WeedLife News Network

Legalization of recreational marijuana reduces demand for costly prescription drugs through state Medicaid programs, according to an analysis by a Cornell researcher and a collaborator.

When states legalize marijuana, the volume of prescriptions within the drug classes that align with the medical indications for pain, depression, anxiety, sleep, psychosis and seizures significantly decline, the researchers found.

Shyam Raman, a doctoral student in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, and Indiana University doctoral student Ashley Bradford conducted the research. Their article, “Recreational Cannabis Legalizations Associated with Reductions in Prescription Drug Utilizations Among Medicaid Enrollees,” published April 15 in the journal Health Economics.

Most cannabis research has focused on the impact of medical marijuana on demand for prescription drugs or the impact of recreational use legalization on opioid demand. This is among the first studies to focus on the impact of legal personal-use cannabis on a broad range of prescription drugs.

“These results have important implications,” Raman said.

Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,500 shares, a drop of 25.0% from the March 15th total of 2,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 24,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Shares of DLTNF traded down $0.01 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $0.25. 35,300 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,241. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $0.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.26. Delta 9 Cannabis has a 52-week low of $0.20 and a 52-week high of $0.49.

Insa announced its plans for their annual April 20 in-store events. This year, they're doubling up - hosting a 4/20 celebration in this reality and in virtual reality. Insa is inviting its customers to step into the virtual reality of cannabis wonders. (Benzinga)

At its Massachusetts retail locations in Salem, Easthampton and both stores in Springfield, consumers can step into a completely virtual world. The immersive experience puts the power into consumers’ hands through an oculus headset that will be displayed at each location for people to be transported and explore a first-of-its-kind virtual reality tour.

Insa’s 4/20 celebration isn’t all virtual, however. What would a 4/20 celebration be without, well, cannabis? Back in the real world at Insa's Salem and West Columbus Avenue location in Springfield, local food trucks will be serving snacks. Consumers at all locations will get free swag, fun surprises and deals on Insa cannabis.

“Every year for 4/20 we try and push ourselves to put on an exciting event to wow our current customers and educate consumers less familiar with cannabis. This year I think we’ve really outdone ourselves and I hope that our customers will agree,” said Peter Gallagher, Insa's co-founder.

“We are excited to welcome people as they take a peek behind the Insa curtain and get a better understanding of the cannabis industry and how Insa’s products come to life."

The next generation cannabis consumer is thinking beyond how high they can get, and searching for a more memorable (and perhaps Instagram-able) experience.

During the early days of recognizing the 4/20 holiday, lighting up was a bit more discreet. An apple meticulously carved into a pipe, a simple hand-rolled joint, or a run-of-the-mill tobacco pipe were a few of the slim options available for smoking THC.

With more states legalizing cannabis, the shameful stigma tied to smoking this herb is slowly but surely, fading away. We may not be totally out of the woods just yet, but there’s no denying that the cannabis culture is being embraced now more than ever before.

The stoners of yesteryear would be taken aback by what they’d find in the modern-day consumer’s toolkit. Going into the high holiday, the next generation cannabis consumer is thinking beyond how high they can get, and searching for a more memorable (and perhaps Instagram-able) experience to share with friends. 

For when the secret “stash” becomes a display, and your bar cart becomes a bong cart, here are a few wild marijuana accessories for the modern-day 420 enthusiast.

Stündenglass Gravity Bong 

Unlike the homemade gravity bongs you made in college with a plastic 2-liter and whatever other household items you could pull together, the Stundenglass Gravity Bong makes for a futuristic and immersive experience.

The American Civil Liberties (ALCU) estimates that between 2001 and 2010, there were over eight million marijuana arrests across the U.S., and 88 percent of those arrests were for simply having the drug. 

Although marijuana use is almost equal among Blacks and Whites, Black people are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. 

In 2012, Colorado became the first state to legalize recreational marijuana and since then, 17 more states have followed, with several more considering legislation this year. 

The U.S. legal marijuana industry is projected to earn $43 billion by 2025, according to cannabis industry researcher New Frontier Data, which begs the question: how much of that wealth will African Americans have access to? 

In Maryland, cannabis is only legal for medical use, and most are owned and operated by White Americans. However, in Washington, D.C. voters approved Initiative 71 in 2014, which legalized the possession of minimal amounts of marijuana for recreational use. The initiative made way for “gifting shops”, also known as I-71 businesses, which get around the ban on the sale of recreational marijuana by selling other items like art and clothing and including a free “gift” of marijuana. 

The Florida Groves Festival is going all out in celebration of music, art and cannabis.  

Organizers released the full line-up for the festival’s first year, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, at The Orlando Amphitheater. This event, centered around cannabis culture, will take place from 1 to 11 p.m. The music, which will be performed on the Trulieve stage, is primarily reggae with about 5 bands, from Julian Marley – the son of reggae legend Bob Marley – and The Uprising, The Expendables, Kash’d Out, Roots of Creation and Honey Hounds to DJ Lance-O. 

According to Cody Edwards of Dab Day Productions, the event will have a huge field for people to chill and watch live music from.   A few of Florida’s finest artists, including Miami’s Atomik known for his mischievous oranges, will paint live for attendees to appreciate. Additionally, Swamp City Gallery Lounge has curated a live glassblowing demo for the festival. 

There will even be a tattoo booth for those that have the itch to get inked. Pre-picked “420” designs will be available, with prices ranging from $50 to $75. 

In the same area, an interactive hemp farm, courtesy of Treadwell Farms, will educate interested individuals on best practices from the growers themselves. 

“We’ve learned that while what we farm may change, our agricultural traditions, passion and experience remain steadfast,” according to their About Us page.  

Alopecia areata is a type of autoimmune disorder resulting in severe, unpredictable hair loss. In many cases, hair falls out in clumps and sometimes large volumes.

It affects everyone differently; for some, they only lose hair in certain parts of the head while others lose much more, sometimes causing them to go bald. Then again, there are those patients who can grow it back only for it to fall out later on while for others, hair can regrow for good.

There are several different types of alopecia areata: the primary condition as well as other rarer types, such as alopecia areata totalis, which causes people to lose all the hair on their head; alopecia areata universalis involves hair loss all over the body; diffuse alopecia areata involves sudden thinning of the hair instead of losing hair in patches; last but not least, there is ophiasis alopecia areata, which results in hair loss through a band pattern on the back and side of the head. Hair loss is the primary symptom of alopecia. Additionally, people may also experience brittleness and redness in toenails and fingernails.

According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, 147 million people around the world will develop this condition. Mild cases may end up resolving on its own without treatment, but it may recur several more times. For those individuals who suffer from more extreme cases, patients may need to undergo steroid injections in the areas where hair is shedding; topical applicants may also be applied.

However, it’s difficult to predict how patients would react to various treatments. There are many cases where patients find it difficult to regrow hair even after taking conventional treatments and medications.

There is also the grave emotional distress that alopecia areata brings on. While the condition itself isn’t fatal or harmful, it can bring on serious psychological consequences including depression and anxiety.

Since cannabis remains illegal in much of the world, raising investment can be tricky. This week, guest writer Ken Parks takes a look at how one Luxembourg-based company with operations in Latin America is looking at a new method to solve this problem. 

Using blockchain in a quest for growth

A fund that invests in Latin American cannabis companies is planning to use a novel way of raising cash to expand, with a sale of a type of crypto asset known as security tokens to private investors.

Are These Marijuana Stocks Now Long-Term Investments?

Which marijuana stocks will people invest in this week?. As New Jersey and New York start the sale of legal cannabis will the sector see some upward momentum? Some feel there is a chance on that day some marijuana stocks with businesses in the state could possibly see better trading. Mainly MSO marijuana stocks have the ability to set up operations in other legal markets. Still, the cannabis industry is currently waiting for Chuck Schumer to present his bill.

US-based Cone Denim has unveiled a new US-grown hemp denim collection in collaboration with hemp processing innovator, BastCore.

Cone Denim is the first to partner with BastCore in a move it says expands its sustainable denim offerings and increases its support of the American agriculture industry, featuring denim made with Alabama hemp and US cotton and dyed with natural indigo grown in Tennessee.

BastCore has created patent-pending technology and a proprietary process that produces clean, mechanically processed, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified and USDA bio-preferred hemp fibre out of its operation in Montgomery, Alabama.

The company transforms hemp, a low input, high-yielding crop, into numerous sustainable biobased products from the bast and hurd (wood), expanding the use cases for the full hemp plant to bridge the gap between farmers growing hemp and industries demanding cost-competitive, sustainably produced raw materials.

Cone’s US Hemp Collection includes a range of fabrics featuring classic 3×1 and comfort stretch to modern workwear constructions. The collection further expands upon Cone’s sustainability and traceability practices, driving the future of the industry.

The proximity of the hemp, indigo, and cotton crops in the US to the company’s mills in Mexico is also key in creating the smallest environmental impact and footprint possible, the company says.

The Virginia bill signed by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin seeks to alleviate the delays experienced by many patients.

The governor of Virginia on Monday signed legislation aimed at easing access to the Commonwealth’s medical cannabis program.

Glenn Youngkin, the first-term Republican who took office earlier this year, signed a pair of bills, each identical to one another, that remove a requirement for patients to register with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy after receiving a certification from a medical provider. 

JM Pedini, NORML’s Development Director and the Executive Director of Virginia NORML, said that the new law will bring relief to patients in Virginia who have been frustrated by the delays accompanied by the registration with the Board of Pharmacy.

“These legislative improvements will bring great relief to the thousands of Virginians waiting to access the medical cannabis program,” said Pedini.

“We hear from dozens of Virginians each week who are struggling with the registration process and frustrated by the 60-day wait to receive their approval from the Board of Pharmacy.” 

The House of Representatives approved the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, H.R. 3617 on April 1, sending it to Senate. The MORE Act removes cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, allowing states to legalize cannabis, its production, and sale, free from federal interference. (Benzinga)

Reaching the Senate is an accomplishment in itself after many attempts, the legislation now needs bipartisan approval in the body and then President Biden’s signature. That said, let's look at where some senators stand on federal legalization of marijuana. 

When asked last week at the Capitol about the MORE Act, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said, “Okay, I don’t support that. I’ve had family members who have had a lot of drug issues, and so I’m not going to do it,” reported CNSNews. 

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) was asked if he used cannabis and whether he also thought it to be harmful, to which he replied:

“I do actually, and I think the science also shows that as well, so this is one of those interesting debates where people talk about ‘follow the science’ on it, okay – well, follow the science on it and be able to track the reports.”

Khiron Life Sciences Corp. is opening a new Zerenia clinic location and a new retail pharmacy in Colombia.

The clinic is located in the city of Bogota, with a maximum annual capacity of 40,000 consults per year. (Benzinga)

In addition, the company has opened its first retail pharmacy location within El Ensueño shopping mall. This pharmacy will allow the company to sell medical cannabis products to patients outside its own Zerenia network and dispense high and low THC medical cannabis to insurance companies in the country.

Alvaro Torres, Khiron CEO and director stated, "Khiron has become a clear leader in the Colombian medical cannabis market because of its unique go-to-market strategy, anchored in our Zerenia clinic model. This new expansion within Bogota capitalizes on the Colombian government's decision on mandatory insurance coverage, and we aim to get closer to our patients and insurers, to improve quality of life. With our new retail pharmacy, we aim to be able to offer more access to patients outside our clinic network and to provide a dispensing alternative to insurers, thereby increasing our market leadership within Colombia. As we continue to grow, our leadership is expanding to Latin America and Europe, thanks to our ability to generate evidence, offer high quality products, and create an excellent patient-focused healthcare service that improves quality of life".

Article by Vuk Zdinjak

A Tampa-based, third-party testing lab for cannabis and hemp is expanding with the addition of a new Brandon facility.

Method Testing Labs, founded in 2019 by cannabis industry veterans Keith Browning and Rob Radke, plan to open a 7,200-square-foot facility at 2720 Broadway Center Blvd. by July 1. 

“We love the Tampa area. We did not want to move outside of the I-4/I-75 [corridor],” says Browning, explaining the area offers easy transporting.

Plans call for the addition of another 10 to 15 employees in Brandon, including analytical chemistry, microbiology, lab technician, transport, customer service and quality assurance staff.

To qualify, scientists should have a four-year degree and technicians should have a two-year tech degree; successful applicants typically have two to three years of experience. 

Salaries are “very competitive in the lab space,” Browning says. The company also offers a full health package, stock options, bonuses and merit raises.

The two teamed up to create the wildest THC combo ever compressed into an edible

Melee Dose announced their first product in their Melee Mutant line today. Described as Radioactive Edible Diamonds, these gummies are rumored to tout benefits like super strength, time travel, and mutation. Unfortunately, these unsubstantiated rumors lack evidence. However, we can say with certainty these edibles fall under the 2018 Farm Bill's provision as they contain less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC making them legal in most states, even without a medical card. The luminescent green diamonds boast 4mg D9, 20mg D8/D10, 6mg THCO, and 9mg HHC, thereby achieving the golden ratio of 420:69.

"The box glows in the dark, revealing a bevy of Easter eggs. But whatever you do, don’t deconstruct the box. Bad idea. We’re sure there are no Easter eggs inside. Well, probably nothing," said Onyx Batista, co-owner of Melee.

Rest assured, there is nothing actually radioactive in the gummies, but the flavor, consisting wholly of natural and exotic ingredients, is actually sensational.

NZ medicinal cannabis grower Puro has scored an NZD $13 million government grant to go towards “turbocharging” the country’s local industry.

Running from 2022 to 2027, the $32 million initiative – Puro is kicking in the balance – will see the company develop production systems, support skills and training, and investigate contract growing pathways to market for New Zealand’s medical cannabis industry.

“This project will bring significant scale to this new industry, providing domestically sourced medicinal cannabis for Kiwi patients in pain and exciting export opportunities in a global growth market, providing further diversification of land use and export opportunities,” said Agriculture Minister Hon Damien O’Connor.

The Government’s contribution is being funded through the Ministry of Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund.

Among the elements to be produced is an “organic production handbook” says Puro, which will also develop post-harvesting technology and IP for premium organic cannabis flower. Additionally, Puro will be developing new medicinal cannabis strains.

“Our cultivation team are researching and developing the strains of medicinal cannabis best suited for New Zealand’s unique climate,” said Puro Managing director Tim Aldridge.

Although United States (US) cannabis companies have been under pressure so far this year, we believe the market is in the early innings of hyper-growth cycle and are of the opinion that many operators (large and small) are undervalued. (Click here for article)

Since 2020, several states have legalized recreational cannabis and we have been impressed by the growth of these markets. We consider Illinois and Michigan to be burgeoning recreational cannabis markets and are bullish on the long-term potential that is associated with the two midwestern states. 

Thanks to a never-ending pandemic and more opportunities to telecommute, many Americans are picking up and moving. If you’re a weed lover, you may want to consider these cities.

The last few years have proven to be times of change for many Americans, whether it’s  starting a new job or starting over in a new city. Because of this, along with the growing legality of marijuana, previously under-the-radar cities have skyrocketed in popularity.

Moving is not always enjoyable, but if you happen to love weed and are looking for somewhere new to live, there are several cities in the U.S. that might be a good fit.

Here are 10 of them. 

Anchorage, AK

Weed enthusiasts who love the wilderness and don’t mind an extended winter might want to consider looking North. Alaska, while conservative leaning in several respects, was one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana. Anchorage is the most populated city in Alaska. It has plenty of great restaurants and dispensaries, but the great outdoors is never far away in America’s 49th state.

Ann Arbor, MI

Historically known as a college town, Ann Arbor Michigan is becoming a very cool small city to live in, especially now that weed is legal in Michigan. Ann Arbor has many of the conveniences of a city, but still has a small town vibe for those who don’t love the hustle. This is among the reasons it ranks as the number 6 in best places to live according to CBS News.