The most recent issue of the journal Frontiers presents findings of the first pharmacokinetic study and clinical trial on the use of cannabinoids to treat dogs with osteoarthritis and multi-joint pain.

The objective of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to “determine basic oral pharmacokinetics, and assess safety and analgesic efficacy of a cannabidiol (CBD) based oil in dogs with osteoarthritis (OA).”

In conducting their study, researchers found that “canine brief pain inventory and Hudson activity scores showed a significant decrease in pain and increase in activity with CBD oil.” Veterinary assessment “showed decreased pain during CBD treatment”, while “No side effects were reported by owners”.

Researchers state that “This pharmacokinetic and clinical study suggests that 2 mg/kg of CBD twice daily can help increase comfort and activity in dogs with OA [osteoarthritis].”

The full study, including its abstract, can be found by clicking here.

Read More Here…

Same day marijuana use isn’t associated with an elevated risk of dating abuse, according to a new study published in the journal Violence Against Women, and published online by the National Institute of Health.

“The purpose of this study was to investigate same-day alcohol or marijuana use and dating abuse (DA) perpetration in a sample of 60 noncollege-attending young adults”, states the study’s abstract.

Participants reported daily data over a three month period. It was found that “DA perpetration was more likely on days when participants also reported alcohol use, but analyses of the temporal order indicated that alcohol use was not a proximal predictor of DA.” Same day marijuana use “was not associated with elevated risk of DA perpetration.”

According to the study’s researchers, “The idea that marijuana may not be causally related to increased risk of partner aggression is consistent with the results of several other studies.”

The study was conducted by researchers at Boston University, the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

The full study can be found by clicking here.

Read More Here…

A new Gallup poll has revealed that nearly one in four young adults in the United States is a cannabis user. The results of the telephone poll were released by the research company on Wednesday.

The poll found that 24 percent of adults age 18-29 years old said that they “regularly” or “occasionally” use or smoke marijuana. For all adult age groups overall, 13 percent of Americans said that they smoke pot, with 5 percent saying they used it regularly and 8 percent claiming occasional use.

Thirteen percent of those 30-49 years old said that they were cannabis users. The poll showed that 11 percent of adults 50-64 years old were weed smokers and for those 65 and older the figure was 6 percent.

By geographic region, more adults in the West, at 20 percent, admitted to using cannabis than any other area of the country. All other regions reported significantly lower and similar rates of cannabis use. In the East, 12 percent of adults said that they smoked weed. In the South, the figure was 11 percent, while 10 percent of Midwesterners said that they were pot smokers.

All three coastal states in the West, California, Oregon, and Washington, plus Nevada and Colorado,

Read More Here…

A ballot measure to legalize medical cannabis for patients with HIV, epilepsy, chronic pain, and other severe health problems is under threat in Utah again, this time from a lawsuit alleging the measure violates the religious freedom and freedom of speech of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Proponents of Proposition 2 are calling the second attempt to sue the measure a long shot. And they’re blasting the opposition’s efforts to keep it off the ballot.

Anti-Cannabis Coalition Files “Hail Mary” Lawsuit Against Medical Marijuana Vote

A coalition of anti-cannabis groups, including the Utah Medical Association, the Eagle Forum, and members of Drug Safe Utah, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Walter J. Plumb, a lawyer and active member of The Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints. The lawsuit takes issue with a provision in Proposition 2 that would prevent landlords from discriminating against tenants who are legal, registered medical cannabis users in Utah.

The opposition group says such a provision would compel Plumb to act against his religious convictions. It would force people like Plumb, whose faith precludes using or association with people who use mind-altering substances, to do business with or rent

Read More Here…

The mayor of Richmond Hill has said that his city will opt out of the government’s plan to introduce private retail stores for cannabis by April 2019.

Mayor David Barrow said that while some residents disagree with his stance, city council will not be in favour of legal pot shops in the city.

“We’re not a willing host of recreation retail outlet,” Barrow told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday. “We had a number of people attend our council meetings and say they weren’t interested in being a part of any of this process.”

– Read the entire article at CTV News.

Read More Here…

Those in Colorado purchased over $129 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products in June, a roughly 5% increase from the month prior.

In total there was $129,523,030 in marijuana and marijuana products purchased legally in Colorado in June, according to new data released by the state’s Department of Revenue. This is a slight increase from the amount sold in May ($122 million) and April ($124), but falls short of the record-setting $135 million sold in March.

Of the $129 million in marijuana sold in June, around $27 million came from the sale of medical marijuana, with the remainder from the sale of recreational marijuana. These sales helped Colorado garner around $20 million in tax revenue for the month of June.

The new data brings the state’s total marijuana sales for 2018 to $742,387,820. This puts Colorado on track to sell around $1.5 billion in legal marijuana for 2018, which would be on par with the $1.5 billion sold in 2017, and slightly higher than the $1.3 billion sold in 2016.

Marijuana was legalized in Colorado in 2012, with marijuana retail outlets opening for business in 2014.  Marijuana is taxed at 15% (plus the standard 2.9% statewide sales tax),

Read More Here…

The Second Cup Ltd. says it is actively reviewing locations in Ontario for potential conversion to cannabis retail stores in light of policy changes in the province.

The company’s announcement comes after Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government said it would allow private retailers to sell recreational marijuana starting next April.

Second Cup had announced a partnership with marijuana clinic operator National Access Cannabis in April to potentially convert coffee shops to retail stores under the brand Meta Cannabis Supply Co.

At the time, the companies said they were focused on Western Canada, as Ontario had planned to sell cannabis through provincial liquor commissions, in line with policies in Quebec and several Atlantic provinces.

– Read the entire article at The Globe and Mail.

Read More Here…

Tax revenue from California’s legal marijuana market fell far short of estimates in the second quarter, state officials have announced. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration released figures for the period April through June 2018 on Wednesday.

California’s excise tax on cannabis generated nearly $43.5 million in revenue during that time. The cultivation tax generated almost  $4.5 million, and the sales tax generated more than $26 million in revenue. The department noted that sales tax is not collected on sales to medicinal cannabis patients who hold a valid medical marijuana identification card.

The figures for the second quarter represent an increase over the previous one. In the first quarter of 2018, cannabis tax revenue totaled $60.9 million, which included $32 million in excise tax, $1.6 million cultivation tax, and $27.3 million in sales tax.

Officials had estimated that total revenue from cultivation and excise taxes for the first six months of the year would amount to $185 million. But the actual total of $82 million represents a deficit of more than $100 million from state estimates.

Shortfall ‘Staggering’

State Assemblyman Evan Low told the Associated Press that the shortfall is an indication of trouble for Calfornia’s fledgling legal recreational cannabis

Read More Here…

While capital continues to flow into cannabis companies, iconic ’70s stoner company High Times has stepped up with a Reg A+ public stock offering to raise money under the 2012 US Jobs Act.

The deal faces a healthy dose of risk since High Times remains deeply in debt as it seeks to grow its events business and reverse a decline in its magazine and other publishing units.

In an Aug. 3 press release, High Times said it would accept Bitcoin payments for potential investors to buy stock. But in an Aug. 13 filing with regulators, High Times admitted the release was distributed in error and that it would not take Bitcoin as payment for shares. The company did not elaborate on how the mistake was made or why it would not accept Bitcoin.

However, High Times continues to accept checks, credit cards, ACH or wire transfers as payment for subscription to is Reg-A+ share offering.

While High Times is allowed to raise up to $50 million under Reg-A+ offering rules, it apparently has not yet reached its fundraising goal, since it’s extending the offering period for the stock sale until Sept. 12. That’s also the date that a cash payment

Read More Here…