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https://hightimes.com/

Signatures for South Dakota Adult-Use Cannabis Initiative Submitted

Advocates in South Dakota recently turned in a batch of signatures to get their adult-use cannabis initiative on the ballot in November. South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (SDBML) collected 29,030 signatures and submitted them on May 7, which was the deadline set by the Secretary of State Monae Johnson’s office. Out of that amount, 17,508 must be verified in order for the initiative to appear on the ballot. “Today is the culmination of seven months of hard work by advocates and volunteers across South Dakota,” said SDBML executive director Matthew Schweich. “We are very confident that we have collected enough signatures from registered voters to qualify for this November’s ballot.” On X, the organization expressed its excitement and confidence that they had collected more than enough signatures in order for the initiative to qualify. Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota president Deb Peters also commented on the milestone with hope. “Things all seem to be moving in the right direction for South Dakota to finally win the freedom they voted for a few years ago,” Peters said. “At the federal level, things are moving towards a responsible rescheduling and dozens of states are seeing the tax benefits of recreational cannabis legalization. It’s inspiring to see this industry come together and work so hard. We’re looking forward to Election Day.” If passed, the initiative would allow adults over 21 to buy and possess up to two ounces of cannabis (or 16 grams of concentrates), while also cultivating six plants per person (with a 12-plant maximum for a single household). Possession of cannabis products cannot exceed 1,600 mg of THC. Meeting this goal was partially due to the secretary of state’s office approving the organization to pay canvassers to pass out ballot material and collect signatures, in addition to the organization’s volunteers, in December 2023. The campaign material they passed out included the title and ballot description. Johnson’s office has until August 13 to validate the signatures, according to The Washington Post. SDBML campaign director Matthew Schweich described South Dakota’s history with adult-use legalization as “turbulent,” but there are numerous reasons for voters to support the 2024 measure. “I think for me, the strongest reason at its core is that if we’re going to allow alcohol to be legal in our society, then it makes absolutely no sense to punish people for using cannabis because alcohol is more harmful to the individual and to society than cannabis,” Schweich said. In 2020, voters approved an adult-use cannabis initiative (Amendment A) and a medical cannabis initiative (Measure 26). Shortly after the votes were tallied, Gov. Kristi Noem expressed her disappointment. “I was personally opposed to these measures and firmly believe they’re the wrong choice for South Dakota’s communities,” Noem said at the time. We need to be finding ways to strengthen our families, and I think we’re taking a step backward in that effort.” In February 2021, the adult-use initiative was nullified in court for violating the single subject rule for amending the state constitution. “Amendment A is a revision as it has far-reaching effects on the basic nature of South Dakota’s governmental system,” said Judge Christina Klinger. “The failure to submit Amendment A through the proper constitutional process voids the amendment and it has no effect.” It was later struck down in the Supreme Court in November 2021 as well. Advocates continued onward in 2022 with another adult-use initiative (Measure 27), however voters decided not to show support and it didn’t pass. Polls conducted prior to the vote suggested that 51% of voters were planning on voting against the initiative, while only 40% were planning on supporting it. Final tallies show that 52.92% voted no, while 47.08% voted yes. The medical cannabis initiative was not challenged back in 2021, but it took a while for legislators to implement rules necessary to get the program up and running. Patients were finally able to apply for a medical cannabis card starting in November 2021. As of August 2023, the South Dakota Department of Health shared that it has issued 11,500 cards since 2021, with 6,000 cards projected to be issued in 2024. “We’ve doubled the amount that we were projecting to see in three years within two years,” said the state’s medical cannabis program administrator, Jennifer Seale. Although progress has been minimal, there have been other small victories in South Dakota. In July 2023, two law enforcement officers were forgiven for their past cannabis use. The South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission heard their cases, although both applicants described their cannabis use as a mistake. “I’m not going to fabricate an excuse. It was a mistake. I was in college, my freshman year,” said applicant Kody Beckers. “Looking back at it now was a blessing in disguise for me. I turned my whole act around.”

https://hightimes.com/

Illinois Hemp Operators Call For Regulation Instead of Prohibition

Hemp business owners in Illinois are calling on lawmakers to approve legislation to regulate the state’s hemp industry instead of a bill that would ban products containing intoxicating cannabinoids including delta-8 THC. Last month, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford introduced a hemp regulation bill that would ban delta-8 and other hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids. Such products are currently unregulated in Illinois and are widely available at retailers including smoke shops, gas stations and convenience stores, often as edibles including chips and sweets that mimic popular brands. “We don’t know what exactly is in them,” Democratic state Representative Barbara Hernandez said at the time, according to a report from WGEM television news. “We don’t know the ingredients, they are not regulated to list the full ingredients and, as we see here at the table, there’s several items that look like products that we have had before.” Lightford’s bill, dubbed the Hemp Consumer Products Act (SB3926), would also establish a licensing system for hemp product retailers and set requirements for the testing, packaging and marketing of hemp products. The measure, which is supported by the Illinois Cannabis Association, also mandates scientific research of hemp-derived intoxicating products to determine if they can be safely regulated and once again offered for sale in Illinois. Tiffany Chappell Ingram, the association’s executive director, issued a statement calling for a “pause” of hemp intoxicant sales pending further research, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. “We look forward to working with legislators to find a path forward that empowers consumers, protects minors and ensures the state’s adult-use cannabis law lives up to its full promise, including uplifting social equity license holders and communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs,” she said. The Hemp Consumer Products Act is opposed by some lawmakers and many representatives of the hemp industry who believe the bill is too strict and likely to cripple the growing market for hemp products. Opponents of the bill held a press conference in the state capital of Springfield on Tuesday to make their case against the legislation and express support for a different hemp regulation bill. Jennifer Weiss, founder and CEO of hemp products retailer Cubbington’s Cabinet in Chicago, said that she is afraid Lightford’s bill would set such strict limits that it would prohibit sales of non-intoxicating products such as CBD. “We would have to shut our doors, as well as hundreds of other Illinois companies,” she said. “Let’s not go backward with out-of-touch prohibitions.” Instead, the hemp entrepreneurs are backing a separate bill (HB5306) from Democratic state Representative Rep. La Shawn Ford. He said that Lightfoot’s bill would likely kill the state’s hemp industry while creating a new illicit market for hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids. “Prohibition doesn’t work, and Illinois should reject going backward,” he said. Ford’s bill would create a regulatory and taxation framework for hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD and delta-8 THC, including provisions for the licensing of businesses. The measure also limits sales of such products to adults aged 21 and older and sets a limit on the amount of THC contained in consumable hemp products. Additionally, the measure would ban look-alike hemp product packaging that copies the look of other consumer goods. Ford said that he wants to prevent children from obtaining intoxicating hemp products and to take look-alike products off the market. He also said he does not want to endanger the state’s hemp industry, which could generate approximately $1.5 billion in state revenue over four years. “We must do something about delta-8 and other unregulated delta hemp products now,” Ford said at Tuesday’s press conference. “Personally, I’ve been working with the industry calling for regulations for the better part of three years, and it’s time to act now,”.

https://hightimes.com/

Senator Cory Booker Visits Sacramento Cannabis Giant Amid Decriminalization Push

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker paid a visit to Natura, Sacramento on Monday to take a look at some grow rooms and talk about cannabis. Senator Booker didn’t have long to talk but he greeted a room full of weed people with a smile and accolations for those who have taken legal and personal risks to pioneer the industry and set the standard for the rest of the states still in the early days of their legal markets. “We’re in a weird place in our country where we’ve had this prohibition that has lasted for generations that has really punished folks,” Senator Booker said Monday. “I’m from Newark where marijuana enforcement is disproportionately focused on low income people, people of color, people who are suffering, people who are struggling. And we have this perverse reality in America where we have people with criminal convictions who are doing things that presidents and congress people and senators have admitted to doing. The hypocrisy of that is maddening.” A long time advocate of legal cannabis, Senator Booker recently introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act with Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon. If passed, this bit of legislation would essentially end federal cannabis prohibition by removing cannabis from the list of controlled substances entirely. “Thousands of people have suffered at the hands of our broken cannabis laws, and the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would finally dismantle the outdated federal marijuana prohibition, expunge past convictions for people with low-level cannabis offenses, and ensure restorative justice for communities impacted by the War on Drugs,” Senator Booker said in a press release. “These common-sense policies will ensure a more equitable criminal justice system and promote public safety.” The announcement of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act came almost directly after an announcement by the DEA to reschedule cannabis from Schedule 1 alongside drugs like heroin and LSD to Schedule 3, alongside drugs like Xanax, Codeine and Ketamine. While rescheduling certainly represents a step forward with regard to the federal laws regarding cannabis, it would not necessarily do anything for people serving prison time for federal cannabis infractions. It’s also unclear how rescheduling would affect existing state cannabis markets, though speculation has run rampant to that end since rescheduling was announced. The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act contains provisions to create uniform federal regulations for cannabis through the establishment of a federal regulatory commission for cannabis as well as directions for the FDA to establish standards for labeling of cannabis products. The act would also secure additional funding for substance abuse recovery programs, establish grant programs to help individual states combat black market cannabis operations, and direct the Department of Transportation to collect data on cannabis-impaired driving. There are provisions in the act to, among other things, do away with tax burdens on legal cannabis businesses, remove cannabis from federal drug testing, provide automatic expungement for non-violent cannabis crimes, and require various federal agencies to spend money studying cannabis. The bill is co-sponsored by 15 additional Democratic senators and the full text can be found here. “It’s past time for the federal government to catch up to the attitudes of the American people when it comes to cannabis,” Leader Schumer said in a press release. “We have more work to do to address decades of over-criminalization, particularly in communities of color, but today’s reintroduction shows the movement is growing, and I will keep working until we achieve meaningful change.” This is not the first time Senator Booker has attempted to push legislation to decriminalize cannabis production. He said Monday that when he made his first attempt to do so as a congressman, he was laughed at by his fellow senators. “I’ve been in the trenches on this. When I first got to the senate 11 years ago, I put forth a major piece of legislation called the Marijuana Justice Act, and I’m not joking I literally got laughed at by senators saying that we shouldn’t do that or it’s a career ender to come out like that,” Senator Booker said. “But now the world has changed in over a decade. The red states and blue states all around America, some partisan issue, have come forward and say, no. This is ridiculous. I’ve had law enforcement officers say ‘Gosh, if there was a drug I’d want to ban it would be alcohol not marijuana.’” Senator Booker’s visit to Natura was brief but served as yet another indicator that the times are a-changing in Washington and cannabis is moving away from its long-time status as the poster child of the drug war and moving toward a much more realistic and less harmful spot in the eyes of our national legislators. Senator Booker expressed his admiration for the people who have been willing to work in the cannabis industry while it goes through its post-prohibition growing pains. “I came here to, not learn, but connect with these people that are part of a larger movement in America for justice and I’ve just seen that each and every one of you are willing to work in an industry that’s not easy, but also wants to be in a country where freedom’s never been easy,” Senator Booker said. “Justice has never been easy but we need people like us to stand up for it. It’s what makes it possible.”

https://hightimes.com/

Berner To Join Cast of ‘The Freak Brothers’

Grammy and Emmy award-winning comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish is celebrating a new partnership between cannabis brand Cookies and the animated series The Freak Brothers that was marked by a 4/20 product launch in California. Haddish, who voices one of the characters in the show and serves as an executive producer, recently appeared at a Cookies dispensary in Los Angeles to kick off the collaboration. Entrepreneur and Billboard-charting rapper Berner, co-founder and CEO of the international cannabis and lifestyle brand, will join the show in future seasons of the animated series celebrating weed culture. The Freak Brothers hit the cannabis scene in 1968 with the debut of the underground comic “The Furry Fabulous Freak Brothers” by creator Gilbert Shelton. The franchise, considered by many to be one of the most influential underground comics ever, soon became a counterculture hit, with more than 45 million comic books sold around the world. In 2022, the Freak Brothers concept was translated into an animated series for the Fox streaming platform Tubi. In the television show, the protagonists Fat Freddy Freekowtski (voiced by actor John Goodman), Phineas T. Phreakears (Pete Davidson) and Franklin Freek (Woody Harrelson) are transported from the freewheeling 1960s to modern times after getting so high that they pass out for five decades. After waking up, still in their San Francisco basement apartment after 50 years, the Freak Brothers try to find their way in the seemingly futuristic setting, with highly hilarious results. Haddish, who plays the brothers’ sassy cat Kitty, says the collaboration between Cookies and The Freak Brothers was a natural fit. “The Freak Brothers is an old stoner comic book from the ‘60s and in the new show they smoke that good weed that transports them 50 years into the future,” Haddish said in an exclusive statement to High Times, “and we knew Cookies had that good weed that the Freaks would smoke so it was like BAM!” Last month, The Freak Brothers joined Cookies to celebrate the collaboration and launch of a new co-branded pre-roll dubbed the ‘LSD Joint,’ which hit store shelves just in time for 4/20. The launch also celebrated Berner’s upcoming addition to the star-studded cast of “The Freak Brothers” alongside Harrelson, Goodman, Haddish and Davidson. “We felt like ‘LSD Joint’ was an appropriate name for our collab given the Freak Brothers are from the ’70s, from San Francisco, and this joint is EXTREMELY strong,” Berner said in a statement about the collaboration, adding “I love that the animated show is so weed-friendly and done with class. I’m incredibly excited to announce that I am joining the Freak Brothers show alongside an epic cast.” Greg Goldner, head of brand and strategy for Freak Brothers, says the new collaboration with Cookies celebrates the two brands’ shared heritage. “This is the first-ever official cannabis product for ‘The Freak Brothers,’ so we wanted to lean into the cool trippy Bay Area heritage shared by both brands while producing a product the Freaks themselves would have loved to spark up,” Goldner said in a statement to the press. “From the intricate details of the engraved, reusable wood tips to the vibrant, psychedelic designs of the package, every aspect of this collaboration perfectly captures the creative ethos both ‘The Freak Brothers’ and Cookies are renowned for,” Goldner added. Haddish says she leaned into the partnership when she heard about the exclusive cannabis products planned for the collaboration. “Berner and the Cookies team talked to the Freak Brothers team to come up with something cool, and once I knew there was going to be a marijuana line, I said let’s do this because she ready over here – and we just getting started,” said Haddish. The first two seasons of The Freak Brothers are currently streaming for free on Tubi. The show is executive produced by Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton, along with award-winning showrunners Alan Cohen and Alan Freedland. Haddish, Harrelson, Davidson, Shelton and Manfred Mroczkowski also serve as executive producers of the series. “We’re excited to welcome Berner to the show. His proven track record of innovation and his authentic love of cannabis culture is a perfect marriage with the Freak Brothers,” said Courtney Solomon, Freak Brothers’ CEO and show executive producer. “We look forward to a long collaboration together.” Season 3 of The Freak Brothers animated series is currently in the works, although a release date for new episodes has not yet been announced.

https://hightimes.com/

Best Delta 9 Gummies in 2024: Unveiling the World of THC Edibles

Discover the best Delta 9 gummies for a delightful THC experience. These tasty treats offer a safe and legal way to enjoy the benefits of THC, helping you feel focused and energized. Made with natural ingredients and rigorous testing, they ensure quality and compliance. Explore the top picks today! Binoid has swiftly risen as a leading name in THC edibles, notably for its potent delta 9 gummies, loved by consumers seeking enjoyable cannabis products. Founded on a commitment to quality, Binoid collaborates with trusted hemp farms to ensure purity and potency, offering tasty gummies with potent THC effects. Endorsed by review sites like Leafly and High Times, Binoid’s premium Delta 9 gummies are praised for their quality and consumer satisfaction, solidifying its position in the competitive cannabis market. Boasting a full-spectrum formula capturing a rich profile of cannabinoids and terpenes, Binoid’s gummies deliver the entourage effect enthusiasts and novices desire. With stringent lab testing for purity and potency, Binoid ensures transparency and safety in every batch of gummies. Customers can choose from various delightful flavors, such as Fruit Punch, Mixed Berry, and Mango Madness, each crafted carefully to offer a flavorful experience. General Disclaimer: Educating yourself about Delta 9 and its potential risks before using it is important. Follow the link here to find more information on this topic. Apollo Delta 9 THC gummies offer a delightful way to incorporate Delta 9 into your routine. With delicious flavors like watermelon and blue razz, each gummy contains 10mg of Apollo’s pure Delta 9 extract. These vegan and natural gummies are crafted in a GMP facility, ensuring quality and stability during transit. Unlike inferior products, Apollo guarantees the best taste and consistency. With ingredients like sucrose, corn syrup, and natural flavoring, they contain less than 0.3% THC, complying with legal standards. Start with one gummy and wait an hour before considering more. Customers rave about the uplifting effects, providing a relaxed yet elevated experience. Apollo Delta 9 THC gummies are the perfect choice for those seeking a flavorful, reliable, and legal way to enjoy the benefits of Delta 9. MoonWlkr offers premium delta 9 THC gummies bursting with flavors, delivering hemp-derived cannabis benefits. Their spectrum formulas cater to diverse preferences with primarily natural ingredients. With swift shipping, transparent return policies, and competitive prices, MoonWlkr stands out among THC edible brands. Partnering with top hemp farms ensures high-quality, potent products like the 10mg Delta 9 gummy. MoonWlkr’s reputation for excellence is reinforced by positive reviews from Leafly and High Times, emphasizing quality and customer satisfaction. Their gummies, available in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum options, blend cannabinoids and terpenes for enhanced effects. Exciting flavors like Black Raspberry and Pink Lemonade complement hemp’s natural taste, providing a delightful edible experience. If you are new to this hemp world and looking for gummies with subtle effects, Cannabis Life is the best brand for you. These 10mg Goji Gold gummies are mild-strength; you only need to eat one, and you’ll unlock ultimate relaxation bliss right when you need it most. The best part is that each jar has 30 gummies, so one jar can easily last up to a month, or you can share it with your friends without worrying about them emptying quickly. They come in an organic Goji Gold flavor, making it a bit unique than others, but if you want to try something new, this is an excellent option. The lab results are also available on the website, allowing customers to check and earn their trust. Our rigorous selection process prioritizes brand reputation, extraction methods, formula, flavors, and customer reviews to ensure the finest Delta 9 gummies. Brand reputation reflects quality and service. Extraction methods like CO2 ensure purity. Lab tests verify content and safety. Formulas influence effectiveness, favoring full-spectrum for the entourage effect. Diverse flavors enhance the user experience without compromising quality. Genuine customer reviews provide valuable insights into performance and satisfaction, guiding our selections for the best Delta 9 gummies on the market. Delta 9 gummies are candies infused with Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), offering a discreet THC consumption method with controlled dosing. Unlike smoking, they provide longer-lasting effects, appealing to recreational and medicinal users. Available in various potencies and flavors, they offer sustained relief from pain, anxiety, or insomnia, ensuring a prolonged cannabis experience. Delta 9 THC interacts with the nervous system, offering various benefits. Derived from hemp or cannabis, these edibles induce relaxation, aid stress reduction, and improve sleep. Users report feeling calm due to their interaction with the endocannabinoid system. They also alleviate pain, stimulate appetite, and may relieve anxiety, providing a discreet THC consumption method. Consuming delta 9 gummies may cause dry mouth and eyes due to THC’s impact on saliva and tear production. Stay hydrated to manage these common discomforts. Effects usually kick in within 30-60 minutes, but duration varies. Though made with natural ingredients, potential side effects like dizziness or increased heart rate may occur. Start with a low dose and monitor your body’s response for optimal enjoyment. Disclaimer: Ensure you speak with your doctor before using Delta 9 THC products, especially if you are on other medications. Yes, federally, products with

https://hightimes.com/

Berner To Join Cast of The Freak Brothers

https://hightimes.com/

Moroccan Farmers Urging Government To Legalize Cannabis

More than ever before, the people of Morocco are urging the government to finally legalize cannabis. Three years ago, the plant was approved for export. Since then, farm communities have continued to produce large quantities of cannabis on fertile land, notably in the Rif region. The most recent call for legalization gained global publicity when the National Agency for the Regulation of Activities Related to Cannabis (ANRAC) visited these farms to celebrate the continued growth of the first waves of legal cannabis. For the past six decades, cannabis has remained illegal in Morocco, despite being the world’s leading provider of hashish, with an infamously successful black market that provides to Europe and beyond. In May 2021, the parliament took a significant step by passing a law allowing the cultivation of cannabis for pharmaceutical and industrial purposes. It is estimated that the country could generate $15 billion with full legalization. “In Morocco, opening a discussion is necessary because regulating cannabis for medical and industrial purposes will not eliminate the existing black market,” said Shakib Al Khayari, coordinator of the Moroccan Coalition for Medical and Industrial Use of Cannabis. However, even if the country legalizes cannabis, there is intense distrust, fear, and pain among farmers. Although a state plan aims to ensure indigenous peoples receive equal financial benefits from potential cannabis businesses, there remains doubt. Many farmers who would rather stick to the black market to avoid the upfront costs, administrative hurdles, and quality control. Not to mention, a huge shift in production will have to happen that’ll no doubt raise costs of production. Khalid Mouna, a professor at Moulay Ismail University in Meknes who studies Morocco’s cannabis economy, recently told Bloomberg, “Cannabis has been part of the region’s economy for centuries, and changing it overnight will face resistance.” Complicating matters further, some farmers trust the cartels more than the government given their long history of extreme laws and enforcement practices. For example, an arrest for cannabis can result in a 10-year jail sentence and a fine. To worsen relations between growers and authorities, many farmers have experienced police burning their crops, depriving them and their families of food and livelihoods. In the eyes of the nation’s state agency, though, legal cannabis businesses could potentially increase farmers’ revenues four or fivefold. Especially if legalization goes beyond medical use. “The real opportunity for Morocco in the long term lies in recreational use,” according to Alastair Moore, co-founder of cannabis-focused consultancy Hanway Associates, “because that’s where their brand is.” The news of significant documented growth comes after a booming year in harvesting following the first legal harvest, which produced 294 metric tons thanks to the country’s approval of cultivation and export for medicinal and industrial purposes. Around 430 farmers completed their grow jobs in the Northern Rif mountain areas of Al Houceima, Taounat, and Chefchaouen. Last year, the country granted 54 export permits. So far this year, the number of permits for cultivation increased to 161. Mohamed Guerrouj, head of the National Agency for the Regulation of Activities Linked to Cannabis, praised the impressive results. “This year, we anticipate a significant harvest given the cultivated area,” he told The North African Post. Additionally, the country reported and celebrated its first legal export of THC to Switzerland for medical purposes. Mohamed El-Guerrouj, a former politician and present leader of ANRAC, is working towards a greener future and smoothing tensions between the palace and farmers. He described the legal growth and steps toward full legalization as “historic.” Despite harsh laws and slow progress, cannabis is widely accepted by civilians and has long been enjoyed. Two years ago, 80% of the country supported cannabis legalization. This overwhelming support is probably why much of the population backed the infamous drug trafficker Mohammed Al-Rammach, who ran the largest cannabis racket in Morocco in the early 2000s. When Al-Rammach was arrested in 2003, many civilians decried his arrest because he used the money to support struggling families and create job opportunities. For example, the smuggler would wash his money by opening businesses to employ locals. Farmers fear that the state will simply allow big pharmaceutical companies and businesses to reap all the rewards. There have been few guarantees, especially in writing, to assure farmers that this won’t happen. Mohamed Benamar, a consultant for ANRAC, is working to cool these tensions as they develop a 10-year plan for legal cannabis sales and use. Meanwhile, similar to the United States, activists, locals, and farmers will continue to criticize the government’s hypocrisy as they seek to benefit from legal cannabis. On the flip side, there are those who remain hopeful about the change and the progress being made. Despite the challenges and complexities of legalizing cannabis in Morocco, the country’s population strongly supports legalization.

https://hightimes.com/

No Increase in DUI Among Young Adults After Pot Legalization in Washington

Newly published research indicates that recreational cannabis legalization in Washington did not result in a spike in impaired driving among younger demographics. The research, published last month in the journal Prevention Science, was based on data collected in the five years following legalization. “Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for young adults (YA) in the USA, and driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA), cannabis (DUIC), and simultaneous use of both substances (DUIAC) are prominent risk factors,” the authors explained in the study’s abstract. “Trends in YA impaired driving behaviors after opening of cannabis retail stores have been understudied. We examined YA trends in DUIA, DUIC, and DUIAC from immediately prior through 5 years following the opening of cannabis retail outlets in Washington State (2014–2019).” They noted that differences “in trends were assessed across age, sex, and urbanicity,” and that “weighted logistic regressions assessed yearly change in prevalence of DUIA, DUIC, and DUIAC from 2014 to 2019, using annual statewide data from the Washington Young Adult Health Survey (n = 12,963; ages 18–25).” “Moderation of trends by age, sex, and urbanicity was assessed. Prevalence of DUIA decreased overall (AOR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.90, 0.97) and among drinkers (AOR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.91, 0.99) but remained at concerning levels in 2019 (10% overall; 16% among drinkers),” they said. Ultimately, the researchers found that driving under the influence of cannabis “did not change significantly…but decreased among those who used cannabis.” Driving under the influence of alcohol and cannabis simultaneously “decreased but not significantly,” according to the researchers, who said that the “prevalence of [young adult] DUI remained concerning.” As NORML pointed out, the findings have echoes of a 2022 study that found that the “risk of self-reported [driving under the influence of cannabis] was lower in recreational and medical cannabis states compared to states without legal cannabis.” The authors of that study, published in Preventive Medicine Reports, said they were motivated to research the matter because the “relationship between cannabis legalization and traffic safety remains unclear.” “Physiological measures of cannabis impairment remain imperfect. This analysis used self-report data to examine the relationship between cannabis legalization and driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC),” they said. Those researchers said they used “a cross-sectional national sample (2016–2017) of 1,249 past–30-day cannabis users,” and then “regressed self-reported DUIC (driving within three hours of ‘getting high’) on cannabis legalization (recreational and medical (recreational), medical only (medical), or no legal cannabis), adjusting for demographics, days of use (past 30 days), days of use, legal status, calibration weights, and geographic clustering.” “The risk of DUIC in recreational (risk ratio [RR] = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.23–0.72) and medical (RR = 0.39, 95% CI:0.20–0.79) states was lower than in states without legal cannabis, with one exception. Among frequent cannabis users (≥20 days per month), there was a significantly lower risk of DUIC for those living in recreational states (RR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.49–0.99), but not for those living in medical states (RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.60–1.24), compared to users living in states without legal cannabis,” the authors explained. They said that while “all states should educate its citizens about the potential dangers of using cannabis and driving, this analysis suggests that states without legal cannabis are particularly in need of DUIC prevention efforts.” “States should consider mass media campaigns as a method of reaching all cannabis users, including more frequent users, with information about the dangers of DUIC. Medical states may consider targeting frequent users by disseminating information about DUIC through medical dispensaries. Further research is warranted, particularly given the constantly evolving nature of cannabis legalization and the noted limitations of this analysis,” the authors said, as quoted by NORML. The findings are encouraging because, generally, toking and driving should be avoided. A study released earlier this year using cannabis could be particularly detrimental to older drivers. “Epidemiological studies have established that cannabis increases the risk of a motor vehicle collision,” the study’s authors wrote. “Laboratory studies have demonstrated that this impairment results in increased weaving, slowed reaction time, and compensatory changes in speed and following distance.” “Older adults may be particularly affected by cannabis, given age-related changes in cognition, metabolic changes that may prolong or enhance the effects of cannabis, and the concomitant use of medications,” they added. “Conversely, older users of cannabis may have been using cannabis for many years and cannabis may have a diminished impact in this population due to development of tolerance.” The study was conducted by researchers in Canada, where marijuana is legal for adults.

https://hightimes.com/

Study: Researchers Present Benefits of Entourage Effect

Researchers from Romania published the results of a study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences exploring and analyzing the effects of various phytocannabinoids and terpenes working together. Phytocannabinoids include any naturally occurring cannabinoid found in the plant, from the more commonly known THC, and CBD to less known CBC, CBG, CBN, and more. Researchers wrote that over 100 cannabinoids have been identified in the plant. “The complex interaction between phytocannabinoids and biological systems offers hope for novel treatment approaches and lays the groundwork for further developments in the field of cannabinoid-based medicine,” the study abstract explained. “This review summarizes the state of the field, points out information gaps, and emphasizes the need for more studies to fully realize the therapeutic potential of phytocannabinoids.” Researchers explored the entourage effect, which is the combination of both cannabinoids and terpenes working together to create effects that “exceed the sum of their separate contributions.” While consuming a product with a single cannabinoid has its benefits, consuming more than one cannabinoid or terpene together can produce even stronger, more beneficial effects. “This synergy emphasizes how important it is to consider the entire plant when utilizing cannabis medicinally as opposed to just concentrating on individual cannabinoids,” researchers explained. Researchers also briefly wrote about terpenes, which make up the aroma and flavor of various cannabis strains. “Standardizing the terpene profile helps maintain consistency in sensory attributes and may also impact the ‘entourage’ effect—the synergistic interaction between cannabinoids and terpenes.” The study primarily reviewed the known effects and properties of various cannabinoids, many of which offer varying levels of benefit for anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant effects, pain management, neurological disorders, psychiatric conditions, cancer treatment support, and more. “The exploration of novel phytocannabinoids is rapidly evolving, offering exciting prospects for future therapeutic applications,” researchers wrote. “Beyond well-established compounds like THC and CBD, the quest for novel cannabinoids widens the scope of potential treatments. Each cannabinoid, with its unique chemical structure, interacts differently with the ECS, suggesting tailored therapeutic effects for specific conditions. This exploration seeks to harness similar benefits while circumventing associated drawbacks.” The study cited examples of THC having analgesic effects and has been found to help patients treat chronic pain, while CBD has been studied for its anti-inflammatory properties and is an anxiolytic, which has potential to reduce anxiety and stress. CBG interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (specifically the CB1 and CB2 receptors) in a way that suggests it can “modulate the effects of other cannabinoids by influencing CB1 receptor activity.” It has also been studied for its anticancer properties. Similar breakdowns were provided for CBC, CBN, and THCV as well. This research is the combined presentation from 99 sources to exhibit the benefits of cannabinoids, but spotlights the complex challenges regarding the legal status of cannabis in the U.S. and the EU. However, researchers noted that these laws and regulations are subject to change as more evidence is presented. Researchers also added that at least in the U.S., more evidence will lead to an expansion in FDA approved products. Currently, only two products—Sativex® (which contains both CBD and THC) and Epidiolex® (which contains only CBD)—have been approved so far. Sativex® was approved in 2010, while Epidiolex® was approved in 2018. “CBD and THC should be accessible to patients with special prescriptions due to their potential benefits, especially for individuals with epilepsy refractory to other medications.” Not all countries in Europe have access to Sativex® and/or Epidiolex®, which has led to an increase in a reliance on obtaining cannabis products online, and also increases the risk of illegal products that are not being tested for impurities and other harmful contaminants. Due to this, researchers recommended that cannabis products should be made available as a prescription to “lower addiction risk.” “Prescription retention in pharmacies after each refill or release can aid in monitoring usage,” researchers wrote. “Additionally, THC products should adhere to state-specific rules, potentially requiring a special prescription to curb misuse.” In their conclusion, researchers summarized the many beneficial properties of phytocannabinoids and the need for more research. “By leveraging the synergistic effects of combination therapies and targeting multiple disease pathways, phytocannabinoids hold immense potential to revolutionize the future of pharmacotherapy and improve human health outcomes,” researchers said. “However, further research, regulatory clarity, and standardized protocols are needed to fully unlock their therapeutic benefits and ensure safe and effective use in clinical practice.” Other researchers have presented similar evidence as well, such as one study published in October 2023. A study conducted by Zentrela and PAX showed evidence of the entourage effect (in this case, the application of multiple cannabinoids and terpenes) led to two times the psychoactive effects in comparison to participants who consumed just products with high levels of delta-9 THC. Similar evidence has been found on mushrooms as well. A study published in February in the journal Molecular Psychiatry explained how full-spectrum psilocybin extract offers superior benefits compared to synthetic psilocybin. “This research not only underscores the superiority of extracts with diverse compounds but also highlights the feasibility of incorporating them into Western medicine due to the controlled nature of mushroom cultivation,” researchers wrote in a press release.

https://hightimes.com/

Anti-Pot Org Claims DEA Administrator Was Not Included in Rescheduling Decision

As the federal government moves to reclassify cannabis and put it in a slightly less restrictive category, the plot thickens. On Monday, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) co-founder Kevin Abraham Sabet Sharghi, Ph.D., aka Kevin Sabet, posted on X allegations that claim the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) head Anne Milgram “did not sign” the order to reschedule cannabis under Schedule III. “I can now say with full confidence that the Administrator of DEA, Anne Milgram, did NOT sign the rescheduling order, breaking with five decades of precedent and established law and regulations (two confidential sources inside DEA and another outside DEA with intimate knowledge tell me).” The Associated Press reported on April 30 that the DEA will be rescheduling cannabis, moving the plant from Schedule I to Schedule III, following a lengthy process. In October 2022, President Joe Biden directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review cannabis’s classification under Schedule I, a category reserved for dangerous drugs with no medical value, and media reports indicated that the DEA agreed to the changes. The Drug Report indicates that this is the latest development in a multi-year process that has ruffled feathers on both sides of the debate. Milgram testified before Congress on Tuesday at a budget hearing, but initially declined to comment on the Schedule III announcement because it is inappropriate for her to respond to questions because the rulemaking process is ongoing. The topic of the budget hearing is the DEA’s funding request for Fiscal Year 2025. “It’s hard to overstate how deeply political and flawed this makes the rescheduling process look,” Sabet said in a statement. “DEA Administrator Anne Milgram should be commended for standing up for science and truth, over the profit-driven pot industry. Her courage will show she was on the right side of history. It’s equally hard to overstate what a botched process the Biden Administration’s rescheduling review has been from the outset. This unprecedented action by the Attorney General reflects a process poisoned by political considerations and conducted with a pre-determined outcome.” A commenter pointed out that U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland probably signed it himself. “Yes, obviously he did,” Sabet replied. ‘But the statute says he designates this to DEA. and for the first time this didn’t happen. not saying this means it won’t be done, just saying this breaks big time from precedent (so it’s not just the decision that’s the outlier, but the process too).” Assuming there are no more major changes to the narrative, the reclassification process now heads to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review the change. Sabet is a former drug policy adviser to the White House under several administrations, and is often vocal about his opposition to cannabis reform in the US. He co-founded SAM with Patrick Kennedy and advises in direct opposition to pro-cannabis legalization groups (think Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and Drug Policy Alliance.) What exactly has he said regarding cannabis? Sabet has claimed that cannabis lowers the IQ of users, and that today’s cannabis is 10 times stronger than in the ‘60s. It’s also not the first of Sabet’s claims regarding the rescheduling of cannabis. Sabet recently debated National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Deputy Director Paul Armentano on C-SPAN on May 2. During the interview, which you can watch in full here, a caller “Luke” called in with a troubling tale about suicide and schizophrenia: “I live here in Colorado and we have recreational and medical marijuana,” the caller said. ”Recently, a neighbor of mine let me know that her son died by suicide after legally using medical marijuana here in Colorado. I was curious that she said he had a psychotic break and that is what led to it. I was curious, what are we saying [about] science on marijuana and schizophrenic psychosis, and did the Biden administration consider this as it relates to the decision to move to marijuana to Schedule III? Was that in the rationale? I just wanted to learn more about that.” But Armentano didn’t take the bait and said the “caller” was actually SAM Deputy Director Luke Niforatos: “To set the record straight, that caller was the deputy director of Kevin’s organization, so that was a planted call,” Armentano said during the debate. “But I’m happy to address the issue the caller brought up.” MPP Director of State Policies Karen O’Keefe posted the interaction. Given Milgram’s recent testimony in a recent budget hearing, we’ll probably hear more about the facts regarding the rescheduling of cannabis at the federal level in the upcoming next few weeks.

https://hightimes.com/

Ho-Chunk Nation Decriminalizes Cannabis

A federally recognized tribe concentrated largely in the Great Lakes region announced last week that it will decriminalize cannabis. “The Ho-Chunk Nation recognizes that marijuana and its derivatives are natural growth plants with medicinal and industrial applications,” the tribe said in a statement, as quoted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Indigenous people have used marijuana and hemp for hundreds of years for a variety of purposes and the Ho-Chunk Nation acknowledges its functional purpose.” Rob Pero, founder of the nonprofit Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, called it “a historic day for Ho-Chunk.” “We commend their commitment to increasing accessibility to plant medicine. … They are building an environment now, before prohibition ends, that will position them to lead the industry, create sustainable economic opportunity and improve the health and wellbeing of our people,” Pero said, as quoted by the Journal Sentinel. “Tribes are able today to self-determine their interests in cannabis and the complex landscape requires the navigation of local, tribal, state and federal policy,” Pero adde. “We see the reclassification empowering tribes to engage meaningfully throughout the supply chain, from farming to processing to retail and more, as well as to facilitate interstate nation-to-nation commerce.” The Ho-Chunk Nation reportedly made the announcement on April 30. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, it means that cannabis will be decriminalized on tribal lands “and Ho-Chunk police will not issue citations for possession.” What it does not mean, however, is that marijuana is legal there. Wisconsin Public Radio noted that “tribal law experts advise the drug is still illegal,” and that an “FAQ distributed within the Ho-Chunk nation indicates county or state police could still issue citations.” “Wisconsin is one of six states that has criminal jurisdiction over Native Americans on reservation land under a law known as Public Law 280. The law applies to all federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin except for the Menominee, which is under the jurisdiction of the federal government,” the public radio station said, adding that it “could make it difficult to set up businesses that cultivate or sell cannabis for medicinal or recreational purposes” and that it “could even deter customers who now travel to neighboring states where cannabis is currently legal.” According to its official website, the Ho-Chunk Nation legislature “is comprised of four branches of government; executive, legislative, judicial and the general council,” which are “made up of 13 representatives called Legislators from four districts, who can serve up to two terms of four (4) years.” Three of the four districts are in Wisconsin, with the fourth covering all districts outside Wisconsin. Both medical and recreational cannabis are illegal in Wisconsin –– one of the few remaining states with total prohibition on pot. A Republican-led effort to pass a medical marijuana bill in this year’s legislative session failed in February. The proposal “drew opposition for being too conservative in severely limiting who could have access to medical marijuana and how it would be distributed, while others faulted it for not going far enough,” according to the Associated Press, which added that Republicans in the Wisconsin state Senate “objected to having state-run dispensaries, while Democrats pushed for full legalization.” Democrats in the Badger State, including Gov. Tony Evers, has been an outspoken supporter of marijuana reform, pushing Wisconsin lawmakers to legalize both recreational and medical cannabis. Evers said in January that he backed the GOP medical marijuana measure, even though it wasn’t as comprehensive as he would prefer. “I would think that getting it all done in one fell swoop would be more thoughtful as far as meeting the needs of Wisconsinites that have asked for it,” Evers said at the time. “But if that’s what we can accomplish right now, I’ll be supportive of that.” Wisconsin could be losing out on precious tax revenue due to its ongoing prohibition. An economic analysis released last year found that neighboring Illinois, where marijuana is legal, has received millions of dollars from cannabis shoppers crossing the border from Wisconsin. Ho-Chunk Nation leaders said that they anticipate the tribe “entering the cannabis business once it becomes legal in the state,” according to the Journal Sentinel. The newspaper said that “tribal law experts say there’s still a legal question about whether tribal nations can allow cannabis sales on federal trust reservation land — land that isn’t subject to local jurisdiction or taxes but still must abide by federal law.” “The only way to do that would be on tribal trust land/Indian country land, and since federal law still bans cannabis, no, there’s no way,” Matthew Fletcher, a law professor at the University of Michigan told the newspaper. “That doesn’t mean tribes won’t do it, but they are at the complete mercy of the whims of the federal government’s decision to prosecute or not. It’s no way to do business. Same is true even if the state makes it legal.”

https://hightimes.com/

Medical Cannabis Program on the Decline in New Jersey

Medical cannabis is at odds with adult-use cannabis industries in most states where recreational cannabis is legal. This is also the case for New Jersey, where its medical cannabis program patient numbers have decreased significantly. According to a recent report published by the New Jersey Monitor, patients believe that the medical program isn’t being maintained. The news outlet spoke with Michael Wiehl, a local patient, about his concerns. “It’s like they’re not even faking an effort anymore, like feigning interest in saving the program. It just seems like there’s so much more they can do, and I don’t understand why they stopped caring about the medical program,” Wiehl said. “They just did.” New Jersey’s medical cannabis program (established by the law also called the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act) went into effect in January 2010, and later adult-use cannabis sales began in April 2022. Data reported on April 15 shows that there are roughly 80,000 medical cannabis patients in New Jersey, although at its peak, the state had more than 129,000 registered patients as of May 2022. Medical cannabis sales have also decreased in recent years as well. Once at a height of $226 million brought in in 2022, 2023 numbers show that the state only collected $124 million. Adult-use sales on the other hand have continued to rise, with 2023 numbers showing $675 million. The New Jersey Monitor stated that medical cannabis patients have access to extended dispensary operating hours, reserved parking, medical-only sales, are exempt from some taxes, and can purchase more cannabis products. Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey director Ken Wolski explained that medical cannabis needs to be a “very real part of health care in New Jersey” in order to keep it operating. Leaders of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), such as executive director Jeff Brown, have said that they’re looking into a course of action to support its medical cannabis program with “an unwavering commitment to patient access.” This included a move to reduce medical cannabis card fees from $200 to $10, and giving patients a digital card for free. However, the CRC has stated that the reason for the decrease in medical cannabis patient enrollment is because patients must sacrifice paying for medical cannabis in lieu of the cost for higher priced doctor appointments. “Despite what the NJ-CRC has done so far—eliminating registration fee and requiring Alternative Treatment Center to preserve priority access for patients—patients are seemingly leaving the program because they cannot afford the fees they are being charged by some doctors,” Brown explained. State law requires that doctors certify patients who qualify for medical cannabis. This includes patients suffering from conditions such as epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder, glaucoma, cancer, anxiety, chronic pain, opioid use disorder, and more. There are approximately 1,500 doctors who are allowed to certify patients, but many of them are not taking new patients at this time. During the pandemic, legislation was passed to enable telehealth renewal for medical cannabis patients. This costs between $100-$150, and $150-$200 for a physical visit. Doctors are permitted to require patients to renew this fee anywhere between every 90 days or up to once a year. “We hear from [patients] that the significant obstacles they are facing are centered around costs that are outside the purview of the NJ-CRC: cost associated with the fees charged by doctors to provide authorization forms, and the cost of cannabis and cannabis products,” Brown added. Legislators have attempted to pass bills that would have extended insurance to cover medical cannabis costs such as this, but none have been passed. Most recently, Assembly Bill 898 (introduced by Rep. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson in January 2024) would “subsidize purchase price of medical cannabis for registered qualifying patients enrolled in Medicaid or NJ Family Care programs.” Wiehl also told the New Jersey Monitor that legislators should introduce a bill to help cover bills related to doctor’s visits, or expand the number of doctors who can certify patients for medical cannabis. He stated that he spends $15,000 annually on medical cannabis for himself, and would like to see legislation help patients avoid such high prices. “$1,200 a month and that’s on the cheap side. This is a lot to ask someone to pay for their medicine. If it could get covered by insurance, that’d be great, but if the medical program goes away, that’s never going to happen,” Wiehl said. Unlike other states with medical and adult-use cannabis programs, New Jersey does not permit home cultivation. Wolski and Wiehl told the news outlet that changing the law to make growing legal could potentially lead to an increase in patients. Wiehl added that if specific products were limited to medical-only patients, such as high dose edibles or THC beverages, it could offer more incentive to keep people applying for medical cards. Wiehl added that while the CRC has done its job well, he believes that the program might “wither away and die” if nothing changes. The state is home to 73 adult-use dispensaries and only 52 medical cannabis dispensaries, which forces patients to end their cardholding status and just become adult-use consumers. “[The CRC] let everyone come in and open up all these rec shops without forcing them into the medical side,” Wiehl said. “You let all this happen, you didn’t do anything to stop it, and now we’re here. At this point, let’s just wrap it up and move everything over to the recreational side. It’s backwards, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.” Brown has confirmed that the CRC isn’t going to just abandon patients, and that a current review is being conducted. “We are reviewing the medicinal cannabis rules and looking for ways we can better serve patients within the purview of Jake Honig Law,” Brown said. “We believe in the capacity of cannabis in medical treatment—and Jake Honig’s Law guarantees access for patients in New Jersey.”

https://hightimes.com/

Orangutan Observed Using Medicinal Herb To Heal Wound

Biologists from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany and Universitas Nasional, Indonesia observed a large male orangutan self-medicating—using a paste of chewed up plants topically to heal a large wound on his cheek. It’s essentially a wild animal that appears to intentionally make his own medicinal salve. A peer-reviewed study was published Thursday in Scientific Reports, demonstrating the first time scientists have observed this specific behavior from an orangutan. The biologists first saw the behavior in 2022 when the orangutan was badly wounded. Rakus is an orangutan that lives in Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, and when he was wounded on his cheek with a gaping hole, he sprung into action, behaving in a way scientists have never seen before in a non-human. Lead researcher Dr. Isabelle Laumer, a primatologist and behavioral biologist confirmed the findings to High Times. “We observed a male Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) who sustained a facial wound,” researchers wrote. “Three days after the injury he selectively ripped off leaves of a liana with the common name Akar Kuning (Fibraurea tinctoria), chewed on them, and then repeatedly applied the resulting juice onto the facial wound. As a last step, he fully covered the wound with the chewed leaves.” Watch the orangutan here the first time he was observed behaving this way. (Laumer et al., 2024 Scientific Reports) The researchers saw no indications of infection and the wound closed within five days. After a month, Rakus’s wound was fully healed. Fibraurea tinctoria is a plant that demonstrates anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and it can be used locally to treat malaria and diabetes. Humans have been using medicinal salves for thousands of years, but this behavior is rarely seen in wild animals. “The treatment of human wounds was most likely first mentioned in a medical manuscript that dates back to 2200 BC, which included the cleaning, plastering, and bandaging of wounds with certain wound care substances,” Dr Caroline Schuppli, a senior author of the paper, told the Natural History Museum. “As African and Asian great apes have also been seen actively treating wounds, it is possible we share a common underlying mechanism for recognising and applying medical substances to wounds. This might have developed in a common ancestor, which may have already showed similar forms of ointment behaviour.” (Laumer et al., 2024 Scientific Reports) CBS News reports that gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos swallow certain bitter-tasting leaves whole to get rid of stomach parasites. The rough texture of the leaves can scrape out their digestive systems. The apes appear to only eat those types of bitter leaves when they need help with their digestive tracts. Researchers said we can learn about ourselves based on these findings. “They are our closest relatives and this again points towards the similarities we share with them. We are more similar than we are different,” biologist Dr Isabella Laumer at the Max Planck institute in Germany told BBC News. Orangutans demonstrate remarkable intelligence, and some researchers believe it may surpass the intelligence of chimps. Psychologist Robert Deaner of Grand Valley State University in Michigan, for instance, scoured hundreds of cognition studies and created “The Hierarchy of Primate Intelligence.” According to Deaner’s hierarchy, orangutans are smarter than chimpanzees, and they are the smartest primates after humans, and spider monkeys are the fourth smartest primates after orangutans and chimps, with gorillas being the fifth smartest. Orangutans can perform several tasks that most apes cannot do. Researchers in Leipzig Zoo in Germany observed “calculated reciprocity”—meaning they “weigh the costs and benefits of gift exchanges.” They have also been observed creating a distraction in order to steal food from one another, essentially showing them pick-pocketing. They’ve also been seen using leaves to amplify calls, holding them to their mouth when they squeak, enabling them to deceive one another to sound like a larger ape. Scientists argue that these behaviors make them one of the most self-aware wild animals that have ever been observed. Orangutans can learn up to 40 hand signs to communicate in sign language, and can do the same with their feet. The Natural History Museum reports that the use of medicinal plants by animals—known as zoopharmacognosy—is believed to be used by a variety of different species to treat their illnesses and injuries to some degree. But in most cases, it’s unclear if it’s prompted by instinct rather than learned behavior. Blue-headed parrots, for instance, frequently lick clay which helps them absorb the toxins from unripe fruits they’ve eaten. Galápagos finches have been observed rubbing the leaves of the Galápagos guava tree on their feathers. These are rich in chemicals that repel mosquitoes and fly larvae. Wild animals have been seen eating cannabis, but it’s unclear why they are attracted to it. In the wild, mice and rats eat germinated hemp seeds, while moles, rabbits, foxes, deer, and dogs have been seen eating hemp leaves and stalks. And this doesn’t include insect pests that regularly chow down on cannabis leaves. Even insects eat different foods that have medicinal properties. Cordyceps and fungal infections are a nightmare (and the inspiration for The Last of Us video game and series) but ants have been observed eating normally unwanted foods that ward off fungal infections. The new findings about orangutan behavior demonstrate how little we know about ape intelligence.

https://hightimes.com/

Minnesota Senate Approves Bill To Accelerate Licensing of Weed Businesses

The Minnesota state Senate last week approved a bill to accelerate the licensing of cannabis businesses, narrowly approving the measure by a vote of 34-32. If passed by the legislature and signed into law, the legislation would set the stage for cultivators to begin growing regulated weed by the end of the year. Minnesota lawmakers passed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in May 2023, with provisions allowing adults to possess up to two ounces of cannabis in a public place and up to two pounds of weed at home beginning on August 1 of last year. The measure also allows adults to grow up to eight cannabis plants at home, including four mature, flowering plants. The bill also legalized the cultivation and sale of regulated cannabis by licensed businesses, with dispensary sales of recreational marijuana anticipated to start in January 2025. Under legislation passed by the Minnesota Senate on Friday, state regulators would be able to issue preliminary approval for cannabis cultivators beginning this summer. Supporters of the bill say the legislation will allow prospective regulated cultivators to line up funding for their operations, secure a business location and complete other tasks related to launching their business. “This newly regulated, legalized and regulated industry is in its infancy, and we’re here to continue the work we started last year,” said Democratic Senator Lindsey Port, according to a report from the Albert Lea Tribune. “Like any new industry, it will not be fully grown on day one. This bill works to ensure a successful market launch and support the industry and Minnesotans involved in this industry as it grows and develops.” The legislation also tasks the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management with regulating hemp-derived cannabinoids and medical marijuana, which are currently regulated by the state Department of Health. The office recommended many of the provisions of the bill to help facilitate the timely transition to regulated sales of recreational marijuana. Under the bill, companies given early approval to grow adult-use cannabis would temporarily be subject to the state’s existing rules for medical marijuana cultivation until the Office of Cannabis Management finalizes recreational marijuana regulations later this year. The bill was opposed by many Republican lawmakers who expressed concerns that establishing temporary regulations that might vary from the forthcoming permanent rules could be problematic. They also balked at allowing businesses to begin growing recreational weed before they are licensed by the state. “I understand that there are folks that want to have the cannabis industry open and running today,” said Republican Senator Jordan Rasmusson. “But I think for the health and safety of Minnesotans for public safety, for just regulatory integrity, and an open and transparent process that would allow Minnesotans to engage on rulemaking, it’s really important that we don’t do an end-around.” Opponents of the bill are concerned that accelerating the pace to approve regulated cultivators could lead to unintended consequences. The also were concerned about cannabis being obtained by young people and proposed an amendment that would make possession of weed by minors a misdemeanor criminal offense. “How can we say it’s wrong and a petty misdemeanor or maybe even a misdemeanor for repeat offenses for a child to be drinking a beer, but it’s okay for them to be walking down the street with a bag of marijuana or smoking a joint?” said Senator Eric Pratt. “Where’s the consistency in that?” Democratic Governor Tim Walz said that he is monitoring developments in the legislation and noted that he is aware that some people are not comfortable with the prospect of allowing cultivation to begin by the end of the year, stressing that the regulations must include quality standards for cannabis cultivators. “We certainly hear people on this. I think there’s some potential there,” Walz told reporters earlier this week. “We’re trying the best we can, but we’re not going to cut corners.” The bill was approved with amendments by the Minnesota House of Representatives last month. The legislation will now head to a conference committee, where lawmakers from both chambers of the legislature will reconcile differences between the two versions of the amended bill.

https://hightimes.com/

Some NY Lawmakers Say Illicit Pot Shops Must Close Before Adding Licensed Shops

After officially legalizing cannabis for adult use in New York, the journey that followed has been fairly tumultuous as multiple roadblocks have delayed shop licensure and hindered the legal industry’s full potential. A number of lawsuits and a change in gubernatorial leadership delayed dispensary licensure and openings, in turn allowing the illicit market to flourish with those shops drastically outnumbering the amount of legal dispensaries in the state. As New York growers, business owners and myriad cannabis professionals continue to wait for their licenses to be approved, some New York lawmakers are embracing a different approach (that would likely extend the wait for industry hopefuls even longer). Namely, Queens Community Board 9 Chairwoman Sherry Algredo argued that New York should refrain from adding any licensed cannabis shops to her district until authorities are able to shut down those operating illegally, according to a New York Post report. Community Board 9 covers the neighborhoods Key Gardens, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Woodhaven. “The Board received numerous concerns from residents regarding the proliferation of illegal smoke shops already operating in our district and the negative impact these establishments have had on our community,” Algredo said in a recent letter. “Consequently, the Board will not support any new applications until these illegal operations are shut down.” While Algredo’s statement reads as fairly definitive, the boards’ recommendations are advisory to state regulators, though they can still influence final policy decisions. The law that legalized cannabis in New York also mandates that applicants for cannabis licenses must notify the community board within the vicinity they plan to operate and appear before it prior to opening their businesses. The conversation surrounding illicit cannabis shops in New York has been ongoing, though Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and other lawmakers have consistently touted their efforts to mitigate theses problems. In April, the governor unveiled new initiatives aimed to shut down illicit cannabis operations and protect the legal cannabis marketplace. The plan allows the Office of Cannabis Management and local municipalities new authority to take action against illicit shops. “Unlicensed dispensaries have littered New York neighborhoods, blatantly circumventing our laws and selling potentially dangerous products,” Hochul said in a statement. “Enough is enough. I promised to protect our communities and hard-working, legal cannabis licensees by expediting the closure of illicit storefronts. I’m proud to stand up and say we got it done.” Last month also marked the opening of the 100th adult-use store in the state. New York legalized adult-use cannabis on March 31, 2021. It also looks like that number should increase soon, as the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) shared last month that it approved an additional 101 adult-use cannabis licenses with more than 400 total approved sites in 2024. Conversely, it’s estimated that New York City alone has about 2,000 illicit cannabis stores currently operating. The state is still working to do what it can to fix the issues with the legal industry rollout. Lawmakers recently passed another resolution that gives the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) the ability to issue provisional licenses, which the CCB hopes will speed up the licensing process. “This measure aims to provide provisional license holders with opportunities to begin operations swiftly while adhering to regulatory requirements, fostering a dynamic and competitive marketplace,” the CCB explained. Still, it’s clear that closing illicit pot shops in the state will not be an easy task. Many illicit shops immediately reopened after raids and temporary shutdown orders under the prior rules, and it’s not yet clear how effective the newly announced laws to close illegal shops will be in practice. Because of that, closing all illicit shops before allowing new ones to open, even in a single district, may be tougher in reality than in theory. Still, some lawmakers are standing by the need to close unlicensed shops before adding more licensed ones. “We have 32 illegal cannabis shops. We are not going to entertain any applications for legal cannabis shops until the unlicensed stores are shut down,” CB 9 District Manager James McClelland told The Post.

https://hightimes.com/

Study: ADHD Patient MMJ Use Leads to Improvements in Anxiety, Sleep, Quality of Life

When it comes to medical benefits, cannabis is often associated with its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and sedative properties. But given the versatile nature of the plant, researchers are looking beyond some of the more common qualifying medical conditions to uncover the full medicinal potential of cannabis. Though it’s largely under-researched, it’s possible that cannabis could work to help folks with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to better manage their symptoms. A recent observational study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology Reports found that, indeed, medical cannabis may be beneficial for people with ADHD — though not necessarily for reasons associated with focus and attention. Rather, researchers found that cannabis use led to observed improvements in the anxiety, sleep quality and health-related quality of life among participants. While the results are not definitive, authors argue that the findings are substantial enough to hopefully prompt future research on cannabis and ADHD. The team of UK-based researchers aimed to primarily assess the health-related quality of life and safety outcomes in ADHD patients treated with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs). ADHD has an estimated global prevalence of 5% in children and 2.5% in adults, with estimated incidences of ADHD diagnosis increasing by approximately 42% in children between 2003 and 2011 and 123% in adults between 2007 and 2016 in the U.S., according to the study. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition generally associated with issues with focus, hyperactivity, impulsivity and/or psychosocial differences in managing relationships. ADHD is also associated with a higher instance of sleep disturbance and co-morbidities like anxiety and depression. It falls under the neurodivergent umbrella, characterized as a natural variation in how the human brain processes information. Researchers note that current treatment for ADHD consists of a combination of psychological therapies and both stimulant and non-stimulant medications. However, they note that stimulant medications may come with unwanted side effects, while non-stimulant medications can similarly result in adverse effects that may hinder people from taking them on a long-term basis. They note that the endocannabinoid system, which cannabinoids like THC and CBD interact with directly, plays a vital role in cognitive function, motor coordination and homeostasis,” suggesting that medical cannabis could be useful in treating symptoms associated with ADHD. In order to examine how cannabis use can impact people with ADHD, researchers tracked data on 68 patients from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (UKMCR) and patient-recorded outcome measures at one, three, six and 12 months from baseline. Eighty percent of the participants already consumed cannabis at the point of initiating treatment. At each followup, patients answered surveys regarding severity of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms, sleep quality and health-related quality of life. Ultimately, researchers found that all three elements had improved over time. Specifically, anxiety and sleep quality metrics showed improvement at each check-in over the observed year. Researchers also observed significant improvements in health-related quality of life during the first six months of the study, but by the 12th month there was no difference between those who were current consumers and those who were not. Just 11 of the 68 participants reported negative effects, largely insomnia, concentration impairment, lethargy and dry mouth. Despite this, nine patients stopped using their other ADHD medication during treatment. Researchers argue that future research should include comparative analysis on patients in the UKMCR while highlighting the need to conduct high-quality random controlled trials for the treatment of ADHD. “This case series is the first of its kind in assessing the clinical outcome of patients from the UKMCR with a primary diagnosis of ADHD prescribed CBMPs for up to 12 months,” authors conclude, adding that the preliminary findings suggest that medical cannabis products may play a role in alleviating symptoms, comorbid anxiety and sleep disruption associated with ADHD. “CBMPs were well-tolerated throughout this study and the majority of patients (83.82%) did not report any adverse events,” they continue. “Due to limitations in study design, a causal relationship cannot be determined, thus, a definite conclusion cannot be drawn from these results. The findings from this study guide further investigation to assess the therapeutic efficacy and long-term safety profile of CBMPs.”

https://hightimes.com/

Study Finds Medical Cannabis Provides Lasting Benefits for Osteoarthritis Patients

Patients with osteoarthritis reported a reduction in pain associated with the disease when using medical cannabis, according to the results of a recently published study by British researchers. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the joints characterized by the wearing down of cartilage at the ends of bones. The condition is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 32.5 million adults in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. OA occurs most frequently in the hands, knees and hips, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. In extreme cases, OA can cause reduced function or disability, with patients unable to work or perform daily tasks. Because there is no cure for OA, doctors treat the symptoms of the disease with various therapies, including over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs. Weight loss, increasing activity and physical therapy are also commonly employed therapies. In more severe cases, additional strategies including supportive devices such as canes or crutches can be used, as well as surgical options such as joint replacement. In a study published last month in the peer-reviewed Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy, a team of British researchers notes that the pain associated with osteoarthritis can be disabling and affect quality of life because of “mood disturbance, interference with social relations, and diminished cognitive function.” However, the opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) commonly used to treat OA are not appropriate for long-term use because of potentially dangerous side effects. As a result, the use of medical cannabis treatments is attracting widespread interest among patients and healthcare professionals. In a report on the study, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) explains that British medical specialists have been allowed to prescribe cannabis-based medicines to patients who have not responded to conventional medications. The researchers investigated the effectiveness of using cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) including flower and oil extracts in a group of OA patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. The researchers assessed the change reported by participants using medical cannabis over one year. An analysis of the data revealed that patients reported symptom improvements at one month, three months, six months, and at one year, indicating a sustained improvement of symptoms throughout the study. “Commencement of CBMP treatment was associated with reductions in pain-specific PROMs [patient-reported outcome measures] at all time points in patients with osteoarthritis,” the researchers wrote in the study. The researchers documented few serious side effects or adverse events (AEs) associated with cannabis experienced by participants in the study. Most reported side effects were mild or moderate, with dry mouth, drowsiness and constipation being the most commonly reported. “AEs were mainly mild or moderate in severity,” researchers wrote. “Fatigue was the most common AE in this study.” The authors noted several limitations of the research, including the lack of a placebo group to compare results. Additionally, the “study was subject to significant selection bias because patients received treatment from the same private clinic; hence, inclusion was limited to those who could afford treatment,” among other limitations. Overall, the researchers found that medical cannabis treatments were an effective treatment for OA, with participants in the study reporting reduced pain and better health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Causality could not be established, however, leading the researchers to call for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the use of cannabis formulations for the treatment of OA. “These results suggest an improvement in pain-related outcomes for patients with osteoarthritis following the initiation of CBMP treatment. Furthermore, there was an improvement in general HRQoL metrics across the follow-up period. CBMPs also appeared to be well-tolerated at 12-month follow-up,” the researchers wrote, adding, “Hence, this study supports the development of RCTs for CBMP use in osteoarthritis.”

https://hightimes.com/

Alaska House Approves Bill To Establish Task Force To Investigate Psychedelic Therapy

On May 2, the Alaska House of Representatives recently approved House Bill 228 in a 36-4 vote, which would establish a task force to regulate various psychedelic-assisted therapies. The official name of the group will be Alaska Task Force for the Regulation of Psychedelic Medicines Approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Passing HB-228, according to Rep. Jenny Armstrong who sponsored the bill, is an attempt to get ahead of possible future substance rescheduling and/or federal approval. “This August, it is widely anticipated that FDA will approve the most significant medicine for the treatment of mental health in decades,” Armstrong said prior to the House floor vote. She added that FDA approval of psilocybin as a medical treatment could be coming in the next one to two years. “House Bill 228 before us today would create a task force that would put forth recommendations for the next legislature to consider as it relates to this treatment. Whether you are excited about the idea of psychedelics getting approved, you’re neutral or you’re flat-out against it, I think we can all agree that if it is coming, we should be prepared and be thoughtful in how we approach it.” Armstrong also noted that Alaska not only has the most veterans per capita, but is also ranked among the highest in violence rates throughout the U.S. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation data spanning 2012-2022, murder and aggravated assault were among the top crimes reported in Alaska. While the total crime rate in 2021 and 2022 was reduced compared to numbers from 2018, murder incidents increased in 2019 and 2022. If passed, HB-228 would require that a task force be established, and for the group to spend one year reviewing the pros and cons of psychedelic-assisted therapies such as psilocybin and MDMA. Most House representatives were receptive to moving the bill forward to assist those who have mental health conditions. Rep. Laddie Shaw spoke up and explained that she was formerly the director of Alaskan Veteran Affairs, and veterans are asking for some kind of positive move forward. “This task force gives us an opportunity to move forward with some productivity on behalf of our veterans,” Shaw explained. “We haven’t done anything for the last 50 years. Let’s move forward with something.” Rep. Sarah Vance also supported the bill, stating that even though she’s uncomfortable with the topic, she still sees the value in exploring psychedelic-assisted therapies as an option. Other representatives, such as Rep. Dan Saddler, opposed the idea that there is any benefit to psychedelic drugs. “I rise against this bill because I don’t believe we should be going off in a direction in what I believe to be a premature fashion,” Saddler said. He added that a task force would encroach “on the purview of the legislature.” Rep. Jamie Allard claimed that military veterans were being harmed by those attempting to promote psychedelic therapy agendas. “Using our military veterans as experiments? We aren’t experiments,” said Allard. “We are human beings who deserve to have things done in the proper manner, and slowly and concisely.” Rep. David Eastman compared the approval of psychedelic medicine to the once normal acceptance of lobotomies. “I look at the history of medicine in this country, and it was not that long ago that we were told—and our entire government, you know, echoed—that lobotomies were a good thing, and they were carried out in our country,” said Eastman. “I hope that we will not look back some number of years now and see that hallucinogens were also a mistake.” HB-228 received amendments one day before the House floor vote. On May 1, one of these changes included adding a board of directors member from the Alaska Pharmacy Association to the task force. Other changes include extending the due date of the task force report from December 31, 2024 to January 31, 2025. The task force was originally set to end at the beginning of the legislative session, but changes altered this timeline so that it would conclude at the end of the session instead. Another amendment required that any task force members from the Alaska State Medical Association must be physicians. “These are all items that we were looking to clean up with the other body if they weren’t tackled today and so I fully support them.” commented Armstrong. The next move is for HB-228 to be presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 6. Senate Bill 166 is a companion bill to HB-228, introduced in January by sponsor Sen. Forrest Dunbar. At a Senate Labor & Commerce committee hearing in February, Dunbar explained the purposes of the bill: “…the overriding purpose of the task force is still the same: We are preparing Alaska—hopefully preparing—for what we see as the very likely legalization, in the medical context, of certain of these substances,” Dunbar said. Alaska legalized medical cannabis through a voter initiative in 1998, and adult-use cannabis was later passed through a voter initiative in February 2015.

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