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« Last post by 1954 on April 21, 2024, 08:01:05 PM »
Happy 420. 
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« Last post by BurnMan on April 20, 2024, 02:11:46 PM »
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« Last post by orthene on April 18, 2024, 11:42:06 PM »
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/kentucky-governor-announces-lottery-award-initial-round-medical-109402560FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky will use a lottery system to award an initial round of licenses to businesses competing to participate in the state's startup medical cannabis program, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday.
The governor called it a fair way to give each applicant that clears the screening process an opportunity to land a license for the program, which launches statewide at the start of 2025.
The lottery, set for October, should remove any temptation to lobby in an effort to “get a leg up in different ways that we don’t want to see,” Beshear said at his weekly news conference.
“It reduces or eliminates litigation, and it creates a more fair process, not one where people bid against each other and only then the big companies can be a part of it,” the governor said. “But one that provides at least a chance for everyone who can meet the criteria.”
The state initially will issue 48 medical cannabis dispensary licenses, divided among 11 regions. The goal is to ensure the shortest possible drive times for Kentuckians with qualifying health conditions, said Sam Flynn, executive director of the medical cannabis program.
Each region will be allocated at least four dispensary licenses, and counties will be limited to one dispensary with the exception of those that are home to Louisville and Lexington, which can have two licenses, Flynn said.
Limited numbers of cultivator and processor licenses will be issued.
Caps on licenses are meant to avoid flooding the market with medicinal cannabis products and exceed demand, which would hurt businesses and patients, the governor said.
“You can see this is not about having a dispensary on every corner,” Beshear said. “It is a limited program that we can monitor and fulfill the promise we made of doing this safely, but also having access in each region for people that do qualify.”
The program can be expanded with more businesses in the future depending on demand and whether more qualifying medical conditions are added.
“This is likely the minimum that you will see on the program moving forward,” Beshear said. “But again, you can always scale up. Scaling back hurts businesses, hurts people and hurts access.”
"We don’t start huge. We start with a manageable program that, yes, can grow,” he added.
On Wednesday the Democratic governor signed legislation moving up the timeline for licensing cannabis businesses by six months, with the window for applications running from July 1 through the end of August. The change makes it likely that at least limited supplies will be available in January when they become legal, Beshear said.
Medical marijuana supporters overcame years of setbacks in Kentucky when lawmakers passed the measure last year legalizing medical cannabis for people suffering from a range of debilitating illnesses, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The governor has advocated for adding more conditions to the qualifying list, but the bill he signed Wednesday did not do so.
Local governments and schools can decide not to participate in the state program.
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« Last post by orthene on April 12, 2024, 11:34:20 PM »
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/cannabis-use-is-linked-to-a-lower-likelihood-of-experiencing-subjective-cognitive-decline/ar-BB1l7xlA?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=aa9b8763821044ffa6b259cc3d6e82bf&ei=63In a new study published inCurrent Alzheimer Research, scientists have found that non-medical cannabis use is linked to a lower likelihood of experiencing subjective cognitive decline, a condition characterized by self-reported memory loss or confusion. This intriguing discovery sheds light on the complex relationship between cannabis use and cognitive health, particularly among middle-aged and older adults in the United States.
With the aging population and the rising prevalence of cognitive impairments, understanding the factors that can influence cognitive health is more crucial than ever. Subjective cognitive decline has been recognized as a potential early warning sign for more severe cognitive disorders, including dementia. At the same time, cannabis use is becoming more common, especially among older adults, prompting scientists to explore its potential impacts on cognitive function.
“There has been increasing attention about cannabis because more states continue to expand legalization, and subsequently more adults also have begun experimenting with the substance,” said study author Roger Wong, an assistant professor in the Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
“I had noticed that most research on cannabis was only focusing on how frequency of cannabis use is associated with cognition. Thus, I expanded on prior research by examining how cognitive decline may result from different facets of cannabis use, such as reason (medical or non-medical), frequency (0-30 days/month), and method (smoke, vape, eat, etc.).”
For their study, the researchers analyzed data from the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), focusing on U.S. adults aged 45 and older. The BRFSS is a cross-sectional survey designed to collect information on health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services among American adults.
Specifically, this study zeroed in on respondents from Washington D.C. and 14 states that included the BRFSS cognitive decline module in their survey, resulting in an unweighted sample of 4,744 participants with valid responses on subjective cognitive decline.
Subjective cognitive decline, the study’s dependent variable, was assessed using a specific question from the BRFSS cognitive decline module: “During the past 12 months, have you experienced confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or is getting worse?”
Individuals who used cannabis for non-medical reasons reported significantly reduced odds of experiencing subjective cognitive decline compared to those who did not use cannabis. This suggests that non-medical cannabis use, as opposed to medical or mixed-use, might have a protective association against the self-perception of cognitive decline.
Interestingly, when examining the frequency of cannabis use and the methods of consumption (smoking, eating, drinking, vaporizing, or dabbing), the study found no significant association with subjective cognitive decline after adjusting for a comprehensive set of covariates. This finding indicates that the reason behind cannabis use (medical vs. non-medical) may be more pivotal in its relationship with subjective cognitive health than the quantity of use or the specific method of consumption.
Further analysis through multiple logistic regression models highlighted that, after controlling for various demographic, health, and substance use factors, non-medical cannabis use was associated with a 96% decrease in the odds of reporting subjective cognitive decline. This relationship remained consistent across different models, even after adjusting for a wide range of potential confounders.
“Non-medical cannabis use, such as for recreational purposes, may decrease cognitive decline, which is often a precursor to future diagnosis of dementia, which currently has no definitive prevention approach, no cure, and very limited treatment options,” Wong told PsyPost.
But the study has some limitations to consider. It didn’t account for potential geographical variations in cannabis legislation and use within the United States. The reliance on self-reported data, especially concerning cannabis use and cognitive decline, may introduce bias. Furthermore, the study’s focus on adults 45 years and older leaves unanswered questions regarding the impact of cannabis on younger populations.
Looking ahead, the researchers emphasize the need for further studies to explore the mechanisms underlying the observed association between non-medical cannabis use and reduced odds of subjective cognitive decline.
“We analyzed the U.S. CDC BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) data, which has been collected annually since 1984,” Wong explained. “We specifically only analyzed the 2021 data since it contained the three cannabis measures. Thus, although our findings may suggest cannabis may be beneficial for cognition, it is imperative for future research to examine the relationship between long-term cannabis use and cognition. This is not feasible right now because cannabis remains illegal federally.
“Non-medical cannabis typically contains higher concentrations of a compound called THC, whereas medical cannabis typically contains higher concentrations of a compound called CBD,” the researcher added. “It is theorized that non-medical cannabis is being used for stress relief and improve sleep, which my prior research00009-0/fulltext) has found sleep disturbances to be a major risk factor for dementia.”
The study, “Association Between Cannabis Use and Subjective Cognitive Decline: Findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS),” was authored by Zhi Chen and Roger Wong.
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« Last post by orthene on April 11, 2024, 11:03:57 PM »
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/fda-chief-sees-no-reason-for-delay-in-cannabis-rescheduling/ar-BB1ltaBK?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=dc69f2cbe83f4125afa69fda8bcd2d05&ei=13Amid an ongoing review by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to reschedule marijuana from a high-risk to a low-risk category, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Robert Califf, said Thursday that there's "no reason" for the DEA to delay its decision.
In August, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wrote a letter to the DEA recommending cannabis be reclassified from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) based on the FDA's findings.
In January, the DEA confirmed the ongoing review. A favorable decision will see marijuana moving to Schedule III, a low-risk category for medications like Tylenol and ketamine, from its current category in Schedule I, which includes dangerous drugs like heroin and LSD.
"There's no reason for DEA to delay. They have to take into account all the regulations that are in play," FDA commissioner Califf said during a hearing before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Thursday.
Meanwhile, rescheduling opponent Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) argued that the FDA's assessment of cannabis that led to the HHS recommendation was not based on "scientific facts or realities of how marijuana has been abused and used in our country today."
"Let me remind you that a Schedule III does not put marijuana on the market in the United States," Califf said in response, according to industry publication Marijuana Moment. "With all due respect, I think [cannabis] is differentiable from heroin and, I think, cigarettes."
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« Last post by BurnMan on April 10, 2024, 03:34:39 PM »
Perfect reason to legalize and regulate.  
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« Last post by orthene on April 10, 2024, 03:20:57 PM »
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-68760301People using cannabis THC vapes risk inhaling a very dangerous substance called xylazine, UK experts warn after discovering some confiscated products contained the "zombie" drug.
The sedative, designed to put big animals such as cows and horses to sleep, can be lethal for humans.
It is "alarming" to find it in "even a few" illicit e-cigarettes that many think are pretty harmless, experts say.
It puts people, as well as those who inject or take strong drugs, at risk.
The illegal global xylazine market has so far mostly seen it mixed with strong opioid drugs, such as heroin or fentanyl.
There has been at least one xylazine-related UK death already - and there are fears misuse could grow, as it has in the US.
BBC Inside Health: On the trail of a new street drug
Dr Caroline Copeland and colleagues from King's College London say new types of illicit xylazine products are now entering the UK market.
As well as risky vapes, they found tablets being sold as codeine and diazepam, or Valium, that contained xylazine.
The researchers contacted all toxicology laboratories in the UK last year to gather evidence.
They also looked at drug-testing results from hauls seized by law enforcement.
The findings are published in the journal Addiction.
Although the numbers found were small - only two THC vapes and a small number of illegally sold pills out of tens of thousands of products - the experts say it is still extremely concerning.
What are cannabis vapes?
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis - and THC vapes are illegal in the UK
cannabidiol (CBD) is also a component of the cannabis plant but does not give a high - and CBD oil, including in vapes, is legal to sell in the UK
Dr Copeland told BBC News: "People may not realise what they are actually buying.
"They think they are getting a THC vape - but it could contain much more than they expect.
"It's really alarming."
The UK's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recently recommended to the government xylazine be listed as a Class C drug, putting it in the same category as laughing gas, anabolic steroids and benzodiazepines, which would mean people possessing it could be jailed for two years and those dealing it 14 years.
The health risks are amplified when it is taken with other strong sedatives.
It can cause:
difficulty breathing
dangerously low blood pressure
slowed heart rate
wounds that can become infected
addiction and severe withdrawal symptoms
death
It is not clear what level of harm inhaling it might do.
Some children and teenagers in the UK have needed hospital treatment after they were thought to have used a vape spiked with another illegal drug, Spice.
King's College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience addictions head Prof Sir John Strang, who was not involved in the study, said: "We need to be constantly alert to changes in the nature of the illicit drug market, especially as these changes sometimes bring new health complications or challenges."
A government spokesperson said: "We are aware of the threat from xylazine and are determined to protect people from the threat posed by this drug and other illicit synthetic drugs.
"We will not hesitate to act to keep the public safe. Following advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), we intend to make xylazine a Class C drug."
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« Last post by BurnMan on April 07, 2024, 01:48:51 AM »
This will be the 25th state to fully legalize.
Source https://archive.ph/2MldV
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« Last post by jones on April 03, 2024, 02:01:49 AM »
This cracks me up even though I vote GOP
You think that's funny?
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/04/01/drug-possession-oregon-kotek-sign-bill/
Oregon just made all drugs illegal again with zero voter input.
That's funny--I can't wait to hear their plan to get rid of it
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« Last post by BurnMan on April 02, 2024, 11:03:42 PM »
This cracks me up even though I vote GOP
You think that's funny?
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/04/01/drug-possession-oregon-kotek-sign-bill/
Oregon just made all drugs illegal again with zero voter input.
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