New Study Suggests Cannabis May Help Treat Obesity

A study published this week by researchers from the University of California, Riverside, determined that cannabis can help treat obesity and diabetes. SFGATE reports.

Researchers found that when given a concentrated cannabis oil, obese mice lost weight and saw benefits in their metabolic functions.

UC Riverside professor Nicholas DiPatrizio, lead author of the study, told SFGATE that the research could lead to new dietary therapies.

“We can develop molecules that can be based on cannabis, isolate them and maybe even do better than nature. We’re just at the beginning,” DiPatrizio told SFGATE.

“We’re not saying people should use cannabis to reverse diabetes. We’d like to find specifically the chemical involved that doesn’t lead to intoxication. That’s what’s exciting about this work. The intoxicating chemical alone doesn’t.” — DiPatrizio, in report

DiPatrizio said the study aimed to investigate data showing that cannabis users have fewer problems related to weight and diabetes than non-users.

California’s cannabis industry generated nearly $248 million in tax revenue during the first quarter of 2026, according to the California Department of Taxation and Fee Administration.

The total includes $143.6 million in cannabis excise and $104.3 million in cannabis sales taxes. The figures do not account for unpaid returns or those still being processed, officials at a press release.

Quarterly tax revenue represents a drop from the previous quarter, which officials revised to $257.6 million (from $255.1 million) due to amended and delayed returns.

Additionally, based on the latest figures, the market’s total tax revenue since California began sales of adult-use cannabis now exceeds $8.1 billion, including $4.34 billion in excise taxes, more than $3.28 billion in sales taxes and $500.6 million in a now-suspended cultivation tax, which lawmakers is eliminated in the year 2022.

Cannabis excise duty is applied at the retail level based on gross receipts. State sales tax is added after the excise tax is applied.

Meanwhile, in March, the Los Angeles City Council asked city officials draft language for an “amnesty” program for the city’s cannabis businesses, which collectively owed hundreds of millions in back taxes and fees.