420 with CNW Archives - Page 51 of 305

FridayDec 08, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Policy Analyst Says Marijuana Legalization ‘Inevitable’

A policy analyst from TD Cowen says that cannabis legalization in the United States is “inevitable” and believes that it is just a question of weathering a bumpy legislative landscape for the next several years. Originally, many analysts thought federal cannabis legalization was finally on track after the Democrats secured the House, Senate and White House, especially as President Joe Biden had based part of his campaign on cannabis reform. However, while the Biden administration has taken some cannabis-related action, including issuing a mass pardon for people with certain cannabis-related convictions, the administration has barely made any moves to legalize…

ThursdayDec 07, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Finds Drop in Young Adults’ Use of Tobacco, Alcohol Post-Cannabis Legalization

New research has found that the legalization of cannabis may be linked to a drop in the use of cigarettes and alcohol by young adults. For their study, the researchers surveyed 311 individuals aged 18 to 20 years of age who were living in Los Angeles prior to and after the state legalized the recreational use of cannabis in 2016. The participants were divided into two groups: prelegalization and postlegalization, with the latter group having 139 participants. The researchers found that despite increased normalization of marijuana use and increased access to the drug, legalization did not cause the frequency of…

ThursdayDec 07, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Marijuana Industry Stakeholders Upbeat Regarding Prospects of Ending Section 280E Pains

During a recent panel discussion at MJBizCon, industry insiders expressed hope for a positive shift in the status of marijuana under the Biden administration. The anticipation is that marijuana could be rescheduled, potentially reducing the burdensome taxes imposed on marijuana businesses by Section 280E of the federal tax code. However, amid this optimism, the panel acknowledged the existing challenges in the industry and the necessity of taking calculated risks to unlock future benefits. An illustrative example is Virgil Grant, an industry veteran who, despite enduring a six-year federal prison sentence for operating a legally sanctioned medical cannabis business in California,…

WednesdayDec 06, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Immigrants Still Face Legal Consequences for Marijuana Use Despite State-Level Legalization

In Minnesota, individuals aged 21 years and older are permitted to legally possess and use marijuana. However, despite being legal at the state level, marijuana remains prohibited under federal law. This legal nuance is particularly pertinent for immigrants who haven’t obtain U.S. citizenship, according to Julia Decker, the policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. Decker emphasizes the federal control over cannabis, noting that engaging in any related activities or possessing marijuana could result in immigration consequences, potentially leading to deportation. This distinction holds regardless of one’s legal status, even if an individual possesses a green card or…

WednesdayDec 06, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Colorado Researchers Search for Reliable Cannabis Breathalyzer

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder are on the hunt for a reliable cannabis breathalyzer. Dozens of states now allow access to medical or recreational cannabis, but law enforcement institutions in the United States have largely been against cannabis reform efforts. On top of complicating law-enforcement efforts, these institutions say legalization will increase driving under the influence rates across the country. While data from several states shows no correlation between cannabis reform and higher traffic incident rates, the lack of a proper cannabis drug test is a major issue. The breathalyzer has a long history of accurately testing alcohol…

TuesdayDec 05, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Public Transit Groups Urge DHHS to Certify Firms Conducting Saliva Tests for Cannabis

U.S. public transit organizations are urging the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to implement a system for utilizing saliva tests in drug screenings, specifically for cannabis and other substances. Advocates argue that this method is less invasive compared to traditional urine tests and provides a more accurate reflection of recent drug consumption, preventing individuals from facing consequences for substance use that occurred up to a month before testing. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently changed regulations to allow federally regulated transportation workers such as truckers, pilots and commercial drivers to employ oral fluid testing instead of urine drug…

TuesdayDec 05, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — German Lawmakers to Vote on Revised Cannabis Legalization Measure Next Week

Legislators in Germany have decided to revise a bill to legalize cannabis in the country, a week before they cast their final vote on it in parliament. The bill to legalize marijuana is being championed by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who first discussed details concerning the revised legalization measure in April 2022. In May of the same year, he presented the legislative text to cabinet officials. When responding to early criticism of the measure from law enforcement and medical groups, Lauterbach emphasized that marijuana reform would be implemented together with a campaign to educate the public on the risks of…

MondayDec 04, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Missouri Companies Sell Cannabis Products Worth $1B in 2023

Missouri's cannabis industry has surpassed $1 billion in sales of medical and recreational marijuana products for the year 2023, as disclosed by the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHHS). In October alone, retailers transacted approximately $95.5 million in recreational cannabis products and an additional $17.6 million in medical cannabis. Although these figures reflect a slight decrease compared to the previous month, they contribute to the overall 2023 sales, pushing the state’s total marijuana revenue beyond $1.1 billion. The trajectory of adult-use cannabis sales has exhibited a gradual increase since the commencement of sales in February. Conversely, the sales…

MondayDec 04, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — AMA Study Contradicts Claims That Drug Overdose Prevention Centers Fuel Crime

New research has found that overdose prevention centers in New York City have not led to an increase in crime. This is despite concerns that the establishment of harm-reduction centers would cause crime to skyrocket. The new findings add to previous research that demonstrated the centers’ potential in decreasing overdose deaths. Overdose-prevention centers allow individuals to use illegal substances in a supervised environment, helping reduce the risk of harms associated with drug use, such as a fatal overdose. The study was carried out by researchers at Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Connecticut. For their research,…

FridayDec 01, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Finds Cannabis Gives Anxiety Sufferers Better Sleep Compared to Alcohol

A recent study supported by federal funding has uncovered insights into the sleep patterns of individuals dealing with anxiety, revealing that the use of marijuana appears to be linked to improved sleep quality. The research, published in the “Drug and Alcohol Review” journal and conducted collaboratively by teams from the University of Haifa, Colorado State University and the University of Colorado, sought to explore the subjective sleep experiences of 347 individuals utilizing cannabis to manage anxiety. Over a span of 30 days, participants were engaged in daily surveys where they documented their substance use and recounted their previous night’s sleep…