Medical

A cannabis oasis: Freehold moving forward with new legal weed outlets

March 30, 2023 · Yahoo!News

When New Jersey approved legal recreational marijuana in 2020, more than 70% of borough voters cast ballots in favor of the idea. Now they’re getting their wish as the first medicinal marijuana shop has opened in town just days after state officials approved what will be the borough’s first recreational, or adult use, dispensary. “The people of the community voted overwhelmingly for the sale of recreational marijuana, we are only following the will of the people,” said Borough Administrator Steve… Read more.

South Carolina Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill’s Fate In Question, But Supporters Are Making A Last-Ditch Push

March 28, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

South Carolina lawmakers and advocates aren’t giving up the push to legalize medical marijuana just yet, and they’re imploring leadership to take up a GOP-led reform bill ahead of a key legislative deadline this week. At a press conference on Tuesday, supporters of the legislation from Sen. Tom Davis (R) stressed the urgency of getting the reform enacted this year, with a deadline set coming up on Thursday to get the bill out of the Senate and over to the… Read more.

Idaho Bill to Legalize Medical Cannabis Introduced as Session Winds Down

March 27, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

A bill to legalize medical cannabis was introduced last Friday – late in the session and through means that would circumvent the committee process, East Idaho News reports. The measure was introduced as a personal bill by House Health and Welfare Committee Chairman John Vander Woude (R) but personal bills don’t typically advance.   Personal bills are usually introduced at the beginning of the state’s session and used as groundwork for future policy discussions, the report says. The measure did not appear on any legislative agendas on… Read more.

North Dakota Governor Signs Bill Letting People In Hospice Care Self-Certify As Medical Marijuana Patients

March 27, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

North Dakota’s governor has signed a bill allowing patients admitted to hospice care to self-certify as medical marijuana patients. The legislation, which cleared the House in an 86-6 vote and the Senate unanimously in a 45-0 vote, was signed into law on Thursday by Gov. Doug Burgum (R). Under the measure from Rep. Mary Schneider (D), terminally ill patients will be able to use proof of their admittance in hospice care in lieu of a doctor’s written recommendation to register… Read more.

Will Medicare Ever Cover Medical Marijuana? – 20% of Medicare Members Currently Use Medical Cannabis

March 26, 2023 · Cannabis.net

Will Medicare Ever Cover Medical Marijuana? Medical marijuana is becoming increasingly popular among older adults as a treatment for various conditions. However, despite its growing acceptance, uncertain safety standards, conflicting laws, and complex regulations could delay Medicare coverage for years. In April 2022, the Medicare Plans Patient Resource Center conducted a survey showing that 20% of Medicare beneficiaries presently use medical marijuana, and nearly a quarter has used it before. The study revealed that 66% of the respondents believe Medicare should cover… Read more.

Kansas Senate Committee Tables Medical Cannabis Bill

March 23, 2023 ·

A Kansas Senate Committee last week tabled a medical cannabis legalization bill, likely killing the bill for the session, the Associated Press reports. On Twitter, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said she was “disappointed that some legislators are saying they don’t want to move forward with legalizing medical marijuana this year – effectively turning their backs on our veterans and those with chronic pain and seizure disorders.”  The measure would have allowed physicians to recommend non-smokable medical cannabis products to treat 21 illnesses or conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, spinal cord… Read more.

Bill to Add Autism and PTSD to Arizona Medical Cannabis Program Passes Committee

March 22, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

A bill proposed in Arizona would allow patients with autism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to access medical cannabis products in the state, the AZ Mirror reports. The measure passed the House Health and Human Services Committee 7-2 on Monday.  Earlier this month, the legislation was approved by a bipartisan 24-6 vote in the state Senate and will move next to the full House after approval by the Health and Human Services Committee.  During testimony on the measure, Aaron Jacobs, the father of a… Read more.

New Hampshire House Passes Medical Marijuana Home Grow Bill As Broader Legalization Also Advances

March 22, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The New Hampshire House of Representatives has approved a bill to allow medical marijuana patients to grow their own plants for personal use. Weeks after moving through committee, the full chamber passed the legislation from Rep. Wendy Thomas (D) on a voice vote as part of the uncontested consent calendar on Wednesday. The measure—which would allow patients and designated caregivers to cultivate up to three mature plants, three immature plants and 12 seedlings—now heads to the Senate. Plants would have to be grown… Read more.

Oklahoma Bill Would Let Medical Cannabis Agency Shut Down Non-Eco-Friendly Operations

March 22, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday passed a measure that would allow the director of the state Medical Marijuana Authority to shut down cannabis operations that are damaging the environment, KOKH reports. Sen. Joe Newhouse (R) authored the legislation and argued that it would help reign in medical cannabis operations in the state that are not following state law.  Oklahoma has one of the nation’s most permissive medical cannabis programs, but it has been rife with controversy. Last year, two Oklahoma attorneys were charged in a “Ghost Owner”… Read more.

Justice Department Says Ending Gun Ban For Medical Marijuana Patients Would Have ‘Wide-Ranging Consequences’ In New Federal Court Brief

March 20, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a brief in a federal appeals court as part of an ongoing lawsuit over the government’s ban preventing medical marijuana patients from possessing firearms. Many of DOJ’s arguments in the brief filed on Wednesday mirror points that the agency made in earlier filings in the case, including in a federal district court that dismissed the lawsuit that’s now being appealed by its plaintiffs. But the latest document places new emphasis on the “wide-ranging consequences” that… Read more.

Kansas Senators Take Up Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill In Committee

March 15, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A Kansas Senate committee on Wednesday held the first of two scheduled hearings this week on a medical marijuana legalization bill. The legislation was taken up by the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, which is sponsoring the bill as a panel. Members heard from proponents and neutral witnesses who shared stories about their personal experience with the plant, research into the medical potential of cannabis and more. People with chronic migraines, spinal injuries, as well as medical professionals, academics, veterans… Read more.

Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas reach $22.4 million in February

Medical marijuana patients in Arkansas spent $23.1 million on cannabis products in January and $22.4 million in February for a total of $45.5 million over the two-month period. Sales for the first two months of 2023 combined increased by $4 million over the same period in the previous year, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), implying year-over-year growth of about 9.6%. More than 92,000 active medical marijuana patients are registered with the Arkansas Department of Health,… Read more.

Telehealth Medical Cannabis Prescriptions Could Be Coming to Florida Under New Bill

March 13, 2023 ·

Discreet prescription refills via telehealth visits are already the norm for medications like hair loss and erectile dysfunction medication for men, which is easier to do when it’s not in-person. The same methods could be used to be discreet and quietly get prescriptions for medical cannabis under a new Florida bill. House Bill 387 is sponsored by Spencer Roach (R-North Fort Myers) and would allow practitioners to certify patients for medical cannabis via FaceTime, Skype, etc. visits rather than in-person visits.… Read more.

Your GP Prescribing Medical Cannabis For You? – The UK Has Issued Over 300 Cannabis-Based Prescriptions from GPs and Counting

March 11, 2023 · Cannabis.net

According to recently made public data from the UK medical system, Devon's general practitioners have written hundreds of prescriptions for medical cannabis in the last five years. This information has come to light amid rising charitable calls for improved access to medical cannabis for people with autoimmune and neurological conditions. Medical conditions like multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chronic pain can all be effectively treated with drugs made from cannabis plants or synthetic cannabinoids. Despite their potential benefits, these therapies can… Read more.

Health Benefits Of Cannabis

February 27, 2023 · Forbes

Cannabis continues its rise in popularity as more and more states legalize its use either as a medical or recreational drug. Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, but a number of medical experts and researchers appear to disagree with this decision maintained by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). While more peer-reviewed clinical research is needed, myriad studies support cannabis as a legitimate and safe therapeutic substance when used properly under expert supervision. Learn more about the various medical conditions cannabis… Read more.

Dodgy science, poor access and high prices: The parallel medical world of medicinal marijuana in America

February 27, 2023 · Politico

BURTON, Mich. — Before Jayden Carter turned 9, police were called 126 times to his school, home and other locations to address his violent behavior. “I had ribs out of place, my forehead cut open, black eye,” recalled Amie Carter, his mother. The situation got so dire that Child Protective Services encouraged Amie to sign her rights to Jayden away, a step that would allow the state to put him in permanent treatment. That was when — out of… Read more.

Mushroom Extract Shown to Dramatically Improve Brain-Cell Growth in The Lab

February 20, 2023 · MSN

Fungi have attracted attention in recent years for their potential in aiding our brains' growth and functionality. And no, we're not just talking about the psychedelic ones. The lion's mane mushroom, for one, has long had a reputation for various mental health benefits, with recent research supporting its potential in reducing risk for depression or limiting damage from Alzheimer's disease. In a new study conducted by an international team of scientists, researchers identified compounds in the lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) – an edible fungus… Read more.

Novel Combination Of Cannabis-Like Compound With Classical Psychedelics Searches IP Coverage In US

February 15, 2023 · Benzinga

Israeli-based next-gen psychedelics biotech Clearmind Medicine  CMND+0.83%+ Free Alerts together with partner clinical-stage pharma company SciSparc SPRC-0.44%+ Free Alerts has filed three provisional patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patents cover psychedelic-based therapeutics, including monotherapy and novel combinations of SciSparc’s CannAmide and classical psychedelics. More specifically, the patent applications refer to proprietary combinations of LSD, psilocybin, and DMT with SciSparc’s Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a cannabimimetic compound and the active ingredient of its proprietary CannAmide drug. The fruitful collaboration between… Read more.

Reaching Medical Cannabis Consumers: Helping Patients Thrive

February 13, 2023 · MG Magazine

In a time when adult-use cannabis seems to get all the attention, it’s important to remember that many people use the plant as medicine. There are millions of medical cannabis patients across the country, but this demographic is often cast aside as the market swells with high-potency products fueled by the latest hype. “In my experience, when markets shift to adult use, that seems to become the focus,” said patient advocate Nikki Lawley, a medical consumer and founder of Nikki and the Plant. “Budtenders aren’t… Read more.

Can psychedelics really treat OCD, depression, and chronic pain? A researcher explains how they work and their potential risks

February 11, 2023 · Fortune

New research is exploring whether psychedelic drugs, taken under strict medical supervision, might help in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. SciLine interviewed Dr. Jennifer Mitchell—a professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Science in the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco—to discuss what scientists have found so far about the effectiveness of these drugs in treating these disorders and how they might safely be administered. The Conversation has collaborated… Read more.

Psychedelics May Be Part of U.S. Medicine Sooner Than You Think

February 8, 2023 · Time

It came as a surprise to many when, on Feb. 3, Australian regulators announced that medicines containing the psychedelic substances MDMA and psilocybin can soon be used there to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and treatment-resistant depression, respectively. That decision makes Australia the first country in the world to formally recognize the therapeutic use of psychedelics. Other countries, including the U.S., may be headed toward a similar outcome, some experts say. Research increasingly suggests that psychedelics can be powerful tools for treating a… Read more.

Zappy Zapolin’s Psycheceutical Files Patent, Hopes Ketamine Topical Can Treat PTSD

January 26, 2023 · Benzinga

Lifesciences biotech company Psycheceutical Bioscience  BWVI, of which Benzinga’s advisory council member Zappy Zapolin is Chief Visionary Officer, patented a topical ketamine formulation to treat PTSD. The patent includes related methods using drug delivery technology NeuroDirect. Psycheceutical CEO Chad Harman says NeuroDirect’s topical delivery system could potentially provide “new solutions and treatments for PTSD and other mental health conditions,” considering the disorder is in some cases associated with anxiety, depression and substance use disorder. The system’s design would topically distribute neuro-active compounds to the back… Read more.

Across The Globe: Psychedelic Trials To Treat Late-Stage Cancer, Alzheimer’s Begin

January 26, 2023 · Benzinga

Core One Labs' Akome Partners To Study Next-Gen Psychedelics A subsidiary of Core One Labs  CLABF has signed a contract with Fundació Bosh I Gimpera to begin second-phase studies evaluating the therapeutic potential of its bio-compounds (both alone and combined with psychedelic substances). The studies would progress Akome Partners’ pre-clinical development stage of novel psychedelic drug alternatives for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ischemic stroke and depression. Previous studies conducted by Spanish and Italian institutions included bioassay trials… Read more.

FDA Says CBD Still Can’t Be Dietary Supplement

January 26, 2023 · Green Market Report

The agency called on Congress to develop a better regulatory framework for CBD The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week announced that it would deny a trio of petitions that requested authorization for cannabidiol (CBD) to be used as a dietary supplement. The agency also advised that Congress needs to establish a better regulatory framework before such a classification is allowed. Based on existing research and data, the FDA found that the current standards for adding supplements to foods or beverages… Read more.

Too good to be brew! DMT – the potent psychedelic in Ayahuasca – treats depression after a SINGLE dose, cutting-edge clinical trial shows

January 25, 2023 · Daily Mail UK

DMT — the most potent psychedelic known to man —  treats people with severe depression after a single dose, a cutting-edge clinical trial suggests. Up to six in ten who received a single dose of DMT intravenously before therapy were declared depression-free three months later. And three in 10 participants were declared depression-free two weeks after one session, compared to one in ten in the placebo group who just had therapy on its own. N,N-Dymethyltriptamine (DMT) has received the backing of celebrities… Read more.

The Cannabis vs. Viagra Debate – Which is Better for Sexual Health?

January 24, 2023 · Cannabis.net

Viagra is the brand name of sildenafil, a class of drugs that are designed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Men who suffer from ED struggle with starting and maintaining their erections. Depending on the case, it may be a short-term or a chronic problem. This can have a serious impact in the self-esteem and sex lives of affected males because it affects both you and your partner’s sexual satisfaction. It can be short-term or a chronic problem, depending on one’s… Read more.

Search Is On For Psychedelic Patents & FDA Designations, 3 Companies Share News

January 21, 2023 · Benzinga

Drug discovery company Mindset Pharma  MSSTF has been greenlighted by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on its application “Psilocin Derivatives As Serotonergic Psychedelic Agents for the Treatment of CNS Disorders.”  The application includes the company’s psilocybin analogs lead drug candidate MSP-1014, its backup MSP-1009 and additional pro-drug candidates belonging to the family 1 tryptamine drug compounds. Both MSP-1014 and MSP-1009 demonstrated improved efficacy and safety profiles with reduced potential side effects and evidence of increased target engagement in preclinical studies. … Read more.

The rebirth of psychedelic medicine

January 9, 2023 · Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute

It was 1985 and John Lawn had seen enough.  In Boston nightclubs and Dallas bars, MDMA — better known by its street name, ecstasy — had become an enormously popular recreational drug. It had also terrified the Reagan administration, which was in the midst of its historic War on Drugs. Lawn, the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration at the time, acted quickly. Despite the outcry of medical professionals pointing to the range of MDMA’s clinical uses, Lawn classified the drug as… Read more.

Dad with Multiple Sclerosis Stops Taking 75 Pills a Day by Switching to Cannabis

Can cannabis help you drop 75 prescription pills a day? The beauty of medicinal cannabis has always been in the testimonies of patients who have benefited from medicinal cannabis over conventional drugs. This is the story of a man that was initially paralyzed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and was once highly dependent on drugs for maintenance. After being paralyzed for a period, he became a medical cannabis sensation as he replaced 75 pills with cannabis and is now actively back on his… Read more.

Green Thumb inks deal to sell medical cannabis at Florida gas stations

October 20, 2022 · MJ Biz Daily

The age of buying marijuana when you fill up your car has arrived in the United States – at least in Florida. Green Thumb Industries, one of the biggest multistate operators in the U.S., signed an agreement with Circle K – one of the largest convenience-store chains in the world – that allows the cannabis company to lease space and open medical marijuana dispensaries adjacent to Circle K locations in Florida. The Chicago-based cannabis company plans to start a “test and learn”… Read more.