#NORML #News Source: @norml @WeedConnection Posted By: norml@weedconnection.com media :: news - Tue, 12 May 2020 04:20:21 PST
California: Santa Clara County Officials Dismiss Thousands of Marijuana Convictions
San Jose, CA: The Office of the District Attorney for Santa Clara County (population: 1.9 million) announced that it has either reduced or expunged an estimated 13,000 marijuana convictions. The mass expungement vacates marijuana-related convictions dating as far back as 1973.
Commenting on the decision, County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said: "Too many people who have committed low-level offenses and paid their debt to society, remain hampered by old criminal records in their efforts to get back on track. The justice system must always evolve toward fairness and equality."
The county joins Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and others in the state that have reviewed and expunged tens of thousands of past cannabis convictions.
New Zealand: Voters to Decide on National Marijuana Legalization Referendum
Wellington, New Zealand: Voters in New Zealand will decide this September on a national referendum to legalize the possession and use of cannabis by those age 20 and older.
The measure, entitled the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill, is one of two ballot questions that will be decided alongside the General Election on September 19, 2020.
The binding referendum mandates lawmakers to establish rules and regulations permitting the commercial production and retail sale of cannabis and cannabis-infused products. Those 20 years of age or older would be permitted to purchase up to 14 grams of herbal cannabis per day, or to grow their own plants (up to four plants per household).
According to nationwide survey data published in March, 54 percent of New Zealanders say that they intend to vote 'yes' on the marijuana referendum.
Under current New Zealand law, the adult use of marijuana is criminalized, punishable by up to three months in jail.
Study: CBD Products Marketed Toward Pets Suffer from Quality Control Issues
Ithaca, NY: The percentage of CBD available in commercially marketed pet products is often inconsistent with what is advertised on the products' labels, according to data published in the journal Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports.
Investigators affiliated with Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine analyzed 29 commercially available CBD/hemp products marketed toward dog owners.
While all of the products contained levels of THC below federal limits (0.3 percent), most products (65 percent) contained percentages of CBD that conflicted with the product's labeling. Two of the products tested contained no cannabinoids.
Researchers also reported that four products contained heavy metal contamination, with lead being the most prominent contaminant identified. Most manufacturers failed to fulfill researchers' request for paperwork authenticating the sourcing of the hemp plants used in their products.
They concluded: "In summary, until further guidelines can be defined by the FDA, state specific laws, Federal Trade Commission and the USDA, there is a need for intervention by veterinarians and technicians into this ever-expanding world of low-THC Cannabis sativa supplements. ... The range and variability of products in the veterinary market is alarming and veterinary professionals should only consider manufacturers providing product safety data in the form of a COA (certificate of analysis), pharmacokinetic, and clinical application data when clients solicit information regarding product selection."
Third-party analysis of commercially available CBD products marketed for human consumption have similarly reported inconsistencies in product quality and purity.
Full text of the study, "Cannabinoid, terpene, and heavy metal analysis of 29 over-the-counter commercial veterinary hemp supplements," appears in Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports.
Study: Patients Show Few Changes in Driving Performance Following Marijuana Inhalation
Toronto, Canada: Patients who regularly use medical cannabis show little difference in their simulated driving performance following marijuana inhalation, according to data published in the April edition of the Journal of Concurrent Disorders.
A team of investigators from the University of Toronto, Health Canada, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health assessed the influence of cannabis on simulated driving performance among a group of daily medical cannabis consumers. Participants were asked to refrain from engaging in any cannabis use during the 48 hours immediately prior to the study sessions. Fourteen subjects completed the study.
Subjects performed on a driving simulator prior to and 30 minutes after inhaling cannabis. Three separate driving scenarios were programmed into the simulator.
Subjects decreased their overall mean speed following cannabis consumption. Cannabis smoking did not appear to influence subjects' ability to maintain lateral control or their brake reaction time. Despite refraining from the use in cannabis in the days leading up to the study, subjects nonetheless possessed residual levels of THC (4ng/ml on average) in their blood prior to smoking marijuana during the study session.
Authors concluded: "The purpose of the present pilot study was to investigate the effects of therapeutic cannabis use on simulated driving. It was found that therapeutic cannabis reduced overall mean speed with no effects on straightaway mean speed, straightaway lateral control, or brake latency. ... [F]urther investigation of the effects of therapeutic cannabis on driving are warranted."
A prior literature review published in the journal of the German Medical Association concluded, "Patients who take cannabinoids at a constant dosage over an extensive period of time often develop tolerance to the impairment of psychomotor performance, so that they can drive vehicles safely."
Full text of the study, "Effects of therapeutic cannabis on simulated driving: A pilot study," appears in the Journal of Concurrent Disorders.
Case Report: Oral THC Improves Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Paris, France: The daily administration of synthetic oral THC (dronabinol) is associated with an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms in a patient with CIPO (chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction), according to a case report published in the Journal of Parenteral and Eternal Nutrition. CIPO is a rare pediatric disorder in which intestinal nerve or muscle problems prevent food, fluid and air from moving through the stomach and intestines.
A team of French and Swiss researchers reported on the experience of a 19-year-old female CIPO patient following her twice-daily use of dronabinol capsules over a period of 15 months.
Investigators reported that the patient experienced improvements in abdominal pain, distension, and vomiting during treatment. Her appetite also improved. She reported no major adverse side effects from her use of dronabinol.
Prior to receiving oral THC, the patient had previously reported similar benefits following her use of smoked cannabis.
Authors concluded: "This paper reports a fortuitous discovery of positive cannabinoid effects on CIPO symptoms in a patient, leading to significant relief of GI complaints. Although further observations are required to consolidate these findings, this case may be helpful for some patients with the same condition."
Full text of the study, "Cannabinoids improve gastrointestinal symptoms in a parenteral nutrition–dependent patient with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction," appears in the Journal of Parenteral and Eternal Nutrition.
