Weekend News Recap
Here are some news articles you might have missed over the weekend with the Oscars taking over all the conversations today.
Stay informed by checking out Dabbin Dad each week for all of your cannabis information.
March 5th, 2018
New Studies Show that Legal Cannabis Access Reduces Opioid Abuse
More and more studies are being released that show cannabis can help bring an end to the Opiate Epidemic. How many more lives need to be lost, before the government steps up to help our societies? -Dabbin Dad
By Paul Armentano, The Hill
Scientific data is growing nearly by the day in support of the notion that legalized cannabis can mitigate opioid use and abuse.
For instance, among states where medical cannabis access is permitted, patients routinely lessen their opioid intake. According to data published this week by the Minnesota Department of Health, among those patients known to be taking opiate painkillers upon their enrollment into the program, 63 percent “were able to reduce or eliminate opioid usage after six months.”
Minnesota’s findings are hardly unique. In 2016 there was data gathered from patients enrolled in Michigan’s cannabis access program reported that marijuana treatment “was associated with a 64 percent decrease in opioid use, decreased number and side effects of medications, and an improved quality of life.”
A review of state-registered patients from various northeastern states yielded similar results, finding, 77 percent of respondents acknowledged having reduced their use of opioids following cannabis therapy.
A significant percentage of respondents also reported decreasing their consumption of anti-anxiety medications (72 percent), migraine-related medications (67 percent), sleep aids (65 percent), and antidepressants (38 percent). Read more.
Push for legal weed in N.J. will be met with new legislative proposals
Connecticut Legislators take notice… Recreational Cannabis is coming to Connecticut, be prepared. Start working towards correcting the prohibition policies and aim high when attempting to correct social and criminal reform. – Dabbin Dad
By Justin Zaremba, NJ.com
A New Jersey assemblywoman will propose three bills aimed at social justice and economic opportunities should the Garden State legalize recreational cannabis, NJ Advance Media has learned.
Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union), the chairwoman of the Assembly Judiciary Committee and deputy majority leader, plans to introduce her bills Monday.
The bills will focus on the expungement of cannabis possession convictions, creating a tax credit program for cannabis businesses in urban enterprise zones and establishing an advisory board focused on recommendations for drug-sniffing dogs in the event of the legalization of cannabis.
“If we are going to allow the possession and use of marijuana in this state, then it is incumbent upon us to clear the records of all those who have been found guilty in the past,” Quijano said. “Clearing the records of these individuals will allow them to access federal higher education loans, affordable housing programs and greater employment opportunities.”
Quijano, a municipal prosecutor, was among the New Jersey legislators who visited Las Vegas last month as part of a fact-finding trip focused on the cannabis industry.
Among the many recommendations received by legislators… Read more.
Israel’s Medivie signs $110 million medical cannabis export deal
$110 Million, sounds like a lot right, but this is peanuts when you think US market opportunities or larger…global! – Dabbin Dad
By Ari Rabinovitch
Israel’s Medivie Therapeutic said on Sunday it signed a $110 million deal to grow and export medical cannabis to an international financial investor over a four year period.
Medivie said in a statement to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that it would grow the cannabis on 25 acres (10 hectares) either in Israel or a different country.
Medivie said it will provide the investor with 50 percent of production on the land, up to a maximum of 50 tonnes a year.
The company said it has 50 acres in agricultural land and is in talks with other entities to sign similar deals on the remaining land. It is also in talks to grow medical cannabis in Europe. Read more.
H/T: The Hill, NJ.com, Reuters