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New Jersey courts have either dismissed or vacated an estimated 362,000 marijuana cases since July 1, according to data provided by the state Judiciary and reported by NJ.com

The actions come just months after the New Jersey Supreme Court issued an order providing for the automatic dismissal and expungement of certain marijuana offenses from people’s records. Democratic Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation into law in 2019 facilitating a process for the review and vacation of the criminal records of those previously convicted of low-level marijuana offenses. Governor Murphy signed separate into law this year legislation legalizing adult-use marijuana possession and sales.

As many as an additional 150,000 New Jersey residents could also be eligible to have their marijuana-related records automatically expunged by the courts, said MaryAnn Spoto, a spokeswoman for the Judiciary. People with marijuana cases that are not automatically expunged can file a motion for review with the court.

New Jersey is one of several states in recent months to automatically review and vacate marijuana-specific criminal records. In Illinois, officials have moved to expunge an estimated 500,000 marijuana-related records, and in California officials have cleared nearly 200,000 records.

New Jersey’s cannabis regulators on Tuesday moved to streamline the licensing of new weed businesses and approved another marijuana grow site — but it did not announce the recipients of some two dozen businesses that have sat in limbo for nearly two years.

Throughout the centuries, humans have depicted facets of everyday life into our artistic expressions. Snapshots of popular opinion at the time of creation can be gleaned from the penny plays and murals of old.A good barometer on public opinion can be gauged in the various forms of media available to us in today’s world. Just as the evolution of technology has dramatically improved the viewing experience, content has shifted over time to align with current public opinion on topics. While there is not unanimous support for cannabis legalization, representation in mainstream media has gained traction with the overall purpose of educating the public on the positive effects of cannabis use. Even in an area where reporting on cannabis legalization is occurring, biases occur that affect the overall impact of the article.

The timeline for overall public opinion on cannabis legalization can find its early days in Richard Nixon’s successful “War on Drugs.” This campaign regulated cannabis as a Schedule I drug and was so effective in its terror tactics that by 1989, 64% of Americans viewed drug abuse as the nation’s number one problem after climbing from a measly 2-6%.

Over the last three decades, there was a significant change in attitude towards cannabis due to various interlocking factors. After juxtaposition to modern calamities, the risk of cannabis was reassessed. Large-scale public skepticism of pain killers after opioid epidemics ravaged communities across the nation, potential financial opportunities afforded through the cannabis business, and the potential for many other unknown medical benefits of medicinal cannabis have all contributed to the legalization of cannabis.

As with many other topics of heated discussion, misinformation abounds on all sides of the argument; within the cannabis industry, in particular, heavy emphasis has been placed on education to counter opposition to legalization.

While there seems to be general support for legalizing cannabis in public opinion, this is not the case everywhere. In traditional media sources, such as news stations and newspapers, cannabis representation in media that is not nationwide can determine a territory’s overall attitude towards legalization.

Though delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may be the most well-known cannabinoid, it has a counterpart on the rise: delta-8 THC. Scientists and researchers believe there are over 120 different cannabinoids in hemp and cannabis plants, and delta-8 is the newest to emerge.

Delta-8 THC is an isomer of delta-9 THC, that is thought to have neuroprotective properties such as appetite stimulant, nausea reduction, and anxiety and pain management. Delta-8 THC does contain some psychoactive properties, but reportedly exhibits less psychotropic effects than traditional THC or delta-9.

What Is Delta-8 THC?

First, let’s define what delta-8 THC actually is. Delta-8 THC is one of many naturally occurring compounds found in hemp and cannabis plants. Delta-8 is a minor cannabinoid, meaning it occurs less abundantly than major cannabinoids like traditional THC or CBD.

How Is Delta-8 THC Made?

Though research surrounding all cannabinoids is relatively new and emerging, there is less knowledge in the direction of minor cannabinoids compared to the primary ones like delta-9 THC or CBD. Delta-9 THC that is produced and sold medically or recreationally comes from cannabis plants, while hemp plants are used for CBD rich strains that fall under the 0.3% or less THC threshold.

When New Mexico’s recreational cannabis bill was signed into law in April, Mike Hinkle and Ryan Timmermans jumped at the chance to get into the industry. The two business partners, both recent transplants from the South, bought portable buildings, seeds, grow lights and a property in the village of Carson, with a domestic well they thought they could use to irrigate their plants. In total, they invested more than $50,000.

“That’s actually the most money I’ve ever had in my life,” Hinkle said. “I was extremely excited because we thought we had a shot.”

This story originally appeared at Searchlight New Mexico and is republished with permission.

Three months later, Hinkle fought back tears as he spoke at a hearing about regulations for the new cannabis industry, held at the State Capitol. He’d discovered that a domestic water supply would not fulfill the requirements for a license and that no amount of money would get him the required water rights in Carson, near Taos — because they simply weren’t available. He was still emotional when the three-minute timer ran out and his mic was cut off.

Hinkle was not alone in his dismay. Nearly 200 people submitted written comments to the state’s newly formed Cannabis Control Division, while dozens of others voiced frustrations at the Aug. 6 hearing. Among them were aspiring cannabis business owners and members of acequia collectives — traditional ditch-irrigation communities worried that the new rules would undermine their senior water rights. Most shared a central concern: water.

Marijuana has been legal for more than five months, yet there’s still no cannabis industry set up in New York.

The governor and the legislative leaders still have to appoint the remaining members of the cannabis control board, which is a part of the newly formed Office of Cannabis Management.

The executive director of OCM, and the chairperson of the control board, have both been appointed and confirmed. But it’s unclear whether the remaining positions have been filled.

Here’s a breakdown of how the board works.

Resonate Blends Inc., a cannabis holding company in Calabasas, has signed a letter of intent to acquire Lemon and Grass, a Florida-based cannabis wellness brand.

Lemon and Grass sells products such as relief balms, patches and capsules as well as vape cartridges and PAX pods. The products will flank Resonate’s existing product line, Koan Cordials, a liquid made from cannabis and botanical extracts.

Lemon and Grass products are distributed to more than 40 dispensaries in Florida. The company also has had product trials in California and has licensing plans for multiple states across the country, as well as for provinces in Canada.

In just a few weeks, licenced veterinarians in the US state of Nevada will be able to recommend and administer hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) products for the treatment of animals.

While CBD pet products are widely available in the USA, in many states veterinarians are not permitted to administer them or even discuss cannabidiol with pet owners. In other states laws are unclear, which makes vets nervous about the potential for prosecution or other action.

But back in May this year, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed Assembly Bill 101 into law, which permits veterinarians in that state to administer products containing hemp or CBD with not more than 0.3 percent THC. Aside from the legal side of things, animals such as dogs and cats are particularly sensitive to THC and too much can cause health problems.

From the beginning of next month – when the Act comes into effect – veterinarians will also be able to freely discuss such products with pet owners and the Nevada State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners is prohibited against taking action against a licensed veterinarian, or the facility in which he/she operates, for such activities.

It not as though the NVMA was opposed to CBD. It helped write AB 101, which the Nevada Veterinary Medical Association also supported. Before the Bill hit the Governor’s desk, it faced zero opposition – not a single “no” vote.

Today American Green (ERBB:OTC) announced that it has begun selling its Premium Hemp Cream and Hemp Lip Balm by expanding its E-commerce presence on eBay. The company is excited to add sales from eBay as another revenue stream and plans to meet or exceed the success it is currently enjoying following its launch on Amazon last December.

David G. Gwyther, American Green’s president, said, “We are thrilled to offer our premium hemp products on eBay.  Our products will be made available with eBay’s “Buy it Now” function and will include free shipping to all US customers.   Consumers throughout the world will now have direct access to American Green’s premium hemp products on eBay.”  Ebay currently has over 185 million users worldwide.

A recent report about a sharp rise in Wisconsin’s alcohol sales got a lot of attention. But it didn’t answer the question of who was consuming all the beer, brandy and wine that’s leaving store shelves at a faster clip than it has since 1972.

It appears it might be mom and dad, along with grandpa and grandma, who are doing all the drinking. It's not young adults, at least not college students.

A new national report sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found "a substantial and significant drop" in current alcohol use among college students between 2019 and 2020.

The Monitoring the Future study, however, found marijuana use among college-age adults in 2020 across the nation was at a historic high not seen since the 1980s.

Wisconsin is no exception.

Cannabis stocks have been struggling over the past six months, with the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF down more than 30% while the S&P 500 has risen by 17%. Though optimism was high when the Democrats took control of the Senate earlier this year, a lack of progress with respect to the federal legalization of marijuana may have led investors to look for other near-term growth opportunities instead. Although the majority of Americans are in favor of legalizing pot federally, it still could take years before that happens.

Still in its early stages, the corporate marijuana sector in the U.S. is famously unprofitable and frequently cash-starved. Despite this, many operators have managed to build up quite a bit of scale, and as such are poised to benefit as the current recreational cannabis legalization trend continues to spread.

Exhibit A: Columbia Care (OTC:CCHWF), an ambitious multi-state operator (MSO) that despite its growing size is still landing in the red. Motley Fool contributor Eric Volkman had the chance to talk with Columbia Care CEO Nick Vita, who in this edited interview had a few thoughts on profitability, acquisitions, and other pressing matters for his company specifically and the wider cannabis industry in general.

 Arrests on marijuana-related charges have fallen dramatically this summer in and around Virginia’s capital since a new law legalized possession of small amounts of pot and residents keeping a few cannabis plants, according to a newspaper report.

Twenty-five marijuana-related arrests occurred in Richmond and in Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties in the first seven weeks after the law took effect July 1, compared to 257 arrrests during the same period last year, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported, citing local law enforcement data.

The law legalized possession by adults age 21 and over of up to 1 ounce of marijuana and the cultivation of four pot plants per household, among other decriminalization provisions. Selling marijuana remains illegal until the state lauches a regulated market in 2024 and issues licenses. A regulatory board will help carry out the details.

Marijuana enforcement hasn’t been a high priority for Richmond’s police department, during a time of high numbers of shootings and slayings, the newspaper reported.

Cannabis edibles are undoubtedly one of the most popular products to consume these days. Many people are trying to get their hands on some cannabis edibles because of a rewarding experience. Many users say that they are moving away from smoking cannabis in the traditional way. There are a few reasons why cannabis edibles are becoming increasingly popular. Not only are cannabis edibles easy to store and consume, but they are also easy to carry around. Taking cannabis edibles can also have many recreational and medicinal benefits that can treat many issues. If you want to try cannabis edibles, you can Get Kushto satisfy your needs. Let us look at how cannabis edibles affect you.

What are Cannabis Edibles?

A popular way of taking cannabis these days is by consuming cannabis edibles. Manufacturers take the marijuana plant, and they use it to make edible products such as cannabis brownies and cannabis gummies. A recent trend is motivating many people to move away from the traditional way of smoking cannabis. Cannabis edibles are arguably the most popular alternative for smoking cannabis, and there are good reasons behind this. The first attractive quality when talking about cannabis edibles is how users can highly customize their experience. Users have the option to go for a variety of cannabis edibles. You can get cannabis brownies, cannabis cakes, cannabis gummies, cannabis chocolates, and many other popular products. The excellent quality of cannabis edibles is that they are available in stores, and you can also make them at home. When users take cannabis edibles, they are in complete control of the experience. Many users do not enjoy the raw taste of cannabis. Therefore cannabis edibles prove to be an excellent alternative.

Another key reason behind the popularity of cannabis edibles is how discreetly users can consume them. Many cannabis users report that it is much easier to take cannabis edibles rather than smoke cannabis regularly. Smoking can be a significant inconvenience for users and even for people around them. There are also a lot of restrictions regarding where users can smoke. The struggles of finding a lighter or a matchstick do not make the experience any better.

When it comes to cannabis edibles, there is little to no preparation needed. There are also no restrictions as to where you can consume cannabis edibles. You can discreetly carry your cannabis edibles without anyone finding out. Especially if your cannabis edibles are in the form of brownies or gummies, no one will ever be suspicious of you.

What are the Benefits of Taking Cannabis Edibles?

Cannabis edibles can help you experience all the benefits of consuming cannabis. These benefits can range from recreational to medicinal. For example, you can get help with treating chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and several other health conditions. You can also get help with clearing your mind and relaxing. In the modern world, there are so many different issues that we face daily. It can understandably be overwhelming to tackle everything at once. When you consume cannabis edibles, you can take a step back and relax. Taking cannabis edibles will give you some much-needed space, and you will end up making better decisions. Taking cannabis edibles can also help you treat inflammation, and in some cases, it can also address some symptoms that arise due to cancer.

ARAU (Bernama) - Universiti Malaysia Perlis (Unimap) has become the first public university in the country to conduct research on hemp (a member of the cannabis sativa plant) as an agricultural product with the potential of being economically developed in the future.

Its vice-chancellor, Professor Dr Zaliman Sauli said for that purpose, Unimap has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Kuala Lumpur-based company MyUS Hemphouse Sdn Bhd.

"Through the MoU, research and development can be carried out at UniMAP and focus will be given through Institut Agroteknologi Lestari (Insat) in Sungai Chuchuh, Padang Besar on an area of 0.8 hectares,” he said here, on Friday (Sept 10).

Zaliman signed the MoU on behalf of the university while while MyUS was represented by its chief executive officer Datuk Nellsen Young.

Unimap and MYUS will conduct research on hemp cultivation procedures and applications as well as focus on functional materials for agriculture especially organic farming to improve the country’s agricultural products.

The USA’s National Hemp Association (NHA) and its Standing Committee of Hemp Organizations (SCOHO) has its cap out for a billion-dollar amendment to the pending House Budget Reconciliation measure.

The NHA and organizations comprising SCOHO represent more than 90% of licensed hemp farmers across the USA.

The NHA says the cash it’s chasing is essential for acceleration of hemp fiber and grain production as vital infrastructure is needed to build reliable supply chains after eight decades of prohibition. Planting and growing hemp was prohibited in the USA in 1937 and  officially banned in 1970 under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) when it was unfairly lumped in with its intoxicating cousin, marijuana.

Christine Quinn went to jail after being caught with marijuana.

The 'Selling Sunset' star was celebrating her 17th birthday when her high school principal called police after discovering she was in possession of the drug, and her parents refused to bail her out for four days in order to teach her a lesson, which she now credits for forcing her into changing her life.

Christine explained how she had fallen in with the wrong crowd after changing schools and recalled to People magazine: “One day someone gave me a little birthday surprise, and it happened to be marijuana.

She added: “It made me really think, like, okay — one screw up, one little mess really can turn my life around. It certainly put me in check at a really young age; I had to grow up really, really fast.”

Though marijuana is now legal in Los Angeles, where Christine lives with husband Christian Richard and their three-month-old son Christian Jr., the blonde beauty is "terrified" of ever using it again.

She said: “I’m terrified. Not only because of that, but just because it makes me sleepy and I think the police are coming all the time."