420 with CNW Archives - Page 35 of 307

MondayJul 08, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Brazilian Supreme Court Ends Criminalization of Cannabis Possession for Personal Use

The Brazilian Supreme Court recently voted to decriminalize cannabis possession for personal use, joining other Latin American nations in this reform and potentially reducing its substantial prison population. The majority of the justices, since the discussions began in 2015, have supported this move. The justices now need to decide on the maximum amount of cannabis considered for personal use, with the effective date of the ruling expected soon. The justices who favored the decision noted that decriminalization should only apply to personal use amounts, keeping the sale of drugs illegal. A 2006 bill passed by the U.S. Congress sought to…

FridayJul 05, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Operators in Pennsylvania Complain About Software Mandated by Regulators

Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis market generated more than $1.3 billion in sales in 2023, despite numerous issues and outages with the state’s mandated track-and-trace software. Operators claim these problems could be avoided if the software provided by MJ Freeway functioned correctly. Although MJ Freeway recently merged with BioTrack to form Alleaves, it remains the sole provider under a contract established in 2017. Industry operators and a few legislators have voiced frustrations regarding MJ Freeway’s lack of a two-way Application Programming Interface (API) with other approved software used for sales and inventory management. This means businesses must manually input data, such as…

TuesdayJul 02, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Finds Older Medical Marijuana Patients Experience Marked Health, Well-Being Improvements

A recent study has revealed that medical cannabis can offer numerous therapeutic benefits for older adults, positively impacting their mood, sleep, health and well-being. The study observed significant reductions in both pain interference and severity in older adults who use cannabis to manage chronic pain. Published in the “Drugs and Aging Journal,” the study addresses the limited high-quality studies on marijuana use among older adults. Typically, clinical trials exclude participants older than 65 years of age, even as this demographic increasingly turns to medical cannabis for relief. The research, which was carried out by a group from Drug Science and…

MondayJul 01, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Florida Medical Cannabis Patients Surprised by Email Blast

Florida boasts more than 700,000 medical cannabis patients, and GOP Governor Ron DeSantis, who is currently opposing a proposal to legalize recreational cannabis, wants to highlight his achievements to this targeted group. Recently, Florida’s Health Department sent out an email to medical-cannabis patients, praising DeSantis for signing the state’s budget. The email also promoted a cancer research initiative by First Lady Casey DeSantis and highlighted various health issues addressed in the budget, including syphilis, HIV and hepatitis. However, the email did not mention medical cannabis, which has raised concerns among advocates and patients who argue that the administration misused the…

FridayJun 28, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Ohio Companies Prepare for Recreational Cannabis Sales Launch

Ohio’s move from solely medical cannabis sales to also allowing recreational sales is taking a unique path compared to other states. The specific date for the start of recreational sales remains unclear, even though the application period for converting medical cannabis licenses to dual-use began on June 7, 2024. Industry insiders anticipate that the first dual-use licenses might be approved in the coming weeks, but state officials have not confirmed this timeline. Ohio’s regulators are also prioritizing applications from testing labs, cultivators and processors over retailers. This means cannabis businesses and consumers will see approvals happen in stages based on…

ThursdayJun 27, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Finds Opioids, Alcohol Cause Worse SecondHand Harms Compared to Marijuana Use

A recent nationwide study has revealed that secondhand harm from cannabis use is significantly less common than that from alcohol. The study, which surveyed thousands, found that respondents were almost six times more likely to report secondhand alcohol harm than cannabis harm. The perceived risks associated with opioids and other substances also outweighed those associated with marijuana. The study analyzed responses from 7,799 participants in the 2020 United States National Alcohol Survey. It showed that more than one-third (34.2%) of respondents had experienced alcohol-related secondhand harm at some point in their lives. In contrast, only 5.5% reported experiencing secondhand harm…

WednesdayJun 26, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Opponents of Cannabis Rescheduling Slam Process FDA Relied On

Representatives of the prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) have expressed their disapproval of the government’s plan to categorize cannabis as a Schedule 3 substance. They criticized the move as politically driven and not based on scientific evidence. The group is now exploring all legal avenues to challenge this change and is rallying its supporters to oppose it. Kevin Sabet, SAM president and CEO, spoke during an online meeting, expressing strong disapproval of the federal officials behind the rescheduling proposal. He argued that the recommendation seemed outdated and inappropriate for 2024. Sabet emphasized that the process is far from…

TuesdayJun 25, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Florida Medical Cannabis Doctors Concerned About Possible Disruptions Once Recreational Use Legalized

Florida’s initiative to legalize recreational marijuana is causing a significant divide within the state's medical cannabis sector. Florida’s largest medical cannabis company, Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF), is supporting Amendment 3, which seeks to legalize recreational cannabis for adults over age 21. However, approximately 2,000 doctors certified to prescribe medical marijuana are expressing concerns. They warn that this amendment could disrupt access for the state’s 882,000 medical-cannabis patients. The influx of recreational users could deplete the marijuana products and specific strains that patients rely on for conditions such as severe pain. The passage of Amendment 3 may also…

MondayJun 24, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Two New Books Explore Marijuana’s Medical Powers

For those interested in exploring marijuana’s medical benefits, two recently published books —Josh Leddy’s “Living with Cannabis: A Personal Journey” and Dr. Benjamin Caplan’s “The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook” — provide essential insights. The books offer both professional guidance and firsthand accounts, making them invaluable for anyone curious about cannabis’s therapeutic uses. The book by Dr. Benjamin Caplan offers a thorough manual on medical marijuana use. Caplan, a board-certified family physician with experience treating more than 250,000 patients, reveals his in-depth understanding of the ways that cannabis can help with a range of ailments, including cancer, sleeplessness, cognitive decline and chronic…

FridayJun 21, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — White House Objects to Proposal Seeking to End Cannabis Testing for Army Recruits

The Biden administration has expressed its opposition to a proposal that would prevent military branches from testing for cannabis use as part of the commissioning or enlistment process, noting concerns about how it could impact military readiness and safety. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a statement on June 11, 2024, outlining its policy concerns regarding various elements of the 2025 NDAA. The bill is currently under consideration by the Rules Committee for upcoming House action. One specific provision that the administration opposes is Section 532. This section would prohibit military branches from requiring cannabis tests…