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French MPs okay budget for medical marijuana experiments

Lawmakers in France, one of few European countries to still ban medical cannabis use, approved the budget Friday for two years of patient experiments that advocates hope will pave the way for a change in the law.

The National Assembly voted for the tests, already given the green light by France's ANSM medicines regulator, to be paid out of the social security budget for 2020.

"I sincerely hope that the experiments can begin in the first quarter of 2020," junior health minister Christelle Dubos said after the vote.

Sanders' Cannabis Plan Tackles Vital Need For Equity In Industry's Future

On Thursday, presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders announced his proposal for legalizing cannabis within three months of taking office.

Unlike many cannabis game-plans to date, including those of many of the industry’s hottest players, Sanders’ proposal puts the issues of full legalization, criminal expungement, and community reinvestment front and center, where they should be.

From Seed-to-Sale: What Cannabis Operators Need to Know Before They Grow

The cannabis market is one of the fastest-growing markets. By the end of 2025, Grand View Research estimates that the global legal cannabis market will grow to $66.3 billion. Its increasing legalization and use in the medical field, as well as recreational applications, are some reasons driving its growth.

U.S. Senate looks at cannabis health & policy

Today, the U.S. Senate hosted a hearing titled “Marijuana and America’s Health: Questions and Issues for Policy Makers.”The hearing featured an array of expert witnesses and included input from the U.S. Surgeon General himself. Much of the conversation focused on repeating the dangers of cannabis consumption — particularly the “extra potent” forms of THC lawmakers fixated on — though there were a few moments of clarity around concrete policy steps forward.

The hearing was hosted by the Senate’s Caucus on International Narcotics Control, which is co-chaired by Senator John Cornyn of Texas and California Senator Diane Feinstein. Both Cornyn and Feinstein have expressed anti-cannabis perspectives on the past, with Feinstein in particular working to block pro-cannabis legislation for decades. Earlier this year, however, she did take the small step of introducing a bill to encourage medical research on cannabis and CBD.

Cornyn started the hearing saying he and Feinstein have been looking to have a forum on the public health consequences of marijuana legalization, saying he believed the U.S. lacks the short- and long-term science on a variety of marijuana topics.

“What type of evidence is conclusive enough to make a policy recommendation on?” he asked.

“It’s critical for people like Senator Feinstein and I to understand these things.”

Feinstein agreed with her Republican counterpart and noted “the point of today is to better understand marijuana’s impact on public health.” She added: “I’m told much of what we know is anecdotal.”

Feinstein said it is her belief that science should inform policy, and that’s why she introduced legislation to help remove some of the roadblocks to research. “It’s important we learn more about appropriate dosing and delivery mechanisms,” she said.

Federal Medical Officials Warn About Cannabis Dangers & Push for Research

Dr. Jerome Adams, Surgeon General of the United States, kicked off the testimony on what he called a complex issue that demands our attention and our action.

“I’ve spoken with health department officials across the country, my friends, many of them reluctant overseers of an enormous and poorly informed public health experiment,” Adams told lawmakers. “Over and over, I hear rapid escalating concern about the normalization of marijuana use, and the impact of a false perception of its safety is having on our communities, and specifically our young people and our moms-to-be.”

Adams was followed by Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. She talked about standard issues like cognitive performance and the impact of marijuana on the developing mind. Then her testimony skewed a little darker, as Volkow noted serious mental illnesses and suicides in this country are on the rise. “And while multiple factors are likely contributing to this rise, it is imperative to understand if exposure to high-potency cannabis during adolescence is one of them,” she said. “High-potency marijuana can trigger acute psychotic episodes, which is one of the main causes for emergency department visits associated with cannabis use. Which are also rising.”

Throughout the testimony, both Volkow and Adams compared cannabis to tobacco and alcohol, relevant comparisons for the fact that while both substances have negative health consequences, both are federally legal. (Neither Volkow nor Adams ever intimated that they supported federal cannabis legalization.)

At one point, Cornyn asked the panel if the current cannabis landscape reminded them of what Americans learned about Big Tobacco before.

“Sir, we’ve seen this play before,” Adams replied. “Cocaine was thought to be an effective medicine and harmless. Once upon a time, opioids were thought to be good for whatever ails you, and to not have any negative effects or a higher dosage limit. Not that I am in any way, shape, or form comparing marijuana to those substances, but from a policy point of view, I think the lesson we should have learned is that we have to make sure the science is leading the policy and that the tail isn’t wagging the dog.”

Adams said many of the things people are using marijuana for are unproven and overstated, “and in my opinion we are downplaying risk.”

In late August, Adams put out a Surgeon General’s advisory about the consequences of marijuana use on the developing brain.

Cornyn later asked Adams to go further, and to state if cannabis use would be damaging to a developed adult brain and if he would advise adult-use cannabis.

“As the Surgeon General of the United States, the first thing I would way is absolutely not,” Adams replied. “There are plenty of substances out there which adults can partake of that are not only not harm free, but my office had a long history of trying to reign the horse back in on. You mention tobacco, alcohol is one of the top killers in our country… I think, again, we need to be careful about the normalization of behavior.”

Adams said of the other dangers of marijuana usage is that “we don’t know what we don’t know.”

Both Adams and Volkow mentioned that the Schedule I status of cannabis inhibits productive federal research on the substance.

Of course, the vaping health scare also earned some air time. Feinstein asked about the safety of vaping, citing the 33 deaths reported by health officials. The Surgeon General replied he was very concerned and spoke of collaborative efforts with the Center for Disease Control and Department of Health and Human Services.

“A large number of these cases have been associated with vaping THC, particularly THC that has been obtained on the black market,” Adams said, before being cut off by Feinstein, who wanted him to explain what happens inside the lungs after a tainted vape is consumed.

Doctors Provide Some Nuance in Second Senate Panel

In the second panel of the day before the same Senate caucus, Dr. Robert Fitzgerald, a professor of pathology at the University of California-San Diego, testified about the data around the impact legal cannabis has had on traffic accidents and related fatalities.

Dr. Staci Gruber, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, also testified, and quickly made a much-needed distinction that the conversation of the day had been lacking: most research focuses on high-THC recreational consumption, rather than what consumption looks like for medical cannabis patients. Gruber explained that, despite the country being in the middle of a “green rush,” it’s tough for people to navigate facts.

“Nearly all of what we know about marijuana comes from studies of recreational marijuana users,” Gruber said. “These studies typically focus on those with chronic heavy marijuana use. Data across studies is inconsistent but generally reflects on those who use marijuana and those who don’t spanning a number of areas that we’ve heard allusions to already including cognitive performance.”

Gruber argued later that CBD might have the potential to counteract some of the negative effects THC might have on your brain, “but it’s virtually undetectable in recreational products.”

Gruber went back to making sure the conversation separates medical users from recreational. She said in some cases medical patients showed improved cognitive performance.

“The Schedule I status of marijuana leads to a number of obstacles in conducting research,” she said. “Policy at this point has clearly outpaced science, and as the nation has warmed to the use of both medical and recreational marijuana, the need for empirically found data is critical in order to maximize benefit and reduce harm.”

Her testimony was followed by Dr. Sean Hennessy, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. He was a member of the 16-person committee that wrote the 2017 National Academy of Science report on the then-existing literature about the potential health effects of cannabis-derived products, both therapeutic and harmful. 

As Hennessey testified, the report recommended public health agencies fund a cannabis research agenda, federal agencies convene to create benchmarks for high-quality research and fund improvements to the public health surveillance system, and federal agencies should find regulatory barriers and think of strategies to create the infrastructure needed to conduct cannabis research.

Dr. Madeline Meier, an assistant professor of psychology at Arizona State University, finished the panel by speaking on her research into marijuana’s effects on cognitive performance in 2012.

Cannabis jobs: how cannabis companies are flooding the job market

As the cannabis industry begins to heat up, companies are beginning to aggressively seek employees to fill positions.

Nearly two decades ago, cannabis was reintroduced into US states such as California, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington. Since then, states like Michigan and Illinois decided to legalise adult-use of cannabis leading to an increase in cannabis jobs.

The rapid expansion of the market is creating a large influx of jobs in America. According to a report by Glassdoor, there were a total of 1,512 cannabis jobs open in December 2018, increasing by 76% compared to the same period a year ago.

Cannabis jobs

ZipRecruiter highlighted that in 2017 the number of cannabis industry jobs grew by 445%, outpacing both the technology (254%) and healthcare (70%) industries. Furthermore, following the legalisation of hemp-derived CBD products, industry experts noted that the job demand continued to grow.

HempStaff, a hemp and cannabis recruiting firm, mentioned in March that 80% of its job listings are for upper-level positions such as Chief Financial Officers and accounting managers. However, HempStaff Chief Executive Officer James Yagielo also noted that as hemp factories begin to ramp up production rates, companies will need “factory line people, machinists and other types of workers.”

Additionally, positions such as accountants, lawyers, IT specialists, financial experts, researchers, and lab technicians are also in high demand. Glassdoor noted that brand ambassadors and sales associates each accounted for 5% of total cannabis job openings in 2018, which represented the largest shares for individual positions.

On the other hand, the overall professional and technical jobs accounted for 53% of the job openings. Glassdoor also mentioned that the discrepancy is largely due to the wide range of available positions.

A growing industry

However, as the industry continues to develop, various job positions are expected to see larger demand as businesses strive to comply with regulatory matters. As a result of the growing workforce, Fortune Business Insights projects that the global cannabis industry will grow from USD 10.6 Billion in 2018 to USD 97.35 Billion by the end of 2026.

Additionally, the market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 32.6% during the forecast period.

In March, Leafly reported that jobs for the legal marijuana industry totaled 211,000 full-time workers, with 64,389 of them being hired in 2018 alone. While the data does not include employment statistics after the passage of the US Farm Bill, Leafly Deputy Editor Bruce Barcott said jobs in both industries should be comparable.

Joy Beckerman, President of the Hemp Industries Association, says that jobs for the hemp industry will dwarf the marijuana industry. Specifically, many companies are looking for employees in the hemp industry because of the looser regulations for the plant. Now, notable companies such as Amazon, CVS, and Walgreens all sell hemp-derived CBD products nationwide.

At the large scale that these companies operate at, wholesale bulks of product are often required in order to meet consumer demands. Therefore, jobs such as cultivators, packagers, testers, and deliverers are set to be in high demand. “Job creation is going to happen in every economic bracket,” said Erica McBride Stark, Executive Director of the National Hemp Association, according to CNBC.

“The hemp industry will create high-skilled management jobs, labour-type jobs and everything in between,” Stark said. “It’s going to touch all of society.”

8 cannabis-infused treats to try for Halloween

Halloween is about a week away, meaning we're all on the hunt for a few treats that can satisfy our sweet tooth. And while we may not be young enough to partake in trick or treating anymore, that doesn't mean we should rid ourselves from all the fun in the spooky holiday.

Instead of all those pieces of candy we got marching from house to house in our costumes years ago, we have some alternative options to consider -- cannabis-infused treats -- which are sure to make you just as happy now as coming home with a bag of candy as a kid on Halloween back when. Just remember to keep these away from the kids, because we wouldn't want them to get the wrong kind of "sugar high," if you catch our drift.

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Image credit: Kiva Confections

1. Halloween-Inspired Blood Orange Camino (Kiva Confections)

Specifically made just for Halloween, Kiva's Blood Orange Camino gummies are guaranteed to offer a "scary good time" this October 31. Paired perfectly with either a horror movie or carving pumpkins, the intense, sweet flavor of Blood Orange alongside an exhilarating blend of sativa terpenes will awaken your inner thrill-seeker all month long.

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2. INSPIRED Pastilles (Beboe)

A candied companion to the Inspired Sativa Blend Vaporizer Pen, Beboe's Pastilles use the finest organic ingredients using cold water processing to provide a clean, subtle, euphoric high. With each pastille containing 5mg of THC and 3mg of CBD, these treats have a smooth and subtle taste, while still bringing a little more vividness to the day.

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3. Marshmallow Bon Bons (Greater Goods)

Infused with full spectrum hemp oil, these chewy, soft vegan marshmallows are surrounded by fudgy, organic dark chocolate and topped with chocolate sea salt to provide the most incredible flavors in just one bite. And with just 90mg of hemp derived CBD and less than .03%THC, the impact won't be too much to handle if having a couple before bedtime.

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4. Salted Caramel Almonds In Dark Chocolate Bites (Satori Chocolates)

Packed with 100mg of THC in the entire package (servings per package: 12), if chocolate is where you want a little high from this Halloween, Satori Chocolates is the place to get yours. Whether it's the salted caramel option mentioned here, or one of their other flavors -- which includes California raisins in milk chocolate and Wild Strawberries in dark chocolate, among others — there are plenty of different potency levels for everyone.

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5. Pomegranate 1:1 THC:CBD Hybrid Enhanced Gummies (WYLD)

When going on an outdoor adventure this fall, WYLD's Pomegranate 1:1 THC:CBD Hybrid Enhanced Gummies are an ideal travel companion to bring along. Made to provide balance and provide an enjoyable high for both mind and body, these are perfect for both beginners and regular cannabis edible users.

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6. Pineapple Delight Bites (Lifted Edibles)

If you like fresh pineapple, then Lifted Edibles' Pineapple Delight Bites are the perfect treat for you, because these feel as if you bit right into the fruit itself. Packed with a ton of flavor thanks to the additional coconut coating, whether you're taking the CBD version or the higher THC version, you're going to enjoy every bite.

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7. Caramel Taffy Hemp CBD Edibles (Cheeba Chews)

Colorado-based Cheeba Chews is one of America's favorite edible, and the Caramel Taffy Hemp CBD edible has to be at the top of the list. The taffy offers consistent and potent flavors, but, beware, because these treats are not for the faint of heart -- so proceed with caution if you are new to the edible scene. But for those who can withstand the potency, the award-winning flavor will bring lots of happiness.

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8. Peanut Butter Chocolate Therapy Cookies (Dr. Norm's)

Each Dr. Norm’s cookie contains 15mg of 99.9 percent pure CBD isolate, meaning you will get the full benefit of CBD without tasting much of it. The result? A high-quality snack that is perfect for beginners. Ideal for pain management or anxiety, Dr. Norm's cookies have two great flavors to try out, but the Peanut Butter Chocolate option is incredibly tasty.

What prohibition's failure means for the legalisation of cannabis - BBC News

Economists have a bit of an image problem. People think we shamelessly massage statistics, overconfidently make terrible predictions, and are no fun at drinks parties.

Perhaps some of the blame for this lies with the man who, a century ago, was probably the most famous economist in the world - Irving Fisher.

It was Fisher who notoriously claimed, in October 1929, the stock market had reached "a permanently high plateau".

Nine days later, came the huge stock market crash that led to the Great Depression.

Why Legalizing Marijuana Could Give the U.S. Economy a Big Boost

A lot of the talk on the markets these days is about a possible recession. Falling interest rates have raised concerns about how much longer the U.S. economy can keep going at its current pace. A big trade war with China doesn't help things, either.

However, one industry that could have a significant positive impact on the economy may not get the chance to help. I'm talking about the cannabis industry.