Wisconsin Supreme Court: Cannabis Odor Enough to Justify Vehicle Search

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that the odor of cannabis alone is enough to justify police searches of vehicles. This decision was made despite the fact that legal substances in the state, such as hemp, can smell exactly like illegal cannabis. The ruling overturns lower court decisions that stated police officers could not be sure if what they smelled was not a CBD product and, therefore, could not use the odor of cannabis as a reason to search a vehicle. This ruling is significant as it highlights the ongoing debate over the legality and regulation of cannabis and its derivatives.

[Source: Ganjapreneur]

Denver Psychedelic Conference Focuses on Regulatory Processes, Science

The Psychedelic Science 2023 conference in Denver attracted 12,000 attendees from around the world, reflecting the growing interest in the potential of substances like psilocybin and MDMA. The conference host, the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), outlined its plan for a federally backed psychedelic treatment regimen, expected to launch next year. However, speakers highlighted the regulatory challenges and high costs associated with setting up large-scale treatment centers.

The MAPS Public Benefit Corp. is planning to submit a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within a few months, with the hope of offering treatments by the end of 2024. The treatments, which could cost patients between $10,000 and $20,000, will focus on the 13 million patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

[Source: Green Market Report]

Judge Cancels Tweaks of Arkansas Medical Marijuana Laws

In a significant ruling, an Arkansas judge has declared that 27 changes made to the state’s medical marijuana laws by the Legislature are unconstitutional and therefore “void”. The changes, which included regulations around advertising, the amount of THC allowed in edibles, and details around tax collection and use, were made after Arkansas voters approved legalized medical marijuana sales in 2016. The state attorney general plans to appeal the ruling to the Arkansas Supreme Court. Despite the legal dispute, medical marijuana will continue to be sold by licensed dispensaries in the state.

[Source: MJBizDaily]

Teen Vaping Epidemic Sparks Global Action: US Faces Regulatory Dilemma

The rise of teen vaping has sparked global action, with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia taking different approaches to address the issue. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has faced criticism for its failure to effectively regulate flavored vapes that appeal to children. Meanwhile, the UK and Australia are taking decisive actions, with the UK considering a ban on disposable e-cigarettes and Australia planning to ban all disposable vapes, restrict nicotine levels, and prohibit the importation of non-prescription vaping products.

Despite the different approaches, all three countries are grappling with the potential health risks associated with teen vaping and the challenge of regulating the rapidly growing e-cigarette industry.

[Source: Tech Times]

Study: Illinois Teenagers Living Near Medical Cannabis Dispensaries Less Likely to Consume Cannabis

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has found that teenagers living in ZIP codes with operating medical cannabis dispensaries are less likely to consume cannabis than those living in areas without them. The study, which used data from the Illinois Youth Survey, found that about 18.3% of the youths living in Illinois ZIP codes with medical dispensaries reported consuming cannabis during the prior year compared with 22.4% of those who lived in ZIP codes without the businesses.

The researchers called the study’s findings “good news,” but also noted that there are still reasons to be cautious and continue monitoring things.

[Source: Ganjapreneur]