Sen. Lindsey Graham Open To Medical Marijuana, Rep. Nancy Mace Votes Against MORE Act

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April 4, 2022

Sen. Lindsey Graham Open To Medical Marijuana, Rep. Nancy Mace Votes Against MORE Act

While Graham’s opposition to federal cannabis legalization, especially in the middle of an opioid crisis, is perfectly clear, he seems to understand the value of medical marijuana.

The House of Representatives approved the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, H.R. 3617 on Friday, sending it to Senate. The MORE Act removes cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, allowing states to legalize cannabis, its production and sale, free from federal interference.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), viewed as one of the leaders among GOP representatives in favor of removing cannabis from the list of federally controlled substances, voted against it. Why?

marijuana legalization — Photo by Olena Ruban/Getty Images

“The MORE Act forces a system on South Carolinians and other states they do not want. By comparison, my bill, the States Reform Act, removes the federal government from the equation and allows states to decide for themselves,” Mace explained as reported by The State.

She presented her bill — the States Reform Act — in November last year, but the measure failed in 12 committees and seven subcommittees without a hearing.

According to Mace, the House passage of the MORE act may be a good start for creating a bipartisan consensus around legislation that would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, reported Marijuana Business Daily.

Mace added that she is eager to take part in a marijuana breakthrough in Washington DC. She revealed that one of her Democratic counterparts on the House Oversight and Reform Committee confirmed it will hold at least one hearing on her States Reform Act.

“This is a multibillion-dollar industry problem. It is not going away. And we need to have a bipartisan solution,” Mace said, adding that she has received a very positive reception from her congressional colleagues in Congress.

How To Get Republican Support?

According to Mace, many don’t understand that her bill doesn’t actually legalize cannabis at the federal level, instead, it offers full control and power to each state. Mace believes that giving control to states and treating cannabis like alcohol is the only way for marijuana reform to obtain Republican support.

Mace added that her States Reform Act can save many lives and do a lot of good, in addition to saving the federal government money.

“It’s a win-win-win all the way around for conservatives. It can be a huge win for everybody.”

She is also not optimistic about the MORE Act passing in the Senate or any other similar legislation in the near future.

While she might be right, like many other industry experts who doubt there will be federal marijuana reform this year, it’s obvious that cannabis legalization is slowly but steadily gaining wider support.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Signals Openness To Medical Marijuana

Sen. Graham recently revealed he is “open to” medical marijuana as the MORE Act heads to the Senate.

“Medical marijuana, I’ve heard from many people in our state, seems to have some value,” Graham said per WMBF News. “If you can show me, and I think there’s evidence that it is helpful, then the medical marijuana idea I’d be open to.”

While Graham’s opposition to federal cannabis legalization, especially in the middle of an opioid crisis, is perfectly clear, he seems to understand the value of medical marijuana.

“One thing we’ve got to realize, opioids help with pain, but they create a lot of addiction,” Graham said. “There’s no easy answer here, but in terms of legalizing marijuana, no. I think it brings a lot of problems with it. In terms of allowing marijuana in controlled environments in the hands of doctors, that could be something I could support.”

Nancy Mace will be one of the many fascinating and knowledgeable speakers at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami. There’s still time to sign up for the event that will host many top names in the cannabis industry. Click here for more info.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

CBD Is Expensive: How The Industry Can Re-Think Its Pricing For Consumers

Benzinga Staff Writer

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April 4, 2022

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CBD Is Expensive: How The Industry Can Re-Think Its Pricing For Consumers

With lower prices, CBD can become a true alternative to Big Pharma, and cannabis can become a plant for the people.

By Alejandro Bergad

The last two years haven’t been great for the CBD industry. The pandemic cratered in-store sales of CBD. Meanwhile, by choosing not to regulate CBD, the FDA left it in a legal gray area, limiting where it can be sold.

If you need evidence of the industry’s decline, just look at Charlotte’s Web, the largest CBD company. In mid-2019, the company’s stock price was flying high at nearly $22. Since then, it’s fallen to just over $1 — a 95% decline.

hemp CBD — Photo by Christin Hume via Unsplash

I believe there’s a way out of this mess, but most companies aren’t prepared, or willing, to see it. Let’s revisit the history of the industry to see why.

In 2014, the federal farm bill passed, and the hemp industry was reborn. Positive feedback from consumers helped CBD quickly become a craze. It was a product that could help a lot of people and offer an effective, natural alternative to pharmaceutical drugs for a variety of conditions.

Investors jumped in—betting on large industry growth—and the largest companies quickly went public (which creates the expectation of more growth). These companies ran the traditional CPG playbook, adding CBD to dog treats, seltzer and everything else under the sun. They focused on selling more to the consumer, not adding value.

Thanks to declining sales, large companies are burning cash and goodwill with their investors. They’re banking on a federal bailout: that the FDA will formally regulate CBD, thereby allowing them to peddle their premium products into larger retail channels.

All of this is missing the point.

The fundamental problem in the CBD industry is price. CBD today is so expensive that it’s only accessible to a niche segment of the population. Taking 40mg of CBD every day (as many do), costs over $120/month at today’s prices. For the majority of people, it’s vastly cheaper to use pharmaceutical products to help with the same issues.

That’s why in order to return the CBD industry to growth, companies will have to do something that is difficult, counterintuitive, and in many cases impossible: they will have to cut prices. A 24-count bottle of Advil costs approximately $6. There’s no reason why a 600mg bottle of CBD, which currently costs $60 on average, can’t match it.

california's absurd stance on CBD cosmetics — Photo by Anshu A via Unsplash

Can the CBD industry produce a $6 bottle that can compete with Advil? For brands that are already losing money, cutting prices will only accelerate a downward spiral. But for companies who are willing to innovate, lower prices are very much within reach.

For starters, cannabis is a prolific plant. However, many companies have simply copied the agricultural and processing practices from the recreational marijuana industry rather than tailoring their methods for hemp. There is plenty of room for innovation in automation and using more cost-effective manufacturing methods for CBD.

Federal clarity will help get us to lower prices. Costs are higher across the industry because many suppliers, co-manufacturers, and fulfillment partners perceive that there are risks to working with CBD companies.

Finally, companies need to approach CBD more like medicine and less like designer clothing. We shouldn’t be adding unnecessary cost to a product that could benefit millions of people. If you wouldn’t want Advil in deodorant or your chewing gum, then why would you do the same for CBD?

It’s up to the industry to make this happen, or else see CBD continue to be a shrinking, niche industry. With lower prices, CBD can become a true alternative to Big Pharma, and cannabis can become a plant for the people.

Alejandro Bergad is the CEO and co-founder of Sunsoil, a USDA certified organic hemp farm and CBD company based in Vermont.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

Research Says Even A Little Of This Is Bad For Your Heart

Maria Loreto

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April 4, 2022

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Research Says Even A Little Of This Is Bad For Your Heart

Bad news casual drinkers. A new study found no connection between heart health and moderate consumption of alcohol.

Over the years, alcohol consumption has been linked with a variety of behaviors. While consuming it in large amounts has mostly resulted in negative outcomes, consuming it with discretion has been linked with health benefits, among them heart health, diabetes, and more. But a new study thinks otherwise, at least when it comes to cardiovascular health.

The study, conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard, and MIT, analyzed the data of over 300,000 adults and concluded that all forms of alcohol intake were linked with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers also believe that the benefits of alcohol demonstrated in previous studies were likely due to other lifestyle factors and not alcohol itself.

One Single Alcoholic Drink Can Affect Your Brain — Photo by Kelsey Chance via Unsplash

According to the data, which was obtained through UK Biobank, light to moderate drinkers had the least risk of heart disease, even more than those who abstained from drinking at all. On a deeper look, researchers discovered that light to moderate drinkers made better lifestyle choices than those who abstained, eating more vegetables, working out more often, and more.

Researchers also used new techniques to gauge whether light alcohol consumption caused some form of cardiovascular protection. “The findings affirm that alcohol intake should not be recommended to improve cardiovascular health; rather, that reducing alcohol intake will likely reduce cardiovascular risk in all individuals, albeit to different extents based on one’s current level of consumption,” said lead study author Krishna G. Aragam, MD, MS.

While alcohol can be associated with a variety of benefits, it seems likely that heart health is not one of them.

Controversial Study Reveals How Much COVID-19 Is Enough To Infect Someone

News

Maria Loreto

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April 3, 2022

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Controversial Study Reveals How Much COVID-19 Is Enough To Infect Someone

A study intentionally exposing young people to COVID-19 discovered exactly how much of the virus is necessary for infection.

Thanks to a new study, we now know how much COVID-19 necessary to infect a person. The study, known as a challenge study, exposed healthy participants to different amounts of COVID-19 and measured how long it took them to catch the virus, and it isn’t much. According to results, it only takes a small droplet of the virus for people to get infected with the disease.

Researchers conducted their experiment on 36 participants between the ages of 18-29, all of whom hadn’t had previous COVID-19 infections or vaccinations. Participants were screened for co-morbidities, having no extraneous risks to COVID-19. Then they signed a consent form and were exposed to the virus nasally, housed in a containment facility with access to high medical care.

How To Stop Coughing So Hard From Marijuana Smoke — Photo by cottonbro via Pexels

It was understandably a controversial study, as is the case with most challenge studies, which have some form of risk no matter how controlled the situation. Still, these studies are incredibly valuable, delivering insight that no other studies are capable of. “Really, there’s no other type of study where you can do that, because normally, patients only come to your attention if they have developed symptoms, and so you miss all of those preceding days when the infection is brewing,” lead author Christopher Chu told CNN.

In order to minimize risks, participants were exposed to the virus in stages and provided with the necessary medicine. After exposure, they were monitored 24 hours a day.

Half of the participants got infected with COVID-19, with two of them never developing symptoms. While most infections were mild, most of the infected participants lost their sense of smell, with 9 of them being unable to smell at all. Six months after exposure, one participant still hadn’t fully regained their sense of smell, even though they were slowly improving.

Despite the risks, researchers learned a lot from the study, like the fact that a droplet in a cough or a sneeze is enough to infect a healthy person. They also determined that it takes two days for people to start shedding the virus, which they then shed for the next 6 to 12 days. But the most interesting aspect of the study was that exactly half of the participants didn’t catch the virus, something that surprised researchers.

The challenge study proved to be a success, inspiring researchers to conduct them on different people, including those who were already exposed to the virus or who are vaccinated. As long as they’re not infecting people at risk, say babies or the elderly, the studies should continue to provide key information as the pandemic develops.

Cannabis And HIV: Where Do We Stand With Research?

Medical Marijuana

Terry Hacienda

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April 3, 2022

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Cannabis And HIV: Where Do We Stand With Research?

As acceptance of cannabis grows and data from human tests accumulates, many more conclusions could yet be drawn regarding the impact of cannabis on HIV patients.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a microorganism that wreaks havoc on the immune system. The cells that are the components of the immune system, like white blood cells, assist the body in fighting off infections brought on by fungi, viruses, bacteria, and other foreign organisms.

Without this immune system, we can not maintain sound health for very long. These cells help to create our natural immunity (our first line of defense) and adaptive immunity (the antigen response dispersed to stop specific infections). Due to HIV destroying essential components of the immune system, patients are less equipped to battle everyday infections and more severe microorganisms.

medical marijuana — Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Although there have been no thorough surveys carried out on medical cannabis users in the United States, smaller-scale surveys show that most users are looking for relief from AIDS symptoms. For instance, each of the three California marijuana buyers’ clubs, organizations that make marijuana available to patients, visited by the IOM team, recorded that more than 60 percent of their members asked for AIDS treatment.

Cannabis And HIV: The Research

HIV is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. It used to be the deadliest in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Thanks to medical innovations and research, antiretroviral drugs have been made available to weaken this virus and improve patients’ lives. It’s now time to go into some studies exploring the relationship between cannabis and patients with HIV.

Cannabinoids And Inflammation

Severe inflammation fuels many diseases. That very word “inflammation” has a negative reputation, but in reality, it helps to survive. When coming into contact with an infectious microorganism, the immune system releases inflammatory cells and signals molecules to launch an attack against the invaders. However, some specific health conditions hinder the body from turning off this hostile attack. Over time, this process can begin to cause damage to bodily tissues.

Although some components of the immune system are depleted due to HIV infection, others, such as monocytes, become highly activated. This can lead to systemic inflammation, which puts patients at a higher risk of coming down with neurological, cardiovascular, and bone diseases. Many HIV patients also showcase an imbalance in their gut microbiome—the trillions of microbes that significantly influence immunity and inflammation.

A lot of HIV patients go through neurocognitive impairment and changes in behavior due to neuroinflammation caused by the virus. Different research teams have now ventured out to check if cannabis can play a role in reducing inflammatory signals that give rise to this symptom.

inflammation chronic pain — Photo by peterschreiber.media/Getty Images

For instance, a 2019 study published in the journal AIDS Care looked at one hundred and thirty-eight HIV patients’ previous cannabis use to see if the herb affected their neurocognition. A comparable study published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes observed the effects of cannabis on neurocognitive impairment in six hundred and seventy-nine patients with acquired immune deficiency syndromes.

In addition, a 2021 study sought to ascertain if cannabis changed the lower central nervous system inflammation in HIV patients. The researchers chose HIV-positive patients who consume the herb daily, HIV-negative patients who didn’t take cannabis, HIV-positive patients who didn’t take cannabis, and HIV-positive patients with an average use pattern.

Cannabis And Immunity

Since problems with immunity are at the heart of HIV, it is reasonable that researchers look to analyze the effect of cannabis on immunity in HIV patients. Though data obtained through human trials remains sparse, a group of researchers suggested a study protocol in 2019 to examine the impacts of oral cannabinoids on immunity activation in HIV patients.

The study’s concept calls for the recruitment of 26 HIV patients with an undetectable viral load for at least three years. The researchers would go on to randomize the recruits into two groups and give oral capsules to each for 12 weeks; one group would be assigned capsules with a 1:1 THC to CBD ratio, while the other would get a proportion of 1:9. The paper states that the study was approved by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. However, the findings are still unpublished.

Pain And Cannabis

A couple of hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide are legitimately prescribed marijuana for a bunch of conditions, and severe pain is still one of the most common. Studies are targeting the ECS to alleviate HIV-associated neuropathic pain as researchers continue to uncover the role of the ECS in pain signaling.

Acute And Chronic Pain Affects Millions — How Can Cannabis Help? — Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

In addition to this, a systematic review published in 2021 searched through the current preclinical and clinical data obtained from studies that pitched endocannabinoids, cannabinoids, and ECS enzyme inhibitors against strains of HIV. In terms of clinical evidence, the majority of the investigations involved smoked cannabis.

HIV And CBD: Potential Drawbacks

The relationship between HIV and cannabis hasn’t been ascertained, as the data collected so far remains inconclusive. Additionally, cannabis possesses some clear downsides that will challenge manufacturers and researchers over time. Though the plant contains over one hundred cannabinoids, THC and CBD are the most present in the majority of cultivars.

While THC has psychotropic side effects (which might exacerbate various mental health disorders), CBD has been known to produce an upset stomach and tiredness in some people, as well as interact with a wide range of pharmaceutical medicines.

Bottom Line

Since becoming classified as a virus in 1981, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus has taken over 35 million lives. The deadly virus originated in animals and spread to human beings through hunting practices. As soon as it enters the body, the pathogen targets crucial immune cells, leaving patients’ immune systems weak and making them vulnerable to everyday infections.

Researchers are now looking at whether cannabis could be linked to HIV symptoms as science continues to put the herb and its ingredients against a broad spectrum of health concerns. So, is there a future to look forward to with cannabis and HIV?

Fortunately, the backing for legal marijuana continues to increase, and several nations have already put cannabis programs in place. As acceptance of cannabis grows and data from human tests accumulates, many more conclusions could yet be drawn regarding the impact of cannabis on HIV patients.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

Cannabis ETFs: Essential Factors To Consider Before Investing

Benzinga Staff Writer

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April 3, 2022

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Cannabis ETFs: Essential Factors To Consider Before Investing

Cannabis ETFs are a straightforward way for investors to gain exposure to this industry today for the wave of future profits from this growing industry.

By Morgan Paxhia, Poseidon Investment Management Co-Founder

The regulated cannabis market has heated up over the past couple of years. During the pandemic, cannabis sales increased by 46%, and it is certainly not slowing down any time soon. The U.S. legal market is expected to grow to $45 billion in 3 years according to industry data company, Headset.

Although the cannabis sector is on the rise with more states legalizing the plant and sales increasing year-over-year, the plummeting prices of individual company stocks have given would-be investors pause. At the start of 2022, individual U.S. stocks recorded three consecutive weekly declines to kick off the year.

Existence Of Cannabis Investment Boom Remains Up For Debate, Say Industry Insiders — Photo by Darren415/Getty Images

In place of individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide access to a portfolio of curated stocks, thereby minimizing risk through diversification. Managers can weight the different positions depending on individual company conviction. When investors buy ETF shares, they own a stake in multiple cannabis companies with one purchase. As a result, if the price of one of the stocks in the portfolio drops, it can be mitigated by other holdings.

In addition to offsetting risk, ETFs are generally easier to trade than individual cannabis stocks. Due to the federal prohibition on cannabis, U.S. stock exchanges like the NASDAQ and NYSE don’t allow plant-touching companies like multi-state operators (MSOs) to trade on their platforms. U.S. investors interested in buying into these stocks have to work through services that allow access to US Over the Counter (OTC) or via The Canadian Securities Exchange (The CSE) markets — not astypical for American Brokerage platforms. But because ETFs are structured as investment vehicles, they can be listed on U.S. stock boards. In turn, investors can access these products on familiar platforms such as Robinhood, Equity.com, Schwabb, TDAmeritrade, etc.

Factors to Consider Before Investing in ETFs

Like any investment, it is prudent to research various ETFs before allocating. Similar to mutual funds, most ETFs can provide investors with a prospectus, a document that provides information about the fund’s investment objectives, risks, past performance, and expenses. When reviewing an ETF and its prospectus, here are some key factors to keep in mind:

1. Curation

When choosing a cannabis (or any) ETF, you want to know what is included within the portfolio. Although there are several cannabis ETFs out there, none are the same.

Some ETFs focus purely on cannabis companies, while others trade in hemp and CBD pharmaceuticals. Other ETFs will invest in non-plant touching companies such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) or technology or software solutions. Still, others invest strictly in

U.S.-based companies that will form the backbone of the U.S. retail supply chain when cannabis is legalized.

Be sure to choose an ETF that you believe will maximize returns as more states open legal cannabis markets.

2. Expertise

There is inherent complexity and volatility in the cannabis sector. Being federally illegal poses challenges to even the most established cannabis firms.

That’s one good reason to invest in an ETF where someone should have a watchful eye on your investment. When analyzing the management team, there are many factors to consider — years of experience and focus, background, and the type of investments they specialize in. For instance, hedge-fund managers are known to be comfortable with high-risk management strategies that maximize returns. On the other hand, investment bankers generally have a deep background in underwriting and transacting rather than portfolio and risk management.

Consider the expertise of the management team behind an ETF and choose a team that aligns with your appetite for risk and timeline for returns.

3. Execution

Another reason to buy into ETFs is the various strategies that experienced management teams can utilize. Unlike regular day traders that simply buy and sell stocks, fund managers may have the ability toutilize an array of sophisticated investment strategies.

For instance, at Poseidon we use Dynamic Leverage Capability, meaning we can be at 80% exposure to the market or go all the way up to 150% (1.5X). Then, we can manage both the portfolio and its leverage at our discretion based on various internal inputs. Early investors in cannabis have already seen larger-than-expected returns based on the beginning phases of acceleration within the industry.

marijuana investing — Photo by Olena Ruban/Getty Images

Other common ETF strategies that management teams may use include:

● Long/Short Equity —A fund may, at times, hold both short and long positions across various asset classes

● Merger Arbitrage — The purchase and sale of the stocks of two merging companies at the same time to create “riskless” profits

● Global Macro — Investment decisions based on global economic trends

● Event-Driven — Strategy that capitalizes on a specific event such as a liquidation or bankruptcy

● Distressed Debt — Buying up debts of struggling companies at a discount

Typically, an ETF’s strategy will be outlined in the prospectus. Find, research, and invest in a strategy you are comfortable with.

The Trend Towards Cannabis Legalization is Clear

Although federal legalization has been put on the back-burner politically, the trend towards expanding access to cannabis is clear. Today there are 18 states with legalized adult use and 38 states with legalized medical use. Cannabis ETFs are a straightforward way for investors to gain exposure to this industry today for the wave of future profits from this growing industry.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

Cannabis Use Disorder: How To Spot The Signs

Maria Loreto

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April 2, 2022

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Cannabis Use Disorder: How To Spot The Signs

Spotting symptoms of marijuana addiction isn’t all that simple. Here’s what you should know.

Marijuana needs more research in order to be fully understood, yet experts swear that there are more benefits associated with its use than there are risks.

The majority of people can use cannabis without getting addicted, able to quit cold turkey even when consuming the drug regularly. There are exceptions though; people with certain predispositions may find their lives difficult to handle without cannabis.

is cannabis addiction real — Photo by Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a complex issue. According to some studies and health experts, it affects 30% of marijuana users, impairing their lives significantly. These people find their relationships, jobs, and more affected by the drug, prioritizing it over many things.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the manual used by mental health practitioners to diagnose mental health conditions and disorders, a person must meet two out of 11 requirements to be diagnosed with CUD. These requirements are extensive and similar to other forms of addiction. They include symptoms like marijuana cravings, interpersonal problems arising due to cannabis use, using the plant when in a dangerous situation, and more.

When looking at the data, the marijuana users that are most likely to develop addictions are adolescents. This is concerning and makes some sense considering that teen brains are still in development; copious marijuana use could impact their brains’ makeup, creating problems for their future. Teens who overuse cannabis are at higher risk of certain mental health conditions, among them anxiety, depression, and, most concerning, schizophrenia.

Researchers theorize that teens are more likely to get addicted to cannabis and other drugs due to the strong associations they create between pleasure and reward. Forming these associations from a young age makes the cannabis cravings and highs difficult to shake off once their brains grow older.

youths smoke less weed adults smoke more following marijuana legalization — Photo by Jamie Grill/Getty Images

When discussing CUD in people of all ages, other factors that increase the odds of developing an addiction include genetics, the existence of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, and more. Addiction has a genetic and environmental component, with children of addicts having higher odds of developing addictions.

Since the side effects of cannabis are relatively mild, spotting the symptoms of marijuana withdrawal can be difficult. These include irritability, nervousness, aggression, sleep disturbances, headaches, and more. The easiest point of comparison would be to compare CUD symptoms with the symptoms of someone that’s addicted to tobacco; these people may find themselves fidgeting or needing to increase their dosage over time in order to have the same experience that they used to. Like all addictions, if someone finds themselves having arguments with their family or putting themselves in dangerous situations because of their substance of choice, it’s likely that they have a problem.

In order to manage CUD, it’s important for people to stop their cannabis usage for a period of time, monitoring their bodies’ response to it. If the person is unable to complete it or finds the challenge extremely difficult, professional help may be needed. Psychiatrists and psychologists often treat addictions with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These treatments are usually short-term, with the therapist providing the client with tools that can help them rewire their brains and change their ways of thinking and acting.

House Passes MORE Act To Legalize Weed At The Federal Level, But Don’t Get Too Excited

Terry Hacienda

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April 2, 2022

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This is the second time the House has passed a federal legalization bill, not to mention the dozens of pro-cannabis bills that have been introduced that end up going nowhere.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

It’s Groundhog Day again in the House, as Democrats vote to legalize marijuana at the federal level.

If you are reading the headlines again that somehow marijuana just got legalized in America, you are sadly mistaken, and to be honest, you are living in a “wishful thinking” marijuana moment. Don’t fall for the banana in tailpipe again around the House passing federal marijuana legalization, it is not going to happen anytime soon in the Senate.

Speaking of Marijuana Moment, they do a good job of summarizing all of the marijuana voting done in the House yesterday. As Marijuana Moment points out, this is the second time the House has passed a federal legalization bill, not to mention the dozens of pro-cannabis bills that have been introduced in the House that end up going nowhere.

If you are a regular reader of Cannabis.net you know that our curmudgeon stance on federal legalization always ends with the same sentence, “marijuana will be federally legal when Mitch McConnell says it should be federally legal”. That’s it. That is when it will happen. No reason to debate it, no reason to celebrate state-by-state legalization each year, weed will be legal at the federal level when Mitch gives it the okay from the Republican side.

Are you going to see federal marijuana legalization soon? No.

Here are some good reasons why it won’t happen soon:

McConnell sees marijuana legalization as a big “Democratic” issue. Legalizing weed would be a big win for Democrats, which Mitch has no interest in seeing right now. He has publicly ridiculed Democrats for trying to attach cannabis legalization onto other bills like the Defense Spending Bill. The senator from Kentucky has actually pointed it out twice on live TV or streaming saying how stupid and sneaky the legalization effort has been so far by Democrats. He has even gone so far as calling marijuana legalization a “poison pill” when added onto other legislation.
As AOC recently pointed out, the Democrats are in trouble for the mid-term elections coming up this year. The Republicans will win more seats in the House and maybe Senate. It is in Mitch’s self-interest to hold the line and wait for Republicans to have more seats in the House and Senate and then introduce a Republican bill like Rep. Mace’s bill for cannabis legalization. Get all the credit and glory while knowing it will 100% pass, unlike the Democrat’s futile efforts at federal legalization.
Money talks and Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, and Big Alcohol all spend billions on lobbying efforts, while the marijuana industry spends a paltry few million dollars on lobbying. Senators and other politicians listen to their biggest donors and lobbyist, so weed will be legalized when Republicans and big lobbyist are set up financially for federal legalization to take place. When everyone has their ducks-in-a-row as they say, then we will see federal legalization.
In order for the MORE ACT or any other cannabis legalization bill to pass the Senate it will need a 60-vote minimum in favor, and at last count the senate was close to 10 votes short on previous votes. To put it in perspective, they aren’t even close to getting the 60 votes need, unless Mitch tells Republicans to vote for it.

The House vote was 220 for and 204 against, not exactly a clear-cut win for the marijuana movement in America (202 Republicans voted against it and 2 Democrats voted against cannabis legalization).

If you watched any of the C-SPAN streaming yesterday, you would seen Republicans calling marijuana a gateway drug, how this is a ruse while ignoring real issues like inflation and war, and America does not need more drug addicts.

With Republican most likely gaining more power in the mid-term elections, weed will be legalized when Mitch McConnell says it will be legalized.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

Alabama, How Could You? Senate Approves Forcing Women To Take Pregnancy Test To Obtain Weed

Benzinga Staff Writer

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April 2, 2022

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Alabama, How Could You? Senate Approves Forcing Women To Take Pregnancy Test To Obtain Weed

The legislation would prevent pregnant women from getting medical marijuana even when she and her doctor agree it’s in the best interest of her health and the health of her baby.

By Maureen Meehan

The controversial bill approved by the Alabama Senate, introduced recently by State Sen. Larry Stutts (R), requires that all women between the ages of 13 and 50 prove that they are not pregnant or breastfeeding in order to buy medical cannabis.

Emma Roth, a staff attorney with the National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) said no state in the union has ever passed a law like this because, for starters, it’s unconstitutional.

pregnancy test — Photo by sefa ozel/Getty Images

“This is completely unprecedented because it is so clearly unconstitutional,” she said.

Roth said Oklahoma considered a similar provision in 2018 through executive order but backed off amid the high possibility of a legal challenge.

“We have serious concerns, just from a constitutional perspective and a public health perspective” about Stutts’ bill, Roth said per Al.com. “We are very concerned that this is an invasion of the privacy of Alabama women and their right to equal protection under the law.”

Legal issues aside, the legislation is also “not grounded in science,” Roth added, pointing to a 2020 study that found evidence that does not suggest prenatal cannabis use leads to cognitive impairments.

Indeed, there are several conditions where medical marijuana is helpful for pregnant women, such as epilepsy and hyperemesis gravidarum, the latter being a severe form of morning sickness that can lead to weight loss, studies show.

Pregnant Marijuana Use Linked To Children With Autism, Study Finds — Photo by Ömürden Cengiz via Unsplash

A Sad But True Story

Katie Darovitz, an Alabama woman with epilepsy, was told by her doctor to stop taking her anti-seizure medication when she became pregnant because of its links to birth defects, so she admittedly turned to medical cannabis to control and prevent her seizures.

However, she was arrested for chemical endangerment of a child several weeks after the December 2014 birth of her son because they both tested positive for marijuana, even though the newborn was perfectly healthy.

Darovitz’ charges were ultimately dropped, but Roth said her case showed that the decision on whether to obtain medical marijuana should be up to a woman and her doctor, not the Alabama Legislature.

“This legislation would prevent pregnant women from getting medical marijuana even when she and doctor agree it’s in the best interest of her health and the health of her baby,” Roth said.

“When someone becomes pregnant, their preexisting medical conditions do not suddenly cease to exist.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

US House Approves Bill To End Federal Cannabis Prohibition: What Does This Mean?

Benzinga Staff Writer

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April 1, 2022

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This is the second time in more than 50 years that a chamber of Congress has revisited the classification of cannabis as a federally prohibited substance.

By Javier Hasse

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, H.R. 3617, on Friday.

The MORE Act removes cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, allowing states to legalize cannabis, its production and sales, free from federal interference.

It also provides for the expungement or resentencing of people with nonviolent federal marijuana convictions, promotes diverse participation in the state-regulated cannabis industry and helps repair the racially and economically disparate harms caused by America’s past prohibition policies.

According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, passage of the Act would increase revenues by over $8 billion in 10 years, while significantly reducing federal prison costs.

This legislation had been previously approved in the House in December of 2020, but it did not receive a hearing in the Senate. This is the second time in more than 50 years that a chamber of Congress has revisited the classification of cannabis as a federally prohibited substance.

Reactions To The Passage Of MORE Act

NORML

“This vote is a clear indicator that Congress is finally listening to the vast majority of voters who are sick and tired of our failed marijuana criminalization policies and the damage they continue to inflict in communities across the nation every day,” said NORML’s Political Director Morgan Fox. “It is long overdue that we stop punishing adults for using a substance that is objectively safer than alcohol, and that we work to address the disparate negative impacts that prohibition has inflicted on our most vulnerable individuals and marginalized communities for nearly a century.

“The time has come for federal lawmakers to put aside partisan differences and recognize that state-level legalization policies are publicly popular, successful, and are in the best interests of our country. Now that the House has once again supported sensible and comprehensive cannabis policy reform, we strongly urge the Senate to move forward on this issue without delay.”

Drug Policy Alliance

Maritza Perez, Director of the Office of National Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance, released the following statement:

“Thanks to the House’s leadership, today we are one step closer to seeking justice for the countless communities that have been devastated as a result of cruel and racially-targeted marijuana prohibition. And though it will not erase the pain millions of people have experienced; restore the economic, educational and career opportunities they have been robbed of; or give them back the time they have lost with their families, passage of the MORE Act does provide hope that a better future lies ahead – one where arrest records are wiped clean, new opportunities to take part in the legal marijuana industry exist, and desperately needed resources are redirected back into the communities that have been most harmed. Now, it’s up to the Senate to finish the job – it must begin to deliver on long overdue justice to end the status quo of racist and counterproductive enforcement. With more than two-thirds of Americans in favor of reform, it should be a swift and easy choice.”

“We want to thank House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler and Reps. Barbara Lee, Earl Blumenauer, and Nydia Velazquez for their extraordinary work in shaping and advancing this bill. We also want to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn for ensuring the success of this bill.”

CPEAR

The Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation (CPEAR) released the following statement in response to the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act passing in the U.S. House:

“This legislation contributes significantly to the debate around federal cannabis reform on the national stage. Further, it would restore communities negatively impacted by disproportionate enforcement of drug laws from criminal justice to social equity reforms. As Congress works towards addressing the need for a comprehensive federal regulatory system, we look forward to working with lawmakers to ensure that framework is driven by sound data and research.”

BOWL PAC

“For the first time in US history, voters will be able to go to the ballot box armed with the answer to a simple question: did my Representative vote to reform marijuana laws or maintain the racist and cruel policy of marijuana criminalization,” said BOWL PAC’s Justin Strekal. “With a super-majority of voters supporting legalization, the growing segment of the population that prioritizes this issue will be better equipped to defeat prohibitionists at the ballot box.”

Strekal added, “This favorable vote on the MORE Act must be seen by the Senate as a mandate to consider legislation to end prohibition with haste.”

NCIA

“With voter support for legal cannabis at an all-time high and more and more states moving away from prohibition, we commend the House for once again taking this step to modernize our federal marijuana policies,” stated NCIA Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Aaron Smith. “Now is the time for the Senate to act on sensible reform legislation so that we can finally end the failure of prohibition and foster a well regulated marketplace for cannabis.”

legal marijuana — Photo by MasterKeySystem/Getty Images

SSDP

“The passage of the MORE Act in the House is a historic moment for the movement fighting to end the War on Drugs. A simple marijuana arrest has a stunning impact on a young person’s life, reducing lifetime rate of wage growth by almost 30%. Now, the Senate must act by passing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to end marijuana prohibition while providing restitution to those directly impacted by marijuana arrests.” Rob Hofmann, Policy and Advocacy Director, Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

GACP

Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce Executive Director Randal John Meyer released the following statement after passage: “GACC thanks Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Chairman Nadler, Representative Blumenauer, Representative Lee, and our allied organizations for their effort in facilitating passage of the MORE Act. By voting to deschedule cannabis and correct the injustices of prohibition, following the ‘Blumenauer Blueprint,’ the House has laid the foundation for ending this disastrous policy.”

USCC

Following House passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act), US Cannabis Council CEO Steven Hawkins issued the following statement:

“Descheduling of cannabis is on the march across the United States, and the House has now passed the MORE Act in two successive sessions of Congress. Today’s historic vote comes as the Senate prepares for the formal introduction of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. Taken together, Congress is strongly signaling that the end of federal cannabis prohibition is nearing.

“There is much more work to be done before any bill reaches the President’s desk, but we are approaching the end of the cannabis prohibition era. As more states launch medical and adult-use cannabis programs, as the majority of Americans who support reform continues to grow, and as more Americans have jobs in an industry that already employs over 400,000 people, the pressure will build on Congress to act.

“Despite the April 1 timing, cannabis reform is serious business. USCC broadly supports descheduling alongside specific reforms such as banking reform, expungement and tax relief.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

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US House Approves Bill To End Federal Cannabis Prohibition: What Does This Mean?

This is the second time in more than 50 years that a chamber of Congress has revisited the classification of cannabis as a federally prohibited substance.

Reactions To The Passage Of MORE Act

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