Tag: NORML

Study: Cannabis Inhalation Associated With Symptomatic Improvements in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Pullman, WA: Adults with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) report significant improvements in their symptoms following cannabis inhalation, according to data published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports.

Researchers affiliated with Washington State University and the University of New Orleans reviewed data from 111 self-identified ASD patients (ages 19 to 70). Study participants self-medicated with cannabis and reported their results in real-time on the mobile technology platform Strainprint. Investigators assessed nearly 6,000 separate Strainprint entries compiled over 74 months.

They reported: “Using a large dataset from self-identified autistic adults self-medicating with cannabis, we found that ratings of the severity of Negative Affect (anxiety and irritability) were reduced by 75.78 percent, ratings of the severity of Repetitive Behaviors (compulsive behaviors) were reduced by 70.41 percent, ratings of the severity of problems with Mental Control (difficulty concentrating) were reduced by 68.59 percent, and ratings of Sensitivity (skin and sound sensitivity, sensory overload) severity were reduced by 68.09 percent, from immediately before to shortly after inhaling cannabis. Moreover, these symptoms were reduced (rather than exacerbated or unchanged) in 98.33 percent of the cannabis use sessions. These findings are among the first to indicate that cannabis is perceived to improve highly prevalent symptoms associated with ASD in adults using cannabis for symptom management.”

Study participants acknowledged experiencing symptomatic improvements from cannabis regardless of its potency or its cannabinoid ratios.

“These findings indicate that well-powered placebo-controlled trials are warranted to examine the acute effects of various cannabinoids and manipulations of the endocannabinoid system on ASD symptoms,” the study’s authors concluded.

The findings are consistent with observational studies involving patients enrolled in the United Kingdom’s Medical Cannabis Registry, which similarly report that adults with ASD experience improved symptoms and reduce their use of prescription medications following their use of medical cannabis products.

Full text of the study, “Acute effects on cannabis on core and co-occurring features associated with autism spectrum disorder in adults,” appears in Nature: Scientific Reports.

Analysis: Cannabis Use Associated With Lower Rates of Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome

Adelaide, Australia: Adults with a history of recent cannabis use are less likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome (aka MetS, a cluster of biochemical and physiological markers associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes) as compared to similarly matched controls, according to data published in the journal Schizophrenia Research.

Australian researchers assessed MetS prevalence in a cohort of schizophrenic patients with and without a history of cannabis consumption.

They reported that THC-positive subjects “exhibited a significantly lower prevalence of MetS (adjusted OR = 0.61),” even after researchers adjusted for potential confounders. Cannabis use was also associated with lower weight, BMI, and cholesterol levels – findings that are consistent with prior studies.

“Our findings demonstrate a significant association between cannabis use and a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in individuals with schizophrenia,” the study’s authors concluded. However, they cautioned: “Given the well-established adverse psychosis-related outcomes of cannabis use in this population, our findings underscore the need for cautious interpretation. The relationship between cannabis use and cardiometabolic health in schizophrenia is likely multifactorial, influenced by biological, pharmacological and behavioral traits that remain poorly understood. … Future research should investigate the long-term cardiometabolic effects of both cannabis use and cessation and assess the potential for targeted metabolic interventions during this critical period.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use and cardiometabolic risk in schizophrenia,” appears in Schizophrenia Research.

Clinical Trial: CBD Dosing Reduces Dementia Symptoms in Older Adults

São Paulo, Brazil: The daily use of CBD reduces dementia symptoms, according to placebo-controlled clinical trial data published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Brazilian researchers assessed the efficacy of CBD versus a placebo in 30 older patients with vascular dementia (VaD). Study participants consumed either 300mg doses of CBD or the placebo for four weeks.

CBD administration significantly reduced patients’ behavioral and psychiatric symptoms compared to placebo. CBD dosing did not adversely impact patients’ cognitive functioning, nor was it associated with any other significant side effects.

“CBD was well tolerated and effectively reduced BPSD [behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia] in VaD without cognitive or functional impairment,” the study’s authors concluded. “These findings warrant further trials with larger samples, extended durations, and dose-optimization strategies to confirm its therapeutic potential.”

According to the conclusions of a review paper published previously this year in the same journal, “Cannabinoids show promising potential in managing symptoms such as agitation and aggression in people with dementia, with an overall favorable safety and tolerability profile.”

Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabidiol on behavioral and psychological symptoms of vascular dementia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial,” appears in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

California: No Significant Uptick in Marijuana Use by Adults Following Legalization

Berkeley, CA: The percentage of adults in California reporting current cannabis use has remained stable following legalization, according to findings published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse.

Researchers affiliated with the Prevention Research Center in Berkeley assessed trends in past 30-day cannabis use from 2018 to 2023 using data compiled by the California Health Interview Survey – a representative sample of tens of thousands of Californians.

Contrary to investigators’ expectations, they identified no significant overall increase in self-reported cannabis use by adults.

“In summary, the overall trend for cannabis use in the past 30-day in California remained unchanged from 2018 to 2023, eight years after legalization and six years after cannabis retail became available,” the study’s authors concluded. “Future research should focus on identifying trends among gender, age, and ethnic groups.”

The findings are consistent with national trends reporting no significant uptick in marijuana use by adolescents post-legalization, but they are inconsistent with several surveys finding increased cannabis use among young adults and seniors.

Full text of the study, “Trends in pot-legalization cannabis use among ethnic groups in California: 2018-2023,” appears in Substance Use & Misuse.

Meta-Analysis: Cannabis Use Not Linked To Elevated Risk of Oral Cancer

Zarqa, Jordan: Cannabis use is associated with a reduced risk of oral cancer, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse.

An international team of investigators from Jordan, Iraq, and Uzbekistan reviewed data from six case-control studies involving over 15,000 subjects.

Researchers identified no dose-response relationship between cannabis use and a heightened risk of oral cancers, regardless of subjects’ duration of use. Instead, investigators suggested that cannabis may provide “significant protective effects” against cancer. They caution, however, that their findings may be influenced by confounders, particularly researchers’ failure to identify subjects’ HPV (human papillomavirus) status. (HPV infection is linked to elevated cancer risk.)

“The pooled odds ratio demonstrated a statistically significant inverse association between marijuana use and oral cancer risk (OR = 0.66),” the study’s authors concluded. “However, given methodological limitations, heterogeneity in exposure assessment, and conflicting recent evidence, these findings require cautious interpretation. Future large-scale prospective cohort studies with standardized exposure measurements are essential for definitive conclusions.”

While cannabinoids have demonstrated well-established anti-cancer activities in preclinical models, their efficacy as an anti-cancer agent has rarely been assessed in clinical trials.

Full text of the study, “The association between marijuana use and oral cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies,” appears in the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse.

Study: Low Levels of THC in Blood Not Associated With Significant Changes in Simulated Driving Performance

San Diego, CA: Subjects who have not recently consumed cannabis but still have residual levels of THC in their blood perform no differently on a driving simulator than do those who are THC-negative, according to data published in the journal Clinical Chemistry.

Researchers affiliated with the University of California at San Diego assessed THC blood levels and simulated driving performance in a cohort of 190 regular cannabis consumers. Study subjects were required to have abstained from cannabis for 48 hours prior to participating in the study.

Post-abstinence, nearly half of the study participants had detectable levels of THC (above 0.5ng/ml) at baseline, with one-quarter of participants testing positive for more than 2ng/ml of THC in blood. However, those testing positive for THC showed no significant differences in their baseline driving scores as compared to those with no quantifiable THC concentrations.

“Our data argue that the concentrations we measured at baseline likely reflect steady state THC concentrations in this population, several days after last use,” the study’s authors concluded. “We also show, using quantitative data from the driving simulator, that participants who exceeded the zero-tolerance and per se cutpoints (2 and 5 ng/mL) performed in a similar manner as those below these arbitrary values. These results add to a growing body of evidence that per se THC blood statutes lack scientific credibility as prima facie evidence of impairment.”

The findings are consistent with those of other studies reporting no correlation between the detection of either THC or its metabolites in blood, urine, saliva, and breath and impaired driving performance. Nevertheless, several states have enacted laws criminalizing drivers who operate a motor vehicle with trace levels of THC or THC metabolites, regardless of whether the driver is impaired.

In an accompanying editorial, authors said that the study’s conclusions “raise serious doubts about the scientific validity of using measures of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in blood to identify cannabis-impaired drivers.”

NORML has consistently argued that law enforcement should not presume that the detection of either THC or its metabolites in bodily fluids is evidence of impairment because their presence is not predictive of diminished performance. Alternatively, NORML has called for the expanded use of performance-based tests, like DRUID or Predictive Safety’s AlertMeter, which compare subjects’ cognitive skills to either their own prior performance or an aggregate baseline.

Full text of the study, “Per se driving under the influence of cannabis statutes and blood delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations following short-term cannabis abstinence,” appears in Clinical Chemistry. Additional information on cannabis and driving is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.’

Analysis: Cannabis Terpenes Act as Agonists on Endogenous Cannabinoid Receptors

Ra’anana, Israel: Terpenes in the cannabis plant activate endogenous cannabinoid receptors in a dose-dependent manner, according to the preclinical data published in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology.

Israeli researchers assessed the modulatory ability of sixteen cannabis terpenes: α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, myrcene, ocimene, sabinene, terpinolene, borneol, eucalyptol, geraniol, linalool, terpineol, β-caryophyllene, humulene, bisabolol, and nerolidol. Researchers reported “significant dose-dependent responses at both CB1 and CB2 receptors, … reaching a maximal response of about 10-60 percent the activation elicited by THC.” The study is among the first to characterize terpene interactions with CB2 receptors.

Activating the CB2 receptors is believed to provide cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects, but it does not elicit mood-altering effects.

“This study provides evidence suggesting that multiple cannabis-derived terpenes, when tested in the absence of cannabinoids, act as partial agonists at CB1R and CB2R, with significant variability in apparent potency, efficacy, and receptor selectivity,” the study’s authors concluded. “Collectively, these findings suggest a pharmacological basis for incorporating specific terpenes into ECS-focused product design and warrant further research into their tissue-specific activity, and synergistic potential when used in combination with cannabinoids or other therapeutic agents. The broad availability and favorable safety profiles of many terpenes further support their potential as accessible, scalable, and customizable tools in the modulation of endocannabinoid signaling.”

Prior studies have established that low doses of cannabis terpenes can amplify THC’s activity upon CB1 receptors. A 2023 research paper published in the Journal of Cannabis Research reported that cannabis flower with elevated levels of the terpenes myrcene and terpinolene is associated with greater perceived symptom relief among patients.

Full text of the study, “Selective activation of cannabinoid receptors by cannabis terpenes,” appears in Biochemical Pharmacology.

Ohio: Legislative Conference Committee Advances Bill Repealing Key Provisions of Voter-Approved Marijuana Law

Columbus, OH: Members of a legislative conference committee approved and advanced a negotiated version of Senate Bill 56, which makes numerous changes to the state’s voter-approved adult-use marijuana legalization law.

The Republican-spearheaded bill amends existing law in several ways. It stipulates that consumers cannot legally possess cannabis products sourced from out of state, including products legally purchased at licensed dispensaries in neighboring jurisdictions. No other legalization state imposes such restrictions.

It also repeals provisions that currently protect adult-use consumers from facing either workplace or professional disciplinary action, as well as other forms of discrimination based solely upon their private marijuana use. It imposes new arbitrary limits on the percentages of THC permitted in adult-use and medical cannabis concentrates and it caps the total number of retail licenses permitted statewide.

Other provisions in the legislation create a pathway for those seeking to expunge past marijuana-related convictions, limit the sale of certain hemp-derived products solely to state-licensed dispensaries, clarify that adults can legally consume cannabis on their private property (rather than solely inside their own private residence), and redirect a portion of tax revenues from marijuana sales to individual municipalities that license cannabis retailers.

NORML has vociferously lobbied against many of the proposed changes to Ohio’s adult-use marijuana law, which was approved in 2023 by 57 percent of voters. NORML’s action alert opposing SB 56 has been shared with lawmakers over 22,000 times. It states: “This bill is a slap in the face to the millions of Ohioans who voted in favor of Issue 2. Once again, politicians are arrogantly trying to claim that the public didn’t know what they were voting for.”

Members of the House approved the revised bill late Wednesday, with all Democrats voting against it. The legislation now awaits a final vote by members of the Senate, who are expected to reconvene in December. Once approved by the Senate, it will head to the desk of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

Meta-Analysis: Cannabis Use Not Linked To Elevated Risk of Oral Cancer

Zarqa, Jordan: Cannabis use is associated with a reduced risk of oral cancer, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse.

An international team of investigators from Jordan, Iraq, and Uzbekistan reviewed data from six case-control studies involving over 15,000 subjects.

Researchers identified no dose-response relationship between cannabis use and a heightened risk of oral cancers, regardless of subjects’ duration of use. Instead, investigators suggested that cannabis may provide “significant protective effects” against cancer. They caution, however, that their findings may be influenced by confounders, particularly researchers’ failure to identify subjects’ HPV (human papillomavirus) status. (HPV infection is linked to elevated cancer risk.)

“The pooled odds ratio demonstrated a statistically significant inverse association between marijuana use and oral cancer risk (OR = 0.66),” the study’s authors concluded. “However, given methodological limitations, heterogeneity in exposure assessment, and conflicting recent evidence, these findings require cautious interpretation. Future large-scale prospective cohort studies with standardized exposure measurements are essential for definitive conclusions.”

While cannabinoids have demonstrated well-established anti-cancer activities in preclinical models, their efficacy as an anti-cancer agent has rarely been assessed in clinical trials.

Full text of the study, “The association between marijuana use and oral cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies,” appears in the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse.

Study: Low Levels of THC in Blood Not Associated With Significant Changes in Simulated Driving Performance

San Diego, CA: Subjects who have not recently consumed cannabis but still have residual levels of THC in their blood perform no differently on a driving simulator than do those who are THC-negative, according to data published in the journal Clinical Chemistry.

Researchers affiliated with the University of California at San Diego assessed THC blood levels and simulated driving performance in a cohort of 190 regular cannabis consumers. Study subjects were required to have abstained from cannabis for 48 hours prior to participating in the study.

Post-abstinence, nearly half of the study participants had detectable levels of THC (above 0.5ng/ml) at baseline, with one-quarter of participants testing positive for more than 2ng/ml of THC in blood. However, those testing positive for THC showed no significant differences in their baseline driving scores as compared to those with no quantifiable THC concentrations.

“Our data argue that the concentrations we measured at baseline likely reflect steady state THC concentrations in this population, several days after last use,” the study’s authors concluded. “We also show, using quantitative data from the driving simulator, that participants who exceeded the zero-tolerance and per se cutpoints (2 and 5 ng/mL) performed in a similar manner as those below these arbitrary values. These results add to a growing body of evidence that per se THC blood statutes lack scientific credibility as prima facie evidence of impairment.”

The findings are consistent with those of other studies reporting no correlation between the detection of either THC or its metabolites in blood, urine, saliva, and breath and impaired driving performance. Nevertheless, several states have enacted laws criminalizing drivers who operate a motor vehicle with trace levels of THC or THC metabolites, regardless of whether the driver is impaired.

In an accompanying editorial, authors said that the study’s conclusions “raise serious doubts about the scientific validity of using measures of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in blood to identify cannabis-impaired drivers.”

NORML has consistently argued that law enforcement should not presume that the detection of either THC or its metabolites in bodily fluids is evidence of impairment because their presence is not predictive of diminished performance. Alternatively, NORML has called for the expanded use of performance-based tests, like DRUID or Predictive Safety’s AlertMeter, which compare subjects’ cognitive skills to either their own prior performance or an aggregate baseline.

Full text of the study, “Per se driving under the influence of cannabis statutes and blood delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations following short-term cannabis abstinence,” appears in Clinical Chemistry.

Analysis: Cannabis Terpenes Act as Agonists on Endogenous Cannabinoid Receptors

Ra’anana, Israel: Terpenes in the cannabis plant activate endogenous cannabinoid receptors in a dose-dependent manner, according to the preclinical data published in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology.

Israeli researchers assessed the modulatory ability of sixteen cannabis terpenes: α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, myrcene, ocimene, sabinene, terpinolene, borneol, eucalyptol, geraniol, linalool, terpineol, β-caryophyllene, humulene, bisabolol, and nerolidol. Researchers reported “significant dose-dependent responses at both CB1 and CB2 receptors, … reaching a maximal response of about 10-60 percent the activation elicited by THC.” The study is among the first to characterize terpene interactions with CB2 receptors.

Activating the CB2 receptors is believed to provide cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects, but it does not elicit mood-altering effects.

“This study provides evidence suggesting that multiple cannabis-derived terpenes, when tested in the absence of cannabinoids, act as partial agonists at CB1R and CB2R, with significant variability in apparent potency, efficacy, and receptor selectivity,” the study’s authors concluded. “Collectively, these findings suggest a pharmacological basis for incorporating specific terpenes into ECS-focused product design and warrant further research into their tissue-specific activity, and synergistic potential when used in combination with cannabinoids or other therapeutic agents. The broad availability and favorable safety profiles of many terpenes further support their potential as accessible, scalable, and customizable tools in the modulation of endocannabinoid signaling.”

Prior studies have established that low doses of cannabis terpenes can amplify THC’s activity upon CB1 receptors. A 2023 research paper published in the Journal of Cannabis Research reported that cannabis flower with elevated levels of the terpenes myrcene and terpinolene is associated with greater perceived symptom relief among patients.

Full text of the study, “Selective activation of cannabinoid receptors by cannabis terpenes,” appears in Biochemical Pharmacology.

Ohio: Legislative Conference Committee Advances Bill Repealing Key Provisions of Voter-Approved Marijuana Law

Columbus, OH: Members of a legislative conference committee approved and advanced a negotiated version of Senate Bill 56, which makes numerous changes to the state’s voter-approved adult-use marijuana legalization law.

The Republican-spearheaded bill amends existing law in several ways. It stipulates that consumers cannot legally possess cannabis products sourced from out of state, including products legally purchased at licensed dispensaries in neighboring jurisdictions. No other legalization state imposes such restrictions.

It also repeals provisions that currently protect adult-use consumers from facing either workplace or professional disciplinary action, as well as other forms of discrimination based solely upon their private marijuana use. It imposes new arbitrary limits on the percentages of THC permitted in adult-use and medical cannabis concentrates and it caps the total number of retail licenses permitted statewide.

Other provisions in the legislation create a pathway for those seeking to expunge past marijuana-related convictions, limit the sale of certain hemp-derived products solely to state-licensed dispensaries, clarify that adults can legally consume cannabis on their private property (rather than solely inside their own private residence), and redirect a portion of tax revenues from marijuana sales to individual municipalities that license cannabis retailers.

NORML has vociferously lobbied against many of the proposed changes to Ohio’s adult-use marijuana law, which was approved in 2023 by 57 percent of voters. NORML’s action alert opposing SB 56 has been shared with lawmakers over 22,000 times. It states: “This bill is a slap in the face to the millions of Ohioans who voted in favor of Issue 2. Once again, politicians are arrogantly trying to claim that the public didn’t know what they were voting for.”

Members of the House approved the revised bill late Wednesday, with all Democrats voting against it. The legislation now awaits a final vote by members of the Senate, who are expected to reconvene in December. Once approved by the Senate, it will head to the desk of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

Study: Older Adults With a History of Cannabis Use Exhibit Superior Cognitive Performance Compared to Non-Users

Haifa, Israel: Older adults with a history of cannabis use exhibit superior cognitive performance and slower age-related declines in executive function, according to data published in the journal Age and Ageing.

Israeli researchers assessed cognitive performance in a cohort of more than 67,000 adults (mean age: 67 years old).

Compared to non-users, participants with a history of cannabis use “performed better across all cognitive domains: attention, executive function, processing speed, visual and working memory. … Additionally, past use was associated with a slower decline in executive function.”

Positive associations were strongest for former users, while outcomes were less consistent among current cannabis consumers.

“Findings from our cross-sectional analyses show that participants with cannabis use experience performed better across all cognitive assessments compared to those without,” researchers reported. “These associations were primarily driven by participants with former use experience, while current use experience showed a more limited association, reaching significance only for working memory tasks. Similarly, our longitudinal analysis demonstrated a slower cognitive decline among former users, with no significant associations observed for current users.”

The study’s authors concluded: “While cognitive harms are often assumed among older cannabis users, our results suggest a more nuanced picture. … These findings may support balanced messaging that informs decisions, reduces age-related cannabis stigma and promotes clinician–patient dialogue on therapeutic cannabis.”

Separate longitudinal data published last year similarly concluded that older adults with a history of cannabis use exhibit “statistically significant less cognitive decline compared to non-users.”

Full text of the study, “History of cannabis use and cognitive function in older adults: Findings from the UK biobank,” appears in Age and Ageing.

Federal: Lawmakers Approve Funding Bill Restricting Sales of Certain Hemp-Derived Intoxicating Products

Washington, DC: Federal lawmakers have negotiated and finalized legislation to fund the US Department of Agriculture that includes amended provisions recriminalizing the sale of certain hemp-derived intoxicating products. The appropriations bill is one of three separate funding bills that were included in a package to reopen the government until January 30, 2026.

The provisions – which were advocated by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), among others – target products containing delta-8 THC and similar compounds, as well as products that are synthetically derived from hemp. Specifically, the bill redefines federally legal hemp products as only those containing no more than either 0.3 percent or 0.4 milligrams of THC or other cannabinoids that produce similar effects, including THCA. In addition, it criminalizes “any intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid products which are marketed or sold as a final product or directly to an end consumer for personal or household use” as well as products that are produced following chemical synthesis, such as those high in delta-8 THC content.

Although delta-8 THC occurs organically in the cannabis plant, it is typically only produced in nominal quantities. By contrast, the elevated amounts of delta-8 THC present in commercially available products are typically the result of a chemical synthesis during which manufacturers convert hemp-derived CBD to delta-8 THC.

While the revised language is not explicitly intended to target hemp-derived CBD products marketed as non-intoxicating products, some industry advocates fear that these products will also ultimately be banned by the legislation because many of them contain trace levels of THC.

An effort by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to strike the amended language failed on the Senate floor, as did a similar effort in the House by Rep. Tom Massie (R-KY). A spokesperson for the White House previously acknowledged that President Trump “supports” the revisions to the 2018 hemp law, despite the President having signed the bill into law seven years ago.

The revised federal language will take effect in one year after its passage.

Nearly half of all US states already impose severe restrictions on the retail sale of delta-8 THC and similar products and federal courts have repeatedly upheld these bans.

NORML has consistently urged the FDA to establish regulatory guidelines governing the production, testing, labeling, and marketing of hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoid products, but has argued against recriminalizing them.

“Federally recriminalizing the hemp-derived marketplace will neither reduce consumers’ demand for these products nor increase consumers’ safety,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said.

Federal: Lawmakers Approve Military Funding Bill Denying Veterans’ Access to Medical Cannabis

Washington, DC: Federal lawmakers finalized and approved military funding legislation upholding federal rules barring VA doctors from recommending medical cannabis to veterans. The MilCon (Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies) appropriations bill is one of three separate funding bills that were included in a package to reopen the government until January 30, 2026.

Initial versions of the bill previously approved by the House and Senate included language repealing the longstanding ban. That language would have, for the first time, permitted VA doctors to explicitly issue medical cannabis authorizations in jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. However, leadership elected to remove those provisions in conference committee.

In 2018, Congressional leadership removed similar provisions from the military spending bill at the eleventh hour.

According to polling data provided earlier this year, most military veterans and their family members believe that the Department of Veterans Affairs should provide medical cannabis treatment to eligible patients. Seventy-five percent of veterans say that they “would be interested in using cannabis or cannabinoid products as a treatment option if it were available.”

NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano criticized lawmakers’ decision to continue this federal prohibition. “This decision by leadership is a disservice to both veterans, many of whom desire medical cannabis access, and their doctors, many of whom want to facilitate their patients’ access to these state-regulated products,” he said. “Many veterans suffer from chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, and sleep disturbances – conditions that can be effectively treated with medical cannabis. Reducing barriers so that more veterans can participate in state-legal medical marijuana programs will improve lives and ensure that these patients are securing lab-tested cannabis products from state-licensed facilities rather than from the unregulated market.”

Gallup: Nearly Two-Thirds of Adults Favor Legalizing Marijuana, but Support Dips Among Republicans

Washington, DC: Nearly two out of three US adults say that “the use of marijuana should be legal,” according to nationwide polling data compiled by Gallup.

That percentage represents a slight dip from 2024 data, when 68 percent of respondents backed legalization. The percentage change was primarily driven by declining support among Republicans – only 40 percent of whom endorse marijuana legalization.

By contrast, 85 percent of Democrats support legalization – a near all-time high, as do 66 percent of Independents.

Historically, Republicans have been less likely than either Democrats or Independents to express support for legalization. In 2023, 55 percent of Republicans endorsed legalizing marijuana, the highest percentage ever.

According to Gallup, marijuana legalization has enjoyed majority support among Americans since 2013.

Analysis: Cannabis Use Linked To Lower Risk of Cirrhosis, Other Alcohol-Associated Liver Diseases

Richmond, VA: Alcohol-dependent subjects who consume cannabis possess a significantly lower risk of being diagnosed with liver injuries such as cirrhosis, according to data published in the scientific journal Liver International.

An international team of investigators from the United States, Canada, and Chile assessed the impact of cannabis use on alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) in a group of 33,114 alcohol-dependent adults. (ALD comprises a spectrum of progressive liver injuries, including steatosis, steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis.) Study participants were segregated into separate cohorts of heavy cannabis consumers, moderate consumers, and non-cannabis consumers.

“Cannabis use was associated with a 40 percent hazard reduction in the composite ALD, including alcohol-associated steatosis, hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, as well as a 17 percent reduction in hepatic decompensation, and a 14 percent reduction in all-cause mortality,” researchers reported.

Those participants who consumed cannabis most frequently experienced the greatest risk reduction, suggesting “a dose-response relationship [and] … a potential protective association between cannabis use and ALD.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Cannabis use was linked to lower risks of ALD, liver-related complications and death compared to non-cannabis users. These findings suggest the cannabinoid system may represent a promising therapeutic target for ALD.”

Other studies have previously concluded that adults who consume cannabis are less likely to develop either liver cancer or liver steatosis (aka fatty liver disease).

Full text of the study, “The cannabinoid system as a potential novel target for alcohol-associated liver disease: A propensity-matched cohort study,” appears in Liver International.

Study: Cannabis Treatment Associated With Prolonged Survival in Patients With Aggressive Form of Cancer

Mahasarakham, Thailand: Patients diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (biliary tract cancer) who integrate cannabis into their palliative medical treatment experience prolonged survival compared to those who do not, according to the findings of a retrospective cohort study published in the scientific journal F1000 Research.

Thai investigators compared survival trends among 491 patients diagnosed with advanced CCA (cholangiocarcinoma). Of these, 404 patients received palliative care only. Eight-seven patients integrated the use of medicinal cannabis products into their treatment plan. (Medical cannabis products are regulated in Thailand and they are available by prescription for the treatment of specific conditions.) Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups.

For those receiving standard care only, the median survival time after registration at a palliative clinic was 0.83 months. For those receiving cannabis, median survival time was 5.66 months.

“Medical cannabis increased overall survival rates among CCA patients,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our findings support the integration of medicinal cannabis into palliative care.”

Preclinical studies have consistently determined that cannabinoids possess anti-cancer activities, including the ability to induce apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells. A prior observational study concluded that CCA patients who consumed cannabis experienced lower rates of in-patient mortality compared to similarly matched controls.

Full text of the study, “Survival rates of patients with combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma receiving medical cannabis treatment: A retrospective, cohort comparative study,” appears in F1000 Research.

West Virginia: State Officials Refuse To Allocate Millions in Medical Cannabis Related Revenue, Despite Law Earmarking Funds for Research, Other Priorities

Charleston, WV: State officials have collected millions in taxes and regulatory fees specific to the administration of the state’s medical cannabis access program but are refusing to spend it.

According to reporting by the news service Mountain State Spotlight, officials have collected an estimated $34 million dollars in revenue from the program – which became operational in late 2021. However, state officials have failed to allocate any of the money to fund research or other public health priorities, as stipulated by law. Rather, the money is being held in a credit union under the control of the state Treasurer’s office.

A spokesperson for the Treasurer’s office said that the funds “will remain unallocated until federal law changes.”

No other state that similarly collects marijuana-related taxes and fees withholds using those funds to pay for state-specific programs or projects.

According to the Spotlight, “If West Virginia distributed the entire fund today, roughly $19 million would go back to the Bureau for Public Health within the Department of Health, nearly $8 million to the Fight Substance Abuse Fund overseen by the Department of Health, $6 million to the Division of Justice and Community Services and $1.5 million to a special revenue account for law enforcement professional training and professional development programs.”

Several lawmakers who were involved in writing the state’s medical cannabis law told the Spotlight that they were unaware that officials were refusing to allocate the funds.

Read the full reporting from Mountain State Spotlight.

Virginia: Judge Enjoins County Officials From Disciplining Firefighter for Off-Duty Use of Medical Cannabis

Hanover, VA: Local government officials cannot take disciplinary action against a Hanover County (population: 110,000) firefighter who uses state-authorized medical cannabis products while off-duty, according to a preliminary injunction issued earlier this month by a judge for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Virginia.

The injunction finds that it is in the public interest to protect the rights of Virginians to use lawfully authorized medical cannabis products without fear of retaliation or termination by their employers. It further finds that local officials are not at risk of losing federal funding by allowing public employees to consume medical cannabis while they are away from their jobs.

The injunction specifically restricts the County’s enforcement actions, stating that the firefighter’s lawful off-duty use – limited to cannabis oil as defined by statute – does not impair his performance or safety and must be accommodated consistent with Virginia law.

Virginia legalized physician-authorized medical cannabis access in 2020. The law states that “No employer shall discharge, discipline, or discriminate against an employee for such employee’s lawful use of cannabis oil under the laws of the Commonwealth pursuant to a valid written certification issued by a practitioner for the treatment or to eliminate the symptoms of the employee’s diagnosed condition or disease.” Over 104,000 Virginians are registered in the state’s medical access program.

“This case reinforces that Virginia law means something in Virginia, even when local governments try to hide behind outdated federal policies,” said Eric Postow, Managing Partner at Holon Law Partners in Fairfax, which handled the case. “Our client earned this protection through his service and his integrity. No firefighter or public servant should have to choose between their health and their career.”

In a press release, he added: “This injunction marks one of the first major Virginia rulings affirming that local governments must comply with state medical cannabis protections. It underscores that public employees lawfully certified under Virginia’s medical cannabis program cannot be disciplined for off-duty use, provided it does not impair work performance or endanger others.”

Most states that regulate medical cannabis products provide explicit employment protections for patients’ off-the-job use, while approximately a third adult-use states do provide similar protections for those age 21 and older.

“Virginia law is clear and explicit in protecting the employment rights of medical cannabis patients, including those who are public employees,” said NORML’s development director, JM Pedini. “NORML worked closely with firefighters across the Commonwealth for three years to ensure that state law protects the jobs of the heroes who risk their lives to keep Virginians safe,” added Pedini, who also serves as the executive director of the state chapter, Virginia NORML.

NORML has also advocated for the enactment of similar protections for firefighters in Maryland, but lawmakers have yet to advance the issue.

The complete press release is available from Holon Law Partners.

Study: Opioid Prescribing Rates Fall Following Cannabis Legalization

Athens, GA: Cancer patients decrease their reliance on prescription opioids following the opening of cannabis retailers, according to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Health Forum.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Georgia, Indiana University, and the University of Chicago assessed the relationship between state-licensed cannabis establishments and prescription opioid usage among commercially insured patients diagnosed with cancer.

Consistent with prior studies, researchers identified “significant reductions … in the rate of [cancer] patients with opioid prescriptions, the mean daily supply [of opioid medications], and the mean number of [opioid] prescriptions per patient after medical and recreational cannabis dispensary openings.”

The study’s authors concluded, “These findings indicate that medical or recreational cannabis laws may be significantly associated with reduced opioid use among patients diagnosed with cancer … [and that] cannabis may be a substitute for opioids in the management of cancer-related pain.”

Several studies have previously identified an association between cannabis legalization and reductions in opioid-related mortality.

Separate data published by JAMA Network Open reports that nearly one in three patients with chronic pain use cannabis as an analgesic agent and that many of them substitute it in place of opioids.
v Full text of the study, “Cannabis laws and opioid use among commercially insured patients with cancer diagnoses,” appears in JAMA Health Forum.

Ohio: House Lawmakers Approve Legislation Repealing Key Provisions of Voter-Approved Marijuana Legalization Law

Columbus, OH: House lawmakers decided on Wednesday in favor of a substitute version of Senate Bill 56, which makes numerous changes to the state’s voter-approved adult-use marijuana legalization law.

The Republican-spearheaded bill amends existing law in several ways. It stipulates that consumers cannot legally possess cannabis products sourced from out of state, including products legally purchased at licensed dispensaries in neighboring jurisdictions. No other legalization state imposes such restrictions.

It also repeals provisions currently protecting adult-use consumers from facing either workplace or professional disciplinary action, as well as other forms of discrimination based solely upon their private marijuana use. It restricts consumers who home-cultivate cannabis from harvesting more than 2.5 ounces of total flower, and it imposes felony penalties for those who grow more than six plants at one time. It imposes new arbitrary limits on the percentages of THC permitted in adult-use and medical cannabis products and it caps the total number of retail licenses permitted statewide.

Other provisions in the legislation create an expedited pathway for those seeking to expunge past marijuana-related convictions, regulate the sale of certain hemp-derived products, and redirect a portion of tax revenues from marijuana sales to individual municipalities that license cannabis retailers.

NORML has vociferously lobbied against proposed changes to Ohio’s adult-use marijuana law, which was approved in 2023 by 57 percent of voters. NORML’s action alert opposing SB 56 has been shared with lawmakers over 18,000 times. It states: “This bill is a slap in the face to the millions of Ohioans who voted in favor of Issue 2. Once again, politicians are arrogantly trying to claim that the public didn’t know what they were voting for.”

A commentary authored by NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano and Political Director Morgan Fox, published in The Columbus Dispatch, opined: “Lawmakers had years to craft legislation regulating Ohio’s adult-use marijuana market. They chose not to do so, instead leaving the decision up to the electorate. Legislators do not have the right to play Monday morning quarterback now simply because most Ohioans voted in a way they disapprove of.”

The legislation now returns to the Senate, which initially proposed even more comprehensive changes to the law. If Senators fail to approve the House’s amended version of the bill, it will be advanced to a conference committee for further debate.

“NORML is asking all Ohioans who care about personal freedom and the rights of voters to urge the legislature to reject SB 56 in its current form,” said Fox. “This isn’t what Ohioans voted for, and the fact that this bill is being rushed through the legislature, with almost no opportunity for public comment, indicates that lawmakers know they are undermining the will of the voters. Regardless of where one stands on cannabis issues, everyone should be outraged at this.”

NORML’s legislative alert opposing Ohio’s Senate Bill 56 is available from NORML’s Take Action Center.

Analysis: Consumers Self-Titrate When They Encounter More Potent Cannabis Products

Hanover, NH: Consumers regulate their cannabis intake based upon the potency of the product they are consuming, according to data published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Researchers affiliated with Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire and Columbia University in New York assessed consumers’ self-reported use of lower-potency cannabis flower and higher-potency cannabis concentrates.

Consistent with prior research, investigators reported, “[T]hose who use both flower (i.e., lower potency product) and dab concentrates (i.e., higher potency product) tend to use greater amounts of flower than concentrates, and the median amount of flower used among flower-only consumers is consistently larger than the median amount of concentrates used among concentrate-only consumers.”

Researchers also reported that more experienced consumers are more likely to gravitate toward more potent products, arguably due to “their higher tolerance.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Results suggest that cannabis consumers self-titrate when switching between flower and concentrate product types. … Understanding self-titration is critical for developing evidence-based regulatory strategies.”

The study’s findings come at a time when some state lawmakers are calling for the imposition of arbitrary caps on the percentage of THC permissible in certain retail cannabis products. NORML has pushed back against the imposition of THC caps – opining that cannabis products, regardless of THC potency, cannot cause lethal overdose or organ toxicity, that consumers regulate their ingestion of more potent products accordingly, and that re-criminalizing select cannabis products relegates their production and sale exclusively to the unregulated marketplace.

Full text of the study, “Self-titration of cannabis consumption: An epidemiological perspective,” appears in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Florida: Health Officials Move To Revoke Medical Cannabis Access for Those With Certain Drug Convictions

Tallahassee, FL: Health officials are actively identifying and revoking patients’ access to state-authorized medical cannabis products, as required by legislation signed into law earlier this year.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation in July mandating state officials to “immediately suspend the registration” of any state-registered patient or caregiver convicted of “trafficking in the sale, manufacture, or delivery of, or possession with intent to sell, … of a controlled substance.” Some 925,000 Floridians are registered in the state’s medical cannabis access program.

Last week, a representative of the state’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use told lawmakers that the agency is complying with the law and that it intends to take action against patients “that meet the new requirement for revocation.”

NORML actively opposed the law change. NORML members generated hundreds of emails to lawmakers opposing the new restrictions, opining: “Patients do not lose their access to opioids and other traditional medications based on past convictions. They should not lose their access to medical cannabis either.”

Study: Cannabis Use Inversely Associated With Rhinitis

Houston, TX: Cannabis consumers are far less likely than non-users to develop chronic rhinitis and similar sinonasal diseases, according to case-control data published in the journal Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology.

Researchers affiliated with Houston’s Methodist Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, assessed rates of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), allergic rhinitis (AR), and chronic rhinitis (CR) in a nationally representative sample of 25,164 cannabis consumers and 113,418 matched controls.

Contrary to investigators’ expectations, subjects who consumed cannabis were less likely than non-users to suffer from symptoms of sinonasal diseases, with more frequent consumers possessing the lowest risk. This inverse relationship persisted regardless of whether subjects smoked cannabis or orally ingested marijuana products.

“Given the known detrimental impact of tobacco smoking use on sinonasal tissue and inflammation, it was expected that patients who more regularly used cannabis would also be more likely to have sinonasal inflammatory diseases, especially in those who smoked cannabis. However, the present study results do not support this hypothesis,” the study’s authors concluded. “Instead, … certain user cohorts were almost half as likely to develop CRS, AR, and CR as never users. … To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate this finding.”

Sinonasal diseases are characterized by persistent inflammation of the nasal passages. They are estimated to adversely impact the health of approximately one-quarter of the global population.

Full text of the study, “The associative impact of recreational cannabis on sinonasal diseases,” appears in Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology.

Michigan: Industry Association Files Legal Challenge To Halt Lawmakers’ Cannabis Tax Hike

Lansing, MI: Representatives of the state’s largest cannabis industry trade organization have filed a lawsuit to block the implementation of the state’s newly enacted marijuana tax.

Earlier this month, lawmakers passed a budget bill imposing a 24 percent wholesale tax on marijuana products sold in the state. The tax increase takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Last week, the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association filed litigation declaring the tax hike to be illegal because it improperly amends the state’s voter-initiated marijuana legalization law. They argue that any changes to marijuana-related taxes must be approved by a three-quarters supermajority in both chambers. (Another group has also filed a similar suit.)

Lawmakers narrowly passed the budget bill despite significant pushback from cannabis advocacy and industry groups.

“Raising taxes on adult-use cannabis products will escalate prices out of reach for many consumers,” stated NORML in an action alert that was shared with state lawmakers over 3,000 times. “This will drive a growing percentage of consumers to the unregulated market, thereby undermining the primary goal of legalization, which is to provide adults with safe, affordable, above-ground access to lab-tested products of known purity, potency, and quality. This proposed tax increase will also hurt state-licensed businesses and their employees because it will increase their costs and reduce their customer base.”

An estimated 40,000 Michiganders work in the state-regulated cannabis industry.

Last month, a legislative effort led by California NORML successfully rolled back marijuana-related taxes in that state. By contrast, lawmakers in Maryland and Minnesota both enacted cannabis-related tax hikes this year.

JAMA Commentary: Indefensible for Clinicians To Remain “Willfully Ignorant” About Medical Cannabis

Boston, MA: Clinicians must have a better understanding of cannabis and its effects so that they may competently and adequately serve their patients, according to a commentary published in the journal JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Network Open.

“Clinicians are increasingly confronted by patients using cannabis, often unsupervised and poorly informed,” the commentary states. “It is no longer defensible for clinicians to remain willfully ignorant. … Medical cannabis is here. Will physicians catch up, or will we, through omission, continue to let patients navigate therapeutic uncertainty alone?”

The commentary demands that medical professionals receive formal training encompassing six core competencies: “endocannabinoid system physiology; pharmacokinetics of tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and other cannabinoids; relevant indications (e.g., chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea); risk profiles, dosing and administration methods; legal and regulatory frameworks; and strategies for patient-centered communication and shared decision-making.” An accompanying paper highlighting these topics also appears in the journal.

“Opponents may decry the Schedule I classification as a barrier to training or research. But clinicians routinely practice in ethically fraught and politically charged realms (e.g., abortion, addiction, reproductive health), navigating care even when laws lag. Cannabis demands the same professional responsibility,” the commentary concludes. “We need not wait for the US Drug Enforcement Administration reclassification to act. Education can and must advance based on patient needs, accumulated clinical evidence, and ethical obligations.”

Numerous surveys of medical professionals – including nurses, pharmacists, clinicians, and other health care practitioners – find that health practitioners believe that they are inadequately trained in matters specific to medical cannabis. Separate survey data also report that fewer than 1 in 5 patients think that their primary care providers are sufficiently knowledgeable about cannabis-specific health-related issues. Instead, patients typically acknowledge obtaining cannabis-related information from either “friends and family” or from non-governmental websites.

Full text of the commentary, “Cannabis education – A professional and moral obligation for physicians,” appears in JAMA Network Open.

Literature Review: Cannabis Formulations Reduce Dementia-Related Agitation and Aggression

Padova, Italy: Cannabinoids reduce dementia-induced agitation in older patients and “offer a promising therapeutic option for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia,” according to the findings of a systematic review published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

A team of Italian investigators reviewed data from ten published studies involving 278 participants. Study subjects were at least 60 years old and suffered from either Alzheimer’s, vascular, or mixed dementia.

“Most studies identified a positive effect of [cannabinoid] intervention in reducing behavioral disturbances,” researchers reported. “Agitation emerged as the symptom most consistently benefiting from cannabinoid use … Notably, the observed changes surpassed those reported in similar RCTs [randomly controlled trials] evaluating the effects of antipsychotics and antidepressants. In addition, improvements were reported in nocturnal disturbances, physical and verbal aggression, resistance to care, and vocalizations.”

The studies also reported that cannabinoids were “sufficiently safe and well-tolerated” in this older patient population.

“In conclusion, cannabinoids show promising potential in managing symptoms such as agitation and aggression in people with dementia, with an overall favorable safety and tolerability profile,” the study’s authors determined. “Among the various formulations studied, the available evidence indicates that CBD-rich, low-THC preparations deserve particular attention. These formulations are more widely available in many countries and are associated with a lower risk of side effects. … These findings, together with the need for safer and better-tolerated therapeutic strategies, support further investigation of CBD- rich formulations as a potential first-line option in future clinical research on BPSD [behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia].”

Full text of the study, “Can cannabinoids alleviate behavioral symptoms in older adults with dementia? A systematic review,” appears in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Clinical Trials: Cannabis Formulations Dominant in THC and CBN, but Not CBD, Associated With Improved Sleep Quality

Recife, Brazil: Cannabis formulations containing THC and CBN (cannabinol) are associated with improved sleep quality, according to the findings of a meta-analysis published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews.

Brazilian researchers reviewed data from six randomized controlled trials involving 1,077 participants.

Investigators reported that cannabinoid-based interventions “are associated with improvements in sleep quality in individuals with or without insomnia.” But they cautioned that the inclusion of either THC or CBN largely drove their efficacy.

“Our findings indicate that only treatments incorporating THC and/or CBN were associated with a significant improvement in subjective sleep assessments compared with placebo, whereas interventions with CBD alone did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect,” researchers reported. “These results support the hypothesis that different cannabinoids may exert distinct roles in modulating sleep-related therapeutic benefits.”

The study’s authors concluded, “The results are encouraging and provide support for further investigation of cannabinoid therapies for the treatment of poor sleep.”

One in six US adults say that they use cannabis as a sleep aid, according to survey data compiled earlier this year by Harris Polling. Data published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine reports that the enactment of adult-use marijuana legalization laws is associated with significant reductions in the sales of over-the-counter sleep aids.

Full text of the study, “Effectiveness of cannabinoids on subjective sleep quality in people with and without insomnia and poor sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies,” appears in Sleep Medicine Reviews.

Florida: Appellate Court Rules That Odor of Marijuana No Longer Constitutes Probable Cause for a Motor Vehicle Search

Tampa, FL: Police may no longer initiate motor vehicle searches solely based on smelling cannabis, according to a ruling issued by judges on Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeal.

In the Court’s majority opinion, judges acknowledged that the use of cannabis in certain circumstances is legally regulated statewide. Therefore, state and local police can no longer presume that the odor of marijuana is, by definition, probable cause of a crime.

The majority opined, “By defining and legalizing discrete forms of cannabis on bases that are manifestly not discernable by smell, … the mere odor of cannabis standing alone no longer can make it clearly or immediately apparent that the substance is contraband without conducting some further search.” The ruling is anticipated to be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

Their decision is consistent with a recent ruling by Florida’s 5th District Court of Appeal, finding that police officers may not initiate a warrantless search of a motor vehicle based solely on an alert from a specially trained police dog.

Courts in several states where cannabis is legal for either medical or adult-use purposes – including Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Vermont – have also determined that the odor of marijuana emanating from a motor vehicle is not by itself sufficient grounds to justify a warrantless search.

In a separate ruling earlier this year, judges on Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeal determined that police cannot solely rely on the “appearance” of cannabis as evidence of a crime because “legal hemp and illegal cannabis are indistinguishable by appearance, texture, and odor.”

The case is Williams v. Florida.

Missouri: Supreme Court Ruling Narrows Pool of Marijuana Offenses Eligible for Expungements Under State’s Voter-Approved Law

Columbia, MO: A recent state Supreme Court decision restricts which marijuana-related offenses are eligible for expungement under Missouri’s voter-approved law.

Voters in 2022 passed a ballot initiative legalizing the adult-use marijuana market and mandating courts to review and expunge a broad range of cannabis-related convictions, including felony convictions. Since then, courts have expunged over 140,000 marijuana-related convictions.

However, a recently issued Supreme Court opinion (C.S. v. Missouri State Highway Patrol, et al., SC 100944) finds that only those with convictions involving three ounces of cannabis or less are eligible for expungement relief under the law.

Missouri NORML Coordinator Dan Viets, who helped draft the initiative’s expungement provisions, said that the Court’s new, narrow interpretation violates the intent of the voter-approved law.

“The Missouri Supreme Court majority is clearly substituting its personal preferences for the will of the voters as expressed in the plain language of the initiative,” Viets stated in a press release. “This decision is an example of the Court engaging in an extreme form of judicial activism. It is clearly abusing its authority by ignoring the expressed intent of the voters.”

Viets added, however, that many marijuana-related felony convictions have already been expunged and that he does not believe “those are going to be undone” by this decision.

“The effect is primarily going to be those cases from the 20th century, from before 2000, when most records were on paper,” Viets said. “And those cases still need to be examined, and those cases which are eligible under this new definition still need to be expunged.”

Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws providing explicit pathways to either expunge (or otherwise set aside) the records of those with low-level marijuana convictions. According to publicly available data compiled by NORML, state and local officials have issued over 100,000 pardons and more than 2.3 million marijuana-related expungements since 2018.

Survey: THC Beverage Consumers Acknowledge Reducing Their Alcohol Intake

New Orleans, LA: Consumers of hemp-derived cannabinoid-infused beverages frequently report reducing their alcohol intake, according to survey data compiled by the beverage manufacturer Crescent Canna.

Pollsters surveyed 1,066 respondents ages 21 and older. Survey participants were culled from Crescent Canna’s consumer database. Survey results were provided to the cannabis news site Marijuana Moment.

Over 56 percent of respondents acknowledged consuming either “slightly less” or “much less” alcohol after trying cannabis-infused beverages. Another 21 percent of respondents said that they quit drinking alcohol altogether.

According to separate survey data published last year, 60 percent of cannabis consumers say that their marijuana use results in less frequent alcohol consumption. The results of a clinical trial published in September in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence find that adults drink less alcohol and experience fewer alcohol cravings immediately following their use of cannabis.

Additional information from the Crescent Canna survey is available from Marijuana Moment.

Clinical Trial: Cannabis Extract Provides Sustained Relief for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Hannover, Germany: Plant-derived cannabis extracts provide sustained improvements in patients with chronic lower back pain, according to randomized placebo-controlled data published in the journal Nature Medicine.

German investigators evaluated the efficacy of a proprietary cannabis extract containing 2.5 mg of THC and standardized percentages of CBD and CBG (cannabigerol) in a cohort of 820 patients. Study participants consumed either the extract or a placebo for 12 weeks, with a portion of subjects continuing enrollment in the trial for several additional months.

Compared to those receiving the placebo, patients receiving cannabis extracts demonstrated significant improvements in pain intensity, sleep quality, physical function, and overall quality of life. Participants who suffered from neuropathy and who consumed cannabis extracts for extended lengths of time experienced the greatest improvement. Adverse events associated with cannabis therapy were categorized as “mild to moderate.”

Researchers reported: “The results of the [clinical] trial demonstrate that VER-01 [plant-derived cannabis extracts] provides meaningful pain reduction compared to the placebo, accompanied by distinct improvements in physical function and sleep quality. … Importantly, prolonged treatment with VER-01 was associated with further reductions in pain intensity, as well as continued improvements in physical function, sleep quality and health-related quality of life. Notably, the treatment effect was even more pronounced in participants with a neuropathic pain component and those with severe pain at baseline.”

The study’s authors concluded: “This phase 3 study provides robust evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of VER-01 in the treatment of CLBP [chronic lower back pain]. These findings highlight the importance of further research with VER-01 in other chronic pain conditions and suggest that VER-01 could play an important role in modern pain management.”

Studies have previously shown that patients with lower back pain reduce their use of opioids following the initiation of medical cannabis therapy.

Full text of the study, “Full-spectrum extract from cannabis sativa. DKJ127 for chronic low back pain: A Phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial,” appears in Nature Medicine.

Survey: Older Adults Say That Cannabis Is “Helpful” for Treating Anxiety, Insomnia, and Depression

Vancouver, Canada: More than two-thirds of older adults who consume cannabis for mental health conditions say that it helps manage their symptoms, according to survey data published in the journal Aging.

Canadian investigators reviewed anonymous survey responses from 1,615 older (age 50+) adults, 20 percent of whom acknowledged using cannabis to treat mental health symptoms. (Cannabis has been legally available in Canada for those 18 and older since 2018.)

Respondents were most likely to report consuming cannabis products to mitigate symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and depression.

Most respondents (71 percent) said that cannabis was “somewhat or extremely helpful” for treating their symptoms and over half (57 percent) perceived cannabis to be “more or somewhat more effective” than traditional pharmaceuticals.

“Approximately one in five older Canadians reported using cannabis, at least in part, to manage mental health symptoms, the majority of whom have a positive view of its effectiveness and safety profile,” the study’s authors concluded. “Additional research in older populations is required to determine the effectiveness of cannabis for mental health conditions and cannabis safety in the aging body and with concomitant medications commonly used by this population. As there is a growing number of older adults using cannabis, healthcare providers must inquire about cannabis use, particularly for those with mental health conditions or experiencing symptoms that may be attributable to or impacted by cannabis, such as impaired cognition or balance.”

Prior surveys conducted in the United States and Canada indicate that an increasing percentage of adults are consuming cannabis products, with most saying that it improves their overall quality of life.

Full text of the study, “Characterization of the use and perceptions of cannabis for mental health in older Canadians: A cross-sectional analysis,” appears in Aging.

Analysis: Pupil Size Not Predictive of Acute Cannabis Exposure

Aurora, CO: Pupil size is not predictive of acute cannabis exposure and should not be relied upon as a determinant of marijuana-induced impairment, according to data published in the journal Clinical Toxicology.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Colorado performed pupillometer assessments on 126 participants. Ninety-five participants were assessed at baseline and then again following ad libitum cannabis inhalation. Thirty-five subjects completed the same assessments but did not use cannabis.

Following cannabis inhalation, subjects “did not exhibit a substantial and consistent difference in static pupil diameter relative to controls,” researchers reported.

As a result, the study’s authors cautioned against relying on ocular measures as evidence of cannabis-induced impairment, stating that the tests lacked the accuracy and specificity necessary to be a valid evidentiary tool.

Drug Recognition Evaluators typically perform a variety of ocular measurements, including assessments of pupil size, on drivers they suspect to be under the influence of cannabis.

Full text of the study, “Pupillary dynamics as a marker of acute. Cannabis inhalation,” appears in Clinical Toxicology.

Review: Cannabinoids Support “Healthy Aging” and “Enhanced Quality of Life” in Older Populations

Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cannabinoids hold promise for improving health and promoting longevity of older populations, according to the findings of a systematic review published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

British researchers reviewed findings from 11 preclinical studies and seven human trials assessing the impact of cannabinoids, particularly CBD and THC, on older populations.

“THC enhances memory, reduces inflammation, and offers neuroprotection, while CBD extends lifespan, improves motility, and promotes autophagy in preclinical models,” investigators reported. “Both cannabinoids highlight potential for longevity and cognitive resilience, though careful dosing is crucial to minimize risks. Additionally, their combined antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties might offer synergistic benefits for healthy aging. … Clinical studies also suggest potential therapeutic applications for cannabinoids in aging populations, although further research is needed to understand their mechanisms of action and long-term effects fully.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Cannabinoids hold promise for supporting healthy aging and enhancing the quality of life in older populations. While preliminary research suggests intriguing possibilities, more studies are needed to solidify the link between cannabis use, the ECS [endocannabinoid system], and healthy aging in humans.”

Survey data indicates that as many as one in five older adults consume cannabis products, with most saying that it improves their overall quality of life.

Full text of the study, “The impact of cannabis use on aging and longevity: A systematic review of research insights,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Survey: Epidermolysis Bullosa Patients Frequently Use Cannabis for Symptom Management Among EB patients who consume cannabis, 28 percent report that cannabinoids provide greater pain relief than traditional medications.

Study: Cannabis Use Not Independently Associated With Increased Risk of Head and Neck Cancers

Gainesville, FL: Marijuana use is not independently associated with an elevated risk of head and neck cancers, according to data published in the Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Florida at Gainesville assessed the risk of head and neck cancers in a cohort of patients with a history of cannabis use. Investigators found no association once they adjusted for participants’ use of alcohol and tobacco. By contrast, subjects’ use of alcohol and cigarettes was associated with an elevated risk of cancer even after researchers adjusted for covariates.

They reported: “The odds ratio for oral cancer among cannabis users … became insignificant after adjustment for alcohol and cigarette smoking (OR=0.7 | OR=0.62). … Furthermore, after adjusting for cannabis use, the OR [odds ratios] for OPC [oropharyngeal cancer] in the alcohol users was 7.95 and 7.39 for smokers. The OR for OC [oral cancer] after adjusting for cannabis in the alcohol users was 9.67 and 7.52 in the cigarette smokers.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Alcohol and cigarette smoking rather than the use of cannabis may play a major role in establishing an association between cannabis use and both types of head and neck cancers. … Further large-scale studies are required to elucidate the risk of head and neck cancer in cannabis users.”

A 2020 review of 34 studies concluded that cannabis use is not associated with an increased risk of cancer, including those typically associated with tobacco. A 2025 study reported that cannabis use is associated with a decreased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Full text of the study, “Use of cannabis and odds ratio for oropharyngeal and oral cancer: A cohort study,” appears in the Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine.

Feds: Few Banks Provide Services To State-Licensed Cannabis Businesses

Washington, DC: Just over 800 financial institutions have filed paperwork with the federal government to provide services to state-licensed cannabis businesses, according to the latest quarterly data available from the US Department of the Treasury.

This total remains nearly unchanged since the fourth quarter of 2019, when 789 banks and credit unions filed paperwork with the agency.

In total, fewer than ten percent of all financial institutions nationwide provide services to state-licensed cannabis businesses.

Federal law discourages banks and other financial institutions from facilitating relationships with cannabis-related businesses because marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. On seven occasions, members of the US House of Representatives have passed legislation (aka SAFE Banking) to explicitly permit banks and other institutions to engage in relationships with marijuana businesses. However, Senate leadership has never advanced this language to the floor for consideration.

Last fall, President Donald Trump indicated in a Truth Social post that, if elected, he would work with Congress to enact reforms at the federal level, including the passage of SAFE Banking. Federal lawmakers have yet to reintroduce the legislation this session.

According to survey data compiled by Whitney Economics, over 70 percent of participating cannabis businesses say that the “lack of access to banking or investment capital” is their top challenge.

NORML has repeatedly called upon Congress to amend federal banking legislation, opining: “No industry can operate safely, transparently or effectively without access to banks or other financial institutions, and it is self-evident that the players in this industry (smaller and minority-owned businesses in particular), and those consumers that are served by it, will remain severely hampered without better access to credit and financing.”

Additional information is available from the Department of the Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

Study: Use of State-Regulated Cannabis Products Associated With Decreased Stress

Boulder, CO: The use of state-regulated cannabis products, particularly those dominant in CBD, is associated with reduced stress and improved mood, according to observational data published in the journal Human Psychopharmacology: Human & Experimental.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Colorado at Boulder assessed the ad libitum use of cannabis products in subjects with elevated levels of anxiety. Participants were assigned to consume state-regulated cannabis products dominant in either THC or CBD for the duration of the trial. Patients’ symptoms (feelings of depression, stress, and anxiety) were assessed at baseline, at two weeks, and at four weeks.

Investigators acknowledged “significant changes” in participants’ DASS Scale (Depression Anxiety Stress) scores over the length of the trial. Participants who consumed CBD-dominant products experienced the greatest decrease in symptoms. Contrary to researchers’ expectations, participants did not decrease their alcohol intake during the study.

The study’s authors concluded: “Among a sample of individuals underrepresented in research, both CBD and THC were significantly related to improvement in mood but not to alcohol use, with participants using CBD demonstrating more improvement over the course of the entire study period. … These results suggest that CBD may be helpful in reducing negative mood in the short term without increasing risk for disordered alcohol use.”

Patients authorized to use medical cannabis products most frequently report doing so to mitigate symptoms of pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, sleep disturbances, and depression.

Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabinoid on emotional states and alcohol use among underrepresented groups: Moderation by perceived discrimination,” appears in Human Psychopharmacology: Human & Experimental.

Survey: Epidermolysis Bullosa Patients Frequently Use Cannabis for Symptom Management

Chicago, IL: Patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare blistering skin condition, often report using cannabis to mitigate pain, itching, and other symptoms, according to survey data published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Investigators affiliated with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago surveyed 244 EB patients.

Forty-four percent acknowledged having used either cannabis or CBD to treat their condition. Among cannabis consumers, 28 percent reported that cannabinoids provide greater pain relief than traditional medications.

“Cannabinoids are used by nearly half of all EB patients with notable improvements in pain, itch, and overall wellbeing, suggesting that cannabinoids could be a promising new therapy for EB symptom management,” the study’s authors concluded.

Case reports have previously documented that the topical use of CBD by patients with EB is associated with a “reduction in pain and blistering,” “rapid wound healing,” and “the objective need for less analgesic [medicines].” The oral consumption of cannabis extracts has also been associated with pain mitigation in EB patients.

Full text of the study, “Cannabinoids for epidermolysis bullosa symptom management: A survey,” appears in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.