Cannabis legalization is spreading its roots globally. Uruguay was the first country to fully legalize recreational cannabis in 2013. Canada became the second country to legalize marijuana in 2018. Many other countries have followed suit. However, the legality of medical and recreational cannabis varies for different countries. The US still hasn’t made a decision about cannabis legalization.

Thailand promotes medical marijuana products

Last year, Thailand became the first southeast nation to legalize medical cannabis. Thailand is ready to advance its medical marijuana market. According to a Forbes article this week, Thailand removed low-level cannabis and hemp extracts from its list of banned narcotic substances.

As part of the new development plan, Thailand will allow CBD extracts with less than 0.2% THC. Thailand plans to include CBD extracts to make medicine, cosmetics, and food. The country plans to grow its agricultural income through hemp.

Thailand’s medical cannabis market is gaining popularity. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that Southeast Asia’s venture capital firm Expara plans to raise $30 million by December to invest in cannabis-related technology.

Canada on track to lead in the cannabis industry

Canada legalized cannabis in 2018. Now, the country is set for “Cannabis 2.0” next month, which is the legalization of cannabis-infused edibles for recreational use. Stay with us to learn more.

Canada leads the cannabis industry. The country introduced the four major marijuana players that dominate the industry. Canopy Growth (CGC) (WEED) is the largest marijuana company. Constellation Brands (STZ) invested in the company. Canopy Growth generated a 94% increase in recreational dried cannabis sales in the first quarter of 2020. The company also saw a 209% YoY increase in international medical cannabis revenues. Canopy Growth plans to launch new products after Cannabis 2.0 with Martha Stewart. The stock has gained 12% in September.

Aurora Cannabis (ACB) has a strong international presence. The company generated strong revenue growth in the third quarter. Canadian consumer and medical sales rose 37% and 8%, while international sales rose 40%. The company expects to generate net revenues of 100 million Canadian dollars and 107 million Canadian dollars. The company is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter results on September 12. Aurora Cannabis has risen 6.5% in September.

Aphria (APHA), a new entry in the marijuana market, focuses more on medical cannabis. The company did well in the recent quarter. Aphria’s revenues for adult-use marijuana rose 158% YoY. The company also reported a positive EBITDA of 0.209 million Canadian dollars. The stock has risen 9.4% in September.

With Canada hitting the second wave of legalization, the companies are expanding their edible business. The FDA still challenges the use of CBD-based products in the US. The FDA could hinder some of the companies if they plan to launch their products in the US.

What is Mexico’s stance on cannabis?

While Mexico decriminalized the possession of a small amount of marijuana in 2009, it hasn’t fully legalized marijuana. However, the country legalized medicinal marijuana with a THC content of less than 1% in 2017. Mexico could benefit from New Mexico’s medical marijuana program, which focuses on out-of-state patients. Last week, the Boston Globe reported that a new ruling passed in New Mexico allows out-of-state patients to access the program.

Previously, I discussed that Texas has strict marijuana laws. Recreational marijuana is illegal. However, Texas legalized medical marijuana in 2015.

The THC content allowed in medical marijuana is pretty low in Texas. The state only allows less than 0.5% THC with a doctor’s approval. Also, less than 0.3% THC marijuana is allowed without a doctor’s approval. The program could help patients from neighboring states and Mexico. Mexico’s economy could benefit from cannabis legalization since it generates higher tax revenues and employment growth.

New Zealand’s 2020 referendum

The fate of recreational cannabis legalization in New Zealand depends on the referendum next year during its general elections. Recreational marijuana is still illegal in the country. New Zealand considers cannabis to be an illegal drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1975. New Zealanders have an opportunity to vote for cannabis legalization. In order to make the case stronger, a Guardian article stated that the Helen Clark Foundation published a report. Specifically, the report presents a case favoring cannabis legalization.

What about other countries?

The cannabis plant has two components—CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the psychoactive component that’s responsible for the “high.”

CBD’s benefits are widely known. A Harvard Health Blog in January discussed how CBD helps relieve insomnia, stress, anxiety, and spasticity. CBD also helps treat epilepsy. Medical marijuana is legal in many countries due to its various health benefits. Notably, medical marijuana is legal in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Peru, Poland, and Portugal.

Based on a team of marijuana experts, a Vice article mentioned a few countries that might be next to fully legalize cannabis. The report predicts that Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Thailand, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Chile will legalize marijuana soon.

Luxembourg also plans to legalize cannabis. Recently, the country’s health minister confirmed the plan. Luxembourg already legalized medicinal cannabis. Possession for recreational use is decriminalized for a small amount.

Where’s the US heading with cannabis legalization?

Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 33 states in the US. In contrast, recreational marijuana is legal in ten states and Washington DC. Marijuana isn’t legal at the federal level. Cannabis is gaining popularity among Americans. A Gallup showed that 86% of Americans support legalizing marijuana due to its health benefits.

Previously, I discussed how marijuana’s popularity and benefits pushed presidential election candidates to support legalization.

Also, I discussed that since cannabis is recession-proof, it can help boost US economic growth. We should also consider how the agriculture industry could benefit from cannabis legalization.

Two drug officials at the White House want more research at the state level to learn about marijuana’s pros and cons before it reaches the federal level. President Trump reiterated his administration’s decision to leave marijuana at the state level. Celebrities endorse making cannabis mainstream. Legalizing marijuana at the federal level could keep illicit and black market deals in check, which would ultimately boost tax revenues. There are a few disadvantages due to certain headwinds.

Considering that other countries are legalizing marijuana, will the US follow suit? Can all of these efforts push the US to step up and legalize cannabis?

Stay with us for the latest updates.

Since the legalisation of cannabis for medical use in America and a number of other countries, more and more people are turning to cannabis to treat symptoms of PTSD.

A new UCL study, however, reports that more research is needed to determine whether it should be routine clinical practise to prescribe it as a treatment for PTSD.

The systematic review, published in the Journal of Dual Diagnosis, found that the active components of cannabis, called cannabinoids, may hold promise as a treatment for PTSD, particularly for reducing nightmares and helping people sleep.

Potential of cannabis to treat PTSD

The study’s lead author, Dr Chandni Hindocha (UCL Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit), said: “There has been a recent surge of interest in the use of cannabinoids to treat PTSD, particularly from military veterans, many of whom are already self-medicating or obtaining prescriptions in some American states.

“The lack of evidence supporting cannabis as a PTSD treatment is striking given the vast interest in it, and the large unmet need for better PTSD treatments”.

Both THC and CBD may be helpful at treating PTSD as they can change how the brain processes memories by acting on the brain’s in-built endocannabinoid system, which also regulates other brain functions that are affected by PTSD.

The researchers say there are still many unanswered questions about the safety and efficacy of cannabis-based medications for PTSD, and potential long-term effects such as addiction or a risk of psychosis.

The existing evidence shows promise, however, as some studies showed that cannabis products appeared to reduce PTSD symptoms such as insomnia and nightmares.

More research is needed

The study’s senior author, Dr Michael Bloomfield of UCL Psychiatry and the Traumatic Stress Clinic, St Pancras Hospital, said: “Based on the evidence, we cannot yet make any clinical recommendations about using cannabinoids to treat PTSD. Current prescribing of cannabinoids for PTSD is not backed up by high quality evidence, but the findings certainly highlight the need for more research, particularly long-term clinical trials.

“Many of these studies have been conducted in military veterans, but we also need to be looking at other groups, as PTSD can vary depending on the nature of the trauma so different approaches may benefit different groups”.

Dr Hindocha added: “Unfortunately, medicinal uses of cannabis have historically been difficult to study due to legal restrictions, so it could take a long time before there is enough evidence to support clinical recommendations. New approaches are needed to make the most of existing evidence in the meantime.”

What is PTSD?

PTSD can be a debilitating condition and currently impact around 1% of the UK population, typically consisting of re-experiencing a traumatic event through intrusive memories, flashbacks or nightmares, and often involves hyper-reactivity (a state of constant vigilance) and insomnia.

The study was conducted by researchers at UCL and the University of Amsterdam and was supported by the National Institute for Health Research UCLH Biomedical Research Centre.

President Trump announced on Wednesday that the federal government would award nearly $2 billion in grants to state and local governments to help fight the opioid epidemic. The funding to improve access to treatment and support a system to collect near real-time data on the nation’s ongoing drug overdose crisis was announced at a White House press conference on Wednesday afternoon by the president and Trump administration officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that more than $900 million in new funding for a cooperative agreement between states, territories, and localities will advance the understanding of the opioid abuse epidemic and improve prevention and response activities over three years. The CDC has released $301 million for the first year of grants.

The federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration will award another $932 million in State Opioid Response grants to all 50 states, according to HHS. By the end of the year, the agency will have awarded more than $9 billion dollars in grants to state and local governments to improve access to treatment and prevention services since 2017.

“These funds will be delivered to the communities where their help is most needed,” Trump said.

Addressing a National Epidemic

Over the last two decades, more than 400,000 lives have been lost to drug overdoses related to opioids. But the tide may be turning. Provisional counts show a 5% drop in overdose deaths from 2017 to 2018 and opioid overdose deaths went down by 2.8%, according to HHS data.

“Our country is seeing the first drop in overdose deaths in more than two decades, more Americans are getting treatment for addiction, and lives are being saved,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement. “At the same time, we are still far from declaring victory. We will continue executing on the Department’s 5-Point strategy for combating the opioid crisis, and laying the foundation for a healthcare system where every American can access the mental healthcare they need.”

The agency’s strategy to address the opioid epidemic includes better addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery services; better data, better pain management, better targeting of overdose-reversing drugs, and better research.

In October 2017, President Trump declared the nation’s opioid crisis a public health emergency and the following year the White House released the Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse. The three-part plan includes reducing demand and over-prescription, reducing the supply of illicit drugs, and improving access to evidence-based treatment and prevention services.

According to a large-scale study of American high school students, legalising medical cannabis has actually led to a drop in its use among teenagers.

The study, published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, used the results of an anonymous survey given to more than 800,000 high school students across 45 states to calculate the number of teens who smoke cannabis.

Less use where medical cannabis is legal

In states that have enacted medical cannabis laws, the study found that the number of teenage cannabis users was 1.1% less that in states that have not. This result was found even when taking into account other variable factors such as economic trends, state demographics and youth characteristics, as well as tobacco and alcohol policies.

Dr Rebekah Levine Coley, a Professor of psychology at Boston College, who led the study, said: “We found that for every group of 100 adolescents, one fewer will be a current user of marijuana following the enactment of medical cannabis law.

“When we looked at particular subgroups of adolescents, this reduction became even more pronounced. For example, 3.9% less Black and 2.7% less Hispanic youths now use marijuana in states with medical cannabis laws”.

The survey

This particular survey took place over a period of 16 years – allowing the researchers to compare changes in teenage use of cannabis in states that have enacted medical cannabis laws. Results from the study showed that the longer the laws had been in place the less the use of cannabis was amongst teenagers.

Dr Coley said: “Some people have argued that decriminalising or legalising medical marijuana could increase cannabis use amongst young people, either by making it easier for them to access, or by making it seem less harmful.

“However, we saw the opposite effect. We were not able to determine why this is, but other research has suggested that after the enactment of medical cannabis laws, youths’ perceptions of the potential harm of cannabis use actually increased.

“Alternatively, another theory is that as cannabis laws are becoming more lenient, parents may be increasing their supervision of their children, or changing how they talk to them about drug use”.

The influence of state laws

One of the prominent findings of the study was that legalising recreational marijuana had no noticeable effect on adolescents’ cannabis use, except for a small decline in marijuana smoking among 14-year-olds and people from Hispanic backgrounds, and an increase in use among white adolescents.

Neither policies had any effect on frequent or heavy users of marijuana, suggesting that these students are not easily influenced by state laws.