Forbes • 18th April 2024

CBD May Be A Promising Treatment For Crack Use Disorder, Study Suggests

A new study found that CBD could be a promising option for treating crack use disorder, showing fewer adverse effects compared to standard pharmaceutical approaches. Published by the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction in early April and first reported by Marijuana Moment, the study conducted by a group of researchers in Brazil examined whether CBD is a feasible, safe, well-tolerated, and effective option compared to standard pharmacological treatment for reducing crack use in

The new Arab • 16th April 2024

Will the EU strike a new anti-migration deal with Lebanon?

A rising number of Syrian migrants leaving Lebanon for Cyprus in recent months has prompted Nicosia to demand that the European Union (EU) intervene to halt the influx. Senior EU officials have suggested that Brussels could strike a deal with Beirut similar to recent anti-migration pacts signed with Egypt and Tunisia, which have been criticised by human rights groups. The Cypriot government has recorded more than 2,000 Syrian refugees arriving from Lebanon by sea in the first three months of 2

Forbes • 16th April 2024

JuicyFields’ Nearly $700 Million Cannabis Scam Case Leads To 9 Arrests

The investigation into one of the biggest scam cases in the cannabis industry, estimated to be nearly $700 million, has led to 9 arrests. A joint investigation conducted by several European law enforcement authorities resulted in the arrest of suspects involved in the ‘JuicyFields’ investment fraud case. This investigation was supported by Europol, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. Europol reported that on April 11, over 400 law enforcement officers in 11 countries exe

Forbes • 10th April 2024

Cannabis May Be Banned At Germany’s Oktoberfest Despite Legalization

The German federal state of Bavaria is considering the possibility of restricting cannabis use at the famous Oktoberfest following the legalization of cannabis for personal use. Bavaria government aims to restrict public spaces for consuming cannabis at events like Oktoberfest by establishing cannabis-free zones, as first reported by DPA (German Press Agency). Oktoberfest in Munich is the world’s largest beer festival, featuring traditional Bavarian music, food, and the consumption of about 6

Forbes • 9th April 2024

New Poll Suggests Whom Cannabis Consumers Will Vote For In 2024 U.S. Elections

Cannabis consumers would vote for the U.S. presidential candidate who endorses pro-cannabis policies, regardless of their party, according to a new poll. As the 2024 U.S. Presidential election approaches, analyzing voters’ issue priorities is crucial for understanding trends. Among the issues at stake in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, cannabis may be one to take into account, especially considering that its current legal status is under review and legalization at the state level by nearl

Forbes • 8th April 2024

Residents Of Denmark’s Christiania Enclave Shut Down ‘Pusher Street’

‘Push Street’ was famous for freely selling cannabis. But now, the residents of Denmark’s Christiania hippie enclave have decided to take back control of it. Residents of Christiania started over the weekend to remove the cobblestones at what is known as ‘Pusher Street,’ the illicit cannabis trade hub of Christiania, with the aim of ridding the neighborhood of criminal gangs associated with the illegal cannabis trade, which has caused several fatal shootings. Christiania is unique in Europe. T

Forbes • 5th April 2024

CBD Company Charlotte’s Web Faces Lawsuit Alleging Invasion Of Privacy Violation

CBD company Charlotte’s Web is facing a lawsuit alleging that it failed to warn visitors to its website about the tracking of conversations on its chat feature, potentially violating California law. As first reported by Hemp Today, plaintiff Lillian Jurdi filed a class action complaint in February against Colorado-based Charlotte’s Web in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, which was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Forbes • 2nd April 2024

How Do Cannabis Employee-Owned Companies Avoid Tax Burden?

U.S. cannabis companies face heavier taxation compared to other industries due to the substance's illegality at the federal level. This is because cannabis companies can't deduct most regular business expenses under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 280E, which prohibits tax deductions or credits for expenses related to businesses trafficking in Schedule I or II of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), where cannabis is listed in Schedule I. However, in recent years, cannabis companies have b

The new Arab • 26th March 2024

Will famine in Gaza force an end to Israel's war?

The looming famine long warned about in Gaza as a result of Israel's war increasingly appears to be materialising. A report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released last week warned of imminent famine in North Gaza, with severe food crises expected to spread throughout the strip by mid-March to May. About 210,000 people in northern Gaza face catastrophic conditions, categorised as IPC Phase 5, the most severe level. Overall, this phase could affect up to 1.1 milli

Forbes • 26th March 2024

Limonene Terpene Reduces THC-Induced Anxiety, Study Finds

A new study has found that the limonene terpene in cannabis reduces anxiety induced by THC. Cannabis, like other plants, contains terpenes, which are a class of organic compounds found in various plants. Among cannabis terpenes, limonene, also present in citrus fruits, is one of the most abundant, although concentrations may vary widely across strains. Over the years, cannabis researchers have theorized that compounds within cannabis, such as terpenes, might affect the immediate effects of THC

Forbes • 22nd March 2024

Germany’s Federal Council Approves Recreational Cannabis Bill For Personal Use

Germany’s Federal Council has approved the bill legalizing recreational cannabis for personal use despite facing criticism and attempts to block or delay the legislative process. With this approval, the path to the legalization of recreational cannabis for personal use in Germany is clear. Germany’s Federal Council passed a law today, March 22, that was previously passed by the Bundestag, which will allow the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal consumption starting from April 1

Forbes • 20th March 2024

Netflix Announces Cannabis Show Set In Amsterdam

Netflix has announced a new cannabis show based on a crime drama set in Amsterdam, bringing out the cannabis scene of the Dutch capital. Netflix European executive Larry Tanz announced on March 19 the new Dutch original Amsterdam Empire starring Famke Janssen amid the international TV series festival Series Mania. The seven-part series delves into the Amsterdam cannabis scene, following Jack van Doorn, the notorious founder of the coffee shop empire Jackal, navigating a career fraught with bat

Forbes • 19th March 2024

Nearly 72% Of Canada’s Cannabis Users Buy From Legal Market, Survey Finds

More Canadians are buying cannabis from the legal market, according to a national survey. Government agency Statistics Canada published on March 18 a national survey on cannabis consumption in the country. Based on data collected from a self-reported survey of 2,251 young adults aged 18 to 24 years and 5,185 adults aged 25 years and older, the findings indicate that over two-thirds of cannabis consumers are purchasing from the legal market. Among people who used cannabis within 12 months, sli

Forbes • 15th March 2024

Delta-8 THC Is Getting Popular Among Teens At School, Survey Finds

The use of Delta-8 THC is becoming significant among high school students, according to a new national survey. The findings published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveal that 11.4% of high school students used delta-8 THC in the past year. Delta-8 THC is an isomer of Delta-9 THC, which is the primary psychoactive compound found in marijuana. Both delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC interact with cannabinoid receptors in the body through the endocannabinoid system

Forbes • 14th March 2024

CBD May Help Alleviate Menstrual-Related Symptoms, Study Finds

CBD may be an effective solution to help ease menstrual-related symptoms, according to a recently published study. Although some people try using cannabis to alleviate menstrual-related symptoms and believe it can be beneficial, there hasn’t been any study investigating the impact of CBD on these symptoms, especially focused on psychological symptoms such as irritability, to the knowledge of the researchers in this study. For this reason, researchers from the University of Arkansas, Auburn Uni

Forbes • 12th March 2024

Washington State To Eliminate 37% Tax On Medical Marijuana

The State of Washington is set to eliminate excise taxes on medical marijuana products, offering tax relief to medical marijuana patients. With one of the highest tax rates imposed on medical marijuana products, the Washington Senate recently passed a bill granting an exemption from the 37% excise tax for medical marijuana patients and designated providers. Initially introduced in 2023, HB 1453 aimed to align the current medical exemptions from general sales and use taxes with the 37% excise t

The new Arab • 11th March 2024

Biden-Netanyahu rift: Are US-Israel ties at breaking point?

Last week's visit by Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz to Washington hit a nerve in the relationship between the US administration and Israel’s government, underscoring a personal dimension of the diplomatic tensions between the two countries amid the Gaza war. Gantz, former chief of General Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and defence minister, and now part of the war cabinet after Hamas's October attack, travelled to Washington for a meeting with several US officials, includin

Forbes • 7th March 2024

Amsterdam Excluded From The Netherlands’ Legal Cannabis Experiment

Amsterdam has been left out of the list of Dutch cities selected for the controlled sale experiment of legal cannabis. The Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Parliament, rejected on March 5 the bill that aimed to include Amsterdam in the country’s cannabis cultivation and distribution pilot project. In this experiment, the Dutch government is authorizing the legal cultivation and distribution of cannabis for adult use, marking the first time such a step has been taken. Despite cannabis being ill

Forbes • 5th March 2024

74% Of Americans Live In A Legal Marijuana State, Research Finds

Although marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, most Americans live in a state where marijuana is legal for medical or recreational purposes. In its latest analysis on the status of marijuana in the United States, the American think-tank Pew Research Center has found that 74% of Americans live in a state where marijuana is legal for either recreational or medical use, while 54% of Americans live in a state where the recreational use of marijuana is legal. After Colorado and Washingto

Forbes • 4th March 2024

Cannabis May Help Treat Melanoma Skin Cancer, New Study Suggests

A recent in-vitro study reveals that a cannabis extract can potentially decelerate the growth of melanoma cells and increase the rate at which these cells die. Researchers from Charles Darwin University (CDU) and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) examined the process of programmed cell death induced by a particular cannabis extract known as cannabinoid PHEC-66, which is a concentrated form developed by MGC Pharmaceuticals in Australia. Published in the Cells journal and partia