Welcome back everyone. Today’s cannabis news and research continues to show how quickly the U.S. is legalizing marijuana. There’s also a study that shows cannabis users are more physically active!. Check it out below.
Federal
Democrats Moving Forward with Marijuana Legalization
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that Democrats are moving forward with bills aimed at cannabis reform, with or without President Biden. The U.S. president has been against legalizing cannabis but that is not stopping Schumer from putting bills on the floor. These include the SAFE Banking Act and the CLAIMS Act.
He also said that the federal government should push states to expunge records for marijuana charges. He says a new bill will be submitted to the Senate “soon” and it may involve complete removal of cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.
States
Virginia
It seems that states are legalizing cannabis like wildfire! Just last week New York legalized cannabis, and before that New Jersey. Now, Virginia has become the first state in the South to do so as well.
Under the law, adults 21 and older will be able to use cannabis and grow their own. The law will begin in July.
Texas
Texas has one of the worst medical marijuana programs in the country. They only allow 0.5% THC in their medical marijuana products. This is far below the optimal dose since THC is the primary active ingredient in cannabis. A new bill (HB 1535) would increase that to a whopping 5% THC, still very low but progress, nevertheless. The bill would also allow more conditions to be approved for medical marijuana (cancer, pain, PTSD, and debilitating conditions as defined by the state).
Research
Marijuana Users Do Not Exercise Less
Stereotypes of marijuana use include laziness and decreased motivation. However, a recent study has shown that this does not seem to be reality.
The study published in the journal Preventive Medicine looked at a health survey conducted from 1994 to 2018. Over twenty thousand people were followed during this time, starting in their teenage years. The results of the study showed that regular users of cannabis did not exercise any less than those who do not use. Actually, people who use marijuana were seen to exercise more. This study dispels the old idea that cannabis users are lazy and exercise less. It also suggests that cannabis use may inspire people to exercise and promote physical activity.
We have taught patients on here that combining cannabis use with physical activity is an important part of treatment. Read more on that here.
See you guys next Friday for more updates! Enjoy your weekend! If you could, tell a friend about this blog so they too can stay informed.
