West Virginia: Governor Signs Marijuana Banking Measure into Law

Thursday, 04 April 2019

Charleston, WV: Republican Gov. Jim Justice has signed legislation into law facilitating banking access to licensed medical cannabis businesses. The law takes immediate effect. House Bill 2538, states, “The Commissioner of Financial Institutions shall not prohibit, penalize, incentivize, or otherwise impair a financial institution from providing services to a person or entity involved in a medical cannabis-related business functioning under the Medical Cannabis Act.” West Virginia legalized medical cannabis access in 2016, but the program is yet to be operational.

New Mexico Passes four big MJ bill: Cannabis Therapy Approved For Opioid Use Disorder

Cannabis Therapy State officials have approved new expanded regulations to permit medical cannabis access to patients with dependence to opioids and other controlled substances. State regulators had twice before advanced a similar measure, only to have it rejected by the administration of former Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham backed the expanded policy change, stating, “Now New Mexicans experiencing opioid dependence will have another option for support.” Marijuana Decriminalization Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed legislation into law decriminalizing the possession of personal use amounts of cannabis. Senate Bill 323, which takes effect on July 1, 2019, reduces first-time penalties for the possession of up to one-half ounce of cannabis from a criminal misdemeanor — punishable by up to 15 days in jail — to a ‘penalty assessment,’ punishable by a $50 fine. Expungement Legislation Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed legislation into law allowing for those with a variety of past criminal convictions to petition to have their records expunged. House Bill 370, The Criminal Record Expungement Act, permits those convicted of certain violations, misdemeanors, or felonies — following the completion of their sentence and payment of applicable fines — to petition the court for an order to expunge arrest records and public records related to that conviction. Legal Protections For Cannabis Patients Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a pair of bills into law last week amending the state’s medical cannabis program to expand patients’ access to the plant and to provide additional legal protections. Senate Bill 406 expands the pool of patients eligible for cannabis therapy to include those diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, severe chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, sleep apnea, and neuropathy, among other newly specified conditions.

Study: Cancer Patients Enrolled In State’s Medical Cannabis Program Report Symptom Mitigation

Thursday, 04 April 2019

St. Paul, MN: Cancer patients enrolled in Minnesota’s medical cannabis access program report a significant reduction in disease symptoms following the use of marijuana, according to data published in the Journal of Oncology Practice. Investigators with the Minnesota Department of Health assessed patients’ self-reported symptom severity scores at baseline and again following four months of cannabis treatment. Authors reported “a significant reduction in scores … across all symptoms” (anxiety, lack of appetite, depression, disturbed sleep, fatigue, nausea, pain, and vomiting).

Colorado: Governor Signs Legislation Permitting Medical Cannabis For Autism

Thursday, 11 April 2019

Denver, CO: Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation, House Bill 1028, expanding the pool of patients qualified to access medical cannabis to include those with autism spectrum disorder. The measure also mandates the state Board of Health to prioritize grant funding to study the use of cannabis for autism and other pediatric conditions. Recent clinical trial data — such as those here, here, and here — report that the adjunctive use of cannabidiol is associated with reduced ASD symptoms and is well-tolerated among patients.

Report: THC Limits Not Correlated To Driving Impairment

Thursday, 11 April 2019

Lansing, MI: The presence of THC in blood is not correlated with driving performance and is not a reliable indicator of psychomotor impairment, according to recommendations made by a state-appointed traffic safety task force. A report issued by the Michigan Impaired Driving Safety Commission finds that peak THC blood levels are not associated with maximal behavioral impairment and further finds that the compound’s influence upon driving performance varies significantly among individual consumers. As a result, “The Commission recommends against the establishment of a threshold of delta-9-THC bodily content for determining driving impairment and instead rec

Report: Marijuana-Related Violations Comprise Significant Portion Of County-Level Arrests

Thursday, 18 April 2019

Washington, DC: Marijuana-related violations comprise over ten percent of the total number of annual arrests in many counties, particularly those in the Midwest and in Texas, according to an analysis by The Washington Post of newly released county-level arrest figures compiled by the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. It reported that Georgia, Idaho, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas included counties where marijuana enforcement accounts for over ten percent of all criminal arrests. In Dooley County, Georgia, marijuana-related arrests comprised 55 percent of all arrests — the highest percentage in the nation. Arrest data for counties in Florida and Illinois was not available.

Israel: Private Use Of Cannabis No Longer Criminalized

Thursday, 18 April 2019

Jerusalem, Israel: Adults may possess or cultivate personal use amounts of cannabis in their homes, under new policies that took effect earlier this month. Under the amended law, which took effect on April 1, the private possession of cannabis is no longer classified as either a criminal or a civil violation. The possession or use of cannabis in public is punishable by a fine. In cases where an adult is in repeated violation of the law, police at their discretion may pursue a criminal investigation.

Study: Plant-Derived THC/CBD Extracts Reduce Dementia Symptoms

Thursday, 25 April 2019

Geneva, Switzerland: The daily administration of plant-derived extracts containing a two-to-one ratio of CBD to THC is associated with a reduction in agitation and behavioral problems in patients with severe dementia, according to clinical data published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids. A team of Swiss investigators assessed the use of cannabis extracts over a two-month period in a group of ten female dementia patients residing in a nursing home facility.

Report: CBD Content In Commercial Products Typically Less Than Advertised

Thursday, 25 April 2019

Van Nuys, CA: Third-party lab testing of a variety of commercially available CBD products finds that many contain only trace quantities of cannabidiol, according to an analysis first reported by BusinessInsider.com. Representatives from CannaSafe Laboratories, a California-based analytical testing company, assessed 20 CBD-infused products, including vape cartridges, beverages, edibles, and skin creams. Only three of the 20 products contained levels of CBD matching the percentages advertised on their label. Authors of the report also identified the presence of ethylene oxide and other potentially harmful solvents in some products.

Involvement With Marijuana Grounds For Denying Citizenship

Thursday, 25 April 2019

Washington, DC: Those applying for US citizenship may be denied if they have personally used marijuana, or if they have been employed in the cannabis industry — including in jurisdictions where such activities are legally authorized, according to a newly released guidance memo by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency.

Washington: Governor Signs Legislation Permitting Medical Cannabis Use On School Grounds

Thursday, 02 May 2019

Olympia, WA: Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation, House Bill 1095, permitting qualified patients access to cannabis-infused products while on school grounds. The new law explicitly permits parents or guardians “to administer marijuana-infused products to the student while the student is on school grounds.” It also mandates that school districts “permit a student [who is a qualified medical cannabis patient] to consume marijuana-infused products … on school grounds, aboard a school bus, or while attending a school-sponsored event.”

Study: Cannabis Use Not Independently Associated With Psychosis In Young People

Thursday, 02 May 2019

Logroño, Spain: Adolescents’ cannabis use history is not an independent predictor of an elevated risk of psychosis, according to data published in the journal Adicciones. Investigators affiliated with the University of La Rioja in Spain explored the relationship between psychotic-like experiences and cannabis use in a representative sample of over 1,500 Spanish adolescents.