Browsing Marijuana News

What Happened? On June 22, 2015, the Obama Administration removed the need for cannabis research proposal review by the Public Health Service (PHS), which will make it easier and faster for researchers to conduct studies on cannabis. What Changed? For the past several years, the process for the federal approval of cannabis research has gone as follows: Get approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Get approval from the PHS board. Get approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Obtain cannabis from the Drug Supply Program run by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Step …

At least a dozen Republicans and a handful of Democrats have expressed an interest in running for their party’s 2016 presidential nomination. A growing majority of voters support marijuana reform and the 2016 presidential candidates will not be able to avoid or dismiss the issues. Law and regulatory enforcement, criminal justice, banking and financial regulations, small business policies, federal research policies, medical and pharmaceutical policies, agriculture and commerce, state-federal relations and privacy issues surrounding legalization pose a need for a leader that can break down silos and deal with these serious issues. As such, whom voters choose …

For years, cannabis was allowed in only a few states and went largely unregulated. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have now enacted laws to legalize medical marijuana and 11 other states have legalized the limited use of low-THC forms of marijuana for medical use. Colorado, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and DC (with a ban on sales) have also legalized marijuana for recreational use. This wave of legalization has presented many states with unique challenges that they are unsure how to handle. The big question: who should take on the responsibility of regulating the cannabis industry? For …

With the increase of medical marijuana legalization around the country, traditional media has begun playing a more critical role in sharing the success stories of patients across the country. Since Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s first special covering cannabis almost two years ago, we’ve seen a tremendous amount of coverage from major networks including reality shows from National Geographic and a look into the “green rush” from CNBC. “No tie-dye, no black lights, no Bob Marley posters, just plants and science.” – Harry Smith, Journalist with NBC News I got a chance to speak with …

According to the CDC, Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne infectious disease in the United States. The CDC treatment protocol calls for a 30-day treatment plan of oral antibiotics, despite no evidence that this method will cure the disease. In fact, according to ilads.org, a leader in Lyme disease education, 40% of treatment courses have resulted in upwards of a 40% relapse rate, especially if treatment is delayed. Fewer than 50% of patients with Lyme disease ever recall a tick bite or rash, yet, without either, the CDC does not recommend any treatment. Dr. Ernie Murakami, an 84-year-old activist, …

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and CNN’s chief medical correspondent, spoke out in August 2013 apologizing for previously making negative comments about marijuana. Later that year, he launched a documentary that aired on CNN, called ‘Weed,’ in which he traveled around the world to collect scientific and anecdotal evidence of the medical validity of cannabinoids. Since its original airing, the Weed series has quickly become one of the most-viewed medical marijuana documentaries in the world. President Obama Gives Full Support of Medical Marijuana Weed 3 will air this Sunday at 9PM EST on CNN with an anticipated …

The evidence that cannabinoids fight cancer has been accruing since 1974 (at least), when researchers at the University of Virginia determined that both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) inhibited a form of lung cancer. Since then, hundreds of studies have further confirmed the anti-cancer effects of those major cannabinoids, as well as other less popular cannabinoids, like cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG). Government Acknowledges Cannabis May Fight Cancer However, for the past few years, the United States government has been dancing around the fact that cannabis or cannabinoid products may fight cancer in …

Three U.S. senators unveiled a new bill today that would effectively end a federal ban on medical marijuana, according to multiple sources. New Federal Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced The proposed senate bill, which was introduced by Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), will allow legal medical marijuana patients “to continue participating in those programs without fear of federal prosecution,” according to a joint statement from the senators’ offices. While the bill’s future acceptance is uncertain, its creation could help Senator …

KINGSTON, JAMAICA – Possessing small amounts of cannabis in Jamaica may soon be decriminalized after Jamaica’s Cabinet approved a new bill on Wednesday, which would also introduce the emergence of a medicinal cannabis industry on the Caribbean island. Historic Cannabis Legislative Bill Approved By Cabinet Under the new legislation approved by Jamaica’s Cabinet, the guidelines would establish the possession of two ounces or less of cannabis as a minor offense instead of a criminal offense. In addition, the cultivation of five or less plants would also be permitted on any properties. As …

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY – Since President José Mujica signed the rules for the legal cannabis market to officially begin in Uruguay back in mid 2014, Uruguay has started to see beneficial successes within their country’s recent legalization experiment. Uruguay’s Legal Market Allows Home Growing and Sales Surprisingly, the consumption of cannabis has been legal in Uruguay for quite some time. However, before President Mujica implemented the legalization experiment in order to diminish dangerous drug cartels and put them out of business, no one was able to legally obtain cannabis.