Compensation for workers injured on the job is being approached from various angles, though it faces an ongoing setback: cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which essentially precludes workers from being able to seek compensation for its use as a medication.
Two cases concerning Minnesota employees were discussed at a private conference earlier this year wherein both were regarded as invalid according to a 2021 Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, under which employers were not obligated to pay for their workers’ medical marijuana treatment.
Both cases, in a new decision, were declined by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. Marijuana Moment reported that denying certiorari means that fewer than four justices felt the legal challenges merited consideration by the high court, not necessarily that a majority agrees with lower court rulings in the two disputes.
What Happened?
In February, the U.S. Supreme Court asked the top Justice Department lawyer to submit a brief. The response from the solicitor general’s office came in last month with a recommendation that the court should not take up the matter.
The Cases
Susan Musta had filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court in November when the state court determined that her employer did not need to provide reimbursement for medical cannabis following her injury at a dental center where she was working.
In a friend-of-the-court brief filed in December by Empire State NORML and the New York City and Hudson Valley Cannabis Industry Associations, justices were urged to take up an appeal out of Minnesota, using it to settle the conflict between state and federal cannabis laws.
Daniel Bierbach, the protagonist in a similar case, submitted his petition for a writ of certiorari (a process that seeks a judicial review of a lower court decision) months after Musta in January. The state Supreme Court made the same judgment.
While filings in both cases were distributed on February 2 for a Supreme Court conference that was scheduled on February 18, the justices are now asking the Biden administration to weigh in on the issue.
“I feel very confident that Republicans will have a supermajority next year. When I say next year, I mean six months from now. We can deal with this then,” said House Speaker Tim Moore.
State senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) expressed support for cutting the state’s personal income tax rate in half as legislative leaders prepare the upcoming budget proposal for North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D).
Last year’s budget agreement dropped to 4.99% and could drop more each year until 2027 when it will reach 3.99%. However, Sen. Berger said it should go even lower, saying, “2.5% sounds fine to me.”
Over the last several weeks, new polling was released by the GOPAC Education Fund and the Center for American Ideas and, conducted by the Differentiators — a Republican firm founded by two former employees of Sen. Berger — found support in legislative districts for cutting the personal income tax rate to 2.5% in 2030.
However, Democrats oppose cutting the income tax rate further. Instead of this measure, they support a one-time $200 rebate to help people deal with rising gas prices.
What Do NC Lawmakers Say About Marijuana Medical Legalization?
The Differentiators polls have found wide support for Medicaid expansion, legalizing medical marijuana, and cutting state income taxes.
Earlier in June, the Senate passed a bill to expand Medicaid coverage to about 600,000 more people and make changes related to access to healthcare. Sen. Berger believes it’s “good state policy.”
In addition, the Senate passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana and another bill dealing with parental rights in education that also limits how LGBTQ issues are taught in schools.
However, House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said this issue may have to wait as first he’ll focus on getting a budget agreement.
“I feel very confident that Republicans will have a supermajority next year. When I say next year, I mean six months from now. We can deal with this then,” Moore concluded.
Scientists managed to repair the heart muscles of mice following heart attacks, an achievement that’s a first in the field and that could impact the future of cardiovascular diseases.
Scientists have managed to heal the heart of mice who’ve experienced heart attacks. While the study doesn’t immediately translate to humans, it’s a first step in addressing a significant disease that affects thousands of people a year.
Researchers believe the two-part study (here and here), published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Aging, is a game-changer in the field, and could lead to new treatments for humans in the near future.
Researchers used a new technology, a synthetic mRNA tweaked to deliver instructions to the body. mRNAs carry protein information from the interior of a cell to its exterior, contributing to a growing protein chain. The synthetic mRNA changes the way in which the heart muscle works, making it function more like stem cells, and making them able to regenerate and heal themselves, something that they’re unable to do on their own.
Heart attacks and heart disease are normally life-threatening conditions, difficult to overcome due to the nature of their cells. Once people are affected by a heart attack or cardiovascular condition, their hearts and systems are usually left in a more delicate place than they were before.
“The lab found cardiac myocytes multiplied quickly within a day, while hearts over the next month were repaired to near normal cardiac pumping function with little scarring,” explained Robert Schwartz, who’s the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor of Biology & Biochemistry at the University of Houston.
While a lot of time likely stands between this study and its repercussions on humans, this is a big first step.
Over the recent holiday weekend, the Texas Republican Party approved a platform plank against marijuana legalization, among several other newly adopted measures.
The majority of Texas residents are in favor of legalizing recreational cannabis, according to a recent survey from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.
As expected, most of the legalization supporters are Democrats and young, with 79% of Democrats and 70% of independents backing cannabis reform. Republicans followed suit in terms of demographics with 50% of Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation also supporting nationwide cannabis legalization. Yet, GOP-leaning politicians remain against it, despite its growing popularity.
Over the recent holiday weekend, the Texas Republican Party approved a platform plank against marijuana legalization, among several other newly adopted measures.
Cannabis Advocates Not Happy
“Just because you don’t like cannabis, or you wouldn’t want your kids or your husband or whoever to use cannabis, that doesn’t mean that prohibition is the right answer,” John Baucum, political director of Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition (RAMP), told Marijuana Moment recently.
Beto O’Rourke, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate who favors cannabis reform condemned the GOP’s stance, which was one of a few cannabis and drug policy measures reviewed at the party’s biennial state convention.
O’Rourke said earlier that if elected governor of Texas, he would legalize marijuana and that he anticipates the Republican majority in the Legislature would get on board.
“I’ll let you in on a secret: Republicans like to get high just as much as Democrats,” O’Rourke said at a SXSW panel in Austin in March.
However, GOP delegates supported two platforms signaling there’s still hope for the cause, including federal rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to II and reducing regulations on hemp.
Legalize Cannabis Australia, a single issue minor political party recently proposed enabling West Australians to possess up to 50 grams of cannabis and for households to cultivate up to four plants. Upper house members of parliament Brian Walker and Sophia Moermond are planning to present marijuana legislation next year, reported WAtoday.
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan, however, is not so pleased with this idea. On Tuesday, he said he’d use Labor’s control of both houses to block the bill.
“Having freely available cannabis is not our policy. They’re just proposing everyone can grow it wherever they want. That’s not what we’re doing. It’s just not an issue I want to deal with at this point in time,” McGowan told ABC radio.
“We do allow for medicinal cannabis for people with arthritis or cancer or those sorts of things. That’s the policy at this point.”
Previously under the ACT small amounts of marijuana have been decriminalized, starting Jan. 2020. The territory’s Labor government also signaled it would support a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of cocaine, MDMA and heroin.
Legalize Cannabis WA’s proposal would also enable licensed cannabis dispensaries.
— Dr Brian Walker MLC (@BrianWalkerMLC) June 20, 2022
“Cannabis is becoming a serious topic that Mark McGowan needs to address. This natural plant will only make WA better — socially, financially and medically,” Walker tweeted on Tuesday.
As we crawl out of the dark ages of marijuana research and knowledge, skeptics will have fewer reasons to oppose it.
Many lawmakers who oppose marijuana legalization say they need to see more research and studies on the subject before they vote to legalize marijuana on a federal level. Ample research and information is always important when voting on a major political matter. The problem, however, is that the century-long prohibition on marijuana has made it more difficult for researchers to study weed than legal substances.
Even with marijuana becoming legal in more areas, researching the effects of cannabis is not without its red tape and difficulties. Still there is good news in the realm of marijuana research. A recent study has shown that after decades of limited scientific research on marijuana, there’s been a significant increase of research and data on the subject.
The study, published by the Journal of Cannabis Research, reveals that over the last 20 years, the number of published studies on cannabis has grown significantly. The authors point to increased funding as being a major reason for this sharp increase.
There are also implications for the future of research in the study. In regards to cannabis research moving forward, “Future research should continue to investigate changes in the publication characteristics of emerging research, as the volume of publications on this topic is expected to rapidly grow,” the study concluded.
There are several reasons this increase over time was possible. One reason is that although marijuana is illegal, the federal government has allowed researchers more access to marijuana samples than ever before. As we previouslyreported, in order to accommodate this spike in research, the DEA increased the annual marijuana production quota by 575% (from 472 kilograms in 2017 to 3,200 kilograms in 2020).
In a statement on its website about its access to marijuana for research, the DEAsaid it “took an important step to increase opportunities for medical and scientific research.” While the DEA still places marijuana in the same category as heroin and cocaine (a schedule I substance), its increased cultivation, at least, will allow scientists to compile DEA-supported concrete data on the effects of THC. This increased research may even help get marijuana out of the schedule I category in the not-too-distant future.
Another reason published research is up has to do with funding. “Overall cannabis research funding in the United States is rising steadily, from less than $30.2 million in 2000 to more than $143 million in 2018, and money to explore cannabis medical treatments is growing,” according toscience.org. It is important to note, however, that funding for medical treatments is not growing as fast as research regarding the harms of cannabis.
As we crawl out of the dark ages of marijuana research and knowledge, skeptics will have fewer reasons to oppose it. Conservatives, some medical professionals and even the President of the United States have called for more conclusive data before they can approve of marijuana legalization. They might not have to wait much longer, because the research is already under way.
The cost of cannabis has been declining in many major markets for months, with consumers seeing prices per milligram trending down for most of the year.
In the days leading up to the recent bear market entry, cannabis insiders provided Benzinga with varied opinions regarding the impact of inflation on the cannabis sector.
As fears of skyrocketing inflation fueled the bear market, some remained optimistic about cannabis, even confident in some instances.
On the other hand, several sources cited numerous pain points, including rising production costs, the unlicensed market, slowed sales momentum, and declining product prices.
Cannabis Market Concern
The cost of cannabis has been declining in many major markets for months, with consumers seeing prices per milligram trending down for most of the year. In many markets, consumers are seeing prices fall as the cost of other products rises.
Still, due to various factors, including a return to office work, the rising cost of living and slowing wage increases, the urge to buy cannabis has slowed since the end of last year.
According to Marijuana Business Daily, total sales growth across five western state markets was 15.9% in 2021 compared to 39.2% the year before.
“The entire cannabis industry is reeling from post-covid drops in retail purchases, and now the wholesale market is following suit,” said Chris Vaughn, CEO of Pacific Consolidated Holdings and California-based delivery service Emjay.
Bottom lines are being leveled by sinking cannabis flower prices. Vaughn cited a market oversaturated with options as part of the problem. He said premium flower prices fell from approximately $1100 per pound in 2021 to between $400 and $600 this year.
As prices fall, production costs are on the rise. Morgan Paxhia, co-founder and managing director at Poseidon and AdvisorShares Poseidon Dynamic Cannabis ETF said, “Businesses have seen costs rise pretty much across the board, including construction, labor, packaging and more.” Paxhia noted that cost of living increases are equally affecting consumers.
Brandon Dorsky, CEO of California-based edibles brand Fruit Slabs, feels inflation isn’t represented in most cannabis consumable prices, except for high-end products with price elasticity.
“Everyone else is scared to start pricing in inflation costs,” said Dorsky. He added that he attempted to raise prices when fruit costs went up but were pushed back by various distributors.
Conversely, operators like Somai Pharmaceuticals CEO Michael Sassano said cannabis companies had years to address rising cultivation and production costs.
“Incremental inflation for things like packaging, nutrients or extract solvents should be offset by these years of production efficiencies,” Sassano said.
Regardless, Paxhia said the slowing economy increases the probability of a recession.
“Legal cannabis has not really been tested in a macro recession, so we’ll be looking to see how consumers behave through this time,” Paxhia said.
Geoffrey Lawrence, CFO at California-based cannabis brand Claybourne Co., said consumers are pivoting back to the less expensive unlicensed market.
Lawrence feels that states can improve their marketplaces and hedge against inflation “by creating a more equitable distribution of cannabis retailers so we take the air out of the illicit marketplace while also boosting cannabis sales and tax revenues.”
Cannabis Market Confidence
Other operators and insiders appear confident about the downturn and its impact on cannabis.
“Cannabis is basically recession-proof; there will always be a need and consumers,” said Anne M. Davis Esq., co-founder of cannabis healthcare platform Bennabis.
Sweetleaf Madison Capital CFO Kevin Bush expects the sector to be “significantly less” affected than other markets.
“Whatever volatility in input pricing is derived from generalized inflation in the broader economy,” he said.
Bush added, “that amount is minuscule compared to the input price volatility resulting from much larger factors that affect price levels in the cannabis industry.” He cited state-by-state regulations and market demands as prime factors.
On the consumer side, Bush said, cannabis should see results similar to another “vice” industry, alcohol. If accurate, cannabis sales would likely continue to perform well, but consumers may switch to more affordable, less premium products.
Piecemeal regulations are always a factor in the US market. Cannabis POS company Cova Software CEO Gary Cohen cited less income availability, the return of non-cannabis public alternatives and fiercer MSO competition as causes for decreased revenues.
Photo by Olena Ruban/Getty Images
Cohen expects mature state markets with ample distribution to see their sales volume impacted more. However, newer markets with tight retail distribution may see fewer sales due to expensive products.
“I think the global supply chain will get caught up at the end of the year, and wage increases will stop increasing by then as well,” said Cohen, predicting inflation will pull back in early 2023.
Cannabis Market Uncertainty
Others say it’s too early to tell what inflation and downturn will have on cannabis.
Jordan Lams, CEO and founder of Moxie, cited numerous uncertain areas of concern, including potential company-consumer demand misalignments, results of the hiring frenzy and scarcer capital.
“This time, it’s not exclusive to capital-intensive plant-touching operators, as we’ve recently seen with major ancillary technology players’ announcing layoffs,” Lams said.
In May, Akerna Corp announced layoffs amid restructuring plans. The following month, Dutchie announced it cut 8% of its staff. The job cuts are not exclusive to the US market, with Canopy Growth Corp. announcing an 8% workforce layoff in April.
A new study found that good gut bacteria can impact depression and mental health for the better.
The stomach and the brain have an interesting connection. The stomach is one of the first places to signal anxiety or excitement, with the reverse also being true; if the stomach is upset, the brain can interpret that as a signal of anxiety or worry, creating a jumble of emotions.
A new study shows that good bacteria in the gut can have a positive impact on depression and mental health.
The study, published in the journal Translation Psychiatry, was conducted by researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland who examined 47 volunteers with a history of depressive episodes — each given probiotic supplements over a 31-day period.
Results showed that participants who took probiotics along with their antidepressants experienced greater improvement. Their intestinal flora also changed, increasing in lactic acid-producing bacteria.
Researchers conducted a check-up four weeks later, showing that the results stopped once the probiotics were no longer consumed. “It may be that four weeks of treatment is not long enough and that it takes longer for the new composition of the intestinal flora to stabilize,” said psychiatrist Anna-Chiara Schaub, from the University of Basel.
The study showed that probiotics impacted the area of the brain that processes depression. Via fMRI scans, researchers saw that probiotics had an impact on the way people react to faces with fearful or neutral faces. Researchers don’t fully understand why, but probiotics normalized the way in which brains with depression process these experiences.
“Although the microbiome-gut-brain axis has been the subject of research for a number of years, the exact mechanisms are yet to be fully clarified,” said Schaub.
Scientists have long believed in the brain-stomach connection, with this study only adding further evidence to the theory. Still, researchers make it clear that antidepressants are still necessary and that the study needs more evidence and research to provide a conclusive answer.
There is some evidence that the strict federal stance on marijuana may loosen its posture in the not too distant future. But for now, investing in cannabis is off limits for many Americans.
Even with many states legalizing recreational marijuana, there are still several careers that prohibit the purchase and use of marijuana. After all, it is still a Schedule I substance under federal level. While these policies can at times appear to be unfair, they are at least straightforward.
Recently, however, there have been messages and instructions sent by federal organizations, including the Biden administration, suggesting that not only will using marijuana will get you fired, but any financial investments in the cannabis industry may get you sacked as well. This “clarification” has a lot of people wondering how broad this policy is, and if their mutual funds they set up to secure their future may actually be putting their security clearance and jobs in jeopardy.
Those serving in the U.S. military, working for the federal government, or those in a position that requires specific federal security clearance are currently prohibited from investing in the cannabis industry. But what does that really mean? The general consensus is that as long as you are not consciously investing in marijuana (i.e. picking out marijuana stocks intentionally), then you likely have very little to worry about.
According to ClearanceJobs, a network for professionals with federal security clearance, the level of your investment and your knowledge of the investment are both major factors. In regards to owning a mutual fund that happens to invest in marijuana stocks, the sitestates that “unless you’re personally selecting those stocks, clearance holders likely don’t need to be concerned.” A good rule of thumb is that as long as you are not a willing and active participant in the purchase of these stocks, you should be safe. Still, it is important to remember that it all comes down to how things appear.
If you work for the government or possess a particular security clearance at your job, it is not uncommon for you to be required to release information about your finances and investments. So while marijuana remains illegal on a federal level, it is imperative that your investments look squeaky clean. As the popular federal government information resource site FEDweekstates, “Be careful to avoid any federally illegal investments. Think about how your investments would look if they were being evaluated by someone who doesn’t know you.”
These policies have even come into play in the White House. According to an internal executive branch presentation obtained byPOLITICO, “Eligibility may be negatively impacted if an individual knowingly and directly invests in stocks or business ventures that specifically pertain to marijuana growers and retailers.” The presentation went on to say these willing investments in marijuana could show “questionable judgment” and “an unwillingness to comply with laws.” This shows that currently getting caught investing in marijuana is very much guilty by association.
For those in roles within the federal government, it is also important to remember that your finances can be evaluated at any time. In other words, these financial background checks do not simply happen when you accept a job, or obtain a new role.
According tomilitary.com, “Clearances now undergo continuous evaluation, so your ownership of such stocks may pop up and raise a big, red flag at any time.” The article goes further, to suggest that because ownership in marijuana stock is seen as a violation of policy as a member of the military, you could lose your clearance and even your job, and you would have no recourse.
Even as more states have legalized marijuana, the current prohibition on marijuana still casts a long shadow on many policies. There is some evidence that the strict federal stance on marijuana may loosen its posture in the not too distant future. But as of now, investing in cannabis is off limits for many Americans.
A new survey by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment showed that in 2021 young people were 35% less likely to use marijuana compared to prior years.
A decline in young people’s use of marijuana and other controlled substances seems to be a rising trend, as confirmed by yet another government-funded study.
After Michigan’s annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey showed an unprecedented year-over-year decline in 8th-graders, 10th-graders and 12th-graders, Coloradans followed suit.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Healthy Kids Colorado Survey’s results showed that in 2021 young people were 35% less likely to use marijuana compared to prior years.
The significant drop in use for high school students over the past two years is a part of a broader trend that dates back to 2013 when the department’s biennial survey got underway, cannabis advocates say, attributing it to regulated access for adults that then minimizes the risk of adolescent marijuana use.
According to the CDPHE’s report, only 13% of surveyed students said they’ve used cannabis over the past month, versus almost 20% in 2013.
To that end, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that marijuana legalization laws are not associated with increased use among high school students.
“Consistent with estimates from prior studies, there was little evidence that [recreational marijuana laws] or [medical marijuana laws] encourage youth marijuana use,” reads the paper.
Moreover, a previous paper that used data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) for the period 1993-to 2017 found that marijuana adoption was associated with an 8% decrease in the odds of marijuana use among high school students.
