States that permit qualified patients to access medical marijuana via dispensaries possess lower rates of opioid addiction and overdose deaths, according to a study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a non-partisan think-tank. “[S]tates permitting medical marijuana dispensaries experience a relative decrease in both opioid addictions and opioid overdose deaths compared to states that do not,” authors reported. They found that women over the age of 40 showed the most significant decrease in problematic opioid use.
Category: medical marijuana
NIDA Acknowledges Drawbacks to Monopoly on Marijuana Supply
Members of the US Senate at a hearing yesterday expressed skepticism in regard to federal policies limiting the ability of investigators to engage in clinical studies of marijuana’s health benefits. Senators heard from representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and Project SAM on a variety of issues The hearing’s most noteworthy moment came when Nora Volkow, director of NIDA, acknowledged that the monopoly on marijuana cultivation for research purposes […]
Take Action To Reform Marijuana Laws In Your State
State lawmakers have debated nearly 100 different marijuana law reform bills this session and some 60 bills remain pending. NORML’s Take Action Center provides you with the ability to track pending legislation in your state and to contact your elected officials and urge them to support marijuana law reform.
Federal Judge Hears Closing Arguments In Constitutional Challenge To Cannabis’ Schedule I Status
Yesterday in Sacramento a federal judge heard closing arguments in a motion challenging the constitutionality of cannabis’ Schedule I classification. At issue is whether a rational basis exists for the government’s contention that cannabis is properly designated as a schedule I substance — defined as possessing a “high potential for abuse,” “no currently accepted medical use in treatment,” and “a lack of accepted safety … under medical supervision.”
President To Sign Federal Spending Bill Protecting State Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Programs
House and Senate lawmakers have approved spending legislation that contains a historic provision restricting the Justice Department from interfering with the implementation of state-sanctioned medical cannabis and/or hemp programs. President Barack Obama indicated Monday that he intends to sign the measure imminently.
Federal Omnibus Includes Amendment to Prohibit DOJ/DEA From Interfering With State Medical Marijuana
The final version of the House omnibus appropriations bill includes the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, which was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this year. The amendment restricts the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration from using taxpayer funds to interfere in state-sanctioned medical marijuana programs in the 20+ states that have enacted them. NORML supporters have rallied in favor of this provision, with over 22,000 emails and countless direct calls being directed at federal lawmakers regarding the amendment this year. “This amendment is an important step towards relieving […]
Federal Omnibus Includes Amendment to Prohibit DOJ/DEA From Interfering With State Medical Marijuana
The final version of the House omnibus appropriations bill includes the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, which was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this year. The amendment restricts the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration from using taxpayer funds to interfere in state-sanctioned medical marijuana programs in the 20+ states that have enacted them. NORML supporters have rallied in favor of this provision, with over 22,000 emails and countless direct calls being directed at federal lawmakers regarding the amendment this year. “This amendment is an important step towards relieving […]
Grease Pot Parody: Steve Berke-style
Adding to his ever-growing series of pro-cannabis law reform song parody videos, as well as in support of his home state’s current efforts to pass a medical cannabis initiative, comedian and Miami Beach political gadfly Steve Berke has just released a new pro-pot parody based on the famous movie of the 1970s ‘Grease‘. Upping the ante in Berke’s video productions, his talented crew drove from Florida to Texas, in search of the original amusement park backdrop used for the 1978 movie production of ‘Grease’. “Your The Law That I Want!” […]
Study: Legalized Medical Marijuana Doesn’t Impact Teen Use Rates
Investigators from the University of Colorado at Denver, the University of Oregon, and Montana State University assessed federal data on youth marijuana use and treatment episodes for the years 1993 to 2011 – a time period when 16 states authorized medical cannabis use. Authors reported, “Our results are not consistent with the hypothesis that the legalization of medical marijuana caused an increase in the use of marijuana among high school students. In fact, estimates from our preferred specification are small, consistently negative, and are never statistically distinguishable from zero.”
US Senate To Vote Imminently On Budget Amendment to Defund Medical Marijuana Raids
Senate members are expected to vote imminently in regard to language that seeks to bar the US Justice Department from interfering in activities that are compliant with state medical cannabis laws.