NewsRoom Articles - Page 19 of 594

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…

FridayJan 03, 2025 10:00 am

Analysts Observe Sudden Uptick in Cannabis Use as an Alternative to Alcohol

Business analysts have observed a sudden increase in cannabis use as a growing number of Americans turn to cannabis as an alternative to alcohol. According to a recently published Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) survey, Americans are substituting alcohol with cannabis at ‘soaring rates’ as the country's state-level marijuana industry expands. Cannabis has an incredibly complicated history in the U.S. and has been classified as a Schedule I drug, similar to hard drugs like cocaine and heroin, for several decades. However, some studies have found that cannabis is generally safer to consume compared to alcohol. It doesn't impact the human body the…

ThursdayJan 02, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Could the Growing Popularity of THC Drinks Push Alcohol Out of the US Market?

New laws in the United States are making it possible to include THC in beverages, offering what some see as a potential alcohol alternative. While this development is being met with optimism by some, others believe its benefits may vary. Policies enabling the sale of THC-infused drinks are becoming more common, often placing them in venues that sell alcohol. Minnesota, for instance, passed legislation last year permitting the sale of THC beverages in liquor establishments, and these products have since started appearing across the country. The 2018 Farm Bill included a loophole that lifted federal prohibitions on hemp-derived products with…

ThursdayJan 02, 2025 10:00 am

What 2025 Could Hold for Marijuana Firms

The past couple of years have been rough on America's state-level cannabis industry. Cannabis businesses enjoyed healthy demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in states where cannabis was deemed an essential product, but the industry has been plagued with market oversaturation, low prices, and increasing black market competition in the years since. Investors have been especially wary of putting their funds into the industry, even with a Democratic president at the helm, and could be even more unwilling to invest in the sector under a second Trump presidency. The period of post-pandemic purchasing that was characterized by unusually high demand…