NewsRoom Articles - Page 12 of 586

TuesdayJan 07, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Latest Scientific Review Finds CBD Has Potential to Treat Depression, with Minimal Side Effects

A recent scientific review highlights increasing evidence that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in cannabis, has antidepressant effects on both animals and humans, with minimal side effects. The review also suggests that CBD may contribute to reducing inflammation and encouraging the growth of new brain cells. According to the study, CBD shows promise as a potential depression treatment. While its antidepressant properties have been noted before, the exact mechanisms driving these effects remain unclear. To address this gap, the paper examines the molecular pathways, safety, and pharmacokinetics profile of CBD. The study’s authors analyzed recent clinical and experimental studies and…

TuesdayJan 07, 2025 10:00 am

Kentuckians Face the Challenge of Choosing Between Gun Ownership and Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana patients in Kentucky will not have access to guns and ammunition due to federal law. Kentucky's medical marijuana legalization bill was signed into law in March 2023 but took effect on January 1st, 2025, making it legal for approved citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to consume medical-grade cannabis. However, Kentuckians will also have to contend with federal law, which currently outlaws cannabis production and consumption, and how it differs from their state's new medical cannabis law. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives recently sent a letter informing federal firearms licensees that individuals who ‘unlawfully’…

MondayJan 06, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Industry in the US Braces for Uncertain Times Under Trump 2.0

The year 2024 began with high hopes for the end of marijuana prohibition in the United States. However, as the year winds down, many of those expectations remain unmet. “The main issue is reclassification,” stated Alex Halperin, a journalist covering the marijuana industry since 2015 through his newsletter WeedWeek. Rescheduling would remove marijuana from the list of substances federally prohibited under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). President Joe Biden had pledged to reform federal marijuana policy during his 2020 presidential campaign, with rescheduling appearing to be the most likely significant step. However, recent developments suggest this change might not occur…

FridayJan 03, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — NORML Analysis Shows at Least 35,000 Studies Were Done on Cannabis in the Last 10 Years

A recent NORML analysis has revealed that over 4,000 scientific papers focusing on cannabis were published globally in 2024. This marks the fourth year that research output has reached this level. Since 2014, over 35,000 cannabis-related studies have been released, according to NORML. These publications reflect an increasing emphasis on exploring the plant’s therapeutic benefits and the societal impacts of legalization laws. Paul Armentano, NORML’s Deputy Director, shared insights in a blog post, noting that the past decade has seen an exponential rise in marijuana research. “Contrary to the belief that cannabis lacks sufficient scientific investigation, researchers have significantly deepened…

FridayJan 03, 2025 10:00 am

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

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

ThursdayJan 02, 2025 4:20 pm

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

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

ThursdayJan 02, 2025 10:00 am

What 2025 Could Hold for Marijuana Firms

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

MondayDec 30, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Study Explores the Ethical Complexities Linked to Undertaking Marijuana Research Funded by Industry Actors

Researchers from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) are exploring the ethical implications of marijuana research that's largely funded by actors with industry interests. Prior to the recent wave of state-level legalization, studying the potential risks and benefits of marijuana was practically impossible, making the recent rush of cannabis-related studies even more important for the fledgling cannabis market. These studies give us a glimpse into marijuana and how its use affects humans, particularly in the long term. However, a lot of cannabis research is conducted by actors who stand to make financial gains if the research yields positive…

FridayDec 27, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Survey Suggests Most American Teens Are Shunning Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana

Drug use in teenagers has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to findings from a recent survey. This year, nearly two-thirds of high school seniors reported abstaining from e-cigarettes, cannabis, alcohol, or cigarettes over the past month. This marks the highest abstinence rate since the annual nationwide survey began tracking this data in 2017. Additionally, 80% of students in grade 10 said they had not used any of these substances recently, setting another record. Ninety percent of those in grade 8 said they did not use any of the substances, which is the same percentage as in the prior study.…

FridayDec 27, 2024 10:00 am

Foreign Companies Could Tap into Germany’s Marijuana Pilot Programs

Non-German companies could potentially benefit from new recreational marijuana pilot programs in Germany, observers say. The European nation partially decriminalized adult-use cannabis on April 1, 2024, becoming the 9th country in the world to legalize cannabis and granting millions of Germans access to the drug. Interestingly, Germany's recreational cannabis measures also allow foreign companies to enter the German market via a cannabis pilot program license. These entities would need approval from the German municipality where they would set up shop. Furthermore, they have to prove that their pilot program had a scientific or experimental component to receive a pilot program…