Marijuana

An increasing number of tourists are deciding to visit Colorado because of the state’s law allowing recreational marijuana, according to a study commissioned by the state’s tourism office.

Top headlines of the week from Friday, December 4- Thursday, December 10, 2015.

Several new studies on children with severe epilepsy who have been treated with the marijuana extract cannabidiol suggest some may be helped by the drug, NPR reports.

A new study suggests smoking high-potency marijuana may cause damage to nerve fibers responsible for communication between the brain’s two hemispheres.

Unintentional poisonings from marijuana edibles, particularly in children, are an unintended consequence of recreational marijuana legalization in Colorado, two experts say.

The American Medical Association said Monday it is advocating for medical and recreational marijuana products to have warnings against use during pregnancy, the Associated Press reports. The group said its decision is based on research that suggests marijuana use may be linked with premature birth, low birth weight and behavior problems in young children.

Marijuana entrepreneurs are using the Internet to allow customers legal online access to the drug, according to The New York Times. One company, HelloMD, connects customers with doctors who provide a “medical recommendation” for medical marijuana. Customers can then find a service that delivers marijuana from a dispensary.

Hillary Clinton says she now supports reclassifying marijuana to make it easier to conduct research on medical marijuana, according to NPR.

A bill filed Wednesday by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont would allow states to decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana, according to CNN. The bill would also decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.

Ohio voters rejected a ballot proposal Tuesday to legalize both recreational and medical marijuana, according to the Associated Press. About 65 percent of voters opposed the measure.

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont on Wednesday said “the time is long overdue for us to remove the federal prohibition on marijuana.” The Democratic presidential candidate spoke at an event that was live-streamed to about 300 college campuses nationwide.

Smart Approaches to Marijuana, an advocacy group that opposes legalization of recreational marijuana, this week released a scorecard of presidential candidates.

In light of these recent societal and political experiments surrounding the regulation of marijuana and with legalization ballot initiatives expected in several states in 2016, the American Society of Addiction Medicine updated their policy statement on marijuana so that it speaks to the broad public health and safety aspects of such measures.

The Marijuana Policy Project, a pro-legalization advocacy group, has re-released its scorecard of candidates’ stand on marijuana in advance of tonight’s Republican debate in Colorado.

According to the Oregonian, a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry, has found that marijuana use has more than doubled since 2001, with nearly 10 percent of adults across the country reporting marijuana use in 2013.

American teens are smoking less, as much as a 64 percent drop in recent years, but a new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that teen use of pot has doubled, according to HealthDay.

Bernie Sanders indicated he would support the legalization of recreational marijuana at Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate. His answer marked the first time a 2016 candidate has openly supported legalizing recreational marijuana, according to The Washington Post.

Hundreds of people in Massachusetts who are addicted to opioids are being treated with medical marijuana, according to the Boston Herald.

The percentage of drivers testing positive for marijuana or other illegal drugs is increasing, according to a new report. In 2013 and 2014, 15.1 percent of drivers tested positive for drugs, up from 12.4 percent in 2007.

Oregon began sales of recreational marijuana Thursday. Some dispensaries that already sell medical marijuana started selling recreational marijuana shortly after midnight.

Top headlines of the week from Friday, September 25- Thursday, October 1, 2015.

Many doctors are avoiding recommending medical marijuana to their patients, according to Boston.com. Some feel they don’t know enough about its effectiveness, and are worried about liability and lawsuits.

Top headlines of the week from Friday, September 18- Thursday, September 24, 2015.

A bill introduced this month by two U.S. representatives would prevent the Drug Enforcement Administration from using federal civil forfeiture funds to pay for its marijuana eradication program, according to Forbes.

Given all the legislative focus on marijuana laws, are we now at a point where we can determine the impact of marijuana legalization on children?