NewsRoom Articles - CannabisNewsWire

TuesdayJan 14, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Governor Wants Wisconsin Voters to Legalize Marijuana as GOP Lawmakers Block Reform Efforts

Wisconsin governor Tony Evers has proposed granting voters the power to introduce binding questions directly on the ballot to enact new laws. He cited widespread bipartisan support for issues like cannabis legalization, which the Republican-led legislature has consistently refused to address. During a recent press conference, Evers announced his intention to include a proposal in the 2025/27 biennial budget allowing citizens to initiate ballot measures for constitutional or statutory changes, provided they receive majority approval. Evers specifically highlighted popular issues such as the legalization and taxation of cannabis akin to alcohol, gun safety, abortion rights, and more financing for civic…

TuesdayJan 14, 2025 10:00 am

Study Shows Opioid Makers’ Payments to Pain Doctors Dropped After Medical Marijuana Legalization

A multi-institutional study involving researchers from three universities has discovered a correlation between medical cannabis legalization and reduced payments from opioid drug manufacturers to pain doctors. The study found that when states launch regulated medical marijuana programs, patients begin using the divisive drug as an alternative to pharmaceutical pain medications. The result is reduced payments from pain drug manufacturers to doctors who specifically deal with pain and pain-related conditions, say researchers from the State University of New York (SUNY), the University of Southern California, and the University of Florida. According to the researchers, their analysis indicates that pain drug manufacturers…

MondayJan 13, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Industry Predictions for 2025

The marijuana industry experienced a sluggish pace of progress in 2024. Efforts to pass cannabis reform measures in Congress fell short, and the DEA delayed rescheduling cannabis as a recognized medicinal substance. Moreover, voter rejection of recreational cannabis legalization initiatives, including a high-profile defeat in Florida despite almost $150 million spent by multistate operators, suggests that easy reform opportunities may have reached their peak. However, significant changes are looming. Relief from the burdens of Section 280E taxation appears closer, and with Donald Trump assuming office, he will become the first president to have publicly supported recreational cannabis legalization. Here are…

FridayJan 10, 2025 10:00 am

420 with CNW — Oklahoma Lawmakers Table Two Bills to Regulate Medical Cannabis

With the Oklahoma legislative session just a month away, state legislators have proposed two measures to regulate medical cannabis. One bill aims to regulate how much a person can purchase in a week, while the other one focuses on regulating how cannabis dispensaries in the state can advertise their products. Likewise Cannabis founder Corbin Wyatt shared his thoughts on the significance of medical cannabis for numerous individuals, noting that many patients state that they have been able to quit using strong medications, such as fentanyl, over time. “Their lives have been changed by marijuana,” Wyatt added. Senate Bill 320, presented…

FridayJan 10, 2025 10:00 am

Medical Cannabis Patients in Arkansas Reach Record Numbers

Voters in Arkansas approved a measure to legalize medical marijuana in 2016 and the state finally began sales in mid-2019 with about 11,000 registered medical marijuana patients. Arkansas’s medical cannabis program has expanded significantly in the years since as more patients registered, reaching 101,006 active MMJ cards in June 2024 and 108,957 by the end of the year. The Arkansas Department of Health is charged with issuing MMJ cards in the state, while the Alcohol and Beverage Control Agency issues licenses to medical cannabis dispensaries. Data shows that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was the most common medical condition at 34.9%,…

WednesdayJan 08, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New York Governor Announces That Legal Cannabis Sales Have Reached $1bn

New York has reached a major milestone in its legal cannabis market, surpassing $1 billion in sales. Governor Kathy Hochul described this achievement as a reflection of the dedication of individuals who have worked tirelessly to build an industry that prioritizes fairness, public safety, and community empowerment. Another statement from the governor’s office highlighted how this milestone underscores the efforts of communities, entrepreneurs, and consumers in embracing the legal market, further solidifying New York’s reputation as a leader in innovation and equity within the industry. The Office of Cannabis Management’s (OCM) acting executive director, Felicia A.B. Reid, underlined that the…

TuesdayJan 07, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Latest Scientific Review Finds CBD Has Potential to Treat Depression, with Minimal Side Effects

A recent scientific review highlights increasing evidence that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in cannabis, has antidepressant effects on both animals and humans, with minimal side effects. The review also suggests that CBD may contribute to reducing inflammation and encouraging the growth of new brain cells. According to the study, CBD shows promise as a potential depression treatment. While its antidepressant properties have been noted before, the exact mechanisms driving these effects remain unclear. To address this gap, the paper examines the molecular pathways, safety, and pharmacokinetics profile of CBD. The study’s authors analyzed recent clinical and experimental studies and…

TuesdayJan 07, 2025 10:00 am

Kentuckians Face the Challenge of Choosing Between Gun Ownership and Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana patients in Kentucky will not have access to guns and ammunition due to federal law. Kentucky's medical marijuana legalization bill was signed into law in March 2023 but took effect on January 1st, 2025, making it legal for approved citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to consume medical-grade cannabis. However, Kentuckians will also have to contend with federal law, which currently outlaws cannabis production and consumption, and how it differs from their state's new medical cannabis law. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives recently sent a letter informing federal firearms licensees that individuals who ‘unlawfully’…

MondayJan 06, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Industry in the US Braces for Uncertain Times Under Trump 2.0

The year 2024 began with high hopes for the end of marijuana prohibition in the United States. However, as the year winds down, many of those expectations remain unmet. “The main issue is reclassification,” stated Alex Halperin, a journalist covering the marijuana industry since 2015 through his newsletter WeedWeek. Rescheduling would remove marijuana from the list of substances federally prohibited under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). President Joe Biden had pledged to reform federal marijuana policy during his 2020 presidential campaign, with rescheduling appearing to be the most likely significant step. However, recent developments suggest this change might not occur…

FridayJan 03, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — NORML Analysis Shows at Least 35,000 Studies Were Done on Cannabis in the Last 10 Years

A recent NORML analysis has revealed that over 4,000 scientific papers focusing on cannabis were published globally in 2024. This marks the fourth year that research output has reached this level. Since 2014, over 35,000 cannabis-related studies have been released, according to NORML. These publications reflect an increasing emphasis on exploring the plant’s therapeutic benefits and the societal impacts of legalization laws. Paul Armentano, NORML’s Deputy Director, shared insights in a blog post, noting that the past decade has seen an exponential rise in marijuana research. “Contrary to the belief that cannabis lacks sufficient scientific investigation, researchers have significantly deepened…