Weed in Review: Friday, March 30, 2018

Cannabis News In the United States

7 Things You Can Do To Help Legalize Marijuana: What are some things you can do to help legalize marijuana? The legalization of cannabis has come a long way in the last six years. Currently, there are nine states in which recreational marijuana use is legal.

Iowa licenses three retailers for upcoming low-THC marijuana sales: Iowa announced three medical marijuana retailers that will be allowed to sell low-THC cannabis, including the only company currently allowed to cultivate the plant.

McConnell calls for the removal of industrial hemp from controlled substances list: The Senate’s top Republican says hemp shouldn’t be a controlled substance, and he plans to introduce a new bill to make the change. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell made the announcement about the proposed change to federal hemp law Monday in his home state of Kentucky. “It’s now time to take the final step and make this a legal crop,” McConnell said.

CBD is cannabis that won’t get you high. So why are so many people using it?: [H]ere’s why CBD appeals to some who would never smoke a joint after dinner: Take a few milligrams of CBD as, say, an oil slipped onto the tongue or a piece of candy, and it tastes unmistakably like cannabis, which is to say, slightly minty and herbaceous, and just a little funky. But cannabidiol’s effect is startlingly anticlimactic. It’s weed without the high.

Opioids, cannabis and school security recommendations at Tenn. capitol this week: Rewritten bills on medical cannabis and opioids, along with the release of the governor’s school security recommendations, top the Tennessee legislative agenda this week. First, the drama over medical cannabis overshadowed a compromise of sorts on an opioid bill. “They are stuck in reefer madness,” thundered medical cannabis House Sponsor Jeremy Faison. His fiery words came as he essentially gutted the medical cannabis bill while trying to get it through a full house committee.

CBD raids spread to Alabama as officials seize gummies over THC concerns: Police seized boxes of CBD-infused gummy bears from an Alabama company that distributes products to convenience stores after receiving complaints the candies may contain THC. Authorities are testing several boxes of gummies taken Friday from American Wholesale Distributors, according to Birmingham TV station WBMA.

Medical Research Updates on Cannabis

Pennsylvania taking applications for medical marijuana research: Pennsylvania’s Department of Health has released application rules for universities and hospitals in the state interested in researching medical marijuana. The state announced it will issue permits for “clinical registrants,” which are hospitals and medical schools that wish to research cannabis, according to Bala Cynwyd TV station NBC 10.

Research Shows Cannabis May Curb Alcohol and Cocaine Addictions: Solutions to public health problems, such as the opioid crisis and addictions, might be right under our noses. Recent research has shown cannabis can help curb alcoholism and cocaine addictions. The Daily Mail reports researchers gave rats cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD. A number of conclusions were made from the research. Rats who consumed CBD, which is known to reduce anxiety and stress, were less likely to relapse five months later. Notably, researchers pointed out that the chemical’s ability to minimize impulsiveness was significant.

Could cannabis help cure lung cancer? This man thinks so – and he’s already spent £1.5m on research: Cannabis could be a cure for lung cancer, according to a research laboratory in Cardiff. MediPen research facility in Cardiff have been experimenting with cannabinoids and its effectiveness in slowing down the growth of cancer cells, something their managing director says is the first of its kind in the world. Metro.co.uk visited MediPen’s labs and spoke exclusively to managing director Jordan Owen, who told us: ‘The end goal is to bring a treatment to market for lung cancer.’

Does Cannabis Affect Cardiovascular Health?: Research has shown the body’s endocannabinoid system responds well to the introduction of cannabis. The drug provides relief for a number of conditions, including MS, seizures, cancer treatment recovery, or eating disorders. But these medical issues don’t often involve the cardiovascular system. Nonetheless, scientists and doctors continue to study the effects of pot on the blood-pumping organ. At the present moment, no consensus has been reached in the scientific community about the effects of marijuana on the heart. But there has been promising findings suggesting it may. For example, a researcher named Alexander Stokes in Hawaii recently secured a patent for a cannabis-derived compound he believes can help to treat heart disease. By activating a receptor, this compound encourages the heart to work harder to pump blood.

Cannabis News Worldwide

In a first, Africa exports medical marijuana to Canada: A company in southern Africa has sent the first-ever shipment of medical cannabis from Africa to Canada, a milestone that illustrates the increasing globalization of the MMJ industry in recent years.

Alzheimer’s Patients in Puerto Rico May Get Cannabis-Based Treatment: Alzheimer’s patients in Puerto Rico may get cannabis-based treatment that would make them the first in the United States with access to a new cannabinoid medicine. The development could be a big step for Puerto Rican Alzheimer’s patients in particular and for medical marijuana more generally.

Doctors Nova Scotia makes 6 recommendations ahead of cannabis legalization: An association representing doctors in Nova Scotia has its eyes on the green — on Monday it released a list of six recommendations for the government ahead of the planned legalization of cannabis later this year. Doctors Nova Scotia says their recommendations aim to minimize the harm associated with cannabis use. According to 2012 data from Health Canada, cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in Nova Scotia.

New Zealand hemp industry taking off with new uses, more acres: A hemp education hub opening Saturday in New Zealand comes as the nation prepares for a big uptick in hemp growing because of new rules expanding how the plant can be used. According to the New Zealand Herald, the hemp innovation hub will offer consulting and education for interested hemp farmers.

Switzerland considers making cannabis legal and approves pilot programs: Cannabis could soon be legal in Switzerland. The Swiss Council of States, Switzerland’s smaller chamber of parliament, unanimously approved a bill allowing studies and pilot programs in the landlocked Alpine nation. The Council called for an experimental article in the Swiss Federation’s Narcotics Act that would allow for scientific research projects including trials of a “coffee shop” system of cannabis distribution similar to that of Amsterdam. Five Swiss cities have already called for such coffeeshop pilot programs.