the Selection of Testing Designated Positions Guidance under Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program established pursuant to Executive Order 12564, in—



(1) any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin; or



(2) the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United States, or Guam.



Garcia similarly pursued the reform as amendments to multiple spending bills last session, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/key-house-committee-again-blocks-amendments-to-end-marijuana-testing-for-federal-job-applicants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">but none were made in order for floor consideration</a>.



The report for the MilConVA legislation approved by the House Appropriations Committee contains an additional provision noting that the panel “understands” VA has “clarified that nothing in VA statutes or regulations specifically prohibits a veteran whose income is derived from state-legalized cannabis activities from obtaining a certificate of eligibility for VA home loan benefits.”



“The Committee understands that VA is working to improve communication with eligible lending institutions to reduce confusion among lenders and borrowers on this matter,” it <a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/118th-congress/house-report/528" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">says</a>.



Members of the House Rules Committee, which blocked numerous drug policy reform amendments from various spending measures last year under GOP control, are set to consider the <a href="https://rules.house.gov/bill/118/hr-FY2025-MilCon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proposed changes</a> to the MilConVA bill next week, where leadership will determine whether to allow them to advance to the floor. The panel is expected to take up the NDAA legislation the week of June 10.



Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee passed the 2025 NDAA last week, and it includes provisions to <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/congressional-committee-approves-defense-bill-with-marijuana-and-psychedelics-provisions-for-military-service-members/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eliminate marijuana testing for military enlistment purposes</a>, requires a status update from the Department of Defense (DOD) on <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/biden-signs-defense-bill-requiring-psychedelics-studies-involving-active-duty-military-service-members/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychedelics clinical trials it's been mandated to conduct</a> and more.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/180413_MJDC_Stock-19-edited-1024x576.jpg" alt="Gavel and cannabis" class="wp-image-14966 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/180413_MJDC_Stock-19-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/180413_MJDC_Stock-19-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/180413_MJDC_Stock-19-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/180413_MJDC_Stock-19-edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/180413_MJDC_Stock-19-edited-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/180413_MJDC_Stock-19-edited-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>Garcia separately filed an amendment to the NDAA that was <a href="https://rules.house.gov/bill/118/hr-8070" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">posted</a> on Wednesday to prevent covered agencies from denying security clearances based solely on a person's past marijuana use in a jurisdiction that has legalized such activity.



SEC. 17. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS TO DENY SECURITY CLEARANCES FOR MARIJUANA USAGE.



(a) PROHIBITION.—None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be used to revoke or deny a security clearance under section 3002(b) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (50 U.S.C. 3343(b)) or any other provision of law prior to the completion of a full security clearance background investigation by an authorized investigative agency and issuance of a final decision on denial or revocation by an authorized adjudicative agency on the sole basis that an individual used marijuana (as defined in section 102(16)(A) of title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 802(16)(A)) if, under the law of the State where such individual used marijuana, such use was lawful.”



(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:



(1) The terms ''authorized investigative agency'' and ''authorized adjudicative agency'' have the meanings given those terms in section 3001(a) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (50 U.S.C. 3341(a)).



(2) The term ''State'' means each of the several States, and includes the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.



Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI), Lou Correa (D-CA), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) filed a MilConVA amendment to encourage the VA to support research into the benefits of psychedelics in treating medical conditions commonly affecting military veterans.



<ul>
<li>Increases and decreases the Medical and Prosthetic Research account at the Department of Veterans Affairs to express support for recently announced VA-funded research into psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat PTSD and depression and to encourage VA to prioritize the proactive training of therapists to administer these treatments.</li>
</ul>
A separate amendment from the same four lawmakers urges the VA to report to Congress on the possible incorporation of MDMA-assisted therapy into the department's formulary following federal approval of the drug.



<ul>
<li>Increases and decreases the Medical Services account at the Department of Veterans Affairs to urge the VA to report to Congress no later than 180 days following approval of midomafetamine-assisted treatments to treat PTSD under Section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act on possible incorporation of treatments in the formulary of the Department and the justification for such determination.</li>
</ul>
The House Veterans Affairs Committee recently passed a bill from Van Orden to require VA to <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/congressional-committee-approves-gop-led-psychedelics-bill-focused-on-military-veterans-therapeutic-access/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">notify Congress if any psychedelics are added to its formulary</a> of covered prescription drugs.



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Written by <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/author/kylejaeger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/author/kylejaeger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyle Jaeger</a> for <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marijuana Moment</a> | Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
The post <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news/2024/06/lawmakers-push-to-let-va-doctors-recommend-medical-marijuana-and-end-thc-testing-for-federal-job-applicants/">Lawmakers Push To Let VA Doctors Recommend Medical Marijuana And End THC Testing For Federal Job Applicants</a> appeared first on <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news">Weedmaps News</a>.

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have filed a series of new amendments that seek to authorize U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to issue medical marijuana recommendations to military veterans, prevent…
The post <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news/2024/06/lawmakers-push-to-let-va-doctors-recommend-medical-marijuana-and-end-thc-testing-for-federal-job-applicants/">Lawmakers Push To Let VA Doctors Recommend Medical Marijuana And End THC Testing For Federal Job Applicants</a> appeared first on <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news">Weedmaps News</a>.

Lawmakers Push To Let VA Doctors Recommend Medical Marijuana And End THC Testing For Federal Job Applicants

A new study into how recent cannabis use affects physical activity appears to disprove the long-held stereotype that marijuana makes people lazy, finding that young to midlife adults were neither more sedentary nor more intensely active after consuming cannabis—though recent use was associated with a “marginal increase” in light exercise.



“Our findings provide evidence against existing concerns that cannabis use independently promotes sedentary behavior and decreases physical activity,” researchers wrote, adding that “the stereotypical 'lazy stoner' archetype historically portrayed with chronic cannabis use does not acknowledge the diverse uses of cannabis today.”







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The report, published this week in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, drew on data from Canada's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which, during its 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 cycles, included information from wrist-worn accelerometers that tracked participants' physical activity. Participants, who were all between ages 18 and 59, also answered a Drug Use Questionnaire that asked about current and lifetime use of substances such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.



Researchers described the findings, which drew on data from 4,666 adults—of which 658 (14.1 percent) reported using cannabis in the past 30 days—as “the largest cohort in which the relationship between cannabis use and physical activity has been studied.”



Results showed little differences in sleep or physical activity between people who did and did not use marijuana within the past month, according to the accelerometer data.



“No differences were found in the median daily awake versus asleep time, daily sedentary time, or daily [moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)] time,” wrote authors from the University of Toronto and two Ontario hospitals.



In fact, daily time spent doing light physical activity (LPA) was marginally higher among recent cannabis users.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-2350_Wellness-CBD-Persona-Laguna-Hike_1588-1024x683.jpg" alt="Woman running on beach" class="wp-image-15007 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-2350_Wellness-CBD-Persona-Laguna-Hike_1588-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-2350_Wellness-CBD-Persona-Laguna-Hike_1588-300x200.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-2350_Wellness-CBD-Persona-Laguna-Hike_1588-768x512.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-2350_Wellness-CBD-Persona-Laguna-Hike_1588-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-2350_Wellness-CBD-Persona-Laguna-Hike_1588-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>“Median [interquartile range (IQR)] daily LPA time was greater in the recent cannabis use group,” the study says, though it notes the difference was slight, with a median of 102 minutes of light physical activity per day among those who used marijuana in the past month compared to 99 minutes per day among those who did not.



“With the rising prevalence of cannabis use, there have been concerns of its potential effects on physical activity levels,” the study concludes. “In this population-level analysis, recent cannabis use was not independently associated with daily sedentary time or MVPA, and it was associated with a marginally greater daily LPA time of unclear clinical significance.”



Participants in the study may not be representative of the general adult population, the <a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/can.2023.0244" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> acknowledges. “First, more than half of the recent cannabis users in this study were 18–29 years, which may suggest selection bias toward younger and healthier people in the NHANES sample.”



The survey data also did not include respondents' motivation for cannabis use, which the study says might include exercise, pain, anxiety, or sleep. Nor were participants asked about frequency of consumption or product formulation.



Authors said further research is needed “to examine if these findings are generalizable to specific subgroups using cannabis for chronic or neuropathic pain.”



The study comes on the heels of various other findings that challenge some widely held preconceptions about cannabis users. For example, a report last month concluded that there's <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/frequent-marijuana-use-doesnt-make-people-less-motivated-or-cause-paranoia-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">no association between habitual marijuana use and paranoia or decreased motivation</a>. The research also found no evidence that marijuana consumption causes a hangover the next day.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-1024x683.jpg" alt="Pipe full of cannabis on table with jar of weed and lighter" class="wp-image-14476 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRTV-5949_Lifecycle_Fall_4-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>A 2022 study on marijuana and laziness, meanwhile, found <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-doesnt-turn-people-into-lazy-stoners-as-stereotyped-on-tv-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">no difference in apathy or reward-based behavior between people who used cannabis on at least a weekly basis</a> and non-users. Frequent marijuana consumers, that study found, actually experienced more pleasure than those who abstained.



Separate <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/lazy-stoner-stereotype-smashed-by-study-finding-marijuana-consumers-exercise-more/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research published in 2020</a> found that “compared to older adult nonusers, older adult cannabis users had lower [body mass index] at the beginning of an exercise intervention study, engaged in more weekly exercise days during the intervention, and were engaging in more exercise-related activities at the conclusion of the intervention.”



And a 2019 study found that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/study-finds-marijuana-motivates-people-to-exercise-smashing-lazy-stoner-stereotype/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">people who use cannabis to elevate their workout tend to get a healthier amount of exercise</a>. It also concluded that consuming before or after exercising improved the experience and aided in recovery.



A report published last December, meanwhile, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/study-finds-no-evidence-that-medical-marijuana-causes-cognitive-impairment-in-patients-with-chronic-health-problems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">examined neurocognitive effects in medical marijuana patients</a>, finding that “prescribed medical cannabis may have minimal acute impact on cognitive function among patients with chronic health conditions.”



Another report, published in March in the journal Current Alzheimer Research, linked marijuana use to lower odds of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), with <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-consumers-have-significantly-decreased-odds-of-cognitive-decline-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consumers and patients reporting less confusion and memory loss compared to non-users</a>.



While the long-term effects of cannabis use are far from settled science, findings from those and other recent studies suggest some fears have been overblown.



A report published in April that drew on dispensary data, for instance, found that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-helps-cancer-patients-think-more-clearly-and-manage-pain-study-using-cannabis-from-dispensaries-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer patients reported being able to think more clearly when using medical marijuana</a>. They also said it helped manage pain.



A separate study of teens and young adults at risk of developing psychotic disorders found that regular <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/young-people-at-risk-of-psychosis-saw-symptoms-surprisingly-improve-with-marijuana-use-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marijuana use over a two-year period did not trigger early onset of psychosis symptoms</a>—contrary to the claims of prohibitionists who argue that cannabis causes mental illness. In fact, it was associated with modest improvements in cognitive functioning and reduced use of other medications.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-1024x683.jpg" alt="Two people lighting joint" class="wp-image-15009 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-300x200.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-768x512.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_25-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>“CHR youth who continuously used cannabis had higher neurocognition and social functioning over time, and decreased medication usage, relative to non-users,” authors of that study wrote. “Surprisingly, clinical symptoms improved over time despite the medication decreases.”



A separate study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) in January that looked at data from more than 63 million health insurance beneficiaries found that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-legalization-not-associated-with-increased-rates-of-psychosis-american-medical-association-study-of-63-million-people-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">there's “no statistically significant increase” in psychosis-related diagnoses</a> in states that have legalized marijuana compared to those that continue to criminalize cannabis.



Studies from 2018, meanwhile, found that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/smoking-marijuana-actually-improves-working-memory-study-indicates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marijuana may actually increase working memory</a> and that cannabis use <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-use-doesnt-actually-change-the-structure-of-your-brain-new-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">doesn't actually change the structure of the brain</a>.



And, contrary to then-President Trump's claim that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/trump-says-marijuana-makes-people-lose-iq-points-in-secret-recording/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marijuana makes people “lose IQ points,”</a> the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) says the results of two longitudinal studies “did not support a causal relationship between marijuana use and IQ loss.”



Research has shown that people who use cannabis can see declines in verbal ability and general knowledge but that “those who would use in the future already had lower scores on these measures than those who would not use in the future, and no predictable difference was found between twins when one used marijuana and one did not.”



“This suggests that observed IQ declines, at least across adolescence, may be caused by shared familial factors (e.g., genetics, family environment), not by marijuana use itself,” NIDA concluded.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">
Written by <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/author/benadlin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Adlin</a> for Marijuana Moment | Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
The post <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news/2024/05/marijuana-use-linked-to-increase-in-light-physical-activity-study-challenging-lazy-stoner-stereotype-finds/">Marijuana Use Linked To Increase In Light Physical Activity, Study Challenging 'Lazy Stoner' Stereotype Finds</a> appeared first on <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news">Weedmaps News</a>.

A new study into how recent cannabis use affects physical activity appears to disprove the long-held stereotype that marijuana makes people lazy, finding that young to midlife adults were neither…
The post <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news/2024/05/marijuana-use-linked-to-increase-in-light-physical-activity-study-challenging-lazy-stoner-stereotype-finds/">Marijuana Use Linked To Increase In Light Physical Activity, Study Challenging 'Lazy Stoner' Stereotype Finds</a> appeared first on <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news">Weedmaps News</a>.

Marijuana Use Linked To Increase In Light Physical Activity, Study Challenging 'Lazy Stoner' Stereotype Finds

More Americans now consume cannabis every day than drink alcohol on a daily basis, according to a newly published study that explores how marijuana use habits have changed in recent decades. Since 1992, it says, the per capita rate of daily cannabis consumption in the country has increased nearly 15 times over.



The rise in frequent cannabis use coincides with an increasing number of states that have ended marijuana prohibition, though the study's author, Carnegie Mellon University professor Jonathan Caulkins, says it's not clear whether legalization led to increased use or the whether broader consumption by the public boosted support for policy changes that were later enacted.







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While the report notes the national marijuana use rate “mirrors changes in policy, with declines during periods of greater restriction and growth during periods of policy liberalization,” Caulkins stops short of attributing use patterns to policy changes themselves.



The correlation between legalization and greater use “does not mean policy drove changes in use,” the report says. “Both could have been manifestations of changes in underlying culture and attitudes. However, whichever way causal arrows point, cannabis use now appears to be on a fundamentally different scale than it was before legalization.”



The rise in daily marijuana use comes after rates hit a record low in the early 1990s.



“Reported cannabis use declined to a nadir in 1992, with partial recovery through 2008, and substantial increases since then, particularly for measures of more intensive use,” the new research says. “From 1992 to 2022, there was a 15-fold increase in the per capita rate of reporting daily or near daily use.”



In 2022, for the first time ever, more Americans said they consumed cannabis on a near-daily basis than alcohol.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_23-edited-1024x576.jpg" alt="Two people passing a joint" class="wp-image-14995 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_23-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_23-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_23-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_23-edited-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_23-edited-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Santa_Ana_23-edited-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>The findings draw on data from the federally funded National Survey on Drug Use and Health, previously known as the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The survey has been conducted annually since 1990 and four times before then, in 1979, 1982, 1985 and 1988.



Responses show that while far more Americans drank alcohol daily than consumed cannabis 20 years ago, those use patterns have radically changed.



“Whereas the 1992 survey recorded 10 times as many daily or near daily alcohol as cannabis users (8.9 vs. 0.9M),” the study says, “the 2022 survey, for the first time, recorded more daily and near daily users of cannabis than alcohol (17.7 vs. 14.7M).”



The <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/add.16519" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> was published on Wednesday in the journal Society for the Study of Addiction.



Caulkins acknowledges in the paper that some methodological changes have been made to the federal survey over the years—for example switching from a paper-based to a digital survey, making minor sampling changes and adding a $30 incentive payment for respondents—and admits the government typically advises against making comparisons between survey designs. But ultimately he argues his conclusions are valid.



“The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) discourages comparing rates of use before and after the redesigns,” he writes. “However, changes in survey wording or methods that make a 10% or 20% difference in responses are small compared to the much larger changes over the time span examined here.”



He also notes that changes in politics and social acceptability of marijuana use may have exaggerated the trend of increasing use.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="8192" height="4608" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited.jpg" alt="Outdoor grown cannabis at Sunroots Farm" class="wp-image-14999 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited.jpg 8192w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sunroots-Farm_071-edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 8192px) 100vw, 8192px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>“Of particular note, willingness to self-report may have increased as cannabis became normalized, so changes in actual use may be less pronounced than changes in reported use,” the study says. “On the other hand, cannabis product variety exploded after state-legalization.”



“Nonetheless, the enormous changes in rates of self reported cannabis use, particularly of DND [daily or near daily] use, suggest that changes in actual use have been considerable,” it continues, “and it is striking that high-frequency cannabis use is now more commonly reported than is high-frequency drinking.”



Speaking to the Associated Press about the report, Caulkins <a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-cannabis-alcohol-drinking-daily-use-b91c2c5957fdb2d48e6616c3baa14c13" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> that roughly 40 percent of consumers use marijuana on a daily or near daily basis, which he called “a pattern that is more associated with tobacco use than typical alcohol use.”



Writing in the Washington Monthly about his findings, Caulkins, joined by Stanford University professor Keith Humphries, argue that market forces have also led to significantly more powerful marijuana.



“Legalization and commercialization have produced a spectacular rise in the potency of marijuana products,” they wrote. “Until the end of the 20th century, the average potency of seized cannabis never exceeded 5 percent THC, its active intoxicant. Now, the labeled potency of 'flower' sold in state-licensed stores averages 20-25 percent THC. Extract-based products like vape oils and dabs routinely exceed 60 percent.”



“Back in the 1990s,” they add, “a person averaging two 0.5-gram joints of 4 percent THC weed per week was consuming about 5 milligrams of THC per day on average. Today's daily users average more than 1.5 grams of material that is 20-25 percent THC, which is more than 300 milligrams per day. That is far more THC than is consumed in typical medical studies of its health effects.”



Caulkins and Humphries point out, however, that “marijuana is becoming something of an old person's drug,” emphasizing that frequent cannabis use among youth is rare.



“On the positive side, the kids are mostly all right,” they said. “Just 2 percent of 12-17 year-old marijuana consumers consume daily or near daily. As a result, youth account for just 3 percent of the 8.3 billion annual days of self-reported marijuana use in the country.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-1024x576.jpg" alt="Nugs poured into hands" class="wp-image-14956 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Santa_Ana_47-2-edited-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>By age group, people aged 35 to 49 consumed more frequently than people 26 to 34, who themselves consumed more frequently than people from 18 to 25 years old.



Overlooking heavy, frequent and long-term use, say Caulkins and Humphries, increases the risk of harm to users' memories, concentration and motivation. But the biggest risk, they warn, “may concern serious and lifelong conditions such as schizophrenia.”



“Regulators need to take seriously their responsibility to protect the public from cannabis companies,” they write, noting that the market isn't led by a “hippy-led anti-materialist cottage industry” but is instead increasingly dominated by large corporate players.



“Cannabis isn't fentanyl, but it isn't lettuce, either,” the pair conclude in their Washington Monthly <a href="https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024/05/22/this-isnt-your-fathers-marijuana-use/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">op-ed</a>. “The vastly increased use of the drug is not all benign, and we may come to regret it if we fail to recognize and respond to these trends.”



While Caulkins's new study doesn't attempt to address whether people are actively substituting marijuana for alcohol, a study earlier this year out of Canada, where marijuana is federally legal, found that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-legalization-linked-to-decline-in-beer-sales-indicating-substitution-effect-canadian-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">legalization was “associated with a decline in beer sales,” suggesting a substitution effect</a>.



“Canada-wide beer sales fell by 96 hectoliters per 100,000 population immediately after non-medical cannabis legalization and by 4 hectoliters per 100,000 population each month thereafter for an average monthly reduction of 136 hectoliters per 100,000 population post-legalization,” found researchers from the University of Manitoba, Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Toronto.



Sales data also show that Canada generated more excise tax revenue from marijuana ($660 million) than wine ($205 million) and beer ($450 million) combined in the 2022–23 fiscal year, as MJBiz <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/canadian-federal-cannabis-tax-revenue-outpaces-beer-wine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.



At the state level in the U.S., cannabis sales have also been outpacing booze in several legal jurisdictions.



For instance, Michigan marijuana sales <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/michigan-marijuana-tax-revenue-grew-by-49-over-the-past-year-surpassing-alcohol-earnings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outpaced purchases of beer, wine and liquor combined</a> during the most recent fiscal year, according to a report from the legislature's nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1439" src="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-3037_Uprooted_Tucky_0332-edited-scaled.jpg" alt="Buying cannabis at a dispensary" class="wp-image-15000 wm-img-popup-click" srcset="https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-3037_Uprooted_Tucky_0332-edited-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-3037_Uprooted_Tucky_0332-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-3037_Uprooted_Tucky_0332-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-3037_Uprooted_Tucky_0332-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-3037_Uprooted_Tucky_0332-edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-3037_Uprooted_Tucky_0332-edited-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https://weedmaps.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CRTV-3037_Uprooted_Tucky_0332-edited-672x378.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><cite class="wm-photo-credit">Gina Coleman/Weedmaps</cite></figure>In Illinois, legal cannabis brought in $451.9 million last fiscal year—<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/illinois-officials-highlight-unprecedented-growth-of-legal-marijuana-market-as-cannabis-revenue-outpaces-alcohol/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">about $135.6 million more than alcohol</a>.



Colorado in 2022 generated <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/colorados-marijuana-tax-brought-in-more-revenue-than-alcohol-or-cigarettes-last-year-new-state-report-shows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more income from marijuana than alcohol or cigarettes</a>—and nearly as much as alcohol and tobacco combined. Similar milestones have been seen in <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/arizona-collected-more-tax-revenue-from-marijuana-than-alcohol-and-tobacco-combined-march-data-shows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arizona</a> and <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/colorado-and-washington-got-more-tax-revenue-from-marijuana-than-from-alcohol-or-cigarettes-in-fiscal-year-2022-report-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington State</a>.



A multinational investment bank said in a report late last year that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-will-gain-millions-of-consumers-over-alcohol-with-sales-hitting-37-billion-by-2027-investment-bank-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marijuana has become a “formidable competitor” to alcohol</a>, projecting that nearly 20 million more people will regularly consume cannabis over the next five years as booze loses a couple million drinkers. It also says marijuana sales are estimated to reach $37 billion in 2027 in the U.S. as more state markets come online.



A separate study published in November also found that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/young-adults-report-significantly-lower-rates-of-alcohol-and-tobacco-use-following-marijuana-legalization-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marijuana legalization may be linked to a “substitution effect,”</a> with young adults in California “significantly” reducing their use of alcohol and cigarettes after the cannabis reform was enacted.



Data from a Gallup survey published last August also found that Americans consider <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/americans-view-marijuana-as-safer-than-alcohol-and-cigarettes-as-rates-of-cannabis-use-surpass-tobacco-smoking-gallup-poll-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marijuana to be less harmful than alcohol, cigarettes, vapes and other tobacco products</a>.



A survey released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Morning Consult last June also found that Americans consider <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-is-safer-than-alcohol-and-cigarettes-and-is-less-addictive-than-technology-americans-say-in-new-survey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marijuana to be significantly less dangerous than cigarettes, alcohol and opioids</a>—and they say cannabis is less addictive than each of those substances, as well as technology.



In 2022, a survey showed that Americans believe that <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/most-americans-say-alcohol-and-tobacco-are-more-dangerous-than-marijuana-poll-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cannabis is less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco</a>.



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Written by <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/author/benadlin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Adlin</a> for Marijuana Moment | Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
The post <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news/2024/05/daily-marijuana-use-in-us-is-now-more-common-than-daily-alcohol-drinking-new-study-finds/">Daily Marijuana Use In US Is Now More Common Than Daily Alcohol Drinking, New Study Finds</a> appeared first on <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news">Weedmaps News</a>.

More Americans now consume cannabis every day than drink alcohol on a daily basis, according to a newly published study that explores how marijuana use habits have changed in recent…
The post <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news/2024/05/daily-marijuana-use-in-us-is-now-more-common-than-daily-alcohol-drinking-new-study-finds/">Daily Marijuana Use In US Is Now More Common Than Daily Alcohol Drinking, New Study Finds</a> appeared first on <a href="https://weedmaps.com/news">Weedmaps News</a>.

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