February 3, 2021 – Washington, D.C.—In response to the White House Office of National Drug Control Strategy (ONDCP) announcing its first wave of President Biden’s appointees and outlining the administration’s priorities for the first 100 days, Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, released the following statement: “We are encouraged by this announcement by […]
February 3, 2021 – Santa Fe, NM — Today, the New Mexico House Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed House Bill 123 (Rep. D. Armstrong), authorizing overdose prevention programs (OPPs), also known as safer consumption spaces or supervised injection facilities, as a critical public health tool to combat overdose deaths and provide a bridge […]
February 3, 2021 – Santa Fe, NM — Today, the New Mexico House Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed House Bill 123 (Rep. D. Armstrong), authorizing overdose prevention programs (OPPs), also known as safer consumption spaces or supervised injection facilities, as a critical public health tool to combat overdose deaths and provide a bridge […]
And, a just-released statewide poll shows 68% of registered voters in Virginia, including majorities of Democrats and Republicans, support legalizing marijuana for adults.
The post Virginia: Where Marijuana Reform Legislation Stands Ahead of Friday’s Crossover Deadline appeared first on NORML.
A new Op-Ed on Med Page Today makes the case for more regulation on the THC levels of some marijuana products, in particular within Colorado.
When Colorado legalized marijuana for medical use in 2000, the highest concentration of THC in the plant was 5% and there were no concentrated products like “wax,” “shatter,” or “dabs.” Over the last 20 years, without any state governmental regulation to limit potency, the industry has dramatically increased the concentration of THC to where the average in the plant is now 18.8%. They have also created a range of concentrates with the average THC potency of 69.4%, some up to 95% THC.
Along with increased THC levels, studies of cannabis that have allowed it to gain its medical label were all done under 10% THC concentrates, so discerning the medical benefits or drawbacks of dabs or shatters is more difficult.
It is still widely understood that it is impossible to overdose from marijuana, but that isn’t stopping some from questioning whether or not there should be limits to the amount of THC within a single dose.
In 2011, the Netherlands took steps to limit THC levels. In the country, there would be two classifications for marijuana: one below 15% (Schedule II) and one for anything above (Schedule I). However, this policy proposal has been controversial with little data backing it, and has yet to be implemented.
Ultimately, while the reduced THC argument seems to make cautionary sense, there is still very little scientific data backing the move, with most of the arguments being based off of fear and assumptions. More research must done within a multitude of THC levels before anything concrete should be enacted.
(Editor’s note: This story is part of a recurring series of commentaries from professionals connected to the hemp industry. Larry and Jackie Berg are co-founders of CBD Marketing Hub, a digital-to-door agency focused on CBD and cannabis marketing.) Seismic advancements have dominated the CBD market over the past decade with some of the industry’s largest brands seeing […]
Santa Fe, NM – With the New Mexico Senate and House of Representatives both expected to introduce marijuana legalization bills today, Emily Kaltenbach, Senior Director for Resident States and New Mexico for the Drug Policy Alliance, released the following statement: “Today, it is expected both the New Mexico Senate and House of Representatives will introduce […]
An interesting article written in NJ.com that sheds light on the arrests happening over marijuana despite the state voting to legalize it in November.
“Someone should remind Gov. Murphy, because it’s the end of January and thousands are still being busted for pot. In November alone more than 2,100 New Jerseyans were arrested for marijuana. In December, it was 1,700. Odd, weed doesn’t feel legal?”
Read the original at NJ.com
Portland, OR – Today, Oregon became the first state in the United States to decriminalize possession of small amounts of all drugs and greatly increase access to treatment, recovery, harm reduction and other services. This is a result of a successful ballot initiative spearheaded by Drug Policy Action—the advocacy arm of Drug Policy Alliance–in partnership […]
“Increased medical and recreational storefront dispensary counts are associated with reduced opioid related mortality rates during the study period. These associations appear particularly strong for deaths related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.”
The post Rise in Storefront Marijuana Dispensaries Associated with Declines in Opioid-Related Deaths appeared first on NORML.
