Introducing The Highrise 👀

“No banking bill will save us. No half step will fix this. No incremental tweak will correct decades of damage. Only legalization gives this industry oxygen," said Wanda James, Colorado-based cannabis operator-turned Congressional candidate in a press release. 

“Only legalization ends 280E. Only legalization ends the raids. Only legalization ends the fear,” she continued." 

Marijuana Moment has more about her comments and candidacy.

Five former US Attorneys say Biden DOJ was mum on cannabis 🤐

Despite what the attorney from Wyoming claimed earlier this year, it appears that there was no directive from former President Joe Biden's Department of Justice to avoid prosecuting cannabis cases. There was precedent to not take action after the 2013 Cole Memo, but that order was rescinded in 2017 under the first Trump administration. 

Nebraska Supreme Court hears arguments on medical cannabis legality 🧑‍⚖️

Despite the state begrudgingly moving forward on a voter-backed initiative to legalize medical cannabis, the Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments against the measure on Dec. 3. Former State Sen. John Kuehn is challenging the implementation of medical cannabis as a violation of federal law after a district court judge rejected his claim that the signatures which enabled the ballot measure were fraudulent for "lacking proof." While the court considers the validity of the signatures that allowed the measure in the first place, the state continues to move forward with regulations that will enable the launch of the medical market. 

Virginia releases cannabis regulations 📏

Four years after Virginia's legislature legalized cannabis, lawmakers released the latest version of regulations to govern the upcoming market. The state legislature has repeatedly attempted to produce new market rules, but have consistently been rebuffed by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin. Now that he is on the way out and his Democratic replacement, Abigail Spanberger, has publicly voiced her support for legal cannabis, the regulatory process is expected to finally move forward. The new rules prevent local municipalities from opting out of allowing dispensaries and favor small microbusinesses in a state where multi-state organizations dominate the existing medical market.

WHO officially recognizes scromiting 🤮

The World Health Organization updated its classification of diseases to include cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which has been linked to a condition where individuals have such a negative reaction to cannabis use that it includes painful bouts of vomiting. These bouts, which now have a diagnosis code, have been described as "scromiting" which is a combination of vomiting and screaming. 

NIH Database now has over 53,000 cannabis-related studies 🔬

While there continue to be many aspects of cannabis that lack proper research, there are currently over 53,000 studies in the National Institutes of Health database that involve cannabis. This result, which was reported by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws based on a keyword search of the NIH database, indicates that we know a lot more about cannabis than we realize. 

Researchers in Michigan to study cannabis for PTSD, Depression 🪖

Researchers from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan announced the start of a research project to determine how cannabis might be used to treat those suffering from PTSD and depression. The project, which is funded by multiple grants, could further the understanding of cannabis' medical benefits for veterans.

Cultivating Success: What Seed Companies Can Teach The Cannabis Industry About Meeting The Home-Grow Boom | Rolling Stone

What to know when the ban on most US hemp products goes into effect | The Guardian

How cannabis operators are preparing for federal marijuana reform | MJBizDaily 

Could Massachusetts Become the First State to Undo Legal Weed? | The Free Press