Susan Duggan

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the second highest ranking Democratic senator, introduced a bill on Wednesday aimed at lifting barriers to research into marijuana. The legislation would not federally deschedule cannabis but would instead move it from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. It would also assign research objectives to several federal health and science agencies. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration would be tasked with creating a cannabis agenda that lays out top research priorities. That would include studies looking into health conditions that marijuana is most likely to treat and the “long-term effects of cannabis use, including dose-response relationship and the connection between cannabis use and behavioral health.” Additionally, the bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to build a public data collection consisting of survey i...

Two top aides who will be whispering in the ear of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson are outspoken advocates for marijuana law reform. Johnson, who became PM last week, recently hired on policy advisor Blair Gibbs, who previously served as the policy lead at the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis, which represents marijuana industry stakeholders and supports legalizing medical cannabis. As BuzzFeed News reported , Gibbs has repeatedly voiced support for broader legalization, condemned prohibition and said that Canada’s legal marijuana laws represents “a rare example of bold policy and good government.” When the UK gets round to legislating to regulate a legal market for recreational #cannabis it will need to learn from other models but also devise one that fits its own culture and institutions best. This by @DanielPryorr is a good template: https://t.co/oithULacSx — Blair Gibbs (@BlairG1bbs) July 9, 2019 Occupying another top position, Danny Kruger, Johnson’s political secretary, ...

WEDNESDAY, July 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Binge drinking is often associated with young adults, but according to a new study, more than 10% of people over 65 do it, too. Among seniors, binges are most common in men and those who use cannabis , researchers found. Experts said the trend is troubling, because older people should actually be cutting back on alcohol . “Many organizations, such as the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], recommend lower drinking levels as people get older or have more chronic diseases,” said lead researcher Dr. Benjamin Han, an assistant professor of geriatric medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York City. Other studies have documented increasing alcohol consumption in the United States and worldwide, he said. Binge drinking is generally defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks at a time. NIAAA suggests seniors cap their alcohol intake at three drinks a day. Because the new study used the higher cutoff, i...

One of President Donald Trump’s favorite Fox News Channel personalities is joining the board of a CBD company. Jeanine Pirro, host of “Justice with Judge Jeanine,” will sit on the board of directors of HeavenlyRx, effective immediately, the firm said in a press release on Wednesday. The company is a subsidiary of SOL Global Investments Corp., which holds stakes in a variety of cannabis-related businesses. “My interest in CBD stems from a curiosity after hearing people say how much they benefited from CBD,” Pirro, who previously served as a New York district attorney, told Marijuana Moment in response to emailed questions. “I am now excited to be a part of the opportunity for people to access fantastic wellness options that are both natural and physically and emotionally beneficial.” “Initially a skeptic, I now understand there are tremendous benefits outside the assembly line of traditional medical and pharmaceutical dictates,” she said. If Pirro chooses to amplify the CBD brand ...

It’s been almost three months since Denver voters approved a measure to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms . And now, the campaign behind that successful initiative is expanding nationally—even globally. Decriminalize Denver is rebranding as it evolves into SPORE, or the Society for Psychedelic Outreach, Reform and Education. Kevin Matthews, the group’s executive director, told Marijuana Moment in a phone interview that SPORE is “hub for education” that’s simultaneously “working to educate Denver residents” about implementation of local decriminalization while also serving as “advocates for the national conversation.” “We recognized that there’s a need for a national advocacy group for psilocybin and other psychedelics, and SPORE is going to fill that space,” he said. To an extent, SPORE will be sharing that space with Decriminalize Nature, the reform organization that advanced a broad psychedelics decriminalization through the Oakland City Council last month and is working to ge...

Since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana, the amount of opioid prescriptions for pain fell significantly compared to two states where access to cannabis for adult-use is still illegal, a new study finds. While a robust body of research has demonstrated a link between legal access to medical marijuana and lower use of opioids , less is known about how broader adult-use laws affect the prescribing rates of pharmaceuticals used for pain management. Researchers at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and the University of New England were interested in addressing this gap in the literature. For their analysis, they chose to compare Colorado with Maryland and Utah based on the fact that those two states are similar to the first-to-legalize jurisdiction in different ways: While Maryland has similar demographics in terms of population size, home ownership, education level and uninsured rates, Utah was the most geographically similar state with comparable Body Mass Index a...

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill on Monday further decriminalizing marijuana possession and enabling those with prior cannabis convictions to have their records expunged. The law, which takes effect in 30 days, will make it so that possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is punishable by a $50-$200 fine with no jail time. Cuomo said the state’s existing cannabis policy has disproportionately impacted communities of color and, with the signing of the legislation, “we are ending this injustice once and for all.” “By providing individuals who have suffered the consequences of an unfair marijuana conviction with a path to have their records expunged and by reducing draconian penalties, we are taking a critical step forward in addressing a broken and discriminatory criminal justice process,” he said in a press release. I just signed legislation decriminalizing marijuana use in New York & creating a process for expunging past convictions. Communities of color have...

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill on Monday further decriminalizing marijuana possession and enabling those with prior cannabis convictions to have their records expunged. The law, which takes effect in 30 days, will make it so that possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is punishable by a $50-$200 fine with no jail time. Cuomo said the state’s existing cannabis policy has disproportionately impacted communities of color and, with the signing of the legislation, “we are ending this injustice once and for all.” “By providing individuals who have suffered the consequences of an unfair marijuana conviction with a path to have their records expunged and by reducing draconian penalties, we are taking a critical step forward in addressing a broken and discriminatory criminal justice process,” he said in a press release. I just signed legislation decriminalizing marijuana use in New York & creating a process for expunging past convictions. Communities of color have...

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin New York became the 15th state Monday to decriminalize marijuana. Getty Topline: New York governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Monday further decriminalizing recreational use of marijuana, but fell short of his goal to fully legalize the substance in 2019. Under the new law, people will have to pay small fines instead of facing criminal charges for possessing small amounts of marijuana. New penalties under the law are a $50 fine for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana and a maximum $200 fine for possessing one to two ounces. The law also offers a process for people with marijuana possession convictions to have their records wiped clean. “Communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by laws governing marijuana for far too long, and today we are ending this injustice once and for all,” Cuomo said .  Key background: According to the FBI, over 360,000 people were arrested for marijuana possess...

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill on Monday further decriminalizing marijuana possession and enabling those with prior cannabis convictions to have their records expunged. The law, which takes effect in 30 days, will make it so that possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is punishable by a $50-$200 fine with no jail time. Cuomo said the state’s existing cannabis policy has disproportionately impacted communities of color and, with the signing of the legislation, “we are ending this injustice once and for all.” “By providing individuals who have suffered the consequences of an unfair marijuana conviction with a path to have their records expunged and by reducing draconian penalties, we are taking a critical step forward in addressing a broken and discriminatory criminal justice process,” he said in a press release. I just signed legislation decriminalizing marijuana use in New York & creating a process for expunging past convictions. Communities of color hav...

A group of Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill on Friday that would protect college students from losing federal financial aid if they receive a marijuana possession conviction. But it also stipulates that the student must complete a drug rehabilitation program to maintain eligibility. Under current law, students with drug convictions can be stripped of financial assistance for a period ranging from one year to indefinitely, depending on what type of offense it is and how many prior convictions they’ve had. The new legislation, sponsored by Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL) and Gwen Moore (D-WI), is titled the “Second Chance for Students Act.” Students convicted of first-time cannabis possession without intent to distribute would continue to receive financial aid if they enroll in an approved rehabilitation program and complete it within six months. “One mistake shouldn’t mean the end of a student’s education,” Foster said in a press release. “For many students, financial aid can mean ...

cannabis oil cbd Getty For those Americans who have been introduced to the legend that is cannabidiol (CBD), they have found themselves smack dab in the middle of a bizarre circus that rivals a Bangkok ping pong show. Only in this performance, one that can be found on nearly every street corner in the nation, there is a bearded hipster in an Arcade Fire t-shirt screaming at the top of his lungs “Get Your CBD Here!” Yesiree, step inside one of these trend dens of the cannabis-lite movement and prepare to be fed a long-winded spiel about how this non-intoxicating cannabinoid is a miraculous cure-all put here by the gods of the universe to keep all of humanity from succumbing to the despicable sick sent here to obliterate us. Having trouble sleeping? Anxious? Are traditional cancer treatments not working? Having trouble staying dry in the rain? Well, well, well, CBD might be right for you!  It’s no wonder so many folks believe this lone cannabinoid is either modern-day snake oi...