More young women using cannabis than men, retailers changing strategies
For the first time, young women in the U.S. are consuming more cannabis than men. Now, that has retailers rethinking their sales strategies.
Recently released results of a 2023 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found women 19 to 30 years old reported higher cannabis use than men of the same age. It also found cannabis vaping among all people in that age group is at an all-time high.
Stress, anxiety and mental health concerns were among the top reasons female consumers said they use cannabis products. However, there is reportedly little scientific evidence showing cannabis helps with these issues.
The co-founder of cannabis data firm GetCannaFacts said they found that’s because women are more likely to buy from the industry’s legal market than their male counterparts are.
Top cannabis retailers told Reuters they’ve started refocusing shelf space toward products that are popular with women, like edibles, tinctures, topicals and beverages.
States approve legal marijuana despite containing dangerous mold: WSJ
To grow, marijuana needs certain conditions: humidity and a lot of light. As pot becomes legal in more places and more ways, be it medical or recreational, more companies are growing the once secretly-harvested plant, usually indoors in a controlled area.
The problem with that is humidity and lots of artificial light are not just optimal conditions growing marijuana, they are also prime conditions for mold.
A new Wall Street Journal analysis found that while states where marijuana is legal make growers hire laboratories to check for mold and other contaminants, many of those labs are underreporting what they find.
The Journal’s analysis looked at more than 2 million mold testing results from nine states and found a disproportionate number of products containing dangerous mold, which can make you sick or even kill you, are being cleared for sale.
Certain molds and their toxins have been linked the cannabis plant. When ingested, the fungi can pose serious health risks, especially for those with weakened immune systems.
A 2020 review of national insurance claims found marijuana users are nearly four times more likely than non-users to be infected with fungi that have been known to cause infections, dangerous immune responses and even death.
The Journal found labs that passed more marijuana samples got more business. If labs test four samples and one is contaminated, that’s a 25% contamination rate, but if a lab test 10 samples and two are found to be contaminated, that’s only a 20% contamination rate, which doesn’t sound quite as bad, does it?
Since most states that have legalized weed in some form do not have a set standard for how testing should be done, there’s no easy way to find out if the product is safe. Consumers can do the legwork themselves, though, because every legal weed label identified where it was tested.
However, many cannabis enthusiasts said that can be a cumbersome process because a person has to research each lab and their methods to make their own informed decision.
SCOTUS weighs RICO case of trucker fired over failed drug test
The Supreme Court will decide whether a trucker can use an anti-racketeering law to recover wages he lost after he was fired for unknowingly using a product that contained THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The driver is looking to sue the makers of Dixie X — a CBD product advertised as being THC-free — under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act, which could triple damages and attorneys fees from the company if he wins.
Medical Marijuana Inc., maker of Dixie X, presented its own argument, saying RICO can’t be used to sue for personal injuries, only for harm to “business or property.” The driver, Douglas Horn, argues the harm was to his ability to earn a living.
The New York-based Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit sided with Horn, saying the plain meaning of the word “business” allows him to sue.
During oral arguments Tuesday, Oct. 15, some conservative Supreme Court justices expressed concern that allowing that interpretation would open the floodgates to types of lawsuits the law wasn’t intended to cover. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has raised the same concern.
Harris unveils business loans, cannabis industry opportunities for Black voters
Vice President Kamala Harris is launching a new campaign initiative aimed at mobilizing Black voters, particularly Black men, ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The initiative, called the “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,” includes provisions for forgivable business loans for Black entrepreneurs.
It also focuses on new studies addressing diseases like sickle cell, which disproportionately affect African American men, and regulating cryptocurrency to protect Black men who invest in digital assets.
Additionally, Harris pledged to legalize marijuana and ensure that Black men can benefit from its business potential.
A New York Times poll released on Saturday, Oct. 12, found that 20% of Black men support Trump, while 15% of all Black voters do, representing a six-point increase from four years ago.
With just 22 days until Election Day, the Democratic Party is bringing in prominent figures to rally Black supporters.
Former President Barack Obama has been making stops in battleground states to speak directly to Black voters, while former President Bill Clinton also spoke to Black voters in Georgia on Sunday, a state he won in 1992.
Marijuana addiction, other side effects rising with legalization and higher usage
As marijuana becomes legal in more parts of the United States, be it medicinal or recreational, more people are using it. That also means more people are experiencing its unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects.
A recent data analysis done for The New York Times found that nearly a third of all users – about 18 million people – have reported symptoms of cannabis use disorder, and about 3 million of them would be considered addicted to cannabis.
Symptoms of cannabis use disorder include impaired control, cannabis use becoming a high priority – even if it causes issues in your school, work, or personal life or leads to riskier behavior, and physiological dependence – needing more cannabis to get the same high or showing symptoms of withdrawal. These are all symptoms commonly associated with addiction, as well.
The Columbia University epidemiologist who did the analysis for the Times based her research on responses to the 2022 national drug use survey conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The researcher found cannabis use was especially common among 18- to 25-year-olds surveyed, with 4.5 million reporting they use it daily or almost daily. Furthermore, 81% of them met the criteria for cannabis use disorder.
Doctors say they’ve seen a sharp rise in something called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). It’s a condition brought on by heavy cannabis use that causes users to experience nausea, vomiting and pain and can lead to extreme dehydration, seizures, kidney failure and cardiac arrest.
In rare and extreme cases, CHS has been deadly. The Times said it found CHS could be linked to at least eight deaths in the U.S. since the condition was first documented in 2004 – including some cases that were not previously known about before the Times commissioned this study.
CHS is not consistently documented, but researchers estimate up to a third of near-daily cannabis users in the U.S. experience mild to severe symptoms of it.
Another side effect of marijuana that’s not often warned about but is becoming more common is temporary psychosis. It’s also being increasingly linked to people developing chronic psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia.
While some form of marijuana use is legal in fewer than half of states, it remains illegal under federal law. With that, its effects have not been widely studied, and laws surrounding marijuana use are not consistent.
New York City will use 4 tons of illegal cannabis to make renewable energy
The Empire State is going to use illegal cannabis to make renewable energy. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the plan as he unveiled the seizure of 4 tons of illegal marijuana products by local authorities. The confiscated cannabis is now set to be incinerated and converted into clean power in a move that the mayor emphasized was strictly for energy production.
“No one will be getting high off of what we’re burning today,” Adams assured the public. “Trust me.”
The event took place at a waste-to-energy facility just outside the city. Adams personally used a crane to transfer the cannabis into an incinerator. The heat generated from burning the marijuana, along with other waste materials, will be converted into energy. It will contribute to the power supply for approximately 65,000 homes on Long Island.
Officials explained they chose this method of incineration to prevent attempts at recovering the cannabis from landfills or other waste disposal sites.
“You just really open the door for people going to the landfills and trying to salvage whatever they can,” Adams said. “The goal is the destruction of the product, and not to just dump it somewhere and allow it to sit around.”
Adams noted that an additional 200,000 pounds of illegal cannabis remain on the streets of New York City. He also said his administration remained committed to ensuring its eventual destruction.
Study links heavy marijuana use to increased risk for certain cancers
Regular, heavy marijuana use could increase the risk for head and neck cancers. A new study shows people who used cannabis on a daily basis over years were up to 5% more likely to develop these kinds of cancers.
Researchers found those with cannabis use disorder are particularly at risk. Cannabis use disorder is diagnosed with two or more addictive behaviors associated with weed, which include cravings, becoming tolerant to its effects, using more than intended, using marijuana even though it causes problems in life, using it in high-risk situations, experiencing withdrawal and being unable to quit, according to the CDC.
Researchers said the study did not differentiate between methods of marijuana consumption – but they said the association likely “pertains mainly to smoked cannabis.”
Researchers also pointed out the study does not find an association between occasional, recreational use of marijuana and head and neck cancers.
More American workers cheating to pass workforce drug tests
According to data obtained by Quest Diagnostics, the number of U.S. employees who allegedly tampered with their drug tests increased by more than six times in 2023 compared to the previous year. This surge represents the highest rate recorded in over 30 years.
“Some American workers are going to great lengths to attempt to subvert the drug testing process,” a senior director at Quest Diagnostics said.
Approximately 5.5 million drug tests were collected from the U.S. workforce, with 6,000 classified as substituted urine specimens. That is an increase of 633% over last year. Substituted urine could mean a person used someone else’s urine, an animal’s or synthetic urine purchased online.
An additional 25,000 tests came back as “invalid,” marking a 45% increase over a year ago. Invalid tests include samples with additives used to hide drug use, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Drug screens with positive results increased in industries associated with “office work.” Real estate and lending saw a 17% increase and professional, scientific and technical services rose by 9.3%. Additionally, educational services rose by 7.9% and public administration increased by 5%.
Marijuana positivity increased in 13 out of 15 industries, with finance and insurance representing the largest jump. That sector saw a 35.7% jump in positive marijuana tests in 2023.
Positive cocaine tests among U.S. workforce members also increased by 9.1% last year. However, positive heroin tests decreased by 16.7%, and opiates followed suit with a decline of 12.5%.
Senate Democrats want to deschedule marijuana as Biden moves to reschedule
The Biden administration wants to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The proposed change will need to go through a formal rule-making process which includes interagency reviews, public input and regulatory analysis.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Schedule I drugs have no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Those drugs include heroin, LSD and ecstasy. Schedule III drugs are those with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, including ketamine, anabolic steroids and testosterone.
The White House said this effort is a step toward fulfilling a pledge President Joe Biden made during his campaign.
“He said no American who only possesses marijuana should go to jail,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “It is affecting communities across the country, including communities of color.”
“It’s time for Congress to wake up to the times and do its part by passing the cannabis reform that most Americans have wished for,” Schumer said. “It’s past time for Congress to catch up with public opinion and to catch up with the science.”
The bill addresses public health and safety, taxation, research, entrepreneurship and what the sponsors describe as “restorative justice.”
The bill would:
Remove marijuana from the controlled substances list.
Expunge the criminal records of Americans with non-violent marijuana offenses.
Establish the Center for Cannabis Products to regulate the cannabis industry including production, labeling, distribution, and sales.
Require the FDA to create standards for labeling potency, doses, servings, place of manufacture and directions for use.
Create an excise tax on cannabis sales, opening up the industry to banks.
“Our bill’s about individual freedom and basic fairness,” Schumer said. “We cannot tolerate any longer the tragedy of a young person getting arrested because they have a small amount of marijuana in their pocket. For years, that’s all it took. Getting caught with a little bit of marijuana for you to get saddled with a serious criminal record that prevented a person from getting a good job, buying a good home, getting ahead in life.”
“When you drive large portions of a population into poverty because of those criminal convictions, when you see that our precious law enforcement resources are being used to go after nonviolent marijuana users,” Sen. Booker said. “You see this is a waste of law enforcement resources that is hurting our communities.”
This bill goes beyond other proposals like the SAFE Banking Act, which would open the banking industry to marijuana distributors. That bill has 117 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House. The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act does not appear to have as much support.
“I think there’s gonna be a lot of resistance on our side to that,” Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said.
Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, said marijuana policy needs to be better balanced.
“When I talk to families back home in Ohio, is, you know, they don’t want somebody arrested or have their life ruined for having a small amount of pot,” Vance said. “They also would like to be able to take their kids to a public park without smelling like weed everywhere. I think that we have to do a better job of balancing private liberties with the public’s ability to enjoy public spaces without it being infected by the smell of marijuana.”
It’s unclear exactly how long it would take for the new policy to be approved. Federal rules changes can sometimes take years.
Dozens arrested at Columbia as NYPD clears Hamilton Hall, encampments
Dozens of protesters were arrested after Columbia University calls in the NYPD. Dave and Buster’s is adding something new to its arcade games — a betting option. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
Dozens arrested as NYPD clears Hamilton Hall, Columbia encampments
NYPD officers moved in a little after 9 p.m. at the university’s request, using a police vehicle with a ramp to access the second floor of Hamilton Hall after protesters had barricaded themselves inside.
Columbia’s president has requested the NYPD to remain on campus until at least May 17, two days after graduation, to “maintain order and ensure that encampments are not re-established.”
Columbia University said its decision to call in the police was in response to the actions of the protesters, not their cause.
Additionally, the NYPD was called to the City College of New York after it was reported that a large group of people marched from Columbia to its campus. At least 25 people were arrested there.
Speaker Johnson announces House crackdown on antisemitism on campuses
At a press conference, Johnson described the situation at Columbia University as “out of control” and urged President Joe Biden to adopt a firmer stance on the issue.
House Republicans are advocating for cuts in federal funding to colleges that host these protests and have initiated an investigation into how university administrations manage these demonstrations. They are also pushing for a congressional hearing with several university presidents to further address the situation.
Meanwhile, the House is preparing to vote on the “Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023.” This legislation aims to clarify the definition of antisemitism for the application of anti-discrimination laws, though it has encountered opposition from some Democrats over the act’s definition of antisemitism.
Trump fined $9,000 as trial continues with second week of testimony
Tuesday’s proceedings began with the judge fining Trump $9,000 for violating the judge’s gag order — $1,000 for each violation. The judge warned the former president that future violations could lead to jail time.
Jurors heard testimony from Gary Farro, the banker who assisted Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen in opening the account used to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels the $130,000 hush money payment at the center of the prosecution’s case.
Keith Davidson, a lawyer who represented Daniels, also testified about how he negotiated the deal between his client and Cohen.
The judge did make one decision in Trump’s favor on Tuesday, announcing there would be no court on May 17 so the former president can attend his son Barron’s high school graduation.
DEA will move to reclassify marijuana in historic shift
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is on the brink of a historic move that could reshape American drug policy. On Tuesday, April 30, the Associated Press reported that the agency is preparing to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug, recognizing its medical uses and low potential for abuse.
The move comes after Biden’s call for a review of federal cannabis laws in October 2022. He also pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of simple possession.
Recent polls show growing support for legalization with 70% of adults in favor, according to Gallup.
However, not everyone is on board with the DEA’s decision. Former DEA Deputy Administrator Jack Riley expressed concerns about the potential risks, citing cannabis as a possible gateway drug.
Earlier mammogram screenings could save more lives
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that women start getting mammograms every other year beginning at age 40, a shift from previous guidelines that advised starting at age 50.
While the American Cancer Society recommends annual screenings starting at age 45 and the American College of Radiology suggests beginning at age 40, the task force found that biennial screenings minimize the occurrence of false positives and unnecessary procedures without significantly compromising health outcomes.
Insurance companies often follow the task force guidelines for coverage, though most insurers already cover breast cancer screenings at the age of 40.
Dave & Buster’s to allow betting on its arcade games
Heading to Dave and Buster’s with your friends could soon earn you some money. The entertainment chain announced Tuesday, April 30, it will allow customers to wager on its arcade games.
The company is partnering with a gaming provider to create a betting feature in its app. There will be a limit to the size of the bets, but exactly how much has not been disclosed.
The betting function is expected to launch in the next few months.