420 with CNW Archives - Page 111 of 301

MondayAug 15, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — NIH Seeks Input on Cannabis Research Barriers

In a request for information published last week, the National Institutes on Health (NIH) indicated that marijuana has been used for thousands of years for therapeutic purposes despite the lack of sufficient data supporting such medicinal use. The agency is now looking to identify the barriers that have been making it hard for the scientific community to study this plant and its constituents. In that notice, the top federal agency revealed that eight agencies under its umbrella are partnering in this effort to collect information spelling out why conducting cannabis research is difficult. The barriers could include the current federal…

MondayAug 15, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Feds Seek Vendor to Test for Cannabis Compounds in Users’ Breath

As more states legalize medical and recreational cannabis use, law enforcement and opponents of cannabis reform argue that marijuana legalization will lead to increased rates of cannabis-impaired driving and traffic incidents. But while police officers can easily test for alcohol impairment using breathalyzer tests, there are currently no standardized tests to check for THC impairment via the breath. Furthermore, research has uncovered that THC blood levels are not a reliable indicator of intoxication and impairment levels. Studies have found that the base THC blood level of long-term cannabis users can be higher than the legal limit set in several states.…

FridayAug 12, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Illinois Legislator to File Bill Centralizing Marijuana Regulation

Many people say the legal marijuana industry in Illinois has complex regulations and that there is room for politics to interfere with the process of licensing businesses. The possibility of litigation against the licensing system is also high, and some are calling for the establishment of a commission to streamline the regulatory process. One of the people thinking this way is Rep. Marcus Evans, a Democratic lawmaker from Chicago. He revealed that he is planning to table a bill that will create a cannabis commission similar to the commissions governing the gaming and alcohol industries. Evans is irked by the…

FridayAug 12, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Why Marijuana Retailers Need to Look Beyond THC Concentration

Most cannabis buyers have only the THC concentration in mind when they are choosing a marijuana product, but hasn’t the time come for retailers to look beyond how much THC a given product contains while making a decision about its quality? Until recently, marijuana was illegal, but dozens of U.S. states have since legalized it either for medical or recreational use. One strong reason for outlawing marijuana was its psychoactive compound THC, which is why most tests look for THC metabolites in the blood, urine and even hair samples. It is therefore understandable that people will focus on potency (THC…

ThursdayAug 11, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Las Vegas Awaits Launch of Marijuana Consumption Lounges

Although they are a relatively new concept, marijuana consumption lounges are probably the most controversial aspect of the entire cannabis reform movement. The idea is to provide public rooms where customers can consume cannabis without running afoul of state cannabis laws. While more than a dozen states have now legalized recreational cannabis consumption, they have also outlawed public consumption and made it almost impossible for nonresidents to legally consume the cannabis they have purchased. New York was among the first states to allow cannabis consumption sites for adults aged 21 and over. The state recently passed a bill that would…

ThursdayAug 11, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Largest Employee Union Wants End to Testing Federal Employees for THC

For decades, federal employers have had the right to test their employees for cannabis used because of federal regulations that outlawed the cultivation, distribution and sale of marijuana. But as states have begun to legalize recreational and medical cannabis use, reform activists argued that these drug tests penalize consumers for indulging in behaviors that are considered legal in their home states. The largest federal employee union in the country is now calling on the government to put an end to policies that punish federal workers for using cannabis during their free time. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) also…

WednesdayAug 10, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Research Finds Legalization Hasn’t Increased Number of Teens Trying Cannabis

Concerns around how the legalization of marijuana for adult use may prompt an increase in the number of young users have been floated by both parents and health researchers since talks on legalization began a decade ago. Critics against the policy change have even gone as far as to issue warnings with no evidence to back the claims. However, new research has found that the legalization of marijuana does not cause more young individuals to try using the substance. The study, which was conducted by researchers at Michigan State University, found that legalized marijuana retail sales did not increase the…

WednesdayAug 10, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Studies Question Usefulness of THC Testing to Establish Impairment

For decades, law enforcement has used standardized equipment called breathalyzers to determine the blood-alcohol content of drivers and police-impaired driving. These tests take mere seconds to administer and can give police a decent estimation of how impaired a driver is. As cannabis reform has swept across the country and more states have legalized recreational cannabis, law enforcement and cannabis legalization opponents have argued that legalizing cannabis will inevitably lead to higher levels of impaired driving and road incidents. We still don’t have a standard test to quickly measure delta-9 THC blood levels. Furthermore, there is relatively little evidence that the…

TuesdayAug 09, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Health Canada Panel Gives CBD the Nod for Mainstream Retail

Cannabis extract cannabidiol (CBD) has become extremely popular over the past decade due to claims of its medical efficacy. CBD is said to be effective against a wide variety of medical issues, and it has even been approved as a major ingredient in a drug used to treat seizures in pediatric epilepsy. Additionally, the cannabinoid is so versatile in its applications that it can be infused in a range of foods and beverages and still be effective. However, there have been questions about whether approving CBD for mainstream retail would have adverse medical outcomes, especially considering the fact that it…

TuesdayAug 09, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Federal Health Agencies Consider Funding Research into Minor Cannabinoids

If you ask the average American if they know what cannabinoids are, they’ll probably mention delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive component in cannabis, or cannabidiol (CBD). These are the most abundant cannabinoids in the cannabis plant as well as the most popular. As a result, they have received a lot of public and scientific attention in the past couple of years amid sweeping cannabis reform. What many people don’t know is that the cannabis plant produces more than 100 cannabinoids, although most of them occur in small quantities. Cannabis also produces a variety of terpenes and flavonoids that significantly impact…