Efforts to legalize medical cannabis in Tennessee have gotten some unexpected support from state House Speaker Beth Harwell. On Feb. 27, 2018, Harwell voted to break a tie in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee in favor of HB 1749 / SB 1710, also known as the Medical Cannabis Act. Under the proposed measure, medical cannabis…
Tag Archives: medical
DPH Suspends Retail Sales at Medical Marijuana Dispensary Healthy Pharms
BOSTON, Feb. 26, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has suspended retail sales of all medical marijuana products at Healthy Pharms, Inc., a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD), until further notice.
Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Program Off to Rough Start
The Pennsylvania medical cannabis program had a rough start as retail sales began on Feb. 15, 2018. The opening weekend was marked by long lines and short supply as Cresco Yeltrah was the only medical cannabis supplier able to provide products to dispensaries during the state’s first week of sales.
Study Finds MMJ Laws Do Not Increase Adolescent Cannabis Use
Although a majority of Americans support medical cannabis, a small segment of the population still opposes its legalization for fear that it will lead to an increase in adolescent cannabis use; however, according to a new study published in the journal Addiction, that fear may be unfounded.
California Cannabis Surety Bond Program Approved by Insurance Commissioner
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has been on a mission to ensure state-legal cannabis businesses have commercial insurance coverage and with his announcement of the first California cannabis surety bond program on Feb. 21, 2018, he continues to make progress.
First Surety Bond Program for Cannabis Industry Approved by Insurance Commissioner
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 21, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced today he has approved the first surety bond program for the cannabis industry in the State of California. Continental Heritage Insurance Company is the first insurer in the state to be approved to offer surety bonds for the cannabis industry.
Failed Applicants Sue Ohio Over Medical Cannabis Licensing Process
More strife is on the horizon for Ohio’s troubled medical cannabis program. On Feb. 20, 2018, a group of unsuccessful medical cannabis applicants, led by Jimmy Gould of CannAscend Ohio LLC, filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s medical cannabis licensing process.
Judge Overturns Detroit Medical Cannabis Initiative
In the city of Detroit, the group Citizens for Sensible Cannabis Reform is weighing its legal options after Wayne County Circuit Judge Robert Colombo, Jr., overturned Measure B, a Detroit medical cannabis initiative aimed at relaxing local control on the city’s medical cannabis industry, on Feb. 16, 2018.
Doubts Raised Over Marijuana’s Medical Benefits
A new medical marijuana guideline developed by Edmonton researchers warns family doctors that the risks may outweigh the benefits for the vast majority of patients. The guideline, published Thursday in the Canadian Family Physician journal, suggests the benefits of medical cannabis may be overstated, and research on its medicinal properties is sorely lacking.
New Practice Resource: Medical Cannabis Evidence Guide
OTTAWA, Feb. 15, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — As part of its ongoing efforts to provide Canadian pharmacists with practice tools and resources, CPhA has developed a new medical cannabis evidence guide.
Here’s Why the Vermont Government Redirected Marijuana Program Revenue
It appears the Vermont government is operating smoothly thanks to some extra green, causing state lawmakers to defend the risky move.
Detroit City Council Approves Moratorium on New Medical Cannabis Licenses
Entrepreneurs hoping to open medical cannabis dispensaries in Detroit, Michigan, will have to put their plans on hold for the time being. On Feb. 13, 2018, the Detroit City Council voted to impose a 180-day moratorium on new medical cannabis licenses and permits.
Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Ready to Serve Patients This Week
While the Keystone State’s first dispensary held its grand opening on Jan. 27, 2018, it didn’t have medical marijuana available for patients to purchase, but now the wait to buy products from Pennsylvania medical marijuana dispensaries is almost over. Starting on Feb. 15, and progressing through the week, a handful of dispensaries will open with products available for patients to purchase.
Study: Medical Cannabis Treatment Significantly Reduces Chronic Pain in Elderly
Baby boomers have become a growing market segment in the legal cannabis industry as the acceptance of medical cannabis treatment continues to spread across the world, and now it appears that medical cannabis treatment may offer senior citizens a safer alternative to opioids in the treatment of chronic pain.
Colorado Marijuana Sales Hit a Record $1.5 Billion in 2017
Colorado marijuana shops raked in a record $1.51 billion sales of medical and recreational cannabis, edibles and concentrate products during 2017, according to Colorado Department of Revenue data released Friday.
Survey Shows Majority of Nebraskans Would Favor Medical Marijuana Prescribing
A February 2017 sampling of likely Nebraska voters showed 77 percent of those surveyed would vote in favor of allowing doctors in the state to prescribe medical marijuana to patients with serious illnesses or conditions.
Enrollment Gaining in New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program
The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program started 2018 on a high note, with the most enrolled patients it has ever had. As the month of January came to an end, the program had 47,840 registered patients, a nearly 50% increase from January 2017.
Study: Medical Cannabis May Not Be Panacea to Prevent Opioid-Related Deaths
It has often been touted by medical cannabis advocates that states with medical cannabis laws see a statistical reduction in opioid-related deaths, and there is some evidence to support this claim; however, a recent study conducted by the RAND Corporation and the University of California, Irvine, calls into question this assumption and paints a more complex picture.
Montana Cannabis Conference Coming to State Capitol
A cannabis conference at the state Capitol on Friday will help patients and providers navigate Montana’s medical marijuana laws.
Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Legalize Recreational Marijuana in Georgia
The chances that Georgia will legalize recreation marijuana is slim, but the bill’s lawmaker sponsor said support is growing.
Medical Cannabis Exports Suspended in Israel
Israel has temporarily suspended medical cannabis exports. According to Haaretz, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was responsible for the suspension and has ordered a review from both the Health Ministry and the chairman of the National Economic Council.
MED Bulletin: New Outdoor Cultivation Security Requirements Mandatory on Jan. 1, 2019
DENVER, Feb. 5, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — This Industry Bulletin is being issued to notify licensees of new requirements for outdoor or greenhouse medical and retail marijuana cultivations (collectively referred to as “Outdoor Cultivations”), effective January 1, 2019.
Maine Governor Agrees to Delay Implementation of Controversial Medical Cannabis Rules
Controversial rules regulating Maine’s medical cannabis program will not go into effect as scheduled. On Jan. 31, 2018, Gov. Paul LePage agreed to delay implementation of the medical cannabis rules, which would have gone into effect on Feb. 1, 2018, until May 2018.
Kathy Bates on CONAN: ‘You Don’t Have to Get Wacked’ on Weed
Now that marijuana is legal for recreational use in California, Kathy Bates has some advice on partaking responsibly.
Legislative Committees in the Pine Tree State Vote to Delay Maine Marijuana Regulations
Two legislative committees in the Pine Tree State have decided that they need more time to perfect Maine marijuana regulations. On Jan. 25. 2018, the state legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee voted to approve a moratorium bill that would delay the implementation of new medical marijuana rules issued by the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Poll: Almost Half of Cannabis Users Admit Heading into Work High
While employers in states with legal cannabis may not want employees to show up to work high, almost half of cannabis users have admitted that they’ve gone to work high, according to new survey results.
Case Challenging Florida Medical Cannabis Smoking Ban Moves Forward
A lawsuit challenging a ban on Florida medical cannabis smoking has been given the approval to proceed, but one of the key players in the suit will have to drop out.
Dennis Peron, Father of Medical Marijuana in California, Dies at 72
Dennis Peron, the cannabis activist who fired up the movement to legalize medical marijuana in California, died on Saturday in a San Francisco hospital. He was 72.
Judge Hears Case Challenging Florida Medical Marijuana Smoking Ban
Should Florida medical marijuana patients be allowed to smoke their medicine? That’s the question a Leon County Circuit Judge must decide.
Canadian Cannabis Consumers Spent Almost C$6 Billion on Product in 2017
Recreational cannabis legalization is on Canada’s horizon and as a means of understanding pre- and post-legalization markets, Statistics Canada has been analyzing historical data to get a sense of what the future of legal cannabis may hold for the country and if its most recent report is any indication, Canadian cannabis consumers are ready to open their wallets when it comes to cannabis.
Cortez Masto Urges President Trump to Protect State Marijuana Laws
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 25, 2018 /Weed Wire/ – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Jared Polis (D-Colo.) in a bipartisan letter to President Trump requesting he urge Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reinstate the Cole Memorandum. Doing so would create a pathway to a more comprehensive marijuana policy that respects state interests.
Statement from Health Canada: Physical Security Requirements for Producers of Cannabis for Medical Purposes
OTTAWA, Ontario, Jan. 25, 2018 /Weed Wire/ – Health Canada is introducing two targeted changes to the physical security requirements under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) that must be respected by licensed producers (LP) of cannabis for medical purposes.
The Doctors: Are Seniors Substituting Marijuana for Opioids?
Seniors are consuming more marijuana to help manage their pain. Could medical marijuana help some people replace their opioid prescriptions?
Illinois Judge: Add Chronic Pain as Qualifying Condition for Medical Marijuana
Illinois patients suffering from chronic pain may soon have a new way to treat their medical condition. On Jan. 16, 2018, Cook County Judge Raymond Mitchell ordered the Illinois Department of Public Health to add chronic pain as a qualifying condition for the state’s medical marijuana program.
Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Mandating Review of New Jersey’s Medical Marijuana Policy
TRENTON, N.J., Jan. 23, 2018 /Weed Wire/ – Governor Phil Murphy today signed an Executive Order directing the New Jersey Department of Health and the Board of Medical Examiners to review the state’s existing medical marijuana program. The goal of the review is to eliminate barriers to access for patients who suffer from illnesses that could be treated with medical marijuana.
Poll: Record Number Want Georgia Medical Marijuana Program Expanded
Support for expanding the Georgia medical marijuana program is at an all-time, according to a new poll released by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Arizona Dispensaries Sold Over 43 Tons of Medical Marijuana in 2017
While the Grand Canyon State may have failed to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016, Arizona dispensaries ran full steam ahead with medical marijuana sales in 2017, selling more than 43 tons by the end of the year, according to an end-of-year report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Nebraska Senator Introduces Cannabis Amendment Resolution
On Jan. 18, 2018, Sen. Anna Wishart introduced an amendment resolution that would call for Nebraska residents to vote on the legal status of medical cannabis in the November election.
Maine Medical Marijuana Caregivers File Lawsuit Against DHHS
In an effort to halt implementation of new regulations governing Maine medical marijuana caregivers, two medical marijuana shop owners, along with two unnamed patients in their care, have filed a lawsuit against the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the state medical marijuana program.
Maryland Report Suggests State Consider Race in Cannabis Licensing Process
Minorities in the state of Maryland are at a disadvantage in the state’s medical cannabis licensing process, according to the report of a state consultant hired to review a 2017 disparity study after controversy arose over the fact that no minority-owned businesses were awarded a medical cannabis license.
Eaze Data Report: Major Increase in Legal Marijuana Sales in California
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — Eaze, the leading marijuana technology company, today released its Eaze Insights: 2017 State of Cannabis data report, a comprehensive overview of consumer trends driving the marijuana industry year over year.
First Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Dispensary Holds Grand Opening
The Keystone State’s first cultivator was greenlit this past October and while Gov. Tom Wolf announced that the first Pennsylvania medical marijuana dispensary had been approved to start serving patients on Jan. 4, 2018, the dispensary wasn’t quite ready to open its doors until recently.
Ultra Health Announces Nation’s First In-Depth, Experiential Cannabis Dispensary and Second Cultivation Site
ALBUQUERQUE, NM, Jan. 16, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — Ultra Health distributed 230,415 copies of an informational printed media insert to 19 newspapers across New Mexico from January 10, 2018 to January 14, 2018, reaching nearly one third of New Mexican households.
Federal Judge Lets Illinois Girl Use Medical Marijuana at Public School
Can children use medical marijuana on public school grounds? If you’re a particular 11-year-old girl from Illinois, then the answer is yes.
Illinois Parents Sue School District to Let Daughter Use Medical Marijuana
In the state of Illinois, the parents of an 11-year-old girl are suing their school district for their child to have the right to use medical marijuana on school grounds.
Senate Follow Public and Passes Legalization Bill
MONTPELIER, Jan. 10, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — Today the Senate passed H.511, a bill legalizing possession of small amounts of cannabis for Vermonters over the age of 21. This follows growing public support and more than 17 years of work in the Vermont legislature.
Pelican State Asks Trump to Protect Louisiana Medical Marijuana
When United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo on Jan. 4, 2018, announcing the reversal of federal marijuana enforcement policy, politicians across the country were outraged, and now the Pelican State has joined in and asked President Donald Trump to protect Louisiana medical marijuana.
Arizona Supreme Court Reviewing Ruling in Campus MMJ Case
Can Arizona universities and colleges ban medical marijuana on their campuses? Can the state legislature ban it for them? These are the questions that the Arizona Supreme Court is set to decide.
California Drugged Driving PSA Nixed Over Concerns It Encouraged Cannabis Use
Cannabis may be legal in California, but that doesn’t mean that reefer madness has gone away. According to a report by FOX40, the California Department of Traffic Safety has pulled an anti-drugged-driving PSA over concerns that it encouraged cannabis use.
Voters to Decide on Oklahoma Medical Cannabis Legalization This Summer
This past summer voters in the Sooner State learned that they’d have an opportunity to vote on Oklahoma medical cannabis legalization in 2018, but the exact election date wasn’t clear until now.