Literature Review

NC Senate approves bill legalizing medical marijuana 36-10; measure goes to House next CBS17.com, Raleigh, NC; by Harrison Grubb; 2/24/24, updated 2/25/24 North Carolina is one step closer to legalizing medical marijuana after the Senate passed a bill 36-10 Monday night. “Anytime cannabis comes up in the conversation in North Carolina, especially when that conversation is able to be moved forward in the right direction, I always like to be here to make sure the voice of the people is the loudest in the room,” said Chris Suttle, an advocate for legalization. Suttle says he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor several years ago when he began microdosing cannabis. ... Several amendments are now part of the legislation, including stricter ID requirements and restrictions on packaging to ensure they’re less likely to be advertised toward children. Several Republicans again voiced concern about cannabis ahead of Monday’s vote. 

Industry professionals reflect on five years of medical marijuana in Arkansas Arkansas Advocate; by Mary Hennigan; 5/13/24Since the launch of medical marijuana in Arkansas in 2019, more than three dozen storefronts have opened, at least 102,000 residents have registered for patient cards and revenue has topped $1.1 billion. The latest card count exceeds 102,000, and there’s no indication of a letup in new applications,  ... As of June 2023, one in three Arkansans with a patient card listed post-traumatic stress disorder as their qualifying condition, ... The next highest qualifying condition was intractable pain, or pain that has not responded to ordinary medications for more than six months, at nearly 30%. 

Is pot legal now? Despite big marijuana news, it's still in legal limbo. USA Today; by Joel Shannon and Jeanine Santucci; 5/1/24 Tuesday brought big marijuana news: The Biden Administration is expected to soon reclassify marijuana for the first time in decades, putting it in a less restrictive drug category that would allow it to be studied and prescribed more easily. But that news comes in a nation where many states have already crafted their own marijuana policy: Some states allow for it to be prescribed already; others allow people to use it recreationally. Few states ban it outright. ... Here's what to know.

Kansas won't have legal medical pot or expand Medicaid for at least another year Newsday; by The Associated Press; 4/26/24 Kansas will remain among the handful of states that haven't legalized the medical use of marijuana or expanded their Medicaid programs for at least another year. Republican state senators on Friday blocked efforts to force debates on both issues before the GOP-controlled Legislature's scheduled adjournment for the year Tuesday. Supporters of each measure fell short of the 24 of 40 votes required to pull a bill on each subject out of committee.

Marijuana Legalization Review: A guide for employers in a complex legal landscapeForbes, by Alonzo Martinez; 4/19/24As marijuana legalization sweeps across the United States, employers face a complex legal landscape regarding its use among employees. What was once a clear-cut issue of termination for positive drug tests has evolved into a complex assessment, with federal, state, and local laws offering conflicting guidance on how to navigate marijuana use in the workplace.

[Virginia] Marijuana advocates celebrate passing of medicinal use billABC TV 13 News - Lynchburg, VA; by Brittany Slaughter; 4/15/24Virginia NORML is celebrating a win following Governor Youngkin's signing of a bill that expands medical marijuana use protections to public employees, not just private. JM Pedini, Development Director for NORML said a large benefactor from the bill's passage is firefighters who have faced repercussions for legally using weed medically. ... Pedini who also serves as the Executive Director of the State Chapter of Virginia NORML said the original law inadvertently left out public employees when passed in 2021.Editor's Note: Virginia NORML is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Medical marijuana program enrollments up 500% from 2016 to 2022 Green Market Report, by John Schroyer; 4/11/24The increase was partially due to a rise in mainstream "cultural acceptance of cannabis" and corresponding interest in medical uses. A new federally funded report that tallied medical marijuana patient statistics from across the country found a dramatic increase of registered cannabis patients over a seven-year period, from roughly 678,000 in 2016 to more than 4.1 million at the end of 2022.

People in this state Googled ‘medical marijuana’ the most, study shows Forbes, by Benjamin Adams; 3/29/24 How inquisitive are people in your state about medical cannabis? A recent analysis aims to find out—ranking states according to the number of Google searches for “medical marijuana” and other related keywords. ... The original study, “Which States Are The Most Obsessed With Medical Marijuana In 2024?” illustrates the levels of curiosity in each state, and some of the findings are unexpected. 

Medical marijuana patients report lasting quality of life benefits Forbes, by A.J. Herrington; 3/25/24 Medical marijuana patients report sustained improvements in quality of life, according to the results of a recently published study. ... The results showed that many of the patients experienced improvements in physical and social functioning, energy levels and emotional well-being within the first 30 days of using medical marijuana (MMJ). Patients also reported significant decreases in pain levels, fatigue and emotional limitations.

Noem signs bill removing some medical marijuana dispensary protections SDPB Radio (South Dakota Public Radio), by Evan Walton; 3/19/24 Gov. Kristi Noem has signed a bill removing some protections medical cannabis facilitates now receive. Senate Bill 71 allows local law enforcement to inspect, search, seize, prosecute, or impose disciplinary action on medical cannabis dispensaries. This includes medical cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and testing facilities. 

Johns Hopkins study reveals medical marijuana lowers pain, hospital visits BNN, by Wojciech Zylm; 3/5/24Recent research highlights significant improvements in well-being for cannabis users, offering hope for those with chronic illnesses. The study showcases a potential shift in the perception and utilization of medical cannabis in healthcare.

How will Kentucky's medical marijuana program be regulated? Here's where things stand Louisville Courier Journal, by Olivia Evans; 3/4/24The Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program — which regulates the legal cultivation, production, sale and use of medical marijuana products — is set to officially start Jan. 1, 2025. ... In early January, Gov. Beshear's administration filed its first set of 10 regulations governing the industry and providing a framework for how businesses will operate. ... The 10 regulations focus on cultivators, processors, producers, safety compliance facilities, dispensaries and more. ... According to the website for the state medical cannabis program, the cabinet is in the process of developing additional regulations.

These lawmakers want more pot to be grown for researchCBS News, by Kathryn Watson; 2/27/24Representatives Andy Harris, Republican of Maryland, and Earl Blumenauer, Democrat of Oregon, agree on little related to the legalization of marijuana. Harris opposes it for recreational use and also thinks that as a medicine, it should be scaled back. Blumenauer is pushing for pot to be decriminalized. But the two agree on this — that researchers simply don't have enough access to more potent, high-quality weed, and more producers should be able to grow pot for research.