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As per a new law, the Department of Defense will begin tracking overdoses within the United States military in 2024 and begin to provide naloxone to service members beginning in 2025. Military overdose deaths have historically not been systematically tracked until the release of a report by Rolling Stone in 2022 detailing the steep rise in overdose deaths at Fort Bragg, which has since been renamed to Fort Liberty. The report detailed the shocking increase in deaths from fentanyl, counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl and deaths in otherwise healthy young men from causes typically sustained from long-term drug use…
In this week’s cannabis news round-up, Thailand’s minister takes steps to restrict non-medical cannabis use’ Illinois’ record-breaking adult use cannabis sales in 2023; Wisconsin’s conservative approach to medical cannabis draws mixed reactions; and survey reveals patients find cannabis more effective than traditional medications for pain. PHOTO ARTPROXIMO Thailand’s Minister Takes Unfortunate Steps to Restrict Non-Medical Cannabis Use Thailand’s Public Health Minister, Dr. Cholnan Srikaew, has taken a significant step to reform the country’s nascent cannabis industry. His proposed legislation aimed at clarifying the use of cannabis, emphasizing its exclusive application for medical purposes only—essentially ending the adult use market. The…
A study recently published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship found evidence that a majority of participants who are cancer survivors used cannabis to manage their symptoms. The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Betty B. Marcus Chair in Cancer Prevention, and the Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment, and co-written by four researchers. It analyzed a total of 1,886 participants, where 17.4% said that they currently consumed cannabis, 30.5% described themselves as “former” consumers, and 52.2% had never used cannabis before. Those who were either currently consuming or former consumers (about 510 participants)…
New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill designed to facilitate banking compliance between licensed cannabis businesses and financial institutions. The measure, Senate Bill S1047, was sponsored by Senator Jeremy Cooney and Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes, both Democrats. Hochul signed the bill on November 17, more than five months after the New York state legislature passed the measure during the summer. “Big News!” Cooney wrote on X after the Democratic governor signed the measure into law. “This bill is an important first step in making it possible for cannabis businesses to access the financing they need, reducing lag time by…
Amidst the growing cannabis reform across the West, there have been growing conversations surrounding cannabis-induced psychosis, suggesting that regular cannabis use and highly concentrated products may exacerbate mental health symptoms as access increases. However, a recent study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy took a closer look at shifting cannabis policy following Canada’s cannabis legalization in October 2018, ultimately finding no association with legalization and increasing rates of cannabis-related psychosis. The research suggests that, at least so far, changing cannabis legislation is not related to increasing cases of psychotic disorders, though researchers also cautioned that “a longer post-legalization…
In this week’s cannabis news round-up, DEA asserts authority over cannabis scheduling, defying HHS recommendation; California cracks down on cannabis testing labs; and cannabis legalization in Canada not linked to spike in cannabis-related psychosis. PHOTO Esteban López DEA Asserts Authority Over Cannabis Scheduling, Defying HHS Recommendation The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has asserted its authority in deciding the scheduling of cannabis, regardless of recommendations made by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This revelation comes amid an ongoing review of the plant’s legal status, initiated by President Joe Biden to the Secretary of HHS and the attorney general in…
Guinness World Records—the definitive list of world records of both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world—recently posted a eulogy to Tusko the elephant, who was tragically given an extreme dose of LSD, for science. LSD research was conducted on animals such as dolphins or cats, starting in the ‘50s and ‘60s, with goals ranging from mind control to animal communication. A team of researchers in the early ‘60s came up with the brilliant idea of dosing a hormonal bull elephant with a massive dose of LSD, and lo and behold—the outcome was tragic. Tusko was a male…
In 2021, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) took steps to shield professional fighters from penalties related to THC-positive test results. Now, the organization has gone one step further and officially removed cannabis from its revised list of prohibited substances for athletes. This historic update builds upon prior reforms within the organization. “This is a central part of UFC’s expanded efforts to protect the health and safety of its athletes, and also to protect their right to compete on a level playing field. UFC’s goal for this Policy is to be the best anti-doping program in all of professional sport,” says…
According to a study published in the journal Heart Rhythm, middle-aged adults who have a history of using cannabis are not at an elevated risk of experiencing atrial fibrillation (AFib), aka an irregular heartbeat, NORML reports. The relationship between cannabis and heart disease is currently under close scrutiny and attention. This longitudinal study was conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. The team looked at the connection between cannabis use and AFib in a very large sample size, a group of over 150,000 individuals aged between 40 and 69. This group of people was made up of…
A wave of crime targeting cannabis companies has been rising steadily in recent years. Unable to use traditional banking systems, many cannabis companies often have large amounts of cash on site, along with highly valuable cannabis products that can be easily flipped on the illicit market. This makes them tempting targets for gangs and criminal organizations. Nowhere are these attacks more prolific than in California, where cannabis robberies continue to ravage legal facilities. Preferred Gardens‘ founder and CEO, David Polley, has been cultivating cannabis since the days of California’s medical market. The company’s Sacramento facility was built in 2020 and features prison-like security…