October 2024 - Page 2 of 4 - CannabisNewsWire

WednesdayOct 23, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Benzinga Cannabis Conference Shows How Businesses Are Struggling in the Legal Grey Area

Last week’s Benzinga cannabis conference, held in downtown Chicago, offered a glimpse into an industry that is anxiously awaiting full legal recognition. The event seemed, at first appearance, to be very similar to most business conferences. There were notably fewer women in the gathering than men, who made up the majority of those in suits. While many participants left with complimentary T-shirts or tote bags, there was no overt smell of cannabis in the venue. However, it was more difficult to locate actual cannabis on-site. Most of the people present had experience in traditional corporate settings before transitioning into the…

TuesdayOct 22, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Says Medical Cannabis Promotes a Higher Level of Physical Activity

A recent study published in the Cannabis Research Journal challenges the outdated stereotype that cannabis users, often labeled as “lazy stoners,” are less active. The research shows that medical cannabis promotes increased physical activity in individuals with chronic health issues, while recreational marijuana boosts physical activity even more, particularly in those without chronic conditions. The study examined data from adults aged 18 and over across the United States between 2016 and 2022. The researchers analyzed information collected by the CDC’s Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System, which conducts nationwide phone surveys focused on health-related behaviors, preventive health services, and chronic illnesses.…

MondayOct 21, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW —South Dakota Voters Can Decriminalize Cannabis, Legislators Will Decide on Sales

The recreational cannabis ballot initiative in South Dakota, known as Initiated Measure 29 (IM 29), will not directly lead to the legalization of cannabis sales. For sales to become legal, further action from the state legislature would be required. IM 29 primarily aims to decriminalize the use, possession and free sharing of up to two ounces of cannabis for individuals 21 years of age and older. Currently, possessing cannabis is considered a misdemeanor that could result in up to a year of jail time. The measure would also decriminalize cannabis edibles and concentrates, which are currently classified as felonies in…

MondayOct 21, 2024 10:00 am

Federal Court Reaffirms Rehiring of Alaska Airlines Employee Fired for Failing Marijuana Test

A federal court has dismissed efforts made by Alaska Airlines to rescind an order that reinstated an employee who was fired by the American airline over a positive THC test. The employee in question, Gregory Chappell, underwent a random drug test in July 2022. The results showed that the THC metabolite levels were above the minimum threshold. As a result, he was fired from his job as a lead aircraft maintenance technician. THC is one of the two primary compounds found in cannabis, the other being CBD. Unlike CBD, THC induces a high when consumed. Chappell maintained that he hadn’t…

FridayOct 18, 2024 10:00 am

420 with CNW — Report Shows Patients in Texas Lack Access to Medical Cannabis

According to a recent report by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), further actions should be taken by the state to increase accessibility to medical cannabis. The report focuses on Texas’ Compassionate Use Program (CUP), analyzing its effectiveness in providing patients across the state with reasonable access to treatment. The findings highlight that Texas’ vast size creates specific challenges for both dispensaries and patients. According to Goodblend senior director of government relations, Jervonne Singletary, the main problem dispensaries encounter is logistics. Everything must be obtained from the pickup location, which functions as a retail location, and any unsold or…

FridayOct 18, 2024 10:00 am

Research Finds That Medical Cannabis Boosts the Mental Health of Older People

New research has found that legally available medical cannabis has helped improve the mental health of individuals aged 65 and above. For their research, the investigators at the National Bureau of Economic Research utilized geographic data to determine the availability effects of medical marijuana dispensaries on self-reported mental health in the state of New York. They found that living half an hour away from dispensaries reduced the probability of having poor mental health day for individuals in this age group by roughly 10%. They partly attributed this positive health impact to pain relief. This aligns with research from the Cato…

ThursdayOct 17, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Research Says Most Americans Distrust Government as Cannabis Information Source

According to a recent study, many American adults tend to obtain information about cannabis not from government or medical resources but rather from friends and family. The study, which included a nationally representative sample of 1,161 participants, highlighted that government websites were the least preferred source for marijuana-related information, accounting for just 4.7% of respondents. Health providers were slightly more popular, with 9.3% citing them as a source. Interestingly, budtenders who provide guidance in cannabis dispensaries were at 8.6%. In contrast, the leading sources of cannabis information were family and friends, with 35.65%, closely followed by websites at 33.7%. Notably,…

WednesdayOct 16, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Nebraska Officials Question Voter Signatures in Bid to Thwart Medical Marijuana Measure

Nebraska’s top election official and the state’s chief prosecutor are raising concerns about the validity of most signatures gathered for two medical marijuana petitions set to appear on the ballot this November. Mike Hilgers, Nebraska’s attorney general, who filed a legal motion on behalf of Bob Evnen, secretary of state, stated that inquiries are still being conducted to determine whether the 49,000-plus confirmed signatures on these petitions are authentic. With early voting already underway on whether to legalize or regulate medical cannabis, Evnen and Hilger are urging the court to verify the total number of valid signatures and potentially nullify…

WednesdayOct 16, 2024 10:00 am

Marijuana Regulators Withhold Certification from Social-Equity License Winners

The state of Missouri recently awarded social-equity cannabis dispensary licenses to lucky lottery winners. Among them was David Huckins, a disabled veteran who learned in June that he’d be receiving 1 of 57 microbusiness licenses that the state stipulated would be awarded to disadvantaged business owners. Those who fit this description include disabled veterans, individuals with nonviolent cannabis offenses and those with lower incomes. This program is part of the constitutional amendment to legalize the recreational use of cannabis that voters approved in 2022. Under the amendment, the program would award 33 wholesale licenses for cultivation facilities and 24 dispensary…

TuesdayOct 15, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Shows Teen Marijuana Users Have Poorer School Outcomes

According to a recent examination of the existing data, teenagers who use marijuana typically do poorly academically. The JAMA Pediatrics study analyzed information from 63 different studies involving nearly 440,000 adolescents. The findings revealed that marijuana use during teenage years is likely associated with lower academic performance, decreased chances of finishing high school, less likelihood of enrolling in college or university, and a higher likelihood of dropping out of school and being frequently absent. One significant point the researchers noted was that marijuana use among teens is widespread, with about 22% of high school students in the United States using…