The New Arab • 30th January 2023

The war within Lebanon's judiciary over the Beirut blast

The investigation into the Beirut port explosion on 4 August 2020 has entered a fierce new battle. Head of the Beirut criminal court Tarek Bitar has unexpectedly restarted the investigation after a 13-month hiatus, entering into a confrontation with top judiciary bodies. The announcement was made following a series of protests in early January by relatives of the victims of the explosion and civil rights groups against the stagnation of the investigation and calling on judicial bodies to unbloc

Forbes • 23rd December 2022

How US Constitution's Dormant Commerce Clause Is Challenging Marijuana Legislations

A number of U.S. states that have legalized the sale of marijuana are being sued by companies that have not entered the legal market, using the Constitution's dormant commerce clause as their basis for the lawsuits. While the majority of U.S. cannabis legislation aims to regulate the sector and include social equity applicants in the industry, some parts of these policies have been ruled as unconstitutional by courts when marijuana-related businesses excluded from the state market have invoked

Forbes • 22nd December 2022

New York Is Set To Open The First Legal Marijuana Dispensary Next Week

New Yorkers will be able to buy legal marijuana for the first time on December 29, when the first legal dispensary will open its door to the public. New York's Gov. Kathy Hochul announced yesterday that the sale of legal marijuana would start on December 29 at a dispensary in Manhattan, marking a cornerstone achievement of cannabis legislation in the Empire State. The shop will be run by the HIV/AIDS service organization Housing Work, one of the 36 winners of the Conditional Adult-Use Retail D

Forbes • 21st December 2022

Canada’s Cannabis Legalization Is Working Effectively, Annual Survey Suggests

Since Canada legalized adult-use cannabis in 2018, the government has conducted a yearly survey in order to highlight the latest market and consumption trends to adjust its policies and program initiatives. Here are the main takeaways from the Canadian Cannabis Survey 2022. The data collected by the government in 2022 through a survey of more than 10,000 people who responded anonymously outline a stable situation of user preferences and show that cannabis legalization is progressing effectivel

The New Arab • 20th December 2022

Can China replace US hegemony in the Middle East?

The recent visit of China's President Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia to attend the first China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit consolidated ties between Beijing and Gulf states. The visit also laid the foundations for a partnership that might concern the United States and its allies. However, it is still unlikely that China would be able to replace American hegemony in the region. Xi visited Riyadh for a three-day trip, where he attended several meetings with leaders from Gulf and Arab count

Forbes • 19th December 2022

Study: Cannabis Legalization Reduces Arrests More Than Decriminalization—But It May Have Limits

Both legalization and decriminalization of cannabis have a significant impact on cannabis arrests. However, while legalization reduces the arrest rate more than decriminalization, the latter may have additional benefits than legalization, according to a new study published by the American Medical Association. Researchers from the University of California San Diego published a study in the Journal of American Medical earlier this month about the impact of both adult-use legalization and decrimin

Forbes • 12th December 2022

Amsterdam Wants Foreign Tourists To ‘Stay Away’ From Drugs, Alcohol, And Sex

Amsterdam's City Council is planning to launch a campaign to discourage foreign tourists from access to activities related to alcohol, drugs, and sex, and it is implementing a comprehensive package of measures to fight back 'nuisance' tourism. Amsterdam's deputy mayor Sofyan Mbarki is embarking on a "discouraging campaign" to curb tourism nuisance by limiting several popular activities in the Dutch capital. The proposed plan will affect millions of tourists that every year enter cannabis coffe

Forbes • 12th December 2022

Cannabis Decriminalization Can Help Australian Taxpayers Save $850 Million A Year, Report Finds

Australian taxpayers could save $850 million a year if the government takes action to decriminalize cannabis, according to a new report published last week. The public health research organization Penington Institute has found that Australian taxpayers could save about $850m each year as criminalizing people who use cannabis costs taxpayers $1.7bn a year in law enforcement costs. Since 2010, 702,866 people have been arrested for cannabis-related offenses in Australia, with nine out of 10 arres

8th December 2022

Cannabis at Work

As the use of cannabis is catching on in our society due to legalization, many consumers wonder how it could affect work performance. All US legal cannabis states and countries where cannabis is legalized prohibit people from working under the influence of cannabis. However, science does not have a clear position on how cannabis affects work performance, as there is a lack of enough studies on this topic.The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) says1 that cannabis negatively affects attenti

Forbes • 7th December 2022

Marijuana Sold In New York’s Unlicensed Businesses Contain Harmful Contaminants, Report Finds

A new report found that about 40% of marijuana products sold in New York's unlicensed businesses contain potentially harmful contaminants. The results of a survey published last week highlighted the lack of control of regulators over the unlicensed business, which may affect public health issues, and safety for New Yorkers' marijuana users. But although the report may sound alarming for cannabis users' health, it is necessary to go in-depth into the report, contextualize the findings and highli

Forbes • 3rd December 2022

Biden Signs Medical Marijuana Research Bill

President Joe Biden turns the Medical Marijuana Research Bill into law, changing how American scientists can do research on marijuana. As anticipated by Marijuana Moment last week, the White House announced on Friday that President Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, "which establishes a new registration process for conducting research on marijuana and for manufacturing marijuana products for research purposes and drug development." The bipartisan bill wa

Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East • 1st December 2022

Lebanon's Shura Council suspends ban on LGBTQ event

Despite the court's ruling in August, the Lebanese interior minister has continued to ban LGBTQ gatherings.

Forbes • 30th November 2022

Marijuana Use Among American Youth Is Twice As Common As Cigarette Use, New Data Shows

Cigarettes seem less appealing to young Americans, who prefer to use marijuana or vaping e-cigarettes, according to new data published by Gallup. The American research firm released this week new data on cigarette consumption among young adult Americans between the ages of 18 and 29. Cigarette consumption among young adults has fallen from 35% to 12% in the last two decades, as more than twice as many young adults now say they smoke marijuana as they smoke cigarettes. "This 23-percentage-poin

Forbes • 30th November 2022

Netherlands Can’t Deport Medical Cannabis Patient To Russia, EU Top Court Rules

The EU's Court of Justice rules that a Russian medical cannabis patient who has asked for asylum in the Netherlands can't be deported to his home country as he needs to use medical cannabis, which is illegal in Russia. The court's ruling indirectly recognizes the importance of medical cannabis in pain management and sets a precedent binding for the entire EU community. The man, born in 1988, developed a rare form of blood cancer when he was 16 years old, and he is currently receiving medical t

Forbes • 28th November 2022

CBD Doesn't Reduce THC Effects, Cannabis Study Finds

The scientific debate on whether CBD impairs the effects of THC on the human body is still open. However, the authors of a new cannabis study found that CBD doesn't reduce the effects of THC. The findings of a study published in the Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology show that CBD has no impairing effects on THC, in contrast to other studies on the matter. Researchers of the King's College of London have conducted a study to find whether the interaction of CBD with THC may reduce the effects o

Forbes • 28th November 2022

Ireland Aims To Legalize Cannabis For Personal Use

Ireland joins the cannabis conversation in Europe, introducing a bill to legalize recreational cannabis for personal use. The Irish Parliament (or Oireachtas) will discuss a bill introduced by the People Before Profit MP (or Teachta Dála, TD) Gino Kenny aiming to legalize adult-use cannabis for personal use. The bill aims to modify the Misuse of Drug Act entered into effect in 1977 by allowing adults of at least 18 years of age to possess up to 7 grams of cannabis or 2.5 grams of cannabis resi

Forbes • 23rd November 2022

Oregon Governor Pardons Over 45,000 People With Marijuana Possession Convictions

Oregon takes action granting pardons to over 45,000 people with marijuana possession following Biden's federal clemency. Gov. Kate Brown announced on Monday is pardoning 47,144 people with convictions for possessing a small amount of marijuana and forgiving more than $14 million in unpaid fines and fees. "We are a state, and a nation, of second chances. Today, I am taking steps to right the wrongs of a flawed, inequitable, and outdated criminal justice system in Oregon when it comes to persona

Forbes • 22nd November 2022

New York Regulators Approve The First 36 Adult-Use Cannabis Retail Licenses

New York regulators have approved the first round of retail licenses that will kick off the legal adult-use cannabis market in the state. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) approved the applications of 36 individual businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been granted conditional licenses to open up the first dispensaries in New York. But several issues may delay the full implementation of cannabis legislation in the state. The OCM announced the first round of conditional license

DAWN • 18th November 2022

‘They Destroyed Us Because We Are Beirut.’ Will There Ever Be Justice for Lebanon’s Port Blast?

Iranian artists and athletes who express solidarity with protesters are the latest targets of a government that senses its...

Forbes • 18th November 2022

Kentucky Eases Restrictions On Medical Marijuana And Regulates Delta-8 THC Sale

Although Kentucky hasn't yet legalized medical marijuana, the Governor has eased access to purchase products from dispensaries in legal states and is planning to regulate the sale of delta-8 THC products. Gov. Andy Beshear (Democrat) issued an executive order on Tuesday, November 15, allowing Kentuckians suffering from certain conditions to access medical marijuana products purchased from dispensaries in other states where medical marijuana is legal. Furthermore, he issued another executive ord