Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, the big news is what didn’t happen – the FDA didn’t propose regulations for the use of CBD in food. And then we have two stories about things that haven’t happened yet, but that some people would like to see happen: interstate cannabis commerce and federal re-scheduling. And finally, what were those hobbits smoking in The Lord of the Rings?

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: February 3, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, we see that the U.S. Virgin Islands legalized cannabis for adult use. Mississippi saw its first medical marijuana sale. Will Delaware pass a legalization bill this year – color us skeptical. The FDA released guidance on cannabis-derived drugs. And finally, if you’re looking to buy an American flag, you might consider one made of hemp.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: January 27, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, Congress wants to know why there are no federal regulations governing hemp and CBD. Speaking of CBD, Google makes changes to its advertising policies. Maryland lawmakers make plans for an adult-use market. And finally, if you’re looking for a cannabis-friendly hotel in Las Vegas, there’s a new place in town to stay.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: January 20, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, the big news is that Connecticut began legal adult-use cannabis sales. And so did Detroit. We have an update on the Minnesota legalization bill. And finally, we found a story about a Michigan dispensary that got into the holiday spirit of giving with a “Jackets for Joints” program.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: January 13, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, we see New York’s adult-use cannabis market opening. Kentucky residents can now possess medical marijuana. Lawmakers in Minnesota introduce an adult-use legalization bill. Rules for Missouri’s cannabis industry may appear in February. And finally, we check in on the weed nuns.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: January 6, 2023

Welcome back to The Year In Weed, our annual roundup of cannabis-related stories.  As usual, we’ll adopt Dave Barry’s Year in Review format and look at stories month by month.  Last year, I hoped 2022 would provide some answers to the questions of 2021 and predicted we’d spend much of the year discussing ballot initiatives. Was I right? Well, you tell me…

Continue Reading The Year in Weed: 2022 Edition

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, we note that SAFE banking did not make it into the omnibus appropriations bill, which should come as a surprise to no one. President Biden should be on the lookout for a bipartisan letter asking him to de-schedule cannabis. Florida issued a lot of medical marijuana licenses. And finally, is your holiday destination cannabis-friendly?

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: December 23, 2022

Nevada, like most states, has legalized cannabis for medicinal use. Although permitted under state law, a Nevada employee may still face discipline under a company’s drug policy. To address that concern, the Nevada Legislature passed a law requiring employers to attempt to make reasonable accommodations for its employees’ use of medical cannabis outside of the workplace. As a matter of first impression, the Nevada Supreme Court recently decided that employees may sue employers who violate that law.

Continue Reading Nevada Supreme Court Finds a Private Right of Action Under Nevada’s Medical Cannabis Law

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, we report (with skepticism) on the chances of SAFE Banking making it into the omnibus bill. Then we move on to Connecticut, where sales and expungement are in the news. Staying in New England, we examine the potential for New Hampshire legalization. And rounding out the state news, we check in with Missouri, where their new legalization law takes effect. And finally, there’s a new component to driver’s ed classes in Massachusetts.

SAFE BANKING (SIGH)

If it seems a bit too soon for Charlie Brown to have another stab at that football, we join you in noting that Lucy just pulled it out of the National Defense Authorization Act. But that football gag isn’t iconic because it happened once; it’s a 20th century version of Sisyphus because it happens over and over again. The latest iteration of this classic tale involves the omnibus appropriations bill currently up for debate. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) are just sure it can pass this time. Before you allow yourself to become infused with their enthusiasm, however, note that Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Thune (R-SD) and Cuck Grassley (R-IA) say it’s a no go.

CONECTICUT

If you’ll be in The Land of Steady Habits (Connecticut has a lot of nicknames, and this was the one we liked the best) early next month, and would like to purchase some legal cannabis, you’ll be able to do that. Sales will begin on January 10 at seven medical marijuana dispensaries that are now qualified for a hybrid license. But that’s not all that’s going on in Connecticut next month; Gov. Ned Lamont (D) will erase low-level cannabis possession convictions as of January 1.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

If you look at a map of the United States showing where cannabis is legal (like this one for instance), you’ll notice one state in the Northeast that stands out. New Hampshire allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but adult-use generally is illegal. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) is opposed to legalization, and the state Senate has also been cannabis-hostile. A bipartisan group in the state House has decided to try again – further bulletins as events warrant.

MISSOURI

Are 21 or older? Do you live in Missouri? Then, as of late last week, it is legal for you to posses and use marijuana in your state. As with most newly-legal states (Arizona is the outlier), it will likely be a while before you can stroll down to the dispensary to purchase cannabis. Medical outlets will be able to sell to all adults, but there’s no official timeline for that. More licenses are expected in 2025.

AND FINALLY

Information on the perils of drinking and driving have long been a part of driver’s education courses. Next year, information on cannabis impairment will be part of Massachusetts’ program. Remember: just because something is legal – alcohol, cannabis, texting – doesn’t mean you should do it while driving!

Stay safe and be well everyone – we’ll see you next week!

Co-authored by Ruth Fisher, PhD

The following post explores the bioavailability and efficacy of various cannabis products, followed by a brief overview of the legal protection afforded to each as an intellectual property asset.

Over the millennia, our bodies have evolved to better protect themselves. Protection from outside our bodies comes from our skin, which creates a barrier that’s quite difficult to penetrate by most foreign substances (pathogens). Protection from within our bodies comes from barriers (epithelial tissues) that line all our internal organs and pathways, to make sure nothing penetrates areas it should not. The result of all this protection is that it can be difficult for cannabis substances to penetrate our bodies and travel to the sites needed to generate their effects.

Continue Reading Technologies for Enhancing Cannabis Bioavailability and Their Legal Methods of Protection