When former vice president Joe Biden asserted over the weekend that marijuana shouldn’t be legal because it might be a “gateway” to hard drug use, pro-legalization critics were quick to paint him as an out-of-touch codger still fighting the last drug war. But the reaction isn’t entirely fair: Yes, the marijuana gateway theory that was […]
marijuana
The new weed on the block: hemp
In 2014, Kentucky farmer Brian Furnish was looking for ways to diversify his crops. His family had been growing tobacco for eight generations, but the market was withering. If he wanted to keep his farm profitable, he needed something new to grow. So he helped pioneer Kentucky’s hemp industry, a new crop the state was […]
Impaired by Marijuana or Not Impaired … That Is The Question
A new reality is taking over. Medical marijuana is now legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia, and recreational marijuana is legal in 11 states and the District of Columbia. The marijuana wave is here to stay. For employers operating in any of these states, the chances are high that at least some […]
Marijuana makes you paranoid? Study suggests your genes are to blame
Weed makes me paranoid. I ate an edible once and became super panicky and I never want to use cannabis again. Marijuana’s supposed to calm you down, but it always makes me feel the opposite. You’ve probably heard such remarks — or said them yourself — in recent years as cannabis inches closer to becoming […]
How the Surgeon General’s Weed Warning Could Hurt Pregnant Women and Mothers
Telling expecting mothers not to use marijuana could have some unexpected consequences Pregnancy is a difficult time. Your body becomes covered in stretch marks and splotches, your calves double in size overnight, and you can’t sit through so much as a PowerPoint presentation without getting up to pee at least thrice. (And don’t get me […]
How to Move and Bank Cannabis Cash in the US and Beyond
Spanning 34 states and generating $10.8 billion domestically in 2018, banking and cash management is one of legalized marijuana’s greatest obstacles. Spanning 34 states and generating $10.8 billion domestically in 2018, banking and cash management is one of legalized marijuana’s greatest obstacles. While 633 banks and credit unions (financial institutions) provide marijuana growers, processors and […]
Vaping linked to marijuana use in young people, research says
Young people who vape are more likely to use marijuana, according to a study published Monday. The findings, researchers say, support the theory that nicotine rewires the developing brain, changing how people respond to and crave addictive substances. “Adolescents have a brain that’s still changing and developing,” said Dr. Nicholas Chadi, the lead author on […]
6 companies challenge Utah’s medical marijuana growing picks
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s decision to award a smaller number of medical marijuana grower licenses than allowed by law is being challenged by six companies that say the state granted licenses to unqualified cultivators and had inappropriate interactions with applicants, among other claims. Chris Hughes, director of the state’s Division of Purchasing, confirmed that […]
Marijuana, Reefer, Weed: How Language Keeps Evolving for the Devil’s Lettuce
Kush. Bud. Herb. Who knows what to call marijuana these days? Born of the need for secrecy, slang has long dominated pot culture. But as entrepreneurs seek to capitalize on new laws legalizing recreational and medical marijuana, they too are grappling with what to call it. Heading to the dispensary to buy a few nugs […]
How Legalization Changed Humboldt County Marijuana
In an isolated Northern California community, the last remnants of the counterculture are confronting the future of cannabis. For more than forty years, the epicenter of cannabis farming in the United States was a region of northwestern California called the Emerald Triangle, at the intersection of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity Counties. Of these, Humboldt County is […]
Market Confusion on CBD and Hemp; FDA Commissioner Resigns amid Congressional Pressure for Federal Guidance
By Ian Stewart & Neil Willner The Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Scott Gottlieb MD, who has received high marks for his leadership of the agency since May 2017, announced his resignation on March 5, 2019, stating that he wants to spend more time with his family. His resignation came only days following […]
THC vs. CBD: Which Marijuana Compound Is More Beneficial?
The marijuana compound CBD, or cannabinol, is surging in popularity in the wellness community, for its alleged health benefits, without the high normally associated with pot. But a new study suggests that marijuana’s main active ingredient, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the one that gives users a high — may be more responsible for the plant’s therapeutic effects. The […]
Federal Courts Are Split on the Legality of Transporting Hemp and CBD in Interstate Commerce
By Ian Stewart When the 2018 Farm Bill was signed by President Trump on December 20, 2018, there was widespread optimism that hemp and hemp-derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD), soon would be freely moving in interstate commerce without interference by state and local authorities. That optimism may have been premature. State and local governments across […]
Impact of Wayfair on the Cannabis Industry
On June 21, 2018, the United States Supreme Court decided South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., 585 U.S. __ (2018). In a 5-4 decision, the Court found in favor of the State of South Dakota and overturned its prior holdings in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, 504 U.S. 298 (1992) and National Bellas Hess, Inc. v. […]
The CBD Crackdown Has Begun
If you like cannabidiol cupcakes and live in New York City, it’s time to learn how to bake your own. The city’s health department confirmed in a statement Tuesday that it had begun a crackdown on restaurants that use the compound—better known as CBD—as a food additive, embargoing products and warning of fines to come. […]
DEA reclassifies plant-derived marijuana medicine
According to a release issued by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD), has been reclassified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to Schedule V — the lowest restriction classification available under federal law. Epidiolex is the first prescription drug derived from the marijuana plant. […]
South Africa Legalizes Private Consumption Of Cannabis
Pro-marijuana activists cheered in the public gallery and chanted “Weed are free now” when the Constitutional Court gave its landmark ruling. In a unanimous ruling, judges also legalised the growing of marijuana for private consumption. South Africa’s government had opposed its legalisation, arguing the drug was “harmful” to people’s health. It has not yet commented […]
Midterm Elections Could Be a Turning Point for Marijuana
There’s a lot riding on the results of November’s elections for the U.S. pot industry. It’s no secret that all eyes are on Canada. On June 19, after months of debate in the Senate and some quick back-and-forth between the Senate and House of Commons, Canada’s parliament passed the Cannabis Act, paving the way for […]
