Opioids

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) said that he doesn’t think it is the right time to legalize cannabis in the state because they are just getting the opioid crisis under control.

The biotech pharma firm ANANDA Scientific Inc. announced it has received FDA approval to study a CBD-based drug as a treatment for opioid-use disorder.

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., the U.S. arm of a pharmaceutical firm that recently announced an international medical cannabis distribution deal, was found guilty in New York for contributing to the opioid crisis.

A set of GOP companion bills in the House and Senate seeking to curb illegal fentanyl sales would also streamline the research of cannabis, psychedelics, and other Schedule I substances.

Plymouth, Connecticut Police Capt. Ed Benecchi called for opening adult-use cannabis dispensaries “as soon as possible” in the name of public safety after at least 39 overdoses in the state were linked to fentanyl-laced cannabis.

A recent survey found 65% of patients were able to reduce or eliminate taking at least one prescription medication after obtaining their medical cannabis registration.

Cara Wietstock, host of Fresh Cut by Ganjapreneur, meets with Colin Wells, a US Army Infantry veteran and founder of Veterans Walk and Talk. Cara and Colin explore how he overcame his own addiction after experiencing homelessness, the veteran experience, and how the combination of cannabis, psychedelics, nature, and community can improve veterans’ lives.

Pennsylvania officials will disclose for the first time how many of the state’s medical cannabis patients are certified as a treatment for opioid use disorder, as well as each of the state’s other qualifying conditions.

A recent study found that cannabis legalization leads to lower prices in a state’s unlicensed cannabis market and an increase in the prices of illicit drugs and illegally obtained pharmaceuticals.

Men’s Tribal House in Utah is the first sober living home in the state to let facility residents utilize medical cannabis on their path to recovery.

A recent survey of 525 chronic pain patients found that 40.4% of respondents had replaced their opioid-based medications with medical cannabis.

A recent study shows that cannabis can improve treatment outcomes for people in care for opioid addiction.

The Massachusetts Supreme Court has ruled that employees who use medical cannabis to treat a work-related injury cannot rely on workers comp insurance to cover it.

Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, pleaded guilty this week to illegally marketing its deadly and addictive opioid products. As part of its federal settlement, the company faces over $8 billion in penalties.

A former NYPD officer is suing the department after being forced into early retirement due to his status as a registered medical cannabis patient. The lawsuit alleges extreme instances of workplace harassment, disability discrimination, and retaliation.

New research from the University of California, Irvine has determined that cannabis is a safe and potentially effective treatment for the chronic pain associated with sickle cell disease.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has issued a call for lawmakers to federally decriminalize the low-level possession of all drugs.

The FDA has issued warnings to two CBD companies over claims that their products could treat opioid addiction and/or replace pharmaceutical drugs.

The UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative has been awarded a $3.9 million grant to investigate whether cannabis terpenes can help reduce the use of opioids in pain treatment.

Federal officials at the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have prohibited any federal funds meant to combat opioid addiction from being used on medical cannabis.

A new study by the Stanford School of Medicine appears to contradict a commonly cited 2014 study that suggested medical cannabis legalization leads to a reduced rate of opioid overdoses.

New Mexico has added six new conditions to the qualifying conditions list for the state’s medical cannabis program. The added conditions include opioid addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and three neurological disorders.

Under a bill signed into law last week in Colorado, doctors can now recommend medical cannabis to treat any condition for which they might have otherwise prescribed opioids.

A study in the American Journal of Psychiatry has shown CBD to be effective in reducing the cravings of opioid addicts, with participants citing a two- to three-fold reduction in cravings on average compared to participants who received a placebo.