Author Archives: ushempmuseum
FDA Approves Marketing Of Plant-Derived Marijuana Medicine
Regulators at the US Food and Drug Administration today granted market approval for Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD), for the explicit treatment of two rare forms of severe epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. The FDA’s decision was not unexpected, as the proprietary extract formulation — developed by … Continue reading
Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Vote Is One Week Away
In just seven days, voters in Oklahoma will have the opportunity to decide in favor of providing much-needed medical marijuana access to patients. State Question 788 will appear on the June 26 ballot. Under this plan, physicians — not lawmakers — will have the final say on making health care decisions involving the use of … Continue reading
Kentucky NORML: Cannabis Access Associated with Reduced Rates of Opioid Use and Abuse
KY NORML is passionate about education. And with the opioid epidemic consuming our state, we feel that it is our duty to share valuable information regarding the relationship between cannabis and opioids. Cannabis access is associated with reduced rates of opioid use and abuse, opioid-related hospitalizations, traffic fatalities, drug treatment admissions, and overdose deaths. We … Continue reading
Weekly Legislative Roundup 6/22/18
Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup! At the federal level, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to protect state-lawful marijuana users from housing discrimination. And the US Senate Appropriations Committee voted to block an amendment that would have protected banks that work with marijuana businesses from being punished by federal regulators. … Continue reading
Canada: Lawmakers Reconcile and Pass Historic Marijuana Legalization Legislation
[UPDATE: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the new law will officially go into effect on October 17, 2018.] Members of the Canadian House and Senate have reconciled and given final approval to C-45, sweeping legislation amending the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act so that those over the age of 18 may legally … Continue reading
New Report By New York City Police Department On Marijuana Criminalization
The new Report by the New York City Police Department’s “Working Group” is more window dressing than an actual policy change. It appears to be an elaborate 20-page rationalization to continue the present enforcement protocol without any real progress on the policing front. As of today, the policy continues to leave it to the relatively … Continue reading
Poll: Record Percentage Of Americans Support Legalizing Marijuana
Sixty-eight percent of registered voters “support the legalization of marijuana,” according to national polling data compiled by the Center for American Progress. The percentage is the highest level of support for legalization ever reported in a nationwide, scientific poll. Majorities of Democrats (77 percent), Independents (62 percent), and Republicans (57 percent) back legalization. The results … Continue reading
NORML Releases Comprehensive Report Summarizing Local Decriminalization Laws
Even though recreational marijuana remains criminalized in a majority of US states, more and more municipalities are moving ahead with local laws decriminalizing the possession of cannabis within city limits. For the first time, NORML has released a comprehensive breakdown of these citywide and countywide decriminalization policies. Efforts to liberalize municipal marijuana possession penalties in … Continue reading
New York: State-Commissioned Report Will Recommend Legalizing Marijuana
A forthcoming report commissioned by the Governor’s office is set to recommend that lawmakers legalize and regulate the possession and sale of marijuana by adults. According to statements made today by New York State health commissioner Howard Zucker, the report’s authors have concluded that “a regulated, legal marijuana program [ought to] be available to adults … Continue reading
