Cannabis News

cybrguy

Putin is a War Criminal
Detroit (Michigan) has had gambling for some time. The Detroit MGM Grand opened in 1999. Illinois has had it since the early 90s, but it has been limited to specific riverboat casinos. That is what they want to change. And now that sports betting is no longer illegal, we may as well give up on efforts to limit it.
 

macbill

Oh No! Mr macbill!!
Staff member

cybrguy

Putin is a War Criminal
Lawmakers In Illinois Embrace Medical Marijuana As An Opioid Alternative

June 15, 201810:58 AM ET
Christine Herman


gettyimages-846581142_custom-0331ecb12964a1ce48599da49c8f81d411a0f435-s800-c85.jpg


Policymakers in Illinois and other states want to make it easier to get medical marijuana for pain relief.

A painkiller prescription could become a ticket for medical marijuana in Illinois. Lawmakers there passed a bill making anyone with a prescription for opioids eligible for its medical cannabis program.

With this move, Illinois joins a growing number of states turning to legal cannabis in the fight against painkiller addiction.

"As we see the horrible damage inflicted by opioid use and misuse, it seems like a very low-cost and low-risk alternative," says state Sen. Don Harmon, a Democrat from Oak Park, Ill., and sponsor of the Senate version of the bill.

The Alternatives to Opioids Act would allow millions of patients to apply for temporary access to the state's existing medical cannabis pilot program. The bill, which passed on May 31, is now awaiting Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's signature. Though the bill has bipartisan support, marijuana advocates have some doubts about whether he'll sign it, given his past opposition to medical cannabis.

Lawmakers in several states have taken action to initiate or expand their medical marijuana programs in light of the opioid crisis.

Among them, in Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed a law adding PTSD and intractable pain to the list of conditions covered in its medical marijuana program in May. And New York state Sen. George Amedore, a Republican, introduced legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe cannabis oil as an alternative to opioids for certain conditions.

Under Illinois' proposed new law, anyone 21 or older with a condition for which opioids might be prescribed could get near-immediate access to cannabis products at licensed dispensaries by presenting paperwork signed by their doctor. They would no longer be fingerprinted or need criminal background checks, or wait months for approval. The measure would reduce the backlog of applications, Harmon says.

The state's medical cannabis program currently has about 38,000 licensed users, who have been certified by a doctor to have one of 41 qualifying conditions. Many more people would become eligible under the new measure. More than 2 million people got opioid prescriptions in 2017.

Harmon says he hopes the measure will reduce the number of opioids prescribed to new patients and help others taper off. Advocates for medical marijuana see the measure as an important step to combat the state's opioid crisis. In 2017, more than 13,000 people in Illinois overdosed on opioids. About 2,000 of those were fatal.

"I think it will save a lot of people's lives to be quite honest," says Dan Linn, executive director of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

The measure will be "a lifeline to those patients who are being prescribed opioid-based painkillers, as well as the medical cannabis industry in Illinois," Linn says.

But some addiction treatment specialists are concerned the policy is getting ahead of the science.

Aaron Weiner, director of addiction services at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health in Naperville, Ill., says the new policy amounts to replacing one addictive substance with another. "People are prescribed opioids inappropriately all the time," he says. "That doesn't mean they should be smoking pot."

Weiner says some scientific research supports the use of marijuana to treat chronic pain, referring to a 2017 report from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). But, he says, the industry puts patients at risk. That's because patients must use trial and error to find what works among a vast range of marijuana products.

Weiner is concerned that cannabis dispensary staff aren't trained adequately, and, he notes, they've been found to make recommendations that can harm patients.

He's also worried about how patients will navigate products sold under colorful names such as "Bio Jesus" and "OG 18."

"This is not marketed to 50-year-old people in intractable pain," Weiner says. "If we're going to pass something like this, I think it's our responsibility to protect patients while we do it. I really don't see that right now."

The Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, which represents more than 60 behavioral health organizations across the state, has taken a neutral stance on the bill. But the group's chief operating officer, Eric Foster, says he supports efforts to reduce opioid prescriptions.

The most recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention find no evidence that opioids are effective for treating chronic pain. As many as 1 in 4 patients who take opioids long-term struggle with addiction.

It's still an open question whether medical marijuana is an effective alternative to opioid painkillers, says Ziva Cooper, a cannabis researcher and associate professor of clinical neurobiology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

"I think the public is unaware of how little data we have that's rigorous on the therapeutic effects of cannabis," says Cooper, who is one of the authors of the 2017 NASEM report on medical marijuana.

Earlier this year, Cooper published a study in the journal Nature that found medical cannabis can work in conjunction with low doses of opioids to provide greater pain relief than opioids alone.

But her research subjects did not have chronic pain and she says more research is needed before drawing any conclusions.

"Science is so far behind the policy," Cooper says.

She says there are a lot of data that suggest cannabis can serve as a substitute for — or work in conjunction with — opioids. But the vast majority of those studies are not the rigorous, placebo-controlled studies that are the gold standard in scientific research.

"On the flip side, there's also evidence that shows it might not be the best idea, that cannabis might actually increase prescription opioid use," Cooper says.

Leslie Mendoza Temple, an associate professor of family medicine in Chicago's north suburbs, has certified more than 500 patients for medical cannabis for approved illnesses.

Temple says she considers cannabis for her patients when she finds that other treatments, including nonaddictive ones, are not working.

She acknowledges that high-quality data on medical marijuana is lacking. But with opioid death rates climbing every year, she says her approach is harm reduction.

"I don't think we have the time to wait for those beautiful trials to come out in 10 or 20 years," Temple says. "We have people dying now."

While the changes to Illinois' medical cannabis program could increase access to the drug, Sandy Champion, an advocate for medical marijuana who helped draft legislation for the pilot program in 2013, remains cautious.

She says some patients with qualifying conditions can't find a doctor willing to complete the paperwork to apply to the program and she thinks that's unlikely to change — even with the new rules in place.

Harmon says doctors will not be compelled to participate. But he thinks the argument that the measure would replace one addictive drug with another is "ridiculous."

"Opioids and heroin [are] killing scores of people. No one has died from overdose of cannabis," says Harmon.

He agrees more research on marijuana is needed, but points out that the drug's Schedule 1 classification, which means it's considered highly addictive and has no medical use, makes it difficult for scientists to conduct research.
 

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
Even though I live in a legal state this BS still goes on. People are always going to be arrested for pot. This gives ole Jeff Sessions more reason to want to shut things down. It’s not going to be stopped. Cannabis is gaining acceptance with the majority of Americans by leaps and bounds.


Tacoma police bust six marijuana grow houses | The News Tribune
Tacoma · June 18, 2018 10:30 AM. Six houses believed part of an illegal marijuana grow that was selling the drug nationwide were busted Monday, Tacoma police said. Detectives
 
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BabyFacedFinster

Anything worth doing, is worth overdoing.

Whew, the GOP senators can breath a sigh of relief. They managed to stiffle the cannabis industry once again. Now they can get back to their important business, throwing children in dog cages and making sure they suppress the rights of anyone that isn't an old, white heterosexual male.
 

cybrguy

Putin is a War Criminal
In actual fact that was not the best bill and wouldn't have done what needs to be done. I am not a believer in the perfect being the enemy of the good usually, but you will notice that some known defenders of legal cannabis voted against this bill. For example, there was nothing in this bill that hold back the justice department. Banks are not gonna go along until they are protected from the fed. We need bigger solutions and accepting smaller ones may work against us. At least in MHO.
 
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MinnBobber

Well-Known Member
House passes massive package to address opioids crisis

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...-address-opioids-crisis/ar-AAz1po5?li=BBnb7Kz

One of the provisions in the legislation would direct the National Institutes of Health to develop non-addictive painkillers.
Maybe they should consider one that's been used for thousands of years without a single death and you can grow it in your backyard???? Or maybe push to remove it from Schedule 1 status???

A huge partial solution is right in front of them but nooooooo......
 

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
For the first time, NORML has released a comprehensive breakdown of these citywide and countywide decriminalization policies.

Efforts to liberalize municipal marijuana possession penalties in states where cannabis remains criminalized have become increasingly popular in recent years. Since 2012, over 50 localities, such as Albuquerque, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and St. Louis in a dozen states -- including Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas -- have enacted municipal laws or resolutions either fully or partially decriminalizing minor cannabis possession offenses. Today, over 10.5 million Americans reside in these localities. (Please note: This total does not include cities or counties in states that have either legalized or decriminalized marijuana statewide).

Click here to see the full breakdown of localities that have decriminalized marijuana

http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss...1AKYpGFS9kZpbVlE-2FSOJzOSgoeDTS-2FUkRmA-3D-3D
 

cybrguy

Putin is a War Criminal
Ouch

Over 1,500 pounds of marijuana found during traffic stop, police say

Melissa Espana

CHICAGO – Chicago police found over 1,500 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop.

The police department posted photos of the massive drug bust on their Facebook page.

Officers in the narcotics unit found the marijuana during a recent traffic stop of a vehicle suspected of narcotics trafficking. A police K-9 alerted to the scent of the drugs and a search of the vehicle led officers to finding the marijuana.

Police said the drugs have a street value of over $10,000.

The drugs were en route from California to Chicago, officials said.

The driver was arrested and charged with cannabis possession.

https://wgntv.com/2018/06/24/over-1500-pounds-of-marijuana-found-during-traffic-stop-police-say/
 

analytika

Well-Known Member
The Trump Administration FDA just approved GW Pharmaceuticals "Epidiolex", a CBD oil.

President Trump today directed the FDA to deschedule CBD in the next 90 days.

Congratulations to the Trump Administration for, last year, preserving our rights to buy innovative vaping technologies by delaying (in practice, forever) the Obama Administration's oppressive "medical devices" proclamation.

And, today, for legalizing CBD at the federal level.
 
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C No Ego

Well-Known Member
The Trump Administration FDA just approved GW Pharmaceuticals "Epidiolex", a CBD oil.

President Trump today directed the FDA to deschedule CBD in the next 90 days.

Congratulations to the Trump Administration for, last year, preserving our rights to buy innovative vaping technologies by delaying (in practice, forever) the Obama Administration's oppressive "medical devices" proclamation.

And, today, for legalizing CBD at the federal level.
that is awesome when looking at it but GW pharma having an approved real plant based medicine changes everything maybe for the bad... that will give them some type regulations ( rights) over plant life or particular types ( cannabis().
I mean just imagine everyone knowing you can grow your own Epidiolex...
 

MinnBobber

Well-Known Member
I mean just imagine everyone knowing you can grow your own Epidiolex...
........................................................................................................................
Yes, and growing your own would mean getting all the cannabinoids/terps/flavinoids vs the singular CBD in Epidiolex so you could grow something WAY better than it.

Is there any way to find out the exact makeup % of Epidiolex??
"What are the ingredients in Epidiolex?
Active ingredient: cannabidiol

Inactive ingredients: dehydrated alcohol, sesame seed oil, strawberry flavor, and sucralose Epidiolex does not contain gluten (wheat, barley or rye)."
............................................................................................................................
I find it very odd regarding side effects of this CBD + compound as the list is much bigger than I expected????

Just hope that as big pharma gets "rights" to certain singular compounds, they don't then slide into controlling the whole plant product!
Big pharma is scared of legal cannabis and home grows and will throw/ has thrown big $$$ into anti-cannabis propoganda when legalizing votes happen.
 

His_Highness

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
that is awesome when looking at it but GW pharma having an approved real plant based medicine changes everything maybe for the bad... that will give them some type regulations ( rights) over plant life or particular types ( cannabis().
I mean just imagine everyone knowing you can grow your own Epidiolex...

I hope it doesn't work out that way......I kinda thought it would eventually be like the end of prohibition and the wine a few of my friends make at home. Well...not exactly like what my friends make...there's tastes like ass. :)
 

florduh

Well-Known Member
The Trump Administration FDA just approved GW Pharmaceuticals "Epidiolex", a CBD oil.

President Trump today directed the FDA to deschedule CBD in the next 90 days.

Congratulations to the Trump Administration for, last year, preserving our rights to buy innovative vaping technologies by delaying (in practice, forever) the Obama Administration's oppressive "medical devices" proclamation.

And, today, for legalizing CBD at the federal level.

The FDA approved a drug that's been in trials since 2016. This is the CBD version of Marinol, which came out in the 80's. You saying "The Trump Admin legalized CBD" is like saying Reagan legalized weed.

I also can't find anything about Trump himself asking the DEA to reschedule CBD. The DEA Spokesman said they have been looking at re-scheduling CBD for some time, and they will take the FDA's findings into account when making their decision.


I hadn't heard about the vaping stuff. That's good news. Sometimes, cutting regulations is a good thing!
 

looney2nz

Research Geek, Mad Scientist
The FDA approved a drug that's been in trials since 2016. This is the CBD version of Marinol, which came out in the 80's. You saying "The Trump Admin legalized CBD" is like saying Reagan legalized weed.

I also can't find anything about Trump himself asking the DEA to reschedule CBD. The DEA Spokesman said they have been looking at re-scheduling CBD for some time, and they will take the FDA's findings into account when making their decision.


I hadn't heard about the vaping stuff. That's good news. Sometimes, cutting regulations is a good thing!

I imagine Jefferson Beauregard Sessions is having himself 'the vapors' over this :)
 

C No Ego

Well-Known Member
........................................................................................................................
Yes, and growing your own would mean getting all the cannabinoids/terps/flavinoids vs the singular CBD in Epidiolex so you could grow something WAY better than it.

Is there any way to find out the exact makeup % of Epidiolex??
"What are the ingredients in Epidiolex?
Active ingredient: cannabidiol

Inactive ingredients: dehydrated alcohol, sesame seed oil, strawberry flavor, and sucralose Epidiolex does not contain gluten (wheat, barley or rye)."
............................................................................................................................
I find it very odd regarding side effects of this CBD + compound as the list is much bigger than I expected????

Just hope that as big pharma gets "rights" to certain singular compounds, they don't then slide into controlling the whole plant product!
Big pharma is scared of legal cannabis and home grows and will throw/ has thrown big $$$ into anti-cannabis propoganda when legalizing votes happen.
https://www.gwpharm.com/products-pipeline/research-trials/cannabinoid-compounds
https://www.gwpharm.com/healthcare-professionals/research-trials/cbd

not exactly sure- I know they add thcv in there at small amounts... GW certainly knows about entourage , I'll give them that... it is exciting to see real plant based medicnes but if GW claims that they are the only supplier of CBD or their version of it Fuhget aboud it
 
C No Ego,
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analytika

Well-Known Member
The FDA approved a drug that's been in trials since 2016. This is the CBD version of Marinol, which came out in the 80's. You saying "The Trump Admin legalized CBD" is like saying Reagan legalized weed.

I also can't find anything about Trump himself asking the DEA to reschedule CBD. The DEA Spokesman said they have been looking at re-scheduling CBD for some time, and they will take the FDA's findings into account when making their decision.


I hadn't heard about the vaping stuff. That's good news. Sometimes, cutting regulations is a good thing!
The DEA deschedule? Sigh. Not how it works. Time to hit the books, my friend.
 
analytika,

florduh

Well-Known Member
The DEA deschedule? Sigh. Not how it works. Time to hit the books, my friend.

Sigh indeed. I'm quoting the DEA Spokesperson:

Is CBD Oil Legal Now? With Epidiolex Approved, It’s Still Not Clear

"“The FDA is the entity in America that approves medicines. Not DEA, we’re cops. We depend on them to tell us if something’s a medicine,” Barbara Carreno, the DEA press officer, told me earlier this month during an interview about the legal status of CBD. “If they on June 27 announce that they’re approving Epidiolex, absolutely we’ll go into a different schedule. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it.”

Now can you provide a source confirming that President Trump personally asked the DEA to reschedule CBD? Can't seem to find any news source reporting that. Your original post contained a lot of spin, and no sources.

Also I'm a bit confused. If THC has approved medical uses via Marinol. And CBD has approved medical uses with Epidiolex... why isn't marijuana still on Schedule 1? THC and CBD are the major components of cannabis.
 
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grokit

well-worn member
This is the CBD version of Marinol, which came out in the 80's.
There's a big difference though;
marinol is a synthetic form of THC,
while epidiolex is real CBD derived from the hemp plant.

Now can you provide a source confirming that President Trump personally asked the DEA to reschedule CBD?
No but I saw that article, just can't find it atm. The DEA will have to reclassify CBD before GW can begin marketing Epidiolex, which is already approved by the FDA. #conundrum

:myday:
 
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