All articles tagged with #cannabis
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors advanced plans to permit Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes, allowing lounges to sell cannabis-infused food and nonalcoholic drinks with live entertainment, aligning with AB 1775; supporters say it could boost business and tourism, while critics raise concerns about indoor air quality and public health, with a final vote expected next Tuesday.
The Washington Post reports that smoking is the most common but also the riskiest way to use cannabis, and it outlines five safer alternatives. Among them, cannabis tinctures are noted for their quick onset (about 15 minutes), offering a faster option than edibles while aiming to reduce the harms associated with smoking, with input from experts like Dr. Peter Grinspoon.
Vermont enacts seven new laws taking effect July 1, 2026, including stricter ticket resale rules with price transparency and caps on resales, and higher cannabis purchase limits plus a two-year pilot allowing public events to buy state-regulated cannabis from local cultivators. The package also raises fines for oversized trucks through Smugglers’ Notch, updates the bottle bill with higher handling fees and a producer‑led restructuring, expands voyeurism penalties and survivor benefits for emergency personnel, and authorizes portable balcony solar installations with safety standards and rentier notification provisions.
Italian police divers uncovered more than 330 blocks of hashish weighing about 40 kg (88 lb) hidden in a sea cave on Ponza, a picturesque island popular with the rich and famous, with a street value over $500,000. The cave is only accessible by boat, and authorities say the drugs were likely brought from Anzio to supply the summer tourist season. Ponza’s small police presence is noted by the mayor, who says the seizure shows vigilance against drug dealing amid a busy holiday period.
Olympic skiing legend Bode Miller says police misrepresented his Idaho arrest, claiming a friend with him had cannabis and he was unaware; officials alleged mushrooms were found. He posted a $5,000 bond, pleaded not guilty to possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, with a July 29 pretrial hearing scheduled.
New research hints that cannabinol, a byproduct of THC, may protect brain cells from oxidative stress and potentially reduce dementia risk, but findings are preliminary and not conclusive; other studies show older adults starting medical cannabis may not experience significant cognitive decline, while concerns about teen use and psychiatric risks persist, leaving the overall impact of cannabis on aging brains unresolved.
New research reinforces that potency, user age, and use patterns matter most for cannabis’ brain effects. High-THC products can disrupt brain connectivity and working memory, especially in younger users, while moderate adult use may have fewer cognitive impacts. Although some studies question cannabis’ mental-health benefits and teenage use raises risks for psychosis-like symptoms and long-term cognitive changes, abstinence can lead to partial cognitive rebound, and early lab work hints at possible neuroprotective effects for aging brains (not yet proven in humans). Public health messaging emphasizing boundaries around when, where, and why to use cannabis could help reduce harm as legalization expands.
Virginia leaders announced a negotiated plan to launch a phased, 350-location retail cannabis marketplace by July 1, 2027, with a state tax starting at 6% and rising to 8% by 2029, and local jurisdictions allowed to add 1-3.5%. The package includes a 2-ounce per-transaction limit, up to 100 microbusiness licenses by May 1, 2027, strict testing and youth-protection measures, and revenue earmarked for childcare, education, and behavioral health; the plan ties to the state budget after vetoes and aims for a balanced rollout overseen by the Cannabis Control Authority.
Virginia negotiators reached a budget deal to legalize and regulate a retail cannabis market, opening July 1, 2027, with a 6% tax (rising to 8% after 2029), up to 350 licenses phased in, up to 100 microbusiness licenses by May 1, 2027, and 75% of first-year license revenue directed to the Cannabis Equity Business Loan Fund to aid equity-focused entrepreneurs; enforcement aims to curb the illicit market, protect youth, and support small businesses, while localities can add 1–3.5% tax.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and lawmakers unveiled a negotiated budget plan to legalize adult‑use cannabis sales, setting a July 1, 2027 launch, a 2‑ounce purchase limit, and a broad regulatory framework overseen by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The package includes a 6% excise tax plus 5.3% state/local sales taxes (with local option up to 3.5%), rising the excise tax to 8% by 2029, and a civil penalty for public consumption of $250 (effective July 1, 2027). It would permit up to about 350 stores, end local opt‑outs for cannabis operations, and direct revenue to the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund and public health initiatives, with provisions on licensing, hemp oversight, and potential on‑site consumption ideas under study. Advocates say the deal moves Virginia toward a regulated market, though some penalties drew concerns.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology added 41 new cannabinoid spectra to its mass-spectral library (Standard Reference Database 1A), increasing cannabis-related entries to 121. The update emphasizes rare side-chain homologs and derivatives to improve identification of uncommon cannabis compounds for forensics, biomedical research, food science and environmental testing.
An essayist recounts a long history of cannabis use followed by jarring withdrawal, nightmarish symptoms, and a rising concern over increasingly potent cannabis products (including a vape at 95% THC). She explains how cannabinoid hyperemesis and a symptom known as scromiting can occur with regular use, and cites studies showing cannabis use disorder affects a significant minority of users, potential links to psychiatric illness, and even higher short‑term mortality risk in some groups. The piece also echoes professional cautions that cannabis is not a proven medicine for anxiety or depression and stresses the need for more research and public‑health awareness as potency and social acceptance grow.
A Brown University-led study with 81 adolescents (14–17) found that repeated cannabis use, especially high-potency products, correlates with lower brain tissue iron in dopamine-rich regions, signaling disrupted maturation of the dopamine system and reward processing. This first-of-its-kind MRI work suggests reduced dopamine-related neurophysiology in teens who use cannabis and highlights potential increased addiction vulnerability, warranting longitudinal follow-up to assess long-term outcomes.
A TikTok science communicator claims Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) relief comes from capsaicin cream or hot showers. CHS, linked to heavy cannabis use, has seen rising emergency department visits and is recognized with a WHO diagnosis code. The video urges moderation and cessation of cannabis if CHS symptoms appear and shares a victim’s tale of severe vomiting and relief through temperature-based remedies.
Jabari Brown, the 20-year-old who won a private jet in a MrBeast aviation challenge, was arrested in Paraguay after authorities seized a plane with 261.6 kilos of premium, high-THC cannabis. The aircraft, allegedly owned and piloted by Estonian Keith Siilats, was linked to a shipment found with several U.S. nationals detained; prosecutors filed international drug-trafficking charges. The cargo is valued at about $3.6 million and appears aimed at the Brazilian market. MrBeast and his company are not indicated to be involved, and the case is developing.