A new study shows cannabis use common among coders, California producers warn of incoming industry woes, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta shares five benefits of marijuana use.
Plus: The start of the new year brings changes in cannabis law to a number of states and areas – In this special extra-size edition of our weekly news round-up, we have all the info you need on new and changing laws both in the US and across the globe.
2022 Legalization Breakdown:
Legal Recreational Marijuana Sales Begin in Montana…
“Those in what are called green counties — where a majority of residents voted in favor, will be allowed to have recreational sales.”
… But Not in All Counties
“Beaverhead County is one of Montana’s so-called “red counties,” where medical marijuana providers aren’t authorized to begin selling to recreational customers.”
Oregon Changes Cannabis Rules for the New Year
“The OLCC’s changes will have the greatest impact for licensees, with a massive re-categorization of violations that will reduce penalties and decrease the number of violations resulting in license cancellation.”
New Mexico Issues Recreational Cannabis Rules
“New Mexico legalized the production, sale and use of recreational marijuana earlier this year for adults 21 and older. Sales are slated to begin April 1.”
New Louisiana Laws Expand Medical Marijuana, Change Income Taxes
“Louisiana’s medical marijuana program will offer raw, smokable cannabis to its patients, and the state will tweak its calculations for state income taxes as more than two dozen new laws take effect on New Year’s Day.”
Mississippi Lawmakers Positioned to Override Governor If He Vetoes Medical Marijuana Bill, GOP Senator Says
“The bill that lawmakers spent the summer negotiating calls for 3.5 gram of marijuana per day, and the governor signaled he’d veto the entire reform proposal if they don’t significantly reduce that amount.”
These European Countries Could Legalize Cannabis In 2022
“The idea of legalizing cannabis is relatively recent in Europe, although every European country has a long history of legalization advocacy.”
Support for Legalizing Marijuana in Australia Nearly Doubles over Six Years
“More than 40% of Australians back legalisation of cannabis for personal use, National Drug Strategy Household Survey finds”
In Other News…
Does Marijuana Enhance Ability To Code? New Study Reveals Vast Majority Of Programmers Have Used Cannabis While Working
“[…] the study found that 35% of survey participants have “tried cannabis while programming or completing another software engineering-related task,” while 18% currently do so at least once a month. Over 70% of that group disclosed that they’ve consumed marijuana while working in the past year.”
Israeli Study Gives Encouragement, and Guidance, to Cannabis-for-autism Efforts
“The study could change the direction of efforts to use cannabis to treat the disorder, the researchers say, as it suggests that the wrong compound from the plant is currently the subject of the most focus.”
Inhaled CBD Shrinks Glioblastoma’s Size In An Animal Model
“Researchers at DCG and the Medical College of Georgia say that the inhaler approach not only helped ensure the compound found in cannabis reached the brain, but that the method of delivery could, much like asthma inhalers, eventually be easily used by patients.”
Canada’s Cannabis Industry Has a Policy Wishlist for 2022. Will Anything Change?
“At the same time, Canada’s pot firms are anxiously awaiting Ottawa’s three-year review of its industry-defining legislation. But the Health Minister’s deadline to table findings and recommendations in the House of Commons and Senate isn’t until early 2023.”
Ontario Regulator Issues Warning after Unregulated Hemp Products Sold at Licensed Pot Shops
“The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario warned pot shops on Monday that it has uncovered instances of retailers selling products that violate their license terms, in a letter obtained by The Canadian Press.”
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CBD Store Owner Faces Felony Charges After Raid
“A criminal complaint says an undercover officer made a series of purchases from Superstar Buds that revealed products with THC levels well-over the legal limit for hemp, which is 0.3% Delta 9 THC. Some vape cartridges that law enforcement brought to a lab for testing allegedly contained up to 40% Delta 9 THC.”
California Pot Companies Warn of Impending Industry Collapse
“The letter signed by more than two dozen executives, industry officials and legalization advocates followed years of complaints that the heavily taxed and regulated industry was unable to compete with the widespread illegal economy, where consumer prices are far lower and sales are double or triple the legal business.”
5 Benefits of Marijuana, Says Dr. Sanjay Gupta
“I apologize because I didn’t look hard enough, until now. I didn’t look far enough. I didn’t review papers from smaller labs in other countries doing some remarkable research, and I was too dismissive of the loud chorus of legitimate patients whose symptoms improved on cannabis.”
Cannabis Decriminalization Reduces The Racial Disparity, A New Study Suggests
“Researchers’ data analysis suggests that cannabis decriminalization was associated with a decline in arrest rates among Blacks and Whites.”
South Carolina Couple Arrested after Deputies Seize 400 Marijuana Edibles, Nearly $160,000
“Deputies seized more than 400 individual packages of marijuana edibles and THC vape cartridges from the business, along with $159,898.95, two sets of digital scales, several packages containing a green, leafy plant material, a cashing count machine, a coin-sorting machine and two record books at the home.”