Tag: Weed Connection

Analysis: Marijuana Retailers Linked To Fewer Opioid Deaths, No Increase in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Emeryville, CA: Counties with a high volume of marijuana retailers have reduced levels of opioid-related deaths and do not experience increases in either traffic-related fatalities or suicide, according to data published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

A pair of researchers affiliated with the Public Health Institute in California assessed the relationship between cannabis retail store density and countywide mortality rates from suicide, motor vehicle accidents, opioid poisoning, homicide, and accidental poisonings in Washington state.

They reported, “Significant reductions in mortality rates were associated with increased county recreational cannabis store rates for both accidental poisonings and opioid poisoning deaths.”

Researchers theorized that these reductions “could be due to substitution of cannabis with opioids, alcohol and other drug use or quantities of use among those with heavy habitual use and use disorders.” Survey data published in November in The Harm Reduction Journal found that consumers frequently use cannabis as a substitute for other substances, including alcohol, methamphetamine, morphine, and tobacco.

Investigators did not find any correlation between retail store density and elevated rates of either motor vehicle accidents, homicide, or suicide.

The study’s authors concluded: “The results … do not provide any evidence of increased mortality associated with having more stores selling cannabis. … While these findings should be interpreted in the context of the broader literature on cannabis legalization, they are consistent with the possibility that increased access to legal cannabis reduced poisoning mortality in the first seven years of recreational stores operating in the state of Washington.”

Other studies have similarly documented an association between cannabis dispensaries and declines in opioid-related mortality, while assessments correlating adult-use marijuana access and motor vehicle accident trends have yielded less consistent results.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis retail store density and county-level mortality from injury in the state of Washington from 2009-2020,” appears in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

Federal Appeals Court Rejects Disarmament of Marijuana Consumers

St. Louis, MO: Judges on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals have rejected arguments that the federal government can unconditionally bar adults from possessing firearms because of their status as cannabis consumers.

The Court opined that “Nothing in our tradition allows disarmament simply because [the defendant] belongs to a category of people, drug users, that Congress has categorically deemed dangerous.” Rather, judges determined that constitutional questions surrounding the disarmament of drug users must be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Federal officials have long maintained that marijuana’s illicit status under federal law precludes any consumer from legally owning a firearm.

The ruling is the latest in a series of decisions challenging the government’s interpretation of a 1968 law prohibiting the possession of a firearm by an “unlawful user” of a federally controlled substance. Judges on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals have twice ruled that Americans’ 2nd Amendment rights cannot be infringed solely based upon one’s substance use.

A separate legal challenge to the federal government’s ban, initially brought by former Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (who now serves as a member of NORML’s Board of Directors) and several medical cannabis patients, remains pending in the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

The case is United States v Cooper.

Study: Retail Cannabis Sales Associated With Reduced Drinking Among Young Adults

New York, NY: Fewer young adults report using alcohol following the opening of licensed marijuana retailers, according to data published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Researchers affiliated with the City University of New York and the University of Alabama at Birmingham assessed the relationship between adult-use legalization laws and consumers’ use of alcohol and tobacco. Data was gathered from a nationally representative cohort of more than 400,000 respondents over ten years.

While investigators reported limited effects on population-wide alcohol and tobacco consumption post-legalization, they did acknowledge reduced use among particular demographic cohorts. Specifically, college-educated adults and those aged 30 to 39 reduced their use of alcohol and cigarettes following marijuana legalization. Alcohol use also declined among young adults (those between the ages of 18 and 29). Among older adults (those aged 50 to 59), binge drinking frequency declined, as did their use of cigarettes.

“The findings suggest that the impact of RCLs [recreational cannabis laws] on alcohol and tobacco use is complex,” the study’s authors concluded. “Alcohol and cannabis, as well as tobacco and cannabis, may function as both complements and substitutes. Different individuals may use these substances for either reason, and the same individuals may engage in complementary or substitute behaviors depending on personal preference and accessibility. … More research is needed to evaluate the effects of RCLs over time.”

While survey data finds that many consumers acknowledge substituting marijuana for alcohol, observational data gathered from jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis is mixed – with some studies reporting dips in alcohol sales post-legalizations and others reporting no significant changes at the population level.

Full text of the study, “The effect of recreational cannabis laws on alcohol and tobacco use among US adults, 2012 to 2022,” appears in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Trump Taps Veteran Drug Warrior To Lead DEA

Washington, DC: President Donald Trump has nominated career DEA official Terry Cole to be the head of the drug enforcement agency. If approved, Cole will replace Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz.

Cole previously spent over 20 years in leadership roles at DEA. Currently, he serves as Virginia’s secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Throughout his tenure in law enforcement, Cole has taken a hardline approach to marijuana and has expressed support for the ‘Just Say No’ strategies of the 1980s.

If confirmed, Cole will oversee the next phase of an ongoing administrative petition to reschedule marijuana. Hearings were set to begin in January but were postponed pending the resolution of an interlocutory appeal.

Commenting on the appointment, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “Trump’s nominee to head the DEA is a lifelong drug war hawk whose outdated attitudes toward cannabis are out of step with those of most Americans. At a time when most Americans are demanding long overdue changes in federal cannabis policy, Trump’s pick epitomizes the failed policies and approaches of the past.”

Analysis: More Than One in Ten Americans Use CBD

La Miranda, CA: More than ten percent of the US population ages 12 and older acknowledge consuming CBD within the past 30 days, according to data published in Preventive Medicine Reports.

Data gathered from a nationally representative cohort estimated that 10.5 percent of Americans currently consume CBD products. Respondents who identified as cannabis consumers were more likely to use CBD than those who did not. Females, as well as those who reported being in poorer health, were also more likely to use CBD products as compared to their peers.

“This is the first study to date that provides the prevalence of CBD use in the general United States population,” the study’s author concluded. “Given the widespread use of CBD products, …it is important to implement public health education targeting the public about safe use, effectiveness, and efficacy of CBD products and potential drug interaction effects when used in conjunction with marijuana.”

Prior studies have reported a rise in the popularity of CBD products among patients age 65 or older – many of whom acknowledge using the products in lieu of other medications.

Despite the popularity of commercially produced CBD products, they remain largely unregulated. Accordingly, analyses conducted by the FDA and others consistently report that over-the-counter CBD products are of variable quality and potency and may contain contaminants, adulterants, or elevated levels of heavy metals.

Full text of the study, “Patterns of cannabidiol use among marijuana users in the United States,” appears in Preventive Medicine Reports.

Study: Cannabis More Effective Than Prescribed Analgesics for Patients With Chronic Pain

Pittsburgh, PA: Chronic pain patients are more likely to respond favorably to cannabis than they are to prescription analgesics, according to data published in the journal Pain.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh assessed outcomes in 440 pain patients certified to consume medical cannabis products and 8,114 pain patients prescribed traditional analgesics.

They reported that those in the cannabis-treatment cohort were slightly more likely than controls to experience clinically meaningful improvements in their pain. Investigators further reported that subjects who used both cannabis and opioids were more likely to reduce their opioid use over time as compared to those who did not. “Our results do point to possible use [of cannabis] as an adjunct in trying to wean opioids successfully,” they wrote.

The study’s authors concluded: “In sum, … we found that medical marijuana was comparatively more effective than prescription medication treatment for chronic pain, with the odds of responding being 2.6 times higher in the medical marijuana group and having twice the predicted probability of a positive response. While we found that medical marijuana was comparatively more effective, we cannot extrapolate to conclude that medical marijuana is likely more effective in other populations, particularly because we compared two different (albeit similar) populations. Because the rate of response in the control group (34.9 percent) was very similar to the marijuana group (38.6 percent) at three months, a more conservative interpretation of our results is that medical marijuana is at least as effective as prescription medications for chronic pain.”

Data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that nearly one in three patients with chronic pain use cannabis as an analgesic agent and many of those who do substitute it in place of opioids.

The full text of the study, “The comparative effectiveness of medicinal cannabis for chronic pain versus prescription medication treatment,” appears in Pain.

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Missouri: Officials Expunge Over 140,000 Marijuana-Related Convictions

Jefferson City, MO: State officials have expunged more than 140,000 marijuana-related convictions over the past two years, according to updated data provided by the Missouri Supreme Court.

Voters in 2022 approved an initiative legalizing the adult-use marijuana market. Provisions in the law called upon courts to automatically review and vacate eligible marijuana-related convictions. Since then, courts have reviewed over 307,000 cases. Forty-six percent of those cases have been deemed eligible for legal relief, resulting in 140,429 expungements to date.

Courts in several counties are now reviewing paper records to identify additional cases eligible for expungement relief.

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 two million marijuana-related expungements since 2018.

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Texas: Lawmakers in Two Cities Set aside Voter-approved Marijuana Measures

Bastrop, TX: City council members in Bastrop (population: 11,700) and Lockhart (population: 15,300) have declined to implement voter-approved ballot initiatives that sought to end marijuana possession arrests within the cities’ limits.

Their decisions follow legal actions taken by state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued city officials in Dallas for implementing a similar ordinance.

Voters in all three cities overwhelmingly passed municipal ballot measures on election day that sought to halt local police from making low-level marijuana possession arrests.

In recent years, voters in several additional Texas cities, including Austin, have approved similar depenalization ordinances. Although the Attorney General has also filed suit against several of those cities, his office has thus far been unsuccessful in winning judgments against them.

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.

Analysis: Opening of Cannabis Retailers Isn’t Associated With Rise in Marijuana-Related Emergency Department Visits

Toronto, Ontario: The establishment of licensed cannabis retailers is not associated with any uptick in marijuana-related emergency department (ED) visits, according to longitudinal data published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

A team of Canadian researchers assessed the impact of cannabis store openings on ED visits in 278 communities in Ontario.

They found “no evidence that the allocation of cannabis retailer licenses led to changes in cannabis-related ED visits.”

Similarly, no changes in ED visits related to either alcohol use or opioids were identified.

“Despite the anticipation that the introduction of licensed cannabis retailers might influence such health outcomes, our findings suggest no significant changes in ED visit rates following the allocation of retail licenses,” the study’s authors concluded. “This research highlights the complex relationship between the availability of cannabis retail options and public health metrics. … Given these findings, policymakers may consider focusing on understanding regional factors (e.g. cannabis pricing and retailer hours of operation) beyond retail density that could influence substance-related health outcomes.”

Other studies have failed to identify any association between dispensary openings and rising local crime rates. Studies have documented a relationship between dispensary openings, rising home values, and reductions in opioid-related mortality.

Full text of the study, “The impact of recreational cannabis retailer allocation on emergency department visits: A. natural experiment utilizing lottery design,” appears in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

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Clinical Trial: CBD Dosing Not Associated With Cognitive Impairment

Pueblo, CO: Subjects who consume CBD exhibit no significant differences in cognitive performance as compared to controls, according to clinical trial data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Researchers affiliated with Colorado State University assessed the short-term impact of oral CBD dosing on learning and memory in a cohort of healthy adults. Study participants received either 246 mg of CBD or placebo. Subjects then completed a variety of cognitive tests two hours later.

Investigators reported, “CBD administration did not affect any of the dependent variables measured compared to the placebo group.”

The study’s authors concluded, “The results of this study suggest that administration of CBD alone does not significantly impair L&M [learning and memory] in healthy adults.”

The findings are consistent with those of other studies, which also concluded that the use of CBD is not associated with changes in cognitive or psychomotor performance.

Full text of the study, “Oral cannabidiol did not impair learning and memory in healthy adults,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

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Meta-Analysis: Cannabis May Be “Beneficial in Inducing Clinical Remission” in Patients With Crohn’s Disease

Karachi, Pakistan: Cannabis use is associated with clinical remission in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients and it represents a promising therapeutic option for managing the disease, according to a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled studies published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science.

A team of Pakistani investigators reviewed data from five randomized clinical trials involving 176 participants. In three of the trials, subjects used either cannabis cigarettes or a placebo. In two of the trials, subjects ingested either plant-derived extracts or a placebo.

Researchers determined: “The analysis indicates that cannabis may be beneficial in inducing clinical remission. … Specifically, individuals receiving cannabis treatment exhibited substantially higher rates of clinical remission at eight weeks compared to those in the control group.”

The study’s authors concluded: “In conclusion, the meta-analysis suggests that cannabis could be a promising therapeutic option for managing CD with minimal side effects. The findings … support its potential as an adjunct or alternative therapy, especially for patients unresponsive to conventional treatments.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use in Crohn’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials,” appears in the Irish Journal of Medical Science.

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Case Report: Cannabis Oil Provides Symptomatic Improvements in Patient With Parkinson’s Disease

João Pessoa, Brazil: The daily administration of plant-derived cannabis extracts containing THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids is associated with significant improvements in a patient with late-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to the case report published in the Brazilian Journal of Biology.

Brazilian investigators documented clinical improvements in a 77-year-old PD patient following his use of cannabis oil. The patient consumed up to five drops of cannabis oil twice daily for three months.

The study’s authors reported symptomatic improvements within one week of cannabis therapy. The patient’s symptoms continued to improve throughout the trial period, resulting in a reduction in his use of prescription medicines.

“This case reports a significant improvement in both motor and non-motor functions in a patient with advanced PD following the administration [of] a full-spectrum CBD-rich oil containing THC and other phytocannabinoids,” they concluded. “These compelling results suggest that cannabis oil may offer a valuable and effective therapeutic option for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabis oil in treating Parkinson’s disease: Improvement of motor and non-motor symptoms: A case report,” appears in the Brazilian Journal of Biology.

Analysis: Consumers Engage in Greater Levels of Physical Activity on Days They Consume Cannabis

Oklahoma City, OK: Middle-aged adults are more likely to engage in physical activities on days when they also consume cannabis, according to data published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Oklahoma assessed the relationship between cannabis use and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a cohort of 98 healthy middle-aged adults.

They found that participants typically engaged in 31 more minutes of physical activity on days they consumed cannabis. Participants also tended to consume more alcohol on days they were most physically active.

“The observed positive … associations between cannabis use and MVPA aligned with our hypothesis and prior cross-sectional observations,” the study’s authors concluded. “As the current study’s sample was composed of healthy middle-aged adults, it may be that cannabis use increased PA [physical activity] enjoyment and/or subsequent feelings of psychological reward. … Future studies may also consider including an assessment of whether cannabis was used pre- or post-PA and for what reasons.”

The findings are consistent with those of other studies concluding that adults with a history of marijuana use typically exercise as much or more than their non-using peers. Among those age 60 and older, marijuana use has been associated with increased exercise frequency.

Full text of the study, “Associations between cannabis use and same-day health and substance use behaviors,” appears in Addictive Behaviors.

Study: Patients Report Significant Reductions in Pain Following Cannabis Use

Hamilton, Canada: Cannabis products provide short-term relief for patients suffering from chronic muscle, joint, or nerve pain, according to data published in the journal Cannabis.

Canadian investigators assessed the short-term effects of cannabis on chronic pain in a cohort of 741 individuals over a 3+ year period. Study participants self-administered cannabis products at home and reported symptom changes in real time on a mobile software application (Strainprint). Most participants inhaled botanical cannabis. Twenty-one percent ingested cannabis oil extracts. Changes in participants’ pain scores were assessed using a 10-point scale.

On average, subjects reported a three-point reduction in their pain scores following cannabis use. Male participants were more likely than females to experience greater pain relief. Greater efficacy was associated with products either dominant or balanced in THC content as compared to CBD-dominant products.

“Our analysis of observational data from chronic pain patients who use medical cannabis found large reductions in pain, and that men were more likely to experience greater pain relief than women,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our findings require confirmation in rigorously conducted randomized trials that include a placebo control to account for non-specific effects.”

Separate data published in 2023 in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that nearly one in three patients with chronic pain use cannabis as an analgesic agent and many of those who do substitute it in place of opioids.

Full text of the study, “Predictors of response to medical cannabis for chronic pain: A retrospective review of real-time observational data,” appears in Cannabis.

Survey: CBD Dosing Associated With Symptom Improvements in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Boston, MA: Women diagnosed with either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis report symptom improvements following the ingestion of CBD products, according to survey data published in the journal Medicina.

Investigators affiliated with Simmons University in Boston surveyed 25 women who consumed CBD to mitigate IBD symptoms. Most participants obtained CBD products from state-licensed dispensaries. Participants typically consumed oral doses of 25 mg or less of CBD daily.

Researchers reported, “CBD users reported decreases in IBD-related pain and nausea (76 percent and 64 percent, respectively), and improvement in appetite (60 percent).”

The study’s authors concluded: “This study … suggest[s] that CBD could lead to improvements in IBD-related pain and nausea, increased appetite, and overall increased quality of life in this understudied and vulnerable cohort. … Additional investigations that include larger sample sizes, more variation among disease severity, and an interventional study design could further elucidate the results currently indicated.”

IBD patients enrolled in the United Kingdom’s Medical Cannabis Registry report sustained improvements in their health-related quality of life following their use of medicinal cannabis products, according to data published earlier this year in the journal Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Prior survey data reports that an estimated one-half of IBD patients have tried cannabis, and that nearly one-third of current consumers use it to mitigate disease symptoms.

Full text of the study, “The perceived effectiveness of cannabidiol on adult women with inflammatory bowel disease,” appears in Medicina.

Florida: Marijuana Legalization Proponents Eye Subsequent Ballot Initiative Campaign in 2026

Tallahassee, FL: Backers of a 2024 statewide initiative that sought to legalize adult-use retail marijuana sales are considering running another legalization campaign in 2026.

The campaign behind the Amendment 3 effort, Smart & Safe Florida, filed paperwork with state officials last week to place another ballot question before voters. Although the 2024 campaign received 56 percent of the vote, that total was below the 60 percent threshold required to pass a constitutional amendment in Florida. (Florida is the only state that requires citizen-initiated measures to gain more than a simple majority.)

The newly proposed measure is similar to last year’s amendment. However, the updated language explicitly prohibits any public use of cannabis and stipulates that nothing in the initiative prevents lawmakers “from providing for the home growing of marijuana by adults for their personal use and the reasonable regulation thereof,” among other changes.

Amendment 3 was vigorously opposed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who allocated millions of dollars in state funds to air anti-marijuana ads on television. Most recently, Gov. DeSantis called on lawmakers to convene a special legislative session to discuss options to impose new restrictions on ballot initiative access.

Historically, Florida has been among the states with the highest number of annual marijuana-related arrests. Under state law, possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana is a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Possessing greater amounts is a felony offense, punishable by up to five years in prison.

In 2016, 71 percent of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment legalizing the production and distribution of medical cannabis to qualified patients. Over 850,000 Floridians are now registered with the state to access medical marijuana.