Congressional Bill Would Allow Marijuana Imports And Exports Between Legal States

By Kyle Jaeger

States would be able to legally import and export marijuana under a bill introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) on Thursday.

The novel legislation, which would also codify a policy prohibiting the Justice Department from interfering in state-legal cannabis activities, would let states that have legalized marijuana enter into affirmative agreements to engage in interstate transportation.

The sponsors’ home state of Oregon stands to benefit from the bill in particular, as Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed legislation last week that provides for exports and imports of cannabis products to neighboring states that have legal marijuana systems in place. That law is only actionable if the federal government allows for it, however, hence the new move on Capitol Hill.

Transporting cannabis across state lines is strictly prohibited under current federal law. The Justice Department described such activity as an enforcement priority even under a now-rescinded Obama-era memo intended to generally respect state marijuana policies.

“As more and more states legalize cannabis, the gap between state and federal laws will only grow more confusing for both legal businesses and consumers,” Wyden said in a press release.

“The solution is clear: the federal government needs to end its senseless and out of touch prohibition.”

“As we fight for that ultimate goal, however, Congress can and should immediately act to protect the will of Oregonians and voters in other states from federal interference—and that should include interstate cannabis commerce,” he said.

Though state medical cannabis programs are protected from federal interference under a congressional rider, those protections must be renewed each year. The new bill, titled the State Cannabis Commerce Act, would extend the protection to all state legalization programs by prohibiting the use of federal funds to prosecute ​any marijuana producer or consumer who is in compliance with state law, and it would be permanent.

Blumenauer’s amendment to protect cannabis programs in all states, U.S. territories and Washington, D.C., as well as a separate measure covering tribal marijuana programs, passed on the House floor last week, and the spending legislation it was attached to was approved on Tuesday. It’s not clear how the measures will fare in the Senate, however.

“The federal government is hopelessly out of touch with the American people on cannabis,” Blumenauer said.

“Last week, the House agreed and passed my amendments to forbid the federal government from interfering with cannabis programs in the states, D.C. and tribal communities,” he said. “This week, we are turning to a top priority for Oregonians—allowing for interstate sale of cannabis. It’s past time we protect the states, like Oregon, that have gotten it right.”

The new State Cannabis Commerce Act represents the latest significant piece of marijuana legislation that’s been introduced in the 116th Congress, which is increasingly seen as the most amenable to cannabis reform in history.

Justin Strekal, political director of NORML, told Marijuana Moment that allowing interstate commerce of cannabis “is good for both patients and consumers.”

“It will decrease the amount of time it takes for recently enacted medical programs to see products on the shelves and increase the variety of consumer options in both the adult-use and medical marketplaces,” he said. “In short, it’s the future, and Congress ought not to deny it.”

“We should end arrests today and enact interstate commercial regulatory and safety structures tomorrow,” he added.

States that wish to continue prohibiting marijuana commerce would be able to do so under the Wyden-Blumenauer legislation. 

Cory Booker said he's 'absolutely disappointed' marijuana legalization wasn't discussed in first 2020 Democratic debate

John Haltiwanger

Sen. Cory Booker has been one of the Senate's most vocal advocates for marijuana legalization.

Carlo Allegri/Reuters

• Sen. Cory Booker, who's led the charge in the Senate for marijuana legalization, was highly disappointed the issue was not discussed Wednesday night in the first 2020 Democratic presidential debate.
• "I am absolutely disappointed that wasn't an issue when you see voters turning out this issue all over the country," Booker said.
• Booker said the federal prohibition of marijuana was a "crisis" for the US because it prevented people from getting "urgently needed medication" and had resulted in the disproportionate incarceration of minorities and low-income people.

MIAMI — Sen. Cory Booker on Wednesday told INSIDER he's disappointed marijuana legalization was not discussed during the first 2020 Democratic presidential debate. 

"I am absolutely disappointed that wasn't an issue when you see voters turning out this issue all over the country," Booker said after taking the debate stage in Miami with nine other candidates. 

The senator from New Jersey said that "as a guy who has one of the boldest bills" on this issue, the Marijuana Justice Act, he would've appreciated the opportunity to lay out his vision to voters on the national stage.

"I would like to see the federal government end its making marijuana illegal and pull back and let the states do what the want," Booker said. "But I am also one of those people that thinks you cannot talk about marijuana legalization if in the same sentence you're not talking about expunging the records of those Americans who have criminal convictions for doing things that two of the last three presidents admitted to doing."

Booker said the ongoing federal prohibition was a "crisis" for the US not only because "incredibly we have a country where sick people can't access urgently needed medication" but also because "we have the over incarceration, particularly of low-income people, particularly of African-Americans, who have been unjustly persecuted in the war on drugs." 

The senator went on to say the war on drugs was actually a "war on people — and certain people over others." 

Roughly 62% of Americans in a fall 2018 Pew Research Center survey said they believed marijuana should be legalized at the federal level. 

Eleven states and Washington, DC, have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and dozens of states have authorized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes on some level. But marijuana remains illegal at the federal level.

South Miami Publicly Supports Legalization of Recreational Pot

South Miami has passed a resolution in support of legalizing recreational weed

Photo by Cannabis Tours\Wikimedia Commons

 

Joshua Ceballos

Recreational marijuana hasn't made it to the Florida ballot just yet. But more than a year ahead of the 2020 election, the City of South Miami is taking a strong stance in support of legalization. Late last month, the City Commission passed a resolution supporting the legalization of recreational pot in Florida for people age 21 and older.

The resolution was brought forth by Vice Mayor Walter Harris in an effort to "make a stand" against the criminalization of a drug that has no major detriments to the city's adult population.

"I say it's time we accept the fact that this is not 'the devil's drug,'" Harris said at South Miami's May commission meeting. "Cities enforce marijuana arrests only when they want to get someone in a lot of trouble."

Mayor Philip Stoddard said his main concern initially was the effect legalization would have on the youth in the community. But after finding data from Colorado showing that marijuana use did not rise in children and teens after it was legalized, he jumped on board.

While the resolution is little more than an opinion of the commission, it's a symbolic gesture as one of the first times a Florida city has officially supported legalizing pot for anything other than medical use. Activists are now in the midst of a petition drive to get recreational marijuana on the ballot in 2020. So far, Regulate Florida has gathered more than 70,000 signatures.

While Democrats in the Florida Legislature have made several attempts to decriminalize recreational use of the drug, including HB 1117 sponsored by Rep. Michael Grieco, each has died in committee. Florida Republicans including Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, have tried to stonewall civilian efforts to get weed on the ballot.

"I am clearly supportive of [adult recreational weed legalization], as are 65 percent of today's Floridians," Grieco tells New Times. "If the legislature can't see fit to honor the will of the supermajority of Florida, then I look forward to seeing it on the ballot in the near future."

While legalization is still far from a reality, it's not hard to imagine a future where anyone can walk into a dispensary and make a purchase. At least we know that if Florida ever does legalize weed, South Miamians will finally get to enjoy some Sunset Sherbet at Sunset Place.

The Truth About CBD Oil: Four Biggest Myths & Facts

With all that buzz surrounding CBD, discerning myths from facts can be discouraging. Reading more information on CBD might make it worst. We give you, the truth about CBD oil.

By TUT Staff

CBD products have become insanely popular among celebrities, and now the general public. If you have not yet jumped on the CBD train because you’re still unsure, it is completely understandable.

There is a lot of buzz surrounding the compound. So much in fact, that it’s almost impossible to discern myths from CBD facts. Before we delve into the biggest myths and facts that people often confuse, let’s go over the basics. To start, what is CBD oil?

CBD is a non-intoxicating natural compound found in the hemp plant.  Numerous companies have jumped on the CBD bandwagon providing all kinds of CBD-infused products. Due to a lack of regulations by the FDA, companies are getting away with making health claims as part of their marketing efforts. As a result, the internet is now flooded with claims such as CBD cures this, CBD treats that, CBD relieves this, CBD alleviates that.

Why Is CBD Oil So Misunderstood?

CBD’s close association with THC is one of the main reasons why it is so misunderstood. Many people still think of marijuana when the term CBD pops up. Although the two share some similarities, they are definitely not the same. In addition, with all those claims floating around, it’s easy to think of the compound as a magical cure-all drug. Let’s look at four myths surrounding CBD oil

 1. CBD and THC Are the Same Things

CBD and THC are not the same things. The most notable difference between the two is the fact that CBD is non-intoxicating. CBD oils produced from hemp plants contain no more than 0.3% THC, whereas CBD oils formulated from marijuana may contain higher levels of THC. 

 2. Both Have the Same Benefits

The answer to this myth is not a simple one. The FDA prohibits any claims in association with CBD; therefore, tackling this section might be a bit tricky, but you’ll get your answer. To properly understand how CBD grants us these benefits, we’ll need to take a look at an internal bodily system called the endocannabinoid system. The ECS for short is an extensive signaling system that allows our cells and organs to communicate with each other. This communication allows us to remain healthy no matter what the environment throws at us. It does this with the help of cannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters.

CBD contains an extra supply of cannabinoids, which can be helpful when the ECS is running low or fails to function correctly. This increase in cannabinoids can help enhance the functions of the endocannabinoid system to keep us at optimum condition.

3. CBD Is Addictive or CBD Is Safe to Use?

CBD’s interaction with our bodies is natural, therefore safe. For a substance to be addictive, the THC content has to be present. Since THC is kept to a standard minimum, the compound doesn’t produce the mind-altering effects that people look for when taking THC.

4. CBD Is Completely Illegal?

Hold on now. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp in the United States at the federal level. At the state level, things can be inconclusive as most states have not yet changed their rules and regulations to match the federal law.

CBD derived from marijuana (cannabis with more than 0.3 percent THC) is still illegal under federal law. When shopping for CBD oils, it’s important to know what’s in the extract, as it will determine whether it’s legal or not.

Additional CBD Facts and Myths

It’s easy to believe that CBD IS CBD, and it doesn’t matter where it comes from. But the truth is, not all CBD oil is formulated equal.

CBD oil can be extracted from hemp plants as well as marijuana. Distinguishing one from the other is almost impossible, as they are nearly identical in appearance. In addition, due to the lack of regulations, many companies are rushing into the industry offering low-quality products. Many of these sub-par CBD oils sometimes contain no CBD at all.

Just seeing the letters CBD on the label is not enough; users need to be aware of the ingredients inside their oils, and who is making them.

That brings us to the company’s reputation. A good way to know who to trust is by looking for company reviews and user experiences. As mentioned previously, many companies are jumping on the CBD bandwagon every week. So many so that it’s easy to get duped. Checking out customer reviews is a great way to make sure you’re not getting played.

Marijuana May Be Legal, But Driving Impaired Can Get You Arrested

Tanya Mohn

Most Americans don’t think they’ll get arrested for driving high. In fact, nearly 70% said they think it’s unlikely a driver will get caught by police for driving while high on marijuana, and an estimated 14.8 Americans million reported getting behind the wheel within one hour after using the drug.

Those are the main findings of a new survey released earlier this month by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a nonprofit research and education association.

“Marijuana can significantly alter reaction times and impair a driver’s judgement. Yet, many drivers don’t consider marijuana-impaired driving as risky as other behaviors like driving drunk or talking on the phone while driving,” David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation, said in a statement. “It is important for everyone to understand that driving after recently using marijuana can put themselves and others at risk.”


The impairing effects of marijuana are usually experienced within the first one to four hours after using it, and marijuana users who drive high are up to twice as likely to be involved in a crash, according to the safety group.

In the survey, based on the responses of 2,582 licensed drivers in the United States aged 16 and older who reported driving in the past 30 days, 7% participants reported that they approved of driving after recently using marijuana - more than other dangerous behaviors like alcohol-impaired driving (1.6%), drowsy driving (1.7%), and prescription drug-impaired driving (3%).

· Millennials (nearly 14%) are most likely to report driving within one hour after using marijuana in the past 30 days, followed by Generation Z (10%).

· Men (8%) are more likely than women (5%) to report driving shortly after using marijuana in the past 30 days.

Previous research by the foundation found that fatal crashes involving drivers who recently used marijuana doubled in Washington after the state legalized the drug. LINK!!!

Law enforcement programs around the country are training officers on how to more effectively recognize drug-impaired driving; currently there are more than 90,000 patrolling U.S. roads.

In addition, the number of trained Drug Recognition Experts has increased by 30% since 2013; these officers reported that marijuana is the most frequently identified drug category, the foundation said, noting that since 2015, the number of drivers arrested by these experts for using marijuana increased 20%.

The safety group emphasized that as more states explore legalizing recreational marijuana, drivers need to understand that just because a drug is legal does not mean it is safe to use while operating a motor vehicle, and if they do get behind the wheel while impaired, they put themselves and others in danger. It recommends that all motorists avoid driving while impaired by marijuana or any other drug (including alcohol) to avoid arrest and keep the roads safe.

“It’s time to face the facts. Any driver who gets behind the wheel high can be arrested and prosecuted,” Jake Nelson, AAA Director of Traffic Safety and Advocacy, said in a statement.

“Law enforcement officials are getting more sophisticated in their methods for identifying marijuana-impaired drivers and the consequences are not worth the risk.”

How Parents Can Talk to Teens About Marijuana Legalization

by Shawn Radcliffe

Marijuana use among U.S. teens has risen since the early 1990s, even as alcohol and tobacco use has fallen.

Teenagers in the United States are using less alcohol and tobacco today than they did in the early 1990s, but marijuana use has risen sharply during that time, a new study shows.

This comes at a time when 33 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical or recreational marijuana, or both.

The study doesn’t show how marijuana use has changed in states that legalized recreational marijuana.

But the overall trend in the country is toward greater use of marijuana among high school students.
“The findings clearly show that more youth are using marijuana. So education by parents and schools is certainly necessary,” Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University, told Healthline.

Teen marijuana use on the rise

The new study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, looked at the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana by U.S. high school students over the past quarter century.

Between 1991 and 2017, marijuana-only use increased from less than 1 percent to slightly more than 6 percent.

During this time, both alcohol-only and cigarette-only use decreased — down to 12 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

Researchers also found that the percentage of students who reported using both alcohol and marijuana more than doubled, while dual-use of alcohol and cigarettes decreased significantly.

Marijuana-only use increased across all races and ethnicities, with the largest increases among African American and Hispanic teens.

The data comes from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which is taken every two years of U.S. students in grades 9 through 12. The study focused on “current” use, which is defined as use during the past 30 days.

Know the facts about marijuana

With the rise in marijuana use among teens, parents now have another risky behavior to talk to their children about.

Dr. Amy Sass, an adolescent medicine specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, said parents should take some time to educate themselves about marijuana and related products such as cannabis oil and marijuana edibles.

This includes knowing your state’s marijuana laws, which vary across the country. One easy thing to remember, though, is that recreational use of marijuana by those under the age of 21 years is illegal in all states.

Parents should also learn about how marijuana and THC — the main active ingredient of cannabis — affect the body and brain.

And they should know that marijuana is addictive.

“In adolescents, the brain is still developing, so when we introduce a drug into the brain — particularly nicotine or THC — they’re more likely to become addicted,” said Halpern-Felsher.

“It actually changes their brain chemistry to want more of the drug.”

Young people who regularly use marijuana are also more likely to have other mental health problemsTrusted Source, including anxiety, depression, and paranoia. Marijuana can even make existing mental health problems worse.

Overdosing on marijuana is also a real possibility, especially for new users.

This is particularly true with marijuana edibles such as brownies, candies, and other foods. It takes much longer to feel an effect from edibles — two to three hours — compared to smoking marijuana.

“Young people sometimes take a small square of a brownie, but when they don’t feel an effect right away, they take another piece and another piece,” said Halpern-Felsher. “Suddenly, half an hour later they’re quite sick and wind up in the hospital.”

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Talking to your kids

Sass told Healthline that children are exposed to messages about marijuana even before high school, through social media, friends, billboards, and store marketing.

Parents should start having conversations about marijuana when their children are younger, even as early as fifth or sixth grade.

“It’s actually good for parents to bring it up,” said Sass. “Parents know their kids the best. If they have a feeling that they should be discussing these topics, then they really should just go for it.”

Children may also be learning about marijuana through their school, after-school groups, or other programs. But parents shouldn’t rely on these to get their kids talking.

“It’s critically important to also have these conversations at home,” said Sass.

Talking about marijuana with your kids is also not a one-time thing.

“You want to keep checking in with teens about it,” said Sass, “particularly as they’re gaining their independence and spending more time with their friends versus family.”

Halpern-Felsher said when parents talk to children about the health risks of marijuana, they should have an honest conversation, saying something like: “We’d rather you don’t use marijuana because there are some dangers to it. But if you do use it, the better choice is to delay as long as you can so you don’t have a lifetime addiction potential.”

Sass suggests setting clear family expectations about marijuana use and safety — including telling teens to never operate a vehicle if they are impaired by drugs or alcohol, and never riding in a car with a driver who is impaired by drugs or alcohol.

But parents should be careful not to shut down the conversation by judging too quickly the actions of their child or friends.

“Talking to teens about marijuana use and other risky behaviors is really more about listening than talking,” said Sass.

Doctor says reports claiming marijuana can curb opioid abuse are 'not credible'

Tess Bonn

Dr. Mary Jeanne Kreek, a senior attending physician at Rockefeller University in New York City, pushed back against reports suggesting that marijuana use can be effective when it comes to getting people off more dangerous and harmful drugs like opioids.

“I would just speak from my own scientific standpoint and viewpoint having read the papers and having been in the area of addictive disease research for 50 years, I do not think those studies are credible,” Kreek told Hill.TV on Tuesday, though she did not mention any specific reports by name.
Kreek added that “we need more proper studies.”

She went on to say that, even though her team has found a link between marijuana use and opioid addiction, she emphasized that cannabis is not the cause.

“We’re finding that earlier and heavier use of cannabis is a correlate — not a cause — but a correlate of going on to develop opiate addiction or cocaine addiction,” she told Hill.TV.

Cannabis is still illegal under federal law, though a number of states have moved to legalize it, whether for recreational, medical use or both.

Illinois on Tuesday became the 11th state along with Washington, D.C., to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over.

The new law is expected to take effect next year.

While some marijuana advocates argue that legalizing cannabis would help address social justice issues and be beneficial in treating certain diseases like multiple sclerosis, critics warn that the drug is more potent than it used to be.

U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams, said earlier this month during an interview with Hill.TV that new strains of marijuana are professionally grown with much higher levels of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC and are more dangerous than they were a decade ago.

A 101 guide to understanding CBD

Better Health Store 

Learn about the potential benefits and uses of CBD.

Getty Images 

 

Now on sale everywhere from health food stores to gas stations, CBD is all the buzz these days. But, as with any new product category, there’s still a lot of confusion out there concerning its use. What is it? What are its benefits? Is it legal? And where best to buy it?

Whether it is for pain relief, anxiety, sleep or your general well-being, it’s important to know the facts before you can begin to take advantage of CBD’s tremendous potential for natural healing.

What is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found primarily in the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant. It’s one of many powerful cannabinoids found in hemp and is known for supporting body and mind in various ways.

How does CBD differ from marijuana?
The CBD approved for sale in the U.S. does not come from marijuana, but rather from industrial hemp plants. Hemp and marijuana are close relatives, yet not the same. Hemp contains no more than .3% THC, the psychoactive compound that is found in higher concentration in marijuana.

Hemp naturally has higher levels of CBD, a non-psychoactive compound. Unlike marijuana CBD won’t get you high.

What are the health benefits of CBD?
Many people integrate CBD into their health routine to support their cellular and molecular health.

CBD is just one of more than 80 cannabinoids that can be extracted from hemp. In fact, scientists found that these plant compounds have a better effect on the body when they work together, rather than alone. This means that CBD and other great compounds can support the body more fully than just CBD. How do they provide support to the body? Among the many benefits that users can experience, some of the most common are:

• A sense of calm and focus
• Relief from everyday stresses
• Help in recovery from exercise-induced inflammation
• Support for healthy sleep cycles

Is CBD legal in Michigan?
Under a new legislation signed into law this past January in Lansing, CBD oil and other products derived from hemp do not fall under Michigan Medical Marijuana regulations. That means Michiganders are not required to have a medical marijuana card to get CBD oil and other industrial hemp products.

 What are the best forms of CBD?
Most CBD products fall into five main categories:

• CBD oil in tinctures
• CBD pills/capsules
• CBD roll-ons, balms and topical creams
• CBD soaps and bath bombs
• CBD edibles (gummies, water, tea coffee, snacks, etc.)

The type of CBD product that you choose individually should come down to what you’re wanting (and expecting) to get out of the product. If taste is of no concern to you and you don’t mind the mild inconvenience of having to place oil droplets under your tongue, a high-quality CBD oil is still probably the best and most reliable method of consumption.

How to get the CBD that’s the real deal
Because the CBD industry is still young, it’s important to do your homework and find products that are truly pure. Price is often a marker of purity; if you find a CBD oil claiming 100-milligram potency for under $40 at a gas station, for example, chances are that the CBD is not pure and cannot be sold throughout the country.

To find a product you can trust from a company with high standards for production, Use the following check list:

1. Choose broad-spectrum CBD extract rather than so-called “pure” CBD isolates.
2. Make sure the manufacturer controls the process from farm to shelf and uses quality raw materials to start with.
3. Ask if they do their own extracting.
4. If they don’t do their own extracting, find out how it is done and what solvents are used for extracting.
5. Request batch testing to make sure there are no traces of contaminants, toxins, heavy metals, etc.
6. Finally, do your research. Find out what’s working for other people. Google. Ask friends and neighbors.

Looking for the best CBD selection, products and prices in Metro Detroit and Lansing? Visit your neighborhood Better Health Market. In-store nutrition experts make it easy to find the right CBD solution that’s right for you. Nobody does CBD better.

CBD products have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any condition or disease

Illinois becomes the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana

By Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN

Washington (CNN)Illinois is now the 11th state in the United States to legalize the purchase and possession of recreational marijuana.

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Tuesday that allows adults 21 and over in the state to buy and possess small amounts of the drug.

 

Adults will be able to purchase and possess 30 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate, and cannbis-infused products containing no more than 500 milligrams of THC. Nonresidents will be able to purchase half of each of those amounts.

 

Under the law, medical patients would be permitted to buy marijuana seeds and grow up to five plants at home, so long as the plants are kept out of public view.

Employers can still enforce a zero-tolerance or drug free workplace.

 

The measure, which passed the Illinois General Assembly earlier this month, also pardons individuals with nonviolent convictions for amounts of cannabis up to 30 grams.

 

State's attorneys or individuals can petition a court to vacate convictions for possession up to 500 grams.

 

"In the past 50 years, the war on cannabis has destroyed families, filled prisons with nonviolent offenders and disproportionately disrupted black and brown communities," Pritzker said Tuesday at the bill signing ceremony in Chicago. 

 

Pritzker, who campaigned for legalizing marijuana, said the legislation brings an "overdue change to our state."

 

"Signing this bill into law won't undo the injustices of the past or make whole the lives that were interrupted. We can't turn the clock back -- but we can turn the page," Pritzker said.

 

According to the Marijuana Policy Project, around 770,000 cannabis-related cases are eligible for expungement.

 

The measure establishes a grant program -- the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew Program -- to help communities affected by the War on Drugs and a $30 million low-interest loan program for qualified applicants who wish to start a licensed cannabis business.

 

Illinois will charge a 10% tax on cannabis products with a THC level at or below 35%, a 20% tax on all cannabis infused products and 25% tax on cannabis with a THC level above 35%.

 

Democratic state Sen. Heather Steans, the bill's chief sponsor, also argued Tuesday that the state will be able to improve safety by "providing safe products and doing good public education why they (children) should not have access."

 

The law goes into effect in January 1, 2020.

Why is China mad at Canada and the U.S. for legalizing marijuana?

"In two years, we have found increasing cannabis trafficked from North America to China"

By Brendan Bures, The Fresh Toast

It turns out Japan isn’t the only East Asia country fretting about marijuana reform in North America.

At a press conference Monday, Beijing’s leading drug enforcement agency blamed marijuana legalization in Canada and parts of the United States resulting in increased drug smuggling to China. As CNN first reported, Liu Yuejin, China’s National Narcotics Control Commission’s deputy director, called the problem a “new threat to China.”

According to Yuejin, the number of Chinese marijuana users rose by 25% in 2018, amounting to 24,000 total marijuana users in the country. China, by the way, has a population of nearly 1.4 billion people, just to keep things in perspective. Still, China has intercepted more drugs through international mail than ever before, Yeujin attests.

Last year China intercepted 115 packages, which contained a total of 55 kilograms (just under 2,000 ounces) of “cannabis and cannabis products.” ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images

“In two years, we have found increasing cannabis trafficked from North America to China,” he said, adding that, yes, there were “few cannabis abusers in China.”

Last year China intercepted 115 packages, which contained a total of 55 kilograms (just under 2,000 ounces) of “cannabis and cannabis products.” Most of these packages were mailed as international express delivery and came from foreign students or those who had come home after working abroad, says Yeujin.

China’s drug penalties, as are most countries in East Asia, are harsh. Those caught with 50 grams (1.76 ounces) of a controlled substance could be subject to the death penalty. To dissuade and eliminate the rise in recreational drug use, China law enforcement have been conducting random sobriety tests to those in nightclubs, bars, or other nighttime haunts.

But the United States has also blamed China for flooding American streets with illegal narcotics.

The United States has repeatedly asked Beijing to tamper production of fentanyl—a highly potent and deadly opioid often mixed, or “cut,” with other substances. Fentanyl was responsible for one in four overdose deaths in 2018, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fentanyl’s proliferation across America has become so bad that President Donald Trump even blamed the opioid crisis in part on China, after discovering that packages of fentanyl were “pouring into the US postal system.” In what was seen as a concession to the Trump administration, the Chinese government announced back in April that crack down more on fentanyl-related substances.

CBD as a Superbug Antibiotic?

By Kathleen Doheny

 

Cannabidiol, or CBD, already being researched and used for anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy and pain, may be the next superbug fighter for resistant infections, a new study suggests.

The researchers tested CBD against a wide variety of bacteria, ''including bacteria that have become resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics," says Mark Blaskovich, PhD, senior research officer at the Centre for Superbug Solutions at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland in Australia.

The development is important, as antibiotic resistance is reaching dangerously high levels, according to the World Health Organization.

What the Research Shows

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound taken from cannabis and hemp; it does not produce the high that regular marijuana does. To date, the FDA has only approved CBD for treating rare and severe forms of seizure, although it is promoted for many other health benefits.

Blaskovich presented the research Sunday at the American Society for Microbiology annual meeting.
The research includes work in test tubes and animal models. Research presented at meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

"The first thing we looked at is CBD's ability to kill bacteria," he says. "In every case, CBD had a very similar potency to that of common antibiotics."

The researchers tested the CBD against some strains of staphylococcus, which cause skin infections, and streptococcus, which cause strep throat.

They compared how effective CBD was compared to common antibiotics, such as vancomycin and daptomycin. "We looked at how quickly the CBD killed the bacteria. It's quite fast, within 3 hours, which is pretty good. Vancomycin (Vancocin) kills over 6 to 8 hours."

The CBD also disrupted the biofilm, the layer of ''goop'' around bacteria that makes it more difficult for the antibiotic to penetrate and kill.

Finally, the lab studies showed that "CBD is much less likely to cause resistance than the existing antibiotics," Blaskovich says.

The CBD ''is selective for the type of bacteria," he says.

He found it effective against gram-positive bacteria but not gram-negative. Gram-positive bacteria cause serious skin infections and pneumonia, among other conditions. Gram-negative bacteria include salmonella (found in undercooked foods) and E. coli (the cause of urinary tract infections, diarrhea, and other ailments), among other bacteria.

In another study, also presented at the meeting, the researchers tested topical CBD to treat a skin infection on mice. It cut the number of bacteria after 48 hours, Blaskovich says, although it did not clear the infection. That research is ongoing.

How It Might Work, Caveats

The researchers can't say exactly how the CBD may prove to be a superbug infection fighter.

"We thought it might work by damaging the outer membrane of the bacteria, to make it leaky," Blaskovich says. "It doesn't seem to do that. It might be a completely new mechanism of action."

He says the research results are promising but in early stages. He also warns people that it's much too early to self-treat infections with CBD.

The study was funded by Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd., which is researching uses of CBD for skin conditions, and the Australian government. Blaskovich is a consultant for Botanix.

Perspective

Brandon Novy, a microbiology researcher at Reed College in Portland, OR, calls the study findings ''very promising,'' since the results show the bacteria were not able to form resistance to the CBD, and since the bacteria were not able to form a biofilm.

Both findings are important. "The biofilm is an important part of the whole infection process," he says. "It helps the bacteria attach [to whatever surface or host] and survive."

At the same meeting, Novy presented a preliminary study, finding that CBD also looks promising to fight some gram-negative infections.

"It is an important study that deserves to be followed up on," says Amesh Adalja, MD, an infectious disease doctor and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

He was not involved in the new study. But he cautions that ''it is important to keep it all in context.

I think it is a good thing that people are looking at the use of CBD for infectious uses in a systematic way."

But the work so far is only in test tubes and animals. Many question remain, such as looking at whether it is toxic, doses, and the best way to deliver the CBD, Adalja says. He, too, cautions against self-treating with CBD for infections.

Rise in marijuana use among pregnant women linked to premature births

By Melissa Malamut

iStockphoto

As cannabis use continues to become more and more mainstream, medical science is (finally) ramping up research to see how the still-illegal-in-New York drug affects fertility and reproduction.

And, unsurprisingly, it turns out bongs and babies do not mix.

“Our research team has been focusing on substance use in pregnancy, and the potential effects on the unborn child, which also may affect them in later life,” the study’s senior author, Dr. Mark Walker, the head of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and newborn care at Ottawa Hospital, tells the Post.

Walker and his team published a new study this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found women who reported marijuana use during their pregnancy had a consistently elevated risk of preterm birth and “small for gestational age” babies. Researchers used the BORN Ontario perinatal registry, which collects data on every pregnancy and birth in the province.

“We used a new approach which matched women who reported use with those who did not use cannabis,” Walker says. “The matching accounts for other factors, including tobacco smoking and alcohol, which may also lead to adverse outcomes such as preterm birth.”

In the study, the overall rate of preterm birth was 12% in reported users compared to 6% in non-users.
While twice the risk seems like an important stat, Walker says the numbers were slightly lower after accounting for other factors like the age of the mother, obstetrical history, and the use of other drugs and alcohol in pregnancy. After taking this into account, the rates were 10% vs 7% (so 3% percent higher or about 1.4 times the rate).

“Cannabinoids can readily cross the placenta and enter the fetal bloodstream,” Walker says.

“These compounds can disrupt fetal development and may have lasting effects on the child.”

Some of the adverse outcomes Walker notes are related to “reduced fetal growth and development,” which can lead to a baby being born smaller in size than average. There is also the added risk of prematurity in the children and a host of other medical problems that may require neonatal intensive care, he says.

But, fortunately, not all the blame can be placed on women. Researchers at Duke University recently found that cannabis use in men of reproductive age can alter DNA in sperm, including methylation, a process essential to normal development.

“What we have found is that the effects of cannabis use on males and their reproductive health are not completely null, in that there’s something about cannabis use that affects the genetic profile in sperm,” said Scott Kollins, Ph.D., professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke said in a statement.

Still, more studies are in the works. Walker and the Ottawa researchers are planning additional research using the BORN Ontario perinatal registry, which now has more than 1 million births recorded.

Gee whiz: Testing of Tacoma sewage confirms rise in marijuana use

Washington state’s first legal marijuana shops opened in 2014. A study of wastewater samples from two... (Elaine Thompson / The Associated Press, file) 

By GENE JOHNSON

SEATTLE — The proof is in the pee.

A federally funded study has confirmed, not surprisingly, that marijuana use went up in Washington state after its first legal pot stores opened in 2014. In fact, consumption appeared to double, at least in one major city, over three years — a conclusion scientists reached by way of the unglamorous work of analyzing raw sewage.

“It’s stinky,” said lead author Dan Burgard, a chemist at the University of Puget Sound. “But we’ve worked with urine, we’ve worked with wastewater, and we’ve worked with port-a-potties. It’s not as bad a port-a-potties.”

The research entailed driving to two sewage-treatment plants that serve the 200,000 people of Tacoma, a city whose drug-use trends tend to mirror those of Seattle. The scientists would pick up a cooler full of frozen wastewater samples, thaw them and analyze them using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

They were looking for THC-COOH, a substance produced when the body metabolizes THC, the main ingredient in marijuana that gets you high. THC-COOH is excreted mostly in people’s urine.

Their findings: Consumption of THC doubled from December 2013 to December 2016.

The researchers said they can’t tell whether the increase in metabolites means more people are using weed or the same old users are consuming more of it. Another possible explanation is that the marijuana, edible treats and extracts sold legally in stores are more potent than what was commonly available on the black market.

One of the authors, Caleb Banta-Green of the University of Washington’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, said his best guess is that much of the increase can be attributed to that last possibility.

The pot available nowadays? “It’s not your grandmother’s marijuana,” he said.

Wastewater sampling has been used for years in Europe and Australia to examine drug usage trends but is fairly unusual in the U.S. The National Institute on Drug Abuse provided $120,000 for the three-year study.

Another important conclusion from the study, published this week in the journal Addiction, is that it appears a large number of users of black-market pot quickly switched over to the legal stuff.

Metabolite levels in wastewater have not gone up as much as would be expected from the huge increase in legal sales, Burgard said.

The findings are in line with other, less disgusting indicators: Washington’s retail cannabis sales amount to more than $1.3 billion a year. And a 2016 state Health Department survey found that 14 percent of adults over 21 reported using marijuana in the previous month, up from 11 percent before voters decided to legalize weed in 2012.

The researchers hoped to use their findings to estimate the size of the remaining black market. They wanted to do that by comparing metabolite levels in the sewage to sales figures for the legal market.

But they’re not able to conduct such an analysis yet, because they have not yet established how much THC-COOH people can be expected to excrete based on their THC intake.

Beau Kilmer, a RAND drug-policy researcher who was not involved in the study, said he was excited to see wastewater analysis being used in the U.S. to gain a picture of drug usage. For one thing, Kilmer said, surveys can be inaccurate because people asked about their drug use don’t always tell the truth.

“This study helps fill an important research gap,” Kilmer said in an email.

Feds take new steps to warn about the hazards of getting high with $15M investment into community programs

by Cormac MacSweeney

FILE - A man smokes marijuana to celebrate the legalization of recreational cannabis, in Vancouver, on Wednesday October 17, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Summary

The federal government is investing $15-million in community-based education about the risks of pot use

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The money will be split between 13 organizations for community-based programs

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The programs will target young people, pregnant and breastfeeding women, other at-risk segments of the population

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OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – The Trudeau government is pumping $15-million into community-based education about the risks of marijuana use.

It’s the latest move from the federal government, which is ramping up its efforts to warn people about the risks of weed.

“To ensure that everyone gets the facts regarding cannabis use,” Federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said.

The funding will be split between 13 organizations to run programs targeting young people, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and other at-risk segments of the population.

“On cannabis public education and awareness, prevention, and harm-reduction initiatives in communities right across Canada,” Petitpas Taylor added. “We want Canadians to make the smart choices.”

The money will help frontline workers get the tools, resources, and training needed to run these programs.

“Aimed at preventing and treating substance use, supporting community-led projects that raise awareness about the risks associated to cannabis use.”

The minister says the on-the-ground work will compliment the national advertising campaign already underway from the government.

The Boys and Girls Club, the Canadian Pediatric Society and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health are just some of the organizations that will benefit from the funding.

Medical cannabis firms press UK to loosen prescription rules

Manufacturers say not allowing GPs to prescribe drug fails patients and forfeits gains

Rob Davies

The world’s largest medicinal cannabis company has urged the government to allow GPs to prescribe the drug, calling on the UK to be a “leader not a laggard” in one of the world’s fastest growing major industries.

Cam Battley, chief corporate officer of Canada-based Aurora Cannabis, said the UK was failing patients who might benefit from medicinal cannabis, as well as forfeiting economic gain, due to the restrictions of the existing regulatory regime.

Sajid Javid, the home secretary, authorised the use of medicinal products derived from cannabis last year following a long-running campaign fronted by the parents of children suffering severe epilepsy, who reported that cannabis oil helped with their condition.

But it can only be prescribed by specialist physicians and cannot be imported until a prescription has been issued. These rules, coupled with division among doctors about how effective it is, means fewer than 100 patients are thought to have been prescribed it.

“What was the point of creating a medical cannabis system if patients can’t access it?” Battley said, speaking at the annual Cannabis Europa conference in London, attended by leading firms in the nascent but already multibillion dollar industry.

“It’s time for the UK to take this system that is not working and make it work,” he said. “Let’s make sure that general practitioners can prescribe. There’s no need for requiring a specialist consultant to write a prescription. I’d like to see the UK be a leader, not a laggard.”

David Henn, chief executive of Germany-based Cannamedical, backed Battley, saying the law “does not make great sense for patients” and also forced up costs.

He said restrictions on imports caused by the UK’s regulatory regime meant that Cannamedical could profitably sell medicinal cannabis to pharmacies in Germany at €10 a gram but would have to ask for £30 a gram to achieve the same margin in the UK.

“We need to be able to hold stock, bring in larger amounts so that as soon as there is a prescription you can distribute to pharmacies,” he said.

He added that a no-deal Brexit could make it near-impossible for UK patients to obtain medicinal cannabis, unless the UK aligns itself with EU rules on good manufacturing practice.

Campaigners and companies that produce cannabis say patients have reported that it can help with pain, epilepsy and nausea, including sickness caused by chemotherapy.

Battley told the Guardian that the company was “making progress” in discussions with the government about loosening regulation, adding that it was only in the last year that politicians had been willing to speak to the company.

He pointed to Aurora’s domestic market of Canada, where he said the number of patients had gone from a handful to 400,000 in just a few years, with 20,000 physicians having prescribed cannabis since its medical use was legalised in 2001.

Recreational marijuana is also legal in Canada, which has become the de facto centre of the global industry, hosting giants such as Aurora, which produces 160,000kg of dried flower a year and has a stock market value of more than £5.5bn.

Canopy Growth, a rival which trades under the stock market ticker WEED and has a partnership with rapper Snoop Dogg, is the largest company by stock market value, at £10.6bn.

Battley also warned that the UK was missing out on developing its own cannabis industry due to the restrictive regulatory environment.

“It’s not that often that a new industry is invented in real time. The UK should grab hold of that and the jobs that will ensue.

“Otherwise there will be questions asked and fingers pointed about who missed the opportunity. I’d like to have a very robust presence here. This country is ideal.”

He also predicted that the UK would eventually legalise cannabis for recreational use but said that policymakers would reach this decision “organically”.

Q&A: What’s in a name?

Cannabis nugget on the pages of a book. (Getty Images)

 

By Rob Mejia 

 

Q: What is the difference between marijuana, cannabis, hemp, and CBD? Do they mean the same thing? – Questioning CannaGirl

A: I certainly understand your confusion and you are not alone. Let’s start with a few basic facts and common cannabis vocabulary. You’ll be cannabis-fluent in no time!


First, regarding the differences between cannabis and marijuana: there are none!

Cannabis is the name of a group of plants. Marijuana is the slang term that was associated with cannabis use in minority populations (mostly Mexican workers and African-American jazz musicians) during Prohibition.

Cannabis plants are divided into four categories:
• Sativa plants are tall and thin with slim leaves. They are known to provide energy and focus.
• Indica plants grow short and bushy with broad leaves. They are used to tamp down anxiety and promote sleep.
• Ruderalis is a recently discovered, small plant found in Eastern Europe and Russia. It flowers after a set time and is often used to create hybrid plants.
• Hybrids are by far the most popular cannabis plants. They are grown specifically to produce varying results through the combination of sativa, indica, and ruderalis plants.

Cannabis plants are loaded with more than 100 cannabinoids, chemical compounds that create different reactions in the human body. The two most popular and prominent are THC and CBD.

THC, tetrahydrocannabinol (tet-ra-hydro-ca-nab-in-all) causes euphoric effects. Some say that it mimics the effect of a “runner’s high” and can sometimes cause a case of “the giggles.”

THC can be used for both medical and recreational purposes. Many CBD users find a small amount of THC helps the performance of CBD-based medicine. THC is the compound that makes recreational cannabis illegal in many states.

CBD, cannabidiol (or can-na-bid-e-all) is the non-intoxicating element that is believed to naturally reduce inflammation. It is primarily consumed as drops or tincture or used in topical forms like lotions and salves. CBD doesn’t cause any psychotropic effects. With the passage of the U.S. Farm Bill of 2018, allowing for the production of commercial hemp (more on that in a minute), CBD is technically legal in all 50 states.

All of these cannabinoids go to work in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors present in vertebrates. When one consumes cannabis, cannabinoids like THC adhere to receptors in the brain and neck, causing euphoria. Other cannabinoids like CBD adhere to receptors in the rest of the body like the immune, nervous and digestive systems, which help reduce inflammation and pain.

Now, back to hemp.

Hemp is a non-intoxicating cannabis plant that contains trace amounts of THC. It also produces a fiber cultivated by humans for nearly 10,000 years. It grows easily, is drought- and bug-resistant, and has amazing consumer and industrial applications in up to 25,000 products.

Hemp oil (extracted from the buds, stalks, leaves, and seeds) is also a great natural source of CBD. When buying CBD products as part of your wellness routine, get hemp oil – not hemp seed oil, which is less potent.

Now that you know the basics, take these terms for a spin and practice your cannabis fluency. You’ll have it down in no time.
  

House Resoundingly Approves Broad Marijuana Federalism

A solid majority of congressmen, including 41 Republicans, voted for a spending rider that bars the Justice Department from interfering with the legalization of cannabis for medical or recreational use.

Jacob Sullum

(MIS Photography) 

 

Last Thursday the House of Representatives resoundingly approved a spending rider that would bar the Justice Department from interfering with the implementation of state laws allowing the production, distribution, and consumption of marijuana for medical or recreational use.

The amendment, a broader version of a rider that has protected state medical marijuana programs since 2014, was supported by 62 percent of the legislators who voted, including 41 Republicans as well as 226 Democrats.

"This is without a doubt the biggest victory for federal cannabis policy reform to date, and a hopeful sign that the harmful policies of marijuana prohibition will soon be a relic of the past," Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, said in a press release. "Interfering with successful, regulated cannabis programs is a tremendous waste of resources, and only serves to push the market back into the hands of criminals. The amendment approved today reflects a growing realization of these facts by lawmakers."

Amendment No. 17 to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2020, introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), says "none of the funds made available by this Act to the Department of Justice may be used" to "prevent" states from "implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of marijuana." It applies to the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as the 47 states that have legalized some form of cannabis for medical or recreational use.

"I strongly urge that we build on the legacy that we have had in the past and that we move this forward to allow the federal government to start catching up with where the rest of the states are," Blumenauer said upon introducing the amendment. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) spoke in favor of the amendment, saying, "The District has insisted that Congress cease interfering with our desire to commercialize adult-use marijuana, and I appreciate that D.C. is included with the other States that have the same goal."

Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) spoke against the rider. "Under the Controlled Substances Act," he noted, "the Drug Enforcement Administration defines Schedule I drugs as having no current acceptable medical use and a high potential for abuse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there is no scientifically recognized medical benefit from smoking or eating marijuana plants.

Claims of benefits from smoked or ingested marijuana are anecdotal and generally outright fabrications. It is established by fact that such marijuana use has real health and real social harms."
Rebutting Aderholt, Blumenauer argued that marijuana's Schedule I status cannot be rationally justified. "If we were rescheduling drugs today, cannabis probably wouldn't be scheduled at all," he said. "It is widely known now that there are, in fact, medicinal purposes to be obtained from using cannabis. That is why the voters in the gentleman's own state just approved medical marijuana.

They are not goofy. They are not misled. They understand that there is compelling evidence, and any of us meeting with professionals can understand that. One of the reasons we don't have the research is because the federal government has interfered with [it]. But the evidence is clear. You can find that out with children in your state who use medical cannabis to stop extreme seizure disorders; people who use cannabis to be able to stop the violent nausea associated with chemotherapy; or veterans that use it for PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or chronic pain."

The 41 Republicans who sided with Blumenauer rather than Aderholt included freshman congressmen such as Kelly Armstrong (N.D.), Troy Balderson (Ohio), and Russ Fulcher (Idaho) as well as longtime marijuana reformers such as Justin Amash (Mich.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Tom McClintock (Calif.), and Don Young (Alaska). They represent one-fifth of the Republicans who cast a vote.

We don't know yet whether Blumenauer's amendment will be part of the final appropriations bill approved by both houses of Congress. And unlike changes to the Controlled Substances Act, spending riders aimed at protecting state autonomy with respect to marijuana policy have to be renewed each year.

Last week's vote is nevertheless an important development, since it is the first time the House of Representatives has approved a broad form of marijuana federalism that encompasses general legalization as well as medical use. "Today's vote is the most significant step Congress has ever taken toward ending federal marijuana prohibition," said Steven Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project. "Congress is recognizing that the federal government must let the states decide on cannabis legalization—and not the other way around."

 

What Do Older Marijuana Consumers Use and Think? Researchers Now Know.

Mark Taylor

A new survey finds that seniors are blurring the lines between medicinal and recreational marijuana use.

The study, “Measuring Attitudes Toward Medical and Recreational Cannabis Among Older Adults in Colorado,” appeared in the May 14, 2019, issue of the Oxford Academic-published journal Gerontologist, and found changing attitudes among the fastest-growing population segment of cannabis users: adults ages 60 and older. 

The study, which was conducted by researchers from the universities of Colorado, Illinois, and Iowa, was funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Data were collected from a 2017 cross-sectional survey of 274 older Coloradans ages 60 to 94, with a mean age of 72, about 65% of whom were women who were recruited from senior centers, health clinics, cannabis clubs, and dispensaries statewide. The survey included 83 questions on a variety of topics exploring the attitudes, prevalence, predictors, patterns, and health outcomes relating to cannabis and its use. 

While about 60% of older adults strongly agreed that the “use of medical marijuana is acceptable,” only about 30% strongly agreed on the acceptability of adult-use cannabis generally. 

Colorado and nine other states have legalized marijuana for adult use, a trend that researchers said makes it important to understand how seniors perceive and use marijuana now.

About 45% of the survey respondents reported using cannabis within the past year. Of these, 54% reported using marijuana both medically and recreationally. Those who used marijuana within the last year reported “improved overall health, quality of life, day-to-day functioning, and improvement in pain.” 

Respondents said the most common reasons for using cannabis are to treat arthritis and back pain, followed by anxiety and depression. Smoking flower was the most common means of consuming marijuana, but edibles and vaping were also reported.

The survey found that many seniors are experiencing age-related health-care needs and some take cannabis for symptom management, as recommended by medical doctors.

“Whether these pathways to recreational and medical cannabis are separate or somewhat tangled remains largely unknown,” the authors noted, citing a paucity of research into cannabis use by older Americans.

Brian Kaskie, Ph.D., a professor of health policy at the University of Iowa who was the principal investigator of the study, said he was surprised to learn that the study population “was not who you think.”

“When we started this research many of my colleagues suggested that this was just about retired baby boomers entering old age who have come back to cannabis as a way of returning to their youth,” Kaskie told Weedmaps News.

“But we learned older adults who are using cannabis are not just listening to their Beatles albums, but with advancing age, they are experiencing symptoms and conditions that seem amenable to cannabis. 

We had people tell us they spent a day skiing and had inflammation that comes naturally with banging on the slopes and found cannabis helped with the pain in their aging knees and other joints.

But we learned older adults who are using cannabis are not just listening to their Beatles albums, but with advancing age, they are experiencing symptoms and conditions that seem amenable to cannabis.

“We heard from people with age-related medical conditions like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis (MS) who found cannabis helped with the increasing lack of muscular control. These are not just aging hippies. We learned that the motives change with age.”

'Naive Users'

Kaskie said what was most surprising to his fellow researchers was finding a large and growing number of “naive users” trying cannabis for the first time. 

He said one survey respondent, a former state trooper and Vietnam veteran who spent his professional career busting people for using cannabis, seemed to have turned the page on his attitudes. 

“Because the conventional treatment for his medical condition was ineffective, he tried cannabis as a last resort and is having positive experiences,” Kaskie said.

Another type of new user is typified by a 90-year-old woman in an assisted-living home who was a self-described “good kid who never did anything illegal.”

But now that her arthritis pain had grown so severe, she was willing to try cannabis. 

Her grandchildren helped teach her about various kinds of cannabis and ways of consuming it. 

Kaskie said they found these “new” users really appreciate the non-combustible forms including gummies and cough drops, and are more likely to use these products because they are packaged similarly to medicines.

The authors also found some older adults turn to cannabis to reduce opioid use or to avoid even starting opioid prescriptions.

“Some respondents report their primary motive in taking cannabis is that they are experiencing pain and don't want to become opioid addicts,” he said. “Many older women really do seem terrified about starting an opioid prescription.”

“Some respondents report their primary motive in taking cannabis is that they are experiencing pain and don't want to become opioid addicts. Many older women really do seem terrified about starting an opioid prescription.”

Responding Well to Marijuana   

He said many older adults are seeing beneficial outcomes from cannabis
“If I'm a public policy official, perhaps I should consider the benefits of making cannabis more readily available to older persons who otherwise might be prescribed opioids,” Kaskie said.

However, he said the medical community seems divided on how to approach cannabis. 

“Some physicians are saying they don't have enough information about the risks and benefits of cannabis. They want to see more rigorous randomized clinical trials completed first and want to be able to prescribe something approved by the FDA [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] that tells them how much and how often patients should use cannabis,” Kaskie said. 

He said other physicians leave those decisions up to patients. 

“These doctors do not necessarily believe that cannabis is a narcotic agent that needs to be placed within a biomedical paradigm,” instead viewing cannabis as a natural stimulant more like coffee rather than opium. 

Kaskie said the research illustrates the complexity of the cannabis legalization landscape.

“Not everyone who drinks alcohol has problems, but there certainly are many who do and bad things can happen to them and others because of it,” Kaskie said. “I am cautious about efforts to throw the guard rails off and move cannabis completely into the adult-use space. We should approach this slowly.” 

The report concluded that older adults want more information about cannabis and would like to communicate openly with their health-care providers about it.


The report concluded that older adults want more information about cannabis and would like to communicate openly with their health-care providers about it. 
 
Kaskie said the researchers found many older adults, especially those suffering from severe pain who have tried other options, will use cannabis whether or not their doctors approve.

“If physicians don't create an atmosphere to openly discuss cannabis, patients just won't talk about it with them. I don't think this is what we want.”

The survey also revealed that older Americans still find a stigma associated with cannabis use, yet older Americans are the fastest growing age group to use cannabis.

Marijuana use by U.S. teens has increased tenfold since 1990s

By E.J. Mundell, HealthDay News

 

 

Marijuana use has risen tenfold among U.S. teens since the 1990s, according to a new study. Photo courtesy of HealthDay News

 

As society relaxes its rules around marijuana, U.S. teens seem to be responding by using the drug in much bigger numbers than a generation ago, new research shows.

The study looked at 1991-2017 U.S. federal health data on more than 200,000 high school students.

It found that the number who said they'd used pot at least once over the past month rose tenfold -- from 0.6 percent in 1991 to 6.3 percent by 2017.

Many are becoming "dual users" of both marijuana and alcohol: The number of teens who admit to using both substances at least once a month has almost doubled -- from 3.6 percent in 1991 to 7.6 percent in 2017.

Why these big changes? Study author Hongying Dai believes changing social mores and legislation has been a big factor.

"Public opinion on marijuana use have changed dramatically, and restrictions on marijuana use have been relaxing," wrote Dai, of the University of Nebraska's College of Public Health in Omaha.

"Currently, 33 states and the District of Columbia have laws in place that allow marijuana to be used medically, recreationally, or both."

There was some good news from the study -- teens are increasingly turning away from cancer-causing cigarettes and other combustible tobacco. According to the study, teen smoking has dropped from 4.4 percent of high school students in 1991 to just 1.3 percent today. Teens are drinking much less, too, with alcohol use falling from about 24 percent of teens in 1991 to 12.5 percent in 2017.

Still, the "surge" in marijuana use is troubling, Dai said, and "highlights the importance of marijuana prevention among youths."

She added that usage rates increased most dramatically among black and Hispanic youth. Over the time period covered by the study, use of marijuana by black teens soared from 2 percent to 13.5 percent, and from less than 1 percent to nearly 9 percent among Hispanics. In comparison, in 1991 0.3 percent of white teens said they'd used pot over the past month, and 3.7 percent said so by 2017.

Dr. Scott Krakower helps direct psychiatry, including addiction issues, at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y. He wasn't surprised by the marijuana findings, saying that "with diminishing perceptions that it is harmful," of course, youth are turning more readily to the drug.

That notion was backed up by the study: According to the data, "the percentage of high school seniors who perceived regular use of marijuana as harmful dropped from 78.6 percent in 1991 to 29 percent in 2017," Dai wrote.

But another expert believes that all that extra pot use is definitely not harmless.

"The adolescent brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex areas that control judgment and decision-making, is not fully developed until the early 20s, which raises questions about how any substance use may affect the developing teenage brain," said Dr. David Fagan. He helps direct pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Fagan said that there are "multiple longitudinal studies that link marijuana use with higher rates of mental health disorders, such as depression and psychosis, raising concerns about longer-term psychiatric effects."

He also believes the study has left out one major destructive trend: the rise of the e-cigarette.
Yes, smoked tobacco has become largely unpopular among teens, but vaping has more than taken its place, Fagan said.

"For the latest data as of 2018, the National Youth Tobacco Survey reported 20.8 percent of high school students and 4.9 percent of middle school students currently used e-cigarettes [defined as use of an e-cigarette at least one day in the past 30 days]," he noted.

"E-cigarettes -- Juuls, etc. -- are the most common tobacco product used by teenagers today, and the numbers are skyrocketing," Fagan said.

The new study was published June 20 in the American Journal of Public Health.

More information
The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about marijuana.