A New Study Hopes to Determine if Cannabis Could be a Treatment for Concussions

One of the most common head injuries is the concussion – and surprisingly it’s the one we can do the very least about. If you hit your head hard enough it can cause your brain to swell – which can cause headaches and all sorts of other neurological problems. But unfortunately there is no real medical treatment for a concussion – just rest, fluids and staying awake (or at least having someone to check on you and wake you up if you do sleep) are usually recommended. However, what if there were a medicine that would effectively reduce swelling with little to no side effects that might also be able to prevent further neurological damage?

Massachusetts Marijuana Retail Shops Delayed 6 Months by a Few Legislators

On Wednesday about half a dozen state legislators in Massachusetts decided to delay the implementation of cannabis retail sales in the state from January 2018 to the summer of 2018. The legislators – who decided to make this move during the holidays when few of their colleagues were in town – say they need more time to fine-tune regulations and set up the bureaucracy; this is despite the fact that lawmakers in Colorado somehow managed to set up retail shops in the same timeframe approved last month by MA voters.

Docs May Endorse Medical Marijuana Use Whether Legal or Not

Image Source: CAROLDOEY

More than 20% of medical marijuana users live in states that have not legalized its use, a finding that suggests physicians may be recommending the drug regardless of its legal status. In addition, 10% of medical marijuana users also report using the drug recreationally, new data show.

Cannabis and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Throughout its prohibition, cannabis has been considered a self-medicated “coping” drug, especially in individuals with anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Government funded studies examining the link between cannabis and PTSD frequently use the term “marijuana abuse disorder,” a co-occurring problem in need of rehabilitation.

Hoban Law to DEA: We’ll See You in Court

“We will see the Federal Government in Court” says Hoban Law Group, one of America’s most experienced firms in the cannabis and hemp industries.

Do Farmers Have a Legal Right to Grow Cannabis?

The Wenatchee Valley in central Washington State, where many outdoor cannabis farmers are fighting for their right to grow the crop.

When Jackson County, Oregon, tried to ban medical cannabis cultivation on some rural land last April, farmers there adopted an unexpected defense: They threatened to sue for lost income. According to state law, local governments can’t stop rural landowners from engaging in agricultural activity without compensating them for the lost value of the banned enterprise.

Licensing medical marijuana stirs up trouble for states: VIDEO

Photo by Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

The seven lucky balls that popped out of the Arizona Department of Health Services lottery machine in October produced big winners — not in the state’s Powerball game, but in the competition to make money in the medical marijuana industry.

The Arthritis Society of Canada Awards Grant for Fibromyalgia Research

The only way for us to determine how effective cannabis can be as a medicine is for us to continue researching it – and the Arthritis Society of Canada is doing their best to ensure that research will continue to be funded. They awarded a  grant to Dr. Mark Ware from McGill University to study medical marijuana as a treatment for fibromyalgia.

The Runner’s High and the Endocannabinoid System

If you are (or you’ve ever been) an avid runner or obsessive gym rat, you’re likely familiar with that coveted post-workout sense of euphoria popularized as the “runner’s high.” But what exactly is it? The runner’s high has been characterized in scientific literature as “pure happiness, elation, a feeling of unity with one’s self or nature, endless peacefulness, inner harmony, boundless energy, and a reduction in pain sensation.”

Mass. will be home to America's largest medical marijuana facility

IMAGE COURTESY CAMPANELLI

The facility is planned on a 53-acre tract in Freetown that had been owned by Boston Beer Co. (NYSE: SAM) for close to a decade. AmeriCann acquired the property this fall for $4.475 million in cash. Boston Beer had acquired the site in 2007 with plans to potentially develop a brewery there, but the project fell through. Prior to AmeriCann’s purchase, the 53-acre site has been listed for sale since 2008.

The Benefits of Cannabis on Your Self-Esteem

If I told you that your body is worthy of love, care, and compassion exactly the way it is right this second, would you believe me? If you’re suddenly squirming uncomfortably or rolling your eyes, the odds are you probably aren’t completely comfortable with your body. You’re not alone. A 2012 UK study conducted by the All Party Parliamentary Group found that “roughly two-thirds of adults suffer from negative body image.” Yes, all adults. This is not just a “women’s issue.” People of all genders struggle with body image.

Federal Report Finds Lowest Teen Cannabis Consumption Rate Since 1993

Despite fears that legalization could encourage more children to experiment with cannabis, consumption by US middle- and high-school students is currently at its lowest point since the 1990s. That’s according to results of an annual report released Tuesday by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Could a Major Marijuana Hurdle be Removed in 2017?

Access to basic financial services could get easier for the pot industry in the year to come.

The marijuana industry could be described as the fastest growing industry  the United States. Though there are numerous industries that have 20%-30% compound annual growth potential throughout the remainder of the decade, few can claim to have what's expected to be nearly 24% annual compounded growth potential over the next 10 years, according to investment firm Cowen & Co. By 2026, we could be talking about $50 billion in legal pot sales in the U.S.

Does Marijuana Use Affect a Person's Vision?

Regular marijuana use may affect how well certain cells in the eye's retina function, a small new study finds.

Can Cannabis Help with Inflammation for Athletes?

Athletes today are bigger, stronger, and faster than they were just a decade or so ago. Men and women are becoming more competitive thanks in part to technological advancements designed to improve workouts and recovery time, as well as a better understanding of athlete physiology and the advent of new training exercises designed to maximize an athlete’s potential.

Senators Call for Cannabis Banking Reform

A bipartisan group of Senators sent a letter to the head of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), encouraging federal regulators to take action to give state-legal cannabis businesses access to banking services.

The FDA Approves Synthetic Liquid THC

Flickr @ Eelke

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first synthetic liquid form of THC. Synthetic THC is called dronabinol, which is the generic name of the more familiar brand name Marinol. The Marinol pill was first approved way back in 1985, but is way less popular than real medical cannabis.

Advocacy Group Filed A Petition Against The DEA For Misinformation With Regard To Cannabis Effects: VIDEO

Americans for Safe Access wants the DEA to change the claims on its website with regard to cannabis. (Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The never-ending battle between the effects of marijuana is currently brought to the court. The DEA shows some negative feedback with regard to cannabis. Now, an advocacy group filed a petition to reassess the statement as no evidence of such claims has been found.

Toddler Makes a Wish for Cannabis Research: VIDEO

The Higuera family knows all too well the horrible situation so many patients face – that moment when there are no other options to treat what ails you, and you’re forced to seek alternative options.

Top Cannabis Education Centers: Where to Go When You Want To Know

Many Americans are looking to join the cannabis industry, but growing up in the era of “Just Say No” means that even experienced cannabis consumers may have grown up with a lot of misinformation. To properly prepare to join the cannabis space, as with new professional venture, education is key.

New medical marijuana research could greenlight more uses in treatment

Despite the DEA’s resistance to reclassification, marijuana has a broad list of potential medical applications, from treating pain to neurological diseases. Photograph: Elaine Thompson/AP

Though the US Drug Enforcement Agency hasn’t reclassified marijuana, easier availability of the drug for study has the potential to unearth new medical uses

Despite its continuing hardline stance against marijuana, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has shown some signs of relenting and this summer opened the door to allowing more farms to grow cannabis for official research purposes. That’s an important step forward that may change the potential marijuana has for medical treatment. Up to this point, researchers have had to depend on just one farm at the University of Mississippi to supply cannabis for all studies.

DEA Annual Report Finds Decline in Smuggling, Teen Use, and Prosecution

The Drug Enforcement Administration released its 2016 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary recently, and a few items are catching the eye of cannabis advocates around the country.

Americans for Safe Access Petition the DEA to Provide Accurate Information

It was only a few months ago that the Drug Enforcement Administration made their decision, once again, to deny petitions to reschedule cannabis in the Controlled Substances Act. However, in an official DEA document titled “Denial of Petition to Initiate Proceedings to Reschedule Marijuana”, they made statements for the first time which actually contradict their fear mongering of the past, including: “At present, the available data do not suggest a causative link between marijuana use and the development of psychosis” and “Numerous large, longitudinal studies show that subjects who used marijuana do not have a greater incidence of psychotic diagnoses compared to those who do not use marijuana.”

Scientists Solve Structure of Receptor That Allows THC to Get You High

Crystal structure of the human CB1 receptor. The twisted ribbon structure in the foreground depicts the molecular structure of the CB1 receptor, as determined by X-ray crystallography (explained below). THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, is depicted on the side as yellow sticks. Photo credit: Yekaterina Kadyshevskaya, Stevens Laboratory, University of Southern California.

An international team of scientists from the United States and China recently made headlines by publishing a paper detailing the crystal structure of the human cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1). This is a major discovery, as the CB1 is responsible for THC’s euphoric “high” as well as some of its therapeutic applications. Knowing the crystal structure gives scientists a detailed 3-D picture of what the CB1 receptor looks like and how cannabinoids like THC physically interact with it to exert their effects. But why is this discovery so important to the future of medicine, and how did scientists manage to crack the riddle of its crystal structure?

Medical Marijuana, Inc. Unveils Video Series Revealing the Company’s Origins and Impact on Individual Lives and the Global Market: VIDEO

In an effort to spread awareness surrounding the many benefits cannabis and its natural cannabinoids hold for humanity, Medical Marijuana, Inc. has created a series of videos following the company from its very beginning to profile hemp, its interaction with the human endocannabinoid system (ECS), and the many ways it can be used to benefit the entire planet’s population.

Israeli Companies Ink Deal to Bring Medical Cannabis Inhaler to Market

Israel has long been ahead of the pack on medical cannabis research and development. A new partnership could help cement that reputation by bringing a clinical cannabis-delivery device to market.

Trump may determine fate of medical pot in Florida

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a stop Thursday at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Trump took time off from selecting the cabinet for his incoming administration to celebrate his victory in the general election. (Photo by Ty Wright/Getty Images)

More than 71 percent of voters approved an amendment expanding medical marijuana in Florida last month, but the fate of patients who rely on the drug and the burgeoning marijuana industry could largely depend on President-elect Donald Trump.