Author: News Room

State-level marijuana legalization is associated with significant reductions in prescribing of the opioid codeine, according to a new study that leverages data from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The paper, published last week in the journal Health Economics, looked at data on prescription opioid shipments in 11 states that legalized cannabis for adult use between 2010-2019, comparing them to prohibitionist states. It found that recreational legalization is linked to a “26 percent reduction in retail pharmacy-based codeine distribution.” The researchers from Cornell University, George Mason University, the University of Georgia and the University of Pittsburgh said that the same…

A Republican South Carolina senator has refiled a slightly revised bill to legalize medical marijuana for the 2023 session. Sen. Tom Davis (R) introduced the S.C. Compassionate Care Act late last week, with tweaks that are meant to avoid procedural problems that derailed the reform last year. His earlier version cleared the Senate but stalled out in on the House floor because of an issue with tax-related language. Overall, the bill would allow patients to access cannabis from licensed dispensaries if they receive a doctor’s recommendation for the treatment of qualifying conditions. Here are the other main provisions of the…

Yet another study has found evidence that cannabis can lead to better sex, with participants reporting heightened desire, more intense orgasms and sharpened sensory perception. The paper, published Friday in the Journal of Cannabis Research, was led by Amanda Moser of East Carolina University, now a Denver-based sexologist specializing in combining cannabis and sex. Results of Moser’s online survey of 811 adults who’ve used cannabis found greater perceived sexual functioning and satisfaction regardless of age or gender: More than 70 percent of people said using cannabis before sex increased desire and improved orgasms. Another 62.5 percent said cannabis enhanced their…

A North Dakota House committee has approved a resolution that encourages residents to buy U.S. flags that are made out of hemp—even as one lawmaker expressed concern about whether “odors” from people burning flags would be an issue. The concurrent resolution, which is being sponsored by five House members and three senators, cleared the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday in a 12-0-1 vote. The “whereas” section says that “historians assert the first United States flags were made from hemp,” and the crop is both stronger than cotton and “fades less than other fabrics.” “North Dakota citizens should demonstrate their patriotism…

The recently sworn-in governor of Pennsylvania says that he intends to prioritize expanding marijuana pardon opportunities, including by promoting resources in Spanish to reach more people with eligible convictions. In an interview with AL DÍA, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) was asked about the pardon project that launched under his predecessor last year through the state Board of Pardons (BOP). “I want to build on that program. I want to see it continue. And I want to see more people be able to get help to earn a pardon as a result of it,” he said, adding that he felt the…

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its finalized guidance on developing cannabis-based drugs, outlining the process and unique considerations for scientists when it comes to hemp and marijuana. The guidance—titled “Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality Considerations for Clinical Research”—was announced in a notice set to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. The agency previously released a draft version that went through a White House review in 2020. Part of the reason for the guidance is the federal legalization of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill, which makes the drug development protocol different for that version of…

A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official says the agency is keeping a “very close eye” on psychedelics research and policy amid the growing reform movement, and that includes exploring issuing new guidance to ensure that veterans are protected from losing their federal benefits over the use of substances like psilocybin. Ilse Wiechers, deputy executive director of VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, provided insights into the department’s thinking on psychedelics during a webinar hosted by the RAND Corporation on Thursday. An Oregon regulator and veterans advocate also joined the conversation. VA has been “working together on…

The maker of CBD prescription drug Epidiolex has filed a lawsuit in the USA alleging patent infringement. GW Research Ltd, a subsidiary of Ireland-based Jazz Pharmaceuticals, claims that more than 15 drugmakers are violating its patents as they develop generic versions of Epidiolex, the only pharmaceutical containing CBD that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Generic versions Those competitors have submitted Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) in order to “commercially market generic versions of GW’s cannabidiol oral solution drug product,” GW said in the lawsuit, noting some of the patents do not expire until September 2025, while…

By David Katz Doris sputtered to her husband, coughing out a huge bluish cloud of Hawaiian X Super Skunk #1 spiked with a touch of Master Kush, which drifted toward what they thought was their locked bedroom door and swirled about the head of their “I can’t sleep” six-year-old. Arthur, an inquisitive, intelligent and, to be honest, somewhat pushy offspring, stared at his parents in disbelief from the foot of the bed, his attention fixed on the gigantic spliff that Mommy was passing to Daddy to “help them sleep.” Unfortunately, Arthur had just attended his first Drug Awareness Day at…

One bad thing about partaking in weed is the unwelcome sensation of feeling like you’ve swallowed a bunch of cotton balls. Cottonmouth, or having a mouth and throat as dry as the Sahara Desert after consuming cannabis, is one of the odder side effects of weed. When it strikes, all bets are off—you may find yourself chugging back water and chewing gum like a fiend to get saliva flowing again.  So what is it about weed that dries out the mouth and parches the throat? And how can you stave off cottonmouth when it hits, or even better, avoid it…