Tag: Tuesday

Survey: Endometriosis Patients Say Cannabis Is More Effective, Poses Fewer Side Effects Than Prescription Medications

Sydney, Australia: Most patients with endometriosis say that cannabis is superior to pharmaceutical medications and possesses fewer side effects, according to survey data published in the journal Reproduction & Fertility.

Australian researchers assessed responses from 889 endometriosis patients residing in 28 countries.

Consistent with prior surveys, most respondents acknowledged positive experiences with medical cannabis. Seventy-eight percent of respondents described cannabis as “more effective in managing my symptoms than my current or previous pharmaceutical medication.” An equal percentage acknowledged that cannabis posed “less severe” side effects than prescribed medications.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents said that they turned to cannabis because other medications provided inadequate pain control. Ninety percent of those surveyed said that they would recommend cannabis “to a friend or relative with the disease.”

“Cannabis was viewed as superior to pharmaceuticals both in terms of effectiveness and side effect profile,” the study’s authors concluded. “More research is urgently needed, including clinical trial and real-world data to evaluate safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of quality-assured medicinal cannabis products in the endometriosis population.”

Separate survey data published in the journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics reports that nearly one in five patients with endometriosis consume cannabis to manage their pain or other symptoms.

Full text of the study, “In the Weeds: Navigating the complex concerns, challenges, and choices associated with medicinal cannabis consumption for endometriosis,” appears in Reproduction & Fertility.

Feds: Smoking Still Most Popular Way to Consume Cannabis

Bethesda, MD: Smoking is the preferred method of ingestion for most cannabis consumers, according to nationally representative data published in the journal Addiction.

Federal researchers affiliated with the National Institutes of Health examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Among those respondents who reported consuming cannabis for non-medical purposes, 79 percent acknowledged “predominantly smoking cannabis.” Among medical consumers, 74 percent said that smoking was their primary method of ingestion.

A separate analysis of NSDUH data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research reported that 77 percent of current cannabis consumers (as defined as having used marijuana during the past month) prefer smoking the substance. Respondents were more than twice as likely to inhale cannabis than consume edibles (37 percent) or engage in vaping (35 percent).

The findings are consistent with data previously provided in March by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Full text of the study, “Prevalence of cannabis consumption methods among people with medically recommended and nonmedical cannabis use in the United States,” appears in Addiction. Full text of the study, “Disparities in use modalities among adults who currently use cannabis, 2022-2023,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Case Series: Patients With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Experience Seizure Freedom Following Daily Use of Cannabis Extracts

Toronto, Canada: The daily use of plant-derived cannabis extracts containing THC and CBD is associated with prolonged periods of seizure freedom in patients with refractory epilepsy, according to data published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.

A team of Canadian researchers reviewed data from 19 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Following the daily use of cannabis extracts, all patients experienced seizure freedom for periods of at least 90 days. Five patients were seizure-free for more than one year.

Prior to cannabis treatment, patients’ median seizure rate was 6.5 seizures per month.

“The results of the study support prioritizing CBPMs [cannabis-based products for medicinal use] in cases of DRE,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our cohort’s SF [seizure freedom] periods were substantial, considering the patients’ DRE statuses, and the difficulty individuals with DRE have in achieving SF. … Future double blind, placebo-controlled studies should assess whether CBPMs should be prioritized as first-line medical therapy for DRE cases that lack established, evidence-based treatment options.”

In 2018, Food and Drug Administration officials granted market approval to Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol for the explicit treatment of Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome – two rare forms of childhood epilepsy.

Full text of the study, “19 patients report seizure freedom with medical cannabis oil treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy: A case series,” appears in Frontiers in Neuroscience.

Analysis: Most Commercially Available CBD Gummy Products Lack Accurate Labeling

Lexington, KY: Most commercially available CBD gummy products contain quantities of cannabidiol that are significantly different than what is purported on the products’ packaging, according to data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Kentucky assessed the cannabinoid content of 56 nationally available CBD gummy products.

Consistent with prior assessments, 70 percent of the products contained CBD concentrations that differed significantly from those listed on their labels. Within-product analysis also revealed that CBD percentages were often inconsistent from one gummy to another. Thirty-nine percent of products tested positive for the presence of THC.

“Unregulated CBD product packaging is not an accurate indication of the product constituents,” the study’s authors concluded. “CBD products do not have reliable CBD concentrations, both relative to the dose listed on the label and among individual gummies within the same bottle. These products also frequently contain delta-9-THC (and occasionally delta-8-THC), often unbeknownst to the consumer. The results of this study support the growing body of literature suggesting the necessity of CBD product regulation to ensure customer health and safety.”

Provisions in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 federally legalized the production and sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Although the legislation explicitly tasked the FDA with establishing regulations to govern the hemp-derived CBD market, the agency refused to do so. In 2023, regulators countered that Congress – not the FDA – must take primary responsibility for creating a regulatory framework overseeing the commercial production and marketing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

NORML and other groups have urged the FDA to establish regulatory guidelines governing the production, testing, labeling, and marketing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Third-party analyses conducted by the FDA and others have consistently reported that commercially available CBD products and other hemp-derived cannabinoid products are of variable quality and potency, and that they may contain contaminants, adulterants, or elevated levels of heavy metals.

Full text of the study, “Cannabidiol gummy products: LC-MS/MS Assessment of Cannabinoid Concentrations,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Review: Cannabis Preparations Reduce Symptoms in Patients With Anxiety-Related Disorders

Crawley, Australia: Cannabis-based treatments mitigate symptoms and promote quality-of-life improvements in patients suffering from anxiety-related disorders, according to the findings of a systematic review published in the journal Psychiatry Research.

A team of Australian researchers reviewed 57 studies assessing the use of plant-derived and synthetic cannabis formulations in patients with either generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Despite substantial heterogeneity amongst studies, most papers nonetheless reported cannabis preparations to be effective at reducing anxiety symptoms.

“Among studies with a low relative risk of bias studies included in this review, 69 percent reported improvements in anxiety symptoms and quality of life following medicinal cannabis use,” researchers reported. “Among high-quality trials that investigated GAD, there were consistent reductions in anxiety scores reported. Similarly, qualitative findings highlighted improvements in both symptom relief and sleep quality, especially for participants with PTSD.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Across a range of anxiety-related disorders, most high-quality studies found that medicinal cannabis reduced anxiety symptoms in individuals with GAD, PTSD and SAD. … Future studies should investigate how medicinal cannabis can be integrated with standard treatments, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), traditional anxiolytics and cognitive therapy for anxiety-related disorders.”

Survey data reports that some 70 percent of consumers who use cannabis for self-medication purposes do so to address feelings of anxiety.

Full text of the study, “Medicinal cannabis in the management of anxiety disorders: A systematic review,” appears inPsychiatry Research.

Analysis: Legal Cannabis Markets Have Generated $25 Billion in State Tax Revenue

Washington, DC: Taxes derived from the licensed sale of state-regulated adult-use cannabis products totaled more than $4.4 billion in 2024 – the highest total ever recorded in a single year, according to an analysis provided by the Marijuana Policy Project.

Cannabis sales generated the greatest amount of tax revenue in California (over $1 billion), followed by Illinois ($578 million), Michigan ($524 million), and Washington ($516 million).

Since 2014, when Colorado and Washington became the first two states to regulate the adult-use cannabis market, states have generated a combined total of more than $24.7 billion in tax revenue from the sale of marijuana products.

“States with legal, adult-use cannabis sales have allocated tax revenues to a variety of needs, including their General Funds and specific services and programs,” the report’s authors acknowledge. “Cannabis taxes have provided funding for Medicaid, education, school construction, housing, roads, early literacy, bullying prevention, behavioral health, alcohol and drug treatment, veterans’ services, conservation, job training, conviction expungement expenses, and reinvestment in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the war on cannabis, among many others.”

Twenty-four states have enacted legislation legalizing the adult use of cannabis. However, three states – Delaware, Minnesota, and Virginia – have yet to license cannabis retailers.

Separate economic data provided last month by Vangst Staffing and Whitney Economics reports that some 425,000 workers are currently employed full-time by state-licensed cannabis businesses.

Full text of the report, “Cannabis Tax Revenue in States that Regulate Cannabis for Adults,” is available from MPP.

Nevada: Governor Signs Legislation Allowing Those With Prior Marijuana Convictions To Become Foster Parents

Carson City, NV: Republican Governor Joe Lombardo has signed legislation (AB 107) into law allowing those with prior low-level marijuana convictions to be eligible to become foster parents.

In March, members of the Nevada Assembly voted 42 to zero in favor of the measure. Senate members approved the bill on May 23rd by a vote of 19 to 2.

The Governor signed the bill last Thursday. The measure took effect upon passage.

Nevada law previously disqualified anyone with a federal or state drug-related conviction from fostering children. The new law provides an exception for those with marijuana possession convictions, if the conviction did not occur within the preceding five years.

“Nevada’s longstanding foster care ban no longer aligned with public attitudes toward marijuana, nor did it align with the marijuana laws of Nevada or the surrounding states that regulate its use,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “As cannabis laws change, it is imperative that lawmakers continue to target and amend these ‘holdover’ policies so that consumers no longer face discrimination for behaviors that are state-legal.”

Nevada voters legalized adult-use marijuana possession and sales in 2016.

Alaska: District Court Judge Says State-Imposed Restrictions on Sale of Hemp-Derived Intoxicants Don’t Violate Federal Farm Act

Juneau, AK: A federal court judge has rejected arguments that state regulations restricting the sale of hemp-derived intoxicating products violate federal law.

The ruling, issued by a US District Court judge for the District of Alaska, finds that the state-imposed restrictions “are consistent with the 2018 Farm Act.” In 2023, state regulators restricted the sale of hemp-derived products solely to state-licensed cannabis dispensaries. (Alaska legalized the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes in 2014.)

In his ruling, the judge opined that the 2018 federal law provides states, not the federal government, with “primary regulatory authority” over matters specific to “the production and sale of industrial hemp … within their borders.” Therefore, the court determined that Alaska’s regulations “are not preempted by the 2018 Farm Act.”

Earlier this year, judges for the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld restrictions imposed upon hemp-derived products in Virginia. Judges similarly determined, “Despite the 2018 Farm Bill, the states retain a significant role in the regulation of hemp” and that the Bill “expressly permit[s] states to regulate the production of hemp more stringently than federal law.”

In recent years, unregulated manufacturers have engaged in synthesizing hemp-derived CBD into a variety of novel intoxicating products. This synthetic conversion process often involves the use of potentially dangerous household products. Lab analyses of unregulated products containing delta-8-THC and similar compounds often find them to contain lower levels of cannabinoids than what is advertised on the products’ labels. Some products also possess heavy metal contaminants and unlabeled cutting agents. Other novel compounds, like THC-O, have not been tested for safety in human trials.

The case is AK Industrial Hemp Association et al. v. Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

Study: Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Anxiety, Improved Sleep Quality in Older Adults
Cannabis use is associated with short-term reductions in pain, depression, and anxiety, as well as with improved sleep quality the following night.

a graph line indicating a decrease overlaid on a background with a stethoscope, notepad, pen, and cannabis leaves
Analysis: Cannabis-Related Hospitalizations Fall Among Underage Youth Following Adult-Use Legalization
“The total effect, 3.5 years after legalization, was a 34 percent reduction in hospitalizations for those below relative to those above the minimum legal age,” investigators determined.

A senior woman reads the label on a cannabis CBD bottle
Preclinical Data Finds “Compelling” Evidence That CBD Offers a “Comprehensive Treatment Approach” to Alzheimer’s Disease
“These data present CBD as a potential target to combat not only molecular deficits in AD but also cognitive impairment,” the study’s authors concluded.

A voter in Nebraska casts a vote for marijuana
Nebraska: Lawmakers Kill Bill Facilitating Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Access
The bill’s failure will likely delay patients’ ability to access cannabis products.

Study: Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Anxiety, Improved Sleep Quality in Older Adults

Orlando, FL: Older adults’ use of cannabis is associated with reduced anxiety and improved sleep, according to data published in the journal Psychiatry.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Central Florida assessed the impact of cannabis use on anxiety, sleep quality, depression, and pain in a cohort of older (ages 55 to 74) medical cannabis consumers.

Researchers reported that cannabis use was associated with short-term reductions in pain, depression, and anxiety, as well as with improved sleep quality the following night. Subjects’ improved sleep was directly related to their reductions in anxiety, the study’s authors determined.

“These findings provide evidence of momentary improvements in pain, anxiety, depression, and indirect benefits for sleep quality,” they concluded. “The results of this study contribute to a growing body of research evaluating the utility of MC [medical cannabis] for older adults and serve to help inform moderate use guidelines for this population.”

Survey data provided by AARP reports that more than one in five older adults have consumed cannabis over the past year, with some two-thirds of older consumers acknowledging having used it “to improve or manage a physical health condition,” such as chronic pain, anxiety, or sleep disturbances. Industry-backed survey data finds that an estimated 16 percent of US adults say that they use cannabis products to help them sleep.

Full text of the study, “Impact of medical cannabis on anxiety and sleep quality in older adults,” appears in Psychiatry.

Analysis: Cannabis-Related Hospitalizations Fall Among Underage Youth Following Adult-Use Legalization

Ottawa, Canada: The legalization of the adult-use cannabis market in Canada resulted in a significant decline in the rate of underage youths requiring hospitalization for marijuana-related incidents, according to data published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto assessed nationwide rates of cannabis-related hospitalizations among those ages 15 to 44 years old in the years immediately prior to and following legalization.

They reported that hospitalization rates increased by two percent annually among both underage youth and adults during the three years prior to legalization. Following legalization, hospitalization rates fell among underage youth, but not among adults.

“The total effect, 3.5 years after legalization, was a 34 percent reduction in hospitalizations for those below relative to those above the MLA [minimum legal age],” the study’s authors concluded. “The results suggest that cannabis legalization may … prevent such increases for at-risk young people in regions pursuing cannabis legalization.”

Survey data from Canada and the United States have consistently failed to identify an uptick in young people’s use of marijuana following legalization.

Full text of the study, “Minimum legal age of nonmedical cannabis purchase laws and cannabis-related hospitalizations in Canada, 2015-2022,” appears in the American Journal of Public Health.

Nebraska: Lawmakers Kill Bill Facilitating Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Access

Lincoln, NE: State lawmakers killed legislation (LB 677) that sought to provide a regulatory framework for the production and dispensing of medical cannabis. Some 70 percent of Nebraskans approved a pair of ballot measures in November legalizing the use of medical cannabis by authorized patients.

Despite that public support, lawmakers filibustered the measure – which sought to facilitate the law’s implementation while also imposing various changes to its provisions. The failure of the bill will likely delay patients’ ability to access cannabis products. Regulations governing the law will now be left to members of a yet-to-be-appointed commission.

Numerous elected officials, including Republican Attorney General Mike Hilgers and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts, have publicly opposed adopting the voter-approved law, and the AG is asking the state’s Supreme Court to nullify the election result.

Additional information is available from Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana.

Preclinical Data Finds “Compelling” Evidence That CBD Offers a “Comprehensive Treatment Approach” to Alzheimer’s Disease

Madrid, Spain: CBD treatment is neuroprotective and is associated with improved memory in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to data published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy.

Spanish researchers assessed the impact of CBD in in vitro and in vivo models of AD. They reported that CBD reduces neuroinflammation, reduces the build-up of proteins associated with the onset of AD, significantly improves long-term and short-term spatial memory, and promotes neuronal repair and regeneration.

“These multifaceted effects of CBD, ranging from molecular-level modulation to behavioral improvements, underscore its potential as a comprehensive therapeutic approach for AD,” the study’s authors concluded. “These data present CBD as a potential target to combat not only molecular deficits in AD but also cognitive impairment, offering a promising therapeutic approach that could potentially slow disease progression and improve quality of life for AD patients.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabidiol as a multifaceted therapeutic agent: Mitigating Alzheimer’s disease pathology and enhancing cognitive function,” appears in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy.

Analysis: Alcohol Sales Dip Following Marijuana Legalization

St. Catherines, Canada: Alcohol sales decline following the adoption of adult-use marijuana legalization, according to data published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

A researcher with Brock University in Ontario analyzed alcoholic beverage sales in the province of Nova Scotia during the 17 months immediately prior to and following Canada’s legalization of the adult-use marijuana market.

He determined that alcohol sales declined slightly (2.2 percent) immediately following legalization. Alcohol sales remained below average throughout the study period (1.2 percent below pre-legalization levels).

“Nova Scotia’s alcohol sales declined slightly after cannabis legalization,” the study’s author concluded. “The net decrease in alcohol sales implies … that … after cannabis became legal to use, consumers substituted it for alcohol more often than before.”

The result is consistent with data recently provided by Statistics Canada, finding that alcohol sales experienced a significant decline in 2023/2024 while adult-use cannabis sales increased nearly 12 percent.

Survey data published last year in The Harm Reduction Journal found that 60 percent of cannabis consumers acknowledge using the substance to reduce their alcohol intake.

Full text of the study, “Alcohol sales change in a Canadian province after recreational cannabis legalization,” appears in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

Clinical Trial: Daily Use of Hemp-Derived CBD Reduces Alcohol Cravings

Aurora, CO: The daily consumption of hemp-derived CBD is associated with reduced cravings for alcohol in subjects diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to clinical trial data published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus assessed the use of CBD versus placebo in a cohort of 44 adults with AUD. Participants consumed 15 mg capsules containing hemp-derived CBD either with or without THC or a placebo for eight weeks. Patients were assessed at baseline, four weeks, eight weeks, and 16 weeks.

Researchers reported that daily CBD consumption reduced participants’ alcohol cravings with “minimal side effects.” Participants who consumed CBD with trace amounts of THC “demonstrated stronger improvements in AUD symptoms” relative to those who consumed CBD only. However, CBD dosing didn’t directly influence the number of drinks participants consumed per day.

“Results suggest good tolerability, low potential for adverse effects, and potential clinical efficacy, supporting the rationale for additional investigations,” the study’s authors concluded. “Future studies should prioritize large, well-powered RCTs [randomized clinical trials] to validate these preliminary findings in individuals with varying AUD severity and treatment histories.”

The results of a 2024 randomized clinical trial similarly concluded that the oral administration of 800 mg of synthetic CBD significantly reduces subjects’ cravings for alcohol.

A 2021 observational study also determined that the consumption of CBD-dominant cannabis is associated with reductions in subjects’ alcohol intake. That study reported that participants who ingested CBD-dominant cannabis during the trial period “drank fewer drinks per drinking day, had fewer alcohol use days, and fewer alcohol and cannabis co-use days” compared with those who did not.

Separate studies also suggest that CBD dosing can reduce cravings for other psychoactive substances, including tobacco, methamphetamine, and heroin.

Full text of the study, “A preliminary randomized trial of the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of hemp-derived cannabidiol in alcohol use disorder,” appears in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Survey: Most Veterans Say Feds Should Provide Medical Cannabis Services

Washington, DC: Military veterans and their family members believe that the Department of Veterans Affairs should provide medical cannabis treatment to eligible patients, according to survey data compiled by the non-profit group Mission Roll Call.

Representatives from the advocacy group compiled responses from nearly 2,000 veterans and their family members regarding how the Veterans Affairs department could better expand its services. Fifty-seven percent of respondents supported allowing the agency to provide medical cannabis.

Under federal law, VA-affiliated doctors are forbidden from authorizing veterans to use medical cannabis, even if they live in jurisdictions where the substance is legal.

Nonetheless, some 40 percent of veterans suffering from chronic pain acknowledge using cannabis products. Most say they improve their health-related quality of life and reduce their reliance on prescription medications.

Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Veterans Issues.’

Preclinical Study: Topical Application of Hemp Seed Oil Accelerates Wound Healing

Banda Aceh, Indonesia: The twice-daily topical application of hemp seed oil accelerates the wound healing process, according to animal data published in the Indonesian scientific journal Narra J.

A team of Indonesian researchers assessed the efficacy of hemp seed oil on animal (mice) wounds over 21 days. Investigators compared the effects of hemp seed oil to those of another active treatment (chloramphenicol ointment) or a placebo.

Researchers reported that hemp seed oil “demonstrated superior effectiveness in accelerating wound size reduction compared to chloramphenicol ointment during days 14 and 21, indicating its potential as a supportive therapy for prolonged wound healing phases.” Hemp seed oil also demonstrated superior results with respect to vascularization and promoting angiogenesis (stimulating the formation of new blood vessels).

“Hemp seed oil demonstrated significant potential in accelerating wound healing processes, particularly in promoting wound size reduction, epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and vascularization, indicating a superior effect compared to chloramphenicol ointment,” the study’s authors concluded. “Hemp seed oil may be considered a promising adjunct or alternative treatment for wound management, particularly for patients seeking natural and cost-effective options.”

The topical application of cannabinoids, and CBD in particular, has demonstrated benefits in the treatment of a variety of skin-related conditions, including eczema, leg ulcers, skin ulcers of the fingertips, psoriasis, erythema, pruritus, and acne. It has also been associated with wound healing in patients with refractory leg ulcers and with the rare skin blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa.

Full text of the study, “Effect of hemp seed oil on accelerating wound healing: Evaluation of wound size reduction, epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and vascularization in murine models,” appears in Narra J.

Analysis: Few Changes in Patients’ Cognitive Performance Following Their Use of Medical Cannabis Products

Brisbane, Australia: Patients’ cognitive performance is largely unaffected following their consumption of either medical cannabis oil or flower, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.

Australian researchers assessed the acute effects of either vaporized cannabis or the ingestion of cannabis oil on cognitive functions relevant to driving in a cohort of 78 patients. (Australian physicians may prescribe cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.) Participants’ performance was tested at baseline and then again 15 minutes following the vaporization of herbal cannabis and 90 minutes following the ingestion of cannabis oil.

Consistent with prior studies, subjects exhibited tolerance to the acute effects of cannabis dosing. Specifically, participants’ cannabis use “did not measurably affect information processing speed, divided and sustained attention, or inhibitory control performance.”

By contrast, investigators reported that cannabis may negatively influence patients’ “mental flexibility” (the capacity for switching attentional focus) and “visuomotor attention” skills. However, researchers said it is unclear “whether such changes would translate into temporary functional changes to driving capacity.”

The study’s authors concluded: “The absence of measurable change on multiple measures of attentional processing, reaction time, and simple information processing speed suggests that tolerance to THC may mediate the known acute effects of cannabis on neurocognitive function in medicinal cannabis patients. … As the use of medicinal cannabis continues to expand globally, research investigating the acute effects of prescribed THC remains a high priority.”

Full text of the study, “Elucidating the acute effects of medically prescribed oral and vaporized delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on cognitive functions important for driving,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Review.

Study: Cannabis Use Has No Significant Adverse Impact on Sperm Motility

Boston, MA: Men who use cannabis do not have lower sperm counts, according to data published in the scientific journal Andrology.

Researchers affiliated with Boston University’s School of Public Health assessed semen samples from a representative cohort of 921 male subjects, 23 percent of whom currently consumed cannabis.

Investigators reported no significant differences in sperm concentration, volume, or motility in cannabis consumers versus non-consumers.

“In this North American preconception cohort study, current cannabis use was not appreciably associated with semen quality,” the study’s authors concluded.

Studies assessing the potential impact of cannabis use on male reproductive health have yielded inconsistent results. For instance, a 2019 Harvard study linked cannabis use with higher sperm concentrations, while a 2015 review paper cautioned that heavy cannabis use could pose detrimental effects on male reproductive potential. More recent papers have concluded that a history of cannabis use likely doesn’t have any significant adverse effects on either male sexual function or fertility rates.

Full text of the study, “A North American preconception cohort study of cannabis use and semen quality,” appears in Andrology.

Study: FDA-Approved CBD Formulation Significantly Reduces Seizure Frequency in Young People With Refractory Epilepsy

New Orleans, LA: Nearly half of pediatric patients prescribed CBD in the form of Epidiolex achieve a ≤25 percent reduction in seizures, according to clinical trial data published in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior.

Investigators affiliated with Tulane University’s School of Medicine assessed the adjunctive use of Epidiolex in 208 patients with treatment-resistant childhood epilepsy.

Researchers reported a significant decrease in seizure frequency across all diagnostic categories, with an overall median reduction in monthly seizures from 30 to eight. Forty-nine percent of patients experienced a greater than 25 percent reduction in seizure frequency following CBD treatment. Twenty-one percent of participants experienced a 51 to 75 percent reduction in seizures.

“Our study demonstrates that cannabidiol offers significant benefits in reducing seizure frequency across a variety of epilepsy etiologies in pediatric patients with medically refractory epilepsy,” the study’s authors concluded. “While CBD’s efficacy in conditions like Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome is well-documented our findings underscore CBD’s broader potential in managing other types of DEEs [developmental and epileptic encephalopathies], focal/multifocal epilepsy, and primary generalized epilepsy.”

In 2018, regulators at the US Food and Drug Administration granted market approval to Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol for the explicit treatment of Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, two rare forms of childhood epilepsy.

Full text of the study, “Adjunctive use of cannabidiol for pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy: A retrospective multicenter analysis,” appears in Epilepsy & Behavior.

Texas: Austin Police Unlikely To Pursue Low-Level Marijuana Possession Cases Despite Appellate Court Ruling

Austin, TX: Austin police officers are unlikely to begin citing or arresting minor marijuana violators, despite a recent appellate court ruling striking down the city’s voter-approved depenalization ordinance.

“For now, we’re still going with the way we were policing before,” acknowledged Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis.

Austin is one of several Texas cities that have approved citizen-sponsored ordinances prohibiting local law enforcement from making low-level marijuana-related arrests. (Voters in Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos have also approved marijuana depenalization measures.) However, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued to nullify those laws. In March, the newly formed Fifteenth Court of Appeals ruled that state law preempts the adoption of Austin’s and San Marcos’ ordinances.

State law defines marijuana possession of two ounces or less as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a criminal record.

In addition to the Attorney General’s legal efforts, Texas lawmakers are moving forward with legislation prohibiting localities from placing any future marijuana-related measures on the ballot. Senate lawmakers recently approved SB 1870, which forbids voters from deciding upon local ordinances that seek to decriminalize marijuana. The measure also prohibits cities and towns from adopting policies that do not “fully enforce” the state’s criminal marijuana laws.

Analysis: Cannabis Use by Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Associated With Reduced In-Hospital Mortality, Lower Hospitalization Costs

New York, NY: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who consume cannabis are less likely to die while hospitalized and they incur fewer hospital-related expenses as compared to non-users, according to data published in the journal Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.

Researchers affiliated with St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City assessed the relationship between cannabis use and inpatient outcomes in a cohort of more than 3.3 million RA patients over five years.

After adjusting for age, gender, race, and comorbidities, cannabis use at the time of hospitalization was linked to decreased mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.50), depression (OR: 0.47), chronic pain (OR: 0.45), and anxiety (OR: 0.55). Cannabis consumers also incurred nearly 10 percent fewer hospital-related charges per visit.

“While these findings suggest potential benefits of cannabis use for symptom management, it is important to recognize that the current evidence is observational,” the study’s authors concluded. “Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms of these associations and to develop strategies that maximize the benefits of cannabis use while minimizing the risks.”

Other studies have similarly linked cannabis use with decreased in-hospital mortality, specifically among patients with acute myocardial infarction, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, HIV, burn-related injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and various other types of severe trauma.

Survey data reports that as many as one in five arthritis patients use cannabis products to mitigate their symptoms and reduce their use of prescription opioids.

Full text of the study, “Inpatient outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis in hospitalized patients using cannabis: Data from the National Inpatient Sample,” appears in Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.

Study: Chronic Pain Patients Report Improvements Following Use of CBD

Dothan, AL: Most patients who consume CBD say that it significantly reduces their chronic pain, according to data published in the scientific journal Cureus.

Researchers affiliated with the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine surveyed the efficacy of CBD in 121 chronic pain patients. Participants rated their pain at baseline and following CBD treatment on a scale of zero (no pain) to 10 (worst pain they have ever felt).

Over 98 percent of respondents reported pain mitigation following their use of CBD. On average, patients’ baseline pain fell 2.6 points on the 10-point numerical rating scale. Most participants (55 percent) reported no adverse side effects from CBD treatment.

Investigators reported: “CBD has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of chronic pain in study respondents, regardless of the cause. Over 98 percent of participants self-reported an improvement to some extent of their chronic pain, ranging from a minimal reduction in pain (i.e., 1/10), to a complete resolution of chronic pain (i.e., 10/10), through CBD treatment.”

The study’s authors concluded: “The findings from the current project indicate that a majority of participants believe their chronic pain has improved with the usage of a CBD supplement. Most subjects used CBD between one and three times a day, with many finding relief with a dose of 100 mg or less. Furthermore, most respondents experienced either mild side effects or no side effects at all. Altogether, these findings may be comforting to individuals concerned about taking pain medication too frequently, at high doses, or about its associated adverse effects. While our research is certainly not exhaustive, it is a clear indication that the possibility of great benefit of CBD treatment exists in treating chronic pain.”

A placebo-controlled study performed by researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in Los Angeles previously reported that the use of commercially available CBD products is associated with “clinically meaningful” improvements in patients’ pain, anxiety, and sleep quality.

Full text of the study, “A survey on the use of cannabidiol isolate, its perceived benefits, and associated side effects among subjects with chronic pain,” appears in Cureus.

Study: Cannabis Use Not Associated With Sedentary Lifestyle

Ghent, Belgium: Younger and middle-aged adults who regularly consume cannabis are no less likely than non-users to engage in physical activities, according to data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Belgian researchers examined the relationship between past-month cannabis use and physical activity in a cohort of adults between the ages of 15 and 64.

After controlling for potential confounders, investigators reported that past-month cannabis consumption had “no effect” on participants’ levels of physical activity. “The stereotypical image of cannabis users having more sedentary lifestyles should be critically reevaluated in light of our and other research,” the study’s authors concluded.

Their findings are consistent with those of a 2024 study that similarly determined, “Marijuana … use [is] not associated with low exercise rates among adults in the United States.”

Their conclusions are inconsistent with those of other recent studies finding that adults with a history of marijuana use, and older adults in particular, typically exercise more frequently than their non-using peers.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use is not associated with altered levels of physical activity: Evidence from the repeated sectional Belgian Health Interview Survey,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Nebraska: Lawmakers Advance Legislation Amending Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Measures

Lincoln, NE: Legislators on the General Affairs Committee amended and passed legislation, LB 677, regulating the distribution of medical cannabis to authorized patients. Over 70 percent of Nebraskans approved a pair of citizen initiatives in November, legalizing the use and dispensing of cannabis to those with a physician’s recommendation.

Changes to LB 677, which had previously stalled in the Committee, include prohibiting patients from smoking botanical cannabis and imposing a limited list of qualifying conditions. Neither restriction exists in the voter-approved ballot measures. As amended, LB 677 also reduces the amount of cannabis patients may possess from five ounces to no more than two ounces. Lawmakers also added new rules narrowly defining which healthcare practitioners can issue medical cannabis authorizations and under what circumstances.

The amended measure now heads to the floor for further debate. The 2025 state legislative session is scheduled to end in June.

Following the passage of the initiatives, the state’s Attorney General filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify the election results. Although a district court judge rejected the suit, the AG is appealing the ruling to the state’s Supreme Court. A separate lawsuit filed on behalf of a former state senator is also pending. That suit argues that the state’s medical cannabis measures should be preempted by federal law, a position the AG also endorses.

Additional information is available from Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana.

Analysis: Cigarette Smoking Poses Greater Impact to Airway Health Than Cannabis

Davis, CA: Cannabis smoking and tobacco smoking appear to have disparate impacts on lung health, according to data published in the journal Respiratory Research.

Investigators affiliated with the University of California at Davis assessed the impact of tobacco smoke and cannabis smoke on airway health by analyzing subjects’ exhaled breath condensate (EBC).

They reported that cannabis consumers possessed breath profiles similar to those of non-smokers. By contrast, tobacco smokers possessed profiles with elevated levels of certain inflammatory biomarkers.

“Cigarettes upregulate these inflammatory fatty acids, but we didn’t see that nearly as much with marijuana and marijuana products,” one of the study’s authors said. “When we look at the signatures from the marijuana smokers, they look closer to non-users and non-smokers than the tobacco smokers, and that was a surprise to us.”

Prior studies have similarly determined that cannabis consumers are exposed to fewer harmful toxicants as compared to those who smoke tobacco cigarettes.

Numerous studies have concluded that cannabis smoke and tobacco smoke are not equally carcinogenic. Moreover, the use of vaporization technology, which heats herbal cannabis to a set temperature below the point of combustion, is associated with reduced exposure to toxic gasses and has been identified as a “safe and effective” cannabis delivery device in clinical trial settings.

Full text of the study, “Impacts of vaping and marijuana use on airway health as determined by exhaled breath condensate,” appears in Respiratory Research.

Study: Patients With Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy Improve Following Medical Cannabis Therapy

London, United Kingdom: Patients with refractory epilepsy report sustained improvements in their symptoms following the use of medical cannabis preparations, according to observational data published in the journal Brain and Behavior.

British investigators assessed the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in a cohort of 134 patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy. (British health care providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Patients’ outcomes were assessed at one, three, and six months.

Medical cannabis treatment was associated with improvements in patient‐reported epilepsy‐specific outcomes, alongside improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. Over 96 percent of study subjects reported no adverse events from cannabis treatment.

“Treatment with CBMPs was associated with an improvement in both epilepsy‐specific and general HRQoL [health-related quality of life] outcomes at one, three, and six months,” the study’s authors concluded. “This study shows the promising potential of CBMPs as an adjunctive treatment option in the management of TRE [treatment-resistant epilepsy.]”

In 2018, regulators at the US Food and Drug Administration granted market approval to Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products among those enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry have reported them to be effective for patients diagnosed with cancer-related pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, hypermobility disorders, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A clinical outcomes analysis for epilepsy,” appears in Brain and Behavior.

Analysis: Alcohol Poses a “Greater Threat to Road Safety” Than Cannabis

Vancouver, Canada: Alcohol is among the most frequently detected controlled substances identified in drivers following a motor vehicle accident and it “remains the greatest threat to road safety,” according to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.

Canadian researchers reviewed bloodwork data for over 8,300 drivers involved in a motor vehicle accident. Over half of the study’s participants tested positive for the presence of a controlled substance. Drivers were most likely to test positive for either depressants, cannabis, or alcohol – with cannabis being more common among younger drivers (ages 19 to 24).

However, most drivers who tested positive for the presence of THC in blood did so at nominal levels – indicating that their exposure may have been several hours or even days beforehand. (THC may remain present in the blood of more habitual consumers for several days following past exposure.) Only about three percent of participants tested positive for THC at elevated levels (THC ≥ 5 ng/mL).

“These statistics suggest that although more drivers test positive for THC, alcohol remains the greater threat to road safety,” the study’s authors concluded.

A prior Canadian study reported that drivers treated for traffic-related injuries are over three times as likely to test positive for elevated levels of alcohol (BAC ≥ 0.08 percent) than elevated levels of THC (THC ≥ 5 ng/mL).

Driving simulator studies report that cannabis administration is typically associated with compensatory driving behavior, such as decreased mean speed and increased mean following distance, whereas alcohol administration is associated with more aggressive driving behavior. Nevertheless, cannabis exposure can influence certain psychomotor skills necessary for safe driving, such as reaction time and drivers’ ability to maintain lane positioning.

A study conducted by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that drivers who test positive for any amount of THC possess, on average, a far lower risk of being involved in a traffic collision than do drivers who test positive for alcohol at or near legal limits.

By contrast, drivers who test positive for the presence of both THC and alcohol in their system tend to possess significantly higher odds of being involved in a motor vehicle accident than do those who test positive for either substance alone.

Full text of the study, “Prevalence of impairing substance use in injured drivers,” appears in JAMA Network Open.

Texas: Appellate Court Strikes Down Voter-Approved Marijuana Ordinances

Austin, TX: A Texas appellate court issued a pair of rulings last week halting the implementation of voter-approved marijuana initiatives in the cities of Austin (population: 980,000) and San Marcos (population: 72,000).

Voters in both cities had overwhelmingly approved municipal ordinances in 2022 prohibiting local police officers from issuing citations or making arrests for minor marijuana possession offenses. Last year, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit against Austin, San Marcos, and several other cities for adopting the measures. The Attorney General filed an additional suit against the city of Dallas in December, opining, “Cities cannot pick and choose which state laws they follow.”

Reversing a lower court judge’s ruling, judges on the Fifteenth Court of Appeals sided with the Attorney General and held that state law preempts San Marcos from enforcing its ordinance. Specifically, judges ruled: “Section 370.003 of the Local Government Code … prohibits local governments from putting up any barrier to the full enforcement of drug-related laws. Texas law gives local governments and law enforcement officers a panoply of tools — such as the authority to issue citations and arrests — to enforce drug laws. Section 370.003 prohibits the City of San Marcos from making a policy that takes any of those tools off the table.”

Judges issued a similar ruling days later, striking down Austin’s marijuana ordinance, finding, “Consistent with City of San Marcos, we conclude that the ordinance in this case is also preempted by state law.” That ruling also reversed a lower court judge’s decision.

Police in both cities are anticipated to revert to issuing marijuana-related citations and arrests while the cases continue to be litigated.

Similar ordinances are in effect in the cities of Elgin, Dallas, Denton, and Killeen. Earlier this year, city council members in Bastrop (population: 11,700) and Lockhart (population: 15,300) declined to implement voter-approved depenalization ordinances out of fear of litigation.

State law defines marijuana possession of two ounces or less as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a criminal record. According to data compiled by Texas NORML, police made an estimated 219,000 marijuana-related arrests between 2017 and 2021. Ninety-seven percent of those arrested were charged with possession only. Fifty-six percent of those arrested were under 25 years of age.

In addition to the Attorney General’s legal efforts, Texas lawmakers are also moving forward with legislation to prohibit localities from placing any future marijuana-related measures on the ballot. Specifically, Senate lawmakers recently approved SB 1870, which forbids voters from deciding upon any local ordinances that seek to decriminalize marijuana. The measure also prohibits cities and towns from adopting policies that do not “fully enforce” the state’s criminal marijuana laws.

Study: Post-Traumatic Stress Patients Experience Sustained Improvements Following Use of Medical Cannabis Products

London, United Kingdom: Patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress experience significant long-term benefits following their use of medical cannabis preparations, according to data published in the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.

British researchers assessed changes in patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs). (British health care providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Two hundred and sixty-nine patients with post-traumatic stress enrolled in the United Kingdom’s Medical Cannabis Registry were enrolled in the trial. Participants’ symptoms were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months.

Consistent with other observational studies, “significant improvements in post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, sleep quality, and HRQoL were observed at all follow-up points.” Symptomatic improvements were sustained for the entire study period (18 months).

Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products among patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry have reported them to be effective for those diagnosed with cancer-related pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, hypermobility disorders, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “UK Medical Cannabis Registry: An updated clinical outcomes analysis of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder,” appears in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.

Largest Ever Meta-Analysis: There Exists a “Strong Consensus Supporting the Therapeutic Use of Cannabis”

New York, NY: Cannabis has a “well-established role in managing symptoms related to cancer” and there is a “substantial scientific basis” for re-evaluating its classification as a Schedule I controlled substance, according to the findings of a meta-analysis of over 10,000 scientific papers published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology.

Investigators affiliated with the Chopra Foundation in New York and the Whole Health Oncology Institute in Hawaii reviewed data from 10,641 peer-reviewed studies assessing the efficacy and safety of cannabis for managing cancer-related symptoms. The analysis is the largest ever conducted on the subject of cannabis and cancer management.

They reported, “Across all categories examined – health metrics, cancer treatments, and cancer dynamics – there is a consistent consensus that supports the potential of medical cannabis.”

The study’s authors concluded: “In medical practice, the strong support for cannabis as a palliative adjunct to cancer treatments offers healthcare providers a data-driven foundation to consider cannabis as part of a comprehensive cancer care strategy. The demonstrated efficacy in managing symptoms like pain, nausea, and appetite loss can significantly enhance patients’ quality of life, making cannabis a valuable tool in both palliative care and potentially in curative settings. The growing consensus around cannabis’ therapeutic benefits also highlights the need for medical professionals to stay informed about the latest research, as cannabis continues to evolve from a controversial substance to a scientifically validated treatment option.”

In an accompanying press release, the study’s lead author added: “This is one of the clearest, most dramatic validations of medical cannabis in cancer care that the scientific community has ever seen. We expected controversy. What we found was overwhelming scientific consensus.”

Full text of the study, “Meta-analysis of medical cannabis outcomes and associations with cancer,” appears in Frontiers in Oncology.

Analysis: Changes in Cannabis’ Legal Status Not Associated With Reduced Traffic Safety

Cambridge, MD: Changes in the legal status of cannabis in US states and Canada are not associated with significant changes to traffic safety, according to an analysis published in the peer-reviewed journal Variance.

A researcher affiliated with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science assessed the impact of adult-use marijuana legalization on car accident fatality rates, insurance claim frequency, and average costs per insurance claim.

The study’s author did not identify any “statistically significant impacts of legalization” on any of the assessed outcomes during the study period. Rather, the author concluded that other factors, such as inclement weather and seasonal spikes in travel, are far more likely to influence trends in traffic safety.

The findings are consistent with those of a 2023 analysis, which assessed trends in fatal motor vehicle accidents in four legalization states—California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada—compared to five control states: Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Researchers found that traffic deaths fell by an average of 12 percent in legal states in the three years immediately following legalization. By contrast, deaths increased nearly two percent over this same time in the five control states. Nationwide, traffic fatalities decreased 10.6 percent during the study period.

Other studies have yielded inconsistent results, with some identifying a minor increase in crash rates in specific states after legalization, while others found no such change.

Full text of the study, “A data-based assessment of the impact of marijuana legalization on vehicle accident risk,” appears in Variance.

Survey: Smoking Remains Most Popular Method for Consuming Cannabis

Atlanta, GA: Nearly eight-in-ten consumers say that smoking is their preferred method of cannabis ingestion, according to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researchers reviewed marijuana use data provided by more than 138,000 respondents.

Fifteen percent of those surveyed reported having consumed cannabis within the past month, while eight percent reported daily use. Seventy-nine percent of consumers acknowledged smoking cannabis, while 41 percent acknowledged consuming edible formulations. Fewer than 15 percent of those surveyed acknowledged dabbing cannabis concentrates. The findings are consistent with others reporting that most consumers smoke cannabis.

Among those who reported dabbing, most respondents were young adults. Among older adults, fewer than 5 percent of respondents reported engaging in this practice.

In recent years, lawmakers in various states have introduced legislation to recriminalize higher-THC concentrated products. Most of these efforts have been unsuccessful.

Full text of the CDC white paper is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Arkansas: Governor Vetoes Bill Seeking To Expand Patients’ Ease of Access to Medical Cannabis Products

Little Rock, AR: Republican Gov. Sarah Sanders vetoed legislation that sought to provide greater ease of access for patients authorized to use medical cannabis.

House Bill 1889 “authorized deliveries [of medical cannabis products] by dispensaries via delivery vehicles and via a drive-through window located at the dispensary.” Only patients who had previously submitted online orders that same day would have been permitted to use the drive-through option.

In her veto message, Gov. Sanders said that passage of the bill would have “expanded access to usable marijuana, therefore I am vetoing this legislation.”

The bill’s lead sponsor, Rep. Aaron Pilkington, called the Governor’s message confusing. “This [legislation] doesn’t increase the number of cardholders, and it doesn’t increase the amount [of cannabis] a cardholder can get,” he said.

House Bill 1889 had previously passed the House by a vote of 51 to 31. Senators voted 19 to 15 in favor of the legislation. Nonetheless, Rep. Pilkington doubted he had ample legislative support to override the Governor’s veto.

Arkansas voters approved medical cannabis access in 2016. An estimated 110,000 Arkansans are registered with the state to use medical cannabis products.

Analysis: Cannabis Use Associated With Less Stress, Better Sleep Quality Among Military Veterans With PTSD

Santa Monica, CA: Cannabis use by veterans with post-traumatic stress is linked to reduced stress and better same-night sleep quality, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

A team of investigators affiliated with the RAND Institute and the University of Southern California assessed cannabis and alcohol consumption on stress and sleep quality in a cohort of 74 recently discharged military veterans with elevated post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Study participants provided baseline data and completed daily follow-up assessments for three months.

On days when subjects acknowledged using cannabis, they reported “lowers levels of stress that day … and better sleep quality that night.” By contrast, subjects who consumed greater levels of alcoholic drinks during the day reported “poorer sleep quality that same evening.”

Researchers concluded: “While alcohol use appears to perpetuate a reinforcing cycle of stress and poor sleep, cannabis use may offer short-term stress relief and perceived sleep benefits. … Future research should aim to elucidate the chronic effects of cannabis use on sleep and stress to guide evidence-based recommendations for veterans seeking to manage these issues.”

The study’s conclusions are consistent with those of others, finding that cannabis products reduce levels of anxiety and provide other improvements in patients with post-traumatic stress.

Thirty-nine percent of military veterans say that they “know a veteran” who is using cannabis medicinally, and 75 percent say that they “would be interested in using cannabis or cannabinoid products as a treatment option if it were available.”

Full text of the study, “Daily associations between sleep quality, stress, and cannabis or alcohol use among veterans,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Clinical Trial: Orally Administered Delta-8 THC Possesses Similar But Milder Effects Than Delta-9 THC

Baltimore, MD: Orally ingested delta-8 THC produces dose-dependent psychoactive effects that are similar but milder than those associated with equivalent quantities of delta-9 THC, according to clinical trial data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Researchers affiliated with Johns Hopkins University assessed the effects of delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC in a cohort of 19 healthy adults. Study participants consumed brownies infused with standardized dosages of either synthetic delta-8 THC or synthetic delta-9 THC. The trial is the first study in over five decades to assess the effects of delta-8 THC in human subjects.

Investigators reported: “Overall, ingestion of delta-8 THC produced dose-dependent increases in subjective, cognitive performance, and physiological outcomes that were qualitatively similar to delta-9 THC. Consistent with prior findings, delta-8 THC exhibited lower potency compared to delta-9 THC at equivalent doses, though this reduced potency was overcome by increasing the delta-8 THC dose. Together, these findings demonstrate that delta-8 THC products have the potential to produce psychoactive and physiological effects that are comparable to delta-9 THC.”

The study’s authors concluded, “With the widespread availability of retail delta-8 THC to consumers as a byproduct of the 2018 Farm Bill, the findings from the present study underscore the importance of establishing regulatory frameworks that address safety, labeling, and consumer education related to delta-8 THC products.”

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

NORML and others have urged the FDA to establish regulatory guidelines governing the production, testing, labeling, and marketing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. In 2021, NORML issued a report on delta-8 THC and other novel, synthetically derived cannabinoids, cautioning consumers that these products are unregulated and may contain impurities.

Full text of the study, “A within-subject cross-over trial comparing the acute effects of oral delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy adults,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Study: CBD Reduces Chronic Pelvic Pain, Related Symptoms

Ann Arbor, MI: Women suffering from chronic pelvic pain frequently report that CBD mitigates their symptoms.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Michigan surveyed 477 women diagnosed with pelvic pain who also reported current marijuana use.

Eighty-one percent of participants reported reduced pain following their use of CBD products. Many respondents reported improved sleep, reduced anxiety, less depression, less fatigue, and better overall health. A large proportion of those using CBD reported substituting it instead of prescription medications – a finding consistent with prior research.

Prior surveys estimate that some 20 percent of subjects with chronic pelvic pain consume either cannabis or CBD therapeutically, with many reporting that cannabinoids reduce their reliance on prescription opioids.

Full text of the study, “Cannabidiol use and perceptions of effectiveness in women with chronic pelvic pain,” appears in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada.

Florida: Appeals Court Throws Out Cannabis Conviction Because Canines Can’t Distinguish Between Hemp and Marijuana

Tampa, FL: Judges on Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeals have reversed a marijuana trafficking conviction because the prosecution failed to take adequate steps to distinguish whether the defendant possessed marijuana or hemp.

The defendant had been convicted of marijuana trafficking after he was intercepted at Tampa International Airport with a duffle bag containing 50 vacuum-sealed bags of a “leafy green” substance. A canine had alerted to the duffle bag. Law enforcement later provided one of the 50 bags for a chemical analysis. It tested positive for cannabis.

The defendant appealed his conviction, arguing that he believed the packages contained hemp products, which are legal federally and in Florida. The court agreed, opining that there was no way to determine whether the defendant was carrying hemp or marijuana absent analytical testing of every bag.

It determined: “Legal hemp and illegal cannabis are indistinguishable by appearance, texture, and odor. … Because there is an identifiable danger of misidentification between legal hemp and illegal cannabis, where the contents of multiple packages are to be considered in proving the quantity of illegal cannabis, the state can no longer rely solely on appearance and odor to extend an inference of illegal cannabis to the remaining untested packets and must chemically test each packet of green, leafy substance to meet the threshold weight required for trafficking. To hold otherwise and allow the state to rely on the identification of similar packages of a green, leafy substance by appearance and odor alone would undermine a defendant’s presumption of innocence and erroneously negate the state’s burden to prove the identity and weight of the alleged substance.”

The case is Campbell v. Florida.

Montana: Lawmakers Approve Bills Imposing New Restrictions on Cannabis Edibles, Zero-Tolerant Per Se Limits for Drivers Under 21

Helena, MT: House and Senate lawmakers have sent bills to the Governor mandating new restrictions on edible cannabis products and imposing new penalties for motorists with trace levels of THC in their blood.

House Bill 636 stipulates that a single serving of an edible cannabis product may not exceed 5 milligrams of THC. Under current law, single servings are capped at 10 mgs.

Senate Bill 508 imposes new criminal penalties for motorists under the age of 21 who operate a vehicle with any detectable amounts of THC in their system, regardless of whether they are under the influence. (The measure does not impose penalties for those who test positive solely for inactive cannabis metabolites.) State law already prohibits anyone from operating a motor vehicle with THC levels above 5ng/ml.

Because THC may be present in blood even after several days of abstinence, NORML opposes the imposition of per se THC thresholds for motorists and alternatively calls for the expanded use of mobile performance technology like DRUID to determine whether someone is under the influence.

A bill (Senate Bill 27) extending the moratorium on new marijuana business licenses was also approved by lawmakers. All three bills await action from Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte.

Separate legislation seeking to impose a mandatory registry for cannabis consumers and significantly restricting the potency of adult-use cannabis products failed to make it out of committee.

Montana voters legalized the adult-use marijuana market in 2020.

Study: Medical Cannabis Provides “Meaningful Improvements” in Patients’ Health-Related Quality of Life

Sydney, Australia: The use of physician-authorized medical cannabis products is associated with “statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements” in patients’ health, according to observational study data published in the journal PLOS One.

Researchers assessed the efficacy of cannabis oil extracts containing standardized ratios of THC and CBD in more than 2,000 patients over one year. (Under Australian law, physicians may authorize cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.)

Consistent with prior studies, patients reported sustained improvements following cannabis therapy.

“Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements were observed in HRQL [health-related quality of life], fatigue, pain, and sleep for people with chronic health conditions,” investigators concluded. “Similar improvements were found in pain outcomes for participants with chronic pain; sleep disturbance for participants with insomnia; depression scores for patients with depression; and anxiety scores in patients with anxiety. … The findings from this study contribute to the emerging evidence-base to inform decision making both in clinical practice and at policy level.”

Similarly designed studies involving patients enrolled in the United Kingdom’s medical marijuana access program have shown cannabis products to be safe and effective for those suffering from cancer-related pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, hypermobility disorders, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “Improvements in health-related quality of life are maintained long-term in patients prescribed medicinal cannabis in Australia: The QUEST Initiative 12-month follow up observational study,” appears in PLOS One.

Survey: Adults Frequently Acknowledge Using Cannabis Products for Sleep

Chicago, IL: Some one-in-six adults say that they use cannabis as a sleep aid, according to survey data compiled by Harris polling on behalf of Green Thumb Industries.

Pollsters surveyed over 2,000 respondents. Sixteen percent of respondents acknowledged inhaling or ingesting cannabis “to help [them] sleep.” Another ten percent of respondents said they used commercially available CBD products as sleep aids.

The survey’s findings are consistent with those of several others concluding that adults frequently use cannabis to mitigate sleep disturbances, including insomnia, and enhance sleep quality.

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. Findings published in 2023 in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association reported that the daily administration of low doses of CBD (15 mg) improves sleep quality as effectively as melatonin.

Full survey data is available from Green Thumb Industries.

Michigan: Supreme Court Rules That Smell of Marijuana Is Insufficient Cause for a Vehicle Search

Lansing, MI: Judges on the Michigan Supreme Court have ruled that police officers may not conduct warrantless searches of motor vehicles based solely upon the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.

Judges opined that because the use of cannabis is now state-legal under certain circumstances, “the smell of marijuana, standing alone, no longer constitutes probable cause sufficient to support a search for contraband.”

They concluded, “Instead of a rule that the smell of marijuana alone may be sufficient to support a finding of probable cause, the appropriate rule is that the smell of marijuana is one factor that may play a role in the probable-cause determination.”

Courts in other states where cannabis is legal for either medical or adult-use purposes – including Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Vermont – have similarly determined that the odor of marijuana, absent evidence of a crime, does not provide probable cause to justify a warrantless search of a motor vehicle.

In Illinois, the Supreme Court has issued inconsistent decisions on the matter – finding that the odor of burnt cannabis is insufficient cause for a motor vehicle search, but that the “odor of raw cannabis” is sufficient.

The case is People v. Armstrong.

Pennsylvania: Supreme Court Rules That Worker Compensation Plans Must Reimburse Costs Related to the Use of CBD Products

Harrisburg, PA: Costs associated with purchasing commercially available CBD-infused oil products are eligible for reimbursement under the state’s worker compensation laws, according to a ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Judges determined that the products meet the definition of “medicines and supplies” under the state’s workplace compensation act.

They acknowledged that products do not have to be regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration to be eligible for reimbursement. “Any item that is part of a health care provider’s treatment plan falls within the purview of the broad-encompassing phrase ‘medicines and supplies’ as provided in Section 306(f.1)(1)(i) of the WCA [workers’ compensation act],” judges affirmed.

In 2023, a Pennsylvania appellate court similarly ruled that out-of-pocket expenses related to the use of medical cannabis are also eligible for reimbursement under the state’s worker compensation law.

Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York explicitly allow for employees to have their medical cannabis expenses reimbursed. By contrast, seven states prohibit workers’ compensation insurance from reimbursing medical marijuana-related costs: Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Florida, North Dakota, Ohio, and Washington. Other states are silent on the issue.

In 2022, justices on the US Supreme Court declined to weigh in on the issue of whether employees can be reimbursed for their medical marijuana-related expenses.

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano has advocated for clarity on the issue, opining: “Most patients, most physicians, and most state laws view cannabis as a legitimate therapeutic option. Therefore, the millions of Americans who rely upon medical cannabis products ought to be afforded the same entitlements as those who use other conventional medications and therapies. Those privileges should include insurance-provided reimbursement for medical cannabis treatment.”

The case is Mark Schmidt v. Schmidt, Kirifides, Rassias and Rio.

Maryland: Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Sales Tax Hike

Annapolis, MD: Lawmakers on Monday sent a budget bill (House Bill 352) to Democratic Gov. Wes Moore which includes a tax hike on the retail sale of adult-use cannabis products.

The bill raises the cannabis sales tax from 9 percent to 12 percent, effective for the fiscal year 2026 and every year thereafter. Lawmakers had initially sought to increase the special cannabis sales tax to 15 percent.

Maryland lawmakers began the session facing a $3 billion structural deficit.

NORML generated hundreds of communications to Maryland lawmakers opposing the tax hike, opining that artificially raising the price of adult-use cannabis products will hurt both consumers and licensed businesses.

Lawmakers in California, Michigan, and New Jersey are also considering raising taxes on state-legal marijuana products. In Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has called for doubling the state’s sales tax on adult-use cannabis products. House leaders have rejected that plan, though Senate leaders have indicated their willingness to consider it.