Industry News
Alternative Mississippi medical marijuana program barely wins approval from Senate
JACKSON • Legislation that would create a new medical marijuana program in Mississippi if the voter-approved Initiative 65 is overturned in court cleared the state Senate on the second try last week early on Friday morning. Senate Bill 2765, the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, failed by a single vote Thursday evening. But six hours later, after…
Read MoreCannabis reduces blood pressure in older adults, according to Ben-Gurion University researchers
Beer-Sheva, Israel…February 8, 2021 – A new discovery by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and its affiliated Soroka University Medical Center shows that medical cannabis may reduce blood pressure in older adults. The study, published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, is the first of its kind to focus on the effect…
Read MoreState Board of Health reviews timelines for establishing Mississippi medical marijuana program
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The blueprint for Mississippi’s medical marijuana program is Initiative 65 that voters approved in November. That contains detailed requirements and the clock is ticking to get it started. The State Board of Health met virtually Wednesday to discuss the groundwork of the medical marijuana program. “I do want to tell you…
Read MoreResearch shows cannabis can lower opioid dosage, but studies are preliminary
Larson cited one statistic to justify his bill: “Studies have shown up to 75% reduction in opioid dosage for medical cannabis users” The intersection of medical cannabis and opioid use as treatments for chronic pain is an emerging field of research as more states loosen regulations on medical and recreational use of marijuana. But does…
Read MoreAssessing Health-Related Outcomes of Medical Cannabis Use among Older Persons: Findings from Colorado and Illinois
ABSTRACT Objectives To assess health-related outcomes associated with medical cannabis use among older patients in Colorado and Illinois enrolled in their home state’s medical cannabis program. Methods Cross-sectional data from anonymous surveys were collected from 139 persons over the age of 60 using medical cannabis in the past year. We used structural equation modeling (SEM)…
Read MoreCannabis and autism, explained
Over the past decade, autistic people and their families have increasingly experimented with medical marijuana and products derived from it. Many hope these compounds will alleviate a range of autism-related traits and problems. But scientists are still in the early stages of rigorous research into marijuana’s safety and effectiveness, which means that people who pursue…
Read MoreStates with medical marijuana laws saw 20 percent drop in some opioid prescriptions
States with active medical marijuana laws saw certain opioid prescription rates drop nearly 20 percent compared to states without medical marijuana programs, according to a first-of-its-kind study out of Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center. Authors said the findings underscore the importance of providing patients with pain management alternatives, such as cannabis, in efforts to reduce…
Read MoreAre You Prepared For Questions About Medical Cannabis?
With over 85% of Americans supporting legalizing medical cannabis, it’s inevitable that patients will begin asking their primary care doctors about its use and overall efficacy. Doctors and other medical professionals will be called upon to be ‘sense-makers’ for a treatment they never studied in medical school and have limited available research to draw upon. …
Read MoreOlder adults and medical marijuana: Reduced stigma and increased use
As a primary care doctor who has incorporated medical cannabis into his practice, it is notable how many silver-haired patients are coming in to discuss the pros and cons of a trial of medical cannabis. These patients range from people in their 60s with kidney failure who can no longer take certain pain medications but…
Read MoreCOVID-19 and medical cannabis patients: What you need to know
In the midst of the COVID-19 maelstrom, the recent shuttering of nonessential stores has created concern around access to cannabis, particularly for medicinal cannabis consumers. Those who depend on cannabis for therapeutic purposes will be relieved to learn that across the US, medical cannabis dispensaries have been deemed essential services, comparable to pharmacies. As of March…
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